Nuclear's future hinges on solving hidden bottlenecks like uranium conversion — a critical but often overlooked step in the fuel cycle. Nick Smith, founder of Raven-Flint and former Director at Idaho National Lab, brings deep nuclear engineering expertise to modernizing this step and helping advanced reactors scale faster and more safely. In this episode, he digs into the complexities of advancing nuclear technology, the chemistry behind efficient conversion, and how Raven-Flint is working to resolve a supply chain vulnerability with implications for both national security and the future of nuclear energy.

Join host Brennan Moore, Andrew Meehan, and Canon Bryan as they unpack X-Energy's upcoming IPO, TerraPower's NRC construction permit, the new regulatory Path 53 that could expand nuclear approval in the near future, and much more. This month's roundtable has the latest news in the world of nuclear energy, including news from CERAWeek, their thoughts on cost-effective energy, and how the war in Iran proves the resilience of nuclear energy infrastructure.

Benton Arnett, Senior Director of Markets and Policy at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), joins Brennan Moore to break down how new nuclear projects are actually getting financed today.

We cover key takeaways from NEI’s Nuclear Financing Summit, why traditional nuclear players still have an edge in market perception, and how the DevCo model is emerging as a practical path to getting projects built.

Benton also explains the different “currencies” in nuclear financing today, from government support to corporate PPAs, and why big tech wants exposure to nuclear without owning the assets outright.

If you’re trying to understand what’s real vs. theoretical in nuclear deployment, this is a useful primer.