New Nuclear: Building Capacity, Talent, and Technology at WSU
Schweitzer Drive
For 65 years, the Washington State University TRIGA nuclear reactor has been an invaluable resource for research, education and innovation. In this episode, Dave Whitehead visits the university to talk with President Betsy Cantwell and the Director of the WSU Nuclear Science Center, Corey Hines, about the origins and impact of the research reactor and how WSU is building on its legacy with new investments, expanded facilities and programs designed to train the next generation of nuclear professionals.
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Cybersecurity and the New Threat Landscape for U.S. Utilities
Schweitzer Drive
U.S. utilities are navigating a rapidly evolving threat environment shaped by unprecedented load growth, increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, and the growing overlap between cyber and physical risks. In this episode of Schweitzer Drive, guest host Frank Harrill, vice president of security at SEL, speaks with Sharla Artz, security and resilience policy area vice president at Xcel Energy. The discussion explores how AI, data centers, and the electrification of everything are changing the risk profile for utilities—and how technology and policy are evolving to keep pace with emerging...
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Insights on the Current Energy Landscape with Robert Bryce
Schweitzer Drive
In this episode, Robert Bryce returns to Schweitzer Drive for an in-person conversation recorded during a break at the University of Idaho Energy Symposium, where he delivered the keynote address. Host Dave Whitehead speaks with the veteran journalist and filmmaker about some of the hottest topics in energy and power. The conversation also explores Bryce’s latest short-form documentary, Yacht Zee$, which examines the disconnect between public climate advocacy and the private, carbon intensive lifestyles of some of its most vocal supporters.
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Circuit Breakers: The First Responders of the Grid
Schweitzer Drive
Power systems quietly and reliably move enormous amounts of energy every day. But when things go wrong—when there is too much current or a fault on the line, something has to act fast. That job belongs to the circuit breaker. In this episode, host Dave Whitehead and guest Kylan Robinson, engineering director at SEL, discuss how circuit breakers sense trouble, interrupt currents as powerful as a lightning bolt, work with protective relays to keep the grid safe, and are evolving to meet new demands.
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Ask Dave Anything, Part 2: Listener Questions on Innovation, Power Reliability, the Podcast, and More
Schweitzer Drive
In this follow-up to our “Ask Dave Anything” episode, SEL President Dave Whitehead is back in the hot seat to tackle another round of listener‑submitted questions. Guest host Nic Seeley, senior vice president of Engineering Services at SEL, guides the conversation asking about everything from the challenges facing the electric power industry to how SEL is approaching innovation today—and how leaders can stay grounded while navigating rapid change. Dave also shares personal insights, lessons learned over his career, and a few stories that didn’t make it into the first episode. If you...
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Ask Dave Anything: Listener Questions on Power, Innovation, and Leadership
Schweitzer Drive
In this episode, we turn the tables on host Dave Whitehead and put him in the hot seat. Guest host Bryan Fazzari, SEL vice president of marketing, takes over the mic to ask Dave questions submitted by listeners. They wanted to know everything—from the future of electric power and emerging technologies to Dave’s thoughts on leadership and innovation. If you’ve ever wondered what shapes his perspective on the industry and where technology is headed, this is your chance to find out.
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Fueling the Energy Future: Unlocking the Hidden Power of Aluminum
Schweitzer Drive
Peter Godart, co-founder of , visits Schweitzer Drive to discuss a novel approach to energy: using aluminum as a high-density, carbon-free fuel. Learn how this technology works, why it’s 40x more energy dense than batteries, and how it could transform everything from long-duration storage to container ships and coal plant retrofits.
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Timing Is Everything: How Grid Technology Is Transforming Emergency Communications
Schweitzer Drive
What do electric power and emergency response have in common? More than you might expect. In this episode, host Dave Whitehead talks with radio engineer Jordan Coreson and communications and cybersecurity expert Ryan Bradetich about how precision timing—originally developed for the electric grid—is now helping solve big challenges in 911 systems.
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AI Meets the Grid: Driving Innovation at Avista
Schweitzer Drive
In this episode, host Dave Whitehead sits down with Wayne Manuel, Chief Information and Security Officer at Avista, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the utility industry. From predictive maintenance to customer service enhancements, Wayne shares how Avista is leveraging AI and machine learning to optimize operations across its Pacific Northwest service area.
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New Nuclear: A Candid Conversation with Robert Bryce
Schweitzer Drive
Author and journalist Robert Bryce returns to Schweitzer Drive for a candid conversation with host Dave Whitehead about the president’s bold plan to expand nuclear power in the United States. Drawing on decades of energy research, Bryce explains why the goal of quadrupling nuclear capacity by 2050 is unlikely, but offers a realistic view of the challenges ahead and how we can make meaningful progress.
info_outlineThe shift to renewables and growing demand for electricity are driving utilities to problem-solve like never before. In this episode, host Dave Whitehead talks with Philip VanSant, manager of T&D Services, System Protection at Dominion Energy, about how the utility has come up with an innovative method to construct and commission new digital substations in an efficient and cost-effective way.