Women in Nuclear Security Podcast

07/07/2026

"The difficult is what takes a little time. The impossible is what takes a little longer." Fridtjof Nansen

🌐 We are standing at a critical juncture in global security. As interstate diplomacy faces severe geopolitical friction, how do we keep our world safe from nuclear and radiological threats?

In the latest episode of the Women in Nuclear Security Podcast, Christina McAllister, Senior Fellow and Director of the Partnerships in Proliferation Prevention program at the Stimson Center, unpacked the evolving landscape of global coalition-building.

From her early days as a Reuters news correspondent in Moscow and Kyiv to leading critical strategic initiatives for the US Department of Defense (DTRA, SOCOM), Christina’s multi-decade career is a masterclass in professional evolution.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

• How the International Nuclear Security Forum (INSF), a network of 300+ global members is adapting its strategy away from state-level consensus to empower stakeholders on the ground.
• Why intentionally integrating regional networks and diverse voices is essential to mitigating insider threats and strengthening security culture.
• Three core skills for early-to-mid-career professionals looking to lead multi-stakeholder security projects: Curiosity, Deep Listening, and the Courage to challenge assumptions.

Special thanks to Christina for sharing her invaluable leadership strategies and honoring the legacy of longtime Stimson president Brian Finley, whose vision of connecting nonproliferation goals to sustainable global peace continues to guide this vital work.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here!

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/coalition-building-and-proliferation-prevention-at-the-crossroads--72855603?fbclid=IwdGRjcAS6LyhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7fy-89PD8V6fozVmS7M5Z3lt9wSfGTlHcX1T3dXoblznoOBRTFoDT9PN6c-g_aem_0G6BktINfvhh1Zgs7rH2tA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vmk8uOvkIZSbn6yEBCfzQ?si=huNXig5MRayXltDu1Omgtw

Women in Nuclear Security Podcast · Episode

06/16/2026

📢 The latest episode of Women in Nuclear Security Podcast is live now!

In this episode I talked to Kseniia Pirnavskaia, Network and Engagement Specialist at the Open Nuclear Network (ONN), about the Power of Public Narratives.

Kseniia’s career perfectly bridges the gap between storytelling and technical foresight. The key topics we discussed in this episode are:

Digital Advocacy: We discussed about the lack of visual and marketing strategies in nuclear field and how early to mid-career professionals can leverage their skills to enter in this field.

Nuclear Justice: Kseniia highlighted that this is one of the most important issues, the international community should be talking about. We also discussed that the global security discussions should not be about mere financial compensation but the focus should be the lived experiences, intergenerational scars of testing survivors in places like Kazakhstan and the Marshall Islands and policy inclusion.

Navigating Risk Engagement: We discussed about the role of international NGOs like Open Nuclear Network in identifying shared interests when formal diplomatic channels between major powers are strained to the breaking point.

A huge thank you to Kseniia for sharing her insights and her professional journey.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here:

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-power-of-public-narratives--72549148

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3gFVQwzXEF9kOaQ6MvrfMs?si=lhtZGnTSQDCURaZwbMnVEA

✨ Connect with Us:

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How do we break through the technical jargon and classified data of the nuclear security field to engage the general public? In this episode, Kseniia Pirnavskai

05/24/2026

Hello Everyone,

We are seeking recommendations for experts, practitioners and emerging leaders (female and male) from African, European and Asian regions for our future episodes of Women in Nuclear Security Podcast, who can share their insights on nuclear security governance, cyber security and regional nonproliferation efforts.

Please send your recommendations to: [email protected]

Thank you so much for your support.

05/08/2026

"In high-stake environment like a nuclear power plant, leadership shows up as a habit. Things we can do every day, such as being visible. Listen first. Be clear about risk, about decision you make, which strengthen credibility and keep communication open when it matters most." Dr. Fatema Alnaqbi

Episode 3 of the Season 3 of Women in Nuclear Security Podcast is live now.

This episode deep dive into the intersection high-stake security and human-centric transformative leadership. Our speaker Dr. Alnaqbi shares her unique perspective on why nuclear security is, first and foremost, a people system and how the shift from traditional checklist compliance to transformative leadership, people at nuclear power plants can be empowered.

This episode is an exclusive guide for practitioners and personnel at the power plant with leadership positions. The episode concludes with Fatema's expert advice for aspiring women leaders on building male-allied sponsorships and creating ‘organizational memory’ to ensure sustainable excellence.

Listen to the full episode here:

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-importance-of-transformative-leadership-practices-in-nuclear-energy-security--71925864

Spotify: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/JLlHahEEY2b

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This episode deep dive into the intersection high-stake security and human-centric transformative leadership with Dr. Fatema Alnaqbi from UAE. Fatema shares he