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328 | Atomic Ambition: Inside the Texas Nuclear Model & What Kentucky Can Learn w/ Will Howard of Elementl
In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri plunged Texas into darkness, exposing the fragility of the modern American grid. For Will Howard, it was a call to action.In this episode, Will joins us to discuss his journey from data science to the forefront of the nuclear renaissance as a Project Developer for Elementl Power. He explains how Elementl is pioneering a new "developer model" for the industry, acting as the "quarterback" to secure land, navigate regulations, and de-risk projects for major buyers.The conversation covers Elementl’s partnership with Google to power AI data centers, the concept of "Energy Realism," and why the "Iron Law of Power" means reliability will always win. Will also breaks down the Texas model for nuclear advocacy and outlines the massive opportunity for Kentucky to leverage its industrial legacy in this new atomic age.Hosted by Logan JonesMiddle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org
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327 | Modernizing the Bourbon Barrel Market: Chris Wiedmar of Hogshead
A new digital marketplace is modernizing how bourbon barrels are bought, sold, and valued across Kentucky’s signature industry.In this episode, Hogshead co-founder and CEO Chris Wiedmar joins us to share how his company is bringing transparency and technology to the bourbon supply chain - transforming a relationship-driven trade into a data-driven market.From his early experience launching the NFT-powered brand Party Horses to building a two-sided platform used by distilleries, brokers, and investors, Chris explains how Hogshead is helping the industry adapt to a world where barrels are not just aging whiskey, but appreciating assets.The conversation explores how Hogshead is positioning Kentucky at the center of a global market for barrel-aged spirits - connecting tradition, technology, and entrepreneurship in one of the state’s most iconic sectors.Hosted by Logan JonesMiddle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org
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326 | Bourbon Meets Biotech: How Brandon Corace and Meridian Biotech Turn Stillage into Sustainable Products
A $40 million partnership with Buffalo Trace is giving new life to one of bourbon’s biggest byproducts: stillage.In this episode, Meridian Biotech founder Brandon Corace joins us to share how his company is transforming distillery waste into sustainable products that fuel industries like aquaculture, pet food, and fertilizer. From winning a “reverse pitch” competition with the Governor’s Office to relocating from Austin to Lexington, Brandon’s story shows how innovation, biotech, and Kentucky’s bourbon heritage are coming together to create the state’s next major industry.Hosted by Logan JonesMiddle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org
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325 | Paducah’s Nuclear Revival: Global Laser Enrichment CEO Steve Long on America’s Energy Future
Steve Long is the CEO of Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) - a company bringing a multi-billion-dollar nuclear fuel facility to Paducah, Kentucky, marking one of the most significant energy investments in the state’s history. In this episode, we sit down with Steve to understand how GLE’s laser enrichment technology could reshape the U.S. nuclear supply chain and what it means for Kentucky’s evolving role in the energy economy.We discuss how the project builds on Paducah’s long history in uranium enrichment, how laser enrichment can convert legacy materials into usable fuel, and why reliable, carbon-free power is becoming increasingly important in the age of AI and advanced manufacturing. Steve also shares how the project could create new opportunities for Kentucky’s workforce and support long-term innovation in U.S. energy.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org
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324 | ElectraMet: How University Research Launched a Hard-Tech Startup to Remove Metals from Wastewater
In this episode, we sit down with Cameron Lippert, co-founder of ElectraMet, and Chris Young, President of Bluegrass Angels, to explore how a hard-tech startup spun out of university research is solving one of industry’s biggest challenges: removing metals and oxidants from wastewater. By turning costly waste streams into valuable resources, ElectraMet is helping critical sectors like semiconductors, mining, battery recycling, and defense.Expect to learn how university research in Kentucky sparked the idea that became ElectraMet, why early investors and mentors were crucial to navigating commercialization, how the team pivoted from desalination to metals recovery, and why ElectraMet’s journey is a blueprint for the type of circular economy manufacturing that the GAME Change initiative aims to grow.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org
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