the goop podcast with Gwyneth Paltrow

Guest: Isabelle Boemeke
Date: December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking episode, Gwyneth Paltrow sits down with Isabelle Boemeke, also known as Isodope, to discuss the myths and realities of nuclear energy, the cultural narrative around clean energy, and Boemeke’s unconventional journey from small-town Brazil and modeling to becoming one of the most influential nuclear energy advocates. The conversation explores the intersections of science, storytelling, technology (including AI), policy, and hope for a sustainable climate future.

Key Discussion Points

Isabelle's Background: From Brazil to Global Activism

• Isabelle’s Rural Upbringing
  • Born and raised in a remote area of Brazil, likened to Texas with “farms and cows and crops” but lacking infrastructure. (04:45)
  • Struggled with expensive electricity, no air conditioning or heating, few amenities.

    “The city where my family is from... is like 20,000 people... there would be people riding horses on the streets... we had maybe two restaurants in the whole city. Very different from what people imagine.” — Isabelle (06:16)

• Desire to Leave and Perceptions of America
  • From a young age, she aspired to greater opportunities in the US, shaped by American media and the stark contrast in quality of life. (07:44–10:23)
  • Felt limited by Brazil’s bureaucracy and lack of social mobility, citing her mother’s struggles as an example. (11:51)
  • The sense of “knowing” she would move to America—a discussion about faith, manifestation, and spirituality. (12:10–13:38)

Modeling, Entrepreneurship, and the Awakening

• Entry into Modeling World
  • Discovered at 16 via a chance encounter; quickly placed in Brazil's biggest modeling competition.
  • Used modeling as a means to leave Brazil and step into the US, modeling first in Miami. (14:41–16:45)
• University and Business Ventures
  • Briefly attended university, then started a cosmetics line, and later a product incubator—highlighting her drive for intellectual engagement and entrepreneurship. (17:44–19:46)
• Catalyst for Change: The Climate Crisis
  • The Amazon and Australia wildfires in 2019 prompted reevaluation of purpose—shifted focus to climate activism rather than consumer products. (19:46–20:48)

Deep Dive into Nuclear Advocacy

• Initial Curiosity

  • Sparked by reading Dawkins on evolution and exposure to science via Twitter, encountered the idea of molten salt thorium reactors. (21:01)
  • Noted persistent bad PR around nuclear—“never heard anybody say anything positive about nuclear.” (22:11–22:38)

• Becoming ‘Isodope’: A Digital Persona

  • During pandemic downtime, Boemeke created Isodope—a hybrid of cyber-aesthetic, humor, and viral education targeting the “PR problem” of nuclear energy. (29:00–30:49)

    “I wanted to create something that seemed like it was from the future. It's almost like this alien or this human from the future coming back to give us a message that we fumbled the bag on this technology.” — Isabelle (29:33)

• Impact and Validation

  • Her engagement and advocacy contributed to preventing premature closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in California. (31:16–31:22)
  • Emphasizes the importance of accessible science communication and curiosity over traditional credentials. (27:52–28:32)

Nuclear Power: Myths, Realities, and Historical Context

The France vs. U.S. Case Study (32:30–36:42)

• France built 57 reactors in 15 years after the 1973 oil crisis, achieving energy independence and clean, cheap electricity.
• U.S. attempted similar ambitions but failed due to fragmented utilities, lack of centralized planning, and diversifying designs, leading to inefficiency and stalling momentum.
• The 1979 Three Mile Island accident, coinciding with the release of the thriller movie “The China Syndrome,” fed into public fears and halted expansion (49:05–50:43).

Cultural Stigma and Industry Resistance (36:42–44:35)

• Nuclear technology’s “original sin”: Association with atomic bombs colored all subsequent civilian uses with suspicion and fear (37:56–39:22).
• The anti-nuclear movement initially arose from concerns over military power and environmental risks but was also covertly supported by fossil fuel interests to protect their market.

  “Friends of the Earth... Their first check was $200,000 from an oil magnet.” — Isabelle (42:56) “They've definitely funded all these, like, astroturf grassroots movements that stopped... nuclear. For sure.” — Isabelle (44:27)

Nuclear vs. Solar and Wind, and Addressing Fears

• Why Nuclear?

  • Highest energy density: a uranium pellet (“size of a gummy bear”) equals £2,000 of coal or 150 gallons of gas. Less mining, fewer materials, smaller land footprint. (64:56–65:37)
  • Produces no greenhouse gases or particulates, offering a low-impact, long-lived (60–100 years) infrastructure, and quality jobs for communities. (65:33–66:47)
  • Despite higher upfront costs, fossil fuels’ health/environmental harms are massively under-accounted (“at least 4 million people die every year from diseases caused by air pollution”). (46:08)
  • Nuclear, wind, and solar are equally safe according to deaths-per-energy-produced comparisons; hydro is riskier (China’s 1979 dam collapse killed 200,000). (62:56–63:55)

• Safety & Accidents: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima

  • Three Mile Island: Partial meltdown; containment worked, minimal radiation, no deaths. (48:04–51:15)
  • Chernobyl (1987): Design flaws, poor communication, and no containment dome; fewer than 100 confirmed deaths, ~4,000 potential cancer cases—a fraction compared to the millions from fossil fuels. (56:25–62:15)

    “You would need like 200 Chernobyls happening every single year for nuclear to be as dangerous as fossil fuels are.” — Isabelle (61:34)

  • Fukushima (2011): Modern dome worked; minimal direct fatalities.
  • Overall: 440 plants in 31 countries, hundreds of reactor-years, only a handful of major incidents (63:33–64:13).

The Role of AI, Political Polarization, and Future of Power

• Nuclear & AI: Twin Transformative Challenges

  • Both technologies are “godlike” in their potential and risk; rapid adoption of AI outpaces the development of safety guardrails (51:15–56:21).
  • Industry’s surging power needs (e.g., for data centers) could ironically make AI a driver for nuclear’s resurgence (54:32–54:43).

    “They're the ones that are pushing the nuclear electricity— the technology companies—because they have the money to pay more for the electricity.” — Isabelle (54:43)

• Bipartisan Appeal in the U.S.

  • Unique cross-aisle support: both Trump and Biden administrations have prioritized nuclear in the energy portfolio, with bipartisan policies to facilitate further development. (68:22–69:03)
  • More than 70 startups are working on new (often smaller, safer) reactor designs. (69:42–69:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Everything could be addictive if there’s an emptiness in that person that needs to be filled. I now know that nobody changes until they change their energy. And when you change your energy, you change your life.”
— Isabelle (02:16)

“I wanted to create something that seemed like it was from the future. It's almost like this alien... coming back to give us a message that we fumbled the bag on this technology.”
— Isabelle (29:32)

“If you get a little pellet of uranium... it’s like the size of a gummy bear, has the same amount of energy as £2,000 of coal.”
— Isabelle (65:33)

“You would need like 200 Chernobyls happening every single year for nuclear to be as dangerous as fossil fuels are.”
— Isabelle (61:34)

“How do we keep the future human?”
— Gwyneth (53:00)

“Nuclear should serve as an example of how we think about technology and the impact on both the environment and people as well.”
— Isabelle (78:09)

Key Segment Timestamps

• 04:45: Isabelle’s childhood in rural Brazil
• 10:08: First attraction to America; cultural perceptions
• 14:41: Modeling discovery and life-changing “knowing”
• 19:46: Climate crisis as catalyst for switching careers
• 21:01: Early exposure to nuclear, curiosity, and challenges in science communication
• 29:00: Creation of Isodope and the aim to solve nuclear’s PR problem
• 32:55: France vs. US nuclear programs—what went right and wrong
• 38:26: Anti-nuclear movement, bombs, culture of fear, oil industry influence
• 44:56: Why nuclear over solar/wind; energy density explanation
• 47:43–62:15: Nuclear accidents (Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima)—causes, myths, realities
• 65:33: Gummy-bear-sized uranium pellet = £2,000 coal
• 68:22–69:51: Bipartisan political support, nuclear startups
• 74:39: Five-year shift in US nuclear public opinion
• 78:09: The need for holistic, farsighted regulation and ‘thinking like nuclear’

Closing Reflection

This episode breaks down the complexity and emotion-loaded history of nuclear power, making a compelling case for its role in combating climate change. Isabelle Boemeke’s story embodies the power of curiosity, communication, and unwavering advocacy, as she reframes nuclear energy from a symbol of fear to a beacon of abundant, clean, and humane progress. The conversation closes with an urgent call to apply nuclear’s rigorous long-view thinking to all emerging technologies and environmental challenges.

Highly recommended for listeners who want a fresh, science-savvy, and culturally nuanced take on the future of energy, activism, and the human side of technology.