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Sit back, relax, and say adieu! Today on the Nuclear Movie Club, we're wrapping this baby up. Scott and I conclude NukeTalk's Nuclear Movie Club season with some big picture musings on the season as a whole, the future of the nuclear movie canon, and we end with a rapid fire Nuclear Movie Club Awards segment. Now, NukeTalk is going on hiatus! Follow Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about what's next for the podcast. Until next time. NukeTalk is edited by Ryan Kuhfeld.

Sit back, relax, and brush up on your Reagan-era politics—today on the Nuclear Movie Club, we're talking about Nicholas Meyer's 1983 television movie, The Day After. On this episode, Scott and I discuss if The Day After is defining film of the nuclear film canon, the hopeful yet inconsistent tone of this disaster movie, and The Day After's legacy among an entire generation, including its impact on President Ronald Reagan.  This is our last (movie) episode of NukeTalk's Nuclear Movie Club season! Tune in the next couple of weeks for our wrap-up episode. Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about what's next for NukeTalk. NukeTalk is edited by Ryan Kuhfeld.

Sit back, relax, and don't watch this movie after you've eaten—today on the Nuclear Movie Club, we're talking about Mick Jackson's 1984 television movie, Threads. On this episode, Scott and I discuss if Threads is the most "comprehensive" nuclear film, the movie's jarring and unflinching portrayal of a post-nuclear landscape, and the news that a British production studio plans to develop Threads into a television show. Plus, Scott gives a brief download on the US and Israel's war with Iran and the thought leadership some of Ploughshares' grantees & partners are producing in response (this was recorded on March 11—and much has transpired since).  In the episode, we mention a stellar retrospective write up on Threads published by our friends at the Outrider Foundation. Read it here: Revisiting ‘Threads’ – Director and Star Reflect on the 1984 Nuclear Apocalypse TV Movie and Its Enduring Impact Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about the movie of the week. NukeTalk is edited by Ryan Kuhfeld. Questions, comments, or movie trivia? Email [email protected]! See you at the movies!

Sit back, relax, and find love at the La Brea Tar Pits for Miracle Mile, a 1988 film written and, after being passed around Hollywood for a decade, also directed by Steve De Jarnatt.  In this episode of the Nuclear Movie Club, NukeTalk cohosts Rebecka Green and Scott Strgacich discuss Miracle Mile's tumultuous pre-production history, the film's startling tonal shifts, whether a nuclear movie can—or should—have a happy ending, and how Anthony Edwards' character is an all-time "simp" in cinema. PS: If the start of this episode's audio sounds a bit different to you, one of the microphones jumped around during recording. After the first question, the audio clears up. Thanks for understanding. Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about the movie of the week. NukeTalk is edited by Ryan Kuhfeld. Questions, comments, or movie trivia? Email [email protected]! See you at the movies!

Sit back, relax, and brew a pot of tea for When the Wind Blows, a 1986 animated film directed by Jimmy Murakami based on the graphic novel by Raymond Briggs. In this episode of the Nuclear Movie Club, NukeTalk producer Rebecka Green and Ploughshares Roger L. Hale Fellow Scott Strgacich discuss When the Wind Blow's domestic eeriness, the big punch a small-scale story can make, how the film's animation is key to its impact, and why you should probably keep your home's doors where they are...for now. PS: If part of this episode's audio sounds a bit different to you, one of the microphones unknowingly cut out during recording and required some post-production magic by our editor, Ryan Kuhfeld. Thanks for understanding. Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about the movie of the week. Questions, comments, or movie trivia? Email [email protected]! See you at the movies!

Sit back, relax, and run like Tom Cruise trying to prevent an evil AI entity from causing nuclear war, for the Mission Impossible franchise. Mission Impossible is an 8-movie run of action films starring Tom Cruise and spanning three decades, concluding with 2025's MI: Final Reckoning, which is the main focus of our conversation. In this episode of the Nuclear Movie Club, NukeTalk producer Rebecka Green is joined by Ploughshares Senior Manager of Impact, Alex Hall, to discuss the Mission Impossible franchise's steady nuclear weapons escalation, the narrative appeal of a "hero" against nukes, Final Reckoning's positioning of AI threats, and how Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character is always on planes instead of in them. Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about the movie of the week. Questions, comments, or movie trivia? Email [email protected]. NukeTalk is edited by Ryan Kuhfeld. See you at the movies!

Sit back, relax, and pack snacks for the War Room for Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Stanley Kubrick's 1964 political satire starring Peter Sellers (x3) and George C. Scott. After a brief New Years break, in this episode of the Nuclear Movie Club, NukeTalk producer Rebecka Green and Ploughshares Roger L. Hale Fellow Scott Strgacich discuss Dr. Strangelove's unique satirical approach to depicting nuclear threat, war rooms, and...Chess: The Musical?  Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about the movie of the week. Questions, comments, or movie trivia? Email [email protected]—we'll do our best to read it on the air! See you at the movies!

Sit back, relax, and hold your loved ones tight for On the Beach, Stanley Kramer's 1959 apocalyptic drama starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perkins. In this episode of the Nuclear Movie Club, NukeTalk producer Rebecka Green and Ploughshares Roger L. Hale Fellow Scott Strgacich discuss On the Beach's depiction of the end times, the creep of nuclear fallout, and whether or not On the Beach may have too much...beach. Love, loss, auto racing, Australians sans Australian accents, nuclear fallout—On the Beach has it all. Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about the movie of the week. Questions, comments, or movie trivia? Email [email protected]—we'll do our best to read it on the air! See you at the movies!

Sit back, relax, and choose your second-in-command wisely for Crimson Tide, Tony Scott's 1995 military thriller starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. In this episode of the Nuclear Movie Club, NukeTalk producer Rebecka Green and Ploughshares Roger L. Hale Fellow Scott Strgacich discuss Crimson Tide's submarine technicalities, the nuclear attitude of the mid-90s, and if the film's mutiny plotline(s) could happen or if they're merely a Hollywood fabrication. Deep sea drama, problematic horse metaphors, command and control, Quentin Tarantino, tiny dogs—Crimson Tide has it all. Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about the movie of the week. Questions, comments, or movie trivia? Email [email protected]—we'll do our best to read it on the air! See you at the movies!

Sit back, relax, and join the Nuclear Movie Club for WarGames, John Badham's 1983 technothriller starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy—and perhaps better known as the movie that caused President Ronald Reagan *major anxiety* about U.S. cybersecurity. In this episode, NukeTalk producer Rebecka Green and Ploughshares Roger L Hale Fellow Scott Strgacich discuss WarGames's many (many!) themes, technical intricacies, and 80s parenting styles. AI, video games, NORAD, dinosaurs—this movie has it all. Follow NukeTalk on Instagram and X @nuke_talk and Ploughshares on Instagram and X @plough_shares to be the first in the know about the movie of the week. Questions, comments, or movie trivia? Email [email protected]—we'll do our best to read it on the air! See you at the movies!   ***This season of NukeTalk is produced and hosted by Rebecka Green with support from Scott Strgacich. Editing by Ryan Kuhfeld.

For the first episode of NukeTalk's new season, Nuclear Movie Club, we are joined by Noah Oppenheim, screenwriter of A House of Dynamite—a new Netflix film by Kathryn Bigelow—and former president of NBC News.  The Nuclear Movie Club will cover 10 defining movies in the nuclear film canon that represent a breadth of plot, theme, tone, and cultural impact. What do these films get right, and wrong, about depictions of nuclear threat? And what are the lasting impacts nuclear films can have on culture, policy, and public opinion? We will explore these questions, themes, and lots of fun facts on this season of NukeTalk. Follow NukeTalk on X @nuke_talk and Instagram @nuke_talk. Learn more about how you can contribute to global nuclear threat reduction by visiting Ploughshares at: ploughshares.org and signing up for our newsletter. This season of NukeTalk is produced and hosted by Rebecka Green. Editing done by Ryan Kuhfeld.

What's at stake in this election? With nukes on the line, experts share what’s on their minds just days before the election. How could this election reshape US nuclear policy?  Find out with insights from Molly Hurley, Allen Hester, and Esther Im as they break down the nuclear issues that could shape the future. Tune in for a wrap-up of The Nuclear Ballot season!

This election isn’t just about votes—it’s about who controls the world’s most powerful weapons. In this season of NukeTalk, we will explore The Nuclear Ballot: How the U.S. Election Shapes Nuclear Policy. We bring you insights from top nuclear weapons experts on how this election can shape nuclear weapons policy in the future as stakes rise in this election cycle.   In this episode, we’ll explore the intricate web of strategic relationships shaped by the upcoming US election, focusing on the US relationships with China, Russia, and NATO. As candidates navigate [or blatantly ignore] nuclear weapons and global security, their language may influence these relationships. In a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, we'll explore how election outcomes could impact power dynamics, provoke reactions from adversaries, and ultimately reshape alliances.   Featured Guests: Dr. Tong Zhao, senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Kimberly St. Julian Varnon, a doctoral candidate in Soviet history at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Marion Messmer, senior research fellow in the International Security program at Chatham House.

This election isn’t just about votes—it’s about who controls the world’s most powerful weapons. In this season of NukeTalk, we will explore The Nuclear Ballot: How the U.S. Election Shapes Nuclear Policy. We bring you insights from top nuclear weapons experts on how this election can shape nuclear weapons policy in the future as stakes rise in this election cycle. In this episode, we delve into the hidden human toll of nuclear weapons in the United States. Discover how the escalating defense budget, the looming discussions on resuming nuclear tests, and the continued neglect of those impacted by the nuclear weapons complex reveal a stark and troubling reality. Join us as we uncover the forgotten victims and the ongoing impacts of America's nuclear legacy. Featured Guests: Scott Yundt, Executive Director of Tri-Valley CAREs; Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, Director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS); and Mary Dickson, award-winning writer, downwinder, and advocate.

There's more to this election cycle than who wins and who loses. It's also about who controls one of the world's largest nuclear arsenals. In this season of NukeTalk, we will explore The Nuclear Ballot: How the U.S. Election Shapes Nuclear Policy. We'll provide expert insights into how this election can affect nuclear weapons policy. As we explore the President's exclusive authority to launch nuclear weapons to the strategic decisions outlined in the Nuclear Posture Review, we unravel the complexities that shape national and global security. Additionally, we will examine the media's coverage of nuclear weapons during an election year.   Featured Guests: Kathleen Kingsbury, opinion editor at The New York Times, W.J. Hennigan, writer for The New York Times' "At the Brink" series, Dr. David Kearn, Associate Professor of Government and Politics at St. John's University, and Visiting Scholar at Harvard Kennedy School's Project on Managing the Atom, and Mackenzie Knight, Senior Research Associate at the Federation of American Scientists.