Walt Disney’s Wish Upon an Atom With Sam Gennawey episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 8, 2026 · 31 MIN

Walt Disney’s Wish Upon an Atom With Sam Gennawey

from Fissionary · host NEI

What if Walt Disney had actually built the city of the future—powered by nuclear energy?In the Season 5 premiere of Fissionary, hosts Mary Carpenter and Jordan Houghton sit down with urban planner and author Sam Gennawey to uncover how Walt’s imagination extended far beyond theme parks. From Disneyland to his unrealized vision for Epcot, Walt dreamed of communities built around innovation, clean power, and human connection. Sam shares how those plans included a nuclear-powered city under a climate-controlled dome, what it reveals about Disney’s faith in technology, and why his “yes, if” philosophy still matters today.Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary.Sam’s Book: Sacred Landscapes Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener surveyMusic used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik

What if Walt Disney had actually built the city of the future—powered by nuclear energy?In the Season 5 premiere of Fissionary, hosts Mary Carpenter and Jordan Houghton sit down with urban planner and author Sam Gennawey to uncover how Walt’s imagination extended far beyond theme parks. From Disneyland to his unrealized vision for Epcot, Walt dreamed of communities built around innovation, clean power, and human connection. Sam shares how those plans included a nuclear-powered city under a climate-controlled dome, what it reveals about Disney’s faith in technology, and why his “yes, if” philosophy still matters today.Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary.Sam’s Book: Sacred Landscapes Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener surveyMusic used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik

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Walt Disney’s Wish Upon an Atom With Sam Gennawey

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What if Walt Disney had actually built the city of the future—powered by nuclear energy?In the Season 5 premiere of Fissionary, hosts Mary Carpenter and Jordan Houghton sit down with urban planner and author Sam Gennawey to uncover how Walt’s...

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