Paul Goranson on Nuclear Energy and Fatherhood: Tips for Dads
Jun 05, 2025
As a dad, you’re navigating a high-stakes world—raising kids in a digital age while chasing career goals. In my latest podcast episode, I sat down with Paul Goranson, a 38-year veteran of the nuclear energy industry and father of two grown children. From leading uranium mining operations to guiding Boy Scouts, Paul’s wisdom spans energy resilience and family leadership. He shares actionable tips for dads to balance career and kids, alongside insights on nuclear power’s role in America’s energy future. As we post this interview on June 5, 2025, here’s Paul’s story, his vision for nuclear energy, and seven practical steps to level up as a dad.
Nuclear Energy’s Bright Future
Paul Goranson spent nearly four decades in the uranium business, working across the nuclear fuel cycle from mining to utility partnerships. “I’ve done just about everything in this business,” he says, having entered after Three Mile Island when nuclear was seen as a fading industry. Today, he sees a renaissance. Nuclear power is no longer a problem—it’s a solution to America’s energy demands.
Why the shift? Data centers and AI are power-hungry, and renewables like wind and solar haven’t delivered reliable, dispatchable energy. Paul highlights nuclear’s high energy density, producing vast electricity with minimal resource inputs compared to renewables’ heavy mineral demands. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are a game-changer, offering flexible, localized power. Companies like Dow Chemical are deploying X-Energy’s SMRs with innovative Triso fuel—billiard-ball-sized spheres replacing traditional rods. The Trump administration’s push for energy dominance, slashing regulations, is accelerating SMR deployment and reactor restarts. “We’re on the cusp of a radical change,” Paul says, predicting a return to distributed generation like the 1970s, powering grids where needed most.
For investors, Paul suggests energy stocks, including uranium and nuclear utilities, though SMR opportunities are often private. Companies like BWXT, advancing Triso fuel, and Halliburton, supporting energy infrastructure, are worth researching. His tip: focus on firms driving energy density and grid resilience, not just renewables.
Lessons from the Grid: Winter Storm Uri
Paul’s optimism is grounded in hard lessons. In 2021, Winter Storm Uri left his Texas home without power for six days. “We were 20 minutes from a complete grid failure,” he recalls, blaming over-reliance on unreliable renewables without dispatchable backups like nuclear or natural gas. Frozen wind turbines and neglected black-start sites exposed the grid’s fragility. Post-storm audits revealed misallocated funds favoring green energy over maintenance.
This wake-up call spurred policy shifts. Grid operators now prioritize nuclear and gas to ensure dispatchable power, while the Trump administration’s energy council pushes resilience. Paul’s work with utilities like Amazon and Microsoft, colocating data centers with nuclear plants, shows how nuclear can meet modern demands. His advice for the U.S.: invest in nuclear infrastructure—reactors, SMRs, and human expertise—to avoid future crises and power economic growth.
Fatherhood in a Digital Age
Paul raised his kids (now 37 and 38) in a simpler era, but he sees today’s dads grappling with new challenges. Social media amplifies peer pressure, bombarding kids with influences from all angles. “It’s hard to find a kid without a phone,” he notes, observing his eight grandkids. Schools’ reliance on tech over books adds complexity. Yet, Paul believes kids are resilient: “Most will figure it out, but they may go through tough times.”
Another challenge is over-coddling. Paul warns against shielding kids from failure, citing neighbors’ scrutiny when his son rode his bike alone at nine. “If you don’t let them show responsibility, they’ll never develop it,” he says. His parenting philosophy—let kids try, fail, and learn—built self-motivated adults. As a Boy Scout leader for 65 boys, he saw every personality, reinforcing his belief: “Your kid’s not so bad after all.”
Seven Actionable Tips for Dads
Paul’s fatherhood insights are practical and timeless. Here are seven steps to level up as a dad in 2025, with examples to make them real:
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Let Kids Fail Safely
Paul let his kids adventure, knowing failure breeds resilience. When his son did “stupid things,” Paul was there to pick him up, not prevent the fall. Action: Let your child try a new task (e.g., biking to a friend’s house) with clear rules. If they mess up, discuss the lesson calmly. -
Build Trust Early
Paul taught his kids responsibility through trust, not restrictions. “Explain you trust them, and they’ll reward you,” he says. Action: Give your kid a small responsibility (e.g., managing their homework) without hovering. Praise their effort to build confidence. -
Involve Family in Career Moves
Paul included his wife and kids (aged 10 and 11) in his major job change, ensuring family alignment. Action: Before accepting a new role, discuss its impact with your spouse and kids (if age-appropriate). Ask, “How will this affect our time together?” -
Pause and Pray
Faith centered Paul during career lows, like resigning from a toxic job. “Prayer helps me consider everything,” he says. Action: Before a big decision, take five minutes to reflect or pray, asking for clarity. Write down pros and cons to stay grounded. -
Prioritize Family Time
Paul regretted missing his kids’ childhood due to work. He changed jobs to be present. Action: Set one non-negotiable family activity weekly (e.g., Sunday dinner) and limit work travel or emails during it. -
Model Adaptability
Paul’s career pivot showed his kids how to take risks. “I went to night school, changed jobs,” he recalls. Action: Share a small career risk (e.g., pitching a new idea at work) with your kids, explaining how you adapted to challenges. -
Pursue Your Passion
Paul’s diamond advice to his son: follow your passion but keep family central. Action: Identify one passion project (e.g., a side hustle) and involve your family in planning it, like brainstorming ideas together.
Balancing Career and Family
Paul’s career wasn’t without lows. Early on, he felt stuck in toxic jobs, wondering if he’d fail. Inspired by the “Footprints in the Sand” poem, he leaned on faith to buck up. One pivotal move came when his kids were 10 and 11. Overworked and missing their childhood, he resigned from a dead-end role, leveraging industry relationships to land a better job. “It was a clean break,” he says, setting him on a CEO trajectory.
His secret? Relationships. Paul built trust with competitors, politicians, and colleagues, paying it forward. “Being helpful pays off,” he notes, benefiting his employers and career. He involved his wife and kids in decisions, ensuring career moves didn’t sacrifice family. Dads, he warns, risk regret if work overshadows kids. “I missed parts of their childhood,” he admits, urging presence over ambition.
Paul’s Legacy and How to Connect
At 62, Paul is semi-retired, enjoying his grandkids, but his passion for nuclear energy and fatherhood shines. Follow him on LinkedIn (search Paul Goranson) or X (@GoransonPaul) for energy insights and life updates. His advice to research BWXT, Halliburton, and Dow offers a starting point for energy enthusiasts. As he navigates post-CEO life, Paul’s legacy is clear: resilient kids, a robust energy vision, and faith-driven leadership.
Conclusion: Passion, Family, Faith
Paul Goranson’s journey—from uranium mines to family man—offers a roadmap for dads. His nuclear energy tips show a nation poised for resilience, powered by SMRs and policy shifts. His fatherhood advice—let kids fail, trust them, and keep family first—cuts through today’s noise. His diamond advice, “Follow your passion but keep family central,” resonates. In 2025, take one step: hug your kids, pray for guidance, or research nuclear stocks. As Paul proves, faith, family, and bold moves light the way. What’s your next step?