Welcome to the episode number 24 of the Authors of Mass Destruction podcast. My name is Natasha Bajema, aka WMDgirl on Twitter. I’m a fiction author, national security expert and your host for this podcast.

• If you’re interested in science & technology, in reading good fiction, or want to write fiction based on technology, you’re in the right place.
• Before we get started, a few notes:
  • The views expressed on this podcast are my own and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.
  • The AOMD podcast is proud to be part of the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network. Check us out at www.authorsontheair.com
• I hope you’ve all had a great summer! I’ve very much enjoyed my break from the podcast, but am glad to get back to it. I love podcasting, but if you’ve ever done it, you know how much time and energy it takes. I spend about 4-5 hours per episode; that includes scheduling, preparing for and recording guest interviews, preparing and recording the intros, editing, and distribution. Over the break, I had a revelation and a dilemma. I can’t do everything. I’m also a fiction writer and trying to start up my own consulting firm. I have to focus my time on things that put a roof over my head. Unfortunately, my podcast still costs me money to produce. That means that I’m paying money each week to bring you episodes.
• And that brings me to my pitch, if you want more episodes, you can help me get there. If you enjoy my podcast and want me to keep it up, I hope you’ll become a patron for only a few dollars a month at Patreon at www.patreon.com– p a t r e o n / natashabajema
• Until I can justify more podcasting, I will continue produce two episodes a month. If you want me to do more, please consider becoming a patron.
• All of this is very much in line with today’s interview with Laicie Heeley who is the CEO, and Editor and Chief of Inkstick Media and the host of the Things that Go Boom podcast.
• We talk about starting a new business, podcasting, and the conflict between the United States and Iran and Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
• This is a pretty timely interview. In recent headlines, we’re reading about Iran speeding up their uranium enrichment program and their intentions to exceed limits within their nuclear agreement. This development comes after several moves by Iran away from the agreement to freeze and reduce its nuclear program that the U.S. withdrew from May 2018.
• I hope you tune into a fascinating conversation with Laicie where we use jelly beans to explain uranium enrichment.