When most true crime podcasts begin, the victim has already met their demise. The victim is in trouble in the Drilled podcast, but there's still time to save them. The victim is Mother Earth, and the villain is the fossil fuel industry. Anyone concerned about the future may want to listen to this award-winning podcast.
Amy Westervelt is the investigative journalist who hosts Drilled, a climate-change-focused podcast. The New York Times and The Guardian are among the publications that have printed her work. Much of her efforts focus on climate and justice. She also worked with Indigenous activist Rebecca Nagle on the podcast This Land. Podcast episodes alternate between sound bites and Westervelt's measured and confident narration. Many people contribute to this important narrative. The sound bites come from people who have information or an impact on the story. Some are journalists. Others are people who once worked for the oil companies the podcast examines.
The first episode of the Drilled podcast investigates the origins of climate denial. The story began in the late '70s. Scientists warned Exxon about the potential impacts of their corporate plan. Exxon believed the scientists. At that time, everyone seemed to agree about ecological concerns. Scientists, fossil fuel companies, and politicians all seemed willing to talk. So what happened?
There were disinformation campaigns in the '90s. Religious groups played a role, as did the First Amendment. Then West Coast fishermen could not fish because the water was getting too warm. There were lawsuits and fake news. Then there was misinformation. Each Drilled episode explores a part of history that led to the current concerns. Other topics include greenwashing and the culture war. The podcast features new episodes each week.
Season 10