Drilled

Latest Episodes:

The Paradox of Mining Lithium to Save the Planet | The Spill Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

Most proposals to keep fossil fuels in the ground rely on taking new minerals out of the ground — especially lithium, a major component in the batteries powering electric vehicles. In Thea Riofrancos' book, Extraction, she visits the communities most impacted by lithium mining, explores the mineral's politics and history, and proposes a pathway toward harm reduction.
Reading list from today’s show:
1. Thea Riofrancos' book, Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism
2. Amy Westervelt's new book, Brought to You By: How Corporations Warped the Truth, Conned the Public, and Broke Democracy

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How Tech Billionaires Broke Democracy | The Spill Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

Tech billionaires have increasing influence over all aspects of our lives, and it's not by accident. Amy Westervelt and Gil Durán both recently published books examining the ideas and individuals driving the phenomenon. They discuss what it has to do with the climate crisis and the deterioration of democracy.
Reading list from today’s show:
1. Gil Durán's new book, The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy
2. Amy Westervelt's new book, Brought to You By: How Corporations Warped the Truth, Conned the Public, and Broke Democracy
3. Lithub interview between Gil and Amy

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Garifuna land defenders vs. Survivor (as in the TV show) | The Spill Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

Amy Westervelt, Nina Lakhani and Alleen Brown chat about Standing Rock 10 years later, Global Witness's latest report on assassinations of land defenders, and why Palestinians in Gaza are land defenders, too. Meanwhile, Afro-Indigenous Garífuna leaders in Honduras have set up an occupation in front of the country's Supreme Court, in defense of their land rights. Nina interviews Karen Spring, coordinator of the the Honduras Solidarity Network, about what this has to do with Trump and the TV show Survivor.
Reading list from today’s show:
1. The Propagandist, Drilled's narrative podcast series on propaganda aimed against the Standing Rock movement
2. Global Witness's annual report on assassinations of land defenders
3. Nina Lakhani's chapter on ecocide in Gaza is featured in the book Gaza: The Story of a Genocide
4. Nina's other book, Who Killed Berta Cáceres?: Dams, Death Squads, and an Indigenous Defender’s Battle for the Planet
5. El libro de Nina, traducción al español, ¿Quién mató a Berta Cáceres?
6. Reportage desde el campamento de resistencia Garífuna por la periodista Mexicana Blanche Petrich
7. Amy Westervelt's new book, Brought to You By: How Corporations Warped the Truth, Conned the Public, and Broke Democracy

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Carbon Credit Markets Have a Human Rights Problem | The Spill Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Drilled global climate justice reporter Nina Lakhani interviews Elisa Morgera, the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change about Morgera’s latest report on the fundamental shortcomings of credit markets. Posed as a solution to the climate crisis, carbon credit markets have for years failed to deliver, while violating the human rights of the people most impacted by the climate crisis. Meanwhile, states have developed carbon tunnel-vision, fixating on schemes to reduce carbon emissions, while avoiding the root cause of the issue: fossil fuels. Lakhani and Morgera discuss all that and more.
Reading list from today’s show:
1. Elisa Morgera's latest report on rethinking carbon markets.
2. Elisa's report on transforming food systems
3. Diana Taremwa-Karakire's recent piece for Drilled on a Kenyan carbon credit project
4. Nina Lakhani’s analysis on the Santa Marta climate conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels
5. More reporting on the failures of carbon markets
6. Amy Westervelt's book: https://geni.us/broughttoyouby

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The Invitation from OCCUPY!: An Unfinished Uprising Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Today we're sharing an episode of OCCUPY!: An Unfinished Uprising. The story of Occupy Wall Street — how it exploded, how it collapsed, and why its lessons may matter more now than ever before — from the voices of activists who camped out in New York City for two months.

If you like what you hear, find OCCUPY!: An Unfinished Uprising wherever you listen to podcasts.

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The Climate Movement Fights Back | The Spill Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode Alleen Brown speaks with Aru Shiney-Ajay, executive director of The Sunrise Movement about being infiltrated by the feds, why fighting authoritarianism is a climate fight, and more.

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Amy Westervelt on the Real Organic Podcast: Think Tanks, Greenwashing + The War on Reality Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

This week we’re sharing a special episode from our friends at the Real Organic Podcast, the Anthem-award-winning “Best Sustainability, Environment & Climate Podcast” produced by the Real Organic Project. Recently named one of the "best climate podcasts" by Earth.org, the Real Organic Podcast uncovers the forces reshaping organic farming today. Hosted by Linley Dixon and Dave Chapman, each episode features deep conversations with farmers, scientists, chefs, and journalists fighting to keep the organic movement truly organic. Like today’s special episode, featuring Drilled’s own Amy Westervelt, for a conversation about the hidden systems and greenwashing campaigns that have shaped public discourse and debate for more than a century. From early corporate PR to modern think tanks and strategic legal influence, she shows how the information ecosystem itself has been bent in service of fossil fuel profits.
For more episodes like this, make sure to follow Real Organic Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And tell them we sent you.

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Welcome to "The Spill," Our New Weekly Newscast Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

Amy Westervelt, Nina Lakhani and Alleen Brown on the world on fire, how the media is covering the climate crisis, what's happening with the industry as a whole, and how it all relates to rising authoritarianism. The Spill is our new weekly show to bring you news, rants, and interviews in between narrative seasons.

Reading list from today's show:

Amy's book: geni.us/broughttoyouby
The Guardian on fossil fuel companies' war profiteering: https://www.theguardian.com/business/ng-interactive/2026/aug/04/revealed-major-oil-firms-make-93bn-profits-amid-war-and-climate-crisis
Nina's past reporting on extreme heat deaths: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2025/oct/09/extreme-heat-deaths-autopsy
Drilled coverage of criminal conduct in Venezuela: https://drilled.media/news/hopenhaym
Drilled reporting on the U.S.-Venezuela-Guyana triangle: https://drilled.media/news/guyana-venezuela
Alleen's new series "The Propagandist": https://drilled.media/podcasts/drilled/16/s16-ep01

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Episode 3: The Story of a Decade-Long Investigation Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Alleen could only put together a story like this because she's stayed on the beat for a decade, building relationships and hunting for documents. At the 10-year anniversary of the Standing Rock movement, she gives us a look at why it's important for democracy for journalists to go deeper than breaking news. Speaking of which...Buy Amy's book! https://geni.us/broughttoyouby
For a look at the primary documents underpinning this series, head to https://drilled.media/.This mini-series was reported in partnership with High Country News, and a print feature accompanying it is available on their website: https://www.hcn.org/issues/58-8/inside-standing-rocks-propaganda-war/.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 2: The Real Outside Agitators of Iowa Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The pipeline has been built, the protest camps disbanded, but the fight isn't over. As pipeline opponents set up a new camp in Iowa, the Tiger Swan propagandists follow them, this time with the help of an undercover infiltrator. A WhatsApp chat reveals the private spies' machinations.
For a look at the primary documents underpinning this episode, head to https://drilled.media/.This mini-series was reported in partnership with High Country News, and a print feature accompanying it is available on their website: https://www.hcn.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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