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Outside/In

Drilled: The Panic

Outside/In

NHPR

Society & Culture, Documentary, Natural Sciences, Nature, Science

4.71.5K Ratings

🗓️ 10 August 2023

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

At Outside/In, we often talk about the challenge of covering climate in a way that doesn’t leave us feeling hopeless or overwhelmed. For us, that’s often meant staying curious and keeping a sense of humor.  But a few years ago, investigative journalist Amy Westervelt had another idea. Why not use one of podcasting’s most popular genres—true crime—to tell the story of climate change?  From greenwashing to climate denialism and corporate propaganda, Drilled makes accountability journalism a thrill to listen to, while consistently being one of the most informative sources for in-depth climate news. So today, we’re featuring the first episode of their latest three-part series: “Herb.” This is the story of Herb Schmertz, the political strategist-turned-oil-man who popularized corporate personhood, and how it's become one of the biggest problems facing climate action today.  Featuring Robert Kerr and Robert Bruhl Read the episode transcript.   SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In.  Subscribe to our newsletter (it’s free!). Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. Submit a question to the “Outside/Inbox.” We answer queries about the natural world, climate change, sustainability, and human evolution. You can send a voice memo to outsidein@nhpr.org or leave a message on our hotline, 1-844-GO-OTTER (844-466-8837).   CREDITS This episode of Drilled was written and reported by Amy Westervelt.  It was produced and sound designed by Martin Zaltz Ostwick.  Sound engineer: Peter Doff  Additional reporting by Julia Manepela Fact checking: Wudan Yan Outside/In is hosted by Nate Hegyi. The team also includes Tayor Quimby, Justine Paradis, Felix Poon, and Jeongyoon Han.  Outside/In’s executive producer is Rebecca Lavoie Outside/In is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is outside in, I'm Justine Paradise in for Nate Hegey this week.

0:05.2

Over the years we've talked a lot in our editorial meetings about the challenge of covering

0:09.0

climate in a way that doesn't leave us feeling hopeless or overwhelmed.

0:13.5

And our approach has been to stay curious, to look for interesting solutions and stories,

0:19.3

and to keep our sense of humor alive as much as possible.

0:22.2

But back in 2016, investigative journalist Amy Westervalt had another idea.

0:29.7

We're not used one of podcasting's most popular genres, true crime, to tell the story of

0:35.8

climate change.

0:39.4

Since then, Amy's podcast, Drilled, has been covering greenwashing, climate denialism,

0:44.7

and corporate propaganda like no other show out there.

0:48.6

And it works, Drilled makes accountability journalism sound fun and frustrating in

0:53.6

all the right ways, while consistently being one of the most informative sources for in-depth

0:58.0

climate news out there.

1:00.4

So today we are featuring the first episode of their latest three-part series about a guy

1:04.8

named Herb Schmerz.

1:06.6

A political strategist turned mobile executive, and the guy who invented a corporate personality

1:11.8

for big oil.

1:13.8

Alright, here it is.

1:18.1

Everyone has a story I can learn from, to be fearless like her, to have the confidence

1:24.1

to achieve my dreams.

1:27.1

This ad that you're hearing, it starts out with a little girl dressed in an Amelia Earhart outfit.

1:34.7

Then it pans to a montage of women playing golf, professionals clearly.

...

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