4.6 • 4.1K Ratings
🗓️ 15 July 2021
⏱️ 48 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
In the late 1970s, oil and natural gas fields across the U.S. were drying up, making the country increasingly dependent on foreign oil. Then, a Texas energy magnate named George Mitchell decided to try extracting natural gas from shale, a layer of rock almost two miles beneath the surface, using a technique called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. His innovation would kick off an energy revolution, and spur a massive environmental backlash.
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0:14.2 | podcasts. It's after 10 p.m. on December 14th, 2007 in a suburb outside of Cleveland. |
0:32.0 | Richard and Thelma Payne, both in their 80s, are getting ready for bed. |
0:37.0 | Thelma's in the bathroom brushing her teeth. |
0:40.0 | Their white split-level house isn't fancy, but they've lived here for more than 50 years and still love the place. |
0:46.7 | They raised six children here. For Thelma, it's full of memories. |
0:50.8 | Thelma spits out her toothpaste and turns on the water to rinse off her |
0:55.1 | toothbrush. Not again. Richard! |
1:00.5 | Richard shuffles in, his pajama shirt half buttoned. |
1:03.0 | What is it? The water's being strange again. |
1:06.0 | Richard turns a tap back on and watches the water sputter on and off. |
1:11.0 | Air must have gotten into the pipes. I'll call the plumber in the morning. |
1:15.0 | All right. Richard climbs into bed, pulling back the covers for Thelma. |
1:20.0 | She climbs in beside him and gives him a good night kiss. |
1:23.0 | Good night, sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite. |
1:28.0 | And with that, Thelma drifts off to sleep. Sometime later, in the middle of the night, she's jolted awake. |
1:38.0 | What was that? |
1:40.0 | What's happening? |
1:41.0 | Richard sits up, listening carefully. It sounds like all the drawers in the next |
... |
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