Mining for the Climate

About Mining for the Climate

Behind every electric vehicle is at least one mine and a community that has been altered by it. Mining for the Climate peers under the hood to get to know the people and places impacted by the rush to mine critical minerals. In the process, we take a hard look at the stories told about climate change, mining and the energy transition and we consider less mining-dependent futures. Season 1 takes listeners to a proposed lithium mine in Gaston County, North Carolina, an agricultural region hailed by mining and green technology companies as a future hub for the production of lithium batteries. Season 2 brings listeners to the McDermitt Caldera, a desert region that has recently become the epicenter of US lithium mining. Mining for the Climate is created by Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio for Season 1 and by Nate Otjen and Jessica Ng for Season 2. It is a production of Princeton University’s Blue Lab, which is co-led by Allison Carruth and Barron Bixler. Additional support at Princeton has come from the High Meadows Environmental Institute, the Humanities Council and the Office of the Dean of Research. Season 1 Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. Season 2 Copyright 2025 Nate Otjen, Jessica Ng and Blue Lab. All rights reserved. To learn more about Mining for the Climate and Blue Lab’s other original media projects and series visit: http://bluelabmedia.org/.

Publisher

Blue Lab

Category

science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Feb 2024

Latest episode

22 May 2025

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 May 2025

   Season 2, Episode 4: Long Haul

   Rancher Susan Frey and Shoshone Paiute activist Gary McKinney explore resistance and survival strategies for Indigenous and settler communities facing uncertainties from the Thacker Pass Mine in this interview episode.

2. 

   22 May 2025

   Season 2, Episode 3: Land Access

   Host Nate Otjen explores how the federal government prioritizes mining over other land uses in northern Nevada, impacting local communities facing lithium mines; this is a solo episode.

3. 

   22 May 2025

   Season 2, Episode 2: Caldera as Home

   Christopher Bao explores the deep connections of Native and non-Native individuals to the McDermitt Caldera and their fight to protect it from potential loss, revealing the significance of this land.

4. 

   22 May 2025

   Season 2, Episode 1: Energy Colony

   Hosts Jessica Ng and Jose Santacruz examine Nevada's lithium production and the approval of the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine, revealing the state's potential transformation into an energy colony.

5. 

   9 Feb 2024

   Episode 5: Forking Paths

   The road ahead for the Carolina Lithium project seems uncertain. In this final episode, we look at the greatest obstacle confronting Piedmont Lithium: convincing the Gaston County Board of Commissioners to approve their rezoning request. Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It's a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University. Episode Credits Written by Nate Otjen Hosted by Nate Otjen Sound design by Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com), Shake that Little Foot and Pryor Meadows Shady Grove by Shake That Little Foot is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License Audio Clip Credits More Mobility with Less Mining, Climate and Community, 2023 Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved.

6. 

   8 Feb 2024

   Episode 4: A Tale of Two Ranchers

   Many residents of Gaston County make their living through farming and ranching. We meet a cattle and a horse rancher whose livelihoods and animals are threatened by the mine. Both women are doing everything in their power to stop the mine and maintain their way of life. Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It's a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University. Episode Credits Written by Grace Wang Hosted by Grace Wang Sound design by Grace Wang and Juan Manuel Rubio Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com), Shake that Little Foot, Pryor Meadows and Olexy Shady Grove by Shake That Little Foot is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved.

7. 

   7 Feb 2024

   Episode 3: The Body of the Mine

   Like a body, a mine has its own metabolism. It consumes water, trees and energy, and it releases chemicals, carbon and wastewater. These metabolic processes are supposed to be hidden: few want to see, hear, smell or taste a mine in operation. Unearthing the body of the mine, we ask how Piedmont Lithium highlights certain aspects of the mine’s processes while directing attention away from others. Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It's a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University. Episode Credits Written by Alex Norbrook and Juan Manuel Rubio Hosted by Alex Norbrook Sound design by Juan Manuel Rubio Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com), Shake that Little Foot and Pryor Meadows Shady Grove by Shake That Little Foot is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License Audio Clip Credits Gaston County Board of Commissioners July 20, 2021, Gaston County Government, 2021 Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved.

8. 

   6 Feb 2024

   Episode 2: Land Histories and Futures

   Building a mine requires a substantial amount of land. This episode investigates the tactics used by Piedmont Lithium to accumulate a critical amount of land for its operations. We take listeners to visit burned-out houses and empty lots and to meet the neighbors who sold and those who remain. Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It’s a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University. Episode Credits Written by Max Widmann Hosted by Max Widmann Sound design by Juan Manuel Rubio Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com), Shake that Little Foot and Pryor Meadows Shady Grove by Shake That Little Foot is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License Audio Clip Credits Senator Thom Tillis at Piedmont Lithium HQ Open House, Piedmont Lithium, 2022 Gaston County Board of Commissioners October 24, 2023 Meeting, Gaston County Government, 2023 Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved.

9. 

   5 Feb 2024

   Episode 1: White Gold Rush

   A few stories about critical minerals have dominated the news lately: “We must mine to save the planet;” “China is taking over rare-earth elements;” “EVs are leading the green revolution.” These stories lay the groundwork for a future that is unquestionably mining intensive. However, does every mine need to be built? The proposed lithium mine in Gaston County, North Carolina, has not broken ground and it’s already causing significant disruptions for residents. So how dangerous is the idea of a mine? Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It’s a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University. Episode Credits Written by Juan Manuel Rubio Hosted by Juan Manuel Rubio Sound design by Juan Manuel Rubio Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com) and Pryor Meadows Audio Clip Credits A Look At Lithium Mining, CNN, 2022 Behind the First All-Electric Truck Company, Rivian, CBS Mornings, 2022 Chevron Back in Court for Worst Case of Oil Pollution on the Planet, The Real News Network, 2015 Critical Mineral Mining Sees Unprecedented Growth Fueled by Clean Energy Demand, CNBC, 2023 How Critical Minerals Are Vital to the Climate Fight, ABC News, 2022 In Major Win for Indigenous Rights, Ecuador Votes to Ban Oil Drilling in Protected Amazon Lands, Democracy Now, 2023 Last Look: The Green Transition Will Trigger a New Race for Natural Resources, CNN, 2022 Neighbors Speak out against Piedmont Lithium Mine Plan, 2021 Special Report : Inside the Congo Cobalt Mines That Exploit Children, Sky News, 2017 Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

17 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

4

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Mining for the Climate

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.