Reclaiming Coal: A Tour through the Anthracite

It is the end of season one and, to unpack, Abi and Melissa review the last three episodes, the takeaways from cults, blue carbon, and ecosystems, while pondering the larger impact of the season as a whole.  

Melissa travels to Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee to learn more about how the gradual disappearance of the endangered American Red Wolf affects the area's ecology. Abi talks with Maren Hunsberger about the ecology of our guts, and how altering our routines can either help fix our problems or throw everything off.  To hear more from Maren Hunsberger, check out her podcast, Surprisingly Brilliant, which explores the true and astonishing unknown stories behind the scientific events and discoveries that have shaped our modern world, wherever you get your podcasts. 

We take a trip to the Chesapeake Bay waters off the coast of Virginia, to visit a seagrass monitoring program and discuss what it's doing to protect and restore blue carbon stocks. Abi volunteers to help, and Melissa questions how this carbon market thing works. 

Abi and Melissa travel to Philadelphia to see the Cave of Kelpius, the place where America's first doomsday cult awaited the end of the world, and they discuss community, cults, and loneliness.

Abi and Melissa break down the past three episodes, provide updates, and play a game of Truth or Myth. They also tell listeners where they're headed for the next three episodes. 

We head into coal country, Pennslyvania, to meet the people who are reclaiming abandoned mine lands and using coal refuse to create power. Along the way, we dive into the history of coal in the US, and the intricacies of burning rock responsibly.  

Abi and Melissa visit the Nanticoke Indian Museum in Delaware and talk with tribe member Morningstar about the tribe's story and their newly purchased land. Melissa then talks with researchers Chara Huessler Bohan and TJ Hindley about American's history book's long saga of hiding information. 

We are back with four new episodes, starting with a tour of the restoration work happening at Richmond's historic black Woodland cemetery; we talk burial practices and death taboos, and Melissa interviews the Doyenne of Death, Gail Rubin. 

It’s time to unpack—to break down what we learned from Mount Trashmore, Maize64, and Smith Island, and where we go from here. 

We’re here on Mt. Trashmore, talking with locals about our consumption habits. Abi talks with Sandra Goldmark, author of Fixation, about how humans’ relationship to objects has changed over time. Melissa talks with Faye Christophoro and Iyanu Corniel from Post Landfill Action Network about the future of trash.