Picks of the week
Drilled
Climate-focused investigative journalist Amy Westervelt has hosted this true crime show of sorts since 2018, highlighting the often terrifying practices of some of the biggest polluters on the planet. For this latest sixth series, she zooms in on natural gas – promoted as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels – starting with a look at how the increased popularity of fracking fuelled a boom in plastics. This, in turn, has led to horrendous health issues for those in areas filled with plants and pollution. Horrifying yet crucial reporting. Hannah J Davies
The Final Chapters of Richard Brown Winters
Gimlet’s epic new podcast is more like a movie for the ears, running at over 90 minutes, and it’s an absorbing way to spend the time. Its solid cast includes Bobby Cannavale, Parker Posey and Catherine Keener. Sam Waterson is the reclusive novelist Winters, who, after a decade out of the public eye, lives in a remote cabin quite peacefully – until a group of fans track him down. As you’d expect from the makers of Homecoming, there are secrets to be exposed, once the determined posse get close to their hero. Hannah Verdier
Producer pick: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill
Chosen by Esther Opoku-Gyeni
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill is a podcast by Christianity Today, chronicling the journey of a megachurch in Seattle from its founding (as part of one of the largest church planting movements, ie the process of creating new congregations and churches, in American history) to the subsequent scandal that engulfed its founder, pastor Mark Driscoll. Hosted by Mike Cosper, this 12-part series goes into detail about the context and forces that allowed the church to flourish, but also helped to enable allegedly toxic behaviour from its leadership.
Speaking to people who were very intimately involved with the church and worked directly with Driscoll, the podcast sensitively balances the nuances of faith, celebrity and wider themes of American church culture. It’s a portrayal that seeks to give a fair and balanced perspective of how events unfolded and of the man himself (no doubt some listeners will be highly offended by some of the extracts of Driscoll’s sermons). The production values aren’t perfect and some of the edits could have been slightly smoother, but they don’t detract from what is a harrowing story of what can happen when charisma is valued above character.
While based in a church, it’s a message that could echo in the halls of any large institution.
Talking points
There’s more scam-themed scandal in store, as the acclaimed Dropout podcast returns with new episodes from 31 August to coincide with the trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Once known as the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world, Holmes is now better known for her alleged tech fraud – and is now facing years behind bars.
Why not try: SmartLess | Solvable | Forever is a Long Time
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