Listen Now: Lawless Planet

Summary

American Scandal: Episode "Lawless Planet" Summary

Release Date: July 28, 2025
Host: Lindsay Graham
Produced by: Wondery

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Introduction

In the "Lawless Planet" episode of American Scandal, Wondery delves into what is portrayed as the biggest crime story of our time: the intricate and perilous intersections between the climate crisis and organized crime. Hosted by Lindsay Graham, the episode introduces listeners to a world where environmental degradation, corporate malfeasance, and personal tragedies converge, uncovering the dark underbelly of America's battle for its natural resources and the lives entwined within.

The Mysterious Disappearance of LJ Price Jr.

[01:01]
The episode opens with a harrowing account from Amy Price, whose husband, Larry Price Jr. (LJ), has gone missing. Amy describes her fear and confusion as LJ, a prominent figure in the coal mining industry, vanishes without a trace after mentioning he had pressing matters to attend to at a coal mine.

Amy Price:
"I'm trying to figure out my husband. He's been missing for a while. I see him, I can't figure out where he is."
[01:01]

[01:45]
The narrative provides a detailed background on LJ Price Jr., a 38-year-old coal mining executive known for his significant influence in the industry across states like Virginia and Montana. Amy recounts LJ's recent struggles, noting his depression and ominous warnings about potential danger.

Amy Price:
"But he's been kind of depressed lately and I know there's a lot of things going on with him. I'm just real concerned."
[01:35]

Intense Search and Sudden Reappearance

[01:35] - [02:30]
As Amy grapples with her husband's disappearance, law enforcement launches an extensive search operation involving police officers, helicopters, and canine units. The investigation uncovers that LJ was last seen praying with his pastor over a critical business decision, heightening the mystery surrounding his absence.

[02:30]
Nearly 24 hours after LJ's disappearance, a driver reports spotting a man matching LJ's description approximately 20 miles from Amy's residence. While LJ is found alive, the circumstances of his disappearance raise numerous questions about the forces at play in the coal mining sector and their impact on individuals and communities.

Environmental Catastrophe and Corporate Malfeasance

[03:48] - [04:13]
The episode transitions to broader environmental issues, highlighting the devastating effects of industrial activities on small-town America. Amy Price voices the collective despair of communities facing environmental disasters.

Amy Price:
"From coast to coast, people are fleeing flames, wind and water. We need help out of here. We are stuck."
[03:48]

Zach Goldbaum, a key figure in uncovering environmental crimes, emphasizes the urgent and personal toll of these crises.

Zach Goldbaum:
"Nature is telling us. I can't take this anymore."
[03:57]

The narrative criticizes the mining industry's role in environmental degradation, pointing out that many disasters are misrepresented as accidents rather than intentional acts of destruction driven by profit.

Amy Price:
"Are we really safe? Is our water safe?"
[04:02]

Narrator:
"You destroyed our town. We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable."
[04:07]

Unveiling the True Crimes Fueling the Climate Crisis

[04:12] - [05:02]
The host connects individual tragedies like LJ's plight to larger systemic issues, including corporate cover-ups and environmental exploitation. Zach Goldbaum narrates personal experiences that shed light on global environmental crimes, such as illegal gold mining in the Amazon and violent suppression of conservation efforts in Mexico.

Narrator:
"Over the years, I've reported on environmental activists chaining themselves to pipelines in the swamps of Louisiana, butterfly conservationists in Mexico who were killed for standing up to cartels. I've met Brazilian street gangs doing illegal gold mining in the Amazon. And I've come to realize that these are the stories about our changing planet, that we need to tell stories about people and the things we're doing to either protect the earth or destroy it. In other words, the true crimes fueling the climate crisis."
[04:13]

Zach Goldbaum underscores the gravity of the situation, labeling it "the crime of the century" and calls for immediate attention and action.

Zach Goldbaum:
"The crime of the century is the one being waged on our planet. And the time to listen is now."
[05:02]

Conclusion

"Lawless Planet" serves as a gripping exploration of how environmental issues are intertwined with personal and societal scandals. Through the story of LJ Price Jr. and broader environmental injustices, the episode sheds light on the corruption, greed, and relentless ambition that threaten both the planet and the individuals who call it home. Lindsay Graham expertly guides listeners through these complex narratives, prompting reflection on accountability and the urgent need for systemic change.

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Notable Quotes:

• Amy Price: "I'm trying to figure out my husband. He's been missing for a while. I see him, I can't figure out where he is." [01:01]

• Zach Goldbaum: "Nature is telling us. I can't take this anymore." [03:57]

• Amy Price: "Are we really safe? Is our water safe?" [04:02]

• Narrator: "You destroyed our town. We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable." [04:07]

• Zach Goldbaum: "The crime of the century is the one being waged on our planet. And the time to listen is now." [05:02]

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Transcript

[Zach Goldbaum]

What if I told you the biggest crime story of our time is happening right under our noses and we're all witnesses. Introducing Lawless Planet, the new podcast from Wondering that exposes the dark underbelly of the climate crisis. From the Amazon rainforest to small town America, host Zach Goldbaum uncovers shocking tales of murder, corporate cover ups and greed. You'll hear about the brave activists risking their lives for their beliefs, the corrupt tycoons destroying ecosystems for profit, and the ordinary people caught in the crossfire. This isn't some distant threat. It's happening right now. And each episode drops you into a battle for our planet's future. There are mysterious deaths, daring heists, and billion dollar scams, all with the fate of our world hanging in the balance. This is Lawless Planet. You're about to hear a clip from Lawless Planet. Follow Lawless Planet on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcast.

[Amy Price]

9:1, 1 Where's your emergency? Yeah, I was just calling. I'm trying to figure out my husband. He's been missing for a while. I see him, I can't figure out where he is.

[Narrator]

It's just before 2am on April 18, 2018. Amy Price is in her home in Bluefield, Virginia, an Appalachian coal mining town on the border of West Virginia. Amy last spoke to her husband around 8pm he said there were a few things he needed to take care of at a coal mine he does business with. But Amy hasn't heard from him since and now she's scared.

[Amy Price]

But he's been kind of depressed lately and I know there's a lot of things going on with him. I'm just real concerned. Okay, what's his Name?

[Narrator]

Larry Price Jr. Larry Price Jr. Or LJ as he's known to friends, is 38 years old, 5' 10, muscular build, with a tattoo of a panther on his bicep and another of Jesus with the cross on his chest. LJ has spent his life in coal mines and he's risen to become a bit of a power player in the industry involved in mines from Virginia all the way to Montana. But lately, Amy could tell things at work were not going well. A week earlier, LJ told Amy, if something happens to me, be thankful for the years we've had together. Also, liquidate all the stuff and stay in one location. On this night in Virginia, police officers, helicopters and canines fan out across the county looking for LJ Detectives contact the last person who Amy believes has seen him. It's his pastor who tells police that he and LJ had prayed together over a business decision. Amy Price doesn't sleep that night. And as the sun begins to rise the following day, she starts to fear the worst. Then, nearly 24 hours after LJ went missing, another call comes in to 911, this time from a driver who spotted a man walking along the side of the road about 20 miles away from Amy's home. The man is wearing boots, jeans, and a flannel jacket. And beneath the neckline of a blue T shirt is a tattoo of Jesus with the cross. LJ Price is alive, but his troubles are just beginning. LJ's sudden disappearance and reappearance will set off a chain of events that will expose not only LJ Price, but the dirty underbelly of one of the country's largest coal mines. From Wondry, I'm Zach Goldbaum, and this is Lawless Planet.

[Amy Price]

From coast to coast, people are fleeing flames, wind and water. We need help out of here. We are stuck. We have caught on firearms.

[Zach Goldbaum]

Nature is telling us. I can't take this anymore.

[Amy Price]

Are we really safe? Is our water safe?

[Narrator]

You destroyed our town. We call things accidents.

[Amy Price]

There is no accident.

[Narrator]

This was 100% preventable.

[Zach Goldbaum]

I could tell I was floating in.

[Narrator]

Oil, and I remember looking under the rig and seeing the water on fire. And I thought, what have you done? Over the years, I've reported on environmental activists chaining themselves to pipelines in the swamps of Louisiana, butterfly conservationists in Mexico who were killed for standing up to cartels. I've met Brazilian street gangs doing illegal gold mining in the Amazon. And I've come to realize that these are the stories about our changing planet, that we need to tell stories about people and the things we're doing to either protect the earth or destroy it. In other words, the true crimes fueling the climate crisis.

[Zach Goldbaum]

The crime of the century is the one being waged on our planet. And the time to listen is now. You can listen to new episodes of Lawless Planet early and ad free right now by joining Wondery. Start your free trial in the Wondery app, Apple podcasts, or Spotify.