Lawless Planet: Episode Summary – "Lawless Planet"

Podcast Title: Lawless Planet
Host: Zach Goldbaum
Release Date: July 28, 2025
Provider: Wondery

Introduction

In the gripping premiere episode of "Lawless Planet," host Zach Goldbaum delves deep into the intricate web of environmental crimes that threaten our planet. From deforestation in the Amazon to ecological devastation in small-town America, Goldbaum sets the stage for a series that uncovers the sinister forces undermining environmental conservation efforts.

A Mysterious Disappearance: Amy and LJ Price

[01:10] The episode opens with a haunting emergency call from Amy Price, a distressed wife from Bluefield, Virginia. She reports her husband, Larry "LJ" Price Jr., missing after he failed to return from work at a local coal mine.

Amy Price (01:10): "Yeah, I was just calling. I'm trying to figure out my husband. He's been missing for a while. I can't figure out where he is."

[01:21] Zach Goldbaum narrates the unsettling timeline:

Zach Goldbaum: "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."

LJ Price Jr., a 38-year-old seasoned coal miner with distinctive tattoos symbolizing his faith and strength, has become a significant figure in the coal industry across multiple states. However, recent signs indicated turmoil in his personal and professional life.

[01:45] Amy recalls a disturbing conversation with LJ a week before his disappearance:

Amy Price (01:45): "But he's been kind of depressed lately and I know there's a lot of things going on with him. I'm just really concerned."

LJ had ominously warned Amy to "liquidate all the stuff and stay in one location" if anything happened to him, raising red flags about potential threats he was facing.

The Search for LJ

As dawn breaks, Amy's fears escalate. Police mobilize extensive search efforts, involving helicopters and canines, but lead them to dead ends. Detective interviews with LJ's pastor reveal that the last interaction between LJ and Amy involved prayers over a significant business decision, hinting at underlying conflicts.

[03:58] The narrative broadens to depict a nation grappling with natural disasters intensified by climate change:

Zach Goldbaum (03:58): "From coast to coast, people are fleeing flames, wind and water."

[04:02] Voices of distressed individuals highlight the widespread impact of environmental degradation:

Various Voices (04:06): "Nature is telling us. I can't take this anymore."

LJ Price’s Reappearance and the Unfolding Mystery

[01:54] Just under 24 hours after LJ's disappearance, a breakthrough occurs when a driver spots a man matching LJ's description walking along a remote road, indicating that LJ is alive but embroiled in deeper troubles.

Zach Goldbaum (01:54): "LJ Price is alive, but his troubles are just beginning."

LJ's sudden reappearance propels the investigation into a shadowy underworld connected to one of the nation's largest coal mines, unraveling corruption and illicit activities that go beyond mere environmental harm.

Environmental Crimes and Their Human Faces

[04:22] Goldbaum connects LJ's personal crisis to the broader theme of environmental crimes:

Various Voices (04:22): "I could tell I was floating in oil and I remember looking under the rig and seeing the water on fire. And I thought, what have you done?"

Through LJ's story, the episode exposes the devastating consequences of corporate greed, illegal mining operations, and the lives torn apart by these environmental atrocities.

[04:32] Zach reflects on his experiences reporting environmental misconduct worldwide:

Zach Goldbaum (04:32): "From environmental activists chaining themselves to pipelines in the swamps of Louisiana, butterfly conservationists in Mexico who were killed for standing up to cartels... these are the stories about our changing planet."

Notable Quotes with Attribution

• Zach Goldbaum (00:00): "What if I told you the biggest crime story of our time is happening right under our noses and we're all witnesses."

• Amy Price (01:10): "I can't figure out where he is."

• Zach Goldbaum (03:58): "From coast to coast, people are fleeing flames, wind and water."

• Various Voices (04:22): "I could tell I was floating in oil and I remember looking under the rig and seeing the water on fire."

• Zach Goldbaum (04:32): "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."

Conclusion

In "Lawless Planet," Zach Goldbaum masterfully intertwines personal narratives with global environmental issues, illustrating how individual lives are affected by large-scale ecological crimes. The episode serves as a compelling call to action, urging listeners to recognize and address the crimes that are driving our planet towards an uncertain future.

For those eager to explore more episodes that unravel the complex relationships between human actions and environmental degradation, "Lawless Planet" offers a poignant and investigative journey into the heart of today's most pressing ecological crises.

Listen to the full episode of "Lawless Planet" exclusively on Wondery+ for an ad-free experience.