Listen Now: Lawless Planet

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Listen Now: Lawless Planet" from Dying For Sex

Release Date: July 28, 2025
Host/Author: Wondery
Title: Lawless Planet

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Introduction to "Lawless Planet"

In the episode titled "Lawless Planet," Dying For Sex expands its investigative prowess by introducing listeners to a new Wondery production that delves deep into the intricate and often perilous intersections between environmental crises and criminal activities. Hosted by Zach Goldbaum, "Lawless Planet" promises to uncover the hidden narratives lurking beneath the surface of our planet's most pressing ecological issues.

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Unveiling the Dark Underbelly of the Climate Crisis

From the lush expanses of the Amazon rainforest to the coal-dotted terrains of small-town America, Zach Goldbaum navigates through a labyrinth of stories that spotlight the multifaceted nature of environmental degradation. The podcast meticulously exposes:

• Murder and Violence: Tales of activists who have lost their lives standing up for environmental causes, emphasizing the personal risks involved in advocating for change.

• Corporate Cover-ups and Greed: Investigations into how powerful corporations manipulate data, silence dissent, and prioritize profits over the planet, leading to widespread ecological harm.

• Impact on Ordinary People: Stories highlighting how everyday individuals become entangled in the crossfire between environmental preservation and industrial exploitation.

Notable Quote:
[00:00] Host: "What if I told you the biggest crime story of our time is happening right under our noses and we're all witnesses."

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Case Study: The Disappearance of Larry Price Jr.

A centerpiece of the episode is the enigmatic case of Larry Price Jr. (LJ), a 38-year-old coal mining businessman from Bluefield, Virginia. The narrative unfolds as follows:

• Initial Disappearance:
  [01:15] Narrator: "It's just before 2am on April 18, 2018. Amy Price is in her home in Bluefield... Amy hasn't heard from him since and now she's scared."

• Last Known Activities:
  LJ was last seen around 8 pm, mentioning business matters at a coal mine. His unexplained absence raised alarms, especially given his recent behavior indicative of depression.

• Search and Reappearance:
  Despite extensive searches involving police helicopters and canine units, LJ only reappeared nearly 24 hours later, far from the initial search area. His sudden return, marked by haunting tattoos and a troubled demeanor, sets the stage for uncovering systemic issues within the coal mining industry.

Notable Quote:
[01:48] Amy Price: "Larry Price Jr., Or LJ as he's known to friends, is 38 years old... working from Virginia all the way to Montana. But lately, Amy could tell things at work were not going well."

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Exposing Environmental Crimes Fueling the Climate Crisis

Beyond individual stories, "Lawless Planet" casts a spotlight on broader environmental atrocities that exacerbate the climate crisis. These include:

• Illegal Activities in Sensitive Regions:
  From unauthorized gold mining in the Amazon, which devastates ecosystems, to the manipulation of pipelines in Louisiana's swamps, the podcast illustrates how criminal enterprises prioritize short-term gains over long-term planetary health.

• Violence Against Environmentalists:
  The peril faced by activists is a recurring theme, with accounts of those who have been killed or threatened for their unwavering commitment to conservation and sustainable practices.

Notable Quote:
[04:07] Amy Price: "You destroyed our tent. We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable."

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The Human Element: Personal Stories Amidst Global Crises

While "Lawless Planet" delves into large-scale environmental and criminal issues, it remains grounded through personal narratives that humanize these global challenges. Amy Price's heartfelt recounting of her husband's disappearance underscores the profound personal toll that environmental crimes exact on families and communities.

Notable Quote:
[04:05] Host: "Are we really safe? Is our water safe?"
[04:07] Amy Price: "You destroyed our tent... I remember looking under the rig and seeing the water on fire. And I thought, what have you done?"

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Conclusion: The Imperative to Listen and Act

"Lawless Planet" serves not only as a harrowing exposé of environmental malfeasance but also as a clarion call for listeners to become informed and engaged. By weaving together investigative journalism with compelling storytelling, Zach Goldbaum ensures that the urgent message about our planet's plight resonates deeply.

Final Thought:
[05:06] Narrator: "The crime of the century is the one being waged on our planet. The time to listen is now."

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to "Lawless Planet" on the Wondery App or their preferred podcast platform to stay informed about the ongoing battles for our planet's future.

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Notable Quotes Recap

• Host: "What if I told you the biggest crime story of our time is happening right under our noses and we're all witnesses." (00:00)
• Amy Price: "Larry Price Jr., Or LJ as he's known to friends..." (01:48)
• Amy Price: "You destroyed our tent. We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable." (04:07)
• Narrator: "The crime of the century is the one being waged on our planet. The time to listen is now." (05:06)

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Join the Conversation:
"Lawless Planet" is available exclusively on the Wondery App and other major podcast platforms. For an ad-free and early access experience, listeners can subscribe to Wondery Plus by visiting wondery.com/links/dying-for-sex.

Transcript

[Host]

What if I told you the biggest crime story of our time is happening right under our noses and we're all witnesses.

[Narrator]

Introducing Lawless Planet, the new podcast from Wondery that exposes the dark underbelly of the climate crisis.

[Host]

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 the corrupt tycoons destroying ecosystems for profit, and the ordinary people caught in the crossfire.

[Narrator]

This isn't some distant threat. It's happening right now. Each episode drops you into a battle for our planet's future. We're talking mysterious deaths, daring heists and billion dollar scams, all with a fate of our world hanging in the balance.

[Host]

This is Lawless Planet. We're about to play a clip from Lawless Planet. Follow Lawless Planet on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[911 Operator]

Wonder911 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 seen him. I can't figure out where he is.

[Amy Price]

It's just before 2am on April 18, 2018. Amy Price is in her home in Bluefield, Virginia and 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.

[911 Operator]

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?

[Amy Price]

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.

[Host]

From coast to coast, people are fleeing flames, wind and water.

[911 Operator]

We need help out of here. We are stuck. We have caught on firearms.

[Amy Price]

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

[Host]

Are we really safe? Is our water safe?

[Amy Price]

You destroyed our tent. We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable. 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? Over the years, I've reported on environmental activists Cheney 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 cris.

[Narrator]

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