Listen Now: Lawless Planet

Summary

Podcast Title: Lawless Planet
Episode: Listen Now: Lawless Planet
Release Date: July 29, 2025
Host: Zach Goldbaum
Produced by: Wondery

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Introduction

In the premiere episode of "Lawless Planet," Wondery introduces listeners to a gripping narrative that delves deep into the dark underbelly of the climate crisis. Hosted by investigative journalist Zach Goldbaum, the series promises to uncover shocking tales of environmental destruction, corporate malfeasance, and the human stories intertwined with these global challenges.

Notable Quote:

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

Setting the Stage: A Hidden Crisis

The episode opens by framing the climate crisis not as a distant, abstract threat but as an immediate and pervasive issue influencing lives across the globe. Zach Goldbaum emphasizes that this is not merely an environmental concern but a complex crime narrative involving murder, corporate coverups, and unchecked greed.

Notable Quotes:

"From the Amazon rainforest to small town America, host Zach Goldbaum uncovers shocking tales of murder, corporate coverups and greed."
— Zach Goldbaum (00:14)

"This isn't some distant threat. It's happening right now."
— Host & Co-Host (00:30, 00:32)

Central Narrative: The Mystery of LJ Price

A significant portion of the episode centers around the mysterious disappearance and subsequent reappearance of LJ Price Jr., a 38-year-old coal industry figure with deep ties across multiple states.

LJ Price's Disappearance

• Initial Concern:
  Amy Price, LJ's wife, becomes alarmed when LJ doesn't return home after informing her about pressing matters at a coal mine. Her distress leads her to contact emergency services late at night.

  Notable Quote:

  "I'm trying to figure out my husband. He's been missing for a while. I can't figure out where he is."
  — Amy Price via 911 Operator (01:03)

• Descriptions and Search Efforts:
  The narrative provides a detailed physical description of LJ and outlines the extensive search operations, including police helicopters and canine units, highlighting the intensity and urgency of the situation.

  Notable Quotes:

  "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."
  — Narrator (01:47)

  "Larry Price Jr. is alive, but his troubles are just beginning."
  — Witness (03:30)

Reappearance and Implications

After nearly 24 hours of uncertainty, LJ is spotted walking alone, igniting a series of events that reveal the corrupt practices within one of the nation's largest coal mines. His reappearance is not a resolution but a gateway to deeper investigations into environmental crimes and their human cost.

Notable Quote:

"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."
— Narrator (03:30)

Broader Themes: Environmental Crimes and Human Impact

The episode broadens its focus to encompass various environmental challenges, illustrating how corruption and greed devastate ecosystems and communities alike.

• Natural Disasters and Human Suffering:
  First responders and affected individuals share harrowing accounts of natural disasters exacerbated by environmental neglect, emphasizing the immediate human toll.

  Notable Quotes:

  "We need help out of here. We are stuck. We have caught on firearms."
  — Evacuee (03:50)

  "Nature is telling us. I can't take this anymore."
  — Activist (03:55)

• Activism and Resistance:
  The narrative highlights the bravery of activists who confront environmental abuses, often at great personal risk, shedding light on the sacrifices made in the fight to protect the planet.

  Notable Quotes:

  "Are we really safe? Is our water safe? You destroyed our tap."
  — Concerned Citizen (04:04)

  "There is no accident. This was 100% preventable."
  — Activist (04:07)

• Global Impact and Illegal Activities:
  From illegal gold mining in the Amazon to conservation efforts in Mexico, the episode underscores the global scale of environmental crimes and their interconnectedness with other forms of illicit activity.

  Notable Quote:

  "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."
  — Zach Goldbaum (04:24)

Conclusion: A Call to Awareness and Action

"Lawless Planet" concludes its introductory episode by framing environmental degradation as the "crime of the century," urging listeners to recognize the urgency of the situation and the necessity for collective action.

Notable Quotes:

"The crime of the Century, is the one being waged on our planet. The time to listen is now."
— Host & Co-Host (05:04 - 05:05)

"You can listen to new episodes of Lawless Planet early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus."
— Host (05:09)

Final Thoughts

The premiere episode of "Lawless Planet" sets a compelling foundation for the series, blending investigative journalism with human stories to paint a comprehensive picture of the climate crisis's multifaceted impact. By intertwining personal narratives with broader environmental issues, Zach Goldbaum ensures that listeners are both informed and emotionally engaged, setting the stage for deeper explorations in future episodes.

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Stay Connected:
To delve deeper into the stories of environmental crime and resilience, subscribe to "Lawless Planet" on the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For exclusive content and early access to episodes, consider joining Wondery+.

Transcript

[Host]

What if I told you the biggest.

[Co-Host]

Crime story of our time is happening right now, under our noses, and we're all witnesses.

[Host]

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

[Zach Goldbaum]

From the Amazon rainforest to small town America, host Zach Goldbaum uncovers shocking tales of murder, corporate coverups and greed. You'll hear about the brave activists risking their lives for their beliefs, the corrupt tycoons destroying ecosystems for profit and and the ordinary people caught in the crossfire.

[Host]

This isn't some distant threat.

[Co-Host]

It's happening right now.

[Host]

Each episode drops you into a battle.

[Co-Host]

For our planet's future.

[Host]

We're talking mysterious deaths, daring heists and billion dollar scams, all with the fate.

[Co-Host]

Of our world hanging in the balance.

[Zach Goldbaum]

This is Lawless Planet. I'm about to play a clip from Lawless Planet. Follow Lawless Planet on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Wondery]

Wondering.

[911 Operator]

91 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 can't figure out where he is.

[Narrator]

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

[Witness]

Bluefield, Virginia and an Appalachian coal mining.

[Narrator]

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?

[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.

[Witness]

Work were not going well.

[Narrator]

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.

[Witness]

Last person who Amy believes has seen him.

[Narrator]

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.

[Witness]

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.

[Narrator]

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.

[Witness]

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.

[Zach Goldbaum]

Flames, wind and water.

[Evacuee]

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

[Activist]

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

[Concerned Citizen]

Are we really safe? Is our water safe? You destroyed our tap.

[Activist]

We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable.

[Wondery]

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?

[Witness]

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.

[Host]

The crime of the.

[Co-Host]

Century, is the one being waged on our planet. The time to listen is now.

[Host]

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.