Chemicals, Control, Data - Exposure Points Episode 1
Exposure
Exposure Points: Episode One – Chemicals, Control, Data In this first episode of Exposure Points, Stuart Day unpacks three stories shaping the future of energy, industry, and community health: 🔹 Chemours & PFAS – A new federal injunction orders Chemours to stop unlawful discharges of “forever chemicals” into the Ohio River. We trace this fight back to DuPont, Parkersburg, and the landmark C8 lawsuit. 🔹 Pennsylvania HB 502 – A proposed state bill that centralizes siting authority for large energy projects. What does it mean for local democracy, rural communities, and the...
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The Bhopal Disaster: A Corporate Crime That Never Ended
Exposure
The Bhopal Disaster: A Corporate Crime That Never Ended Nearly 40 years after the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, survivors are still fighting for justice, clean water, and recognition. In this episode of Exposure, Jill and Stuart share first-hand accounts from survivors and draw chilling parallels to today’s disasters, including the East Palestine train derailment. This story is not just about a single night—it’s about corporate impunity, regulatory capture, and the resilience of communities forced to defend themselves. 📖 Full blog + complete list of citations: [LINK TO BLOG] 🔹...
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Exposure Episode 11 - Sanctioned Censorship. SLAPP Suits with Brooke Christy
Exposure
In this episode of Exposure, Stuart and Jill talk with Brooke Christy, Equal Justice Works Fellow at Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, about one of the most dangerous tools industries use to silence critics: SLAPP suits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). Brooke explains how these lawsuits—often baseless—are designed to intimidate and bankrupt activists, journalists, and nonprofits by burying them in endless litigation. We explore high-profile cases, like HBO’s John Oliver being sued by a coal executive, and the chilling effect these tactics have on free speech in...
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Exposure Episode 10 - Fracking and Children's Health with Dr. Nicole Deziel
Exposure
In this eye-opening episode of Exposure, we welcome back Yale epidemiologist Dr. Nicole Deziel, whose groundbreaking research reveals a troubling link between fracking and childhood cancer, birth defects, endocrine disruption, and more. Dr. Deziel walks us through her team’s findings, including a Pennsylvania study showing that children born within 2 kilometers of fracking wells had double the risk of leukemia. We discuss endocrine disruptors, the regulatory loopholes that protect industry over people, and what families living near oil and gas infrastructure can actually do to protect...
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East Palestine’s Unfinished Business: A Town Still Fighting for Truth and Health
Exposure
In this episode of Exposure, we unpack the tense and revealing town hall meeting that unfolded in East Palestine more than two years after the Norfolk Southern train derailment and subsequent chemical burn. With EPA officials, village leadership, and local residents in the room, the conversation swung between technical updates, government assurances, and raw community outrage. What emerged wasn’t just a summary of cleanup efforts—it was a portrait of a town still deeply fractured, still searching for answers, and still demanding accountability. Disclaimer: Exposure is an editorial...
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Exposure Episode 9 - Smoke and Mirrors with James Yskamp
Exposure
Smoke and Mirrors: The Truth About Chemical Recycling with Attorney James Yskamp In this explosive episode of Exposure, we speak with environmental attorney James Yskamp of Earthjustice to uncover the truth behind so-called chemical recycling facilities—also known as pyrolysis and gasification plants. Marketed as green solutions to the plastic crisis, these facilities are often toxic incinerators in disguise, operating under “minor source” loopholes that allow them to pollute with little oversight. James shares his firsthand legal experience with facilities like Altera in Akron,...
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Exposure Episode 8 – A Family Uprooted: The Williamson’s Story of Fracking’s Silent Toll
Exposure
In Exposure Episode 7, we sit down with Bob and Darlene Williamson—lifelong residents of Jefferson County, Ohio—whose quiet country life has been upended by the rapid encroachment of oil and gas infrastructure. Their story is not one of opposition to energy development, but a deeply personal account of how fracking infrastructure—particularly compressor stations—can devastate a family's health, property, and peace of mind. What unfolds is a raw, emotional portrait of forced sacrifice in the name of industry profit.
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Exposure Episode 7 – Tracking Toxicity: Fracking’s Impact with Dr. Nicole Deziel
Exposure
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Nicole Deziel, Associate Professor at Yale School of Public Health, to explore her groundbreaking research on the health impacts of fracking and petrochemical development. From growing up near cancer clusters in Long Island to leading a pivotal study in Barnesville, Ohio, Dr. Deziel shares what led her to become one of the nation’s top exposure scientists. We dig into: The hidden chemicals in our water and air The link between fracking and plastics What her studies reveal about cancer, birth defects, and environmental injustice The...
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The SOBE Pyrolysis Fight: Understanding the Impact on Youngstown and the Role of the Ohio EPA
Exposure
"The Ohio EPA has kind of gone against the community's clear desire to not want this project," Stuart noted during the episode. "At the very least, they should be investigating it further instead of pushing it through." On Valentine’s Day, community members and activists gathered in Youngstown, Ohio, for an event exposing the latest betrayal by the Ohio EPA: its approval of the controversial SOBE pyrolysis facility. The event, hosted by SOBE Concerned Citizens, highlighted local concerns over public health, environmental risks, and the role of state regulators in enabling potentially...
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Trump's Executive Order on Energy Development
Exposure
In this episode of Exposure, hosts Stuart and Jill break down a crucial development: the newly signed energy executive order. With the beginning of 2025 ushering in a new administration, this executive order frames energy development as a national security emergency, opening the door to major changes in how energy projects are approved and implemented. This conversation is a cursory look into the implications of this decision, its potential consequences for landowners, the environment, and the broader conversation around energy independence. Disclaimer:Exposure is an editorial and...
info_outlineExposure Episode 1 - Exiled: The Human Cost of Fracking
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Exposure, where we pull back the curtain on the oil, gas, and plastic industries. In this episode, we dive into the devastating impacts of fracking on communities, environment, and health—stories that are often hidden from the public eye.
Forced from her home, co-host Jill Hunkler shares her personal journey as a fracking refugee in the Ohio Valley. Alongside Stuart Day, they discuss the real consequences of oil and gas operations, including the East Palestine train derailment and the dangerous secrecy that surrounds these industries.
Key Topics Covered:
-The untold dangers of fracking
-Real-life stories of displacement and environmental damage
-Grassroots community science fighting back against corporate cover-ups
-The powerful link between fracking and plastic production
If you care about environmental justice, health, or understanding how the petrochemical industry affects everyday life, this is an episode you can’t miss.
🔗 Watch now to learn more and take action:
For more information, visit https://www.ohiovalleyallies.org/
#Fracking #OilAndGas #EnvironmentalJustice #PlasticPollution #podcast
Disclaimer:Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Exposure Studios. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates.
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