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About Broken Ground
Broken Ground is an award-winning podcast by the Southern Environmental Law Center. Join us as we dig up environmental stories in the South and hear from the people bringing those stories to light.
In our sixth season, listeners will hear from writers, photographers, and editors filling the growing gaps in environmental news coverage across the South’s media landscape.
Don’t miss out on the Webby-nominated podcast called “an environmental ‘This American Life’ for the South” by The New York Times.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Seasons
What Listeners Are Saying
Wonderful podcast
This podcast strikes a wonderful balance between building a story arc and providing information about a complex issue. Breaking down the Boxtown residents’ fight against the Byhalia Pipeline into segments about citizens, journalists, scientists and council members provides an accessible template for others who are interested in environmental justice issues. I found so much inspiration in the interviews with the Memphis community members. What a wonderful snapshot of local activism. Thank you!!
Must listen Apple review
I love this podcast, it does a wonderful job of showing the impact of climate change and climate issues on people and their communities.
Glad you’re back! Apple review
Stumbled upon your podcast while looking for podcast with environmental focus. Being a very proud Southerner and seeing your spotlight on part of the region peeked my interest. And being black female, I am reminded of my own experiences both good and
bad from our area.
I quickly listened to all of your episodes and found myself wanting more. The alert on my phone today was music to my ears; knowing you’re out their again as an audible partner for justice.
Fabulous podcast Apple review
Broken Ground is so thorough in its research, information, and presentation that the listener gets a complete education and understanding of each of the issues presented from the onset. This is essential listening!
Best Environmental Justice Podcast Apple review
This podcast is phenomenal! The stories are compelling, factual and well-told. It covers important topics and is so engaging. I find myself still thinking about the injustices it details days after listening. Definitely recommend!
Hits close to home Apple review
As a resident of Norfolk, Virginia, aka “Flood City,” this podcast hits close to home. It explains complex concepts in a simple manner. Well worth listening to!
Artful Apple review
I can only describe the production and organization of Broken Ground as artful. These stories of advocacy and redemption matter immensely, so I’m glad so much effort has been made to tell them. I also like that it’s all close to home—as a Virginian, I mean that literally!
Love this podcast Apple review
So articulate, informative, and humane. As a Southerner, I find it compelling, stimulating, and authentic. Kudos to SELC.
Powerful Apple review
This is the best new podcast I’ve heard in a long time. There aren’t nearly enough stories being told about environmental issues, particularly in the south, and you’ll realize after listening to just one of these episodes what we’ve all been missing. Could not recommend strongly enough.
Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love to hear from you.
In 2020, iHeart Radio named Broken Ground one of the nation’s top green podcasts.
Podcast Team
The Broken Ground team is dedicated to telling the stories of people from all walks of life. We are looking for the stories of Southerners who are stewards of the environment, truth-tellers, and on the front lines fighting to protect our precious people, water, air, and land. Do you have a story to tell?
LEANNA FIRST-ARAI
HOST
Leanna is a freelance journalist focused on bringing awareness to the connections between the climate crisis and economic, gender, generational and racial injustices. Her reporting has been featured in The Guardian, Truthout, Yes! Magazine, and Undark, and on NPR-affiliate stations Detroit Public Radio and New England Public Radio. Her favorite podcasts include Drilled, Hot Take, How to Save a Planet, This Land, and Timber Wars.
EMILY RICHARDSON-LORENTE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Years of storytelling for public radio and through her award-winning video productions prepared Emily well for crafting podcast-sized stories for Broken Ground. Emily was senior producer on two earlier Broken Ground seasons. Some podcasts she’s currently listening to include Threatened, Twenty Thousand Hertz, Heavyweight, and This American Life.
JENNIE DALEY
MANAGING EDITOR
With a background in journalism and higher ed outreach, Jennie now manages production of Broken Ground and SELC’s magazine. Podcasts she’s listening to include Setting the Table, The Sum of Us, and Eat it, Virginia.
PRIA MAHADEVAN
PRODUCER
Pria is a former public radio journalist turned climate policy advocate who still moonlights as an audio producer. She credits her time at Broken Ground for sparking an interest in environmental policy and is currently wrapping up a graduate program in applied climate science at Columbia University. Before she jammed her brain with intrusive thoughts about extreme weather events (it’s scary but there’s hope!), she reported local stories for NPR stations in Georgia, Indiana, and California. Ironically, her favorite podcasts are unrelated to climate and include You’re Wrong About, Throughline, and Scam Goddess.
KO BRAGG
SENSITIVITY REVIEWER
Ko (she/her) is a writer and editor based in and focused on the U.S. South, Mississippi in particular. She runs a newsletter called “pop justice,” exploring the intersection of popular culture and the justice system. More of her work can be found in Scalawag, The Atlantic, Harper’s Bazaar, Southerly, and more. Her favorite podcasts are The Read and Back Issue.
PAIGE POLK
ASSISTANT PRODUCER
Paige (all pronouns) is an experienced director building community around purposeful living. Their work is to translate the fundamental principles of connection across the digital and physical world. Paige began their career as a community organizer in Lima, Peru, and has gone on to develop multimedia projects as an Emmy-award-winning documentarian and cross-industry consultant. Their favorite podcasts are Not Yet (their own!), Thru, and Paradigm Shift.
CLAUDINE EBEID MCELWAIN
FOUNDING HOST AND FORMER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
After more than 10 years as a producer/editor for NPR, most recently as a Supervising Producer for Morning Edition, Claudine began working at the Southern Environmental Law Center and is creator and past host of Broken Ground. She is now Executive Producer of Audio at The Atlantic. She’s a fan of the podcasts The Daily, Embedded, Reveal and More Perfect.