Reading the Earth

Episode 1: Mining, critical minerals, rare earth supply chains, and global impacts

In this episode of Reading the Earth, journalist and author Christopher Pollon discusses the themes behind his book Pitfall, offering a critical yet nuanced examination of modern mining. Drawing on personal history and years of investigative reporting, Pollon explores the environmental, social, and geopolitical consequences of extracting the minerals needed for clean energy and global development. The conversation spans critical minerals, rare earth supply chains, and the growing tensions between sustainability, national security, and industrial demand. Pollon highlights the hidden costs of mining—from tailings dam failures and sacrifice zones in the Global South to the environmental impacts of mineral processing—while challenging assumptions about what society truly needs to mine. He also points to underexplored solutions, including urban mining, recycling, and rethinking value extraction, urging a more responsible and transparent approach to resource development.