Exposure Episode 15 - When the Water Turned Black with Callie Lyons

Inside Fracking's Hidden Risk: A Truck Driver's Story

Tom McKnight spent years working in the oil and gas industry—hauling condensate, crude, and waste, and cleaning up well sites during some of the most intense phases of production. He liked the work. He made good money. He took pride in being part of it. But when radiation risks came up in training, he says he was told it was "no more than a cell phone." Years later, after repeated exposure to brine, sludge, and dust—often without proper protective equipment—Tom was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. In this episode, Tom walks through: What daily work on active well pads actually looks like How exposure happens in routine tasks most people never see The culture inside the industry during its rapid expansion What workers were—and weren't—told about risk What should change to better protect the people doing the job This is not a simple "for or against" conversation. It's a firsthand account from someone who lived it. About Exposure: Exposure is an investigative and editorial podcast produced in partnership with Ohio Valley Allies. We document the human, environmental, and economic impacts of extractive industries through interviews, research, and storytelling. If you found this conversation valuable: Subscribe, share, and help us reach more people. Disclaimer: Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates. Statements made by guests reflect their personal experiences, interpretations, and analysis, and should not be construed as assertions made by Exposure. Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to examine these industries using good-faith inquiry, verified sources where possible, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational, educational, and documentary purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice, a call to action, or an endorsement of any specific viewpoint, protest, or organization. We do not knowingly publish false or defamatory statements. All claims are based on publicly available information, firsthand accounts, expert interviews, or journalistic analysis. Where allegations or critical claims are made, we strive to provide context and sourcing. We are committed to correcting material errors. If you believe a factual inaccuracy has occurred, please contact us at info@ohiovalleyallies.org for timely review and, if warranted, correction. We encourage viewers to stay informed, engage thoughtfully with public policy, and participate in civic processes in their communities. While Exposure covers controversial and high-stakes topics, we do so as journalists seeking transparency, accountability, and the free exchange of ideas—not as advocates for any political party, protest strategy, or legal action. #fracking #trucking #OhioRiverValley #Appalachia #PublicHealth

Exposure Episode 16 - MAHA, Industry and Appalachia with Elizabeth Frost

From rural Ohio to public and political advocacy- MAHA Ohio director and former Ohio State director for Robert F Kennedy Jr. S presidential campaign, Elizabeth Frost discusses how growing up in the Ohio River Valley shaped her focus on environmental exposure. Her story provides a lens into how industry, public policy, and public health intersect in small, rural communities. In this episode: — A closer look at the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement — East Palestine, fracking, chemical exposure, and long-term health concerns — How corporate influence and public policy shape health outcomes in rural communities Subscribe for more: Exposure investigates the hidden costs of extractive and petrochemical industries across the Ohio River Valley—and the communities living with the consequences. Disclaimer: Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates. Statements made by guests reflect their personal experiences, interpretations, and analysis, and should not be construed as assertions made by Exposure. Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to examine these industries using good-faith inquiry, verified sources where possible, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational, educational, and documentary purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice, a call to action, or an endorsement of any specific viewpoint, protest, or organization. We do not knowingly publish false or defamatory statements. All claims are based on publicly available information, firsthand accounts, expert interviews, or journalistic analysis. Where allegations or critical claims are made, we strive to provide context and sourcing. We are committed to correcting material errors. If you believe a factual inaccuracy has occurred, please contact us at info@ohiovalleyallies.org for timely review and, if warranted, correction. We encourage viewers to stay informed, engage thoughtfully with public policy, and participate in civic processes in their communities. While Exposure covers controversial and high-stakes topics, we do so as journalists seeking transparency, accountability, and the free exchange of ideas—not as advocates for any political party, protest strategy, or legal action. #ElizabethFrost #MAHA #OhioRiverValley #Appalachia #PublicHealth

East Palestine - A 5 year health study begins

A new five-year human health study is now underway following the East Palestine train derailment and controlled burn. In this episode of Exposure, Jill and Stuart break down what's been announced, what a long-term study can (and can't) tell us, and why sustained health monitoring matters after a major chemical incident. Official Health Study Webpage - https://research.uky.edu/environment/east-palestine-health-research In this episode: What we know about the 5-year study Why long-term monitoring matters What "health outcomes" can look like over time What residents may want to watch for as the study moves forward Subscribe for more: Exposure covers the hidden costs of extractive and petrochemical industry development across the Ohio River Valley—and the communities living with the consequences. #EastPalestine #PublicHealth #NIH #ExposurePodcast #EnvironmentalHealth #OhioRiverValley #TrainDerailment Disclaimer: Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates. Statements made by guests reflect their personal experiences, interpretations, and analysis, and should not be construed as assertions made by Exposure. Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to expose the truth behind these industries' operations and consequences using good-faith inquiry, verified sources where possible, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational, educational, and documentary purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice, a call to action, or an endorsement of any specific viewpoint, protest, or organization. We do not knowingly publish false or defamatory statements. All claims are based on publicly available information, firsthand accounts, expert interviews, or journalistic analysis. Where allegations or critical claims are made, we strive to provide context and sourcing. We are committed to correcting material errors. If you believe a factual inaccuracy has occurred, please contact us at info@ohiovalleyallies.org for timely review and, if warranted, correction. While Exposure covers controversial and high-stakes topics, we do so as journalists seeking transparency, accountability, and the free exchange of ideas—not as advocates for any political party, protest strategy, or legal action.

Where Did Our Money Go? Examining Frackalachia - Exposure Points Episode 2

For more than a decade, communities across Appalachia were promised an economic revival through shale gas development. Politicians spoke of a new Industrial Revolution. Industry leaders promised jobs, prosperity, and long-term growth. But after hundreds of billions of dollars in extraction, many of the counties at the center of the fracking boom are still losing jobs, losing population, and falling behind the rest of the country. In this episode of Exposure Points, Stuart Day breaks down what the data actually shows—and why rising GDP does not necessarily translate into healthier, more stable communities. We examine where the money from natural gas extraction really goes, how boom-bust cycles hollow out local economies, and why the true costs of fracking rarely appear in official economic reports. This is not an argument for banning an industry. It is an examination of the gap between what was promised and what was delivered—and a question of accountability for communities living with the consequences. Exposure Points is independent journalism. We accept no industry funding and maintain no political affiliations. Citations can be found on the associated blog at Support our work at: https://exposurestudios.org #Frackalachia #Appalachia #Fracking #NaturalGas #EnergyEconomics #RuralAmerica #OhioRiverValley #EnvironmentalJustice #Extraction #IndependentJournalism #ExposurePoints Disclaimer: Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates. Statements made by guests reflect their personal experiences, interpretations, and analysis, and should not be construed as assertions made by Exposure. Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to expose the truth behind these industries' operations and consequences using good-faith inquiry, verified sources where possible, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational, educational, and documentary purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice, a call to action, or an endorsement of any specific viewpoint, protest, or organization. We do not knowingly publish false or defamatory statements. All claims are based on publicly available information, firsthand accounts, expert interviews, or journalistic analysis. Where allegations or critical claims are made, we strive to provide context and sourcing. We are committed to correcting material errors. If you believe a factual inaccuracy has occurred, please contact us at info@ohiovalleyallies.org for timely review and, if warranted, correction. While Exposure covers controversial and high-stakes topics, we do so as journalists seeking transparency, accountability, and the free exchange of ideas—not as advocates for any political party, protest strategy, or legal action.

Exposure Episode 15 - When the Water Turned Black with Callie Lyons

Journalist Callie Lyons joins Exposure to revisit the case that first exposed C8, the "forever chemical" produced at DuPont's Washington Works plant. Long before PFAS became a national headline, Calli was documenting the signs that something was wrong: a creek turning black, cattle dying without explanation, and a community trying to understand what was happening to their water. In this episode, Callie explains how C8 entered drinking water for decades, how the legal fight unfolded, what the seven-year science panel discovered after studying 70,000 people, and why replacement chemicals like GenX have not solved the problem. This is the deeper story behind Dark Waters, told from the perspective of the people who lived through it. If this episode matters to you, please subscribe and follow Exposure on all platforms — and head over to our new Substack to stay updated on this story and many more. If you believe clean water must be protected, consider supporting West Virginia Rivers Coalition (WV Rivers) in their ongoing legal fight against Chemours. Their work is now backed by a federal court order to stop unlawful chemical discharges into the Ohio River. #PFAS #C8 #PFOA #ForeverChemicals #WaterContamination #EnvironmentalJustice #Appalachia #OhioRiverValley #DuPont #CalliLyons #ExposurePodcast #InvestigativeJournalism #ToxicChemicals #PublicHealth #DarkWatersStory Disclaimer; Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates. Statements made by guests reflect their personal experiences, interpretations, and analysis, and should not be construed as assertions made by Exposure. Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to expose the truth behind these industries' operations and consequences using good-faith inquiry, verified sources where possible, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational, educational, and documentary purposes. Exposure encourages civic engagement, public participation, and lawful efforts to improve policy and protect communities. We do not knowingly publish false or defamatory statements. All claims are based on publicly available information, firsthand accounts, expert interviews, or journalistic analysis. Where allegations or critical claims are made, we strive to provide context and sourcing. We are committed to correcting material errors. If you believe a factual inaccuracy has occurred, please contact us at info@ohiovalleyallies.org for timely review and, if warranted, correction. While Exposure covers controversial and high-stakes topics, we do so as journalists seeking transparency, accountability, civic participation, and the free exchange of ideas—not as advocates for illegal action or violence of any kind.