Society & Culture

Boomtown

by Imperative Entertainment and Texas Monthly

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About the show

In a rugged corner of West Texas, billionaire wildcatters and roughnecks are fueling an oil boom so big it’s reshaping our climate, our economy, and our geopolitics. This modern-day gold rush has sent both big oil companies and scrappy start-ups scrambling to secure a piece of the action. Texas Monthly’s Christian Wallace follows characters along every rung of the oil field ladder, from the executive cutting billion-dollar deals to the itinerant pipeline worker risking life and limb, and from the traveling exotic dancer following the trail of money to those who worry that our planet is on a path to destruction. Meet the people cashing in and those just trying to get by as the world around them is turned upside down. "A beautiful ride filled with levity, even as it delivers troubling forecasts for the future" - The Atlantic 2021 Webby Award Honoree, Podcast Documentary

Latest episodes

Boomtown Follow-up: The One-Two Punch | Chapter 12

April 30, 2020 · 41 min

Christian Wallace talks to some familiar faces from the Boomtown series in an attempt to understand what happened on April 20, 2020—when oil prices went negative for the first time in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
The Last Frontier | Chapter 11

February 18, 2020 · 55 min

Record-breaking oil production in the Permian Basin has brought the boom to the doorstep of the Big Bend for the first time. Is it too late to save this pristine landscape? Upstart: Find out how low your rate is at upst…
The Mitchell Paradox | Chapter 10

February 11, 2020 · 47 min

No oil and gas baron since John D. Rockefeller has made more of an impact on society than George P. Mitchell. But this son of poor Greek immigrants who died a billionaire wanted to leave a legacy beyond oil and gas. Upstart: Find out how…
A Dark Horizon | Chapter 9

February 4, 2020 · 39 min

Christian talks with renowned business writer Bethany McLean about how the finances of fracking aren't what they're cracked up to be. Upstart: Find out how low your rate is at upstart.com/boomtown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Wild West Texas | Chapter 8

January 28, 2020 · 56 min

The uneasy alliance between ranchers and the oil industry goes all the way back to the early wildcatting days in West Texas. But today, that relationship is more fraught than ever. SimpliSafe: Get free shipping plus a 60-day money-back…
Mojo Magic | Chapter 7

January 21, 2020 · 42 min

The Permian Basin is the birthplace of Friday Night Lights. But the historic oil boom threatens beloved high school football traditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Thin Line | Chapter 6

January 14, 2020 · 33 min

During booms, the Permian Basin sees a rise in prostitution charges. But misperceptions and stereotypes about sex work have led to policies that may actually harm the women involved. SimpliSafe: Get free shipping plus a 60-day money-back…
Boobtown | Chapter 5

January 7, 2020 · 35 min

We explore a different kind of boom in the Permian Basin. Meet the women working at a lingerie coffee shop, a “breastaurant,” and two area strip clubs. Upstart: Find out how low your rate is at Upstart.com/boomtown. Learn more about your…