Outsiders and those who are not connected to the land often see the desert West as barren and unpopulated. However, Indigenous peoples and other beings have coexisted with the land since time immemorial. In this episode, we hear from Native and non-Native people who have deep connections with the McDermitt Caldera. Together they are grappling with what the potential loss of these attachments means and fighting to protect them.

Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Jessica Ng. It’s a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University.

Episode Credits:

Written by Christopher Bao

Hosted by Christopher Bao

Sound design by Christoper Bao

Research and production team: Nate Otjen, Jessica Ng, Christopher Bao, and Jose Santacruz

Music by Pixabay (www.pixabay.com) and Xeno-Canto (www.xeno-canto.com) 

Copyright 2025 Nate Otjen, Jessica Ng and Blue Lab (bluelabmedia.org). All rights reserved.