The Outfall Podcast

The Outfall
  • 4.9 (20)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to The Outfall – a podcast that explores the backstories of our water world and its infrastructure through unique stories. Whether you’re a curious learner or simply looking for an engaging listen, this podcast is designed to cater to a diverse audience. We aim to deliver short and engaging episodes for our audience, have a blast creating them, and uncover the fascinating tales about our water world.

  1. 12/30/2025

    Down the Drain: A Wastewater Crime

    A maintenance worker's suspicious 911 call. A toxic chemical banned since the 1970s. And a $2.5 million cleanup that started with one man's $6,000 shortcut. Former Spartanburg Water CEO Sue Schneider takes us inside the crisis. See the Show Notes.

    15 min

  2. 12/03/2025

    Chattooga: The Soul of a River

    For nearly a century, the Chattooga River has shaped the lives of the people who ran it, fought for it, and tried to keep it wild. In this episode, Jack Wise, Owner of Wildwater and conservationist Buzz Williams share how a once-secret river exploded after Deliverance, reshaped an entire community, and now faces a quieter kind of pressure. Along the way, we hear about a buried rapid, a new species, and a simple idea of “giving something up” that might decide the river’s future. Visit the Show Notes Here.

    24 min

  3. 11/18/2025

    How to Steal a Golden Toilet in 300 Seconds

    In September 2019, thieves broke into Blenheim Palace and stole Maurizio Cattelan's "America"—a fully functional solid gold toilet worth $6 million—in under 5 minutes. But this isn't just a heist story: it's about an artwork that made 100,000 people equal for three minutes at a time, proving that true value can't be stolen. Join us for the wildest art infrastructure crime you've never heard of, where democracy met plumbing and lost.  Visit our website. Visit us on Insta.

    10 min

  4. 10/29/2025

    SOLVED: The Swamp Lights Were Real

    For 400 years, people reported eerie blue lights dancing over marshes, which science often dismissed as folklore. Now, a stunning new paper from Stanford scientists proves the lights were real. The cause is stranger than any ghost story and connects directly to a topic in this season of stories. We explain in five minutes the phenomenon behind these "cool flames" and explore why the last major sighting was nearly a century ago. See the show notes.

    5 min

  5. 10/22/2025

    Chattooga: The Fight to Keep It Wild – Episode 3

    In the series finale, we go on set for the chaotic, death-defying filming of Deliverance and find out what really happened during Burt Reynolds's infamous waterfall stunt. Then, we follow Governor Jimmy Carter on his own daring canoe run down Bull Sluice. Finally, we explore how this perfect storm of Hollywood fame and political will converged to save the Chattooga River forever. Link to the Show Notes and Pictures. Join us on Instagram.

    23 min

  6. 10/03/2025

    Chattooga: The Fight to Keep It Wild – Episode 2

    In the 1960s, the Chattooga River was set to disappear. A series of massive dams were planned to turn 50 miles of wild rapids into a staircase of lakes.  Meanwhile, a political battle raged in Washington over the future of America's wildest places, and a South Carolina poet named James Dickey was writing a terrifying novel about a canoe trip that would change everything. Visit the show notes here.

    16 min

  7. 09/22/2025

    Chattooga: The Fight to Keep It Wild - Episode 1

    Welcome to the premiere of our new series, Chattooga: The Fight to Keep It Wild. In this first episode, we journey back to a time when the Chattooga's fate seemed sealed. Like most major rivers in the American Southeast, it was destined to be tamed. This episode uncovers the extraordinary and unlikely convergence of events that set the stage for its survival. We trace the story from a campfire conversation where James Dickey conceived of his haunting novel, Deliverance, to a frustrated WWII aircraft engineer whose innovation revolutionized river travel. This is the origin story of the fight to come. It's a story of geological chance, artistic vision, and the raw power of progress. Click on the show notes here.

    15 min

  8. 09/02/2025

    When the Water Stopped: Helene’s 53-Day Siege on Asheville

    When Hurricane Helene hit Asheville in September 2024, Water Resources Director David Melton watched his reservoir fill eight feet overnight and knew they were in trouble. Within hours, all three main transmission lines were gone, leaving 200,000 people without water for what would become a 53-day crisis. In this raw, unfiltered account, David shares the impossible decisions that kept a city alive – including the moment he told his staff, “The zombie apocalypse is here.” Visit the show notes here.    Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @theoutfallpodcast for behind-the-scenes content and episode updates. Join our community discussions on Facebook at The Outfall Podcast where we connect with listeners.

    18 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Welcome to The Outfall – a podcast that explores the backstories of our water world and its infrastructure through unique stories. Whether you’re a curious learner or simply looking for an engaging listen, this podcast is designed to cater to a diverse audience. We aim to deliver short and engaging episodes for our audience, have a blast creating them, and uncover the fascinating tales about our water world.

Information

  • Creator
    The Outfall
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Outfall Podcast