The podcast ‘Fumed’ shines light on corporate pollution

Fumed

Public Health Watch (NPR, 2025)

The first season of Fumed, a podcast by Public Health Watch, details not just what’s polluting the air (and water and land) in Channelview, Texas, an unincorporated town outside of Houston, but also how the local community feels about it. The four-part investigative series runs just over four hours total, but I was hooked after the first five minutes.

Host David Leffler sparks listeners’ interest with his introduction of the story’s main characters: Carolyn Stone, a gentle-spirited grandmother who likes to keep to herself, and Greg Moss, a brash extrovert who has been involved in community advocacy for years. The duo want to preserve their small-town lifestyles from the toxicity of big (petrochemical) business, which has had a growing presence along the San Jacinto River. What’s more unexpected about the pair of environmental activists is their identity as Trump supporters—an administration that has unapologetically gutted environmental protections meant to better protect places like Channelview.

A few episodes in, Leffler says he didn’t set out to produce a true crime podcast, but when Moss’ home falls victim to arson, he takes up the challenge. The court is yet to determine whether the home was set fire in an attempt to curb oil industry opposition, but Moss is sure that’s the case, as he’s loudly campaigned against the actions of numerous companies angling to secure shoreline access for their barges.

Stone fears for her safety, too. She never wanted to be a movement leader but reluctantly assumed the role, learning legal and non-profit management skills in real time.

The members of the Channelview Health and Improvement Coalition, which Stone founded, haven’t won protection for their town yet, but they’re hopeful the group can have an increasingly powerful impact on decisions made for their town and others at risk for similar environmental harms.

Fumed is available to stream wherever you listen to podcasts.