# The Paradox of Mining Lithium to Save the Planet | The Spill

An episode of [Drilled](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1439735906), 16 Oct 2026, 1 h 03 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/tracking.swap.fm/track/SxlTEPDY7xDg35RXkASs/pdrl.fm/3e5572/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/9a7ab5ee-ce11-48ff-a544-b3ec00ea9b1e/34864c09-9b6f-47c3-af2c-b4e4015b5ab3/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=7f82f371-6316-4ea6-a108-b3ec00ea9b2d

Most proposals to keep fossil fuels in the ground rely on taking new minerals out of the ground — especially lithium, a major component in the batteries powering electric vehicles. In Thea Riofrancos' book, Extraction, she visits the communities most impacted by lithium mining, explores the mineral's politics and history, and proposes a pathway toward harm reduction. Reading list from today’s show: 1. Thea Riofrancos' book, Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism 2. Amy Westervelt's new book, Brought to You By: How Corporations Warped the Truth, Conned the Public, and Broke Democracy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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