Boomtown (podcast)

Boomtown
Presentation
Hosted by
  • Christian Wallace
  • Susan Elizabeth Shepard (guest co-host for two episodes)
Genre
FormatAudio documentary
LanguageAmerican English
UpdatesTuesdays
Length30–45 minutes
Production
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12
Publication
Original releaseDecember 10, 2019 –
April 30, 2020
ProviderImperative Entertainment and Texas Monthly
Related
Websitewww.texasmonthly.com/boomtown/

Boomtown is a podcast about big oil in the Permian Basin hosted by Christian Wallace and produced by Texas Monthly in partnership with Imperative Entertainment.[2]

Background

The show was produced by Texas Monthly in partnership with Imperative Entertainment, and syndicated on Marfa Public Radio.[3][4] The show debuted on December 10, 2019, with Jason Hoch as the executive producer of the show.[5] Boomtown is a narrative serialized show about the 21st century Texas oil boom that occurred in the Permian Basin.[6] Christian Wallace—the host of the show—grew up in Andrews, Texas and previously spent a year as a roughneck in the oilfields working on drilling rigs.[7] The first episode of the ten part series is about U.S. Route 285 in Texas known as "Death Highway" or the "Highway to Hell" because the traffic from tank trucks carrying oil has increased the number of deaths by 67% since the beginning of the oil boom.[8][9]

At the end of each episode Wallace discloses that "Texas Monthly's parent company also owns interests in the midstream oil and gas industry among other diversified investments. Our editorial judgements are made independently of any such investments."

Reception

In January 2020, CBS7 reported that the show hit number one on the iTunes and Spotify charts and had stayed within the top twenty documentary podcasts.[10]

Laura Jane Standley and Eric McQuade of The Atlantic included the show on their list of the "50 Best Podcasts of 2020" saying that the "show is a beautiful ride filled with levity, even as it delivers troubling forecasts for the future."[9] Erin Berger of Outside said "Boomtown ... prove[s] that good storytelling about devastating environmental issues is still vitally important, informative, and inspiring."[11] David Leffler of Austin Monthly called the show "Compelling, illuminating, and gripping."[12]

Awards

Award Year Category Result Ref.
Webby Awards 2021 Documentary Podcast Honoree [13]

Adaptation

In February 2022, Paramount+ ordered a television series adaptation of Boomtown titled Landman from screenwriter Taylor Sheridan. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the series.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ Serrano, Jody (October 17, 2020). "Here Are 10 of the Best Climate Change Podcasts Out Right Now: There Hasn't Been a Better Time to Learn About Climate Change Through the Wonderful Medium of Podcasting". Gizmodo. G/O Media. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  2. ^ Cotte, Jorge (February 18, 2020). "Every Boom Has Its Busts: On Texas Monthly's Boomtown". Podcast Review. Los Angeles Review of Books. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. ^ "Texas Monthly Uses Podcast to Tell Its Next Story". Inside Radio. January 9, 2020. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  4. ^ "Christian Wallace of Boomtown & the Rise of the Permian". KRTS. Marfa Public Radio. February 14, 2020. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  5. ^ Lang, Brent (December 3, 2019). "Imperative Entertainment, Texas Monthly Team on Podcast 'Boomtown' (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  6. ^ Peck, Gretchen A. (July 6, 2021). "The Podcast Revolution: Audio Takes Precedence in Newsrooms". Editor & Publisher. Curated Experiences Group. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  7. ^ Geddes, Kirsten (January 7, 2020). "'Boomtown' Podcast Takes Listeners Inside the Permian Basin Oilfield: Tumbleweeds, Cowboys, and Life and Death on the Rig-This Podcast Takes a Deep Dive Into the World of the Permian Basin". KWES-TV. Tegna Inc. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  8. ^ Herrera, Anthony D. (December 16, 2019). "Both Lovers and Haters of Christmas Can Find Their Kin in This Week's Podmass—Boomtown: Highway to Hell". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Standley, Laura Jane; McQuade, Eric (December 26, 2020). "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2020: The Shows That Kept Listeners Refreshing Their Apps This Year". The Atlantic. Emerson Collective. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  10. ^ Harrison, Haley (January 6, 2020). "Texas Monthly's 'Boomtown' Podcast Features the Permian Basin". KOSA-TV. Gray Television. Archived from the original on January 7, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  11. ^ Berger, Erin (March 4, 2020). "Two Podcasts About Big Oil Prove We Have More to Learn: Boomtown and Drilled Tackle Climate Change and Oil and Gas Extraction From Different Angles". Outside. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Leffler, David (March 17, 2020). "8 Local & Texas-Themed Podcasts to Listen to Now: From Jaw-Dropping True Crime Stories and Investigative Journalism Pieces to Series Chronicling Big Money Boomtowns in West Texas, This Lone Star-Themed Podcast List Will Keep You Informed and Entertained". Austin Monthly Magazine. Open Sky Media. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  13. ^ "Webby Honoree: Boomtown from Texas Monthly". Webby Awards. 2021. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  14. ^ White, Peter (February 15, 2022). "Billy Bob Thornton Set As Lead In Land Man, Zoe Saldaña To Star In Lioness & 1883 Gets New Season, Spinoff As Paramount+ Grows Taylor Sheridan Universe". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on August 28, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  15. ^ Hibberd, James (February 6, 2024). "Taylor Sheridan's Next Drama Starts Production, Reveals New Details". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024.