Amy Westervelt

Amy Westervelt is an environmental journalist, author, and podcast creator known for her coverage of climate change, corporate accountability, and environmental justice issues. Her work has appeared in major publications including The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Westervelt wrote the award-winning book "Forget 'Having It All': How America Messed Up Motherhood - and How to Fix It" (2018), which examines the history of motherhood in America and its intersection with labor and social policies. She is also the founder of the Critical Frequency podcast network and creator of the climate-focused podcast "Drilled," which investigates fossil fuel industry propaganda and disinformation. Her reporting has earned multiple awards, including a Rachel Carson award for "women greening journalism" and an Edward R. Murrow award. As the founder of the Critical Frequency podcast network, she has developed multiple documentary podcast series examining environmental and social justice issues. Through her journalism and creative work, Westervelt focuses on investigating corporate influence on climate policy and public opinion, while also exploring the connections between environmental issues and broader social concerns. She frequently speaks at universities and conferences about climate journalism, podcasting, and media innovation.

Readers praise Westervelt's investigative depth and ability to connect complex environmental issues to everyday life. The "Drilled" podcast receives consistently high ratings for making corporate climate disinformation accessible and engaging. Liked: - Clear explanation of complex topics - Thorough research and documentation - Balance of scientific detail with storytelling - Strong fact-checking and source citation Disliked: - Some readers find her tone confrontational - Several Amazon reviews note political bias in coverage - A few Goodreads comments mention dense technical sections Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: "Forget Having It All" - 4.0/5 (600+ ratings) - Apple Podcasts: "Drilled" - 4.7/5 (1,800+ ratings) - Amazon: "Forget Having It All" - 4.2/5 (150+ reviews) Notable reader comment: "She presents complex corporate and environmental relationships in ways that make the stakes clear without oversimplifying." - Goodreads review

Forget "Having It All": How America Messed Up Motherhood - and How to Fix It (2018) An examination of American policies, cultural expectations, and economic realities affecting working mothers, incorporating historical research and contemporary interviews.

Drilled: A History of Big Oil's Climate Denial Machine (2023) A detailed investigation into how fossil fuel companies created and funded climate change denial campaigns over multiple decades.

Rebecca Solnit explores environmental and social justice topics through reported essays and historical analysis. Her work connects climate issues with feminism and power structures similar to Westervelt's investigations of corporate influence on climate policy.

Naomi Klein investigates how capitalism and corporate power intersect with climate change and environmental destruction. Her research-driven approach reveals systemic problems in ways that parallel Westervelt's focus on industry influence.

Elizabeth Kolbert reports on climate change and extinction through field research and scientific analysis. Her work combines environmental journalism with historical context to examine human impacts on natural systems.

Jane Mayer uncovers networks of corporate and political influence through deep investigative reporting. Her examination of power structures and money in politics aligns with Westervelt's work on fossil fuel industry tactics.

Sandra Steingraber combines scientific expertise with personal narrative to examine environmental health impacts. Her research on chemical contamination and public health connects to Westervelt's work on corporate responsibility and environmental harm.