Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our homes, grocery stores, oceans, soil and even our bodies. While the invention of plastic has advanced our world, it has seriously damaged our environment and our health. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we look at how our plastic world came to be, and how one woman stood up to say enough in her own community. Available February 7, wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shadow of Goliath is looming over St. James Parish, Louisiana, and it’s called The Sunshine Project. This $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plant would sprawl across 2,400 acres, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Our David is lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne. After teaching special education at the local school for over 30 years, Sharon becomes an accidental activist trying to save her community and its history.

This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved.

SHOW NOTES

Rise St. James

ProPublica: “I’ve Investigated Industrial Pollution for 35 Years. We’re Going Backwards”

The Descendants Project

CREDITS

Discarded is a Lemonada Media original, presented by Only One. Hosted by Gloria Riviera. The producers are Alie Kilts, Alexa Lim, and Gloria Riviera. Tess Novotny is the associate producer. Chrystal Genesis is the supervising producer. Jackie Danziger is the vice president of narrative content. Mix and Sound Design by Natasha Jacobs with additional mixing by Ivan Kuraev. Music is by Hannis Brown. Naomi Barr is the fact checker. Executive producers are Stephanie Wittels Wachs and Jessica Cordova Kramer. To learn more and take action, go to only.one/discarded.

Follow Gloria on Twitter at @griviera. Stay up to date with Lemonada on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

There’s more Discarded with Lemonada Premium. Subscribers get exclusive access to bonus content, like Gloria's conversation with Jane Patton over delicious Cafe du Monde beignets in New Orleans. Subscribe now in Apple Podcasts.

Join My Lemonada today for free and chat with your favorite hosts, other listeners, and our staff. You'll also get exclusive audio and video content and invites to live and virtual events before anyone else. Go to bit.ly/mylemonada to join a community who wants to make life suck less, together.

Go to lemonadamedia.com for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series.

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/Discarded shortly after the air date. Follow Discarded wherever you get your podcasts or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

St. James Parish is a place with tangled roots. The community shoulders the burdens of many who have come before them — and bears a deep responsibility to their ancestors to protect their hard-fought land. What started out as just a meeting of concerned citizens around a pot of gumbo turned into a quest to reclaim land, graves, and preserve a thriving community.

This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved.

SHOW NOTES

Rise St. James

The Descendents Project

The Guardian: “Multibillion-dollar Louisiana plastics plant put on pause in a win for activists”

CREDITS

Discarded is a Lemonada Media original, presented by Only One. Gloria Riviera is our host. Our producers are Alie Kilts, Alexa Lim, and Gloria Riviera. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Jackie Danziger is our vice president of narrative content. Mix and sound design by Ivan Kuraev. Music is by Hannis Brown. Naomi Barr is our fact checker. Executive producers are Stephanie Wittels Wachs and Jessica Cordova Kramer.

To learn more and take action, go to only.one/discarded.

Follow Gloria on Twitter at @griviera. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

There’s more Discarded with Lemonada Premium. Subscribers get exclusive access to bonus content, like an extended cut of Gloria’s conversation with the Lavigne women. Subscribe now in Apple Podcasts.

Join My Lemonada today for free and chat with your favorite hosts, other listeners, and our staff. You'll also get exclusive audio and video content and invites to live and virtual events before anyone else. Go to bit.ly/mylemonada to join a community who wants to make life suck less, together.

Go to lemonadamedia.com for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series.

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/Discarded shortly after the air date. Follow Discarded wherever you get your podcasts or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.