What is mountaintop removal mining?

Josh and Chuck dive deep into mountaintop removal coal mining, a controversial practice that's dramatically reshaped Appalachian communities while most Americans remain unaware of its existence. They explore how this industrial process has transformed West Virginia's landscape by literally blowing the tops off mountains to reach coal seams, burying over 1,200 miles of streams and valleys in the process. The episode examines the environmental devastation, health impacts on local residents, and economic contradictions of an industry that's increased coal production while simultaneously eliminating mining jobs in some of the nation's poorest communities.