Inside Running for the Mountains
By Bob Gatty
For more than a century, West Virginia has powered America—but at an enormous cost to its people, its land, and its democracy.
In the latest episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, I discussed with documentary filmmakers Babette Hogan and Julie Eisenberg their powerful film, Running for the Mountains—a 15-year investigation into how greed, political power, and extractive industries have shaped life in West Virginia, and how corporate power sells out the environment.
What began as an exploration of environmentalism and politics evolved into something far deeper: a searing indictment of how corporate interests dominate policy decisions, undermine public health, and exploit the idea of “patriotism” to justify environmental sacrifice.
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Power, Patriotism, and Profit
Hogan and Eisenberg reveal how political leaders have long framed environmental destruction as a necessary sacrifice for the “national good,” while communities are left with poisoned water, health crises, and declining economic prospects. The discussion touches on the outsized influence of figures like Senator Joe Manchin, whose role in shaping energy policy underscores how smaller states can wield enormous power over national outcomes.
The Human Cost of Speaking Truth
This wasn’t filmmaking from a distance. Hogan and Eisenberg made several trips to West Virginia, building trust with communities that are too often ignored, to tell stories that rarely make it into mainstream political discourse. During the course of their investigation, Hogan was arrested for the simple of filming. They described how many of their sources were threatened and mistreated, demonstrating just how dangerous—and necessary—it can be to challenge entrenched power.
Why This Story Matters Now
As deregulation accelerates and fossil fuel interests regain influence nationwide, Running for the Mountains serves as both a warning and a call to action. What happens in West Virginia doesn’t stay in West Virginia. These decisions ripple outward, shaping environmental policy, public health, and democratic accountability across the entire country. And, as they point out, the West Virginia waters that are polluted by industrial activity, such as mining and fracking, ripple outward and contaminate waterways far beyond the state’s borders.
The film is currently available on Amazon Prime and Kanopy, ensuring access for viewers who want to understand—and confront—the real costs of political complacency.
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Running for the Mountains|How Corporate Power Sold Out the Environment
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to the Lean to the Left Podcast
00:18 Meet the Filmmakers: Babette Hogan and Julie Eisenberg
01:52 The Story Behind ‘Running for the Mountains’
02:34 Challenges and Risks in Filmmaking
07:51 Political Landscape and Environmental Impact
09:43 The Role of Patriotism and National Politics
12:19 Joe Manchin’s Influence and National Implications
16:23 Environmental Devastation in West Virginia
20:32 Film Distribution and Accessibility
21:45 Personal Reflections and Future Plans
25:26 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts