Rip Current podcast

Rip Current

On the morning of May 24th, 1990, a pipe bomb exploded in the car driven by Judi Bari, a leader in the radical environmental group, Earth First!. She was critically injured, but she survived. The case of who placed the bomb has never been solved. In fact, law enforcement barely investigated. The bombing happened in the midst of a battle over the fate of the last remnants of the original Redwood forest in northernmost California. As timber companies looked to cut the remaining trees, Earth First! activists used whatever non-violent means they could to stop them. In a region reliant on timber for well over a century, threats and violence followed. This season on Rip Current, the story of a woman who led a group of people willing to put their lives on the line to stop irreversible environmental damage, and the price that she paid.

On the morning of May 24th, 1990, a pipe bomb exploded in the car driven by Judi Bari, a leader in the radical environmental group, Earth First!. She was critically injured, but she survived. The case of who placed the bomb has never been solved. In fact, law enforcement barely investigated. The bombing happened in the midst of a battle over the fate of the last remnants of the original Redwood forest in northernmost California. As timber companies looked to cut the remaining trees, Earth First! activists used whatever non-violent means they could to stop them. In a region reliant on timber for well over a century, threats and violence followed. This season on Rip Current, the story of a woman who led a group of people willing to put their lives on the line to stop irreversible environmental damage, and the price that she paid.

 

#23

S2 E2: Arrival

With a history of activism and labor organizing under her belt, Judi Bari moves to the Red... more

12 Nov 2025

27 MINS

27:02

12 Nov 2025


#22

S2 E1: Ecotopia

On May 24, 1990, a pipe bomb detonated in the white Subaru driven by radical environmental... more

05 Nov 2025

29 MINS

29:47

05 Nov 2025


#21

Rip Current Returns - Season 2 Trailer

An all new season, an all new case. Rip Current returns. This time, examining the peculiar... more

29 Oct 2025

03 MINS

03:00

29 Oct 2025


#20

Bonus: The Symbionese Liberation Army

A further examination of the brief, violent existence of the SLA. See [omnystudio.com/list... more

05 Dec 2024

27 MINS

27:15

05 Dec 2024


#19

Bonus: Prison Radicalism - Part 2 with Brittany Friedman

We chat with Author and Sociologist Brittany Friedman about prison activism movements from... more

04 Dec 2024

41 MINS

41:30

04 Dec 2024


#18

Bonus: Prison Radicalism - Part 1 with Dan Berger

We talk with Historian Dan Berger about activism in California prisons in the 1960s and 70... more

03 Dec 2024

33 MINS

33:13

03 Dec 2024


#17

Bonus: Life in Charles Manson's Cult

An interview with Dianne Lake and Deborah Herman about Dianne's life in the Manson Family,... more

02 Dec 2024

39 MINS

39:41

02 Dec 2024


#16

Bonus: Interviews with Mary Catherine

Interviews with co-host Mary Catherine Garrison conducted before and after her work on Rip... more

21 Nov 2024

17 MINS

17:50

21 Nov 2024


#15

S1 E12: Pavlov’s (almost) Drowning Dogs

The arrests of Lynette Fromme, Patty Hearst, and Sara Jane Moore in a 17-day period lead t... more

21 Nov 2024

49 MINS

49:42

21 Nov 2024


#14

S1 E11: There Comes a Point Where the Only Way You Can Make a Statement is to Pick Up a Gun

In the early morning hours of September 22nd, the Secret Service questions Sara Jane Moore... more

14 Nov 2024

33 MINS

33:25

14 Nov 2024


#13

Bonus: Tribal Thumb

A look at the small, violent revolutionary group called Tribal Thumb. See [omnystudio.com/... more

11 Nov 2024

40 MINS

40:03

11 Nov 2024


#12

S1 E10: It Serves the Pigs’ Interests to Create Confusion

After Popeye Jackson’s execution, a debate is carried out among radical groups on whether ... more

07 Nov 2024

38 MINS

38:08

07 Nov 2024


#11

S1 E9: Contradictions

Sara Jane Moore discloses to members of the radical underground that she has been an under... more

31 Oct 2024

37 MINS

37:01

31 Oct 2024


#10

S1 E8: Popeye Jackson

Despite being found not guilty of drug possession, radical activist Popeye Jackson faces r... more

24 Oct 2024

33 MINS

33:25

24 Oct 2024


#9

S1 E7: A Confusion of Sanity and Reality

Sara Jane Moore’s life is a series of new beginnings followed by sudden exits, leaving hus... more

17 Oct 2024

29 MINS

29:33

17 Oct 2024


#8

S1 E6: Death to the Fascist Insect that Preys Upon the Life of the People

Patty Hearst is kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. As the nation tries to unders... more

10 Oct 2024

30 MINS

30:40

10 Oct 2024


#7

Bonus: Watergate

A look at the scandals that brought down the Nixon White House. See [omnystudio.com/listen... more

07 Oct 2024

25 MINS

25:29

07 Oct 2024


#6

S1 E5: Thirty Eight

Did Lynette Fromme really intend to kill Gerald Ford, or was she just trying to draw atten... more

03 Oct 2024

31 MINS

31:42

03 Oct 2024


#5

S1 E4: Nice Girls

In Sacramento, Lynette Fromme and Sandra Good send anonymous threatening letters to corpor... more

26 Sep 2024

29 MINS

29:07

26 Sep 2024


#4

S1 E3: The Story of James and Reni Willett

After the conviction of Charles Manson and a number of his followers, Lynette Fromme’s lif... more

19 Sep 2024

29 MINS

29:07

19 Sep 2024


#3

S1 E2: Don’t Want Out and You’re Free

After a troubled, but conventional upbringing, Lynette Fromme is kicked out of her house a... more

12 Sep 2024

38 MINS

38:41

12 Sep 2024


#2

S1 E1: It Didn’t Go Off

By the early 70s, most of America rejects the values promoted by the youth of what we call... more

05 Sep 2024

31 MINS

31:24

05 Sep 2024


#1

Introducing: Rip Current

California, September 1975. Within a span of 17 days and less than 90 miles, two women, wo... more

20 Feb 2024

04 MINS

04:08

20 Feb 2024