The Outfall Podcast

The Outfall Podcast

Welcome to The Outfall – a podcast that explores the backstories of our water world and its infrastructure through unique stories. Whether you’re a curious learner or simply looking for an engaging listen, this podcast is designed to cater to a diverse audience. We aim to deliver short and engaging episodes for our audience, have a blast creating them, and uncover the fascinating tales about our water world.

Episodes

June 20, 2025 19 mins

The dramatic finale of our Table Rock Fire series reveals how South Carolina made history with its first-ever DC-10 aircraft drop and over a million gallons of water falling from the sky during the most intense mountain firefighting operation the state has ever seen. See the Show Notes and Pictures Here.

Mark as Played

What started as a 10-acre fire on Table Rock Mountain quickly escalated into one of the largest wildfire responses in South Carolina history. In this episode, we go inside the firefighting operation as it exploded from a manageable incident to a 13,000-acre "complex fire" burning in two locations simultaneously. You'll hear from pilots coordinating massive aerial operations, firefighters wat...

Mark as Played
June 6, 2025 17 mins

In March 2025, careless teenage hikers ignited what would become the largest mountain wildfire in South Carolina's recorded history. What started as a 10-acre fire on Table Rock Mountain exploded into nearly 16,000 acres, becoming the number one priority fire in the entire United States. In this first episode, we explore how South Carolina actually fights wildfires.... spoiler alert: it's not what you think.

Visit Show Notes for Pi...

Mark as Played

This is your official teaser for Season 7 of The Outfall. From wildfire crises to nanobubbles and Cold War secrets, this season uncovers the hidden forces shaping the world beneath our feet. Full episodes begin June 6—subscribe now and get ready to explore the unexpected.

Mark as Played
December 31, 2024 34 mins

In this episode, Dr. Christy Spackman explores the fascinating connection between water's taste and its source environment. Drawing from her book "The Taste of Water," Spackman shares insights in a lecture at Clemson University. Join us as we dive into the journey of water from source to sip, uncovering how flavor and place are inextricably linked. Show Notes and Pictures.

Mark as Played
December 13, 2024 11 mins

From a heart-stopping near-miss in foggy Seattle waters came Captain John Trimmer’s “How to Avoid Huge Ships” – a 1982 maritime safety guide that transformed from deadly serious advice into an internet sensation.

While thousands of Amazon reviews made it a cult classic (particularly popular among nervous Kansas residents), its seemingly obvious title belies both crucial seafaring wisdom and a deeper truth: when life’s huge ships lo...

Mark as Played
November 25, 2024 20 mins

Join us on a behind-the-scenes tour of Spartanburg Water, where Director Ken Tuck shares the 20-year journey of transforming water treatment in a changing world. From taste and odor challenges to innovative solutions, Ken's team is dedicated to improving water quality in the face of evolving environmental demands. This episode offers a fascinating look into the hard work, adaptation, and persistence it takes to deliver daily clean,...

Mark as Played
November 10, 2024 17 mins

Meet the unsung heroes of Georgia's rivers - freshwater mussels! Join aquatic biologist Dr. Steve Golladay as he reveals how these remarkable creatures help keep our waterways clean and healthy. Discover the fascinating world of these underwater engineers and learn why protecting them is crucial for the future of the Flint River. Click here for the show notes.

 

Mark as Played

Once common in folktales, sightings of the eerie will o’ wisp lights have faded away. Could science finally explain why the wisps have disappeared…or are some mysteries better left unsolved? Get ready for a haunting tale of vanished folklore and marshy landscapes. Visit Show Notes Here.

Mark as Played

Hurricane Helene's unprecedented impact on the Carolinas is examined through the expert lens of Hope Mizzell, South Carolina's State Climatologist. This episode provides a deep dive into the storm's development, record-breaking rainfall, and the crucial role of volunteer weather observers in tracking such extreme weather events.

Mark as Played
October 7, 2024 13 mins

Discover the eerie parallels between the Great Flood of 1916 and Hurricane Helene in 2024, two catastrophic events that reshaped Asheville and Western North Carolina over a century apart. Through firsthand accounts and historical records, we uncover how these twin disasters expose the enduring challenges of flood management. See show notes here. 

Mark as Played

Dive into a decade-long journey of collaboration and conservation in Georgia's Flint River Basin, where endangered mussels and agricultural needs collide. Discover how a diverse group of stakeholders are working to protect the region's unique aquatic species and its vital agricultural economy through an innovative Habitat Conservation Plan. Show Notes Here. 

Mark as Played

In this series' third and final podcast episode, discover the untold story of Clemson College's existential battle against the Hartwell Dam project in 1956. Uncover how Plan X became the unexpected solution that saved Clemson's campus and reshaped its landscape. Along the way, uncover an ancient relic hiding in plain sight on campus. See Cool Pictures Here.

Mark as Played
August 16, 2024 18 mins

In 1956, Clemson College faced potential submersion as Hartwell Dam plans threatened to flood its campus. We continue to uncover the high-stakes battle between college officials and the federal government, revealing a forgotten alternative that could have radically transformed the landscape. Dive into this tale of progress versus preservation, where Clemson's future hangs in the balance, and a five-mile canal nearly became a realit...

Mark as Played

In 1956, Clemson College faced an existential threat as plans for the Hartwell Dam threatened to submerge vital campus lands. This podcast series uncovers the dramatic confrontation between progress and preservation as South Carolina's most powerful figures grapple with a decision that could reshape the entire region's future. Join us as we dive into the high-stakes political chess game that nearly erased Clemson as we know it toda...

Mark as Played

Every March, as part of the South Carolina Environmental Conference in Myrtle Beach, an unusual competition takes place—the battle for the best-tasting water in the state. Today, we're going behind the scenes of this annual water-tasting event. We'll see how judges evaluate water samples from across South Carolina, talk to this year's winner, and uncover some surprisingly refined taste buds in the water industry. Show Notes.

Mark as Played
June 30, 2024 10 mins

This fall, we're exploring Christy Spackman's "The Taste of Water," a book that uncovers the hidden world of water's flavor and its profound cultural impact. Join us for a behind-the-scenes chat with Christy. 

Mark as Played

Forget the unicorn; the real mythical creature recruiters chase is the elusive purple squirrel – a candidate with an extraordinarily rare mix of valuable skills. Join us on an illuminating journey into the high-stakes world of talent acquisition, where veteran recruiters share insider stories of navigating this ultra-competitive landscape using cutting-edge tactics. You’ll gain a newfound appreciation for this type of work. See the...

Mark as Played

This five-minute water short reveals the crucial but little-known role water plays in protecting the Space Shuttle during launches. Discover how NASA engineers ingeniously used water and clever engineering to avert a catastrophic problem threatening the entire Shuttle program. See Show Notes with Video

Mark as Played

$1.4 billion—it's a mind-boggling figure that could transform South Carolina's water infrastructure landscape. In this episode, go behind the scenes with Bonnie Ammons, Executive Director of the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority, and Angie Mettlen, Vice President and Director of Strategic Funding and Regulatory Affairs at WK Dickson & Co., Inc., as they unpack the unprecedented impacts of this massive investment. See more in th...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides.  Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer  Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.