I start my day the same way I have for decades: coffee, more coffee, and the news—specifically oil and gas news. But every morning, without fail, I run into the same irritation. Headlines plastered with the word “fracking,” like it’s the sum total of the entire oil and gas industry. Every story, every lazy piece of clickbait journalism, reducing one of the world’s most innovative and complex industries to a single, overused buzzword.
Let me tell you, if you’re talking to someone who actually knows this business—someone who’s worked in the field or built a career around it—you don’t hear them throwing “fracking” around like it’s gospel. It’s a single step, a crucial part of the process, sure, but only one step in a long chain of exploration, drilling, completions, production, and logistics. The industry is a machine—an intricate, high-performance machine powered by science, technology, and raw human determination. But to the headlines, it’s all just “fracking,” because that’s what gets clicks. It’s frustrating, especially when you know how much these so-called experts writing these pieces really don’t understand.
These bloggers and reporters? Half of them were writing about fantasy football last week and probably have a listicle on houseplants due tomorrow. They’re not oil men, not engineers, not geologists. They’re content creators, chasing eyeballs and stirring the pot, not trying to inform anyone. They don’t care about the nuance, the real innovation, or the gritty reality of what this industry is all about. They care about simplicity and sensationalism. And that’s why their coverage feels so shallow, so cheap.
That’s why I’m glad I met Mark LaCour and Paige Wilson over at OGGN.com. These two aren’t just knowledgeable; they’re passionate about getting it right. Their weekly podcast cuts through the noise and delivers actual insights—things you can use, things you can trust. They bring on guests who’ve lived the life, who understand the industry at a level these headline writers couldn’t dream of. When I listen to their show, I get real information, not just another regurgitation of the same tired clichés.
So yeah, the news might be stuck in the mud with its lazy buzzwords and surface-level takes, but at least there are voices like Mark and Paige out there bringing clarity to the chaos. If you care about the industry, about its challenges and opportunities, their podcast is where the real conversation is happening.
Howdy! Grab your favorite coffee and join me as we journey through the Marcellus shale. I’m your guru’ for all things oil and gas. Expect some hearty chuckles as we wonder the ins and outs of the Appalachian Basin, because let’s face it, the new energy revolution is – full of surprises.
James A. Asbury