Nick Mullins is a former fifth-generation coal miner from Clintwood, Virginia. He grew up seeing multiple generations of his family endure the hardships created by the nation’s demand for cheap coal. In search of a living wage, he became a miner himself. He eventually left the industry seeking justice for his mountain communities before uncovering problematic issues relating to the non-profit, academic, and activist industrial complexes.

Today he lives in rural Maine with his family, where he instructs high school students in energy literacy and trade skills related to alternative energy sources.