Global Health Perspectives
An ongoing series of conversations with experts in global health about how smoking sits at the nexus of many major health issues.
MOST RECENT EPISODE
Episode 40: James Glassman
09/16/2021
James K. Glassman serves as Chair of the Commission to Reignite the Fight Against Smoking. The Commission and its staff will launch a report that offers facts, analysis, and recommendations aimed at reinvigorating a noble effort that has stalled. Mired in an outdated paradigm, it has been superseded by new technology, new ideas, and new concerns for neglected communities. The Commission will also recommend a set of actions to accelerate an end to adult smoking and other toxic tobacco use.
We value any comments or ideas on what you’ve heard, email us at podcast@smokefreeworld.org
08.02.2021
Episode 39: Anupam Manur
Professor Anupam Manur explores how India’s complicated relationship with the tobacco industry and weak government enforcement of policy is causing a national public health crisis.
06.14.2021
Episode 38: Balkan Smoke with Professor Mary Neuburger
Former FSFW Derek Yach participates in Q&A with author Mary Neuburger to discuss her book, “Balkan Smoke: Tobacco and the Making of Modern Bulgaria”.
2.09.2021
Episode 37: Cother Hajat
As a physician and epidemiologist, Cother Hajat focuses on chronic disease risks. Cother discusses gaps in health infrastructure and evaluates the quality of a tobacco harm reduction study.
12.18.2020
Episode 36: End of Year Recap
Former FSFW President Derek Yach recaps the highlights from the podcast series and looks to the future with lessons learned in 2020. The topics covered include how COVID19 pandemic intertwined with smoking and the efforts to improve access to cessation and harm reduction.
12.16.2020
Episode 35: Bengt Wiberg
Swedish Snus is considered one of the safest ways to consume nicotine. The use of Snus comes with a distinct stinging sensation on the inner lip that many find unappealing. Bengt Wiberg speaks about the implications of his invention that removes this barrier from an effective tobacco harm reduction product:
11.25.2020
Episode 34: William
William Kamkwamba is a Malawian inventor and coauthor of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. William discusses the state of tobacco farming in Malawi, his incredible story, and how to inspire young people to innovate new ideas for the future.
11.16.2020
Episode 33: Harry Shapiro
Harry Shapiro discusses the worldwide demand for tobacco harm reduction and unpack some of the findings from the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction’s Burning Issues report. Harry Shapiro is the Director of DrugWise and head writer/editor of Burning Issues.
10.30.2020
Episode 32: Michael Cummings
Michael Cummings is recognized worldwide as an expert in the field of tobacco control and frequently serves as an expert witness in legal proceedings against cigarette manufacturers. Dr. Cummings discusses the role of capitalism in tobacco control policy and the Tobacco Transformation Index™
10.17.2020
Episode 31: Elise Rasmussen
Elise Rasmussen is the founder and president of the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF). Elise unpacks some of the highlights from this year’s virtual GTNF and discuss the value of creating a space for open dialogue.
10.08.2020
Episode 30: Karl Fagerström
Scientist Karl Fagerstrom discusses the use of harm reduction products in smoking cessation therapy and misperceptions about nicotine. Karl recommends that the new generation of harm reduction scientists “stay close to the data.”
09.30.2020
Episode 29: Dr. Sudhanshu Patwardhan
Dr. Sudhanshu Patwardhan is a British-Indian, UK licensed Medical Doctor, passionate about helping people quit risky tobacco. Dr. Sudhanshu and Derek discuss the lack of global inclusion of smoking cessation services, how medical education professionals lack vital information about nicotine, and the potential of tobacco harm reduction technologies to improve the lives of millions of people.
09.17.2020
Episode 28: Daniel Malan
Daniel Malan assistant professor of business ethics at Trinity College Dublin discussed his new report, “Contradictions and Conflicts,” and asks the question, “can governments that own 10% or more of at least one tobacco company be impartial when addressing the health and wellness of their people?”
09.04.2020
Episode 27: Tony Leon
Tony Leon is an accomplished author and the ex-leader of the South African Parliament Opposition. Tony discusses how the recently lifted tobacco and alcohol ban in South Africa impacted the economy and the health of South African citizens.
08.25.2020
Episode 26: Donald Kenkel
Economist Donald Kenkel from Cornell University applies economic theories to understand the smoking disease epidemic from a different angle. Donald about regulations, bans, taxes, and the cycle of misinformation created from last year’s outbreak of lung injury associated with contaminated EVALI vaping products.
08.19.2020
Episode 25: Karen Nelson
Former FSFW President Derek Yach speaks with Dr. Karen Nelson of the J. Craig Venter Institute about the valuable lessons that can be learned from studying the human microbiome. Karen discusses her start and impact on the field of microbiome research, how the gut microbiome may influence activity and diseases in other parts of the body, and mentorship to support the next generation of researchers from low-middle income countries.
08.06.2020
Episode 24: Kevin McGirr
Kevin McGirr is a professor with Community Health Systems at the University of California, San Francisco. Kevin discusses the link between mental health conditions and nicotine addiction.
07.27.2020
Episode 23: Samrat Chowdhery
Samrat Chowdhery is a journalist and the president of the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO). Samrat discusses India’s ban on nicotine vaping and the future of tobacco harm reduction in low and middle-income countries.
07.16.2020
Episode 22: Dr. Corinna Lathan
Corinna Lathan is an inventor and CEO of AnthroTronix. Dr. Lathan discusses improving people’s lives with the application of science, her extraordinary career journey, and the policy effects of the anti-science movement. Cori is a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
07.06.2020
Episode 21: Villoo Morawala-Patell
Dr. Villoo Patell launched a project to build a genetic database of India’s Zoroastrian community. The Zoroastrian community is known for its uniquely strict cultural practices forbidding smoking and ostracizing smokers from the community. Dr. Patell is a biotech innovator and founder of Avesthagen Limited.
06.29.2020
Episode 20: Konstantinos Farasalinos
Konstantinos Farasalinos is a senior researcher at the Department of Pharmacy-University of Patras and the school of Public Health-University of West Attica. Konstantinos is also an adjunct professor at King AbdulAziz University in Jeddah. Derek and Konstantinos discuss tobacco harm reduction, the results from cutting-edge research on e-cigarettes , and how the health of smokers and vapers are impacted by the Covid19 outbreak.
06.22.2020
Episode 19: Francois Millard
Francois Millard is SVP at the Vitality Group Inc. Francois discusses a number of topics, including the role of health insurance and the future and Vitality’s unique incentive program that rewards clients for engaging in healthy behavior.
06.03.2020
Episode 18: George Bostock
George Bostock is a mechanical engineer at Cambridge Design Partnership and a grantee of the Foundation. George discusses his fascinating work on identifying the impediments to reduced risk product uptake in lower-middle-income countries.
05.30.2020
Episode 17: A Message for World No Tobacco Day
In this episode, Former FSFW President Derek Yach addresses the significance of World No Tobacco Day and how the day affected him personally while living in South Africa many years ago. On World No Tobacco Day we are reminded that smoking remains the largest single preventable cause of death.
05.29.2020
Episode 16: Jed Rose
Jed Rose is a leader in tobacco addiction research and the co-inventor of the nicotine skin patch. Jed discusses shortcomings of the conventional approaches to cessation as well as the promise of innovative harm reduction products and technologies that are often overlooked by the public health community.
05.26.2020
Episode 15: Dyborn Chibonga
Dyborn Chibonga is the regional head of Malawi and Mozambique at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Dyborn discusses some of the challenges faced by Mozambique and Malawi in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic and the future of Malawi’s smallholder tobacco farmers as the world begins to smoke less cigarettes. Dyborn provides strategic guidance as a member of the Foundation’s board of directors.
05.19.2020
Episode 14: Melonie Kastman
Melonie has produced documentaries about some of the most complex problems facing Africa today. She covered the end of slavery, illicit diamonds, and most recently, Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Melonie directed the short film “The True Cost of a Cigarette,” where she told the rarely heard story of tobacco production from the perspective of the smallholder tobacco farmers living in Malawi.
05.14.2020
Episode 13: Gerry Stimson
Gerry Stimson is a public health scientist and advocate for harm reduction strategies. Gerry speaks about some of the reasons why harm reduction strategies have historically faced mainstream political/media pushback and the dangers of disregarding those strategies in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic. Gerry also provides insight into the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, an extensive report published by Knowledge Action Change.
05.12.2020
Episode 12: Dr. Tikki Pangestu
Dr. Tikki Pang spent 13 years as the Director of Research Policy and Cooperation at the World Health Organization. Tikki speaks about the media, political pushback on tobacco harm reduction strategies, and discuss the real-time issues related to the ongoing Covid19 outbreak.
05.05.2020
Episode 11: Dr. Marewa Glover
Dr. Marewa Glover is an indigenous behavioral scientist who has worked on reducing harms from smoking for over 25 years. Marewa speaks about the social and economic determinants of health for indigenous people in New Zealand and her Coping in Lockdown Survey.
05.01.2020
Episode 10: Angela Hoffmann
Angela Marshall Hofmann’s experience as a senior executive at Walmart and World Strategies gives her an important and unique understanding of how the ongoing Covid19 outbreak may impact politics, industry, and public health. Angela discusses the many changes that may be coming as a result of the Covid19 pandemic, the impact of female leaders, and how to leverage this difficult time for a better future. Angela is a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors
04.29.2020
Episode 9: Dr. Pooja Patwardhan
Dr. Pooja Patwardhan is a general practitioner in the UK with decades of experience in tobacco cessation and harm reduction. Pooja discusses the connection between mental illness and smoking-related disease, the effect on the ongoing Covid19 outbreak, and how doctors can support tobacco users in their quitting journey.
04.24.2020
Episode 8: Ethan Nadelmann
Ethan Nadelmann, who is the founder of the Drug Policy Alliance, speaks about the role of harm reduction in tobacco control, why harm reduction is difficult for some public health experts to embrace, and what lessons can be learned from the Covid19 outbreak.
04.20.2020
Episode 7: Darshita Gillies
Listed among the 100 Most Influential in the UK, Darshita Gillies is the founder and CEO of Maanch. In this episode, Darshita speaks about the current state of public health philanthropy, her perspective on the Covid19 pandemic, and the role of technology in the future of the nonprofit development community.
04.16.2020
Episode 6: Chitra Subramaniam
Chitra Subramaniam is an iconic investigative journalist from India now living in Geneva. She is recognized for her investigation of the Bofors-India Howitzer deal which is widely believed to have to have contributed to the electoral defeat of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. Chitra speaks about her work in global public health and compares the Swiss Covid19 response to India’s approach.
04.13.2020
Episode 5: Nilesh Jain
Nilesh is the founder of the Harm Reduction Research and Innovation Center. Nilesh sheds insight on the current healthcare inequities in India and the challenges faced by the Covid19 pandemic. India is embarking on a technological revolution where access to smartphones offer a new pathway to connect with vital health information.
04.09.2020
Episode 4: Yuchen Xue
Yuchen Xue Data Analyst at the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World recounts her personal experience of traveling through China and entering the U.S. during the onset of the Covid19 pandemic.
04.07.2020
Episode 3: Shlomi Madar
Shlomi Madar speaks about the potential of using a global data aggregator like Signals Analytics to track and predict changes in public health. In the wake of the Covid19 pandemic, digital trends emerge – understanding these advanced analytics could be a tool to get ahead of public misconceptions and provide valuable data points that health officials can share with the public.
04.03.2020
Episode 2: Candida Nakhumwa
Candida speaks about her personal journey, the Foundation’s work in Malawi and the potential ramifications of the Covid19 pandemic on smallholder tobacco farmers.
04.01.2020
Episode 1: Riccardo Polosa
Dr. Riccardo Polosa, a respiratory physician and harm reduction expert, is the first guest on the podcast and he speaks about his first-hand experience with the #COVID19 pandemic in Italy.
