CZM Rewind: Part One: How Cigarettes Invented Everything

The podcast explores the history of cigarettes, arguing that the tobacco industry inadvertently shaped much of the modern world. It traces tobacco use from ancient Maya rituals to its encounter with Columbus and subsequent adoption in Europe. The discussion highlights how cigarette marketing pioneered modern advertising techniques, including collectible trading cards, sweepstakes, and billboards, to create consumer demand. The episode also examines James Buchanan Duke's role in mechanizing cigarette production, establishing a monopoly, and inventing middle management. It further touches on the unintended consequences, such as the rise of youth smoking and the eventual health crisis caused by widespread cigarette consumption.