CZM Rewind: Part Two: How Cigarettes Invented Everything

The podcast explores the history of cigarettes and their impact on modern society, arguing that the cigarette industry has shaped cultural norms, advertising techniques, and even scientific research. It highlights how cigarettes gained popularity through World War I and the subsequent marketing strategies targeting women. The discussion covers the anti-smoking movement's initial moral panic, R.J. Reynolds' innovative branding with Camel cigarettes, and Lucky Strike's manipulative campaigns promoting thinness. The podcast further examines how the tobacco industry created the Tobacco Industry Research Committee to cast doubt on the link between smoking and cancer, influencing journalism and public perception. Ultimately, the hosts contend that cigarettes have influenced various aspects of modern life, from music to political strategies.