James Stout

Robert Evans chats with James Stout, a British commentator and expert on tobacco history. They explore how cigarettes shaped modern life and business, starting from ancient tobacco rituals among Indigenous peoples to Columbus's first encounter with it. Stout discusses the low-status origins of cigarettes and how they transformed into a mass consumer product through innovative marketing strategies pioneered by James Duke. The episode dives into the substantial impacts of tobacco on health and consumer culture, revealing the complex legacy of cigarettes.

James Stout, a historian and returning guest, dives deep into the tumultuous history of the tobacco industry. They explore how World War I helped cigarettes become mainstream, highlighting military culture and bonding through tobacco. The conversation shifts to the rise of anti-smoking movements and how advertising targeted women, linking smoking to independence and body image. Stout also reveals the industry's deceptive health claims and manipulation of media, showing how tobacco shaped modern advertising and contributed to today's misinformation tactics.