Ep. 19 - “I Don’t Want To Call It A Conspiracy Theory, But It Is” with Nancy Loucas

Join us for an explosive conversation with Nancy Loucas! We're digging into her journey from smoking to vaping and her powerful advocacy for Tobacco Harm Reduction. Get ready as we dissect "The Bloomberg Theory", expose the challenges researchers face, and confront government health departments on their policies. This episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.

02:24 – Nancy shares her personal smoking cessation journey through vaping and the pivotal moment that launched her into Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) advocacy. Discover what ignited her passion to fight for safer alternatives.
07:43 – Kurt and Nancy pull back the curtain on "The Bloomberg Theory": what this controversial idea suggests, and the real-world patterns and observations they've personally witnessed that seem to align with its claims.
15:16 – We explore the perceived successes of organisations like "Tobacco-Free Kids" and then broaden the discussion to the incredibly sensitive and often misunderstood topic of youth vaping, seeking to understand the nuances beyond the headlines.
35:55 – The panel dives deep into the significant hurdles and obstacles faced by researchers in the field of THR, examining the limitations imposed by both organisational structures and governmental policies, and how these factors shape the global and local landscape for harm reduction.
46:37 – Kurt and Nancy directly challenge government health departments on their fundamental philosophies and the practical implementation of policy, specifically scrutinising approaches to both smoking and vaping, drawing comparisons between local efforts and international examples.

The Pack Breakers would like to thank and acknowledge Knowledge Action Change for the support via the Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Program.