Episode 21: Dimitris Agrafiotis

Episode 29: Forecast for 2025 and Beyond AVM Tobacco harm reduction expert Joe Gitchell joins AVM's Jim McCarthy to discuss the Forecast for 2025 and Beyond.

Episode 28: A Closer Look At 'Backfired' Vaping Wars podcast—Alex Clark - CASAA AVM's Jim McCarthy sits down with Alex Clark, CEO of Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives (CASAA), for another deep-dive analysis of 'The Vaping Wars' podcast series on Audible. On this episode of Shaping Vaping, Clark and McCarthy examine the neglected history of the vaping industry, overlooked by journalists in a rush to attack JUUL; the Iron Law of Prohibition and the predictable rise of black market vapes; the foolishness of the aggressive drug war tactics employed against small vape shops and their customers.

Tobacco harm reduction expert Joe Gitchell joins AVM's Jim McCarthy to discuss the wildly popular Audible podcast series "Vaping Wars." The series, hosted by two veteran journalists, may be the most balanced mainstream media treatment of nicotine vaping so far. But could it have been even better? McCarthy says yes, pointing out that the podcast failed to mention some key facts about the benefits of nicotine vaping. Gitchell, though acknowledging the series' limitations, says "Vaping Wars" will help shift the public's understanding of tobacco harm reduction in the right direction.

On this episode of Shaping Vaping, AVM’s Jim McCarthy sits down with journalist Jacob Grier to discuss the rapidly encroaching threat of vaping prohibition. As increasing numbers of smokers switch to vapes and give up cigarettes forever, many governments are making these life-saving products harder to access—and punishing consumers forced to acquire them illegally.

On this episode of Shaping Vaping, AVM Vice President Alli Boughner sits down with Dr. Michael Siegel to discuss the tobacco-control movement’s rejection of harm reduction. There’s an abundance of evidence that tobacco harm reduction helps smokers give up cigarettes; yet many US public health authorities deny that vapes and other low-risk alternatives to smoking should be used for cessation. Why? Dr. Siegel’s answer may surprise you.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit handed down a major ruling in Bidi Vapor v. FDA, holding the agency accountable for the way it has mishandled the approval process for vaping products. Attorney and legal expert Azim Chowdhury joins co-hosts Amanda Wheeler and Greg Conley to discuss the ruling and map out the other fights against FDA’s Marketing Denial Orders in the courts. Plus, some media criticism.

Tobacco Harm Reduction advocates won the argument about the best way to help improve public health and defeated a Colorado bill that would have banned flavored vaping products. Amanda Wheeler and co-host Char Owen are joined by an all-star panel of guests who worked on the front lines to defeat the ban. This week’s panel includes Tim Andrews of Americans for Tax Reform, Lindsey Stroud of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Criminal Justice and Drug Policy Reformer Art Way, and Government Relations Pro Joe Miklosi.

Advocate Matthew Milby of the Maryland Vapor Alliance joins Amanda Wheeler and Char Owens, the intrepid ladies of AVM, for a discussion on the latest happenings in the vaping world of Maryland. They also lament how vape shop owners have no idea where future enforcement of onerous vaping regulations will come from. Plus, listener questions.

Dimitris Agrafiotis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Smoke Free Association, joins guest host Char Ownes for this week’s episode of Shaping Vaping. The two discuss the proactive approach the EU has taken to vaping policy, the role of vape shop owners in helping people quit, and share what it has been like to be in the vaping fight for so long.

Journalist and RegWatch host Brent Stafford joins Shaping Vaping to discuss Congress’ last-minute synthetic nicotine rider, CDC’s misinformation campaign on EVALI, and the motivations behind the anti-vaping movement. Plus, this week’s Media Lap Dogs.