Vaping Unplugged Podcast

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, Liza Katsiashvili, Director of Operations at the World Vapers' Alliance, sits down with Kurt Yeo, founder of Vaping Saved My Life and the newly launched THR Global. The conversation explores the creation of THR Global, a new platform built to support and unite the tobacco harm reduction community worldwide. Kurt shares the story behind the project, what gap it...

🇩🇪 This episode is in German. In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, sits down with Professor Bernd Mayer (PhD) to discuss the growing debate around a potential flavour ban in Germany. Mayer is a Professor and Chair Member of the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Graz, in...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, Lisa from the World Vapers’ Alliance is joined by Elizabeth Hayes, Head of External Affairs at the Consumer Choice Center (CCC), and Sabine Benoit, CCC’s Canadian Policy Associate. Together, they break down the rapidly shifting landscape of nicotine policy across North America — from the USA and Canada to Mexico. Liz explains how U.S. lawmakers are increasingly...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, we sit down with Peter Beckett from Clearing the Air to unpack a troubling claim shaking EU policymaking: that thousands of consumer responses to an EU consultation on taxing nicotine products are supposedly “fake.” An obscure NGO called Impact Unfiltered alleged that more than 18,000 consumer submissions were little more than tobacco industry manipulation — a...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, sits down with Barnaby Page from E-Cig Intelligence — a former reporter who now provides deep analysis on global harm reduction and nicotine policy. Together, they unpack the findings of the fourth edition of E-Cig Intelligence’s ongoing survey of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), revealing how law...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, our host Liza Katsiashvili, Director of Operations at the WVA, sits down with Timothy Andrews, Director of Consumer Issues at the Tholos Foundation and a leading partner of the initiative Prohibition Does Not Work. Together, they dive into the global trend of prohibition on safer nicotine products and unpack why these bans fail to reduce smoking rates. Instead,...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, our host and Director Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, sits down with Frederik Roeder, Managing Director of the Consumer Choice Center, to discuss the grim reality of vaping in Turkmenistan. Vaping, or the use of e-cigarettes, is banned in Turkmenistan due to a comprehensive anti-tobacco law that prohibits their sale, import, distribution,...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, our host, Liza Katsiashvili, Director of Operations at the World Vapers’ Alliance, chats with Petr Horáček about the state of vaping in Czechia. The country has made real progress in embracing harm reduction, once seen as a frontrunner, but big challenges remain. They talk about the victories Czechia has already achieved, the policies that made it a leader in t...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, our host Liza Katsiashvili, Director of Operations at the World Vapers' Alliance, sits down with Peter Beckett from Clearing the Air to break down the latest tax hikes on vaping and other nicotine alternatives across the European Union. What’s behind the EU’s push for higher taxes? How will it impact adult consumers, public health, and the broader harm reductio...

Germany has been at the heart of Europe’s harm reduction debate, but rising taxes and looming flavour bans are threatening its progress. In this episode, host Michael Landl speaks with Christian Tänzer, a vape shop owner from Cologne and a frontline witness to how these policies impact real people. The conversation dives into the consequences of Germany’s regulatory direction, the pressure on smal...

The United Kingdom has long been considered a global benchmark for progressive harm reduction policies. But today, that reputation is under threat. In this episode, host Liza Katsiashvili speaks with Mark Oates, Director of WeVape UK, founder of the Snus Association, and one of the most vocal advocates for safer nicotine alternatives. The conversation dives into the UK’s changing approach to vapin...

Martin Cullip on the UK's Crackdown on THR! In this episode host Liza Katsiashvili speaks with British commentator and harm reduction advocate Martin Cullip about the UK's evolving stance on THR — and what it signals for global product control. They discuss looming tax hikes, potential flavor bans, and how the UK’s shift could undermine its once-progressive approach to harm reduction. Martin also...

Why Do Well-Meaning Initiatives Sometimes Hurt the Very People They Aim to Help? In this episode of the Vaping Unplugged Podcast, we sit down with Shrey Madaan, an associate at the Consumer Choice Center in India and a dedicated advocate for consumer rights, to discuss the complex reality of vaping in India—from restrictive legislation to the pressing challenges faced by the Tobacco Harm Reduction...

Why do well-meaning policies sometimes hurt the very people they aim to protect? In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, we sit down with Elizabeth Hicks - U.S. Affairs Analyst at Consumer Choice Center to explore how harm reduction offers a smarter, more compassionate alternative to outright bans. From real-life stories to policy missteps, we discuss
Why bans often backfire
The power of personal cho...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, we're joined by the one and only Ivan Bik, aka Vaping Bik – a renowned podcaster and outspoken advocate for harm reduction. Ivan brings his signature energy and insight as we dive into the current state of vaping in the Netherlands. What’s happening with Dutch vape laws? How are consumers reacting to flavor bans? What does the future look like for harm reductio...

Bulgaria is at a crossroads. With the highest smoking rate in the EU at 37%, the country is now considering a total ban on vaping products—a decision that could have catastrophic consequences for public health. In this episode of Vaping Unplugged, we dive into the alarming situation in Bulgaria and the fight to stop this misguided prohibition. We’ve launched the "Stop The Ban" campaign to educate...

In the latest episode of Vaping Unplugged , we welcome Barnaby Page , Editorial Director at ECigIntelligence , to discuss the latest vaping research and what it means for consumers, regulators, and harm reduction advocates. Barnaby has been at the forefront of vaping industry analysis since joining ECigIntelligence in 2014 as one of its first employees. With a distinguished 30-year career as a jou...

In this compelling episode of the World Vapers’ Alliance Podcast, we take a deep dive into the ongoing challenges and opportunities for tobacco harm reduction (THR) in Brazil. Our guest, Alessandra Bastos Soares, a renowned pharmacist, former Director of ANVISA (Brazil’s Health Regulatory Agency), and co-founder of BS Assess Regulatory Consultancy, shares her expert insights on the prohibition of...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged , we’re joined by David Clement , the North American Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center. David brings a wealth of expertise in policy analysis and consumer advocacy. His insights have been featured on the CBC, Global News, The Toronto Star , and other major Canadian media outlets. David sheds light on Ottawa’s new regulations, exploring why these poli...

Join us for an insightful episode of Vaping Unplugged hosted by Liza Katsiashvili, Director of operations of the World Vapers’ Alliance. This time, we explore Sweden’s groundbreaking success in achieving its smoke-free goal with two incredible guests: 👉 Stefan Mathisson: Founder and Editor of Vejpkollen, Sweden’s premier news portal and blog covering vaping trends, regulations, and advocacy. Stef...

In this special German-language episode, Michael sits down with Hans-Peter Albrecht, one of Germany’s most dedicated harm reduction activists. Together, they delve into the current landscape of harm reduction in Germany, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the movement today. Hans-Peter shares his inspiring personal journey into activism, detailing the experiences that drove him to a...

Welcome to Vaping Unplugged, the podcast where we dive into global vaping topics and bring you inspiring stories from around the world. In this episode, we spotlight Bangladesh's vaping journey with a special guest, Schumann Zaman, President of BENDSTA. Schumann shares his transformative experience of quitting smoking—a journey from being a heavy smoker to embracing vaping as a life-saving alterna...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged , we are unfolding story of vaping in Brazil with Alexandro "Hazard" Lucian, a committed harm reduction advocate who knows firsthand the transformative potential of vaping. Hazard takes us through his journey from a three-pack-a-day smoker to a vocal champion for vaping, highlighting both his personal gains and the broader implications of vaping as a harm reduct...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged , host Michael discusses the Consumer Consequence of vaping policies with special guest Alex Clark, CEO of CASAA. With a background in customer service and logistics, Alex has become a leading voice in Tobacco Harm Reduction advocacy. Starting as a volunteer, he quickly rose through the ranks, serving on CASAA’s Board of Directors, later as Legislative Director,...

In this episode of Vaping Unplugged , Michael, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, sits down with Pippa Starr, a leading vaping advocate from Australia and founder of A.L.I.V.E. (Australia Let’s Improve Vaping Education). The conversation explores the current state of vaping in Australia, focusing on the challenges posed by restrictive regulations, the impact of misinformation, and the potenti...