The PackBreakers Podcast

🚭 It’s time to set the record straight about nicotine.

In this episode of The Pack Breakers, Kurt Yeo unpacks the biggest myth in tobacco harm reduction that nicotine causes cancer.

Spoiler: It doesn’t. It’s the smoke that kills, not the nicotine.

🎥 Watch now!

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with Martin van Staden, Head of Policy at the Free Market Foundation. Martin breaks down the Tobacco Bill, examines its real-world impact on South Africans, and shares insights from his experience engaging with government processes. We also tackle the attempted outing of Action SA’s Dr. Letlape and explore what it reveals about South Africa’s political landscape. This episode is full of critical perspectives on personal freedom, policy, and the future of tobacco regulation—essential listening for anyone interested in the intersection of law, politics, and choice.

00:36 – Martin shares his overview of the Tobacco Bill, introduces the Free Market Foundation, and explains his role as Head of Policy.

04:20 – A discussion on the bill’s stated intent versus its real-world impact on ordinary South Africans, with a focus on freedom of choice.

13:12 – Kurt and Martin unpack the flaws in public hearings, with Martin drawing on his own experiences of engaging with government processes.

23:24 – The conversation shifts to the attempted outing of Action SA’s Dr. Letlape and its implications for South Africa’s political landscape.

34:29 – Closing thoughts as Martin reflects on where the Tobacco Bill may be headed and what the future holds for policy and personal freedom.

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 smokingcessation journey through vaping and the pivotal moment that launched her intoTobacco Harm Reduction (THR) advocacy. Discover what ignited her passion tofight for safer alternatives.

07:43 – Kurt and Nancy pull back the curtain on"The Bloomberg Theory": what this controversial idea suggests, andthe real-world patterns and observations they've personally witnessed that seemto align with its claims.

15:16 – We explore the perceived successes oforganisations like "Tobacco-Free Kids" and then broaden thediscussion to the incredibly sensitive and often misunderstood topic of youthvaping, seeking to understand the nuances beyond the headlines.

35:55 – The panel dives deep into thesignificant hurdles and obstacles faced by researchers in the field of THR,examining the limitations imposed by both organisational structures andgovernmental policies, and how these factors shape the global and locallandscape for harm reduction.

46:37 – Kurt and Nancy directly challengegovernment health departments on their fundamental philosophies and thepractical implementation of policy, specifically scrutinising approaches toboth smoking and vaping, drawing comparisons between local efforts andinternational examples.

Join us for a special World Vape Day 2025 episode as we dive deep into the meaning and future of vaping. We kick things off with host Kurt introducing the significance of World Vape Day, followed by Alu sharing his personal journey from smoking to vaping. We then welcome back Oliver (Ollie) to address past feedback before discussing what World Vape Day truly means to each panelist. The conversation heats up as we tackle the complexities and misinformation surrounding vaping, and debate the roles of individuals and governments in advocating for harm reduction. Finally, Kurt wraps things up with a thought-provoking idea for renaming World Vape Day.

• 00:27 – Kurt introduces World Vape Day.
• 01:50 – Alu shares his smoking history and transition to vaping.
• 04:55 – Oliver returns, and we revisit feedback from Episode 8.
• 05:33 – Oliver and Alu discuss the meaning of World Vape Day to them.
• 06:47 – Alu's awareness of vaping complexities.
• 10:08 – Oliver's outlook on the vaping environment for the next 5-10 years, and panel discussions on misinformation.
• 19:21 – Debate on individual and government roles in harm reduction.
• 39:11 – Kurt's proposal for renaming World Vape Day.

VSML Survey: https://vsml.co.za/2025-survey-start/

In this special bonus episode of The PackBreakers, Kurt takes a closer look at a recent youth vaping survey conducted in South Africa. With harm reduction at the core of our mission, this episode breaks down the methodology, questions the validity of the findings, and explores what this means for public health narratives around vaping.

00:59 – Kurt introduces the focus of this bonus episode: youth vaping in South Africa.

03:19 – What sparked this conversation? A look at previous youth studies and the context behind this recording.

08:46 – A breakdown of the survey’s criteria—and the glaring issue with the school selection process.

25:59 – Kurt unpacks the study’s conclusions and what its biased methodology could mean for how youth vaping is portrayed in South Africa.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content on harm reduction, vaping, and achieving a smoke-free world!

VSML Survey: https://vsml.co.za/2025-survey-start/

In this episode 16 of The Pack Breakers, Kurt sits down with the well-known vaping advocate GrimmGreen for a deep dive into why harm reduction truly works. They share personal stories of discovering vaping, discuss the challenges faced by content creators and early adopters, and tackle important issues like youth vaping, the political landscape, and the impact of taxes on the illicit market.

02:31 – Kurt asks GrimmGreen why he keeps making vaping YouTube content.

07:18 – Kurt and GrimmGreen discuss how they both discovered the world of vaping and the challenges faced as early adaptors of the technology.

15:57 – GrimmeGreen talks about how his YouTube channel was birthed, what motivated the channel and the challenges faced by having a channel on such a controversial topic.

28:39 – Kurt and GrimmGreen discuss the topic of youth vaping and achieving a somewhat smoke free generation.

33:45 – GrimmGreen talks on the political landscape of vaping in the USA, his thoughts on how government is handling the future of vaping.

38:27 – Kurt and GrimmeGreen discuss the illicit market and how legislative taxes are affecting the vaping market, unintentionally fueling the illicit trade around cigarettes and vaping products.

52:21 – GrimmeGreen gives his final remarks to the South African vaping community and the global vaping community at large.

Take the VSML Survey: https://vsml.co.za/2025-survey-start/

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content on harm reduction, vaping, and achieving a smoke-free world!

VSML Survey: https://vsml.co.za/2025-survey-start/

In this fiery episode, we sit down with Clive Bates – a global heavyweight in the harm reduction space – to unpack the politics, science, and spin behind safer nicotine alternatives.

01:22 – What is harm reduction, really? Clive breaks it down in the context of smoking and nicotine use.

07:56 – Are cigarette alternatives just smoke and mirrors? Clive offers a pragmatic perspective.

11:38 – Kurt and Clive tackle youth vaping head-on – separating panic from reality.

18:46 – The South African story: Clive weighs in on the local fight for vaping as a harm reduction tool.

25:12 – Looking for the truth? Clive shares powerful advice for South Africans who want their voices heard in the battle over tobacco harm reduction.

VSML Survey: https://vsml.co.za/2025-survey-start/

In this fiery episode, we sit down with Clive Bates – a global heavyweight in the harm reduction space – to unpack the politics, science, and spin behind safer nicotine alternatives.

01:22 – What is harm reduction, really? Clive breaks it down in the context of smoking and nicotine use.
07:56 – Are cigarette alternatives just smoke and mirrors? Clive offers a pragmatic perspective.
11:38 – Kurt and Clive tackle youth vaping head-on – separating panic from reality.
18:46 – The South African story: Clive weighs in on the local fight for vaping as a harm reduction tool.
25:12 – Looking for the truth? Clive shares powerful advice for South Africans who want their voices heard in the battle over tobacco harm reduction.

VSML Survey: https://vsml.co.za/2025-survey-start/

Everything you need to know about switching from smoking to vaping! Craig Pietersen from Vaper’s Corner joins Kurt to break down the basics, device options, safety tips, and key insights for beginners and experienced vapers alike.

00:42 – Introduction to Vaping 101: A crash course on switching from smoking to vaping and key insights from vape shops for beginners.

07:05 – Open vs. closed pod systems (including disposables): Craig and Kurt discuss the pros, cons, and use cases of each.

09:35 – Moving to pod-mod devices: Key differences and essential care tips.

13:38 – Sub-ohm tanks & modular devices: Who they’re for, how they work, coil systems, and general advice.

17:28 – Battery safety in modular devices: Batteries are safe if handled correctly!

23:46 – Customisable and hobbyist vape devices: Advancements in vaping technology over the years.

32:16 – E-liquids explained: Freebase vs. nicotine salts and what matters most for consumers.

38:42 – Addressing common consumer concerns: Craig breaks down the most frequent apprehensions he encounters in-store.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more vaping content!

VSML Survey: https://vsml.co.za/2025-survey-start/ 

00:27 – Oliver Barry shares his journey from smoking to vaping and how he entered the vaping industry.

13:22 – Reflecting on his experience, Oliver discusses how the vaping landscape has evolved over time.

15:03 – Barry and Kurt explore the practical implications of vaping regulations and address concerns around youth vaping.

21:29 – The discussion shifts to the illicit cigarette trade and how excise duty has worsened the issue.

28:18 – Examining the practical limitations of the Tobacco Bill, Oliver highlights the importance of online shopping and argues that vaping should not be regulated in the same way as tobacco.

35:49 – Oliver’s message to the government: the need for collaboration with vaping industry stakeholders to develop more effective policies.