Quelling anxiety and relaxing are common reasons people give for smoking or vaping. But is that really possible? Will nicotine help relieve anxiety or other mental health conditions?
Robin Koval, CEO and President of Truth Initiative, discusses the nuances between vaping and smoking and their impact on mental health and anxiety. We also delve into some commo ... Show More
Jul 30
Does Race & Culture Impact Mental Health Treatment?
Does mental health treatment work the same for everyone? The answer is more complicated than many people realize. In this episode, host Gabe Howard is joined by Stephanie Robertson, J.D., Director of Mental Health Equity at NAMI, and Dr. Nicole Washington, psychiatrist and Presid ... Show More
26m 51s
Jul 23
Bipolar Disorder in Spouses, Family, and Loved Ones
Many people know the term “bipolar disorder,” but few understand what mania actually looks like, how depression presents, or why recognizing the warning signs can be so difficult. In this episode, host Gabe Howard sits down with ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America ... Show More
20m 4s
Jul 16
Gambling Addiction: Why Some People Can't Just Stop Betting
Most people can buy a lottery ticket, join an office March Madness pool, or place an occasional sports bet without it becoming a problem. So why do some people lose their savings, relationships, careers, and even homes because they can't stop gambling? In this episode, host Gabe ... Show More
29m 1s
Mar 2021
What It's Like To Quit Vaping
For this episode, we partnered with truth to talk about vaping: why we do it, what it’s like to quit and how anxiety plays in. We talk with Victoria Annunziato @kingvictober who recently quit live on social media with help from #ThisIsQuitting, the first of its kind text-to-quit ... Show More
40m 58s
Aug 2025
326. The psychology of nicotine
Nicotine is everywhere - but not in the way we once knew it. It’s not just in cigarettes anymore. It’s in sleek vapes, tiny pouches, lozenges, gum, even diffusers marketed as 'wellness'. And somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like a vice and started looking... aesthetic. ... Show More
46m 9s
Oct 2025
Why Teens Just Can't Quit Nicotine
A few years ago, vaping was at the top of every parent’s list of worries — including Sanjay’s. But in just a few short years, the landscape has shifted again. Teen vaping rates have dropped, but new nicotine products have quickly taken their place. Dr. Pamela Ling, a professor at ... Show More
25m 4s
Jan 2022
Quitting Smoking, Over-Practicing, Bill Nye on Believing Science
Learn how quitting smoking helps mental health; how to avoid over-practicing; and how to get people to believe science.Quitting smoking is good for your mental health, too by Steffie DruckerCochrane Review finds stopping smoking is linked to improved mental health. (2021). EurekA ... Show More
13m 41s
Sep 2022
Nicotine’s Effects on the Brain & Body & How to Quit Smoking or Vaping
In this episode, I explain how nicotine impacts the brain and body, including its potent ability to enhance attention, focus, and alertness, increase blood pressure and metabolism and reduce appetite. I discuss nicotine’s ability to increase the action of neurochemicals, includin ... Show More
1h 50m
Sep 2023
Vaping: Is It Really That Bad?
More and more people are puffing on vapes — but some governments are making moves to ban them. So how dangerous is vaping, really? And as we inhale that sweet cherry flavor into our lungs, could we also be changing our brains? To find out, we talk to tobacco researcher Dr. Michae ... Show More
41m 52s
