Backfired: The Vaping Wars

By: Leon Neyfakh, Prologue Projects

Narrated by: Leon Neyfakh, Arielle Pardes

When two Stanford graduate students set out to create a new kind of cigarette that wouldn’t kill them, they didn’t foresee all the obstacles that lay ahead — or the powerful forces their invention would unleash. Nearly 10 years after the launch of the JUUL, Backfired: The Vaping Wars asks: Could e-cigarettes have been the solution to one of the world’s most pressing public health problems—or was this technology doomed to introduce a whole new generation to nicotine, and end up perpetuating an intractable addiction?

Backfired is the latest podcast from Prologue Projects, the award-winning team behind Slow Burn, Fiasco, and Think Twice: Michael Jackson. Backfired is a show about the business of unintended consequences—what happens when solving one problem inadvertently leads to a host of new ones?

In this tale of opportunity, addiction, and good intentions gone awry, hosts Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes offer a definitive account of Juul Labs’ rise and fall, as well as the ubiquitous illegal vape market that sprouted up in its wake. Through dozens of original interviews, they gain access to the key players who got swept up—sometimes unwittingly—in the firestorm that reshaped the culture of nicotine.

For a list of books, articles, and documentaries used in the research for this podcast, please visit bit.ly/backfiredbib.

The senior producer of Backfired: The Vaping Wars was Sam Lee. The editor was Kim Gittleson. Producers were Dustin Desoto, Leon Neyfakh, Arielle Pardes, and Katherine Sullivan. The assistant producer was Arlene Arevalo. Sound design by Andrew Parsons. Archival research and fact-checking by Francis Carr. Theme song and score composed by Emma Munger. Audio mix by Erica Huang. Backfired was co-created for Prologue Projects by Kim Gittleson.

©2024 Prologue Projects (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC

Compelling and well researched

Great balance of interviews, research and journalism. Great voices too, a very interesting listen. Appreciated the depth of the conversation and how the hosts made the subject matter personal

Business cycle and market cycles

Amazing story telling ability. Phenomenal reporting 5 stars to author, producer , director and the reporter. Interviewing the founder of Juul was the best climax to the story. Loved it

It’s REALLY addictive

50-year-old male that’s been vaping for 3 1/2 years. I never smoked cigarettes. This was very informative, helped me see the gravity of my addiction, and I now know that vaping is much more addictive than cigarettes.

It’s helped me see how vaping has affected my life, with my mood my tolerance for others, am I overall sense of well-being.

The narrators were very enjoyable to listen to in tone and cadence. I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know about the vaping industry, and how I was right in the middle of all of it.

I’m glad that were an are addicted to cigarettes have an option. I just don’t know how to keep the rest of us from starting.

The guy that started, I loved how he wanted to have an option for people to get off of vaping ❤️

Intriguing

It was fascinating. I found myself wanting to join the conversation. I appreciate the different perspectives and I learned a lot

Interesting

It didn’t provide answers, but it did provide a lot of context to help create your own opinion.

Insightful and comprehensive look at the evolution of vaping

I loved knowing The origins of The vaping companies as well as how it has devolved into the market it is today.

Interesting and Informative

Really interesting podcast. I appreciate how vulnerable the hosts are. Happy to have more information on the subject.

Phenomenal Hosts

Great information. The different viewpoints were a fascinating way to look into the industry. The interview with the founder of Juul was awesome. Host didn't let him off easy and I thought he handled it beautifully.

Documentary “page” turner!

This was an extremely informative and entertaining history of an issue close to many of us whether we or someone we know has struggled from the health and addictive impacts of cigarette smoking or we worry about the safety and addictive power of new forms of nicotine vapes. Well worth the listen!

An interesting listen

I really enjoyed this podcast, although at times I felt there was some grace extended towards JUUL at times. At the end of the day I think that they got well qualified opinions from experts, wove an interesting history, and explored a divisive subject that most people have little knowledge on.