How Cigarettes Took Over the World

Once marketed as glamorous, rebellious, and even healthy, cigarettes didn’t just spread—they were strategically sold to the world. From ancient rituals and wartime propaganda to Hollywood icons and Big Tobacco’s hidden influence, this episode uncovers how smoking became one of the most powerful global habits in history. Who made it popular? Who profited? And why does its impact still linger today?This is the true story behind the smoke