GFN•TV: News and Interviews

In this episode of GFN News, Zuzanna Kopacz sits down with Will Godfrey, Executive Editor of Filter, to dissect the latest findings from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). While public health agencies have long warned of a youth vaping "epidemic," the actual data reveals a startling and positive trend that many organizations seem reluctant to celebrate.

As youth smoking rates hit unprecedented lows, we ask: Why are the entities tasked with protecting public health stoking alarmism instead of acknowledging this historic decline?

Is the EU ignoring the most effective tool to end smoking? In this episode of GFN News, Joanna Junak sits down with renowned physician and public health researcher Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos to discuss his latest review on nicotine pouches. As smoking rates across the globe remain a primary public health concern, Dr. Farsalinos argues that we are overlooking a "promising harm-reduction option" that could save millions of lives.

Is the UK at a "regulatory crossroads"? As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves toward Royal Assent, a new government consultation threatens to legally ban vaping in all indoor spaces where smoking is already prohibited. In this interview, Bernice Evans, Chair of the New Nicotine Alliance (NNA), joins us to discuss the launch of the "Save Vaping" campaign. We dive deep into why treating vaping the same as smoking isn't just scientifically flawed - it's a massive risk to public health.

- May 8, 2026 (11:59 PM): Deadline to submit your response to the government consultation.
- October 1, 2026: New vaping taxes and business regulations are set to begin.

Take Action: Your voice matters! Visit SaveVaping.org to find resources on how to respond to the consultation and contact your MP. Don't let misinformed legislation undermine years of progress in harm reduction.

Australia’s vape crackdown was supposed to curb youth use—but in practice, it has created prohibition by proxy. While still legal, access to nicotine vapes is tightly controlled and choice is so severely limited that over 90% of all vapes in Australia are purchased on the black market.

In this episode of GFN Interviews, Australian GP Dr. Carolyn Beaumont examines how this system frustrates access to safer nicotine—from restrictive product approvals to medical guidelines that offer little real support for harm reduction.

Featuring:
DR. CAROLYN BEAUMONT, MD
Australian General Practitioner/Family Physician

Episode aired originally on April 21st 2023.

When scientists study the chemistry of smoke versus vapor, they find a massive difference in complexity and measurable effect on the human body. Learn what those differences are in this fascinating interview with a top tobacco scientist.

Featuring: Dr Marina Murphy
Director of Scientific and Medical Affairs, ANDS
Former Head of Scientific Media Relations,
British American Tobacco
@ands_corp

In this episode of the Science Series, Roberto Sussman breaks down why many lab studies on e‑cigarette emissions can’t be trusted—and how bad testing setups can create misleading “high toxin” results. He explains the “optimal regime” for vaping devices (power, resistance, airflow), why reproducibility requires full reporting of test conditions, and how unrealistic puffing machines can cause overheating and artificially inflate byproducts.

The video originally aired on August 4, 2023.

There’s no debate allowed on vaping in Australia, says Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, founding chairman of the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association and practicing tobacco treatment specialist. Tobacco control is “impervious to evidence” and quick to cancel anyone who speaks to the positives of vaping.

Featuring:
Dr Colin Mendelsohn
Founding Chairman Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association
Practising Tobacco Treatment Specialist
@colinmendelsohn

Why have some studies reported enormous amounts of formaldehyde and metals in vaping emissions? In this episode of Science Series with Roberto Sussman, we break down how those scary numbers can come from bad experimental conditions—especially overheating setups that don’t reflect how people actually vape. Roberto explains why “micrograms per puff” can be misleading, how to translate emissions into realistic daily exposure (based on typical puff counts), and how those totals should be compared against toxicological standards published by regulators.

You’ll also hear why properly designed tests tend to find toxic byproducts far below cigarette smoke—and often below common benchmarks, with a reality-check comparison to everyday aerosols and even air pollution exposure.

Governments insist their nicotine policies are “evidence-based.” But a closer look reveals cherry-picked findings, flawed comparisons, and sensational claims that don’t withstand scrutiny. In this GFN interviews, independent tobacco scientist Dr. Ian Fearon explains how weak research and distorted interpretations shape global nicotine policy. From the misuse of correlation to media amplification of questionable studies, Fearon shows how flawed science fuels prohibitionist thinking—leaving smokers misinformed about safer alternatives that could reduce the harms of smoking.

Featuring:
DR. IAN FEARON
Director, Independent Research Scientist
whatIF? Consulting, UK 

In this episode of GFN News, Joanna Junak speaks with Will Godfrey of Filter about Germany’s proposed regulation to ban flavoured e-liquids containing cooling agents.

The draft measure would prohibit menthol and other “iced” vape products that rely on cooling additives. Supporters of the proposal, including Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, argue that cooling effects may make vaping easier to inhale and potentially increase nicotine intake - particularly among young and inexperienced users.