Be A Quitter In 2026!
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Why does quitting smoking feel so much harder than it “should”? And what if one of the most demonised substances in modern health conversations isn’t the villain we’ve been told it is?
In this episode, we unpack the strange psychology of New Year’s resolutions, the myths surrounding nicotine addiction, and why cigarettes hook people far more through ritual, identity, and social bonding than through chemistry alone. We explore the surprising neuroscience behind nicotine’s effects on focus, mood, and brain health, and why smokers often miss clarity more than the cigarette itself.
You’ll hear why “cold turkey” fails most people, what really happens in the first hours, days, weeks, and years after quitting, and why successful quitting requires a bridge rather than brute force. We also discuss emerging research on nicotine in conditions like ADHD, depression, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and long Covid, alongside an honest look at regulation, vaping, and public health contradictions in South Africa.
Finally, we walk through a practical, layered approach to quitting that addresses cravings, ritual, mood, and recovery, including a new nicotine mouth spray designed to reduce dependency without recreating addiction.
This episode is for smokers, ex-smokers, frustrated quitters, and anyone curious about where science ends and health mythology begins.
In this episode, we unpack the strange psychology of New Year’s resolutions, the myths surrounding nicotine addiction, and why cigarettes hook people far more through ritual, identity, and social bonding than through chemistry alone. We explore the surprising neuroscience behind nicotine’s effects on focus, mood, and brain health, and why smokers often miss clarity more than the cigarette itself.
You’ll hear why “cold turkey” fails most people, what really happens in the first hours, days, weeks, and years after quitting, and why successful quitting requires a bridge rather than brute force. We also discuss emerging research on nicotine in conditions like ADHD, depression, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and long Covid, alongside an honest look at regulation, vaping, and public health contradictions in South Africa.
Finally, we walk through a practical, layered approach to quitting that addresses cravings, ritual, mood, and recovery, including a new nicotine mouth spray designed to reduce dependency without recreating addiction.
This episode is for smokers, ex-smokers, frustrated quitters, and anyone curious about where science ends and health mythology begins.
Chapters
- 00:05 Intro
- 00:58 We humans are a rather weird bunch
- 01:46 Let's talk cigarette addiction for a moment.
- 04:29 Nicotine and dementia
- 04:40 Can nicotine prevent Alzheimer's disease?
- 05:19 Other surprising benefits of nicotine
- 07:08 To recap:
- 07:37 What is the legal status of nicotine in South Africa?
- 12:07 Three hours
- 12:33 Three days
- 12:50 Three weeks
- 13:06 Three months
- 13:29 Three years
- 14:18 Current solutions for wannabe quitters
- 15:40 Our Solution
- 16:31 Dose
- 16:50 Anything else that will help with quitting?
- 19:03 Can non-smokers benefit from Nixo?
- 19:39 Outro
