How They Made Us Doubt Everything

Investigating the industry response to claims there could be asbestos in make-up, and the tactics that could be used to cast doubt over the science and create controversy.

Radio 4,17 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

Introducing Talc Tales
Is there asbestos in make-up?
29 Jul 2024,1 min
Welcome to How They Made Us Doubt Everything: The Tobacco Playbook
From climate change to smoking, this is the story of how doubt has been manufactured.
26 Jul 2020,2 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 1. Big Oil’s Big Crisis
From climate change to smoking and cancer, this is the story of how to manufacture doubt.
27 Jul 2020,13 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 2. ‘Doubt is our product'
In 1953 PR and tobacco execs draw up a plan to fight claims that smoking causes cancer.
28 Jul 2020,14 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 3. The White Coats
The tobacco industry’s white coats are ready, the battle of science vs science begins.
29 Jul 2020,14 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 4. Tobacco in the Dock
As the evidence against tobacco mounts, the court suits mount up. Tobacco keeps winning.
30 Jul 2020,14 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 5. Big Oil's Big Group
As the world’s scientists agree on man-made climate change, oil companies form a coalition
31 Jul 2020,14 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 6. From Fact to Theory
‘Unless climate change becomes a non-issue…there may be no moment we can declare victory’
03 Aug 2020,14 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 7. The Opponent
In the battle for public opinion, the scientists were no match for a well-oiled PR machine
04 Aug 2020,14 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 8. Jerry gets ‘duped’
A climate change sceptic realises he’s been getting it wrong
05 Aug 2020,14 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 9. Deep Pockets, Useful Allies
Oil money is pumped to scientists and think tanks in the bid to make it a culture war.
06 Aug 2020,14 mins
Talc Tales: 1. Asbestos in my make-up?
After a cancer diagnosis, Hannah Fletcher asks if her make-up contained asbestos.
06 May 2024,14 mins
Talc Tales: 2. Never 100% clean
In the 1970s, a scientist discovers asbestos fibres in talcum powder.
07 May 2024,15 mins
Talc Tales: 3. ‘We may have problems’
Could companies clean up their talc?
08 May 2024,14 mins
Talc Tales: 4. ‘Time for more confusion’
When talc might be listed as a carcinogen, the industry assembles a ‘talc task force’.
09 May 2024,15 mins
Talc Tales: 5. Talc on trial
When we send off make-up for testing, the lab finds an asbestos fibre.
10 May 2024,14 mins
The Tobacco Playbook: 10. Leaving the Tribe
Our story ends at the very top, with a fax to the White House.
07 Aug 2020,14 mins