Kennedy Saves the World

Episode: Kennedy Saves Your Lungs
Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Kennedy (FOX News Podcasts)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kennedy shares her personal perspective and advice on nicotine use, addressing the concerning rise of cigarette smoking among young adults despite widespread information about its dangers. Blending humor, honesty, and practical wisdom, she discusses the culture of smoking, alternatives like vaping and modern nicotine pouches, and her own journey to quitting. Kennedy also explores the psychology of nicotine addiction and her ongoing “ex-smoker” dreams, all while keeping the tone witty and approachable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Surge in Smoking Among Young Adults

• Kennedy cites a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed pointing to a rise in cigarette use among people in their 20s, describing the trend as “bizarre.”
  • Quote: “Which seems so bizarre to me because as vaping fell into fashion… it is now falling out of fashion.” (01:05)
• Possible reasons for this shift include health concerns about vaping, especially stories of young Americans developing cancer or needing lung transplants.

2. Dangers of Cigarettes and Smoking History

• Kennedy strongly condemns cigarettes, sharing personal family history of health issues directly caused by smoking (e.g., her grandfather’s lung and pancreatic cancer).
  • Quote: “Cigarettes are a known cancer causer… my grandfather died from pancreatic cancer and lung cancer that he probably got from smoking.” (01:29)
• She notes the difficulty of quitting for older generations who developed lifelong habits as teenagers, and reflects on her own teen smoking years (ages 15–19).

3. Personal Story: Quitting Smoking

• Kennedy recounts her struggle with nicotine addiction as a teenager and the various methods she used to quit:
  • Chewing tobacco (Skull Bandits) as a step-down method when nicotine gum and patches were unaffordable or new.
  • A memorable experience with a TV hypnotist on a radio show, which she credits as the psychological turning point that helped her finally stop smoking.
    • Quote: “He pulled my glasses off and he said, ‘Kennedy, you are no longer a smoker.’ And I never smoked a cigarette after that happened.” (03:00)
  • She humorously describes a spitting contest instigated by her radio coworkers as a result of using tobacco pouches.

4. The Lingering Psychological Effects of Quitting

• Kennedy talks about recurring “anxiety dreams” where she finds herself smoking again after years of quitting, comparing them to classic stress dreams (like the “back in college, unprepared for finals” scenario).
  • Quote: “I have dreams where in my dream I’m smoking and I’m like, when did I start smoking and why? And I get so mad at myself, I’m like, ah, I quit. But here I am smoking again.” (04:33)

5. Alternatives to Smoking and Vaping

• Post-ad break, Kennedy suggests modern alternatives like Zyn (nicotine pouches) and cigar smoking as less hazardous options compared to cigarettes or vaping.
  • Zyn and Nicotine Pouches:
    • Not tobacco-based, come in flavors, “got all the nicotine you could ever need.”
    • Quote: “Use Zyn. It comes in flavors. It’s not tobacco. It’s got all the nicotine you could ever need. It seems like a great idea and the better choice than vaping or smoking.” (07:09)
• On Cigarette Breath:
  • With her signature humor, Kennedy equates “cigarette breath” to garlic—something only unnoticed if both people indulge.
    • Memorable Moment: “Your breath smells like someone with swamp foot left their foot inside a dirty ashtray… I’d rather huff a hobo’s undulating ass.” (08:18)

6. The Case for Cigar Smoking (Occasionally)

• Kennedy encourages those who wish to look “cool” when smoking to choose cigars over cigarettes:
  • Cigar use is associated with old-school style (mobsters, generals, football coaches).
  • Fewer additives and chemicals than cigarettes; the ritual is about savoring, not inhaling.
  • Allows for an intentional, meditative experience.
    • Quote: “You also are presumably in nature, and you get to hear, see, and feel things around you because it forces you to just take stock in your life for 30 or 40 minutes, depending on the circumference of the cigar.” (09:55)
  • Small numbers (two per month, for Kennedy) recommended to keep it occasional and special.

7. Final Advice and Encouragement

• Kennedy closes with strong warnings against starting cigarettes, advice for vapers to switch to less harmful methods or work towards quitting, praising those (like her colleague Kat Timpf) who have succeeded.
  • Quote: “If you are vaping, do not even dip your toe into the disgusting and putrid world of cigarettes… Just go to Zyn for a while and then quit. Or, a couple times a month, smoke a cigar.” (12:04)
• Ex-smokers, she notes, often become the most “cigarette-prude.”
  • “It’s very funny because ex-smokers are the most sensitive to cigarette smoking… you become such a cigarette prude.” (11:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the absurdity of reverting to cigarettes:
  • “Vaping isn’t great, but vaping is certainly better than smoking.” (02:05)
• On her radio-show quitting moment:
  • “He pulled my glasses off and he said, ‘Kennedy, you are no longer a smoker.’ And I never smoked a cigarette after that happened.” (03:02)
• On cigar-smoking's aesthetics:
  • “If people are smoking cigarettes because they think it makes them look sexy and cool and tough, try smoking a cigar. You look so much cooler. Like, the only people who smoke cigars are, like, mobsters, football coaches from the 50s, and Ulysses S. Grant.” (09:11)
• On the dangers and repulsiveness of cigarettes:
  • “Don’t even go down that road. Either stay with the vape and cut it down… You can quit. Or just go to Zyn for a while and then quit. Or, a couple times a month, smoke a cigar.” (12:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:52 – 02:45: Discussion on the rise of cigarette use after vaping trends, dangers of cigarettes.
• 02:45 – 04:30: Kennedy’s personal smoking history, quitting journey, TV hypnotist.
• 04:30 – 05:10: Anxiety dreams about smoking, psychological aftereffects.
• 07:05 – 09:00: On Zyn pouches as an alternative, humorous comparisons to garlic/cigarette breath.
• 09:00 – 11:00: The ritual and image of cigar smoking; benefits over cigarettes.
• 11:00 – 13:00: Advice for vapers and would-be smokers, the “prude” nature of ex-smokers, encouraging stories of quitting.

Conclusion & Tone

With her trademark blend of irreverence and compassion, Kennedy approaches the topic of nicotine through personal stories, humor, and practical advice. She is adamant about the dangers of cigarettes, realistic about addiction, and supportive of healthier alternatives—while delivering her message with quick wit and relatable, memorable commentary.