Tobias and Syd : A research-based podcast audio-drama about tobacco.

This article focuses on the creation, production, and evaluation of *Tobias and Syd*, a research-based serialized podcast audio-drama developed to translate academic outputs on tobacco into an accessible, creative medium. Drawing on the book *Anthropology of Tobacco* and the Wellcome Trust-funded *Letter to the Breath* project, the drama uses fictional narrative and ethnographic methods to explore tobacco's cultural, historical, and public health dimensions, aiming to provoke discussion rather than provide conclusions. The project employed a collaborative, iterative process involving academics, creative professionals, and diverse stakeholders, complemented by four thematic webinars and multimedia content to extend dialogic engagement. Evaluation through ethnographic methods indicated that the podcast reached a global audience, elicited emotional and intellectual engagement, and demonstrated podcast audio-drama's potential as a tool for public health education and cultural critique.