Episode 4: Honor in Capitalism: Tobacco, Big Pharma & the Battle for Integrity

Peter Bogdanov
Jun 28
2 min read

Biden's Decline — **Watch Episode 4 Now**

In Episode 4 of the Middle Minded podcast, co-hosts Peter Bogdanov and Dave Gabine dive deep into a tough but timely question:Can there still be honor in capitalism—or has greed made it obsolete?

This episode explores how even the most profitable industries—like tobacco and Big Pharma—show us the dangerous extremes of unchecked capitalism. But more importantly, we look at how ordinary people can hold corporations accountable, reclaiming some sense of ethics and integrity in the marketplace.

Big Tobacco: Profits Built on Addiction

Tobacco is one of the clearest examples of how capitalism, when left without moral guardrails, can run dangerously off course. Cigarette companies made billions off of addiction, intentionally downplayed health risks, and marketed to the vulnerable—including children—for decades.

We ask:

Can a business model rooted in harm ever be considered ethical?
Who should be held responsible—the corporations or the consumers?
What does accountability really look like for an industry built on deception?

Big Pharma: Life-Saving or Life-Draining?

Then we shift to the world of pharmaceutical giants, where things get even murkier. These companies are hailed as heroes for developing life-saving drugs—but often act like villains behind the scenes.

We explore:

Skyrocketing drug prices that bankrupt everyday Americans
Patent systems that block generics and inflate profits
The billions spent on lobbying to avoid regulation

It’s a tough conversation—one that reveals how even good intentions can be corrupted by money and power.

The Middle Minded View: Beyond Outrage

What makes Middle Minded different is our commitment to the middle ground. We’re not here to shout or shame—we’re here to understand, to challenge, and to build bridges between logic and emotion, ethics and economics.

This episode is a call to action:

For consumers to think critically
For leaders to act with integrity
And for citizens to demand better from the systems they’re part of

Capitalism Needs a Code

Honor in capitalism might seem like a lost cause—but we don’t believe that. We believe that profit doesn’t have to come at the expense of people, and that integrity is a competitive edge when we choose to value it.