Vlogbrothers in 2016
In 2016 John reported from the World Economic Forum in Davos and from refugee camps in Jordan, telling Syrian refugees' stories through the year. As the election approached, the brothers explained the candidates' tax plans, Hank launched How to Vote in Every State, and the day after Donald Trump's win John argued that hope is not naive. John celebrated AFC Wimbledon's promotion at Wembley; Hank renamed the brothers' company Complexly and took paternity leave after his son Orin was born. The tenth Project for Awesome raised over $2 million, and as the channel neared ten years Hank called its community the thing he is proudest of.
114 videos, 7.6 hours.
Start here: Brazil's Government is Falling Apart...and it's Good News? · On Lives and Mattering · The Most Interesting Thing I've Ever Done
The year as one story: Vlogbrothers in 2016: the channel enters its tenth year (2016).
Main stories
The stories that moved in the most videos of the year (an announcement, launch, milestone, update or result — not a look back), with how many videos each moved in and where it stands now.
- Hank's paternity leave from vlogbrothers, with guest hosts standing in (2016) (16) · now: followed over 16 videos (2016)
- Hank and Katherine have a baby, Orin (2016) (8) · now: told 5×, last update 2026
- NerdCon: Nerdfighteria 2017 edition (Boston, February): celebrating ten years of Vlogbrothers (5) · now: completed
- Pizzamas 2016 edition (5) · now: past edition (2016)
- P4A 2016 edition (5) · now: completed
- 2016 US presidential election (4) · now: completed
- John: share several Syrian refugees' stories from Jordan in the coming weeks (2016) (4) · now: open (updates through 2016, not reported done)
- Tour Because Awesome 2016 edition (4) · now: completed
By the numbers
Main speaker: John 54, Hank 51; median length 3:44; formats: letter vlog 49, explainer 18, announcement 10, Q&A 8, list 7, documentary visit 6, review / recommendation 4, song 4, story 3, collab / interview 2, challenge / punishment 1, compilation 1, other 1.
All videos of the year
January
February
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-02 | Is the Gender Pay Gap Real? | explainer | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-02-05 | Honest YouTube Talk Time | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube |
| 2016-02-09 | Water in My Cereal: Taste Testing Various Liquid Accompaniments to Raisin Bran | review / recommendation | John | Everyday life (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-02-12 | Doing the Hard(er) Thing (and some very bad news) | letter vlog | Hank | Everyday life (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-02-16 | Kindness | letter vlog | John | Personal life (also: Books & writing) |
| 2016-02-19 | Thanks, Lemon | letter vlog | Hank | Personal life (also: Books & writing) |
| 2016-02-23 | How Energy and Time Change Everything | explainer | John | Global development |
| 2016-02-26 | Things You Don't Know About Us (REUNION!) | Q&A | Hank, John | Personal life (also: Nerdfighteria) |
March
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-03-01 | Question Tuesday: The Potato Edition | Q&A | John, Hank | Nerdfighteria (also: History & curiosities, Science & nature) |
| 2016-03-04 | Startling Facts About the Government that Made Me Feel Good | explainer | Hank | US politics & society |
| 2016-03-08 | Aida and Majeeda: Thoughts from the Azraq Refugee Camp | documentary visit | John | Global development |
| 2016-03-11 | The Politics of "Parks and Rec" | letter vlog | Hank | US politics & society (also: Pop culture) |
| 2016-03-15 | The Extraordinary Story of Hussam: Teenager, Writer, and Syrian Refugee | documentary visit | John, Hussam | Global development |
| 2016-03-18 | Brazil's Government is Falling Apart...and it's Good News? | explainer | Hank | World affairs |
| 2016-03-22 | Understanding the Primaries: Delegates, Democracy, and America's Nonstop Political Party | explainer | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-03-25 | Snapchat Question Time! | Q&A | Hank, John | Nerdfighteria (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-03-29 | My New Book, Marriage Advice, and Hamilton: 50 Snapchat Questions Answered! | Q&A | John | Nerdfighteria (also: Books & writing) |
April
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-04-01 | Loving Loving Things in Los Angeles | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube |
| 2016-04-05 | What's Wrong with Monopoly? | review / recommendation | John | Economics (also: Pop culture) |
| 2016-04-08 | 47 YouTubers Laugh Without Smiling | compilation | Hank, Hannah Hart | Internet & YouTube |
| 2016-04-12 | On the Banning of Looking for Alaska | letter vlog | John | Books & writing |
| 2016-04-15 | T-Shirt and Jeans and TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT | song | Hank | Projects (also: Everyday life) |
| 2016-04-19 | Literally Hitler | letter vlog | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-04-22 | Clinton vs. Sanders: POLICY IS EXCITING! | explainer | Hank | US politics & society (also: Economics) |
| 2016-04-26 | Understanding the Tax Plans of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz | explainer | John, Hank | US politics & society (also: Economics) |
| 2016-04-29 | The Time a Taxi Driver Stole My Money | story | Hank | Philosophy & meaning (also: Personal life) |
May
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-05-03 | No Fumar | letter vlog | John | Sports (also: Personal life, Everyday life) |
| 2016-05-06 | I Hate Only Making One Video a Week | letter vlog | Hank | Nerdfighteria |
| 2016-05-10 | On Pain | letter vlog | John | Health (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-05-13 | The Time I Fell Asleep with an M&M in My Mouth (and a song) | song | Hank | Projects (also: Everyday life, Personal life) |
| 2016-05-17 | A Brief History of the Non-Denial Denial | explainer | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-05-20 | I AM A GOLDEN GOD | letter vlog | Hank, a guest | Internet & YouTube (also: Projects) |
| 2016-05-24 | Easier Than IKEA: A Video in Two Parts | letter vlog | John | Everyday life (also: Sports, Personal life) |
| 2016-05-27 | Reaction Video: THE THING! | letter vlog | Hank, Katherine Green | Projects (also: History & curiosities) |
| 2016-05-31 | The Most Amazing Day | letter vlog | John, Mike Green | Sports |
June
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-03 | Redefining What it Means to Matter | letter vlog | Hank | Philosophy & meaning |
| 2016-06-07 | Zaatari: Thoughts from a Refugee Camp | documentary visit | John, Ubay | Global development |
| 2016-06-10 | Hank Roasts Himself Diss Track - Roast Yourself Challenge | song | Hank | Personal life (also: Projects) |
| 2016-06-14 | Orlando | letter vlog | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-06-17 | Hey, Let's Change Some Things | letter vlog | Hank | US politics & society |
| 2016-06-21 | Syrian Refugees in the United States: One Family's Story | story | John | US politics & society (also: Global development) |
| 2016-06-24 | Questions (and Announcements) from VidCon | Q&A | Hank | Nerdfighteria (also: Projects) |
| 2016-06-28 | New Iceland | letter vlog | John | History & curiosities (also: Personal life) |
July
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-07-01 | So, I Ruptured Both my Eardrums! (Also, NerdCon: Nerdfighteria) | letter vlog | Hank | Personal life (also: Projects) |
| 2016-07-05 | The Horizon Line | letter vlog | John | Philosophy & meaning (also: Personal life, Pop culture) |
| 2016-07-08 | Your Illness is Not Your Fault | letter vlog | Hank | Health (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-07-12 | Our Capacity for Wonder: A Review | review / recommendation | John | Philosophy & meaning (also: Books & writing) |
| 2016-07-15 | On Lives and Mattering | letter vlog | Hank | US politics & society (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-07-19 | Pretty Bad Ways to Start a Conversation | letter vlog | John | Internet & YouTube (also: Pop culture, US politics & society) |
| 2016-07-22 | Ending the Age of Outrage (at least in ourselves, if not in the world) | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2016-07-26 | El Chapo and Me | letter vlog | John | Books & writing |
| 2016-07-29 | Thoughts from Comic-Con (NO MORE CHEETO MEDIA!) | letter vlog | Hank | Pop culture (also: Nerdfighteria) |
August
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-08-02 | Beckoning Lovely | letter vlog | John | Books & writing (also: Nerdfighteria, Philosophy & meaning) |
| 2016-08-03 | Lives Made of Love - Esther Day 2016 | letter vlog | Hank | Philosophy & meaning (also: Projects, Personal life, Nerdfighteria) |
| 2016-08-05 | Our Massive Project: How to Vote in Every State | announcement | Hank | US politics & society |
| 2016-08-09 | Why I Didn't Vote (And Six Reasons You Might Not) | list | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-08-12 | AMERICA, DAMMIT! - Thoughts from Glacier National Park | documentary visit | Hank, Katherine Green | US politics & society (also: Science & nature) |
| 2016-08-16 | Some Good News: 16 Ways 2016 Is Not a Total Dumpster Fire | list | John | Global development (also: World affairs, Economics, Pop culture) |
| 2016-08-19 | 16 Sports that Should Be in the Olympics | list | Hank | Sports (also: Internet & YouTube) |
| 2016-08-23 | The Ocho! Sports I Want on TV | list | John | Sports |
| 2016-08-26 | I'm Just Going to Talk for Four Minutes | letter vlog | Hank | Nerdfighteria (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-08-30 | My Body Is a Broken Temple | letter vlog | John | Personal life (also: Books & writing, Projects) |
September
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-09-02 | One Scientifically Proven Thing Actually Makes People Happier | explainer | Hank | Everyday life (also: US politics & society) |
| 2016-09-06 | How We're Spending Your Money: The Bank of Nerdfighteria's Quarterly Report | announcement | John | Projects (also: Global development) |
| 2016-09-08 | Punk Friends | song | Hank | Pop culture (also: Internet & YouTube) |
| 2016-09-09 | Sleep Paralysis, Double-Pregnancy, and The 2016 Census | letter vlog | Hank | Personal life (also: Nerdfighteria, Projects) |
| 2016-09-13 | YouTube's New Thing (and a New Thing of Our Own) | announcement | John | Internet & YouTube (also: Projects) |
| 2016-09-16 | Let's Talk about Failure | letter vlog | Hank | Everyday life (also: Projects) |
| 2016-09-20 | Failing to Follow Up The Fault in Our Stars | letter vlog | John | Books & writing |
| 2016-09-23 | How do YouTubers Make Money? | explainer | Hank | Internet & YouTube |
| 2016-09-27 | Books, Movies, and Wonder: Thoughts from a Red Carpet | letter vlog | John, Sarah Urist Green | Personal life (also: Pop culture) |
| 2016-09-30 | Here are Some YouTube Tricks I Use | explainer | Hank | Internet & YouTube |
October
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-10-04 | Drowzees and Masterpieces: Thoughts from London | documentary visit | John | Pop culture (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-10-07 | Changing Our Business a Bit | announcement | Hank | Projects (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2016-10-11 | Understanding Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton's Tax Plans | explainer | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-10-14 | Compassion, Weakness, and the 2016 Election | letter vlog | Hank | US politics & society |
| 2016-10-18 | Understanding Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton's Health Care Reform Proposals | explainer | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-10-21 | Coming Out, Goats, Government, and Attack Ads with Denise Juneau | collab / interview | Hank, Denise Juneau | US politics & society |
| 2016-10-25 | Will the U.S. Presidential Election Be Rigged? | explainer | John | US politics & society |
| 2016-10-28 | Give Me Your Tweets, I'll Give You My Phone · Last Video Before Leave! | announcement | Hank | Nerdfighteria (also: Projects, Personal life) |
November
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-11-01 | BABY! BABY! BABY! (And the 10th Annual Project for Awesome) | announcement | John | Global development (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-11-04 | Stress and Joy | letter vlog | Sabrina Cruz | Everyday life |
| 2016-11-07 | It's Pizzamas!!! (Thoughts From the Place Where they Print Our Shirts) | documentary visit | Hank, Chris | Economics (also: Projects, Nerdfighteria) |
| 2016-11-08 | A PIZZAMAS MIRACLE | letter vlog | John | Nerdfighteria (also: Projects, US politics & society) |
| 2016-11-09 | My Post-Election Thoughts | letter vlog | John | US politics & society (also: Philosophy & meaning) |
| 2016-11-10 | The Museum of Pizza Johns Past | announcement | Dave, Caenaan | Projects (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2016-11-11 | The Trouble with Wishful Thinking | letter vlog | Hannah Hart | US politics & society |
| 2016-11-14 | Who the Eff Is Hank? | other | Craig Benzine | History & curiosities (also: Nerdfighteria, Science & nature) |
| 2016-11-15 | Good News/Bad News: A Pizzamas Video in Nine Slices | list | John | Science & nature (also: Sports, Pop culture, Books & writing) |
| 2016-11-16 | Why We Left Buzzfeed (Some Thoughts on Taking Risks) | collab / interview | Gaby Dunn, Allison Raskin | Everyday life (also: Internet & YouTube) |
| 2016-11-17 | Decathlons, Pretension, and the Weirdest Animal I've Met: It's Question Thursday | Q&A | John | Nerdfighteria (also: Books & writing, Internet & YouTube) |
| 2016-11-18 | Are Pets Ethical? | explainer | Lex Croucher | Philosophy & meaning (also: Everyday life, Science & nature) |
| 2016-11-22 | On Not Seeing Hamilton | story | John | Personal life |
| 2016-11-25 | You're Not Good Enough | letter vlog | Nathan Zed | Everyday life |
| 2016-11-29 | Baby Poop Rookie: Vlogbrothers Reunited | Q&A | John, Hank | Nerdfighteria (also: Personal life, Books & writing, +2) |
December
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-12-01 | See you in Amsterdam, Melbourne, or Anaheim!! (also Boston) | announcement | Hank | Projects (also: Internet & YouTube) |
| 2016-12-02 | Logging Off | letter vlog | Rosianna Halse Rojas | Internet & YouTube |
| 2016-12-06 | Exactly Like the Human Sternum | review / recommendation | John | Books & writing (also: Global development) |
| 2016-12-09 | The Difference A Decade Makes: The 10th Annual Project for Awesome Is Here! | announcement | John, Muhammad | Global development |
| 2016-12-13 | P4A 2016 Hilarity Reprise - OVER $2M RAISED!! | announcement | Hank, John | Global development (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-12-16 | Fear in Art | letter vlog | Tessa Violet | Pop culture |
| 2016-12-20 | How Giraffes Mate, and Why It Matters | explainer | John | Science & nature |
| 2016-12-23 | 41 Dad Jokes in 4 Minutes! (with special guest star...) | list | Hank | Everyday life (also: Personal life) |
| 2016-12-27 | The Best of My 2016 | list | John | Personal life (also: Sports) |
| 2016-12-30 | The Most Interesting Thing I've Ever Done | letter vlog | Hank | Nerdfighteria |