Vlogbrothers in 2023
John's only goal for 2023 was to take it down a notch, while Hank announced Study Hall's low-cost college credit with Arizona State University, and the 16th Project for Awesome raised over $3 million. In May Hank revealed he had Hodgkin's lymphoma; John stood in as CEO of Complexly and DFTBA through the chemotherapy, and in August Hank announced remission. Meanwhile John led campaigns against Johnson & Johnson and Danaher over tuberculosis drugs and tests, which won generic bedaquiline and a cheaper test cartridge, and spoke at the UN. By autumn Hank stepped back from running the companies and turned his cancer into stand-up and socks.
107 videos, 13 hours.
Start here: GOOD NEWS · Talking Tuberculosis, GeneXpert, J&J, and more with MY HEROES · John's Review of Auld Lang Syne
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 Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis and chemotherapy (2023) (31) · now: told 34×, last update 2026
- Awesome Coffee Club: the brothers' coffee subscription for charity (2022) (16) · now: completed
- John asks viewers to press Danaher and Cepheid to cut GeneXpert TB test cartridges to $5 (2023) (10) · now: reported back
- P4A 2023 edition (7) · now: completed
- John asks viewers to pressure Johnson & Johnson to drop its secondary bedaquiline patent (2023) (6) · now: reported back
- Awesome Socks Club: monthly sock subscription (2016) (4) · now: running
- John's stint as reluctant temporary CEO of DFTBA.com during Hank's cancer (2023) (4) · now: told 3×, stopped by 2023 (as told)
- Pizzamas 2023 edition (4) · now: completed
By the numbers
Main speaker: Hank 54, John 53; median length 4:18; formats: letter vlog 55, explainer 17, announcement 11, Q&A 5, documentary visit 5, review / recommendation 5, collab / interview 3, list 3, story 2, compilation 1; of them reposts of earlier words: 1.
All videos of the year
January
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-03 | TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH | letter vlog | John | Everyday life (also: Personal life, Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-01-06 | After 12 hours in LA I'm a stand-up comic doing ASMR with a side gig as a music promoter | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube (also: Personal life, Economics, Pop culture) |
| 2023-01-10 | Introducing: The Format | letter vlog | John | History & curiosities (also: Personal life, Internet & YouTube, +2) |
| 2023-01-12 | Whatcha think??? | Q&A | Hank | Internet & YouTube |
| 2023-01-13 | Why is There an Egg Shortage (And More) | Q&A | Hank | Economics (also: Health, History & curiosities) |
| 2023-01-17 | John Green Answers the Most Searched Hank Green Questions | Q&A | John | Projects (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-01-20 | Behind the Scenes in the Deep Sea | documentary visit | Hank | Science & nature (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-01-24 | Behind the Scenes of my TUMBLR MEME LORD ERA | letter vlog | John | Internet & YouTube |
| 2023-01-27 | An Announcement 3 Years in the Making | announcement | Hank | Projects (also: Everyday life) |
| 2023-01-31 | I'm Going Back to College? | letter vlog | John | Everyday life (also: Global development, Projects) |
February
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02-03 | My Mid-Afternoon Existential Crisis | announcement | Hank | Global development (also: Personal life, Projects, +2) |
| 2023-02-07 | Mid-Morning Existential Crisis: The Format Returns | letter vlog | John | Health (also: History & curiosities, Science & nature, Philosophy & meaning) |
| 2023-02-10 | If it ain't broke don't fix it. | letter vlog | Hank | History & curiosities (also: Everyday life, Nerdfighteria, Global development) |
| 2023-02-14 | Worst Reunion Video Ever ... or Best? | collab / interview | John, Hank | Personal life (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-02-17 | COUNTDOWN TO THE PROJECT FOR AWESOME | announcement | Hank | Global development (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-02-21 | Maybe Art Only Needs to Be | letter vlog | John | Personal life (also: Global development, History & curiosities, Philosophy & meaning) |
| 2023-02-24 | The P4A 2023 is The Hottest Club on the Internet | review / recommendation | Hank | Nerdfighteria |
| 2023-02-28 | Empathy and its Limits | letter vlog | John | Health (also: Philosophy & meaning) |
March
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-03 | The Law That Made the Internet | explainer | Hank | Internet & YouTube |
| 2023-03-07 | What's the Deal with Paperback Publishing? | explainer | John | Books & writing |
| 2023-03-10 | Is it Good or Bad that we Haven't Met Aliens? | explainer | Hank | Science & nature |
| 2023-03-14 | The Seduction of Despair | letter vlog | John | Philosophy & meaning |
| 2023-03-17 | This is a Video!! | Q&A | Hank | Nerdfighteria (also: Everyday life, Books & writing, Science & nature) |
| 2023-03-24 | The Two Reasons Why Humans Have Such Bad Backs | explainer | Hank | Science & nature (also: Personal life, Health) |
| 2023-03-28 | My Tuberculosis Reading List | review / recommendation | John | Global development (also: Books & writing) |
| 2023-03-31 | The Coming AI Invasion | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube (also: Science & nature) |
April
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-04 | The Search for Real Feeling | letter vlog | John | Sports (also: Philosophy & meaning, Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-04-04 | April 4, 2023 | explainer | Hank | Internet & YouTube |
| 2023-04-07 | Getting One Million LinkedIn Followers | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-04-11 | Wrexham's Most Amazing Feeling | letter vlog | John | Sports |
| 2023-04-14 | The Organism that Broke Biology | explainer | Hank | Science & nature |
| 2023-04-18 | goodbye to my friend | story | John | Personal life (also: Books & writing) |
| 2023-04-21 | On TikTok Bans | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube (also: US politics & society) |
| 2023-04-28 | I Discovered a Soap Secret | announcement | Hank | Projects (also: Economics) |
May
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-02 | GOOD NEWS | documentary visit | John | Global development |
| 2023-05-05 | New Office Tour!! | documentary visit | Hank | Personal life |
| 2023-05-09 | on hope | letter vlog | John | Philosophy & meaning |
| 2023-05-16 | Did TB Cause World War I? | explainer | John | History & curiosities |
| 2023-05-19 | So, I've got cancer | letter vlog | Hank | Personal life (also: Health, Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-05-23 | Rough Week | letter vlog | John | Personal life (also: Projects) |
| 2023-05-26 | My Cancer Press Tier List | list | Hank | Personal life |
| 2023-05-30 | How Does He Do It? | announcement | John | Projects |
June
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-02 | Chemo is Weird, Y'all | letter vlog | Hank | Personal life |
| 2023-06-13 | touched by a king | documentary visit | John | Health |
| 2023-06-16 | So, About This HAIR… | letter vlog | Hank | Philosophy & meaning (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-06-20 | Reflections from a Terrible CEO | letter vlog | John | Projects (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-06-23 | Understanding Cancer Survival Rates | explainer | Hank | Health |
| 2023-06-27 | Alone on the Cancer Boat: A Vlogbrothers Reunion | collab / interview | John, Hank | Personal life (also: Health, Projects) |
| 2023-06-30 | Bon Your Vivant | Q&A | John, Hank | Personal life (also: Projects, Philosophy & meaning, Pop culture) |
July
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-07 | What to Get for a Cancer Patient | list | Hank | Everyday life (also: Health) |
| 2023-07-11 | Barely Contained Rage: An Open Letter to Johnson & Johnson | letter vlog | John | Global development |
| 2023-07-14 | The Good News Video | letter vlog | Hank | Global development (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-07-18 | Tuberculosis Fighters Have a Posse | letter vlog | John | Global development |
| 2023-07-21 | The Biggest Weirdest Telescope We've Ever Built | explainer | Hank | Science & nature |
| 2023-07-28 | Let's Try Radiation Therapy! | letter vlog | Hank | Health (also: Personal life) |
August
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-01 | Three Mornings | documentary visit | John | Economics (also: Projects, Personal life) |
| 2023-08-03 | I love you, Hank. Happy Esther Day. | letter vlog | John | Personal life (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-08-04 | The Biggest Science Story of the Week | explainer | Hank | Science & nature |
| 2023-08-08 | TAKE IT UP A NOTCH | letter vlog | John | Nerdfighteria (also: Personal life, Philosophy & meaning, Health) |
| 2023-08-11 | It's About a YouTuber with Cancer | review / recommendation | Hank | Pop culture (also: History & curiosities) |
| 2023-08-15 | Henry | story | John, Henry Reider | Global development |
| 2023-08-18 | The #1 Tip for People Who Use the Internet | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube |
| 2023-08-22 | The Panera Phenomenon | letter vlog | John | Personal life (also: Global development, History & curiosities, Pop culture) |
| 2023-08-25 | Remission | letter vlog | Hank | Personal life (also: Health) |
| 2023-08-29 | Breaking News: CEO Demoted | announcement | John | Projects |
September
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-09-01 | The Weirdest Post-Chemo Symptoms | letter vlog | Hank | Personal life (also: Philosophy & meaning) |
| 2023-09-05 | I Ain't Even Here, Sergeant. I'm in Cheyenne, Wyoming. | letter vlog | John | Books & writing (also: Health, Global development, Personal life) |
| 2023-09-08 | Giraffes are Way More Complicated Than We Thought | list | Hank | Science & nature (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-09-12 | Barely Contained Rage: An Open Letter to Danaher and Cepheid | letter vlog | John | Global development |
| 2023-09-14 | Talking Tuberculosis, GeneXpert, J&J, and more with MY HEROES | collab / interview | John, Nandita Venkatesan | Global development |
| 2023-09-15 | The Worst Disease in Human History | explainer | Hank | Health (also: Global development) |
| 2023-09-19 | So, um.... GOOD NEWS?!?!?! | letter vlog | John, Phumeza Tisile | Global development (also: Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-09-22 | A Feeling I've Never Felt Before | letter vlog | Hank | Personal life (also: Global development, Internet & YouTube) |
| 2023-09-25 | PIZZAMAS IS HERE!!! | announcement | John | Projects (also: Global development) |
| 2023-09-26 | THE REVEAL | letter vlog | Hank, Katherine Green | Nerdfighteria (also: Projects, Personal life) |
| 2023-09-27 | John Goes ... to the UNITED NATIONS? | letter vlog | John | Global development |
| 2023-09-28 | What the Heck is the UN? | explainer | Hank | World affairs (also: Global development) |
| 2023-09-29 | Like Apocalyptic Horsemen | letter vlog | John | Personal life (also: Philosophy & meaning, Projects) |
| 2023-09-30 | An Incredible Update | announcement | John | Global development |
October
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-10-02 | The Hottest Place and the Coldest Place in the Universe are the SAME PLACE | explainer | Hank | Science & nature |
| 2023-10-03 | Nourished by Leaving | letter vlog | John | Science & nature |
| 2023-10-04 | A Messy and Unhinged Introduction to Geoengineering | explainer | Hank | Science & nature |
| 2023-10-05 | America's Second Favorite Fourth Tier English Soccer Team | letter vlog | John | Sports (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-10-06 | I Quit | announcement | Hank | Projects (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-10-13 | Cancer Made me Do It. | letter vlog | Hank | Projects (also: Personal life, Pop culture) |
| 2023-10-17 | My Next Book | letter vlog | John | Books & writing (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-10-20 | My 'Injury' | explainer | Hank | Health (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-10-20 | Do I make things Simple?? | letter vlog | Hank | Nerdfighteria |
| 2023-10-24 | A Tale of Two Cancers | letter vlog | John | Global development (also: Personal life) |
| 2023-10-27 | I Keep Thinking About Taylor Swift | letter vlog | Hank | Internet & YouTube (also: Personal life, Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-10-31 | How to Make Hot Sauce for Just $65 per Bottle | letter vlog | John | Personal life |
November
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-11-03 | We Need to talk about Sarapocial Relationships | letter vlog | Hank, Brittany Broski | Nerdfighteria (also: Internet & YouTube) |
| 2023-11-07 | NaFaDoYBIMSCoM | letter vlog | John | Books & writing |
| 2023-11-10 | My Final Chemo Secret | announcement | Hank | Projects (also: Personal life, Global development) |
| 2023-11-17 | WHAT AM I DOING | announcement | Hank | Projects (also: Personal life, Nerdfighteria) |
| 2023-11-21 | Minus Its Charms | letter vlog | John | Health (also: Personal life, Philosophy & meaning) |
| 2023-11-24 | It Wasn't Supposed to be Thanksgiving Yesterday | explainer | Hank | History & curiosities |
| 2023-11-28 | John's (Mostly Book) Holiday Gift Recommendations | review / recommendation | John | Books & writing |
December
| date | video | format | by | topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-01 | It's OK if you think less of me after this! | letter vlog | Hank | Projects (also: Economics) |
| 2023-12-05 | MASSIVE Tuberculosis News | letter vlog | John | Global development |
| 2023-12-08 | Did Natural Cancer Treatments Save My Life? | letter vlog | Hank | Health |
| 2023-12-12 | POTATO! | letter vlog | John | Personal life |
| 2023-12-15 | Cat...I Farted. | explainer | Hank | History & curiosities |
| 2023-12-19 | End of a Rough Year | letter vlog | John | Global development (also: Philosophy & meaning) |
| 2023-12-22 | Let's Talk About Death | letter vlog | Hank | Philosophy & meaning (also: Pop culture) |
| 2023-12-24 | John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated | compilation | John, Hank | Nerdfighteria (also: Personal life, Books & writing, +5) |
| 2023-12-30 | John's Review of Auld Lang Syne | review / recommendation | John | Philosophy & meaning (also: History & curiosities, Personal life) |