Humans

Dr. Joia Mukherjee is a public health and infectious disease specialist. She’s worked for Partners In Health for over 25 years, where she helps deliver medical care to the poorest nations. Joia and Hank talk about how inequity leaves many people sick, why market forces fail most people, and whether we’re prepared for another pandemic (spoiler: we’re not). Plus, what bacteria would you find in a hippo bite?

Chris La Tray is an Anishinaabe/Métis storyteller and Montana’s former poet laureate. He’s also a citizen of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indian. He and Hank talk about his memoir Becoming Little Shell, and what it’s like to realize you’re from a tribe not recognized by the U.S. government; how he was gifted a quest; why he despises being an American; and how convenience isn’t progress. Plus, the Ojibwe word for chickadee is probably the best thing you’ll hear all day.Chris's Substack is An Irritable Métis: https://chrislatray.substack.com/

Kal McRaven, known as FunkyFrogBait, is a YouTuber with more than 3 million followers who makes video essays calling out some of the internet’s worst trends. They talk with Hank about their homeschooling and evangelical Christian upbringing, why they incorporate humor when describing upsetting things, and if what they make is real journalism. Plus, how sometimes you have to let the Jenga tower fall to reconstruct your life. You can find Kal on social media @funkyfrogbaitGot a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhank

Jennifer Sciubba is a political demographer and the president and CEO of the Population Reference Bureau, so she’s a pretty good authority on what global data says about falling fertility rates (news flash: they are!). She and Hank talk about why predictions beyond 30 years are just for play, whether we’re reproducing ourselves in other ways apart from procreation, the problems that arise when you have fewer humans, and the dangers of trying to control fertility rates.

Comedian Gianmarco Soresi thinks the plot of Black Swan — the perfect performance followed by death — is a beautiful end to life. He talks with Hank about how comedy is like building a table when the ruler is always changing, how he strives to be Mozart but is more like Salieri, and how he thinks Trump uses comedy to push his political agenda. Plus, what happened when Gianmarco was booked for an 85-year-old’s birthday party?You can find Gianmarco on social media @gianmarcosoresiGot a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhank

Tessa Violet is a singer-songwriter and former YouTuber whose new album, There Will Be Joy, is a meditation on internal growth. Tessa and Hank talk about their long friendship, what it’s like to go viral in Russian under dubious circumstances, and how Tessa’s experimentation with psychedelics changed her life. There Will Be Joy will be out in its entirety in January 2027. You can find Tessa on social media @tessaviolet. For upcoming announcements from the singer, sign up here: https://laylo.com/tessavioletGot a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhank

Ted Dintersmith is a Stanford engineering Ph.D., a successful venture capitalist, and now a committed math reformer. Hank and Ted talk about why questions are more important than answers, how AI is going to impact education, and Ted’s book Aftermath: The Life-Changing Math That Schools Won’t Teach You. Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhank

T-Pain is a Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, and music producer. These days he produces music while streaming live on Twitch so that people can see exactly how human his process is. On this episode, T-Pain and Hank talk about the pain of success, what happened to his career when AutoTune got cancelled, and why it's key to just let it go. Plus, Hank shares his love for “Shawty Get Loose.”Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind T-Pain on Twitch @TPain

Hannah Ritchie is a data scientist, author, and deputy editor of Our World in Data — and she's convinced the world is making more progress than the headlines show. Hannah and Hank talk about why incremental change is good but not sexy, a few of the 50 climate questions she tackles in her new book Clearing the Air, and why cement, of all things, has her the most excited.Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Hannah Ritchie on her Substack By the Numbers

Jerome Goddard is a medical entomologist, extension professor at Mississippi State University, fiction author, and now a TikTok star. Jerome and Hank cover things you’d expect: bug populations, insect-borne illnesses, and tick saliva, but the conversation expands into environmental ethics, philosophy, and faith vs science. In a truly joyful conversation, the bug man and science communicator talk about how life is about going home, whether we’re a part of nature or above it, and why biology always wins. Plus, how are the bugs doing?Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Jerome Goddard on social media @msuextservice

Sam Forstag is a former smokejumper who’s running for Congress in Montana’s U.S. House District 1. He’s the Democratic candidate, but is he actually a Democrat? Hank and Sam break down what’s wrong with the two-party system, how the U.S. manages its public lands, and whether there’s hope for the housing crisis. Sam believes government work isn't too different from fighting fires — you have to swing a tool and work like hell. Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Sam Forstag on social media @samforstag

Katie Mack is an astrophysicist who studies the end of the universe. Hank and Katie talk about the value of the Artemis II mission, how we can see the beginning of time, and when the universe may end. Plus, Katie tells Hank that dark matter and energy aren’t as weird as we may think.Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Katie Mack on Instagram @astrokatiemack

Maya Rupert is a political strategist and social justice leader. She also served as the campaign manager for Julián Castro’s presidential campaign, and is Hank’s friend and political confidante! The two talk about Maya’s book, The Real Ones, why conversations about race are usually unproductive, and if the Democrats are wusses. Plus, Taylor and Beyoncé (not vs!).Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Maya Rupert on social media @maya.rupert

The commander of NASA’s Artemis II mission slid into Hank’s DMs on Instagram asking to talk. Their conversation covers what it’s like to leave Earth behind, why astronauts need to be active followers, why Reid was wary about becoming a meme, and who was actually farthest away from Earth at the mission’s peak. Plus, they talk about Reid’s iconic Hello, World photograph, and the accidental time-lapse that captivated the internet.Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Reid Wiseman on social media @astro_reid

The original author of the Warrior Cats book series has contributed to over 70 books about feral felines, all while not liking cats. Hank and Vicky discuss following your “still, small voice of calm,” the delicacy and respect with which she approaches her young audience, and how the series is autobiographical. Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhank

The writer of The Martian and Project Hail Mary proudly calls himself a “Hank Green-ist.” Andy and Hank talk about why the present is always better than the past, the state of science fiction today, the impact of AI on collective entertainment, and Andy explains why he has a huge problem with zombie stories. Plus, Andy shares how Hank’s responsible for the very last edit made to Project Hail Mary. Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Andy Weir on Instagram @andyweirofficial

Known to millions as the Black Forager, Alexis Nikole Nelson turned a lifetime of plant knowledge and a theater degree’s worth of showmanship into a social-media account that empowers followers to find food in unlikely places. She and Hank talk about the deeply racist history of land access, crafting hyper-palatable social media posts, and why she wants to throw her phone in the ocean — but won’t. Plus: Alexis brings a hot take on pawpaws to a lightning round and has a question for Hank in a new segment.Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Alexis Nikole Nelson on Instagram and YouTube @blackforager

The co-creator of Radiolab is as much a fan of Hank’s as Hank is of him. The two talk about Dolly Parton, how to close the gap between your taste and your ability, and why it’s essential that we re-acquaint ourselves with the wonder of the universe. And Hank breaks down in tears over a Radiolab episode from 2007 called “Mortality.”Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Jad Abumrad on Instagram @jadabumrad

Ze Frank invented vlogging according to Hank. The creator of the YouTube series True Facts and The Show talks to Hank about getting ideas out into the world, why he prefers discomfort when making things, and how he uses science as fodder for jokes. At the episode’s end, Ze lays down some of the best advice Hank’s ever heard. Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhankFind Ze Frank on TikTok and YouTube @zefrank

Oscar-winner Helen Hunt calls out Hank for a video he made about her 20 years ago. They get into aging and Hollywood, why it’s moving to see people giving a shit, and how to be relentless. Helen also can’t believe how many books Hank hasn’t read — and gives him homework.Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhank

Wyna Liu is the maker of one of Hank's favorite games: Connections. In the New York Times game, players sort 16 words into four categories. Wyna and Hank geek out on what makes a great puzzle, why low-stakes activities matter, and how a category game ended up funding some of the best journalism in the world. Plus: Wyna hits Hank hard with the idea that no effort is wasted when you're a maker.Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhank

John disapproves of his brother's new podcast entirely, but is happy to be here. They talk about why John's worried about Hank, why being in favor of humans is now counter-cultural, if John's seminary training might have helped the brothers' internet success, and what Mark Twain has to do with any of it. They have spent years talking publicly together — but not like this.Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at humans@hankgreen.comFind us on social media @humanswithhank

Hank Green is a creator and science communicator who desperately wants us to realize how bizarre and special we are. Every week he has a conversation with one of the eight billion weirdos living on planet Earth.