How DnD Became a Career: Brennan Lee Mulligan’s College Journey

In the first episode of our College Journeys series, Hank Green talks to Dimension 20 host, Dropout writer, performer, and overall great guy: Brennan Lee Mulligan. Before Brennan joined the CollegeHumor cast and became a famous comedian/writer/game master, he was (in no particular order): a 14 year old philosophy major, a Law & Order PA, a LARP camper, a “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” contestant, a bartender missing a front tooth, and more!
We’re on a mission to learn how people have learned! To do that we’re interviewing people from various fields and asking them about their lives, careers, and college journeys. The "College Journeys" series aims to inspire viewers by showcasing the varied paths to success and highlighting the importance of learning, both in school and through life.
__________________________________________________________________________
If you’re ready to start, restart, or continue your own college journey with Study Hall, join a real college course that starts on KZbin for just $25, and unlock the opportunity to earn transferable credits with Study Hall courses, powered by ASU. Learn more at link.gostudyha...
Follow us on social media!
X/Twitter: / gostudyhall
Instagram: / gostudyhall
Facebook: / gostudyhall
__________________________________________________________________________
Chapters:
00:31 - Introductions
02:02 - Storytelling
03:34 - Gaming
03:52 - Being Bullied
04:50 - The Wayfinder Experience
09:42 - Mentoring
11:12 - No High School
11:31 - Junior College and a GED
13:02 - 14 Year Old Philosophy Majors
14:35 - Why Philosophy
16:19 - College Expectations
17:46 - College and SVA
20:21 - The Experience of SVA
21:22 - The purpose of college (for Brennan)
23:21 - Missed Opportunities
24:59 - Help Navigating College
27:49 - Debt?
28:34 - Transition to College
30:24 - Delivering Value
31:23 - Questioning Choices
32:37 - More Questioning
35:10 - The End of College
36:32 - Starting Life After College
40:22 - Career Achieved
42:49 - Putting the Pieces Together
51:33 - What would you do different?
54:02 - Opportunities
55:42 - Other Careers/Non College
57:33 - Brennan Makes More Sense Now
58:04 - Why Storytelling?
01:00:01 - Finding Your People
__________________________________________________________________________
#CollegeJourney #BrennanLeeMulligan #HankGreen

[@studyhall]

Have any college related questions or want to share your own college stories? Drop them in the comments below! And let us know who else you want to see on College Journeys. Stay tuned for more epic content! (roll for initiative not required)

[@BrothersMurphy]

This interview was really fascinating to see as someone who looks up to Brennan, but also did/is following the same college path. While I wasn't homeschooled for middle school, I also started college at 14, and I wasn't even aware that this was something many other people did, and it was so interesting to hear his perspective, and Hank's!

[@JKMeZmA]

Great series idea! I’d love to see interviews with: - Sam Reich - Siobhan Thompson - Mike Trapp - Craig Benzine - Jay Foreman - Aabria Iyengar - Zac Oyama - Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett - Professor Robert Reich To name a few!

[@jrpipik]

The right way to phrase this: GET IN THE COMMENTS!

[@Slobrojoe]

I would love to see anyone from Dropout

[@GoogelyeyesSaysHej]

Would love to hear from a stem major! Maybe simone giertz, mark rober, Michael from vsauce, Emily Graslie or evan and katelyn

[@MatthewBrpg]

Saw a comment on another video that was like "Would you leave your partner for Brennan Lee Mulligan?" and the top answer was "No, because Brennan would be disappointed in me for making that choice." That's the level of devotion Brennan inspires.

[@CosmicIceCream]

He's a very ethical, noble soul and that is just so admirable.

[@zazzlles]

Hahaha

[@grey8288]

The trick is to date someone who would also not leave you for BLeeM because BLeeM would be disappointed.

[@FallacyBites]

In my case, my partner is just so completely AMAZING, that nobody can compete, literally. (Partner is also an amazing DM, incredibly witty, a swift improv guy, and can give Rehka a run for her money in the pun department ::swoon::)

[@xmlthegreat]

​@@FallacyBitesalright lovebird, get a room!

[@turnipslop3822]

"When you light a candle, with another candle, the first candle isn't diminished. The world just grows brighter. Knowledge is just like that" - Well said Mr. Mulligan. Well said.

[@Saternalia]

Earl Nightingale

[@EJF0085]

​@@Saternaliaexactly. It's a super well known quote

[@Mezuzah87]

Amusing because Brennan should have corrected the fallacy, as light for sight is not perceived linearly.

[@TzunSu]

And the same goes for piracy. Wonder if he thinks the same about Dropout being pirated.

[@DomenG33K]

@@Mezuzah87 What about that is wrong? Light gets added and the world is brighter...

[@Speedy-vy4kq]

So Brennan and his brother were basically the original Phineas and Ferb? Highly precocious step twins getting into hijinks.

[@crstph]

literally; they just started a larp camp because. they wanted to😭

[@MarioGMan25]

Hell Brennan is already a redhead and has a famous (for lack of a better word) mom so it works out hilariously.

[@angelaphsiao]

I hope his brother has green hair

[@TheInfiniteGM]

This is a direct intersection of my love of improv and my love of Perry the Platypus... WILD!!!

[@emmabrook9691]

@@crstphweren’t they a little young to be starting a LARP camp?

[@namasc4235]

“He meant Yugoslavia and I went *gasp* Atlantis!” truly had me cry laughing

[@matt-lang]

I immediately put that into my DnD Character concept notes lol

[@egg3255]

18:52

[@Piggus_Porkus]

Thx for the time stamp, love ya!

[@CarolinaGothic35]

Having seen this comment prior to getting to that moment in the video made it even better because I simply could not have imagined how great it would be in context 😂

[@SatanicHorse]

@@CarolinaGothic35 I just came here to comment the exact same, I was waiting for that magical moment.

[@always_1895]

Seeing the thumbnail like “oh Brennan Lee Mulligan!” then seeing the channel like “oh! Brennan Lee Mulligan???”

[@connor7261]

hank green was actually on dimension 20 for a short season not too long ago! they're buds

[@always_1895]

@@connor7261 Oh cool good to know! I had no idea

[@cartatowegs5080]

​@rorysayswhat called Metropolis and it's on Dropout! One of my favorite short seasons if not my favorite.

[@kennylog1ns]

@@cartatowegs5080 Mentopolis actually

[@hexonyou]

@@kennylog1ns and it is absolutely a phenomenal season. Hank's character is hilarious and all too relatable lol

[@emilysmith2965]

Angry parents want to show you how powerful they are. Loving parents want to show you how powerful YOU are.

[@Erin-000]

Fuck that hit hard. Well said.

[@nandikmusic]

A privilege not enough people recognize.

[@eely225]

I am preemptively getting in the comments.

[@albasapri3265]

Love it 😂

[@DavidPerez-ef8yp]

My man

[@anniekate76]

You know what’s up

[@SquirefromtheShire]

Incredible

[@klink6695]

BleeM is proud of you

[@lyricbot8513]

"We did that, parent trapped 'em" oh suddenly everything about Brennan's life makes sense

[@JustinWPruett]

Hank Green + Brennan Lee Mulligan = Greatness, guaranteed.

[@Raegoer]

That’s why Mentopolis was so good, as well as because of everyone else

[@BeeOstrowsky]

I ship it.

[@Firegen1]

So did Hank 🤣​@@BeeOstrowsky

[@davetoms1]

_"Capitalism isolates and alienates people from one another and you become discrete units of labor that are siloed away from meaningful community, and that gives rise to predatory communities like cults and other things that want to address that alienation by then taking advantage of people... "_ ~ You're goddamn right that's a *Brennan Lee Mulligan* quote that I fully and completely agree with

[@nicolesong6199]

originally this (and this is as far back as I'm aware it goes) was said by Karl Marx (the first part, not sure about the predatory cult part)

[@Joebobinator]

As this went on I was getting more and more bewildered at the lack of an anticapitalist diversion but then just before the end, there it was. Brennan is a treasure

[@francisaguilar1260]

and yet....

[@Coburnify]

Dont conflate capitalism with human nature. In every period ever there have been isolated groups and cults and the like. And I mean every single one ever. That is not capitalism. It MAY reinforce this natural human tendency but I promise you if I set up the world as idealistic as you want (and it probably wouldnt work) this stuff would still happen.

[@davetoms1]

@@Coburnify I didn't conflate the two. Movies make me happy. Music makes me happy. Saying movies make me happy doesn't mean I've conflated movies and music. Capitalism isolates and alienates people, and cults (etc.) take advantage of that. Theocratic fascism would probably isolate and alienate people in a different but similar way, and cults (etc.) would likely take advantage of that too. Brennan's argument isn't that Capitalism is the sole origin of cults (nor is it my argument) because that would be an absurd statement. And one that you seem to think he's making. No, instead he's saying that because Capitalism has facets that encourage these behaviors, we should actively work against those aspects of it to fortify community, strengthen interpersonal connections, and stave off the type of isolation that cults (etc.) prey upon. Don't conflate someone pointing out a concept's flaws with the idea that they believe said concept is the only thing to have those flaws.

[@robertbell307]

Brennan truly has like 10 shirts. I recognize both of those shirts he's wearing

[@ktburger659]

Frugal king 👑

[@illtree]

He is wearing his nice shirt and the blue ring combo in this one.

[@martinaromerov.1342]

LMAO THAT'S SO REAL

[@ApequH]

Why have more shirts?

[@KattReen]

Hey, if you have your own washing machine, and you don't live somewhere with vastly different seasons, 10 shirts is plenty. This man probably has a separate wardrobe of LARP clothing though.

[@auradmg]

Brennan talking about how he taught Emily Axford how to play D&D... Needs a record scratch 'you may be wondering how I got here' moment

[@yeyejoijoi]

Yes both Emily AND Murph! (even though I guess I technically knew this already, it's still mindboggling to think about!)

[@DustyStarrs]

@@yeyejoijoi and in that way he's kinda started THREE dnd shows in his life - D20, WBN AND NADDPOD!

[@halcyon_echo42]

And Rotating Heroes Pod by Zac Oyama ​@@DustyStarrs

[@DustyStarrs]

@@halcyon_echo42 oh ofc!

[@ohkatehadley]

He also taught Lou. I'd say he taught Ally, but let's be honest their D&D education was a group effort.

[@werttrichen]

It is incredibly depressing that an essential part in the creation of Brennan, as we know him, was winning what is pretty much the lottery (who wants to be a millionaire). This really puts into perspective how many people we have lost.

[@Bloo2314]

Yeah, that's true

[@yuvalne]

yup

[@zanebartlett8004]

“I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.” ― Stephen Jay Gould

[@OdinsSage]

@zanebartlett8004 that's a great quote, thanks for sharing :)

[@wylde39]

Yes!!!! This

[@outlawmel]

I remember seeing an episode of Game Changer years ago where Izzy had to answer the question of what Brennan 'wanted more than anything' (paraphrasing off the top of my head here, don't come at me.) Izzy's answer was 'to be a father.' 😭❤ So glad this dream has come true for them.

[@DawnsHhcg]

I thought the same thing when he said he had a baby. I almost cried for him

[@indigostitches5411]

Yessssss that was EXACTLY what I thought of!! It warms my heart so much because I remember thinking, "wow, he will be an incredible father!" when she said that!

[@outlawmel]

@@indigostitches5411 Brennan has HUGE Big Dad Energy

[@nandikmusic]

I for sure cried when they announced, cause 🥹

[@ChaosCause3000]

I’m pretty sure it was the first episode of GameChanger!

[@priyabuddhavarapu]

There is no corner of my heart I would not turn over for this man

[@cgarofani]

*these men There, I fixed it

[@WorldsUnhealthiestFitPerson]

But do you have 5 points to spare him? He really needs those points.

[@cycloneabsol9405]

Especially for five points.

[@turoni314]

So true

[@hamethyst]

And 5 points

[@zackmichael3437]

It's such a small but enormously powerful statement when Hank says, "I don't know what that is." Refreshing when interviewers don't pretend to know EVERYTHING. Great technique to get the interviewee to elaborate and the audience to relate

[@sejenahope2045]

the strength to say "I dont know, please elaborate." is so empowering. 10/10 would recommend.

[@mjmal3741]

It's a great conversational tool in general! A great way to show genuine interest and authenticity, and you can learn some cool stuff at the same time.

[@theyounglinksociety6258]

As a mid 20s, confused lost artist without a ton of schooling and has half a tooth missing. Greatly appreciate Brennan coming on here and talking to me personally.

[@nandikmusic]

So many of us! I was Brennan at the same time, in NYC and everything. Feel so seen

[@cpshirling]

As someone who never had the drive of Brennan, but tried my best and never succeeded in the same field. I hope you took to heart the part where he talks about how being the 'two bin Brennan' was the right call for him. I have watched a lot of these type of interviews and having a 'work harder than anyone else' seems to be the most common theme from these folks who have succeeded. Best of luck to you.

[@DustyStarrs]

I'm glad to see there's so many of us cut from the same Brennan-themed cloth!

[@maddiemaranto7785]

Good luck my friend, I’m sure you’ll find your way soon

[@ChroniclesOfCallum]

The fact that Elaine Lee signed her own kid up for D&D is such an incredible move for a parent. Brennan's parents should be studied for how they created and nurtured a Brennan into being.

[@aDivineDragoness]

There is an interview between him and Elaine on Dropout, where the intended topic was how she wrote Starstruck but diverted quickly in a series of anecdotes from Brennan's Childhood. It gives a bit of insight into this.

[@ChroniclesOfCallum]

@@aDivineDragoness oooh I must search that out!

[@208getalife]

Honestly it reminded me of my dad and his introducing me to D&D, I just wish that he stayed that person fr.

[@possiblybottomlesspit]

I firmly believe that Brennan Lee Mulligan is the ‘best’ interviewee I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I have listened to this man talk for ungodly lengths of time and I marvel constantly at his beautiful storytelling ability.

[@ILikeBirds80]

Have you listened to the 99 questions podcast? His is the longest one but it feels so short because it's just a lovely, interesting conversation.

[@SuperKavv]

If you haven't already, Brennan did a 99 Questions interview than ended up being, like, 4 hours long and breaking their record. I think he talks about some of the same stories (like being a 14-year-old business owner) but also a lot more, and everything he says has that storyteller ring to it.

[@karavaughn9113]

That interview is so great! Definitely give it a listen if you haven't.

[@mossman15]

i love that this is a friendship between a science guy that cares about art and and art guy that cares about science. absolutely lovely 💚

[@paaitje]

Beautifully worded!

[@manicpixiecremegirl]

this is a beautiful comment

[@ktakar2]

I am a science guy that cares about art. Hmmmm….

[@mossman15]

@@ktakar2 im an art guy that cares about science!

[@numberboxgamer]

@@mossman15 ​ @ktakar2 Alright, so when's the wedding?

[@maurofitermannmoreira7953]

Halfway through this I noticed that all of Brennan's name drops consist of "I'm so thankful"s and "they were/are so nice/talented", there's not one case of "look at me, I know this person, I'm important". Great stuff

[@ryanharty1565]

I want a memoir... This life story is insane.

[@SuperOmi]

If you want even more of Brennan’s life story, he did a 4.5 hour podcast interview for a podcast called 99 Questions where he goes into even more depth on a lot of his life story.

[@yitzakIr]

Every time i learn a new detail it gets more crazy

[@AlieV1204]

Do you know where I can find it? It doesn't come up for me ​@@SuperOmi

[@yuvalne]

agreed

[@brittanyd3527]

@@SuperOmi thank for for this ❤

[@ShadoeLandman]

KZbin really went, “Well, we know you love Hank and Brennan and D&D so we’ll recommend this - 5 days later.”

[@kpkost]

Exactly the same lol. I watch so much of both of these guys

[@tammylt5004]

It took them 10 days to recommend it to me... I'm gonna need the Dropout app to notify me of these things if youtube is gonna drop the ball like this.

[@RT-py7ju]

If you have the Dropout sub, Hank was on a season of Dimension 20

[@ShadoeLandman]

@@RT-py7ju I don't. I did see some highlights that were uploaded to YT, though.

[@Liliphant_]

Took one month for me

[@TeagueChrystie]

"They would ask me 'is UCB a cult?' And I'd say, 'in a "cult," *someone's* getting paid."

[@alex8nasa]

Ok, the amount of effort Hank and Brenden are putting in to just stay on topic must be massive.

[@rocketracoon709]

30:42 LMAO thinking of the clip from misfits and magic where Erika as K is like "Evan doesn't think he's good unless he's useful", god that is relatable

[@Xiatter]

I loved that. It both called me out AND spoke to me.

[@kieraparry4008]

Sniped through the door 😂

[@the_purple_kat]

Literally i heard that part and came to the comments. It was like erika was in the room with us.

[@eldesconocidosenork5981]

I think in an adventuring party or something about Exandria he spoke specifically about that and how sometimes when roleplaying they hit YOU, not the character but YOU, and that´s just what I see when D&D is the theme

[@kashiichan]

+

[@qwebb911]

The idea that it took so long for someone to truly recognize Brennan's abilities and value in a showrunner and actor position is insane and inspiring to everyone who is trying and failing to achieve their potential. Brennan is probably my favorite human being at this point in my life and I hate to imagine a world where we were never blessed with his chance to give us all the joy he has gifted.

[@evanlinden4410]

Two of my parasocially favorite people

[@osmia]

+

[@turoni314]

Too real

[@Nino-xp5df]

+

[@manicpixiecremegirl]

+

[@adinamanolache51]

Mood

[@darcicoleauthor]

“Stories are not about their premises, they’re about their conclusions.” This broke my writer brain and now all I want is to read the book this came from. Thank you Mr. Brennan, Sir!

[@Epinardscaramel]

This interview feels like a therapy session 😮 (to be clear I mean that as a compliment)

[@studyhall]

The highest of compliments in my opinion!

[@miriamrosemary9110]

Agreed

[@CosmicIceCream]

Yes! Nailed it! :)

[@McDonaldsCalifornia]

For the viewers as well. Some real gems here

[@godfreemorals]

There's something both comforting and depressing about this. I feel sad for all the 'Brennan Lee Mulligans' that didn't happen because their parents couldn't or wouldn't home school them or champion their storytelling and etc. Glad we've got this one though!

[@orojiratsu12]

That moment when a kid "gets it" is why I became a teacher and Brennan couldn't have articulated it better.

[@Erin-000]

Time stamp?

[@tobistein9831]

@@Erin-000 It's around the 10 minute mark.

[@joshwarrey3728]

​@@Erin-000 teacher here and yes that's why we do what we do. I couldn't be more proud when a student does a better job than I could at an activity I taught them.

[@mariaandjams]

Same!! I was always saying practically the same thing about a moment a student “gets it” being the best moment I was ready to hours of work into and he phrased it so perfectly

[@Erin-000]

@@joshwarrey3728 replied to the wrong person

[@luxetoile]

The way Brennan talks so directly and frankly about how wealth impacts life and (arts) career opportunities is a heartening contrast to the myth of pure meritocracy that suffused the schools and programs I attended, ngl

[@Havok135]

When I was 21, I found out how wealth impacts life. I saw it every day in public school and on the parking lot. I still see it to this day.

[@timlangeloh4679]

love the protection of kids privacy from both parties. As a pastors kid, im giving this practice a big thumbs up.

[@BeeOstrowsky]

I am so sorry that you might not have had that kind of privacy growing up.

[@shawnfickett3734]

I'm sure Brennan will also disagree with me voraciously, but his description of his philosophy teacher as a perfect man is exactly how I see Brennan

[@deckofcards]

Yes, same. Exactly. And I always think, "He would probably disagree with how I idolize him." But, uh. . . sucks for him, he's my hero

[@juliaa__.]

This interview made me (in order as best as I can remember it): 1. Question my life choices (I am 18 about to graduate high school) 2. Gawk and Aw at how wise Brennan is and how incredible he is 3. Worry about the future and if I will do well/ take initiative 4. Feel comfort 5. Cry 6. Want to thank my parents 7. Step back to examine my life to try to find any common thread (haven’t found it yet) 8. Feel comfort again, still a bit worried though 9. Ensure that I will absolutely take an acting or improv class when I go to college. Update: I’m currently using a quote from this video in my application for my college’s special STEM program. If I get in, thank you Brennan!

[@FuzzyBunnyofInle]

If you were able to observe & self-assess all that already, I suspect you are better equipped then you might realize.

[@masenotlem6769]

I’m crying rn 😭

[@Zero-pz6fm]

As an eighteen year old this is so real

[@TheMicroKill]

Don’t worry about finding a common thread yet. I found that mindset limited me due to pigeon-holing myself and not trying new “threads” because it wasn’t the one I thought I was following. In a decade or so it’s a nice reflection, but while you’re young it’s better to weave a varied tapestry, than trying to make it all a single theme

[@elisabethstones]

Roll initiative. ❤

[@DylanMcVillain]

Its extremely comforting knowing that the DnD club i started when i joined University is not "A waste of time because i should be focusing on my studies" But in fact exactly what i should be doing in this higher education phase of my life "Building a comunity and connections"

[@bjornterlegard]

winning!

[@lkeasbey1]

As a new college grad at 31, just about to start my career, I think that every kid who is about to or recently left high school/entered college should watch this interview. The idea of college as a place to gain skills rather than achieve grades is simultaneously self evident and profound. The story that Brennan's worst year ended with his absolute best week is incredibly reassuring. Just two of the most wholesome creators on the internet having a meaningful conversation cannot be undersold. Thank you for making this.

[@miriamrosemary9110]

+

[@ryn_young]

+

[@Nino-xp5df]

+

[@prestonbruchmiller497]

+

[@noctantis]

As a person reentering the school system at 31, it’s just kinda nice to hear someone else who had a bit of a late start and made it through. Went to university straight after high school but with no idea what goal I wanted to achieve and no time spent exploring that in high school. It was simply a matter of time before I crashed and burned and I wish the idea that taking the time to figure yourself out before committing to 4 years was something more parents could see merit in. Good high school grades can only take you so far if you begin questioning what this is all for.

[@95021105]

Brennan's phrasing of "suddenly you're just a guy in New York" post-education hit me real hard and I'm almost ten years out of college.

[@jrambo421]

Thank you Hank and Brennan for your time! I, for one, appreciate hearing your words.

[@studyhall]

We appreciate hearing (reading) your words!

[@JesReally]

It’s so wild to imagine what dropout would be without Brennan, he is what drew me to it and my favorite part of any episode he’s in, I am so glad they recognized his brilliance and gave him a chance. I hope any young hopefuls watching this take it to heart, even people as insanely talented as Brennan can be overlooked and passed on, and it says nothing about your talent or your worth, you will find your place.

[@karinagutierrez7134]

Genuinely I had stopped watching College Humor videos for years (not intentionally , the humor just didn’t call to me then) but I remember starting to intermittently watching once he started doing skits with them. I would NEVER have gotten a Dropout subscription (cause I’m frugal and would generally consider it a frivolous expense) if I didn’t want to see more of his DND shows so bad

[@JesReally]

@@karinagutierrez7134 that was exactly me as well, it was the gateway to me being excited about all of the other shows, and seeing episodes of game changer and Um actually with Brennen on KZbin just made it even better, now I love so many of their shows!

[@StraveTube]

Hank just wanted an excuse to hang out with Brennan for a couple hours, didn't he? That's okay - conveniently, I wanted it too! Thank you for this interview!

[@MarkusFrankus]

I really appreciate the pop ups for acronyms, I hate hearing a bunch of different acronyms and having to look them up for understanding, only to break the flow of what I'm watching and forgetting the context

[@charlesbwilliams]

This was not the crossover I expected but it was definitely the crossover I needed.

[@robyncorson4002]

Have you seen the dungeons and dragons campaign he ran with Hank?

[@charlesbwilliams]

@@robyncorson4002 No I haven't but I'll have to watch that ASAP. I'm new to DND and am just now finishing up S1 of Fantasy High.

[@Xiatter]

Hank's Mentopolis character is one of my favorite characters (among many, to be fair) that D20 has blessed us with. ​@@charlesbwilliams

[@Miglow]

​@@charlesbwilliamsBrennan has hopped into project for awesome at least twice. And there's one episode of Dear Hank and John where Brennan subbed for John. So there's a few other places to see these two wonderful human beings interact.

[@jsnrvst]

​@@charlesbwilliamsIt's called Mentopolis, and the gist of it is Inside Out as film noir. However, it's not using D&D rules. Instead, it uses a modified version of Kids On Bikes.

[@RumRunneerFilms]

At his darkest hour Brennan gets the call “you’re a big dork” made me laugh and cry

[@JadeousTenerim]

"I'm always here to deliver value". Shots fired again at Evan Kelmp AKA BLeeM lol

[@nymla313]

"Oh Evan doesn't think he's good unless he's useful" -K (paraphrased). That Erika sniper moment was soooo good. Also Hank's face at 30:45 🤣

[@heliagrey]

That's such a friend moment- the gentle call out of- right, that's great that you do that BUT moment. And Brennan's "oh no I've been clocked" response right away of discomfort/recognition/appreciation. It's so sweet.

[@francomuscellini1744]

Omg yes! My thoughts exacly. Hank found the door through the duplex

[@ZeketheZealot]

I think, as a 33 year old aspiring voice actor who never went to college due to anxiety over debt and undiagnosed ADHD, there are a number of parts of this interview that stick out with me. The first is just how utterly charming and relatable Brennan is, even as he tells you the opposite, but the second is that even a man so brilliant and creative and ambitious and driven as him… failed. Under his own work, his own power, he failed to “make it,” even after winning $50,000 on Millionaire and moving to LA. It wasn’t until he met and bonded with people who were ahead of him on their own journeys towards making it did he, this brilliant and hilarious man, “succeed.” It’s somehow both deeply reassuring and frightening as a concept, because I am not so ambitious, nor creative, nor intelligent. So it’s okay that I’ve “failed” to this point, but it’s also clearly not a given that I will one day succeed. But is that going to stop me from trying? Absolutely not. Who knows, my making it could be right around the corner, meeting someone on a rooftop party and starting a game of DnD.

[@bellab5576]

I really love this, and I wish you endless amounts amounts of luck

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Tangent here but that first sentence is so relatable. The only piece of media that comes close to adapting that feeling is in the anime Welcome To The N.H.K.

[@MrShazaamable]

Im 29 have adhd, being tested for asd and want to try out voice acting too and have a TON of anxiety on the daily especially about existence, potential debt going to college or just debt in general.. knowing what to do.. family getting ill etc. Its so hard to just shut it all off and get on with the day. So I wholeheartedly understand and relate. We're not so alone I suppose.

[@darienday6050]

I don't know if Brennan is ADHD/ Autistic, but so much of his personality and his story resonates with me and so many more neurodivergent people. I truly understand the feeling that you have to immediately prove your usefulness to a group of people before they toss you in the dumpster, and I hope that both of us can overcome that. Thank you for all that you do Mr. Mulligan and I hope that your kid grows up understanding how lucky they are to have a dad like you.

[@MrShazaamable]

I have adhd and currently being tested for asd and I relate a lot! Worrying about how youre percieved constantly is a huge one for me and I hope I can lessen the anxiety some day.

[@happyclam1266]

People can have the benefits of ADHD without being ADHD.

[@GTaichou]

I say this with all due respect; Brennan's story feels like the modern analogue of "I joined the circus" and honestly, deepest, deepest respect cuz the man is ROCKING it! Also super grateful that he had his brother every step of the way. Alone, that journey would have been so hard.

[@joanaduarte1255]

just finished watching and as someone very close to finishing my degreee and delivering my master's thesis I am emotionally wrecked and simultaneously wishing I could send this to me at the start of college

[@bjornterlegard]

[@caitmolden]

As one of Brennan’s former improv 101 students, he was the best teacher I’d ever had and made me absolutely love comedy and performing. Thank you

[@dacialanae]

I have three degrees... And most people think I say that to brag, but really I was too sick to hold down a job while I waited for a liver transplant and absolutely HAD to do something I saw as productive to give myself a reason to keep going. Finding out you've got a terminal illness at age 16 is a really quick way to become extremely depressed. College was the only thing I could do well and feel good about myself for. Maybe would have done one less degree had I known I'd live to pay off the loans. 😂

[@nerdywolverine8640]

honestly when your life is disrupted like that you need to find *something* you can brag about XD even just because of how many other milestones you miss. there's something you can point to and say see, i wasn't just falling behind. i haven't been able to attend school for years due to chronic illness (thankfully not terminal if it's kept in check) and it's incredible that you were able to do that. my only achievements to speak of are my ACT scores from 8th grade and finding ways to not be depressed despite barely being able to make food for myself every day. hearing this interview is like watching through a portal of what might've happened if those ACT scores actually went anywhere and i wasn't too sick to function

[@dacialanae]

@@nerdywolverine8640 you're very right. Finding anything to hold on to is so important with chronic illnesses. Despite my education I've applied to over 1000 jobs over the past year and remain unemployed. So often the only people telling us that we're good enough is ourselves. Even when good enough is just getting through the day, you still got through that day. I did end up being part of a lawsuit for a version of legal speed my doctors had put me on to get me through school. I definitely didn't do it on my own organ failure level of energy. But that is also okay and doesn't make me bad. (Things I still have to say out loud to myself). I get you, and I hope the maintenance of your flesh prison becomes easier for you. 🖤

[@Erin-000]

I wish my illness pushed me to keep learning. Instead I dropped out and got addicted to drugs to cope. I'm clean now and desperately want to go to college but I don't feel capable with how often I am sick. I wish i had someone to guide me.

[@Erin-000]

​@nerdywolverine8640 I can relate very much. I'm still often stuck in bed. Dreaming of so much more. I have so much drive and potential yet feel too unwell to go go go. If I could overcome the anxiety and self doubt I know I could find a way to fulfill my dreams and cope with the chronic illness. Years keep passing through.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Wish my country does the student loan thing.

[@Luneowl]

Hearing Brennan talk about how hard it was to get into College Humor and even then for how long it took for them to appreciate his prodigious improv skills, comedic and dramatic…it’s daunting to think of how close that almost came to not happening if he had backed off even a little bit instead of pushing for new opportunities. Reminds me of that Star Trek: TNG where Picard saw his alternate, lackluster future if he had stopped making the risky moves. I’m so glad we’re in this Brendan’s timeline!

[@wondercatff]

this mf can't resist a fourth wall breaking monologue even in an interview. great interview Hank!

[@JeremyTheGraten]

TIL Brennan and Izzy had a baby! Congrats to the lovely couple! Good on them for keeping it low key.

[@SammyJay107]

Listening to Hank and Brennan talk about college and life is the best thing ever

[@Oakleaf012]

Surprising things I have in common with Brennan Lee Mulligan: Bullied at a Waldorf school, homeschooled, the Wayfinder Experience, an obsession with Tolkien. Sir i just wanna talk 😂

[@mariannetfinches]

The thing about the learning being more important than the grades is so true. As a lecturer i always tried to get those two things as close to each other as possible. Wasn't in education long enough to nail it

[@peanutlemon8354]

As a seventeen year old who suffers from burn-out due to being permanently goal oriented, this helped more that imaginable. Hearing brennan's collegiate experiences truly ruptured my view of who I am and where I'm going in a way that I think I really needed. trying not to cry, Thank you

[@kimstheworst]

I wish this video had existed 15 years ago. This was lovely and exactly what 15 years ago me needed. It is what today me enjoyed. I am happy people graduating now and starting their lives now will have this.

[@IAmLaegion]

I feel like Brennan has found his people. I know many people, myself included, feel a kinship with him and the community he has built. Not just for the content and entertainment, but the sincerity in who he is and how he genuinely cares for the people around him. There's no mask with Brennan, it's just him putting himself forward and saying "here I am world, these are the things I like, I hope you like them too, but I'm just going to do my best and have fun doing it."

[@FuzzyBunnyofInle]

I can longer accurately count the number of times that listening to Brennan Lee Mulligan has brought me to tears. In delight, in grief, and most importantly in a moment of insight that fills me with so much awe, that I have to shed tears because the experience is too vast to stay inside me. Thank you Brennan, for the gift of getting to exist at the same time as you. (Quit staring, being reverent is self-care for me)

[@CosmicIceCream]

He's a rare person, I think many of us feel this way (I know I do).

[@piecesofstarlight]

I think that given long enough, had he not already come to this conclusion is that reverence is the mark of a great teacher. The amount of reverence and his acknowledgement of deep abiding gratitude he shows to his own mentor I think would lead anyone to a similar conclusion. "You were there and for such a simple and yet heavy burden I can never repay the debt" is deeply powerful. Being open and available to be that person for another is truly the ONLY way to make any reparations.

[@randomfangirl12345]

The realisation that college is for skill building and not just grade getting came far too late in my life once I had already graduated. I don’t know why this occurred to me so late, and it gives me this huge sense of loss that I don’t know what to do about. I really admire people like Brennan who found what they loved and went after it, and made it such an integral part of their life, instead of just ticking the boxes of traditional “success” and then realising later, “what the hell am I doing?” “Why am I doing this?” “Do I even want to be doing this?”

[@leicean]

I’m a 21 yr old who did dual credit in high school (similar to the college thing Brennan did just at 16 instead) and recently graduated college. I’ve felt so lost and overwhelmed and discouraged by my circumstances and living at home with conservative Christian family and struggle with a myriad of mental illnesses. This interview gave me so much hope that someone else had a similar experience of “I did everything I was supposed to in school and now I’ve been spit back up on the pavement with a piece of paper and nothing else” who then went on to be someone I really admire and love. Brennan your shows are sometimes all that’s keeping me going and I need you to know that while maybe you’re not teaching directly you’re still making a huge impact ❤❤❤

[@joellea-b.5519]

Keep going, I really want to see what you get to do in the next 15 years.

[@lyndallcave786]

From someone who's 31, I also felt incredibly lost and behind in my early to mid 20s. . . people tell you that high school is when you figure yourself out, with the implication that once you graduate college you will have it figured out. But nah. My 20s were also a time of trying to figure out myself and my place in the world. I was 29 when I felt like an adult, secure in my own skin, for the first time. You're not alone. Many many people feel lost at 21. I'd honestly go so far as to say it's normal. (And yeah. I totally get the living at home with conservative Christian parents and a bunch of mental illnesses coz same.)

[@manicpixiecremegirl]

your 20s are usually madness because you're getting (and having) to experience so many things for the first time. try not to put pressure on yourself to have it "figured out". remember, this is everyone else's first time too, no matter how confident they seem. oppressive institutions thrive on us feeling hopeless. finding community and joy is an act of resistance. you've got this.

[@chickensangwich97]

Not for the first time, Brennan has put into words something that I thought was only a me experience and never knew how to express to someone. What a wise, articulate, profoundly good man.

[@CosmicIceCream]

He really, really is. This interview really touched me as well.

[@Erin-000]

What was it?

[@chickensangwich97]

@@Erin-000 The part about feeling like you are the value you contribute to a group, and coming from a background where you know you'll have less opportunities to grab the brass ring than the people around you.

[@prestoncammack4399]

I can’t help but feel jealous for the past and future generations who are able to have Brennan as a teacher. What an immense blessing to be a part of.

[@Pendragons_Art]

The number of times that Hank was me and said "I don't know what X is" cannot be understated. I appreciate him asking the true questions so I could google a whole lot less XD

[@coreykwok4143]

One of my biggests regrets was chickening out of saying hello to Brennan at C2E2. The crowd and line to meet him was so huge!

[@nicholaswhitman4620]

An hour of Brennan Lee Mulligan and Hank Green? Is it Christmas day!?!?!?!?

[@kyleclark1626]

I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR BRENNAN HAD A KID! I know that was always his biggest goal, and he's always radiated major dad energy. Congratulations BLM!

[@maluse227]

Love that hank echoed the thing Brennan heard from Erika during that Misfits and Magic season.

[@Figgy5119]

Brennan's too sad truth of always worrying you're going to be hated and bullied every time you enter a new community is indeed so sad. He is one of the most beautifully kind-hearted and genuine human beings on this planet.

[@Seetoshiningsee]

10:28 As a teacher, this is so true. I tell my students that my favorite sound is that "ooOOOOOOOOoooohhh!" that kids say when a concept they've been working on finally clicks. It sounds like learning. And the "lighting of a second candle doesn't diminish the first. Knowledge is just something that when you share it there's just more. There's no scarcity" 😍😭

[@wiiseeyou]

I love how Brennan is an example of the best way to be a leader is to be a loving and inviting individual, and to teach by setting a great example. People don't become their best selves by going through trauma and hardship, but by interacting with people like Brennan who invites and shares their love and knowledge. A seed he seems to have inherited from his mom, dad, mentors, that will hopefully spread to others in his life. Atleast that's my impression of him.

[@thelovelymadbs]

Brennan’s story about the waterfall after college and having all of the steps beforehand be placed by adults in our lives is incredibly relatable and I wish this was communicated to college students more - glad you are providing a place for stories like these!!

[@RachaePotter]

The majority of this video had me thinking "Okay, working in entertainment is really hard and often unrewarding, and I don't have the skills or connections to make it work for me in a meaningful way. I should probably just stick with what I know" and then he ends with that story of the guy ripping up his bus ticket to texas because of what he found in an improv class, and the little performing worm in my brain starts asking "but what if...."

[@diegoprats1104]

Same. Makes me want to take a chance on the things I've secretly been wanting to do. If that's not the hallmarks of the best kind of teacher from BLeeM, idk what is

[@jack1spade]

The story of starting at college humor is a great example of "When it rains, it pours" in a good context. Loved hearing all that.

[@Dadungeondaddy]

Brennan's Mom is amazing. Her son is a real testament to how a loving and caring parent can mold someone into an amazing person. I wish my mom had even shown a fraction of the love and care his mom did to him!

[@justadhdmuzyka3627]

Isn't this guy the author of the webcomic Strong Female Protagonist?

[@jonathanhibberd9983]

Yep! I thought it might have been his mom (who is also a comic creator), but it is Brennan.

[@27Tulipa]

That was the first time I stumbled across Brennan's work, some years before Dimension 20 started... it's lovely to rediscover it full circle. 😊 It's really worth it

[@ameliabrittain3689]

Correct

[@MlleLorelei]

Yes! And I think he was writing it in part during those NY years...

[@jimmykit-kat3424]

"The lighting of a second candle does not diminish the first"

[@camellia_black]

I half expected this to be extremely somber and full of crushing facts about adult life... which it was, but Brennan told good jokes.

[@mayaenglish5424]

30:24 Hank my man, you didn't need to snipe Brennan through the duplex door quite so accurately. 😂

[@markcomeau82]

I discovered Hank when he was a guest on D20. He’s still my favorite. I’m pleasantly surprised he’s doing this interview.

[@joellea-b.5519]

Check out Crash Course next!

[@VASM160689]

I so wanna go back to my 14 years of age and have Brennan tell me this story and explain to me how important it is to spread out and live life during your teens and explore the world. Beautiful story. Love you and your work Brennan!

[@davidmega-truong4239]

As a new graduate. Brennen speaking about his higher education and his speech to 17 year old him is getting me in my feels

[@joellea-b.5519]

The thing that stuck with me from this *the most* was the discussion of not having to question what they were doing in college. I did both. I was undeclared engineering, declared for mechanical at the end of my first semester. But I had always wanted to be a teacher, a writer, to think about words and stories, and I took an incredible class by a great professor about pragmatics. So I switched to a 5 year dual-degree program to add Comparative Humanities as a major. Despite being initially given support, "now is the time to optimize your learning", I felt the need from the start to justify myself. I felt the need to justify going into engineering as a woman at all! Because I was questioned. But then to add on a humanities degree, I was asked why so many times... I ended up writing my departmental thesis about what being a humanist taught me about engineering and what engineering taught me about being a humanist. I think so very differently about engineering because I have a tree to put knowledge in. Worth noting that engineering learning has only added a 2nd dimension to their visual models of pedagogy in the last decade or so (the T Shaped Engineer). And so I wrote essays about the symbology of the T and the tree of life and the Vitruvian man. About gendered phenomenology in teaching dynamics. I wrote a thesis about that question of "what are you doing here? how will it serve you?" and I had to do that before I really got the chance to find out. This isn't bitterness, I think self-justification is my "two bin Brennan" philosophy. But I think I held some... disbelief or belief that it was willful ignorance about the people for whom justification was never part of their equation. I definitely resonate with a bunch of what was said, including being a "very alienating homeschooled kid with a lot of, you know, animal facts and philosophy stuff that's gonna be a huge burden on people I talk to." I also had a camp that gave me a home (shoutout Young Musicians & Artists)! But that difference stood out to me and is something I'm going to be thinking about for a long while. Thank you for the thoughtful conversation.

[@simonstanton5299]

For the record, I love vlogbrothers, I love dropout, I've even seen niche crossovers of these two with Dinemsion 20 Mentopolis and Dear Hank and John. But, For some reason, this format just hits different. Being able to hear someone's life story in such a candid and slow way is incredibly fulfilling. And these guys do so many wonderful things I didn't think they could do a new kind of fulfilling, but here we are 🙂

[@jameseiner]

Been really stressed about my gpa, since i've set my own bar uncomfortably high by sacrificing a lot of sanity to sleepless nights... i don't know what it was, but something just clicked when these two talked about GPAs not mattering. genuinely took some pressure off me, thanks.

[@nightchicken3517]

I really enjoy this snapshot into Brennan Lee Mulligans' life. I do find it extraordinary ironic that a philosophy major didn't question things enough in school.

[@DemoniaAngeli]

Ive been planning on getting a GED for a second now and have felt a bit insecure about it. Even though the circumstances are drastically different, learning that this utterly brilliant and wise man has a GED has officially secured me.

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

Do it!!! And then watch the D20 season The Seven, where they all pursue their GED (which they pronounce as Jed)

[@EvelynNdenial]

oh my god, starting college classes in highschool was my dream growing up and my life would be completely different if i had. brennan, your mom and the counselors who enabled that are saints, im so jealous.

[@CFlower323]

This could have been eight hours and I'd still watch all of it

[@TeagueChrystie]

Hank to Brennan: "You've made a lot of stories." 😊

[@jediman05]

This is such a high quality interview. Brennan is great at giving good answers and elaborating in relevant ways, and Hank is great at guiding the conversation without getting in the way

[@_grumpytoad]

As a (former) teacher, I 100% get what Brennan says about the "look" of when someone gets it and makes the knowledge you are giving them their own. So enriching and rewarding! ☺

[@MlleLorelei]

Love how moved both of these men are by the sincere things they say to each other. Love both of these creators for their deep authenticity and love seeing that realness and feeling in their masculinity.

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

This

[@quentindaniel9541]

Wait a second, supportive parents made a healthy adult who enjoys his career. What a shock. Wish I had that

[@scottreast]

Thanks for being vulnerable and real Brennan. The story you shared about feeling like you're going to get shoved in a trash can in every new space you are in is so relatable. I'm so glad you are in a place where your story can be heard and seen.

[@jgberzerker]

The fact that Brennan taught Emily how to play DnD is phenomenal!