Hank's very messy post-cancer year of mistakes, meaning, and anxiety...

[@elliottmcollins]

A+ to Milo for getting this down to 20 minutes and ending it on "Milo is great".

[@kevinwells9751]

Seriously though, I'm glad that we can get this kind of content from Hank (although I usually expect this kind of thing to be on Hankschannel) and if having someone else edit it makes that happen then I'm all for it!

[@bkzwolf]

I kinda wish milo wrote this

[@1492irina]

I did have a random/reflexive "ooh! Punishment time!" when I saw a 20-minute video on vlogbrothers, though.

[@chillsahoy2640]

@@kevinwells9751 I initially assumed it was on Hankschannel when I saw Hank's face on the thumbnail for a 20 minute video.

[@NavyHamster901]

I got married yesterday and today I get an extra vlog brothers video what a great weekend.

[@VioletTalsma]

Congrats!!

[@summerrose883]

Congratulations!!!!🎉🎉

[@hucklebucklin]

Congratulations

[@faith-4059]

Congratulations!!🎉🎉🎉

[@turoni314]

Congratulations 🎉

[@KristineNapper]

For what it's worth, I'm one of the people who's currently not in a position to shop at Good Store or contribute financially to most of the great work you and this community do. But somehow I still feel deeply invested and proud of it all! To the point that I sometimes question where that sense of pride comes from-other than a small contribution to P4A every year, I haven't done much. But it just feels good to be part of a community with such a strong moral compass, that does so much good in the world, while spreading important messages and having fun. Even if I'm only contributing my attention, you guys have helped me understand that my attention has value. So if I'm part of the demographic that you're stressing about, I suggest crossing us off the list! We're not going anywhere. We're happy to be here (because we're here because we're here).

[@raeperonneau4941]

Beautifully said and thank you for the reminder! “Your attention has value.”

[@tbella5186]

100% I'm here, because I'm here... I LOVE John's call to actions because I can actually DO something!

[@sharks2571]

+ fully agree with this. I currently cant afford to shop at good store but hearing about it makes me so proud of nerdfightaria and hopeful that there are good things like this in the world. It would be an active loss for me to hear less about it, i actually want to hear more. Despite it not being possible for me to purchase, because i heard about the awesome socks club, i was able to tell a friend about it who had no clue who you guys were and shes been subscribed for a few years now. Please keep telling us about it, dont worry about people like me. DFTBA

[@GinPixie]

so much of what you said here resonated with me, particularly about feeling a maybe-somewhat-larger-than-my-share amount of pride in the work this community has done, but even if my contribution has been small like you said it feels good to participate in something larger. money i spent on purpose has gone to materially changing lives for the better, and i get regular updates about how it's going and how well it's working. other people with more resources believe in the same things i believe in. it feels good.

[@ashtonhynes1745]

Top tier comment ❤

[@amandajones661]

Hank, I work with nonprofits all the time. Many nonrpofits suffer from the "founders problem." You are doing your group so much good by stepping away but being available when needed. All nonprofits need a new set of voices. You are doing what a lot of leaders refuse to do. You are letting your idea grow and become more than just you.

[@daniellejaeger6329]

How amazing would it be if crash course survives us all. (Hopefully remaining free to all)

[@jessicawode4965]

Yes, so impressed that Hank has not succumbed to founder's syndrome!!

[@christinewong8436]

All of this. I worked at a nonprofit that couldn’t liberate itself from the founders.

[@Hakugard]

Matt Mullenweg should take note.

[@Virtuous_Rogue]

Even regular for profit small businesses can suffer from founder's syndrome. The place I worked a few years ago was unable to grow because the founder and CEO "needed" to approve every decision which meant she had to know a ton of details for each project. A single person doesn't have that capacity!

[@colleenmarin8907]

Influential sock salesman, Hank Green, sharing his inner thoughts with his followers

[@christafranken9170]

Wait, so that is who the eff Hank is?

[@defitfanaat]

😂😂😂😂

[@queenkitt]

Would have been better if the title was... influential nerd regained humanity and spoke against GENOCIDE ..SOCK SALEES BE DANMED 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 All eyes on Jebalia 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 #notanotherbomb

[@kolt9051]

He is up there with influential sock salesman Bob from Bob Hearts Abishola 😂

[@queenkitt]

@kolt9051 yes, and just as that is a fake person .....so are the Green Bois as they REMAIN silent on Genocide! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 All eyes on Jebalia 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 #notanotherbomb

[@lauren8135]

“ I want to feel less anxious.” The human quest for this is never ending.

[@chrisleneil]

It joins our quest to feel more rested

[@EldritchEntityWithASmartphone]

Cannabis moment

[@therabbithat]

We got rid of all the major sources of anxiety (unless you live in a superpower or one of its colonies) and we found anxiety was hardwired into us to keep us safe. There was no reason to evolve to feel safe because we were never safe

[@mostlyghostey]

"It makes my tummy hurt... All of the time." May be the most relatable thing Hank Green has ever said.

[@VioletEmerald]

I've never felt anxiety that hurts my tummy and I feel so bad for the world that like 25% of you are going through this level of disordered anxiety.

[@erika_7777]

@@VioletEmerald People can hold their stress in different parts of their body. Tummy and back are pretty common locations. Over time, it can build up cause things like stomach aches, acid reflux, back aches, shoulder pain, etc. But it can also manifest in different ways for other people.

[@catrice1296]

@@erika_7777oh yes. My shoulders are so tight from stress they make a weird grinding sound apparently from muscles moving across my joints or something? I dont remember exactly what the doctor said. I also have gerd and so i get nausea often when im stressed and sometimes throw up because of it but also bc of that sometimes i end up not being able to eat for several days. I get heart palpitations and it feels like theres pain in my stomach, my teeth are grinded down to oblivion, i get idiopathic pain like tooth nerve pain or twitching eye pain, severe insomnia but when i do sleep i sleep for like 18 hours at a time, i am extremely sensitive to loud noises and busy places bc of that also general extreme social anxiety, anxiety about deadlines etc. all of which causes me to be depressed. Also bc of insomnia im always tired mentally and physically but i cant drink coffee or sometimes even tea with caffeine is too strong for me because it also gives me heart palpitations and i feel like death. And even after my 18 hour sleeps i still feel tired and unfortunately its all extremely treatment resistant and the one thing that works i cant take a larger dose of bc my blood pressure is too low.

[@catrice1296]

But yeah when my sis got her new job and realized this is how i operate on a day to day basis she said she was so incredibly miserable. Not to mention sometimes i get hives from stress too it started after my grandma passed.

[@Claire-tk4do]

Chidi-coded :)

[@jonathankylander7788]

Hank before cancer: I think I might be in a journey of meaning Hank after cancer: I'm on the *biggest* journey of meaning.

[@crystalstellwagen2600]

John, before Hank's cancer: Hank is on a journey of meaning Hank: ehhh Hank after cancer: OH

[@SuperDjwasabi]

Vlog brothers is quite literally my favorite KZbin channel nowadays, the transparency and vulnerability is refreshing

[@vlogbrothers]

This has to be, at least in part, because you are very weird!

[@mariannetfinches]

​@@vlogbrothersyes, but so many of us are!

[@untappedinkwell]

@@mariannetfinches It's one of the best things about nerdfighteria!

[@anitramai]

​@@vlogbrothersyou're the only KZbin channel I've consistently watched for over a decade. Thanks for your continued online presence and work, I love feeling like a part of it.

[@threeleggedcat]

@@vlogbrothersaren’t we all

[@Abijean]

Speaking from the DFTBA side, it’s felt very special that you’ve trusted the team to love your vision and keep building off of it. We not only get to do cool things, but we also get to grow professionally while we do it! I hope the community appreciates the work too!

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks Abi! This means a lot.

[@catherinebhicks]

We do! ❤

[@AludraEltaninAltair]

I got to watch the DFTBA vision exist independently in the wild when I saw Dr. Glaucomflecken on tour recently. It was fantastic to see a creator offering merch that created connection to the audience and finding out that the rad new products were due to their new relationship with DFTBA. For me it was fantastic values alignment in action.

[@ElpSmith]

We stan Abi now ❤

[@mariannetfinches]

It's great to know there are so many talented people doing awesome work!

[@elainebradley8213]

I had cancer 25 years ago. It didn't make us paranoid, but we did realize that if we wanted to do something, we should do it now, because we couldn't plan on the future being there. Now we're in the future and are so glad we built such wonderful memories.

[@raeperonneau4941]

❤

[@kcazllerraf]

"And it came to me then, that every plan is a tiny prayer to father time"

[@chashahjohnson]

'IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE WORSE, IT JUST MEANS IT GOING TO BE DIFFERENT." I needed to hear that.

[@gracesalu1235]

2:52 The holo taco shoutout makes me so happy. I’ve been watching both Christine and Hank for years, so this convergence of internet spaces gladdens my heart

[@SamIAm10262]

Cristine without the "h" 😂

[@lucky_clover_4]

Yes! I looked down at my nailed currently painted with holo taco and felt my worlds colliding

[@DawnBurn]

This was the KZbin respect friendship I didn't know I needed.

[@jjwithadog]

I'll be honest, as someone who grew up poor while being in the community, there were times when there was an opportunity, and when I couldnt get involved, I've felt left out. But that does NOT mean that I want you to stop. It's always been the opposite. I hope you keep growing so that when I can participate, it's available. That said, with Good Store, specifically the awesome socks club, have you considered sponsorships? People can pay for multiple sets of socks while only receiving one pair, and those who can't afford it could sign up on a lottery basis to occassionally get a pair of socks, maybe limited to once or twice a year. It might enable some to feel a part of this and allow others with the means to give in another way.

[@lauradftba4653]

I love this idea!!

[@mayaenglish5424]

+

[@erinmoore6463]

+++

[@ElpSmith]

Giveaways are mad complicated but this is such a good idea!

[@mayaenglish5424]

@@ElpSmith They could set it up less as a "give-a-way" sweepstakes, pull a name out of a bag type thing, and more of a registry. Sign up for the broke person package and if enough people donate during their purchase, then you will receive some socks, first come, first serve. They could probably use mostly the same infrastructure that way with some tweaks rather than designing a whole separate system. idk though, not my area of expertise!

[@tegandando4999]

"because it makes my tummy hurt" actually hit so deep for me. You're acknowledging that deep feeling of dread that can become so heavy and distracting from everything else and I appreciate the level of honesty you always have when talking about these hard topics. Thank you for not shying away from telling the truth about human vulnerability regardless of how flattering it is.

[@vlogbrothers]

It is surprising how much the tummy can hurt for no physical reason!

[@JesseEngelGuitar]

​@@vlogbrothers truth

[@lisa_42]

And it's very important to say, a lot of people don't know that that can happen and it's good to hear it every now and then regardless if you know.

[@crissycrossgaming]

The gut mind… link thing! I forgot the word! Is it axiom? Feels like it’s axiom. But yeah the tummy and the head do a lot of stuff it’s fun (and not fun sometimes!)

[@amandajones661]

10:50 -- it's never failure to shrink. Plants do it all the time . -- Shrink a little and grow when you can. Sometimes, when you shrink a little, the growth stage is incredible!!!

[@AquilaCat]

Yes!! This is an incredible comparison

[@alexobery9813]

Yeah, but very few good bosses enjoy laying people off. Shrinking for a company generally means lay-offs.

[@twonumber22]

It's great that you are able to talk about your experience. I'm currently terminal with liver and lung cancer and was told a few days ago that there's a good chance I don't make it to Christmas. I really appreciate everything you've done to educate me and the public about, well, seems like everything.

[@jessicahawkins1464]

🫂

[@mariah9824]

❤

[@tbella5186]

All the Love of NerdFighteria to you!

[@twonumber22]

Thanks y'all 🙏 I have been ready for it and looking forward to relief of all the physical pain it's caused.

[@AUnicorn666]

❤❤❤

[@jaclynziegenfus4366]

I have loved Nerdfighteria, and the times where I felt that financially, P4A wasn't in my budget or Pizzamas didn't have something affordable that I wanted, I never felt guilty. I know that just coming to these videos makes me part of our community. We get it. Thanks for the permission to keep buying my favorite coffee from Coffee Shop Of Horrors. I have a flavored coffee obsession and they're a great small business. ❤️

[@MrsHerbertSmilth]

"I hire people I can trust and let them go" This is a great leadership move. In my own work, I often get frustrated at how micromanaging upper leadership can be. Why did they hire me if I can't be trusted to do my job? So important that you can find the right balance

[@HouseMDaddict]

Stream of consciousness Hank is classic Hank

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

Here's to more vlogs on Vlogbrothers!!

[@cloakedpeach]

I will say that although I haven't always been able to be as much of a financial contributor to the community as I've wanted to be, John's incessant messaging (affectionate) about how one of the most important things we can do is just /pay attention/ has really assuaged a lot of the guilt I think I would ordinarily feel. It makes me feel like I help just by being part of the community -- a rare feeling!

[@levilukeskytrekker]

+

[@kashiichan]

+

[@lizamunk]

Appreciate the openness about hard times and showing the struggle! It makes others struggling feel less alone.

[@Idefilms]

++

[@Tim3.14]

++

[@sarahohern8021]

From a total stranger: I can't tell you how many times I've relied on Crash Course videos to understand complex topics, especially as someone with limited financial means and a woefully lacking public school education, and I hope you and John and everyone on your team feel pride for what you all do. I've never known the pressure of running a business and being responsible for other people's financial livelihoods, and motivations can be conflicting and messy. But that anxiety is indicative of integrity and shows a concern for creating educational/entertaining content that benefits the most people, both staff and viewers included. Wishing for much more success for you and your team in the future 🙏

[@elliottmcollins]

I like buying Keats & Co. coffee, but that's really an extension of liking that I'm a Nerdfighter. I think Complexly and Good Store are doing a great job of being a part of that group identity without turning it into "just a brand" or whatever.

[@elliottmcollins]

Also, when projects like good store get bigger if anything, makes it feel like a more fun and wholesome part of the Nerdfighteria project specifically because we don't feel like we're being asked to buy something and can just enjoy that it's being successful.

[@Kylandris20]

As somebody who cannot afford any of the good store products, I have felt left out, but it does really, really help to hear how you're thinking about people like myself and that you care how we feel. Because I am part of this community, even if I can't afford the products, and I do want to keep belonging here. Thank you!

[@mariannetfinches]

As someone who can afford some of the products, you are just as much a part of this community as any of us. You being here is part of what makes nerdfighteria what it is!

[@untappedinkwell]

You do belong here, and we are happy to have you! thank you for being here with us!

[@ProsaicPudding]

I see how the focus on products could make you feel left out when you can't afford that. Even though I can afford some of it, as someone who is generally pretty cheap, it makes me a bit uncomfortable feeling compelled to buy things. No matter what the circumstance, we all belong here.

[@RC-1290]

Being surprised about the products your companies were launching seemed like a pretty effective way to me to communicate you had a different role. Talking about your new roles from time to time would still be interesting, and I think it would help further to get that message across

[@emu_phase]

Something that could be cool is interviewing the people who are taking on bigger roles in the organization of that would be something they’d enjoy. I’d be super fascinated in a conversation between you and the people you helped choose to run the companies. Obviously only if that’s something that sounds fun to you all.

[@Tim3.14]

@@emu_phase That’d be super interesting!

[@piquantement]

You should only have a CEO surprised about the products their company is launching if it's Brennan Lee Mulligan playing a CEO

[@kevinwells9751]

I would love to see that! If they're a person Hank would trust to take over one of his creations then I'm sure they're worth hearing from!

[@morwynn35]

Love that Hank peripherally loves holo taco (I am a huge nail polish enthusiast partially due to cristine (simply nailogical))

[@ridley3033]

Omg, it's an oxford comma, instant like.

[@robnol84]

19:25 love the ramblings man, always insightful and real.

[@AurahGqunefereWhitethorne]

As a person who isn’t in a position to shop at Good Store, I love the vision behind it and get excited to share it with other people! I feel good sharing the knowledge of it, even if I’m not always able to contribute monetarily to it. And I don’t feel any less part of the nerdfighter community not being able to contribute to it. But I also think part of that is how deeply you and all the folx who work at all of these kick ass companies care about making sure people feel like they’re part of the community, regardless of what their contribution looks like.

[@daianmoi8528]

There’s nothing wrong with the growth slowing. If you had shareholders, you’d be in trouble, but that’s the beauty of not having shareholders!!

[@vlogbrothers]

Growth slowing is indeed fine! Shrinking sucks though.

[@felipevitorino7745]

@@vlogbrothersdoes it though?

[@claudiazg9932]

Provate companies and co- ops are better fr

[@HarshitWise]

@@vlogbrothers Did DFTBA lose a few clients?

[@mariannetfinches]

​@@felipevitorino7745it does if you've got employees

[@Emily-uf6cc]

You're a founder, not a CEO. The magic of you is the passion and disorganization and constantly bringing us new things. We're always here because you're always you. There's no other channel I've been watching since 2007. Also, your problems change like my problems change and that's always reassuring. ❤ Keep doing what you're doing 😊

[@cebo494]

I'm 100% on board with the work y'all are doing. I wish you'd spend a bit less time on vlogbrothers trying to sell me stuff, but I'm happy that stuff exists, that people are enjoying it, and that it actually supports good causes. And it is nice to hear you just talk about a thing openly. I didn't even realize this was a vlogbrothers post and not hankschannel until like the 19 minute mark. It's nice.

[@sarahnewton2267]

Hank you are the reason I believe in chemotherapy rather than useless alternative therapies and that is an extremely amazing impact to have on someone's life.

[@nicholasfpayne]

The “unlocked a new background level of anxiety” thing is so real. I went the first 20 something years of my life without having a panic attack, and then I had a panic attack, and just knowing what that feels like and having access to those neural pathways created a before/after point where even in totally chill times, that is always still just there. It’s a very strange thing.

[@rockkid707]

I think the best decision good store made was having more products that you use up and need to replace. I LOVED the sock subscription but I have a lot of amazing socks that are good quality now so I'm not running through those and ultimately had to end it for a while. Soap is always a need. Coffee is always a need

[@marshallmkerr]

A vulnerable and authentic CEO is orders of magnitude more valuable, than any number of pretended genius titans of industry.

[@snellsnell7490]

Please know Hank, that you and John are well thought of, respected and loved. Wrap yourself up in all of the warm feelings and love and calmness that people watching you and Nerdfighteria gives you.

[@quintingell]

hank is out here reinventing podcasts (and i’m here loving it)

[@MarcosGame-f6m]

I sincerely and wholeheartedly appreciate when you guys open conversations about your thoughts and processes behind what you push, where you put your efforts in, and when to promote certain stuff. It feels transparent, and sincere - which feels insanely refreshing in the internet as a whole. I'm from a relatively poor side of Brazil, so I don't really have the option to participate in the money-focused Nerdfighteria events. But I still get to share, and communicate, and think about stuff that matters, and I'm glad there's space for it.

[@MarcosGame-f6m]

P.S. as someone that's been watching YT since 2006, I thoroughly enjoyed a 20 minute rambling vlog about kind of connected thoughts

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

Sharing and communicating and thinking, this is the best part!!

[@kayliepenart]

I think one of my all time favorite vlogbrothers videos is where you went around the office and chatted with everyone on the team for a few seconds each many years ago now. I think showing these great teams for all of these great companies to your wider audience helps the public understand how many people actually work on something!

[@ToboCastit]

Oh, man. Those feelings sound so familiar. That first year after cancer is so hard. 10 years later, I viscerally remember how lost I felt. The difference between Hank and the rest of us is that he channeled that into amazing productivity 😅😅😅😅

[@AlleyBetwixt]

As an old 2007 nerdfighter who cannot afford GoodStore products and haven’t ever been able to support Patreon stuff, these things are still very good and have my support. I might not have access to them but I don’t have access to lots of things. I am grateful knowing that all of your efforts to decrease worldsuck are ongoing. The system as it exists requires successfully wealthy people to be investing in such projects, however incremental. There are plenty of wealthy evil overlords at the moment who would not care at all about the things you’re processing in this video. And that makes all the difference for me. You’re doing great, Hank. And yes, we love a long fairly raw vlog. 😁

[@joost00555]

A few hours ago I finally watched your stand up special, really funny and thoughtprovoming, and now this video. I'm glad we are not on the "Hank is secretly a greedy moneygrubber"-timeline, that is a big relief. Your concern fordoing the right things and doing things right is inspiring. If all people could spend a fraction of their energy on that like you do... The children would be singing in the streets, until we'd ask them to please stop that.

[@JaredTakesTime]

We're doing what we can with the tools that we have. Great job Milo!

[@MinurielLai]

++

[@linhao3684]

I am a fan of Cristine and the reason why I support her is because she gave me hope. When I was anxious about my future in my home country, her videos gave me a ray of hope to move to Canada. After moving to Canada I still watched her and she is so honest with her products, she encourages people to pursue both academy and hobby (so rare these days) and she really made an impact to my life!

[@gretl01]

I love how passionate Simply is about education. And it's been really nice to see her manage the pivot from "burned out OG YTer trying to keep cranking out the same funny" to really seeming like she's enjoying life and always finding new avenues of interest. I wish Jenna had been able to find that angle (selfish wish, I admit - hopefully she's perfectly happy post-YT!)

[@catherinesvideos156]

It sounds like your identity both personally and professionally is shifting a lot and it's hard to feel like people don't totally understand it and also hard to figure out how to communicate that so people do understand. I am just an internet stranger so I hesitate to comment too much on your experience (but I am also a 10+ yr nerdfighter and someone who had a bone marrow transplant in my youth) so for what it's worth I think it's completely natural and very common for this year to have felt how it did for you. I dont know how much it helps to say you're not alone in this, some of it is amplified by your profession, but it's certainly not totally unique. The shift out of Treatment Mode into whatever comes after that is HARD and in my humble opinion the oncology world does not do a great job supporting patients through that.

[@Nino-xp5df]

+

[@skylerwitherspoon]

good job blurring the check! also wow a Sunday video, what a treat

[@CargodHera]

We love you, Hank! Thank you so much for all of the authenticity and honest, raw emotion. And, especially, for all the work you do to reduce world suck! Take care of yourself

[@nubzoar]

I'm about 12 years younger than Hank, and I grew up without a cohesive family. My mother was out of the picture and my father often needed my help more than he was around to help me. I started watching Brotherhood 2.0 in 2008 when I was about 16. As someone who struggles socially, and doesn't have much financially, I haven't really participated in the community past watching and listening. But I will continue to watch and listen for as long as you guys keep making things. I have a feeling Hank and John would cringe at the idea of me calling them familial figures in my life, but I cannot think of a better descriptor. It doesn't matter that Hank and John have no idea who I am because for 16 years they have helped me through good times and bad. They've been an inspiration, a moral role model, and source of humor in my life. Dear Hank and John always makes me smile. It is because of the thoughtful, open conversations you two have had over the years that I am who I am today, and I'm proud to be someone who struggles despite the futility of effort, and someone who imagines others complexy, and someone who really tries not to forget to be awesome. Whatever projects you pursue Hank, I'll be there cheering you on because I know you're a moral person who cares about us. In a world surrounded by endless greed, you have clear boundaries and your head on straight. You do deserve the money from your books. It would feel weird every time you plugged Good Store if you and John were profiting off of it. You have gotten this far because you have a good understanding of the very problem you are deliberating. I know it's hard, but trust yourself a little more! And if there's one thing I could communicate across this long term parasocial relationship, it's thank you. Thank you both for sharing so much of your own lives with me. Truly, I could never put in to words how much it means to have you both in my life! 🙅‍♂

[@MinurielLai]

I'm right there with you, I've also grown up without any meaningful family and have had to raise myself and my younger (and sometimes even older) siblings. I started watching Hank and John around 15/16, and they've been such a stabilising, calming presence; the first adults who were honest with me about the absurdity and meaning of life, who showed me how healthy adults take responsibility and make decisions and grapple with anxiety and such. I've now fled the extremist environment I grew up in, and the feeling of being completely disconnected from any familial system (no matter how horrifically violent) is daunting, but it feels a little better knowing that these two kind strangers will still be there for me to listen to. My hope is that in time I'll expand my social network enough find actual IRL role models and guardian figures, but until then, these two and Nerdfighteria help. Wishing you all the best, friend. May we both find chosen family and support.

[@Catstheater]

I've had a very similar experience (toxic family, finances wonky, eventually had to leave) although I'm a bit younger than the two of you. I started watching Vlogbrothers at 13-14 and got hooked very quickly. I think one of the things that really struck me from an early age was Hank and John's ability to be vulnerable. Their honesty and integrity were great examples to me for how I should live my life. I'm so grateful I found them when I did and that they're still with me today through the hard times and the brighter light soaked days :)

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

watching and listening IS community!!

[@EthicalAllele]

Thank you for trying your best to not exclude people who can’t financially support the many projects you’ve started (and those that the other teams have started). I think you saying it out loud does a lot to accomplish that goal.

[@adelined]

hi hank! i recently made a reddit post expressing frustration with the amount of 'ads' on vlogbrothers. something that people in the comments helped me understand is that it isn't just about getting people to buy these products, although that is good. these projects mean a lot to you and take up a big part of of your brainspace so you want to talk about them. i think that makes a lot of sense! something you said in this video that connected with me is that you want nerdfighteria to believe in goodstore and its mission, even if we aren't buying the products. this helps me see some of what i had been interpreting as 'ads' to be excitment about the goals of goodstore. i do agree with what you said at the end though, maybe having more videos that are about connecting with the audience and building community would help this problem! anyways, long post to say that it feels like i maybe criticized you and caused some of this spiral, and i appreciate you sharing your thoughts and being vulnerable. dftba!

[@mayaenglish5424]

13:10 Of course you can't, that would quite literally be physically impossible Hank! You started all this stuff, and helped it grow, then found awesome talented people to take over and now you can do new things!

[@mvaughn7859]

As a fellow survivor I am so appreciative of the honest way you’ve shared this time. Your experience resonates and I’ve been able to share your videos with family and friends and go “this is what it feels like!” Thank you and as someone a bit further past it all, I can promise it does get to feel more stable and clear with time. Thanks again!

[@annagross6077]

I’ve been following Christine since she was just a nail art instagrammer, before she joined KZbin in 2014. The evolution from being well known for a super specific type of nail art on Ig, to nail art tutorials on YT, to her polish mountain videos, launching holo taco, her podcast, etc, feels very vlogbrothers coded. Everyone knows Christine for something totally different, just like everyone knows the Green brothers for very different reasons.

[@dmac7128]

I have followed your channels for years. I am a huge Sci Show fan and I love the work you do. In May of 2023 I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma. It was incidentally found in the midst of diagnosing a heart condition. My thyroid was removed along with many lymph nodes some of which were malignant. I felt like at the time that I was in the same boat as you and I have drawn inspiration from your experience. My first instinct was that I wanted to continue to work and contribute. Time has become something of a discrete finite concept that wasn't before. Its been over a year since the surgery and radiation treatment and I have been cancer free to this point (November 2024). I am being medically retired. I am near the end of my military career in any case. And now its the anxiety that remains for me. But at least now I know what I want out of life and what I want to do with the rest of my life.

[@jennindeed5792]

When John first started talking about Hank's journey of meaning, I thought he was having a little joke, but no, that was insider information 😅

[@mylifeismylaptop8529]

As a long time nerdfighter who can’t currently afford to buy things from the good store, I still absolutely love hearing about new things going on with it. Even though I can’t support it right now I still love its mission and hope that one day I can get my products there, not because it’s Hank’s store but because of its mission and model

[@catherinebhicks]

Great leadership is exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve sent a few kids off to college myself professionally and I find there’s no greater reward than watching something that was my idea fly without me.

[@itsDaedrin]

I have to remind myself this a lot. I am a founder. I don't think I'd be good at being a proper leader. But can I turn nothing into something? Hell yeah.

[@catherinebhicks]

@@itsDaedrin Its good to know what youre good at. The best piece of business advice Ive ever gotten was from my dad "Find people whose strengths are your weaknesses"

[@layliwhyteoliver7545]

I have project directors who easily have 20 years worth of experience more than Hank, and they don't understand how to not look at every little thing and make sure they have made their mark on it. Bless you Hank for understanding that other professionals can do great work.

[@maironamakesstuff]

4:56 Would you say it's a "Nailogical" extension? 🤔😆

[@sarahbritt2584]

the journey of meaning continues, and I love it

[@madisonpurkis1778]

Hank, you got me through high school, then uni, then through my cancer journey, now out of it. Thank you.

[@purpleKrysis]

Something I heard about leadership is that a great leader builds strong leaders. And that great leaders can delegate tasks to those they trust. You’re just being vulnerable and transparent and authentic. Which is what I love and respect about you.

[@jennindeed5792]

On other channels, I'm always like "ugh, why is this video longer than 4 minutes" but then I'm here, where I grew accustomed to the 4 minute rule, and I'm so excited because it's a 20 min video 😂

[@masapy17webs]

Thank you for all of the seeds you and your brother have planted! I love yall!

[@daniellejaeger6329]

I have done my best to minimize the parasocial relationship that i have with creators as so many of them have been mired in controversy, scamming their fans, grooming, or just treating the people under them poorly. But with the green brothers i really trust them to be decent people and to be open with their problems and to have a strong moral compass.

[@PlagueHush]

The sort of creative people that start amazing and interesting projects, are often not the best people to run amazing businesses well. This is as it should be, and no-one should have to endure the stress of trying to be a person they are not. Continue to do what you love Hank! x

[@aaran2329]

Not me crying watching the video and the reading people's comments 😭😭😭💗💗💗

[@squanchy474]

Never apologize for delegating, it is the sign of a good leader. Next, I don’t see why promoting good store is selling out any more than advertising someone else’s product, so long as it is a really good product and or a really good cause I think its way better than being sponsored by a third party.

[@laurierose3267]

beautiful to know, although in different circumstances, Hank and I both have career anxiety

[@DonkThePlonk]

Milo, you are great!

[@osmia]

Thanks for this vlog Hank And thank you Milo for editing it

[@karenfiggins7808]

Thank you for being so honest and realistic with your feelings about all of your interests. Someone said that sometimes "less is more". Cutting back on your involvement and letting others handle the duties will help both you AND them . There have been employee owned businesses as well. You are loved 😍 You don't have to do so much. ❤

[@ponyote]

Seeing Good Store ads in my Facebook are honestly the only ads i don't just immediately scroll past. I really wish i could click through, but i at least want to say that your efforts to be seen are seen.

[@brittany281]

I'm also part of the group that hasn't purchased from Good Store. I also haven't watched a ton of Sci Show or Crash Course (I'm of the generation just behind where my teacher friends show it in their classes and wish it was there for us). But, I love buying books and giving you guys views and commenting. It feels good to see people actively working to put "good" out in the world, so please keep going.

[@NGBigfield]

Seeing you finding a way to scale up and scale down your involvement in everything you've created, that's tough. But it's also so natural and makes sense. Thank you for being honest here

[@AludraEltaninAltair]

Inside Out 2 helped me understand Anxiety. Hearing you describe it here, Hank, reminds me so much of the scene where Anxiety misappropriates creativity in the effort to protect but ultimately ends up causing harm.

[@aeroscorpian]

I feel that including your community in more of behind the scenes stuff (like these are the people you are helping, these are some of the people that make it happen, etc) it helps people to emotionally buy in even more. I know that a video you guys made about the coffee and who it benefits got me to buy it for my hubby. Then, of course, the video revenue helps. I love seeing the good and the people, and how the community has helped.

[@graham8443]

Sending lots of love. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing with your community. It really helps me to see someone so accomplished talking about their journey

[@skylerwitherspoon]

Unrelated to most of this video but I did wear the cute veggie awesome socks to volunteer at the farmers' market today and I got to promote awesome socks club to the managers :)

[@QueerCodedBees]

As someone who doesn't currently have the money to be participating (turns out being trans is expensive) I definitely still feel included

[@SplatPrime]

Even if Hank is insane, we still love your videos.

[@lafayettethebaguette1418]

Always happy to just hear your thoughts Hank ❤❤❤

[@JamesonHuddle]

Thanks Hank, best of luck in all you do and choose not to do, and thanks to all the amazing teams at your various companies who allow you freedom to do what you do best!

[@Nill2323-l8s]

Yaaaas king, delegate!! You’re not an octopus. You have one set of hands. You can entrust skilled people to do things you think are good ideas. And, said with complete love, maybe some of them will bring things to those roles that you couldn’t. Doesn’t make you less relevant or anything, it’s just what any given project might benefit from to flourish. I really get wanting to do all the things (I do scicomms, I’m an Editor, I want to write a book, I want to start a clothing brand, I want to learn new skills, etc etc…). It’s true we all only get so much time, and honestly whose idea was that, but we prioritise and we do out best to make decisions on how we have the most impact, and how we keep ourselves healthy in the process. You’ll figure it out, you’re just at the crossroads.

[@ShadowFaerie1041]

Hank I think it is really important to take mental breaks as you need them and reevaluate your priorities often. I had to take a step back from the news because it truly was destroying my mental health. Just because you are Hank, doesn't mean you owe the world your time and energy to be chronically online and obsessively aware of everything. You are fantastic and can only keep being fantastic if you take care of yourself.

[@aaran2329]

I think it's a beautiful thing to create something, help it grow and then trust others to continue building it 💗 You don't have to do everything Hank and we (or at least I) don't expect that of you

[@liamihasz2681]

This was a special video. Thank you Hank ❤

[@blu_heron]

I’ve enjoyed joining the Alveus Sanctuary community on twitch. Twitch is such a different approach from KZbin and I really recommend looking into their methods when considering creative models for making positive change in the world. All the love to Hank and John too!

[@laurierose3267]

please do the census! i think they are so cool and informative, i love the data

[@christineschmidt256]

So beautifully relatable to so many, even tho where you are at is not relatable to most. What you shared during this resonates with most of us, of wanting to do good work, of wanted to share with community, of wanting what is best for the collective, of wanting to be true to yourself. Thank you for your transparency and thoughts. much love and hugs.

[@DesirexDina]

We all love you. Create an appreciation program and teach us all you know.

[@evadehaan3871]

One of the things I love most about this community is that you and John are so reflective on how to make Nerdfighteria a healthy and welcoming and awesome place, how much you respect and cherish it. It makes all of us respect and cherish each other. You’re doing great.

[@cameron2027]

This has been my favorite video of yours as I come to the same crossroads in life: mortality and realizing I may not have as much time as I’d like to have. This story ends and it ends abruptly. I’ve felt that urge to clean up and focus on what it is I really want to do in life. It’s scary, there’s a lot of anxiety behind it.

[@Antonia-yj4de]

I'm so here for the vlog vlogs! Also really appreciating the vulnerability recently, always helps to see how we're all just human

[@perturbedpoet2491]

We've been on oddly parallel journeys with our health in very different ways and I'm not going to lie when you started talking about how your anxiety is like a muscle that got so much through the cancer diagnosis and treatment process I teared up. It's coming up on a year since the worst of my health stuff, and also the sort of end of it and I've been unbelievably anxious and that exact feeling of "this isn't real...unless it is??" is a constant dog at my heels. I guess all of this is to say thank you for talking about these things so openly, every time you have I've felt so much less alone. ❤

[@Quantumwarrior8]

I love that this is on vlogbrothers and not on hankschannel. I love seeing Hank talk about all of this on the main channel. i love how real Hank is. Him explaining his anxiety about all this is weirdly so helpful as someone who went through something and now deals with anxiety a lot. I relate so much. Thanks hank for keeping it real.

[@derstytutorials]

The candor and self awareness is always so great to see. You prove over and over again why it is such a great thing to be a part of this community!

[@stephaniesellers4315]

We love a bonus off-the-cuff Hank video!