157. The Deadliest Disease in Human History

John Green returns to the show to talk about tuberculosis — a disease that kills more than a million people a year. Steve has an idea for a new way to get treatment to those in need.

SOURCES: • John Green • , best-selling author and YouTube creator.

RESOURCES: • Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection • , by John Green (2025). • " The Deadliest Infectious Disease Isn’t a Science Problem. It’s a Money Problem • ," by John Green ( The Washington Post • , 2024). • " The Deadliest Infectious Disease of All Time • ," by John Green ( Crash Course • , 2024). • " Barely Contained Rage: An Open Letter to Johnson & Johnson • ," by John Green ( Vlogbrothers • , 2023). • " Designing Advance Market Commitments for New Vaccines • ," by Michael Kremer, Jonathan D. Levin, and Christopher M. Snyder ( NBER • , 2020). • " Are CEOs Rewarded for Luck? The Ones Without Principals Are • ," by Marianne Bertrand and Sendhil Mullainathan ( The Quarterly Journal of Economics • , 2001). • " A Further Communication on a Remedy for Tuberculosis • ," by Robert Koch ( The Indian Medical Gazette • , 1891).

EXTRAS: • • " His Brilliant Videos Get Millions of Views. Why Don’t They Make Money? • " by People I (Mostly) Admire • (2025). • " Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Time (Update) • ," by People I (Mostly) Admire • (2024). • " John Green’s Reluctant Rocket Ship Ride (Update) • " by People I (Mostly) Admire • (2024). • " Rajiv Shah Never Wastes a Crisis • ," by People I (Mostly) Admire • (2024). • " 'There’s So Many Problems — Which Ones Can I Make a Difference On?' • " by People I (Mostly) Admire • (2022). The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet • , by John Green (2021). The Anthropocene Reviewed • (podcast). Nerdfighteria • . TBFighters • .

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