Brenda Valdivia/Houston Public Media
The lobby of Space Center Houston features a display highlighting Hank Green’s live appearance.
For nearly two decades, Hank Green has been one of the internet’s most recognizable educators and digital creators, serving as a science communicator, author, and half of the YouTube duo Vlogbrothers alongside his brother, author John Green.
Last week, Hank Green visited Space Center Houston to launch the attraction’s Thought Leader Series presented by UTMB Health, highlighting the impact of STEM leaders on both culture and science.
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In a conversation with Houston Matters producer Brenda Valdivia, Green spoke candidly about what it takes to share his thoughts, curiosity, and even his health with the public. That openness is on full display in Pissing Out Cancer, his first comedy special on Dropout, which chronicles his experience with Hodgkin lymphoma through humor and science.
“Everything you see is actually me,” Green said. “But you don’t see all of me. There were times when I crossed lines in private shows, and I learned where my limits were.”
Whether he’s joking about cancer or batteries, Green’s goal remains the same: to spark curiosity.
“Anytime I find a weird question, there’s always something interesting to talk about,” he said.
When asked how he keeps learning, Green’s answer was simple: curiosity is a muscle.
“If you exercise it, it gets stronger,” he said. “And curiosity is one of the top two human emotions. The more you experience it, the better your life is.”
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Hank Green in conversation with Houston Matters producer Brenda Valdivia. (Photo Credit: Brenda Valdivia/Houston Public Media)
Hank Green launched Space Center Houston’s Thought Leader Series with the center’s CEO, William T. Harris (Photo Credit: Brenda Valdivia/Houston Public Media)