
157. The Deadliest Disease in Human History
from People I (Mostly) Admire
by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Published: Sat May 10 2025
Show Notes
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:
- EverythingIs Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection, by John Green (2025).
- "
TheDeadliest 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). - "
DesigningAdvance 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). - "
AFurther 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). TheAnthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, by John Green (2021). TheAnthropocene Reviewed (podcast). - Nerdfighteria.
- TBFighters.