Unexplainable Podcast Summary
Episode: The Disease We Let Win
Host: Julia Longoria
Guest: John Green
Release Date: July 16, 2025
Introduction
In the episode titled "The Disease We Let Win," host Julia Longoria engages in a profound conversation with acclaimed author John Green. While Green is renowned for his impactful young adult fiction, including the bestseller The Fault in Our Stars, this episode delves into his latest work, Everything Is Tuberculosis. The discussion navigates the historical and contemporary challenges of tuberculosis (TB), exploring why a curable disease continues to claim over a million lives annually.
John Green’s Journey into Tuberculosis
John Green shares the origin story of his nonfiction book, recounting his 2019 trip to Sierra Leone to study maternal mortality. It was during a visit to a TB hospital that Green's perception of the disease was profoundly altered.
John Green [03:40]: "I was surprised to learn that there were TB hospitals. I thought of tuberculosis as a disease that killed 19th-century romantic poets, not as a present-tense phenomenon."
A poignant encounter with a young TB patient named Henry deepened Green's commitment to understanding and combating the disease.
John Green [04:56]: "We know that the infection is going to come back."
The Romanticization and Stigmatization of TB
Green explores the historical perception of TB, known as consumption, and its romantic association with creativity and beauty, especially among the elite.
John Green [10:25]: "We called it consumption because it seemed to consume the body... women would apply rouge to mimic the fever symptoms."
This romanticization hindered effective public health responses, as TB was seen as a disease that could not be stigmatized due to its reach across all social strata.
John Green [12:22]: "I absolutely think that the romanticization of TB slowed us down in terms of our understanding of the disease."
Modern Challenges in Combating TB
Despite the availability of antibiotics since the mid-20th century, TB remains a significant global health issue. Green highlights the social determinants that exacerbate the spread and treatment of TB, particularly in impoverished and marginalized communities.
John Green [24:04]: "Within five years, instead of 1.3 million people dying of tuberculosis, we're looking at a world where 2 million people die every year of tuberculosis."
He attributes the resurgence of TB to reduced funding and support from major health organizations, leading to increased drug resistance and inadequate treatment infrastructure.
John Green [25:00]: "We have fallen down the staircase... You can't say that tuberculosis is caused by a bacteria, it's caused by us."
Personal Stories and Hope for the Future
The narrative becomes deeply personal as Green recounts Henry's battle with drug-resistant TB and his eventual recovery thanks to specialized treatment efforts by organizations like Partners in Health.
John Green [29:15]: "And today, Henry is a college student at the University of Sierra Leone. He just started his senior year a couple of weeks ago."
Henry's transformation from a despondent patient to a thriving student embodies the potential for overcoming TB through dedicated medical intervention and support.
Henry Reiter [30:19]: "I'm so happy to be among my people, among the world again."
Social Factors Over Biological Ones
Green emphasizes that the fight against TB is not solely a medical battle but is heavily influenced by social factors. The collective imagination and societal attitudes towards illness play a critical role in how diseases are managed and perceived.
John Green [31:29]: "I just came to understand that how we imagine illness is extremely important and the changing ways we've imagined tuberculosis is extremely important."
Conclusion
"The Disease We Let Win" offers a compelling exploration of tuberculosis, intertwining historical context, personal narratives, and an analysis of socio-economic factors that perpetuate the disease. John Green's Everything Is Tuberculosis serves as both a call to action and a testament to the resilience required to combat one of humanity's oldest and deadliest diseases.
Notable Quotes
- John Green [10:25]: "We called it consumption because it seemed to consume the body... women would apply rouge to mimic the fever symptoms."
- John Green [12:22]: "I absolutely think that the romanticization of TB slowed us down in terms of our understanding of the disease."
- John Green [24:04]: "Within five years, instead of 1.3 million people dying of tuberculosis, we're looking at a world where 2 million people die every year of tuberculosis."
- Henry Reiter [30:19]: "I'm so happy to be among my people, among the world again."
Additional Information
For those interested in delving deeper into the history and ongoing struggles against tuberculosis, John Green's book Everything Is Tuberculosis is highly recommended. The episode was produced by Julia Longoria, with editing by Meredith Hodonat, and sound design by Christian Ayala.
Connect with Unexplainable:
Share your thoughts and reviews at unexplainableox.com. Support the show by joining Vox’s membership program at vox.com/members.