Complexly


Complexly LLC is an American online video and audio production company, with bases in Missoula, Montana, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Its co-CEOs are brothers John and Hank Green, who began on YouTube in 2007 with their personal channel project Vlogbrothers. In 2012, the Greens began producing educational video content with two new channels: Crash Course and SciShow, and in the years since have started numerous other channels and podcasts which have been folded into the company. Originally named EcoGeek LLC, it was founded by Hank Green to support a blog he ran on environmental and science issues; it was renamed in 2016. Also associated with Complexly's business, but separate to its operation, are VidCon, DFTBA Records, and the Project for Awesome. The business affairs of the Greens' personal projects, such as the YouTube channel Vlogbrothers, are handled by Complexly but the company does not directly produce their content. John Green has since stepped down as CEO, giving complete control to his brother Hank, to focus on his writing career.

Video productions

''Crash Course''

Multiple hosts and courses; see main article
Crash Course is an educational YouTube channel providing multiple linear courses of study, often based around the AP curriculum of a given subject. The level of study matches that of high school or early college, but no age group is excluded from making use of the content. Many courses are co-produced with PBS Digital Studios.

''SciShow''

Multiple hosts and channels; see main article
SciShow is a series of science-related videos, primarily hosted by Hank Green. The format includes breaking science news, in-depth analyses of scientific concepts and science history, as well as rapid-fire science fact compilations. It has spinoff channels named Space, and Psych.

''The Art Assignment''

Host: Sarah Urist Green
The Art Assignment is a PBS Digital Studios co-production focused on contemporary art. Initially oriented around 'assignments' given by noted artists to the audience to complete, it has gradually shifted its emphasis to discuss contemporary art in a broader sense.

''Healthcare Triage''

Host: Aaron Carroll
Healthcare Triage is a series about modern healthcare that discusses healthcare policy and medical research, and answers questions about medicine, health, and healthcare.

''Eons''

Hosts: Hank Green, Blake di Pastino, Kallie Moore
Eons is a PBS Digital Studios co-production, a channel about the history of life on Earth.

''Sexplanations''

Host: Lindsey Doe
Sexplanations is a video series explaining sexual topics, hosted by clinical sexologist Dr. Lindsey Doe.

''Animal Wonders''

Host: Jessi Knudsen Castañeda
Animal Wonders is a video series from the namesake wildlife animal center outside of Missoula. It focuses on the center's 80+ exotic animals, including their care and habitat.

''The Origin of Everything''

Host: Danielle Bainbridge
The Origin of Everything is a show about under-told history and culture that challenges our everyday assumptions. Having first launched as a PBS Digital Studios production in 2018, with its second season in 2019 it became a Complexly co-production.

''Journey to the Microcosmos''

Host: Hank Green
Journey to the Microcosmos presents the living collections of microbiologist James Weiss to give a close-up look of microscopic life. Music by Andrew Huang, narrated by Hank Green.

''Ours Poetica''

Host: Various
Ours Poetica captures the intimate experience of holding a poem in your hands and listening as it's read by a distinctive voice. A co-production with The Poetry Foundation, and poet Paige Lewis.

''Bizarre Beasts''

Host: Hank Green, Sarah Suta
Bizarre Beasts spun off from a monthly Vlogbrothers segment in which Hank Green would present an animal species that displays unusual anatomy, behaviour, and/or other adaptations. After a one-year pilot on that channel, it was made into its own series, still posting monthly.

''How to Vote in Every State''

Host: Hank Green, Nicole Sweeney, Evelyn Ngugi
How to Vote in Every State was an initiative based around the 2016 United States elections to help voters determine how to properly register and submit their vote. Videos were posted for all 50 states and DC, plus instructions for those in the military, overseas and in unincorporated territories. The series was re-done two years later for the 2018 United States elections; a further version for the 2020 United States elections was also made, with the assistance of the Poynter Institute's MediaWise project, which also allowed them to augment the channel with an 8-episode Voter Guide series.

''Complexly''

Host: various
Complexly launched a self-named channel on May 2018, to share themed playlists, post one-off videos and miniseries, and pilot new channels.

Audio productions

In November 2018, Complexly fully launched a co-production arrangement with WNYC Studios for three regular podcasts; two had been produced independently before, one was new.

''Dear Hank & John''

Hosts: Hank Green and John Green
Originally launched in 2015, this weekly podcast features Hank and John Green answering questions e-mailed by listeners, giving "dubious" advice and providing weekly news for the planet Mars and the 3rd-tier English football club AFC Wimbledon.

''The Anthropocene Reviewed''

Host: John Green
Originally launched in January 2018, this monthly podcast features John Green as he reviews things that owe their current existence to the anthropocene, the scientific epoch that includes human influence. He reviews two phenomena per monthly episode, giving each a score out of five stars.

''SciShow Tangents''

Panel: Hank Green, Stefan Chin, Sam Schultz, Ceri Riley
Adapted from their previous show, Holy Fucking Science, Tangents is a weekly science-based show where SciShow staffers puzzle and entertain each other with fascinating facts.

Productions no longer affiliated with Complexly

''The Brain Scoop''

Host: Emily Graslie
The Brain Scoop was first created by Hank Green when he visited the zoological museum at the University of Montana and met one of its collections volunteers, Emily Graslie. Her on-camera presence was exceptional, and he launched a channel soon afterward based in that museum with Graslie as host, in January 2013. The channel enjoyed remarkable success and in a matter of months had caught the attention of staffers at the Field Museum in Chicago; Graslie and the program moved there in August 2013. After a period where the Field licensed the program from Green, they eventually purchased all its rights and trademarks and now continue to produce the show in-house.

''Mental Floss Video''

Hosts: John Green, Elliott Morgan, others
Mental Floss is the video arm of Mental Floss, providing interesting facts centered on one particular subject matter.
Complexly produced the channel's content from 2013 to 2018; from 2019 on, Mental Floss brought its production in-house.

''The Financial Diet''

Host: Chelsea Fagan
The Financial Diet is a personal finance advice channel, directed toward young adults and particularly young women.

Ceased productions

''100 Days''

Hosts: John Green, Chris Waters
100 Days was a personal initiative of John Green, exploring how to 'have a healthy midlife crisis'. He is joined in physical exercises and other feats by his best friend Chris. It ran through the early months of 2017.

''Crash Course Kids''

Crash Course Kids was bi-weekly show from the producers of Crash Course about grade school science.

''How to Adult''

Hosts: Hank Green, Rachel Calderon Navarro
How to Adult was a general advice channel directed toward young adults entering the broader world of adulthood for the first time. The channel was originated in 2014 by T. Michael Martin and Emma Mills who hosted it until August 2016; Complexly revived it with their blessing in March 2017, and the channel aired its final episode in April 2018.

''Holy Fucking Science''

Host: various
Holy Fucking Science was a science-based entertainment show where four people get together to try to astound and amaze each other with scientific facts and discoveries; it was directed at adults only. Though each episode was filmed and posted to YouTube, it was intended to be enjoyed as a podcast. Their regular sponsor was Montana brewery Big Sky Brewing Company. The show ceased in March 2018 after 58 episodes, with the promise of a similar production to soon replace it; SciShow Tangents took its place in November 2018.

''Nature League''

Host: Brit Garner
Nature League was an internet show exploring nature; each month had a new theme, and each week a different format.

''SciShow Kids''

SciShow Kids was a show format dedicated to science news and lists about topics of interest to grade-school aged children.