The Gray Area with Sean Illing

The Gray Area with Sean Illing takes a philosophy-minded look at culture, technology, politics, and the world of ideas. Each week, we invite a guest to explore a question or topic that matters. From the the state of democracy, to the struggle with depression and anxiety, to the nature of identity in the digital age, each episode looks for nuance and honesty in the most important conversations of our time. New episodes drop every Monday. From the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Philosophy
Politics
News Commentary
251
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 1: Why did...
55 min
252
The Philosophers: Resisting despair
How can Albert Camus help us understand the war in Ukraine, post-pandemic life, and the absurdity of our modern world?
51 min
253
What happened to American conservatism?
55 min
254
The limits of forgiveness
46 min
255
The madness behind The Method
62 min
256
David Cross is disappointed in you guys
44 min
257
Author Kiley Reid on why we read novels
42 min
258
The conversation about guns we're not having
59 min
259
Why does middle school suck?
60 min
260
Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality
33 min
261
Robert Glasper on why Black Radio is back
The 4-time Grammy winner is creating a new genre of music
51 min
262
Could we lose delicious foods forever?
60 min
263
What Don't Look Up is really about
The film's co-writer doesn't think it was smug.
56 min
264
Democracy in crisis, part 2: The two-party problem
53 min
265
Why we can't pay attention anymore
59 min
266
Democracy in crisis, part 1: Ross Douthat isn't...
First in a two-part series on the dangers facing American democracy, hosted by Zack Beauchamp
60 min
267
Pod Save the Democrats
55 min
268
A Yellowjackets creator spills his guts
39 min
269
A scientist's case for "woo-woo"
55 min
270
Imagine a future with no police
59 min
271
Novelist Lauren Groff on the other Matrix
42 min
272
Are we living in a simulation?
Philosopher David Chalmers on the question: what is reality, anyway?
63 min
273
Rep. Jamie Raskin on living through the unthink...
52 min
274
Best of: Why fascism in America isn't going away
44 min
275
Best of: Clint Smith III on confronting the leg...
56 min