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
David Cross is disappointed in you guys
44 min
252
Author Kiley Reid on why we read novels
42 min
253
The conversation about guns we're not having
59 min
254
Why does middle school suck?
60 min
255
Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality
33 min
256
Robert Glasper on why Black Radio is back
The 4-time Grammy winner is creating a new genre of music
51 min
257
Could we lose delicious foods forever?
60 min
258
What Don't Look Up is really about
The film's co-writer doesn't think it was smug.
56 min
259
Democracy in crisis, part 2: The two-party problem
53 min
260
Why we can't pay attention anymore
59 min
261
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
262
Pod Save the Democrats
55 min
263
A Yellowjackets creator spills his guts
39 min
264
A scientist's case for "woo-woo"
55 min
265
Imagine a future with no police
59 min
266
Novelist Lauren Groff on the other Matrix
42 min
267
Are we living in a simulation?
Philosopher David Chalmers on the question: what is reality, anyway?
63 min
268
Rep. Jamie Raskin on living through the unthink...
52 min
269
Best of: Why fascism in America isn't going away
44 min
270
Best of: Clint Smith III on confronting the leg...
56 min
271
Best of: We need to talk about UFOs. Seriously.
Professor Alex Wendt tells Sean Illing why he thinks the aliens might already be here
57 min
272
Chris Bosh on winning (and losing everything)
53 min
273
The cult of toughness
61 min
274
Is ethical investing a scam?
52 min
275
The good life is painful
49 min