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
301
Author Kiley Reid on why we read novels
42 min
302
The conversation about guns we're not having
59 min
303
Why does middle school suck?
60 min
304
Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality
33 min
305
Robert Glasper on why Black Radio is back
The 4-time Grammy winner is creating a new genre of music
51 min
306
Could we lose delicious foods forever?
60 min
307
What Don't Look Up is really about
The film's co-writer doesn't think it was smug.
56 min
308
Democracy in crisis, part 2: The two-party problem
53 min
309
Why we can't pay attention anymore
59 min
310
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
311
Pod Save the Democrats
55 min
312
A Yellowjackets creator spills his guts
39 min
313
A scientist's case for "woo-woo"
55 min
314
Imagine a future with no police
59 min
315
Novelist Lauren Groff on the other Matrix
42 min
316
Are we living in a simulation?
Philosopher David Chalmers on the question: what is reality, anyway?
63 min
317
Rep. Jamie Raskin on living through the unthink...
52 min
318
Best of: Why fascism in America isn't going away
44 min
319
Best of: Clint Smith III on confronting the leg...
56 min
320
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
321
Chris Bosh on winning (and losing everything)
53 min
322
The cult of toughness
61 min
323
Is ethical investing a scam?
52 min
324
The good life is painful
49 min
325
The father of environmental justice
45 min