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.

Philosophy
Politics
News Commentary
426
John McWhorter thinks we're getting racism wrong
John McWhorter and Jane Coaston discuss the limits of third-wave antiracism
63 min
427
The rocky marriage between libertarians and con...
Jane Coaston and Conor Friedersdorf discuss the future of the GOP in Trump's America
83 min
428
A mind-bending, reality-warping conversation wi...
What psychedelics, burning money, and postmodernism have in common
85 min
429
Jia Tolentino on what happens when life is an e...
Ezra Klein and Jia Tolentino discuss how the Internet distorts identities, cheapens solidarity, and erodes morality
99 min
430
The original meaning of “identity politics” (wi...
Ezra Klein and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor discuss the origins of identity politics and the future of Black liberation
79 min
431
Are bosses dictators? (with Elizabeth Anderson)
Elizabeth Anderson sits down with Ezra Klein to discuss workplace tyranny, the power of ideology, and a vision for a more democratic society
85 min
432
The Constitution is a progressive document
Gerrymandering, constitutionalism, and the future of the Supreme Court
56 min
433
Matt Bruenig’s case for single-payer health care
Ezra interviews Matt Bruenig
119 min
434
Can Raj Chetty save the American dream?
Ezra chats with Raj Chetty about the fading American dream.
77 min
435
Astra Taylor will change how you think about de...
Is democracy even possible? A conversation with Astra Taylor
76 min
436
Is big tech addictive? Nir Eyal and I debate.
Is big tech addictive? Nir Eyal and Ezra debate.
73 min
437
Generation Climate Change
Ezra sits down with Varshini Prakash of Sunrise Movement
91 min
438
Is the media amplifying Trump’s racism? (with W...
Ezra interviews Whitney Phillips
82 min
439
Rutger Bregman’s utopias, and mine
Ezra interviews Rutger Bregman
86 min
440
How white identity politics won the Republican ...
83 min
441
George Will makes the conservative case against...
70 min
442
What deliberative democracy can, and can’t, do ...
Ezra interviews Jane Mansbridge
51 min
443
Rod Dreher on America’s post-Christian culture ...
110 min
444
White threat in a browning America (Jennifer Ri...
73 min
445
Behind the panic in white, Christian America
91 min
446
An enlightening, frustrating conversation on li...
105 min
447
The cognitive cost of poverty (with Sendhil Mul...
93 min
448
Failing towards Utopia
20 min
449
Why liberals and conservatives create such diff...
90 min
450
Stacey Abrams and Lauren Groh-Wargo (Live!)
59 min