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
526
John McWhorter thinks we're getting racism wrong
John McWhorter and Jane Coaston discuss the limits of third-wave antiracism
63 min
527
The rocky marriage between libertarians and con...
Jane Coaston and Conor Friedersdorf discuss the future of the GOP in Trump's America
83 min
528
A mind-bending, reality-warping conversation wi...
What psychedelics, burning money, and postmodernism have in common
85 min
529
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
530
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
531
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
532
The Constitution is a progressive document
Gerrymandering, constitutionalism, and the future of the Supreme Court
56 min
533
Matt Bruenig’s case for single-payer health care
Ezra interviews Matt Bruenig
119 min
534
Can Raj Chetty save the American dream?
Ezra chats with Raj Chetty about the fading American dream.
77 min
535
Astra Taylor will change how you think about de...
Is democracy even possible? A conversation with Astra Taylor
76 min
536
Is big tech addictive? Nir Eyal and I debate.
Is big tech addictive? Nir Eyal and Ezra debate.
73 min
537
Generation Climate Change
Ezra sits down with Varshini Prakash of Sunrise Movement
91 min
538
Is the media amplifying Trump’s racism? (with W...
Ezra interviews Whitney Phillips
82 min
539
Rutger Bregman’s utopias, and mine
Ezra interviews Rutger Bregman
86 min
540
How white identity politics won the Republican ...
83 min
541
George Will makes the conservative case against...
70 min
542
What deliberative democracy can, and can’t, do ...
Ezra interviews Jane Mansbridge
51 min
543
Rod Dreher on America’s post-Christian culture ...
110 min
544
White threat in a browning America (Jennifer Ri...
73 min
545
Behind the panic in white, Christian America
91 min
546
An enlightening, frustrating conversation on li...
105 min
547
The cognitive cost of poverty (with Sendhil Mul...
93 min
548
Failing towards Utopia
20 min
549
Why liberals and conservatives create such diff...
90 min
550
Stacey Abrams and Lauren Groh-Wargo (Live!)
59 min