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
176
Anita Hill finally gets even
55 min
177
Elites have captured identity politics
52 min
178
The moral dangers of dirty work
54 min
179
Did the sexual revolution go wrong?
53 min
180
Who decides how to conserve nature?
55 min
181
The Philosophers: Loneliness and totalitarianism
58 min
182
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 4: The fut...
59 min
183
Michael Lewis on why Americans distrust experts
52 min
184
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 3: The nuc...
51 min
185
The case for regret
45 min
186
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 2: Sanctions
56 min
187
The spirituality of parenting
43 min
188
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 1: Why did...
55 min
189
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
190
What happened to American conservatism?
55 min
191
The limits of forgiveness
46 min
192
The madness behind The Method
62 min
193
David Cross is disappointed in you guys
44 min
194
Author Kiley Reid on why we read novels
42 min
195
The conversation about guns we're not having
59 min
196
Why does middle school suck?
60 min
197
Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality
33 min
198
Robert Glasper on why Black Radio is back
The 4-time Grammy winner is creating a new genre of music
51 min
199
Could we lose delicious foods forever?
60 min
200
What Don't Look Up is really about
The film's co-writer doesn't think it was smug.
56 min