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
Why does middle school suck?
60 min
177
Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality
33 min
178
Robert Glasper on why Black Radio is back
The 4-time Grammy winner is creating a new genre of music
51 min
179
Could we lose delicious foods forever?
60 min
180
What Don't Look Up is really about
The film's co-writer doesn't think it was smug.
56 min
181
Democracy in crisis, part 2: The two-party problem
53 min
182
Why we can't pay attention anymore
59 min
183
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
184
Pod Save the Democrats
55 min
185
A Yellowjackets creator spills his guts
39 min
186
A scientist's case for "woo-woo"
55 min
187
Imagine a future with no police
59 min
188
Novelist Lauren Groff on the other Matrix
42 min
189
Are we living in a simulation?
Philosopher David Chalmers on the question: what is reality, anyway?
63 min
190
Rep. Jamie Raskin on living through the unthink...
52 min
191
Best of: Why fascism in America isn't going away
44 min
192
Best of: Clint Smith III on confronting the leg...
56 min
193
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
194
Chris Bosh on winning (and losing everything)
53 min
195
The cult of toughness
61 min
196
Is ethical investing a scam?
52 min
197
The good life is painful
49 min
198
The father of environmental justice
45 min
199
Jill Lepore on Elon Musk's imaginary world
57 min
200
E.O. Wilson's plan to save the world
51 min