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
201
Why does middle school suck?
60 min
202
Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality
33 min
203
Robert Glasper on why Black Radio is back
The 4-time Grammy winner is creating a new genre of music
51 min
204
Could we lose delicious foods forever?
60 min
205
What Don't Look Up is really about
The film's co-writer doesn't think it was smug.
56 min
206
Democracy in crisis, part 2: The two-party problem
53 min
207
Why we can't pay attention anymore
59 min
208
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
209
Pod Save the Democrats
55 min
210
A Yellowjackets creator spills his guts
39 min
211
A scientist's case for "woo-woo"
55 min
212
Imagine a future with no police
59 min
213
Novelist Lauren Groff on the other Matrix
42 min
214
Are we living in a simulation?
Philosopher David Chalmers on the question: what is reality, anyway?
63 min
215
Rep. Jamie Raskin on living through the unthink...
52 min
216
Best of: Why fascism in America isn't going away
44 min
217
Best of: Clint Smith III on confronting the leg...
56 min
218
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
219
Chris Bosh on winning (and losing everything)
53 min
220
The cult of toughness
61 min
221
Is ethical investing a scam?
52 min
222
The good life is painful
49 min
223
The father of environmental justice
45 min
224
Jill Lepore on Elon Musk's imaginary world
57 min
225
E.O. Wilson's plan to save the world
51 min