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