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
Michael Lewis on why Americans distrust experts
52 min
202
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 3: The nuc...
51 min
203
The case for regret
45 min
204
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 2: Sanctions
56 min
205
The spirituality of parenting
43 min
206
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 1: Why did...
55 min
207
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
208
What happened to American conservatism?
55 min
209
The limits of forgiveness
46 min
210
The madness behind The Method
62 min
211
David Cross is disappointed in you guys
44 min
212
Author Kiley Reid on why we read novels
42 min
213
The conversation about guns we're not having
59 min
214
Why does middle school suck?
60 min
215
Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality
33 min
216
Robert Glasper on why Black Radio is back
The 4-time Grammy winner is creating a new genre of music
51 min
217
Could we lose delicious foods forever?
60 min
218
What Don't Look Up is really about
The film's co-writer doesn't think it was smug.
56 min
219
Democracy in crisis, part 2: The two-party problem
53 min
220
Why we can't pay attention anymore
59 min
221
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
222
Pod Save the Democrats
55 min
223
A Yellowjackets creator spills his guts
39 min
224
A scientist's case for "woo-woo"
55 min
225
Imagine a future with no police
59 min