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
Who decides how to conserve nature?
55 min
202
The Philosophers: Loneliness and totalitarianism
58 min
203
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 4: The fut...
59 min
204
Michael Lewis on why Americans distrust experts
52 min
205
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 3: The nuc...
51 min
206
The case for regret
45 min
207
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 2: Sanctions
56 min
208
The spirituality of parenting
43 min
209
The War in Ukraine, Explained — Part 1: Why did...
55 min
210
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
211
What happened to American conservatism?
55 min
212
The limits of forgiveness
46 min
213
The madness behind The Method
62 min
214
David Cross is disappointed in you guys
44 min
215
Author Kiley Reid on why we read novels
42 min
216
The conversation about guns we're not having
59 min
217
Why does middle school suck?
60 min
218
Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality
33 min
219
Robert Glasper on why Black Radio is back
The 4-time Grammy winner is creating a new genre of music
51 min
220
Could we lose delicious foods forever?
60 min
221
What Don't Look Up is really about
The film's co-writer doesn't think it was smug.
56 min
222
Democracy in crisis, part 2: The two-party problem
53 min
223
Why we can't pay attention anymore
59 min
224
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
225
Pod Save the Democrats
55 min