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The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Vox
Democracy
Liberalism
Economic History
Political Philosophy
Neoliberalism
Long 20th Century
Human Nature
Thomas Hobbes
American Politics
The Iliad
Social Democracy
Distribution Of Wealth
Technological Change
Conflict and Order
Anarchism
Globalization
Great Recession
History
Philosophy
Work Ethic

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 o... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes745Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePoliticsPhilosophy

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Artwork for The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Latest Episodes

A lot of Gen Z men sound surprisingly excited about fatherhood. A lot of Gen Z women…do not.

And that divide — and the national handwringing about it — says a lot about the changing status of men and women in this country, and the uncomfortable real... more

Mindfulness is everywhere now, which is kind of weird.

What started as a countercultural practice has become a productivity hack and a billion-dollar app ecosystem. On one level, it’s great that more people are meditating. But somewhere along the wa... more

Sean talks to Atlantic writer Tyler Austin Harper about the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and why liberals are missing the point about American gun culture and the right to bear arms.

Beyond that, Tyler asks an important question: If you re... more

The Gray Area with Sean Illing is now twice a week!

Look for new episodes every Monday and Friday, here in your ears and at Youtube.com/vox for your eyes.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Hard ForkThe New York Times

Recent Guests

C. Thi Nguyen
Philosopher and author
Author of The Score, How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game
Episode: The problem with gamifying life
Chuck Klosterman
Author, cultural critic, and sports journalist.
Episode: America is football
Marc Dunkelman
Author of 'Why Nothing Works'
Episode: How we built a government that can’t build anything
Myisha Cherry
Philosopher and author of The Failures of Forgiveness.
Episode: Forgiveness is optional
Daniel Kolitz
Writer who reported on The Goonverse for Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Episode: The pornification of everything
Brad DeLong
Economic historian at UC Berkeley and author of 'Slouching Towards Utopia'
UC Berkeley
Episode: What counts as progress?
Robert Sapolsky
Professor of biology and neurology at Stanford, author of "Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will"
Stanford University
Episode: The case against free will
Barbara Walter
Political scientist at UC San Diego and author of How Civil Wars Start
University of California, San Diego
Episode: America chose violence. Now what?
Charan Ranganath
Neuroscientist and author of the book Why We Remember
Episode: What's worth remembering?

Host

Sean Illing
Host of deep conversations exploring philosophy, culture, and politics with various guests, providing thoughtful insights.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 15.2k ratings
  • Ok not to be ok

    Loved this episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • The Gray is Great

    So many great topics and guests. Sean Illing has become one of my favorite podcasters because of his style, his warmth, and his depth. I’ve been able to learn more about myself because of this podcast. The last one I listened to was It’s Okay not to be Okay, and this brought me so many profound insights. Thanks, Sean. Keep up the great work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Moose5389
    United States2 months ago
  • Thoughtful and insightful discussions.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Andrew L
    2 months ago
  • The Orwell Episode

    The part where Sean isn’t aware of what a misogynist Orwell is before introducing him as his own hero was hilarious. I read 1984 as a child and could tell from that alone that he doesn’t see women as people, but also looking at Orwell’s basic bio would tell you he was not intersectional.

    Probably should have re read 1984 before this episode, and if you did, then you really do have some work to do on yourself. Could be a great topic for you to lead by example on: we all deal with men not knowin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Gotta_wonder
    Canada4 months ago
  • I don’t understand

    I’m really lost listening nowadays

    Is this just a book club judging people

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    rage550
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many find the discussions to be thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating, often leading to deeper reflections on important societal topics.
Some critics have expressed concerns regarding perceived biases in discussions, indicating that certain episodes may not fully explore all viewpoints.
Listeners appreciate the podcast for its insightful and balanced approach to complex issues.
The host is praised for his excellent interviewing skills and ability to engage with guests meaningfully.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why mindfulness got weird
Q: What is the ethical foundation of mindfulness?
Mindfulness has an ethical foundation established since the time of the Buddha, which is reminiscent of the Hippocratic oath in medicine: First, do no harm.
Why mindfulness got weird
Q: Is mindfulness becoming a tool for productivity and self-optimization?
Yes, it seems that mindfulness is being used in industries like Silicon Valley to enhance productivity rather than for true self-awareness.
Why mindfulness got weird
Q: Why is it so difficult to be mindful?
Because we are reactive, and our minds create an illusory self that distracts us from the present moment.
How we built a government that can’t build anything
Q: I guess the question is, even if we do get a high-function government that delivers, will that translate to a shift in how people perceive it?
Dunkelman expresses optimism that if government begins to perform small tasks well, trust can be rebuilt, but acknowledges the uncertainty of this transformation.
It’s okay to not be okay
Q: Is it possible to honor those feelings and seek to transcend them at the same time?
It's complicated under current frameworks as it often leads to self-blame, but finding better ways to talk about emotions could help.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Gray Area with Sean Illing

What is The Gray Area with Sean Illing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging in thought-provoking discussions, the content encapsulates a blend of philosophy, culture, technology, and contemporary socio-political issues. Each episode features meaningful conversations with guests from diverse fields, tackling topics ranging from democracy and identity to mental health challenges and societal norms. The exploration of complex ideas is paired with a commitment to honesty and nuance, aiming to deepen listeners' understanding of the world around them. This podcast seeks to illuminate critical questions of our time, allowing for accessible yet intellectually stimulating dialogue that resonates with informed audiences.

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How many listeners does The Gray Area with Sean Illing get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Gray Area with Sean Illing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Gray Area with Sean Illing:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Explain It to Me
3. Today, Explained
4. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
5. Hard Fork

How many episodes of The Gray Area with Sean Illing are there?

The Gray Area with Sean Illing launched 10 years ago and published 745 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Gray Area with Sean Illing?

Recent guests on The Gray Area with Sean Illing include:

1. C. Thi Nguyen
2. Chuck Klosterman
3. Marc Dunkelman
4. Myisha Cherry
5. Daniel Kolitz
6. Brad DeLong
7. Robert Sapolsky
8. Barbara Walter

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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