
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 737 | Founded | 10 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PoliticsPhilosophySociety & CultureNews | |||

You have to forgive people who wrong you…right? The world is filled with injustice and wrongdoing, and to live in the world — to not be consumed by anger — forgiveness is necessary. At least that’s what we’re told over and over again: By forgiving, w... more
Sean’s guest today is Daniel Kolitz, author of a remarkable Harper’s story on “gooning.”
They talk about this emerging subculture and how it reflects back on the larger world, from the economics of attention to the rise of short-form everything. Kol... more
We’ve never had more wealth, more data, or more ways to be entertained. So why doesn’t it feel like progress?
Sean’s guest today is Brad DeLong, an economic historian at UC Berkeley and author of Slouching Towards Utopia. They talk about the differe... more
We all know what awkwardness feels like. It's that jolt of discomfort when the social script breaks down, and no one knows what to do next. But what if awkwardness isn’t a flaw to fix but a window into how we live together?
Sean’s guest today is Ale... more
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Fantastic podcast- insightful, thoughtful, curious, and balanced. Covers a wide variety of interesting topics that are contemporary as well as timeless. Sean is a great interviewer who consistently gets smart and enjoyable guests.
The Gray Area with Sean Illing is a tremendous podcast. It’s of particular interest to people who enjoy discussions about philosophy, ethics, literature, psychology and just how to live in this world. Sean Illing is down to earth, an excellent interviewer, and a nice guy. I highly recommend the Gray Area.
I love how high-brow-intellectual yet accessible Sean is. Every episode is a banger.
Love this Podcast. Sean’s conversations/interviews are intelligent, educational, thought provoking, and always on point.
Sean is the best. The Bill McKibben interview is absolutely amazing. Thank you, thank you thank you.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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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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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Gray Area with Sean Illing:
1. The Ezra Klein Show
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3. Today, Explained
4. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
5. Hard Fork
The Gray Area with Sean Illing launched 10 years ago and published 737 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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Recent guests on The Gray Area with Sean Illing include:
1. Daniel Kolitz
2. Brad DeLong
3. Robert Sapolsky
4. Barbara Walter
5. Charan Ranganath
6. Emily Baker-White
7. Bill McKibben
8. Fara Dabhoiwala
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