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The Gray Area with Sean Illing

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes734Founded10 years ago
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NewsSociety & CulturePoliticsPhilosophy

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Artwork for The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Latest Episodes

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

We use “Orwellian” to describe everything from campus dust-ups to authoritarian crackdowns. But what did George Orwell actually stand for, what did he get wrong, and what can we learn from him about our age of surveillance capitalism and distraction?... more

We all think of ourselves as authors of our lives. The difference between our happy ending and someone else’s tragic one are the choices we each make. But what if none of that’s true?

Sean’s guest today is Robert Sapolsky, a biologist and neuroscien... more

The story we tell about climate change is mostly a story about loss. But look to the data, and that story starts to fall apart. Emissions are peaking in key sectors. Clean energy is scaling faster than anyone predicted. Real progress is happening. It... more

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Recent Guests

Laura Beers
Historian at American University and author of 'Orwell's Ghosts, Wisdom and Warnings for the 21st Century.'
American University
Episode: Truth in an age of doublethink
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?
Emily Baker-White
Author of Every Screen on the Planet, The War Over TikTok, who has spent years covering TikTok and the controversies surrounding it.
Episode: Why TikTok matters
Bill McKibben
Influential climate activist and founder of 350.org
Episode: The sun will save us
Fara Dabhoiwala
Historian at Princeton and author of What Is Free Speech? The History of a Dangerous Idea
Princeton University
Episode: How much free speech is too much?
Ingrid Robeyns
Political philosopher and economist at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Episode: Imagine there's no billionaires
Dan Wang
Author of 'Breakneck, China's Quest to Engineer the Future'
Episode: America's lawyers vs. China's engineers

Host

Sean Illing
Host known for insightful questioning and bringing depth to discussions on culture, politics, and philosophy.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 15.2k ratings
  • Highly recommended!

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Morton Feldman
    United States22 days ago
  • Smart, Informative and Engaging

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paul in Hamilton
    Canadaa month ago
  • One of my favorite shows and presenters

    I love how high-brow-intellectual yet accessible Sean is. Every episode is a banger.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chrispinzippy
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Love The Gray Area

    Love this Podcast. Sean’s conversations/interviews are intelligent, educational, thought provoking, and always on point.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrCarmen
    United Statesa month ago
  • Superb as always

    Sean is the best. The Bill McKibben interview is absolutely amazing. Thank you, thank you thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Billybill1984
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate the engaging and informed guests who bring expertise to the conversations.
The host's style is generally described as calming and insightful, making complex topics accessible.
Listeners praise the in-depth discussions and thought-provoking insights that challenge their perspectives.
Feedback highlights the podcast's ability to provoke thoughtful reflection and discussions on current societal issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Truth in an age of doublethink
Q: What does Orwell's lesson for the 21st Century teach us?
His legacy centers on the necessity to defend the truth and the responsibilities that accompany the right to speak.
Truth in an age of doublethink
Q: Did he ever really explain what he meant by socialism? What was his actual political project?
Orwell argued for a limitation of income and a breaking down of social inequalities, promoting universal state education and criticizing class snobbery.
America chose violence. Now what?
Q: How much have attitudes about the acceptance of political violence shifted in recent years?
The percentage of people accepting political violence, especially for self-defense, has increased significantly, potentially as high as 40%.
America chose violence. Now what?
Q: Given everything we've just discussed, how do you currently assess where we are right now as a country?
We are in a high risk zone for political violence, transitioning towards a form of insurgency and persistent high-grade terror rather than traditional civil conflict.
Why TikTok matters
Q: How much control does Beijing actually have over TikTok?
The Chinese government has significant leverage over TikTok, given that employees in China could be compelled to comply with government demands, potentially influencing content and data security.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

A thoughtful exploration of complex societal questions is at the heart of this podcast, where topics span from the nuances of democracy and personal identity to pressing cultural challenges and technological advancements. Each episode features a guest expert who shares unique insights, contributing to rich, in-depth discussions that are designed to provoke thought and encourage listeners to reconsider common narratives. The format fosters a philosophical approach to contemporary issues, making it appealing to those looking for a deeper understanding of the world around them. Expect engaging dialogues that not only inform but also inspire critical thinking about current affairs, ethics, and the human experience.

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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. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
4. Today, Explained
5. Unexplainable

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

The Gray Area with Sean Illing launched 10 years ago and published 734 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. Laura Beers
2. Robert Sapolsky
3. Barbara Walter
4. Charan Ranganath
5. Emily Baker-White
6. Bill McKibben
7. Fara Dabhoiwala
8. Ingrid Robeyns

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