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The Gray Area with Sean Illing

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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes731Founded10 years ago
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NewsPoliticsSociety & CulturePhilosophy

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Latest Episodes

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

YouTube

Open a browser and you can feel it instantly: everything online just feels… worse. Search results that look like ads. Social feeds that you don’t control. Streaming platforms that are packed with ads. Services that used to be free, but are now behind... more

Is America at a tipping point?

Sean Illing talks with Barbara Walter, one of the world’s leading experts on violent extremism and domestic terror. She’s the author of How Civil Wars Start, about how democracies unravel from within, and a professor a... more

We like to think of memory as a record of the past. But that’s not really what it is. Memory doesn’t keep the past — it can also remake it. It stitches fragments into stories, and those stories — true or not — are what we end up calling our life, and... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Laura Field
Political theorist and author of the upcoming book 'Furious Minds'
Episode: So, what exactly is the “New Right?”
Jonathan Cohen
Author of Losing Big, America's Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling
Episode: America is losing big on sports betting

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 15.1k ratings
  • 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 Statesa month ago
  • Essential

    This is my favorite podcast. The guests and topics are compelling and thought- provoking and I appreciate the way Sean Illing makes philosophy and complex ideas accessible. He also has a sense of humor, humility and genuine curiosity in a world where many hosts can’t wait for their turn to speak. He listens well, asks intelligent questions and argues in good faith when there is an argument to be had.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shimy 274
    Switzerlanda month ago
  • Inspiring

    The host, Sean Illing, guests, and topics NEVER disappoint. Each episode provokes new thoughts, ideas, and insights. Sean’s voice is clear and easy to listen to.

    P.S. Thank you VERY MUCH for your interview of Fara Dabhoiwala … I love sharing it politely in the comment section of FACEBOOK posts that are simplistic, stupid, laughable statements on freedom of speech.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Desimydog
    United Statesa month ago
  • One of the most important podcasts out right now.

    Sean does an incredible job diving into the complex discussions that the world needs to ponder. Every episode leaves me thinking and wanting to talk more with others. Keep up the great work Sean, America needs you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joe_Russell
    United Statesa month ago
  • They can’t see through their political bias.

    They approach academic topics with a predetermined bias. The “old” right didn’t fit into their identity politics so they made “new” right wing classifiers to broaden the boundaries created by the Democratic Party. They say a lot without saying much.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    GoldenBella
    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.

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.
Why TikTok matters
Q: Why is this app so freaking addictive?
TikTok effectively removes the need for users to search for content, as the algorithm predicts what they will want to see, thereby diminishing their agency.
What's worth remembering?
Q: Do we need to forget to forgive?
The conversation touches on how forgiveness may involve changing one's relationship with memories rather than erasing them.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
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Household Income
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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. 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 731 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. Barbara Walter
2. Charan Ranganath
3. Emily Baker-White
4. Bill McKibben
5. Fara Dabhoiwala
6. Ingrid Robeyns
7. Dan Wang
8. Laura Field

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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