The Gray Area with Sean Illing - Podcast Rankings and reviews

This is a stimulating, engrossing podcast covering a really wide range of topics. The host is excellent, and a lot of great guests.

Love the show and in depth discussions. I just listened to the cynicism episode. I know it’s not a political show or discussion but I found it really interesting that US cynicism indicators rose in 2018. There was a crucial change in 2016 that was feeding into the cynical world view, and it’s closely repeated to the rise of fascism, which needs a cynical population that will stop trusting institutions so that an authoritarian can come into power. The second thing of note was the countries that tend to have lower cynicism and are generally happier. I knew before they said it that it would be Nordic countries. Countries with strong social safety nets, which one political party in the US has spent decades making into a bad thing. A party rooted in the dog eat dog, robber baron history.

The best interview about this book I’ve heard yet. Sean was so open and it felt like listening to a real, raw conversation between caring and passionate people.

I deeply enjoyed the interview with Musa al-Gharbi, whose thinking and speaking about wokeness not only provided a much needed historical view and broad context, but also showed a rare quality of fair-mindedness and deep reflection.