The Gray Area with Sean Illing

I appreciate the depth and breadth of Vox interviews. Still listen to Ezra Klein’s new podcast too, and like them both. I just listened to the latest interview about the new podcast “70 over 70”. With parents in this age range, now facing impending end of life due to serious medical issues, it’s been surprising to me how they do seem afraid to talk about it. This despite the fact that they are people of faith, who have practiced it their whole lives. I’ll be checking out the podcast. One thing that seems like it’s been on the increasing trend is the use of profanity in podcasts that I listen to, particularly American ones like this one and “Political Gabfest”. I guess it’s meant to impart being grounded and down to earth, “keeping it real” so to speak, or perhaps to emphasize emotions or just being more emphatic in what’s being commented on. But I do find it off putting and it does make me less impressed with whomever is using those choices, as in, “Really, your verbal fluency couldn’t have led you to a better word than that? Or is it a maturity issue?” Maybe it’s me - I’m a 50 year old Canadian healthcare professional, and perhaps my views don’t reflect the majority of listeners on this. But maybe they do...

This episode should be re-edited to piece together only Ta-Nehisi speaking. The value would be the same.

Sean is a great host - he is very thoughtful and actually engages with his guests without either just asking questions or making it about him. I appreciate he has a background in philosophy and really cares about the topics he covers. Even though I’m not interested in every episode initially, I listen anyway and he usually manages to turn it around for me. Some of these episodes have really changed the way I try to show up in the world (and this podcast is not preachy) - so for me I can’t give it a better review.

Just came across this podcast today because I was looking for information on how to be a better listener. I listen to the episode with Kate Murphy, I really enjoyed the conversation the pace of it. in terms of Kate's questions to keep in mind that she mentions towards the end of the episode I feel like I learned a lot about both speakers and listeners and how they felt.