Has your guest not ever heard of hegemonic cycles? You cannot start your analysis of our crumbling empire at 2016. The US is an inherently fascist colonial project that is overdue to collapse - Harris is a genocidal puppet for Bibi and Trump is deranged - yet Vox still pretends one is more evil than the other….

This may be the most complex issue of our time. I found the book My Promised Land to be a very interesting read.

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.

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.

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

Show features thoughtful discussions on many issues of the day - often from a creative angle. Definitely a refreshing alternative to the so many self-involved podcasts out there.

I adore this podcast- it is a relaxing listen but also provides insight and thoughtful debate on a wide variety of issues. I wish everyone would listen and then spend more time THINKING! Our world would be so much better off!

Sean’s point of view as a host may not be for everyone, but I love it. He asks great questions, allows plenty of time for the guest to answer, and explores life’s big questions. It’s a must for podcast fans who like considering the tough issues.

In latest podcast discussing the Supreme Court, Sean has conflated oral arguments about Seal Team 6 and the final rulings which preclude such immunity for those sort of acts. There was no credence paid to the majority opinion which detail how such acts would be extra-official. Just feels like an unthought fun, uncritical, left leaning echo chamber complaint fest about the Court. I’m a leftist institutionalist. I very much agree with the political arguments, but this just misled and omitted context to the actual constitutional matters. Really disappointed that this thoughtful podcast has taken such a political turn on a serious matter.

Illuminating & sobering episode. Chemerinsky explained the inherent threats in the constitution to our present democracy in a way that was accessible & understandable. Really appreciate that clarity. Terrific podcast-thank you for this.

Excellent Podcast. Highly recommend the episode with Writer John Ganz - 1992: The year politics broke. Might be the only real explanation of how we got to where we are with our politics.

But some are so profound it’s hard to believe they exist. Gaza, Camus and the Logic of Violence is one. Deadly serious and profound moral debate for those who wrestle with God. Sean Illing and Robert Zartasky, wide awake, walking Camus’ terrible path, confront the terror of history while the Sam Harris’ of the world turn around and throw up a puppet show for idiots. When Ezra and Vox get it right, they get it very right.

Take a listen for a nice trip out of the comments section - brilliant guests and excellent host. I learn so much every time I listen

They scoured resumes to find a host with one original thought in their head and this is the best they could come up with.

Overall the topics are excellent and conversations engaging and provocative.

Everyone is certainly entitled their own opinion. One of mine is that politics don’t belong on a podcast about life style & spirituality or even philosophy. All of those things are not politics. Just saying. Anyways my two cents & your one star. Good luck to ya though.

I just finished the episode with Sebastian Junger. I have been a listener for a long time. I would recommend this show to people who enjoy The Ezra Klein show. The episodes tackle topics that can be difficult to pin down. The most recent episode discussed the topic of the afterlife or lack there of, and as a secular Buddhist, I had chills a few times during the episode. The first was when Sebastian described an episode of “communication” that happened while he was dreaming. His dad was experiencing a medical crisis as I recall and he had a dream about it as it was happening. This happened to me with my cousin. He had a PTSD episode and rolled out of a moving vehicle. As this happened, I had a dream that I was in the desert being shot at. In the dream, I rolled out of a vehicle. I can still hear the voice in my head yelling that we were under fire. I woke up in a cold sweat, and I almost never have dreams that vivid. My mom described something similar with my aunt. She had a dream that my aunt was in trouble. It turns out my aunt had been mugged and left for dead by a river. I never have found a good explanation for these events, but it seems strange that events this specific could happen to multiple people, and it does suggest that we are missing at least part of the picture. Anyway, I love these conversations. I always feel more enlightened after each episode. Thank you for all you do!

Always thoughtful- such a wonderful way to start my day.

Interesting and high quality listening

Nutritious and delicious brain food served up with excellent guests. Highly recommend.

Makes other philosophy podcasts seem superficial

Sean is a really thoughtful, empathetic interviewer and the conversations he has with guests are insightful. Even when an episode title doesn’t immediately capture my interest, I always end up enjoying each one.

Just listen.

Each episode is so revealing and insightful that it’s difficult to describe how well prepared and executed this show is. Always worth the wait each week.

This is BY FAR the best podcast for people who think! Thanks to Sean and the entire crew. Each episode seems to be better than the last!

Great conversation with Fareed Zakeria on his Age of Revolutions new book, informative and insightful. Thank you.

What you are doing is so important! I just listened to the episode “The American Dream is a Pyramid Scheme” and I was just flabbergasted at the truth you were spitting. Thank you for telling us the truth about really important issues. And that episode led me to Jane Marie and her Podcast “The Dream” — which again, incredibly essential and challenging reporting. Thank all you journalists doing the hard work of investigating and reporting on the bad guys.

For fans of Plain English looking for something a little more philosophical, this is the podcast for you. It’s a small thing, but I like Sean’s pace and cadence with questions. Not too rapid fire.

I value this podcast more than any other I listen to. The breadth and depth of selected topics are unparalleled. I’m only glad Sean stopped asking the listeners to email him because I did and never heard back 😂

This podcast has become my go-to listen. I love the thought provoking guests and Sean is relatable and asks great questions. I’m always learning something new or getting inspiration. Thank you!

My deepest gratitude to you for showcasing this stunningly meaningful book. I read it over 20 years ago; at some level it’s lived in me since. Must watch the documentary and reread the book. Regards, Dan Torlone

I really appreciate this podcast. Interesting, engaging, sound—such a great resource. I’m often sending episodes to friends and family!

Stop. Talking about. Trump. You. Just. Giving. More. Creat. When. He should be in jail

Always thought-provoking. My favorite podcast!

I love how Sean is all over the board as far as topics and is willing to dive deep and be intellectually honest.

It keeps expanding the conversation. Big part of why I sub to VOX

Always interesting and thought provoking guests and discussions

I love the depth and realism of the convos. Keep up the good work!

This podcast is very thought provoking.

I particularly enjoyed the “Seeing ourselves through darkness” episode featuring Mariana Alessandri, who speaks meaningfully and expansively about emotions we often choose to ignore (e.g., pain, depression, and grief). Her insights on the human experience are moving.

Always interesting. Sean Illing is thoughtful, articulate and authentic. I always look forward to this podcast.

My favorite moment was with Jon Kabat-Zinn where Shaun asked about meditation being used as a tool to help us cope with a broken world rather than encouraging us fix the brokenness.

I love the content, the host, and the guests. Even subjects like cannibalism that I have no interest in learning about, I manage to stay engaged. I also appreciate that it’s short(ish). For some inane reason, people who make smart podcasts want to pontificate for 3+ hours about it. Who has time for that? Not I.

That Israel Palestine episode where he said the bombing was not genocidal. I mean wiping out an entire people can only be one thing.

I’ve long recommended this podcast, but have stopped doing so since listening to the episode on the Israeli siege of Gaza. For both parties to have claimed that this isn’t a genocide is blatant propaganda. There are mountains of evidence to prove otherwise. One need only scroll on social media for a couple minutes before finding pictures and videos of the mass extermination the Palestinian people are being subjected to. Honestly, it is such a shame that even this podcast has decided to participate in the mass, Israeli-fueled propaganda. Extremely disappointed.

Provative, thoughtful with a variety of interesting guests.

Sapolsky said in the 11-20-23 show that his position on the subject of free will was established as a teen and that he has thought this way for 50 years. It seems that open minded, curious intellectual development would be valuable among the philosophical elite.

That episode of a Muslim and a Jew discuss Israel is miserable. You guys are writers?! What do you write about? The absurdity of defining people and rules of engagements as if we are ruled by gods on mount olympics? You write about the definition of normalcy according to previous colonialist campaigns and pre-Geneva conventions? There are probably 10 different angles to engage with the topic better than that title inspired by “a jew and a muslim walk into a bar!” 🙄

I’m grateful to have found this podcast after wading through so much ego-addled “public intellectual” fare (paging Sam Harris). These are substantive conversations, and Sean Iling is a flexible thinker and clear communicator with many and varied interests. That he is not seeking my subscription dollars to build his personally branded empire bodes well for his long term trustworthiness. Bravo Sean, and bravo Vox.

I’ve been trying to figure out exactly how this show went wrong since Ezra Klein’s departure despite ample interesting topics. The lasted conversation with Michael Lewis on SBF came as a perfect example of how the host seemed incapable of (or not willing to?) understanding the the guest, and tried repeated to force hand him to somehow agree on his own view of the story, even though he’s much less knowledgeable about the whole thing; and the guest had offered his idea many times already. Unfortunately, this isn’t a rare incidents. Many of the potentially great conversations have been hindered by the host’s impulse (?) to debate a single contention, taking up a chunk of precious time which could be devoted to much broader and deeper understanding of the subject, whether or not we agree.