Listen "Michael Lewis on why Americans distrust experts"
Episode Synopsis
Sean Illing talks with writer Michael Lewis about why it is that Americans are so good at producing knowledge, but so bad at identifying and utilizing that knowledge — the central issue of the new season of his podcast "Against the Rules." They discuss who counts as an expert, some fundamental impediments to disseminating knowledge, and whether or not there is a possible future where Americans regain their trust in experts, institutions, and each other.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox
Guest: Michael Lewis, author
References:
Against the Rules with Michael Lewis podcast (Pushkin)
The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis (W.W. Norton; 2021 - paperback; 2022)
The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis (W.W. Norton; 2018)
The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium by Martin Gurri (Stripe; 2014)
Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.
Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts
This episode was made by:
Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox
Guest: Michael Lewis, author
References:
Against the Rules with Michael Lewis podcast (Pushkin)
The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis (W.W. Norton; 2021 - paperback; 2022)
The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis (W.W. Norton; 2018)
The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium by Martin Gurri (Stripe; 2014)
Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.
Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts
This episode was made by:
Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More episodes of the podcast The Gray Area with Sean Illing
It’s okay to not be okay
22/12/2025
Forgiveness is optional
15/12/2025
The pornification of everything
08/12/2025
What counts as progress?
01/12/2025
How to survive awkward encounters
17/11/2025
Truth in an age of doublethink
10/11/2025
The case against free will
03/11/2025
What the climate story gets wrong
27/10/2025
The Great Enshittening
20/10/2025
America chose violence. Now what?
13/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.