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The Gray Area with Sean Illing

The sun will save us

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Vox Media Podcast Network

Society & Culture, News, Politics, News Commentary, Philosophy

4.610.8K Ratings

🗓️ 22 September 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Bill McKibben has spent four decades warning us about climate change. Much of what he predicted has come true. And yet, his new book Here Comes the Sun is more hopeful than you might expect. That’s because, for the first time, we have a genuine alternative: Solar and wind energy are now the cheapest, fastest-growing sources of power on Earth. The revolution has already begun. This week, Sean is joined by McKibben to talk about the peril and promise of this moment. They explore how close we are to catastrophe, why each fraction of a degree of warming matters, and how the fossil fuel industry is fighting a desperate last stand. They also discuss the politics of energy in the age of Trump, why Texas and Utah may hold surprising lessons, and how cheap, abundant power could transform not just the climate fight but democracy itself. Host: Sean Illing (@SeanIlling) Guest: Bill McKibben, climate activist and author of Here Comes the Sun We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your questions and feedback help us make a better show. ⁠⁠This episode was made in partnership with Vox's Future Perfect team. Watch full episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. Listen ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Introducing the new Dell AI PC, powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor.

0:06.0

It helps do your busy work for you, so you can fast forward through designing presentations,

0:11.0

summarizing meeting notes, finding files, synthesizing data, organizing decks,

0:15.0

organizing multiple schedules, responding to James' long emails.

0:20.0

Leaving all the time in the world for the things you actually want to do, no offence, James.

0:26.4

Get a new Dell.com.uk slash AIPC.

0:32.5

Dell, how those ahead, stay ahead.

0:38.2

From Pushkin Industries, I'm Jonathan Goldstein, and heavyweight is back.

0:44.2

The new season is bigger than ever.

0:46.6

Bigger hopes?

0:47.6

I keep waiting for this moment.

0:50.6

When he says, Mom, I get it.

0:52.5

I'm sorry.

0:53.8

Bigger dreams. Tom Hanks wants to meet with you.

0:57.2

This is a real chance.

0:59.1

And bigger heartbreaks.

1:00.6

I thought it would be my movie moment.

1:05.8

And maybe he would even whisper in my ear.

1:07.7

I've always been in love with you.

1:09.7

Check out new episodes of heavyweight on

1:11.9

Apple Podcasts. Talking about climate change absolutely sucks. What is there to say? The planet keeps

1:25.2

heating up more and more. So many of the disasters we were warned about years ago are starting to pile on.

...

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