Vox

Will I ever want to have kids? | The Gray Area - September 14, 2026 - Vox

Why does it feel so hard to start a family today? How much of that is truly a personal choice?

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In this episode of The Gray Area, guest host Christine Emba sits down with journalist Anna Louise Sussman to discuss her new book, Inconceivable: The Impossibility of Family in an Age of Uncertainty. Together, they look past the surface-level "cost of living" arguments to explore how economic volatility, climate anxiety, and the commodification of reproduction are reshaping the way millennials and Gen Z think about parenthood.

00:00 Intro

01:43 Generational uncertainty

03:34 Empowerment of choosing to parent

08:54 “Project me” and parenting

15:36 Structural infertility and climate anxieties

30:18 Financialization of fertility care

39:39 Is uncertainty pushing more people away from parenthood?

Guest Host Christine Emba, columnist and author

Guest: Anna Luise Sussman, author Inconceivable: The Impossibility of Family in an Age of Uncertainty

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Five things you need to know for the 2026 midterms | America, Actually - September 12, 2026 - Vox

With the 2026 midterms fast approaching, we’re asking a simple question: What actually matters to voters right now?

In this midterm study guide, Vox’s Astead Herndon breaks down five forces shaping the election cycle. He examines the shifting foundations of both major parties—from Donald Trump’s rising unpopularity over inflation and foreign policy, to the ideological civil war within the Democratic base. Plus, Astead answers your questions about the growing influence of AIPAC funding, why "affordability" has become the central message for both parties, how data centers are triggering mass voter anxiety over the future of AI, and what Trump’s executive orders mean for the future of mail-in voting and election integrity.

America, Actually publishes video episodes every Saturday tackling key issues in politics, culture, and the economy. Subscribe to Vox’s YouTube channel to get them. Listen to episodes of America, Actually on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.

If you enjoy our reporting and want to learn more, sign up for Astead’s weekly newsletter, Midterms, Actually. Just go to www.vox.com/midtermsactually to learn more, and get in-depth analysis about this year’s election right to your inbox.

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The truth behind the millennial "midlife crisis" | The Gray Area - September 11, 2026 - Vox

Is "adulthood" a moving target? For millennials, hitting the milestones of the past—homeownership, secure careers, and financial independence—feels tougher than ever. We aren't just having our individual midlife crises; we are simultaneously navigating an economic, cultural, and existential crisis, too.

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Guest host Jonquilyn Hill sits down with Amil Niazi, columnist at The Cut, to explore why this stage of life feels so precarious. From the domino effect of the 2008 financial crisis and the collapse of the traditional career path, to the pressures of the "sandwich generation" — caretaking for both children and aging parents — we break down why the millennial experience is fundamentally different from generations past.

00:00 Intro

01:43 The millennial economic domino effect

04:50 Redefining adulthood

07:45 Quarterlife vs midlife crisis

14:04 Is it late-stage capitalism?

21:42 The sandwich generation

38:24 Choosing optimism

Host: Jonquilyn Hill, host of Explain It To Me

Guest: Amil Niazi, columnist The Cut

And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday.

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How to be less neurotic | The Gray Area - September 7, 2026 - Vox

If you could change anything about your personality, anything at all, what would it be? And why would you want to change it?

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Writer Olga Khazan spent a year trying to answer those questions, and documented the experience in her new book Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change.

In this episode, which originally aired in March of 2025, Sean speaks with Olga about the science of personality change, the work it takes to change yourself, and what makes up a personality, anyway.

00:00 Intro

02:16 What is ‘personality?’

08:07 Neuroticism and you

15:31 The ‘best’ personality

19:52 The science of personality change

29:57 Is being ‘well-adjusted’ always good?

31:38 Practical ways to make changes

Host: Sean Illing (@SeanIlling)

Guest: Olga Khazan, author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change.

And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday.

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Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.

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