logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
52m 32s

The price of keeping secrets

Vox
About this episode

Sean Illing talks with professor Michael Slepian, author of The Secret Life of Secrets. This new book explores secret-keeping behavior and its consequences, as well as how secrecy relates to trust. Sean and Michael talk about what things we keep secret, why we're so worried about keeping them secret, and the toll that secret-keeping can have on us. They also talk about how the issue of secrecy relates to authenticity, and our fears of being judged by others.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox

Guest: Michael Slepian (@michaelslepian), author; professor, Columbia Business School

References: 


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: Patrick Boyd
  • Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Aug 18
So, what exactly is the “New Right?”
A loose movement of radical intellectuals is driving American politics. They’re called the “New Right,” and they share a basic hostility to American liberal democracy, a real desire to fundamentally overhaul it, and real influence in the White House. But why do they think that? H ... Show More
51m 36s
Aug 11
America is losing big on sports betting
Almost every tech platform is designed to grab and hold your attention, to keep you clicking, scrolling, and buying for as long as possible. Sports gambling has become one of the clearest examples of this. The industry has created frictionless apps on your phone that let you bet ... Show More
53m 49s
Aug 4
It’s time to get weird
The internet was supposed to set us free. But somewhere along the way, it became a tool for surveillance, extraction, and control. What happened? And is there still time to reclaim the weird, untapped potential of the digital world? This week, Sean is joined by Douglas Rushkoff. ... Show More
1 h
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2018
Secrets 1 – Discover a Secret
Secrets is a show about the secrets we all carry inside of us. When Mohamed El Abed found out that he had a secret sister, it was 25 years before he could start putting the pieces together. Across six episodes of Secrets, you’ll hear Mohamed’s story, and meet both people who live ... Show More
33m 11s
Dec 2023
209. Dig the Hole Deeper
Christy tells us how a cop unknowingly helped her cover up a crime!  That, and a collection of other short secrets to round out the year.  THE SECRET ROOM | UNLOCKED Unlocked will be back with Sarah from “Escape from Gili T” on January 16th.  There are more shenanigans you must h ... Show More
9 m
Feb 2024
212. His Name Was Trouble
Angela crossed ethical lines when she fell in love with a patient. Complicating matters, she was a woman of color and he was a white supremacist facing 20 years in prison. PICTURES See the prison where Trouble was incarcerated.  Also, Angela and Trouble and their kids. They are w ... Show More
1h 15m
Jun 2022
The Psychology of Secrets, with Dr. Michael Slepian
#386: We all have our secrets.We keep some secrets from bosses, colleagues and clients, like the fact that we hope to retire early, change careers, or start a business.We keep other secrets from friends and family, like our income, net worth, spending habits and investing mistake ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 2022
173. Sex Commune
Delores tells us about the five years she spent in a sex commune.  How she became indoctrinated, what she saw and did, and how she broke free are her secrets. DIPSEA Get a 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/SECRET. FEALS Become a member at Feals.com/SECRET and you ... Show More
43m 20s
Aug 2022
174. Fleeing the Sex Commune
Delores moves into the sex commune and takes us inside. BETTER HELP Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/secret. FEALS Become a member at Feals.com/SECRET and you'll get 50% off your first order with free shipping. PICTURES See Delores today and a page from her diary. T ... Show More
44m 52s
Jul 2022
171. Light Embezzlement
While climbing the corporate ladder in her glitzy job, Jane managed to work two other jobs while on the clock.  How she transitioned from the city to the farm, and at what cost, is her secret. DIPSEA Get a 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/SECRET. FEALS For 50% o ... Show More
58m 53s
Apr 2023
191. Friend in Greed
 Sasha tells us about a calculating grifter who took over her uncle’s life, but did he get away with the spoils? PICTURES See Sasha, her family and her uncle.  She also proudly sent a picture of the Bose radio she stole from Jamie, that she still uses today. They are waiting for ... Show More
53m 37s