Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
642 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 64.9K ratingsHi, I’m Dax Shepard, and I love talking to people. I am endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human, and I find people who are vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings to be incredibly sexy. I invite you to join me as I explore other people’s stories. We will celebrate, above all, the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment. What qualifies me for such an endeavor? More than a decade of sobriety, a degree in Anthropology and four years of improv training. I will attempt to discover human “truths” without any laboratory work, clinical trials or data collection. I will be, in the great tradition of 16th-century scientists, an Armchair Expert.
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Episodes
Jimmy Kimmel Returns
September 18, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourJimmy Kimmel (Strike Force Five) is a talk show host and podcaster. Jimmy returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss how much the attic hasn’t changed in five years, what it’s like working with his competition on a podcast, and how much of a temper he doesn’t have. Jimmy and Dax talk about the state of trout fly fishing, what they think being retired from show business means, and how much they appreciate a good standup. Jimmy explains that he doesn’t accept comparisons to other talk show hosts...
Armchair Anonymous: School Dance
September 15, 2023 07:30 - 54 minutesDax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a school dance disaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mustafa Suleyman (on artificial intelligence)
September 14, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursMustafa Suleyman (The Coming Wave) is an artificial intelligence researcher, co-founder of DeepMind, and author. Mustafa joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he became interested in the concept of universal human rights, what deep learning is, and how machines can actually become creative. Mustafa and Dax talk about how close artificial intelligence is getting to matching the human brain, how people might feel about computers creating all content, and how AI might revolutionize the energy...
Synced: September 13th
September 13, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourIn this episode of Synced, Liz and Monica explore the change in the air regarding women's culture and Monica gives an update on her egg freezing journey, all while her dad's sim works overtime. They discuss listener questions on should one speak up when they don't like their close friend's significant other, when given the chance should one choose the gender of their child, and how to trust oneself when trying to move on while grieving a spouse. They also give a new dad advice on his daughter...
Idina Menzel
September 11, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursIdina Menzel is a singer and actor. Idina joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her scary theater accident, how her dad was a pajama salesman, and her feelings about the Happy Birthday song. Idina and Dax talk about how much pride goes into parenting, what being in relationships with other successful people is like, and her strategy for performing day after day. Idina explains how she views being a voice for people that she didn’t intend to be, why she has always wanted to do a stage dive, and...
Armchair Anonymous: Worst USA Trip
September 08, 2023 07:30 - 57 minutesDax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, international Armcherries tell us about their worst trip to the USA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amy Edmondson (organizational behavioral scientist)
September 07, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourAmy Edmondson (Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well) is a professor and author. Amy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why she was drawn to studying organizational learning, what psychological safety is, and how systems exist to make societies better. Amy and Dax talk about why working groups can have different interpersonal climates, the definition of learning behaviors, and what the three types of failure are. Amy explains that vulnerability can actually be a desirable trait, ...
Synced: i drizzle
September 06, 2023 07:30 - 40 minutesIn this episode of Synced, Liz explains “girl dinner”, they debate whether singles should set up other singles, they hear a very special voice memo and Monica peels back the layers of her “fear of the streets”. They discuss a listener’s question on how to cook the perfect roast chicken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Flightless Bird: Pizza
September 05, 2023 07:30 - 47 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier investigates pizza, one of America’s favorite foods. He discovers that around 76,000 pizza joints bring in $44 billion dollars each year in the US - where every day 13% of the population will eat a slice of pizza. David begins his journey in Los Angeles, as Rob takes him and Monica to a fancy pop-up called “Chain”. Here, chefs riff on chain food but with their own upgraded twists - and tonight it’s Pizza Hut! Next, David heads to New York to eat a v...
Jake Johnson Returns
September 04, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursJake Johnson is an actor, director, and podcaster. Jake returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss what he remembers about being on the show in the early days, why he stopped going to casinos, and how much he respects AA. Jake and Dax talk about why they wanted their daughters to learn self-defense, how they feel about doing manual labor, and how hard it can be to see the red flags in some situations. Jake explains how he is usually 5 years late to trends, what kind of advice he gives on his p...
Jim Farley (CEO of Ford)
August 31, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourJim Farley is the CEO of Ford. Jim joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what growing up in Argentina was like, how much he loved watching car races as a kid, and the time his dad sold the car he gifted him. Jim and Dax talk about their shared car nightmare, the stereotypes of being a car guy, and how to achieve positive car karma. Jim explains the hurdles of reengineering cars for electric, how Ford joining the Red Bull Formula 1 team came to be, and the generational differences in car cultur...
Synced: Third Location
August 30, 2023 07:30 - 51 minutesIn this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz chat about circumcision, power dynamics in relationships, and Liz shares details of her week-long second date. They discuss listener questions on inviting a toxic friend back into one's life, and how to handle one partner doing a 180 on the idea of having children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tig Notaro
August 28, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursTig Notaro is a comedian, actor, and podcaster. Tig joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what she thinks about cold plunges, how much she hates texting, and how having unconventional parents influenced her outlook on life. Tig and Dax talk about how much they value a sense of humor, how they pictured having kids, and their shared love of Edie Brickell. Tig explains why she started sharing her personal medical history on stage, her views on being a people-pleaser, and what she thinks being han...
Armchair Anonymous: Bad Landlord
August 25, 2023 07:30 - 42 minutesDax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a bad landlord experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Brian Chesky (co-founder of airbnb)
August 24, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursBrian Chesky (Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb) is a businessman and industrial designer. Brian joins the Armchair Expert to discuss if gaining success lived up to the expectations, how he struggled to fit in at school, and what his first startup was. Brian and Dax talk about what being an industrial designer means, where the idea for Airbnb came from, and how detrimental loneliness can be to human health. Brian explains why streamers were okay with losing money for years, how fast technology is ...
Synced: Bubbles
August 23, 2023 07:30 - 49 minutesIn this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz become armchair gynecologists, they ponder if a man should ever ask a woman where she lives, and Liz shares a scary experience she had in front of a Los Angeles drug store. They discuss listener questions on how to cope with changing friendships when children are added to the mix and challenge the age-old question - does money really buy happiness? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Flightless Bird: Storm Chasers
August 22, 2023 07:30 - 43 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird David Farrier investigates the incredibly American pastime of storm chasing. There are about 1200 tornados in America each year - for some, they are a source of fear and worry, but for others, they are a challenge to be bested. David travels to tornado alley, visiting Oklahoma in search of answers. There he meets storm chasers Stephanie & Justin Cox (@oklahoma_weather_couple) who talk about falling in love while chasing storms and their shared obsession with findi...
Jason Derulo
August 21, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourJason Derulo (Sing Your Name Out Loud) is a singer, songwriter, and author. Jason joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how intermittent fasting has affected his overall health, his experience going to a performance arts school, and paying his dues in the music industry. Jason and Dax talk about betrayal, how inspiring Taylor Swift is, and how the joy is in the journey. Jason explains how he broke his neck, his songwriting process, and his approach to get people to stop scrolling on social med...
Armchair Anonymous: Grateful for a Lie
August 18, 2023 07:30 - 44 minutesDax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they were grateful they lied. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Wendy Mogel
August 17, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursDr. Wendy Mogel (Nurture vs Nurture, Voice Lessons for Parents) is a clinical psychologist, author, and podcaster. Wendy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how interesting linguistics are, how she developed her confidence to talk to strangers, and why she is worried about the future of young men. Wendy and Dax talk about how to notice the signs of puberty, why they feel kids have fewer experiences growing up than they used to, and big daddy love. Wendy explains how parents can manage their ...
Synced: The O.W.
August 16, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourIn this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz question if modern women are replacing their intimate relationships with female friendships, they delve into the romance of Barnes & Noble, and they explore some Liz-isms. The two discuss listener questions on whether to expedite a marriage proposal and how to handle financial inequity in a marriage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nurture vs Nurture: Family #12: Denise & Ryan
August 15, 2023 07:30 - 56 minutesDr. Mogel speaks with family #12: Denise and Ryan and answers the question: Will our children hate us if we disagree about how to raise them? She also teaches us a new concept: Jimi Halloween. Make sure to subscribe to weekly episodes, dropping every Tuesday only on the Nurture vs Nurture feed. Just search “Nurture vs Nurture” on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Or visit bit.ly/wendymogel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Kristen Bell, by the grace of God, returns
August 14, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursKristen Bell is an actor, singer, philanthropist, and producer. Kristen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her career in the tabloids, how you need thick skin to be a parent, and going to channel two. Kristen and Dax talk about what they Google, her Bart Simpson laugh, and give an update on how much they each cry. Kristen explains what happened to them at the Boston airport, what being kind to people means, and how she responds to negative feedback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p...
Michael Waldman [Rerelease from 5/25/23]
August 10, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursMichael Waldman (The Supermajority, The Fight to Vote, The Second Amendment) is an attorney, presidential speechwriter, and author. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how the U.S. Supreme Court is involved in modern policymaking, what the concept of originalism is, and how extremism is influencing judges rulings on cases. Michael and Dax talk about the changes Congress can make to how justices are appointed, how public hearings have become spectacles for entertainment, and what role...
Synced: The Pins Have Pins
August 09, 2023 07:30 - 55 minutesIn this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz reminisce on how many times they’ve each held a hammer, Liz talks about settling into LA, and they debate the lengths one should go to turn a parasocial relationship into a real one. They discuss listener questions about being a people pleaser and how to find one's personal style. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Flightless Bird: Ice
August 08, 2023 07:30 - 47 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier investigates America’s obsession with ice. From excessive ice in drinks to the joy of frozen food, Farrier finds that ice is deeply American. Meeting with Reid Mitenbuler, the author of Bourbon Empire, David discovers the story of Frederic “the Ice King” Tudor, who dug up ice from the lakes of New England and got America, and the world, hooked on ice in the 1800s. Farrier then heads to New York to meet writer and academic Heidi Julavits, who muses a...
Robert Downey Jr. [Rerelease from 6/19/23]
August 07, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursRobert Downey Jr. (Downey’s Dream Cars, Sr., Iron Man) is an actor and producer. Robert joins the Armchair Expert to discuss their journey to becoming soulmates, how important it is to have deep meaningful relationships, and what acting process works best for him. Robert and Dax talk about what it’s like to have an addictive personality, finding closure with their fathers, and whether life is a joke or tragedy. Robert explains what prison was like, why he wanted to modernize his car collectio...
Phil Stutz [Rerelease from 1/5/23]
August 03, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursPhil Stutz (Stutz, The Tools) is a psychologist, therapist, and author. Phil joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what his experience was being the subject of a documentary, what it was like being a psychiatrist at Rikers Island prison, and how he can tell if someone is a narcissist. Phil and Dax talk about how abstract psychology can be, why people pursue perfection, and why it can be hard to ask for help from others. Phil explains why having structure in life is so important, how the world ...
Synced: M+R or L+D
August 02, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourIn this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz evaluate their wedding-to-funeral ratio, Monica talks about humiliating her dad and Dax joins the two, which instigates potty humor and a significant battle. They discuss listener questions on how to date as a single parent and how to fall out of “love” with a celebrity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Anna Kendrick [Rerelease from 1/9/23]
July 31, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursAnna Kendrick (Alice, Darling, Pitch Perfect, Trolls) is an actor. Anna joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience being in a toxic relationship, how she feels about the term “gaslighting,” and her strategies in dealing with a traumatic event. Anna and Dax talk about apologizing after having fights with friends, why people sometimes need to vent about their problems, and the dynamic of women being the breadwinners in relationships. Anna explains why she has travel anxiety, how it’s i...
David Sedaris [Rerelease from 10/7/21]
July 27, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourDavid Sedaris is an author and comedian. David joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his new book A Carnival of Snackery, why he can get away with saying things other people can’t say, and how he takes five mile walks at midnight. David and Dax talk about the things they would get into before sobriety, knowing where every bathroom in New York City is, and how he is just never offended by anything. David explains that he loves when people are rude to him in real life and what he does when he's ...
Synced: We’re Back
July 26, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourIt’s been almost a year since Monica and Liz took over the attic for Race to 35, a podcast produced by the Armchair Umbrella on egg freezing. They are back for a weekly podcast, Synced. In this inaugural episode, Liz kicks it off with a bang by limping into the attic and Monica is forced to re-visit her fertility journey. The two answer listener questions about complicated family dynamics, how to split a group check, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Flightless Bird: School Cafeterias
July 25, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourThis week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier goes behind the scenes of the food that’s dished up to 30 million American kids at the school cafeteria. Back in New Zealand, they don't have school cafeterias, so all he knows is what he's learned from Euphoria and Saved By The Bell. In Hemet, Farrier meets Kate Kloet, assistant director of nutrition services for Hemet Unified School District. Donning a hairnet, she takes Farrier into the industrial kitchen where food is made for 23,000 kids in the...
Matt Damon [Rerelease from 8/2/21]
July 24, 2023 07:30 - 2 hoursMatt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Ocean’s Eleven, Stillwater) is an Oscar Award-Winning and Golden Globe Award-Winning actor, producer, and screenwriter. Matt joins the Armchair Expert to talk about his experience writing Good Will Hunting with Ben Affleck, what it was like attending the Monaco Grand Prix with Brad Pitt, and how your subjective experience changes when you become famous. Matt explains how easy it is to be generous when things are going your way, how he picked his movies based on ...
Flightless Bird: PSA / Farrier Takes Flight
July 11, 2023 07:30 - 33 minutesAn update on Flightless Bird! David explains to Monica and Rob why he’s had to take flight to New Zealand. Defeated by the US healthcare system and his bad health insurance plan, David has temporarily returned to Aotearoa, New Zealand for some minor back surgery! This has disrupted the usual smooth flow of making the show, so for July and August, Flightless Bird will arrive fortnightly instead of weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Flightless Bird: Independence Day
July 04, 2023 07:30 - 30 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to investigate what the heck is going on with Independence Day, one of America’s 11 officially mandated holidays. What makes this day so American and how is he meant to spend it? To learn about Independence Day the day, Farrier turns to Independence Day the movie. Farrier talks to film critic David Chen of DecodingEverything.com to find out what made this film so patriotic it was literally named after the 4th of July. Farrier then tracks do...
Flightless Bird: Attics & Basements
June 27, 2023 07:30 - 58 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier realizes that New Zealand doesn’t have attics or basements, so sets out to discover why so many of America’s 333 million homes do. David talks to Stephen Fox, an architectural historian and a lecturer at the Rice School of Architecture in Houston, who explains the practical reasons for these spaces, as well as why they’ve turned into habitable spaces. David then talks to filmmaker and architect Giorgio Angelini about what these spaces mean culturall...
Flightless Bird: Electric Kettles
June 20, 2023 07:30 - 44 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to discover why America is yet to fully embrace the electric kettle. Why does America insist on the stovetop kettle when it could be boiling its water so much faster? To find out, David talks to Bruce Richardson, a tea master who founded Elmwood Inn Fine Teas in Kentucky, and wrote a book called “The New Tea Companion.” Bruce is a man obsessed with the correct boiling point of water, whose worst enemy is the microwave. Richardson teaches Da...
Flightless Bird: DMV Pt II
June 13, 2023 07:30 - 42 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier attempts to get over the trauma of his last trip to the DMV, where Monica Padman’s dirty Prius ruined everything. Will David finally get his license or are he and Monica doomed to fail for all eternity? To help him on his quest, Farrier talks to the head of the California DMV, Steve Gordon. Gordon was brought in four years ago by the governor of LA, Gavin Newsom, to sort out a DMV plagued by issues - and Farrier figures he might have some tips. Or, ...
Flightless Bird: Beavers
June 06, 2023 07:30 - 39 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David becomes fixated on the beaver, the rodent that’s become synonymous with Buc-ees, the giant American gas station. But David quickly learns there is so much to the beaver, the biggest rodent in the United States. With over 15 million of them spread over North America, they were once hunted almost to extinction for their pelts. David talks to Leila Philip, author of Beaverland, an incredible book about how the beaver transformed America. David learns that the ...
Flightless Bird: Drug Rehab
May 30, 2023 07:30 - 34 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David sets out to look at drug rehab in the state of Florida. According to the CDC, since 1999 over 932,000 people have died from a drug overdose. Since 1999, overdoses involving opioids have increased eight times. With those stats came an exploration of drug rehab facilities - many of which gamed the system and became corrupt. Why did Florida end up leading America in having the most drug centers per capita? What went wrong and has it been put right? To find out...
Flightless Bird: Exotic Pets
May 23, 2023 07:30 - 49 minutesIn this week's Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to understand Florida’s obsession with exotic pets. Why does the sunshine state have more exotic animal species than any other state and, quite possibly, than any other country? David discovers that there are about 50 different reptile species now thriving in Florida - most of them imports. With that in mind, he explores the Burmese python, an escaped imported creature that is now eating alligators out in the Everglades, taking the positi...
Flightless Bird: The Villages
May 16, 2023 07:30 - 50 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David sets off for The Villages, America’s biggest retirement community, home to over 100 thousand people over the age of 55. What lies in this mysterious land spread out over about 32 square miles, an area bigger than Manhattan? David discovers the Villages are so big, they get their own designation on the census. Taking a tour with a resident, Farrier discovers golf courses, pickleball courts, grocery stores, banks, and a roading system just for golf carts. And...
Flightless Bird: EPCOT vs Universal
May 09, 2023 07:30 - 46 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David continues his Florida series by going to EPCOT, Disney’s “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” Joined by two Disney Adults, Elizabeth and Patrick, David eats his way around the world, and discovers why many also choose to drink their way around the world. Along the way, Farrier discovers Figment, a Disney character that only exists in EPCOT. After finding out why no one is allowed to die in Disney World, Farrier heads back to LA to compare Disney ...
Flightless Bird: Alligators
May 02, 2023 07:30 - 50 minutesIn this week's Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to discover Florida’s relationship with its 2,000 crocodiles and whopping 1.25 million alligators. Traveling to America’s oldest city, St Augustine, Farrier visits the Alligator Farm to discover why crocs are more feisty than gators, and what food they like eating. He then dives headfirst into the phenomenon of Florida Man, after discovering a man high on bath salts once climbed into the very croc enclosure he’s now looking at! Learn mor...
Danny Ric + Daxy Shep “eff won” Teaser
May 01, 2023 07:30 - 10 minutesSubscribe to eff won with DRS by searching "eff won with DRS" wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes every week. Enjoy a preview of the conversation between Dax and Danny, scantily dressed, with a bit of F1, a dash of Pulp From The Paddock, and a bazillion giggles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Flightless Bird: Spiritualists
April 25, 2023 07:30 - 44 minutesIn this week's Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to the “psychic capital of America,” Cassadaga. On the way, he comes across his first Big Tent Revival, so he stops to find out what’s going on. Eventually winding his way to Cassadaga, Farrier encounters a group of Americans who not only believe in life on the other side of death, but the fact that you can communicate with those who have crossed over. David discovers Spiritualism, a religion that once boasted 8 million followers in Ameri...
Flightless Bird: Gladesmen
April 18, 2023 07:30 - 57 minutesIn this week’s Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to Florida’s south, deep into the Everglades, in search of the men who live in the glades: Gladesmen. Descending by airboat into the wet marshlands, David discovers he’s on a giant river 100 miles long and 60 miles wide. Surrounded by alligators, bugs, birds and fish, his guide Steve - a third-generation gladesman - takes David to a “camp” - the place where gladesmen live. While there David discovers the legend of the skunk ape, Florida’s...
Flightless Bird: Eggs
April 11, 2023 07:30 - 50 minutesIn this week's Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to understand why Americans put their eggs in the fridge. Why the fridge, when the rest of the planet puts them in the pantry? David learns that each year, each American eats an average of 277 eggs and that America has enough chickens to provide each American with at least an egg a day. David then discovers a plethora of organizations exist around the humble egg, from the International Egg Commission to the American Egg Board. After learn...
Flightless Bird: Movies
April 04, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourIn this week’s Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to understand how Americans interact with movies. Motivated by watching Nicole Kidman’s heartfelt introduction before every movie at the AMC theater chain, Farrier sets out to understand the other big chains like Regal. How are these chains enticing people in the door? He finds that AMC has the Stubs A-List, and Regal has Regal Unlimited. Then Farrier talks to Stacy Spikes, the founder and brains behind MoviePass - a subscription service ...