Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
642 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 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
Flightless Bird: Disney Adults
May 31, 2022 07:30 - 49 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David sets out to discover how Disney’s parks and experiences division made 17 billion dollars last year - seeing 77 million people through its rollercoasters, rides, and massive queues. Joined by Monica, David tries to figure out what Disney Adults are all about, and why they love those Mickey Mouse ears so much. David talks to a hardcore Disneyland fan to learn about Disney’s biggest secrets, including SEA - the hidden backstory worked into every Disney Park on...
Flightless Bird: Toilets
May 24, 2022 07:30 - 56 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David sets out to discover why the water level on American toilets is terrifyingly high, almost filling up the entire toilet bowl. Joined by Monica, he tries to figure out why it’s so hard to find a public restroom and why the gaps in the doors are so big. David talks to urban sociologist and toilet expert Harvey Molotch, who explains why public restrooms unchanging - segregated into male and female sections - seem to be locked in time. We discover why so many ho...
Flightless Bird: Religion
May 17, 2022 07:30 - 58 minutesThis week on Flightless Bird, David sets out to understand religion in America. Joined by Dax and Monica, he tries to figure out why over 200 million Americans are Christians, and how uniquely Americanized this religion has become - with franchises, brands, and celebrity endorsements. David talks to Mike McHargue - a Baptist who became an atheist who then became a Christian again. We discover how someone can love both Christianity and science - and you may be very surprised to learn your brai...
Introducing... Flightless Bird with David Farrier
May 13, 2022 07:30 - 5 minutesArmchair Umbrella and David Farrier introduce you to Flightless Bird, a show that follows kiwi journalist David Farrier as he embarks on a quest to understand American culture, after getting accidentally marooned here. From football to flags, religion to burgers, David wants to learn about the things that make America tick. “Why do adults love Disneyland so much?” and “why are American toilets filled to the brim with water?” are just a few of the important questions he’ll pose. Each episode s...
We are supported by... the Future is Female
September 08, 2021 07:30 - 1 hourWe Are Supported By, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Bonus Episode: The Future is Female Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are supported by... Sheryl Sandberg
September 01, 2021 07:30 - 55 minutesWe Are Supported By, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 10: Sheryl Sandberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are supported by... Reese Witherspoon
August 27, 2021 07:30 - 1 hourWe Are Supported By, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 9: Reese Witherspoon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are supported by... Kim Kardashian West
August 11, 2021 07:30 - 1 hourWe Are Supported By, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 8: Kim Kardashian West Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are supported by... Abby Wambach
August 04, 2021 07:30 - 1 hourWe Are Supported By, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 7: Abby Wambach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are supported by... Esther Duflo
July 28, 2021 07:30 - 1 hourWe Are Supported By, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 6: Esther Duflo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are supported by... Diane von Furstenberg
July 23, 2021 07:30 - 51 minutesWe are supported by, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 5: Diane von Furstenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Shattered Glass: Samantha Power
July 14, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 70.3 MBShattered Glass, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 4: Samantha Power
We are supported by... Samantha Power
July 14, 2021 07:30 - 1 hourWe are supported by, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 4: Samantha Power Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Shattered Glass: Oprah Winfrey
July 07, 2021 07:30 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBShattered Glass, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 3: Oprah Winfrey
We are supported by... Oprah Winfrey
July 07, 2021 07:30 - 47 minutesWe are supported by, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 3: Oprah Winfrey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
PREVIEW: Barack Obama
July 07, 2021 05:30 - 4 minutes - 3.8 MBPresident Obama joins us to discuss the expectations that were set on him from his mother, being guarded by LeBron James in a pickup basketball game at the White House, and Dax has an update on where you can hear this full conversation plus all episodes of Armchair Expert for free.
Shattered Glass: Malala Yousafzai
June 30, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 70.9 MBShattered Glass, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 2: Malala Yousafzai
We are supported by... Malala Yousafzai
June 30, 2021 07:30 - 1 hourWe are supported by, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 2: Malala Yousafzai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are supported by... Gloria Steinem
June 23, 2021 07:30 - 1 hourWe are supported by, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 1: Gloria Steinem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Shattered Glass: Gloria Steinem
June 23, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 64 MBShattered Glass, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman is a 10 episode limited series podcast. Each episode deep dives with a woman who has put a crack in the glass ceiling. Episode 1: Gloria Steinem
Introducing... Shattered Glass
June 22, 2021 07:30 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBThe producers of Armchair Expert present a new 10 episode podcast, Shattered Glass with hosts Kristen Bell and Monica Padman. Shattered Glass refers to the glass ceiling that women everywhere have struggled to break since the women's rights movement. In this podcast, Kristen and Monica will talk to a woman each episode who has made a significant crack in the ceiling. They will talk to women in many fields - entrepreneurship, entertainment, sports, politics and activism - and during these conv...
Introducing... We Are Supported By
June 22, 2021 07:30 - 21 minutesThe producers of Armchair Expert present a new 10 episode podcast, We Are Supported By... with hosts Kristen Bell and Monica Padman. In this podcast, Kristen and Monica will talk to a woman each episode who has made a significant crack in the ceiling. They will talk to women in many fields - entrepreneurship, entertainment, sports, politics and activism - and during these conversations, they will talk through their guests' accomplishments, struggles, points of resilience, inspiration and fear...
Luke Wilson
June 21, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 81.6 MBLuke Wilson (12 Mighty Orphans, The Royal Tenenbaums, Idiocracy) is an actor. Luke joins the Armchair Expert to discuss cameramen being the coolest people on set, his interest in reading about music, and growing up as the youngest brother in Texas. Luke and Dax talk about wishing they had bought property in Austin back in the ’90s, being fascinated with other people’s acting process, and having to be reminded about storylines for their acting roles. Luke explains how he got involved in workin...
Fresh
June 18, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBFresh (Richfresh, Henry Mask) is a fashion designer based in Los Angeles. Fresh joins the Armchair Expert to talk about getting into fashion in middle school because he was told he didn’t dress well, teaching himself how to tailor suits because no one would apprentice him, and being the youngest and only black tailor in most shops in New York. Fresh explains how he ended up in a homeless shelter because of his drug addiction, raising a daughter on his own, and becoming a symbol of alpha male...
Barry Meier
June 17, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 71.2 MBBarry Meier (Spooked, Pain Killer) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and a former New York Times journalist. Barry joins the Armchair Expert to discuss investigating the opioid crisis, how Big Pharma played a role in perpetuating the problem, and the depths in which people will go to make money on people’s addictions. Barry and Dax talk about the modern-day private spy industry, news media bias, and how the spread of misinformation has shaped the political landscape. Barry explains how spy ...
Jessica Biel
June 14, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 93.4 MBJessica Biel (7th Heaven, The Sinner, Cruel Summer) is an actress and producer. Jessica joins the Armchair Expert to discuss having a baby during the pandemic, her experience on a hit sitcom early in her career, and starting her own production company at 22 years old. Jessica and Dax talk about being typecast in acting roles, trying to sell their tv scripts to studios, and Jessica’s attraction to her husband Justin Timberlake. Jessica explains that she has always been a people pleaser, whethe...
Chris Bosh
June 10, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 90.2 MBChris Bosh is an eleven-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion, and an Olympic gold medalist. Chris joins the Armchair Expert to talk about growing up in Dallas, what it was like being 6’ 11” in high school, and going to Robotics Club before basketball practice. Chris and Dax discuss young athletes learning how to manage their money, winning championships with your friends, and how much they both love Austin. Chris talks about being forced into early retirement because of health issues, findin...
Russell Brand
June 07, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 78.2 MBRussell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Revelation, Under the Skin) is an English comedian, actor, podcaster, writer, and activist. Russell joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how addiction is just amplified attachment, his tendency to use material means to resolve his spiritual issues, and his initial reluctancy about recovery. Dax and Russell talk about their relationship with women, their shared impulse to move towards chaos, and the importance of valuing your inner life more than your ...
Armchaired & Dangerous: UFOs
June 04, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBDavid Farrier exposes Monica and Dax to a new conspiracy theory each month. Today’s episode: UFOs
Bubba Wallace
June 03, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 73.2 MBBubba Wallace is a professional stock car racing driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. Bubba joins the Armchair Expert to talk about growing up in North Carolina, learning to race in his Dad’s go-kart, and how he was more interested in playing basketball as a kid. Dax and Bubba discuss the mental strength needed to be a race car driver, the Confederate flag being banned by NASCAR, and becoming an activist for cultural change in his sport. Bubba talks about having Michael Jordan as his new boss, wa...
Vincent D'Onofrio Returns
May 31, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 90.5 MBVincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket, Jurassic World, Mutha) is an actor and author. Vincent returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss his new book of short poems, his acting process to find his character’s voice, and being a perfectionist about learning his lines. Vincent and Dax talk about their love for Chris Pratt, their scuba diving experiences, and that they want to collaborate on a project involving Dax’s drawings. Vincent explains that he never gets nervous around other actors and th...
Susan Stryker
May 27, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 89.3 MBSusan Stryker is a professor, author, filmmaker, and theorist whose work focuses on gender and human sexuality. Susan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the transgender experience in today’s modern world, consulting on the Lady and the Dale docuseries, and how transgender hate is rooted in racism, colonization, and oppression. Susan and Dax talk about the history of criminalization of non-reproductive sexuality, the cross-cultural view of transgender people, and what transmisogyny means. Su...
Julianna Margulies
May 24, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 92.4 MBJulianna Margulies (ER, The Good Wife, Sunshine Girl) is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award-winning actress. Julianna joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her parents splitting up when she was young, growing up in Paris, and how her husband is the perfect person for her after a lot of difficult relationships. Julianna talks about shooting her first movie in Prague with Steven Seagal, her experience working on ER with George Clooney, and wanting to write an actor’s handbook f...
Yusef Salaam & Ethan Herisse
May 21, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBYusef Salaam (Exonerated Five, Better Not Bitter) and Ethan Herisse (When They See Us) both join the Armchair Expert to discuss the impact that the Netflix series has had on popular culture and how their friendship has grown over the years. Yusef talks about not being bitter about his experience in prison, the impact his mother had on him, and how he used meditation to get through incarceration. Ethan discusses moving to LA when he was 12 to pursue acting, narrating Yusef’s new book, and bei...
Daniel Kahneman
May 20, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 93.5 MBDaniel Kahneman is a psychologist, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Daniel joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the complexity of human nature, studying judgment and decision-making, and his experiments involving loss aversion. Daniel explains that memories can play tricks on our minds when remembering experiences and how to avoid noise and bias in the corporate hiring process. Daniel recounts his childhood growing up in Nazi-occupie...
Jonathan Tucker
May 17, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 89.8 MBJonathan Tucker (Parenthood, Kingdom, Debris) is an actor. Jonathan joins the Armchair Expert from his 1989 Cadillac DeVille to discuss his plan to live in his van before the pandemic happened, growing up in tough Charlestown Boston, and how the neighborhood has changed over the years. Jonathan explains how codeswitching led to acting, getting into ballet at a young age, and how he wants his children to be inspired by their multi-cultural background. Jonathan and Dax discuss getting in shape...
Prince Harry
May 13, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 87.8 MBPrince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is a member of the British royal family. Prince Harry joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how to approach mental health issues, growing up with privilege, and how healing it is to perform a service for someone. Harry discusses how much like the Truman Show his life is, unconscious bias, and how people can change their mindset once they acknowledge it. Harry talks about his time in the military service, how it opened his eyes to the trauma people face around the ...
Seth Rogen Returns
May 10, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 81 MBSeth Rogen is an actor, writer, producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Seth returns to Armchair Expert to discuss his approach for writing his new book, how awful weed paraphernalia is, and why he started his high-end weed company. Seth and Dax discuss why weed was stigmatized for years, why it should never have been illegal in the first place, and how he’s not afraid to hurt racist people’s feelings. Seth explains getting started in comedy by writing jokes about his grandparen...
Armchaired & Dangerous: Simulation Theory
May 07, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBDavid Farrier exposes Monica and Dax to a new conspiracy theory each month. Today’s episode: Simulation Theory
Kwame Onwuachi
May 06, 2021 07:30 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBKwame Onwuachi is a James Beard award-winning chef and author. Kwame joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his experience as a contestant and judge on Top Chef, writing his first book, and cooking for Obama, Oprah, and Dave Chappelle. Kwame and Dax talk about their shared experience growing up in a single-mother household and how as a kid, Kwame was sent to Nigeria for two years to live with his Grandpa. Kwame explains that opening his own restaurants has taught him how to be a better leader ...
Kelly Osbourne
May 03, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 97.6 MBKelly Osbourne is an English television personality, actress, singer, model, and fashion designer. Kelly joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how her reality show changed her life, her history with addiction, and how Dax used to attend meetings at her house. Kelly discusses becoming ruthless after having her heart broken, what it was like always having a camera around, and how she can’t watch the Britney documentary. Kelly and Dax discuss the fellowship of the AA program, relapsing when she w...
Alexi Pappas
April 29, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 85.3 MBAlexi Pappas is a Greek-American Olympic runner, filmmaker, actor, and writer. Her debut memoir-in-essays, Bravey was published in January 2021. Alexi joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience competing at the Rio Olympics, getting into running later in life, and the impact her father had in her life after her mom passed away. Alexi and Dax discuss post-Olympic situational depression, treating mental health the same as physical health, and striving to achieve as many goals in life ...
William Jackson Harper
April 26, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 80.2 MBWilliam Jackson Harper (The Good Place, Midsommar, Dark Waters) is an Emmy-nominated actor and playwright. William joins the Armchair Expert to discuss feeling like an outsider growing up in a Dallas suburb, not being good at anything as a kid except acting, and his father passing away at a young age. William and Dax discuss him moving to New York to pursue a Broadway career, how he never felt like the television and film world would accept him, and his many bad haircuts over the years. Will...
Dorothy Brown
April 23, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 66.3 MBDorothy Brown is an author and law professor at Emory University. Dorothy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her new book “The Whiteness of Wealth” and how race relates to taxes and wealth inequality. Dorothy and Dax discuss the problems with the current tax system and solutions to the systemic racism of tax law. Dorothy explains the differences in married couples filing for taxes, homeownership value, and how wages are invested among white and black communities.
Andrew Yang
April 22, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 73.1 MBAndrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, non-profit leader, and currently running for Mayor of New York City. Andrew joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up as a first generation Asian American in the 80’s, being an older dad to young kids, and running for mayor of New York City. Andrew and Dax discuss universal basic income and how artificial intelligence technology is threatening American jobs. Andrew explains the concept of human-centered capitalism, his ideas about ...
Macklemore
April 19, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 101 MBMacklemore is Grammy Award-winning rapper and songwriter. Macklemore joins the Armchair Expert to talk about growing up in a progressive neighborhood in Seattle, falling in love with music when he heard the Beverly Hills Cops soundtrack, and why he chose East Coast Rap over West Coast Rap. Dax and Macklemore open up about their journeys with sobriety and Mackelmore explains how fame fueled his addictions. Macklemore discusses the relationship between artistic ability and narcissism, his new...
Michael Moss
April 15, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 83.2 MBMichael Moss is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss food addiction, the invention of processed food, and what government oversight of the food industry would look like. Michael and Dax discuss free will when it comes to diet, how big food companies use marketing tactics to influence our choices, and that obesity is a crude measure of health. Michael explains the phenomena of dieting and how inco...
Hank Azaria
April 12, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 100 MBHank Azaria (The Simpsons, Brockmire, The Birdcage) is an Emmy-award winning actor and comedian. Hank joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his addiction and recovery, being mistaken as someone in the upholstery business, and the controversy around his Simpson’s character. Hank and Dax discuss getting in touch with your emotions to help with conflict resolution and how addiction is really just an obsession. Hank talks about his perspective on white privilege, how he’s learned to smile more wh...
Armchaired & Dangerous: Cannibalism
April 09, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 73.9 MBDavid Farrier exposes Monica and Dax to a new conspiracy theory each month. Today’s episode: Cannibalism.
Cannibalism
April 09, 2021 07:30 - 1 hour - 73.9 MBDavid Farrier exposes Monica and Dax to a new conspiracy theory each month. Today’s episode: Cannibalism.