A.J. Jacobs (The Puzzler, The Year of Living Biblically) is a journalist and author. A.J. joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he loves puzzles so much, why he decided to follow every rule in the Bible literally to study religion, and what happened after he read the entire collection of Encyclopedia Britannica. A.J. and Dax talk about what their favorite riddles are, what it's like to be a clue in the New York Times crossword, and how it's human nature to want to gossip about each other. A.J...
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 434
Josh Brolin (Outer Range, No Country for Old Men, Goonies)is an actor. Josh joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what he thinks it means to be masculine, why he decided to get sober, and how he learned to have humility. Josh and Dax talk about what it was like to be in the LA punk scene, why murder documentaries are so intriguing, and how they have made many friends having deep political conversations. Josh explains how he got his iconic role in No Country for Old Men, what having status means t...
Apr 25, 2022•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 433
Floyd Abrams is a Supreme Court lawyer with a focus on First Amendment Rights. Floyd joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what the First Amendment actually says, how public members of the legal system should be, and how much people can give medical advice legally. Floyd and Dax discuss how the idea of what privacy means has changed, who can technically be sued for libel, and how the media should be protected regardless of opinion. Floyd explains what you can't say if you settle a case, how socia...
Apr 21, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 431
Craig Robinson (The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine, Knocked Up) is an actor, musician, and comedian. Craig joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he really wanted to be a musician instead of a comedian, how he left a full-time teaching job to pursue an acting career, and learning to trust his improv skills. Craig and Dax talk about why doing stand-up comedy is so appealing, how they have both turned down good money for bad roles, and why Craig has no personal section on Wikipedia. Craig explains...
Apr 18, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 430
Monica and Dax talk to Armcherries! In todays episode, they cover the topic: abnormal massage stories. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 15, 2022•39 min
Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Freaks and Geeks, Minx) is a director, writer, and producer. Paul joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his tendency for making female-led movies, why he loves gin so much, and why he wears suits every day. Paul and Dax talk about how they attended the same dinner party once, how writing for film and television differ, and why making movies that challenge genres is so important. Paul explains how he got admitted to USC film school, how he was once a Ronald McDonald, and wh...
Apr 14, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 429
Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders, Batman Begins, Red Eye) is an actor and producer. Cillian joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how Irish culture can be both rebellious and obedient, how he wanted to play music before becoming an actor, and what being a father to two boys is like. Cillian and Dax talk about how his character on Peaky Blinders has evolved, how his relationship with Christopher Nolan has progressed over the years, and why he doesn't like to talk about acting when he's not at work. ...
Apr 11, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 428
Anna Lembke (Dopamine Nation) is a psychiatrist and professor at Stanford University. Anna joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why the opioid crisis has been so dangerous, how language is shifting when talking about people with addictions, and how being addicted to romance novels affected her personal life. Anna and Dax talk about how addiction drives people into isolation, how social media and drugs stimulate the same parts of the brain, and how nature, nurture, or neighborhood can affect peop...
Apr 07, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 427
Mandy Moore (In Real Life, This Is Us, A Walk to Remember) is a singer, songwriter, and actress. Mandy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how she was discovered singing the national anthem at a basketball game, what the circumstances surrounding her parents' divorce were, and what going on tour with famous boy bands as a kid was like. Mandy and Dax talk about what they remember about the time she was on Punk'd, what they love about working on a TV show consistently, and how she met her husband...
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 426
Brian Cox (Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey) is a physicist and former musician. Brian joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how we know the Big Bang actually happened, what actually happens when information is sent into a black hole, and how time moves differently in spacetime. Brian and Dax talk about where the end of time exists, how science is taught to kids in different parts of the world, and how social science differs from the science of physics. Brian explains how we have learned so...
Mar 31, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 424
Jimmy Fallon (The Tonight Show, Nana Loves You More) is a comedian, actor, author, and television host. Jimmy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he ended up hosting The Tonight Show, where his style of comedy comes from, and how he shifted his identity to being a parent. Jimmy and Dax talk about the culture of drinking, how they feel about their movie careers, and how Jimmy gives off Bradley Cooper vibes. Jimmy explains what it was like being raised Catholic, how he didn't have a serious g...
Mar 28, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 423
Daniel Pink (The Power of Regret) is a New York Times best-selling author. Daniel joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how people having no regrets in their life is the wrong mentality to have, how people can underachieve if they are over-pressured to perform, and his findings on free will. Daniel and Dax talk about how to confront moral regrets, how self-compassion is more constructive than self-criticism, and how to approach the regrets of action versus inaction. Daniel explains what happens w...
Mar 24, 2022•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 422
Tony Hawk is a professional skateboarder and entrepreneur. Sam Jones is a photographer and director. Tony and Sam join the Armchair Expert to discuss collaborating to make a documentary about Tony's life, how they have always seen skateboarding as an art form, and their thoughts on the inherent dangers of being a skater. Tony talks about how his style was always different than his peers, his relationship with his dad throughout his career, and how he didn't get into skating for the fame. Sam exp...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 421
Monica Aldama (Cheer, Full Out) is a cheerleading coach and author. Monica joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how her life changed because of the Netflix documentary, what she feels makes a great leader, and how she is often motivated by people doubting that she can succeed.Monica and Dax talk about supporting victims of abuse, how they both won't read the comment sections, and why head protection isn't required for cheerleading like in other sports. Monica explains how difficult being on Danc...
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 419
Seth Meyers (SNL, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Documentary Now) is a comedian, writer, and television host. Seth returns to discuss what his process was writing a children's book, how the pandemic sparked his creativity, and why he has embraced doing stand-up comedy again. Seth and Dax talk about code-switching when they are talking to their kids, where people in their hometowns went to fight, and how they will never give up coffee. Seth explains what foods are horrible to serve in a drive-thru,...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 418
Roy Choi (Broken Bread, The Chef Show, Kogi) is a chef, author, and television personality. Roy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he went from having a gambling addiction to being an award-winning chef, what Asian immigrants had to do to navigate the American system, and how important food is to Korean culture. Roy and Dax talk about what happened to restaurants during the pandemic, how most people in America are a product of fast food advertising, and what reforms he would like to see in...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 417
Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show, Nobody, Better Call Saul) is an actor, writer, and producer. Bob joins the Armchair Expert to discuss beginning his career flying back and forth from Chicago to New York, being open and curious about people without judgment, and where his distaste for authority came from. Bob and Dax talk about their time on set shooting a movie together, not being able to connect with their fathers growing up, and creating successes out of their failures. Bob talks about getting held at ...
Mar 07, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 416
Jacqueline Novogratz (Manifesto for a Moral Revolution) is an entrepreneur, author and founder of Acumen, a nonprofit global venture capital fund whose goal is to use entrepreneurial approaches to address global poverty. Jacqueline joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it was like growing up in a large family who moved around a lot, how she defines success beyond wealth, and why she left her job to start her own philanthropic nonprofit venture. Jacqueline and Dax talk about the difference be...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 414
Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development, Search Party, Being the Ricardos) is an actor. Alia joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it was like to grow up in Palm Springs and how she doesn't like to attach her identity to being an actor. Alia and Dax talk about their love for collecting Jordan sneakers, how streaming platforms have changed television, and where she got the confidence in her comedic timing. Alia explains that her dad owned a strip club but also was the soccer coach, how she never t...
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 413
Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke, People Places Things) is an author and journalist. Chuck joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he uses suspense and tension in his novels, how he loves to hear other people's stories, and what absurd existentialism means to him. Chuck and Dax discuss how writers are always looking for the tragedy in stories, how communities can feel pride in their culture, and why so many people suffer from misophonia. Chuck explains what the snowflake analogy in Fight Club...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 412
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl, Elf, 500 Days of Summer) is an actor and musician. Zooey joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how doing auditions always made her nervous, how she had to adjust from filming movies to shooting tv shows, and where her sense of fashion came from. Zooey and Dax talk about the double date they once went on together, how success sometimes comes from being obsessed with something, and their favorite cookies. Zooey explains how much fun she is having recording her new podcast...
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 411
Metta World Peace (NBA Champion, All-Star, and Defensive Player of the Year) is a former basketball player. Metta joins the Armchair Expert to discuss staying up until 3 am shooting hoops in his neighborhood, what his experience was like being a part of the Malice at the Palace, and how he has approached dealing with mental health issues over the course of his life. Metta and Dax discover their mutual love for Spades, how one of their favorite pastimes is stargazing, and how they will never stop...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 410
Nicholas Hoult (The Great, About a Boy, Mad Max: Fury Road) is an actor. Nicholas joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he got into motorcycle racing, that he often has social anxiety in hindsight, and how he dealt with being a child actor. Nicholas and Dax talk about where they think "dad bods" come from, how embarrassing the choreography for Mad Max was to shoot, and how being raised by women shaped his character. Nicholas explains that he sometimes will lie about having seen a movie, his a...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 409
Brené Brown (Atlas of the Heart) is a research professor and author. Brené joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how important language is to express our emotions, how people often incorrectly use the terms envy and jealousy, and the difference between the halo effect and the bandwagon effect. Brené and Dax talk about what the physical symptoms of shame are, how some people are more hardwired for struggle, and if it's possible to have compassion for people who inflict trauma on others. Brené expl...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 407
Kristen Bell (The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window) is an actor and producer. Kristen returns to discuss her new satirical thriller on Netflix, her recent colonoscopy, and how great she is at doing impressions. Kristen and Dax talk about investigating a weird smell in their bedroom, why you shouldn't wash your feet in the shower, and how you can make your favorite scent into a lotion. Kristen explains why she thinks Monica's ears got infected from new earrings, th...
Feb 07, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 406
Michael Schur (The Good Place, The Office, Parks and Recreation) is a television producer and writer. Michael returns to discuss his new book on ethics and what he thinks it means to be a better person. Michael and Dax talk about the difference between guilt and shame, how the world rewards unique people but leaves others behind, and how it's a luxury for people to care about moral issues. Michael explains how he created a Katrina fundraiser from a fender bender accident, how he would go about s...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 405
David Arquette (Scream, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ready to Rumble) is an actor. David joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he almost died in a professional wrestling match, what growing up fast in Hollywood was like, and how much he loves Bozo the Clown. David and Dax talk about how they had to learn to not be so hard on themselves, how the new Scream movie is different from the others, and how time moves faster when you get older. David explains how he thinks we live in a society of punishm...
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 404
Brian Klaas is a political scientist and professor. Brian joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the topics of power and corruption, how he got connected to talk to dictators for his research, and the differences between functional and dysfunctional psychopaths. Brian and Dax talk about power-seeking versus power-obtaining behavior, how faces can influence the results of elections, and the story of the Madagascar Yogurt Kingpin. Brian explains how systems of power can be reformed using shadow boar...
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 403
Kristen Stewart (Spencer, Twilight, Charlie's Angels) is a Golden Globe-nominated actor and filmmaker. Kristen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience starring in movies at a very young age, how she secretly is really into cars, and the personal similarities she felt when playing Princess Diana. Kristen and Dax talk about how they feel their best movies never make any money, how they listen to the same song over and over if they love it, and how Kristen jumped on Dax's Halloween hayr...
Jan 24, 2022•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 402
Michael Moore (Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine, Where to Invade Next) is a documentary filmmaker and author. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it means to be liberal in America today, how he got interested in politics from winning a position on the school board when he was 18, and how he thinks we can fix social security inequalities. Michael and Dax talk about what happened to the auto industry in Detroit, how the people of Michigan reacted to Roger & Me, and why it is so hard...
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 401
