Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard - podcast cover

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Armchair Umbrellawondery.com

Hi, 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

Prachi Gupta (on the model minority myth)

Prachi Gupta (They Called Us Exceptional) is a journalist and author. Prachi joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why she was grounded for reading fiction, how she views the institution of arranged marriages, and what the American Dream meant to her parents. Prachi and Dax talk about why she wanted to tell her brother's story, how she feels about happiness being correlated to success, and why being emasculated can affect how men treat one another. Prachi explains why dating apps have changed how...

Sep 21, 20232 hr 11 minEp. 640

Jimmy Kimmel Returns

Jimmy 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, w...

Sep 18, 20232 hr 54 minEp. 639

Armchair Anonymous: School Dance

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a school dance disaster. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 15, 202352 minEp. 638

Mustafa Suleyman (on artificial intelligence)

Mustafa 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 in...

Sep 14, 20232 hr 19 minEp. 637

Idina Menzel

Idina 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 ho...

Sep 11, 20232 hr 25 minEp. 636

Armchair Anonymous: Worst USA Trip

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, international Armcherries tell us about their worst trip to the USA. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 08, 202355 minEp. 635

Amy Edmondson (organizational behavioral scientist)

Amy 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, how...

Sep 07, 20232 hr 50 minEp. 634

Jake Johnson Returns

Jake 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 podc...

Sep 04, 20232 hr 14 minEp. 633

Jim Farley (CEO of Ford)

Jim 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 culture. ...

Aug 31, 20231 hr 29 minEp. 632

Tig Notaro

Tig 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 handso...

Aug 28, 20232 hr 3 minEp. 631

Armchair Anonymous: Bad Landlord

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a bad landlord experience. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 25, 202340 minEp. 630

Brian Chesky (co-founder of airbnb)

Brian 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 acc...

Aug 24, 20232 hr 10 minEp. 629

Jason Derulo

Jason 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 media....

Aug 21, 20232 hr 46 minEp. 628

Armchair Anonymous: Grateful for a Lie

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they were grateful they lied. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 18, 202342 minEp. 627

Wendy Mogel

Dr. 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 chi...

Aug 17, 20232 hr 11 minEp. 626

Kristen Bell, by the grace of God, returns

Kristen 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. Link to AI voice translated episode in Spani...

Aug 14, 20233 hr 41 minEp. 625

Armchair Anonymous: Worst Job Interview

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about their worst job interview. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 11, 202350 minEp. 624

Peter Attia (on longevity)

Dr. Peter Attia (Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity) is a physician, podcaster, and author. Peter joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the morality of cloning, why he wanted to be a professional boxer, and what the act of achievement-seeking does to the body. Peter and Dax talk about the difference between lifespan and healthspan, the four horsemen of health, and the genetic gifts of centenarians. Peter explains the concept of Medicine 3.0, the difference between relative risk and absolute ...

Aug 10, 20233 hr 40 minEp. 623

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke is an actor and director. Ethan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what working with Vincent D'Onofrio is like, how he balanced having divorced parents, and how he attained his self-confidence. Ethan and Dax talk about how their early negative experiences helped shape who they are now, what success means to different people, and what it means to be a romantic. Ethan explains why he isn't afraid of failing, why he doesn't relate to fairy tales, and where he learned humility from. Se...

Aug 07, 20232 hr 9 minEp. 622

Armchair Anonymous: Naked in Public

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they ended up naked in public. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 04, 202332 minEp. 621

Allyson Felix (Olympic track and field athlete)

Allyson Felix is an 11x Olympic track and field medalist. Allyson joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the different body types of Olympics athletes, how she tried to live up to other's expectations, and what having extreme coaches was like. Allyson and Dax talk about how PEDs changed the landscape of competitive sports, how runners make money, and what actually goes on in Olympic Village. Allyson explains how she deals with failure, her experience being pregnant during contract negotiations, an...

Aug 03, 20232 hr 56 minEp. 620

Kate Mara

Kate Mara (Black Mirror, A Teacher, House of Cards) is an actress. Kate joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her name, being an extreme introvert as a kid, and having two great grandparents who founded NFL teams. Kate & Dax talk about redheads, famous horses, and how much they love chimps. Kate talks about the process of screen test kissing, working with David Fincher as a director, and joining the Black Mirror universe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

Jul 31, 20232 hr 1 minEp. 619

Armchair Anonymous: Simulation

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about their craziest simulation moments. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 28, 202343 minEp. 618

Jennifer Ackerman (on owls)

Jennifer Ackerman (What an Owl Knows, The Genius of Birds, The Bird Way) award-winning science writer, speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author. Jennifer joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why people like to work with large birds, how owls hunt, and how polarizing owls are across cultures. Jennifer and Dax talk about how owls have been a source of artistic inspiration, how not all owls are nocturnal, and what we can learn from the silent flight of owls for technological advances. Jen...

Jul 27, 20231 hr 28 minEp. 617

Terry Crews

Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Idiocracy, The Expendables) is an actor, television host, and author. Terry joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his inspiration for President Camacho, what growing up in an ultra religious household was like, and how his relationships changed after fame. Terry and Dax talk about how serious car culture is in America, what affects drugs have had on blue collar communities, and their worst auditions. Terry explains how he overcame an addiction to pornography, what...

Jul 24, 20232 hrEp. 616

Armchair Anonymous: News

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they made the news. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 21, 202341 minEp. 615

Jake Tapper

Jake Tapper (All the Demons are Here, The Devil May Dance) is a journalist, news anchor, and author. Jake joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his thoughts on Evel Knievel, what going to summer camps as a kid was like, and how he originally wanted to be a cartoonist. Jake and Dax talk about his path to journalism, what lessons can be learned from failing, and the difficulties in being a political centrist. Jake explains why he loves thrillers, how he does research for his own novels, and the big...

Jul 20, 20232 hr 1 minEp. 614

Elizabeth Banks Returns

Elizabeth Banks (Cocaine Bear, The Beanie Bubble) is an actor, producer, and director. Elizabeth returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss her feelings about using AI in film, what her experience doing a USO tour was like, and her approach as a director. Elizabeth and Dax explain the party game Empire, their thoughts on the Beanie Babies phenomenon, and if they would ever want to go back to college. Elizabeth explains her obsession with her kids' futures, how she views open romantic relationship...

Jul 17, 20232 hrEp. 613

Armchair Anonymous: Prank Gone Wrong

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a prank gone wrong. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 14, 202344 minEp. 612

Neil Theise (on Complexity Theory)

Neil Theise (Notes on Complexity) is a diagnostic pathologist, stem cell biologist, and complexity theorist. Neil joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the principles of complexity theory, the way it works at different levels of scale, and how it differs from chaos theory. Neil and Dax talk about emergent self-organization, how randomness encourages change, and negative feedback loops. Neil explains the importance of your microbiome, how the universe is an endless unfolding range of possibilities...

Jul 13, 20232 hr 24 minEp. 611