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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Pulitzer-winning author Caroline Fraser joins Armchair Expert to delve into her book, "Murderland," investigating why the Pacific Northwest became a hotbed for serial killers. She presents a compelling, lesser-known theory linking historical lead pollution to violent behavior, moving beyond conventional explanations. The conversation also explores Caroline's Christian Science upbringing, the ethics of true crime, and broader societal issues influencing violence, suggesting it as a human health concern.
Ramy Youssef (Mountainhead, Number One Happy Family USA, Ramy) is an award-winning comedian, director, and actor. Ramy returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss how shooting Mountainhead was akin to a play, his subway take that everyone is inherently good and evil is just a virus, and why the US Constitution is dope. Ramy and Dax talk about likening his experience making TV to the national integrity crisis, who can throw a Molotov cocktail, and why the best things in life often emerge in spite o...
Reporter Carter Sherman joins Dax and Monica to delve into the "sex recession" among Gen Z, drawing from her book "The Second Coming." They explore various factors contributing to this trend, including the pervasive influence of social media and dating apps, the complex aftermath of the Me Too movement, and the impact of politically driven sex education. The conversation highlights how evolving societal dynamics are reshaping young people's approaches to intimacy, connection, and vulnerability.
Seth Meyers (Dad Man Walking, Late Night with Seth Meyers, SNL) is an Emmy Award-winning comedian, writer, and talk show host. Seth returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss the most satisfying celebrity interaction he’s ever had, a mutual worry that he’s not sentimental enough, and his milquetoast performance on Finding Your Roots. Seth and Dax talk about knowing his good side as host versus guest, the sanctuary of a desk being no small thing, and the turning point in his life marked by his dad...
Dax and Monica invite listeners to share their worst dating stories in this "Armchair Anonymous" episode. Featured callers recount incredibly awkward, terrifying, and physically uncomfortable encounters, including a snowmobile crash, a date involving suspected possession and a locked door, and a severe stomach illness that turned a dinner date into an overnight health crisis. The episode also highlights a truly harrowing date on a remote property with unsettling, potentially dangerous comments.
Dax Shepard hosts computer scientist Rizwan Virk to explore the simulation hypothesis, discussing how advancements in AI, virtual reality, and quantum physics increasingly align with ancient philosophical and religious concepts of reality as an illusion. They delve into different versions of the simulation theory, the purpose of such a simulation, and the implications for consciousness and free will. The conversation also touches on the Mandela Effect and the fluidity of time within a simulated existence.
Alexander Skarsgård (Murderbot, Melancholia, True Blood) is an Emmy Award-winning actor. Alexander joins the Armchair Expert to discuss accidentally signing up for a month-long cross country ski trek in the South Pole, gaining 25 pounds and long hair in the final season of True Blood because he was prepping to play Tarzan, and how everyone in Sweden exhibits symptoms of No Tall Poppy Syndrome. Alexander and Dax talk about why a sprinkle of anarchy would be good in Sweden, growing up around actor...
Bridget Read (Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America) is a features writer, journalist, and author. Bridget joins the Armchair Expert to discuss working as a young writer at Vogue during the blog boom, how door-to-door salesmen evolved into multi-level marketing, and the winners, losers, and buy-in rules that designate a Ponzi scheme. Bridget and Dax talk about vitamins being the original pyramid scheme product, the staggering fact that 99% of folks involved in MLMs will...
Jerrod Carmichael (Don’t Be Gay, Rothaniel, Poor Things) is an Emmy Award-winning comedian and actor. Jerrod joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the fascination with pushing our appearance to the absolute extreme, fans noticing he fixed his teeth between seasons of his sitcom, and tackling the burden of self-awareness in his new special. Jerrod and Dax talk about toeing the line between identity performance and authenticity, celebrating the achievements of human beings not despite but because o...
This episode explores bizarre sleepwalking incidents shared by listeners, including a teenager who sleep-drove to school, a child who ran laps around the kitchen island, and a woman who inexplicably shaved her pubic hair in her sleep. The hosts and guests also discuss the legal implications of actions performed while sleepwalking, the impact of medication on sleep, and various other sleep-related shenanigans, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the unconscious mind.
James Gunn (Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad) is a director, screenwriter, and co-chair of DC Studios. James joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the enduring impact of Super Friends, why people love the fact that Superman can beat up God, and how seeing the Sex Pistols as a kid altered life. James and Dax talk about once getting into such an intense argument with his dad about Prince that it almost came to blows, falling in love with and relating to the monsters in horror mo...
Nicholas Hoult (Superman, The Great, Nosferatu) is a Golden Globe-nominated actor. Nicholas joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how becoming a blonde for a role hasn’t changed his personality, how he inspired Dax’s body reckoning, and dramatically overreacting when he tore his ACL on the basketball court. Nicholas and Dax talk about not feeling good enough for motorcycles to be his identity, what roles people still approach him about on the street, and how coming on the pod really gives his sel...
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell about a crazy 4th of July disaster. Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice a...
Journalist and author Suleika Jaouad joins Dax and Monica to discuss her journey from feeling like an outsider kid to becoming a creative force. She shares how reading, journaling, and choosing the double bass helped her find belonging and identity. Suleika opens up about her leukemia diagnosis, the impact of misdiagnosis, and how her time in the hospital became a period of creative alchemy, even leading to reconnecting with her now-husband, John Batiste. They also touch on the power of storytelling, the challenges of facing criticism, and the beauty of embracing earnestness.
Olivia Munn (Your Friend and Neighbors, The Newsroom, The Daily Show) is an actor and advocate. Olivia joins the Armchair Expert to discuss accepting that a messy home with kids is not a sign of failure, the story of her family’s exodus from Vietnam, and the endearing best friend dynamic between her husband and her mom. Olivia and Dax talk about feeling powerful for other people by overcoming abuse at home, inventing her own language just so she could cheat in math, and not regretting sticking t...
This episode of Armchair Anonymous features four guests sharing unbelievable personal stories. Topics include a high school jewelry class accident resulting in a significant hair loss, discovering a neighborhood stalker and the unusual way he was apprehended, an emergency room nurse recounting a shocking case involving a firearm, and a doctor sharing a memorable, gross incident from medical school anatomy lab, plus a discussion on addiction medicine.
Chef Curtis Duffy joins Dax and Monica to share his incredible life story, from a turbulent childhood marked by tragedy and instability to becoming a world-renowned Michelin-starred chef. He discusses finding structure and passion in the kitchen, overcoming business setbacks that cost him his three-star restaurant, and his current focus on mentoring young chefs. The episode also delves into the intense world of fine dining and features Dax and Monica's usual mix of personal anecdotes and tangent discussions, including a lengthy, gross, and hilarious conversation about pinworms and anus cleanliness.
Actor and producer Brad Pitt joins Armchair Expert to discuss his diverse career, from his early days struggling for a SAG card to navigating fame and public perception. He shares insights from his experience in a men's group with Dax and his passion for motorsports, detailing the unique challenges and excitement of filming his new F1 movie where actors drove real race cars at high speeds. The conversation also covers his upbringing in the Ozarks, reflections on past roles, and the art of balancing privacy with a public life.
Dax and Monica welcome listeners to Armchair Anonymous to hear bizarre stories of foreign objects found in patients' rectums, as shared by medical professionals. Guests recount tales involving a President Barbie, a soda can requiring an unconventional removal technique, a hamster confirming an urban legend, and a highly dangerous can of butane, leading to discussions on the psychology behind these incidents and the challenges faced by medical staff.
Michael Calvey (Odyssey Moscow: One American's Journey from Russia Optimist to Prisoner of the State) is an investor, businessman, and author. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how the Soviet Union existed when he climbed the the matterhorn but had fallen by the time he came down, learning that contact lenses freeze inside one’s eyes in Russian temperatures, and being an early tech investor in the Russian during its big recession. Michael and Dax talk about his apartment being deliber...
Alex Cooper (Call Her Daddy, Call Her Alex) is a podcast host and television personality. Alex joins the Armchair Expert to discuss coveting Orna as her own shrink, growing up with a therapist mother, and the push to continuously be learning and honing her craft as a podcast host. Dax and Alex talk about her parents bombing their speech at her wedding, feeling vaguely aware of their competition upon first meeting but rooting for each other anyway, and why in order to be professionally respected ...
Listeners share their wild jury duty experiences. Stories include serving on a murder trial where the defendant represented himself and a fellow juror caused disruption, participating in a Manhattan grand jury that heard over 40 cases including a bizarre stalker demanding blackmail from the Girl Scouts, and navigating a homicide trial with panic disorder while later finding romance linked to the case.
Shan Boodram (Too Hot to Handle, Lovers by Shan, The Art of Sex Appeal) is a certified sex educator, intimacy expert, and sexologist. Shan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the exoticism of Americans to Canadians, connecting intimacy to something specific or unusual, and that sexuality can be found playing in a facet of shared humanity. Shan and Dax talk about growing up as a precocious child with an interest in the sexual, how her mission became how to make sex education sexy, and the relati...
Sam Rockwell (Bad Guys 2, The White Lotus, Moon) is an Academy Award-winning actor. Sam joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in the Tenderloin of San Francisco, doing plays and improv with his mom at 10 years old, and the parallels between charm and fuel. Sam and Dax talk about stumbling into a Willy Wonka entrance doing his faker baker dancing, adopting delusions of grandeur that he moves like a stretch limo, and completing the two year Meisner program that changed his life. Sam expl...
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a crazy stalking story. Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...
James Kimmel Jr. (The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction) is a lecturer at Yale University on forgiveness and revenge. James joins the Armchair Expert to discuss plotting his revenge against the other Jimmy Kimmel for months, wanting to grow up to become a farmer until he was bullied because of it, and how eerily close he came to an irreparable act of violence to even a score. James and Dax talk about becoming an attorney to get revenge legally and professionally, ...
Cristin Milioti (The Penguin, How I Met Your Mother, The Wolf of Wall Street) is a Grammy Award-winning actor. Cristin joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in the place of origin of the Jersey Devil, the great equalizer being her acceptance into the safe space of drama kids, and being on the greatest show of all time The Sopranos. Cristin and Dax talk about how theater at its best feels like a communal place of worship, the magical experience of being nominated for a Tony for Once, an...
Dax and Monica hear from Armcherries about their wildest cruise ship mishaps. Stories include a spring break trip plagued by sunburn, a painful sea urchin encounter, and an unfortunate run-in with a deck chair. Another guest recounts a terrifying honeymoon incident involving a shower wand and a subsequent chemical cauterization. Finally, a listener shares her chaotic experience on a Backstreet Boys fan cruise that included a scary pre-trip event and debilitating seasickness.
Scott Payne (Code Name Pale Horse, White Hot Hate) is a retired FBI Special Agent and author. Scott joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his first taste of undercover work in high school in South Carolina, how he caught the bug training as a fresh-face narcotics officer, and his long shot cold application to the FBI. Scott and Dax talk about his first undercover assignment in the Outlaws biker gang, the ins and outs of performing believable criminal activity, and navigating guilt around putting ...
