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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Claudia Rowe (Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care) is a decorated journalist, advocate, and author. Claudia joins the Armchair Expert to discuss making the shift from using long-form journalism to a book to tell a story, touching off a five-year correspondence with a confessed serial killer, and confronting why she became fixated on what causes a person to commit murder. Claudia and Dax talk about her harrowing experience writing a true-crime memoir, realizing that this t...
Anderson .Paak (K-Pops!, Oxnard, Malibu) is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, music producer, and filmmaker. Anderson joins the Armchair Expert to discuss people discovering him through his wide-ranging collaborations, how his dad and uncle were like the hood version of Freaky Friday, and feeling grateful that he took the opportunity to repair with his father before he passed. Anderson and Dax talk about how his mom turned a strawberry stand into a multimillion dollar business into a prison sta...
Dax and Monica host "Foreign Object in Butt II," a listener-favorite prompt where medical professionals share incredible stories from their careers. Kristen, a nursing student, recounts her first patient: an 83-year-old with a bike handle stuck in his colon. Rachel, a surgical tech, details the removal of an industrial screwdriver from a patient's abdomen. Finally, ER PA Debbie shares both a comical tale of extracting a pear and a clementine, and a tragic story of a man who severely injured himself attempting to remove a Kong dog toy, highlighting the powerful role of shame.
Ellen Huet (Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult) is a journalist, startup founder, and author. Ellen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss must-haves versus most-haves in terms of cult sexuality requirements, her hot tips for avoiding cults that are too extractive, and her dealings with Silicon Valley and venture capitalists. Ellen and Dax talk about when she began covering orgasmic meditation startup OneTaste, the OM course to cult pipeline, and the intricacies and ...
Marcello Hernández (American Boy, SNL, Happy Gilmore 2) is a stand-up comedian, sketch performer, and actor. Marcello joins the Armchair Expert to discuss unsponsored gift selections from Marshalls, why Dominican kids are 12 years old but they’re also 40, and thinking he may have finally found his writing process. Marcello and Dax talk about the influential character he adopted during Model UN, leaving his first wife (soccer) for his mistress (stand-up), and how a depressive episode amid Covid l...
Dax and Monica host Armchair Anonymous, where callers share their craziest pet stories. Listeners hear about "Hannah Banana," a hypoallergenic horse with a dangerous buck that caused multiple injuries before a tragic accident. Another story involves "Harley," a beloved dog who was kidnapped, leading to a dramatic high-speed chase and an intense confrontation to get her back. Finally, a cross-country move takes an unexpected turn when a dog experiences a startling medical emergency requiring an old vet's surprising "sugar" treatment.
Elizabeth Smart (Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart) is a child safety advocate and founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. Elizabeth joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why advocacy became her opportunity to let other victims and survivors know they’re not alone, growing up not thinking her life would be in any way extraordinary, and details she remembers of her kidnapping at knifepoint in the middle of the night at age 14. Elizabeth and Dax talk about how her perspective on her experience has evol...
Chris Stapleton (Traveller, Higher, Starting Over) is a multiple Grammy award winning singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Chris joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he looks for silence, his unpreparedness for the academics at Vanderbilt University, and wanting to make a record his father would like after his passing. Chris and Dax talk about the formative folks that gave him a shot as a young, no-name songwriter, following the motto that ‘terms are better than money,’ and the potential blind...
Dax Shepard and Monica Padman host "Armchair Anonymous: Wild Card XI," featuring three incredible listener stories. Marcos shares a dramatic account of his friend Marine Mike's heroic rescue of a family from a burning car after an explosion. Jane recounts breaking her foot in a severe ladder fall on the day of her daughter's wedding party, highlighting her determination to attend. Finally, Dani reveals the astonishing moment she realized a juvenile therapy client was the same person who had repeatedly broken into and stolen from her car years prior.
David McWilliams, author of "The History of Money," joins Dax to delve into money's hidden power and taboo nature. They discuss how money, like fire, is a foundational human technology that enables complex societies, trade, and even acts as an alternative to war. The conversation spans from ancient Greek monetization and Roman credit systems to how currency destruction fueled revolutions, culminating in a critical look at crypto and the future of digital money, emphasizing its deep connection to humanity's collective psychology and optimism.
Actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani joins Dax Shepard and Monica Padman to delve into his physical transformation, dispelling plastic surgery rumors and confronting the intense public scrutiny and online backlash he faced. The conversation expands into the psychological benefits of intense exercise, the complexities of male intimacy in the gym, and how personal changes intersect with public perception and career expectations. They also explore broader ethical dilemmas, from consumerism to racism, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and individual moral codes.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a party gone wrong. 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 https...
Walter Isaacson (The Greatest Sentence Ever Written) is a biographer, historian, and Professor of History at Tulane University. Walter returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss why he embeds himself into the lives of his subjects to write about them, how empathy can get in the way of success, and discovering the secret sauce of Elon Musk. Walter and Dax talk about his interest in people that try to learn as much as possible about everything knowable, the belief that growing up as a misfit can in...
Cher (Cher: The Memoir, Moonstruck, Believe) is a multi-platinum recording artist, Academy Award winning actor, TV personality, author, and icon. Cher joins the Armchair Expert to discuss earlier versions of trying to write her memoir and why this one worked, accidentally falling into her first acting job with Robert Altman, and memories from the Burlesque set with Kristen Bell. Dax and Cher talk about identifying not as an icon but as a woman who has always worked, the best piece of advice her ...
Walton Goggins (White Lotus, Fallout, Hateful Eight) is an Emmy-nominated actor. Walton joins the Armchair Expert to discuss no longer being willing to perpetuate cultural stereotypes of the south, being raised by the real Steel Magnolias, and sharing attraction to volatility on the edge of chaos. Walton and Dax talk about having wives that can walk with kings, the humiliation of poverty, and how an application for an American Express card changed the trajectory of his life. Walton explains lovi...
Nikki Glaser (Alive and Unwell, Someday You’ll Die, Not Safe with Nikki Glaser) is a comedian, actor, and television host. Nikki joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why Dax’s name has good joke texture, her plea for people not to have veneers during the apocalypse, and feeling embarrassed that her name had to take up space in Ralph Feinnes’ brain. Nikki and Dax talk about growing up resentful that she wasn’t born as pretty as she could have been, wanting the approval that comes with being extra...
Adam Scott (Severance, Parks and Recreation, Stepbrothers) is an Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor and comedian. Adam joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why the era of movies that produced ET, The Goonies, and Temple of Doom means so much to him, how Severance was in such apt alignment with the grief for his mother’s death, and the reason playing “fan at bar” is way more embarrassing than “guy at bar.” Adam and Dax talk about a call of the void by licking lead, rebranding artisanal nicotin...
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 https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
On this special episode, we revisit some of our favorite moments from Wednesday episodes in 2025. Scott Payne gets stripped for a wire while undercover, Mark Ronson recalls his rockstar-studded childhood, Blaise Aguirre defines the difficulties of BPD, Mary Claire Haver assembles a toolkit for menopause, Malala Yousafzai struggles to make friends in high school, Michael Lewis laments male anger generated by the gambling industry, Seth Harp tracks stolen cash and corruption in the military, James...
Dax and Monica revisit standout clips from 2025 Monday episodes, covering a diverse range of celebrity experiences. Highlights include Nikki Glaser's Grammy night reflections, Brad Pitt's early acting faux pas, Dominic Fike's journey from jail to a $4 million record deal, Dove Cameron's attempts to mend ties with her father, Alexander Skarsgård's Hollywood struggles, Jennifer Aniston's thoughts on kids and career choices, Adam Scott's grief while filming "Severance," Mindy Kaling's take on writing women, and Charlie Sheen's bizarre on-set antics. The episode offers a mix of humor, vulnerability, and insightful life lessons from the stars.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a nightmare holiday experience. 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 Not...
This special holiday episode brings together Dax, Monica, Kristen, Amy, Jess, Erick, and Wobby Wob for a lively dinner party. They share humorous and sometimes shocking stories, from Erick's dad's "worm bait" insult and a honeymoon fight to Jess's street encounter. The group also debates who they'd eat in a survival scenario, the ethics of lying for an inheritance, and reveals their personal resolutions for 2025, touching on themes like judgment, productivity, and fear of change.
Zooey Deschanel (Merv, New Girl, She & Him) is an actress and musician. Zooey returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss the lessons of the go-bag after the fire evacuations, the elegance-centered branding of cats, and the touching surprise that fans often comfort-rewatch New Girl. Zooey and Dax talk about having a partner who's a consummate tinkerer, growing up in a family of ADHD interrupters, and the embarrassing moments running through her head at all times. Zooey explains being a broken-...
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they stole something. 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...
Coltan Scrivner (Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away) is a psychologist, researcher, and author. Coltan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss always preferring to do nitty gritty research in the field rather than a sterile lab, studying human fun and fear responses to haunted houses in Denmark, and his four domains of morbid curiosity. Coltan and Dax talk about why in nature there’s a lot of danger without safe opportunities to learn about it, that bar fights actually ta...
Actor and podcaster Jake Johnson joins Dax Shepard to explore his changing relationship with the acting industry, from lamenting the loss of old Hollywood glamour to embracing the freedom of less public roles. He shares insights into prioritizing personal fulfillment over external validation, including the significant influence of a close friend's suicide on his perspective. The conversation also delves into humorous stories from his "We're Here to Help" podcast, including a unique kidney transplant initiative, and offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into working with comedic legend Ben Stiller and the intensely disciplined Tom Cruise.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy 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 https://art19.co...
James L. Brooks (Ella McCay, The Simpsons, Taxi) is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter, director, and producer. James joins the Armchair Expert to discuss being an industrious high school reporter interviewing Louis Armstrong and Anne Bancroft, his lucky break as a studio page bringing Edward R. Murrow coffee, and co-creating the Mary Tyler Moore Show with Alan Burns. James and Dax talk about why there’s no better job in the world than on a television show that’s worki...
D’Arcy Carden (Loot, The Good Place, The Handmaid’s Tale) is an Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian. D’Arcy returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss forming a bond with travel show co-host Sherry Cola through working together on Nobody Wants This, being a musical comrade of Wobby Wob’s, and insisting that she suffers from time blindness. D’Arcy and Dax talk about finding best friendship in her husband since their early twenties, exhibiting some addictive behavior when it comes to attending ...
This episode features "Armcherries" recounting their unforgettable Thanksgiving disasters. Stories include a multi-person vomiting incident sparked by an alcoholic uncle, a scalding ham juice accident leading to multiple falls, and a widespread norovirus outbreak in a cramped apartment. Another guest shares her family's unique, adventurous Canadian camping Thanksgiving, which once involved a dangerous propane heater explosion and other shocking mishaps. The episode highlights the chaotic yet often humorous side of holiday celebrations.
