Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Armchair Umbrella
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.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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
Dec 19, 2025 • 38min
Armchair Anonymous: Holiday Nightmare III
In this chaotic holiday installment, callers share their unforgettable mishaps. Bella recounts a Plano Christmas where her family's attempt to help a stray dog turns disastrous when Uncle Bob accidentally peppersprays everyone. Sasha dives into a wild party experience, culminating in a twisted ankle during a questionable car outing, leading to hilarious family reassessments. Aaron wraps it up with his Christmas trip gone wrong, which includes a car crash and his newborn testing positive for COVID, topped off by a deer strike on their rental. Holiday cheer meets calamity!
Dec 17, 2025 • 56min
Holiday Dinner 2025
Wobby Wob, a culinary contributor known for his delicious cookies, joins a lively holiday dinner with Dax and friends. They dive into hilarious discussions about Christmas rankings, family drama, and humorous grooming stories, including Jess's mustache mastery. The group tackles the ethics of pretending for inheritance and jokes about cannibalism in survival scenarios. They also explore personal goals for 2025, like letting go of judgment and embracing rest. It's a delightful mix of laughter, reflection, and festive chaos!
13 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 1h 51min
Zooey Deschanel Returns
Zooey Deschanel, beloved actress and one half of She & Him, returns to share insights about her new film, Merv. She recounts the chaos of her parents’ house fire and the lessons learned from evacuation, including the importance of a well-packed go-bag. The conversation touches on her childhood ADHD, the comfort of rewatching New Girl, and the quirks of her tinkerer partner. Zooey also reflects on holiday traditions, shares a heartfelt rendition of 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', and discusses her kids' newfound interest in Elf.
26 snips
Dec 12, 2025 • 49min
Armchair Anonymous: Stealing II
Dax and Monica chat with some hilarious Armcherries! Shelly kicks things off with her junior-high caper of stealing a pregnancy test, leading to an unforgettable community reaction. Jack shares his legendary 'greatest beer run' involving a keg heist for a summer bash that goes hilariously wrong. Kelly recounts her wild joyride in her stepdad's car, turning into a family saga filled with consequences. Finally, Trish tells her wild story of being mistaken for a thief after picking up an abandoned purse, culminating in an unexpected court adventure.
Dec 10, 2025 • 2h 14min
Coltan Scrivner (on morbid curiosities)
Coltan Scrivner is a psychologist and researcher specializing in morbid curiosity and horror psychology, and author of "Morbidly Curious." He discusses his preference for hands-on research, including studying fear responses in Danish haunted houses. Coltan introduces his four domains of morbid curiosity, explores the appeal of true crime, and debunks myths connecting horror media to violent behavior. He even shares surprising ghost-hunting experiences. Plus, he provides insights into how children can safely engage with scary content.
9 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 55min
Jake Johnson Returns Again
Jake Johnson, an actor and podcast host known for 'New Girl' and 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,' returns to share insights from his career. He discusses the nostalgic charm of old Hollywood and the joy of rediscovering acting. Johnson reflects on grief after losing a close friend and highlights the importance of male friendships. The conversation touches on his podcast, where he helped find a kidney for a listener, and his thrilling experiences working with Tom Cruise. Johnson emphasizes re-engineering his career out of love, not fear.
17 snips
Dec 5, 2025 • 53min
Armchair Anonymous: Wild Card X
Lydia shares a harrowing childhood tale from Cape Cod, where she nearly drowned in rigging during a sailing mishap. Stacey recounts the shocking discovery of her husband's affair, offering insights into the challenges of confronting infidelity. Sophie's lighthearted story brings laughter as she describes a chaotic 12th birthday party orchestrated by the mischievous babysitter Allison. Lastly, Andrew shares a wild adventure in Suriname involving a bot fly larvae in his eyelid, detailing his improvised medical responses and lessons learned in the field.
Dec 3, 2025 • 1h 46min
James L. Brooks (director and producer)
James L. Brooks, an Emmy and Academy Award-winning director, shares his journey from a high school reporter to a television legend. He recounts his first celebrity interviews with Louis Armstrong and Anne Bancroft and the creation of cultural staples like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Simpsons. Brooks reflects on directing icons like Jack Nicholson, the challenges of adapting novels into films like Terms of Endearment, and his latest screwball comedy, Ella McKay, which flips traditional gender roles. His candid stories about failure and mentorship are both insightful and humorous.
Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 41min
D'Arcy Carden Returns
D'Arcy Carden, an Emmy-nominated actor known for her roles in The Good Place and Loot, returns to share her experiences and insights. She discusses her bond with Sherry Cola while filming Nobody Wants This and her obsession with attending concerts. D'Arcy reveals her struggles with time blindness and how it affects her daily life. She dives into the emotional preparation for her acting roles, including a moving cry playlist, and recounts the most frightening moments of her career, particularly in intense scenes. Her passion for storytelling shines brightly.
5 snips
Nov 28, 2025 • 45min
Armchair Anonymous: Thanksgiving III
Caitlin, a caller from Louisville, shares a wild Thanksgiving mishap when a hot ham pan led to burns and a slippery kitchen during her first hosting experience. Liz from Southern California describes the chaos of hosting relatives who fell ill with norovirus in an 800 sq ft apartment, resulting in a true holiday nightmare. Meanwhile, Devon from Ontario recounts a camping Thanksgiving with a propane-heater explosion and a string of past family injuries, adding a chaotic twist to their annual gathering.
