
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
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.
Latest episodes

Jun 24, 2024 • 1h 42min
Eric Dane
Eric Dane (Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Euphoria, Grey's Anatomy) is an actor. Eric joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he feels it can be difficult for him to relate to other men, how losing loved ones at a young age affected his social life, and why he believes all trauma should be treated equally. Eric and Dax talk about almost getting in a fight at their AA meeting, their journeys with sobriety, and yelling cut in the middle of a scene. Eric explains how he feels about being an older actor with a younger cast, what it was like playing a villain, and the time he met Paul Newman.
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Jun 21, 2024 • 54min
Armchair Anonymous: Embarrassing Sex
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us an embarrassing sex story.
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Jun 20, 2024 • 1h 57min
Michael Norton (on rituals)
Michael Norton (The Ritual Effect, Happy Money) is a social psychologist and professor. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it was like having his parents own a greeting card store, where his interest in psychology came from, and why he loves to design social experiments. Michael and Dax talk about humble bragging, why people don't like braggers, and why studying people's rituals can be an insight into their state of mind. Michael explains why people develop irrational habits to avoid admitting failure, why people need a diversity of emotions, and how couples create custom behaviors to show their affection for each other.
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Jun 17, 2024 • 2h 2min
Ilana Glazer
Ilana Glazer (Babes, Broad City, The Afterparty) is an actor and comedian. Ilana joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what growing up in the suburbs of Long Island was like, being part of an anti-drug Christian group when she was younger, and why she was good at being a telemarketer. Ilana and Dax talk about going through puberty at a young age, why they were attracted to being comedians, and what the rules are when working with bears on set. Ilana explains her aim to take pleasure in the process, how people's personalities are a combinations of experiences and genetics, and how scary it was to end a successful show.
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Jun 14, 2024 • 46min
Armchair Anonymous: Dad Stories
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us their best dad story.
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Jun 13, 2024 • 1h 56min
Erik Larson (historical author)
Erik Larson (The Demon of Unrest, The Devil in the White City) is an author and journalist. Erik joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how the pandemic affected his work, why he identifies himself as a high-functioning introvert, and how he pitches non-fiction books. Erik and Dax talk about how technology has changed his research, why he's drawn to Russian literature, and wanting to find a witchy element in a home. Erik explains how January 6th fueled his desire to write a book about the Civil War, the correlation between gun ownership and slavery, and why the origins of historical conflicts are important.
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Jun 10, 2024 • 2h 18min
Amy Poehler Returns
Amy Poehler, the talented actress and comedian known for her iconic roles in Parks and Recreation and SNL, shares her insights on the value of therapy and navigating parenting challenges. She opens up about the pressure of maintaining relevance and the discomfort of unresolved tensions with others. Amy also reflects on her proudest moments, her distaste for traditional birthday celebrations, and the unexpected joys of embarrassment. With her trademark humor, she tackles the complexities of self-worth and the evolving landscape of modern relationships.

Jun 7, 2024 • 53min
Armchair Anonymous: House Sitting
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy house sitting story.
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Jun 6, 2024 • 1h 19min
James Patterson
James Patterson (Eruption, Alex Cross, Along Came a Spider) is a best-selling author. James joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he likes fiction more than non-fiction, what it's like to have a kid later in life, and how difficult it is for him to describe his writing process. James and Dax talk about how much research goes into finishing a Michael Crichton book, his relationship with his father, and how many hole-in-ones he shot in his life. James explains why he left advertising to be an author, which film adaptions of his books he likes most, and why he loves collaborating with his peers to write novels.
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Jun 3, 2024 • 1h 48min
Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner (Horizon, Yellowstone, Dances with Wolves) is an award-winning actor, producer, and director. Kevin joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his standing ovation at Cannes, having the feeling like he was never going to make it, and how important it was to him that he knew where his career was headed. Kevin and Dax discuss the seminal movies he's starred in, how he handled the pressure after the success of his directorial debut, and his promise to Whitney Houston in the Bodyguard. Kevin talks about his fascination with the West, his role in selling Yellowstone, and taking on the biggest battle of his life at 69 years old.
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