
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

55 snips
May 9, 2024 • 2h 5min
James Doty (on the neuroscience of manifestation)
James Doty (Mind Magic, Into the Magic Shop) is neurosurgeon and author. James joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what happens to someone who is constantly activating their sympathetic nervous system, how compassion for others can often be limited by how much compassion you have for yourself, and losing $80 million in 6 weeks. James and Dax talk about their relationship with money, what they've learned about doing acts of service for others, and the science behind manifestation. James explains how people look for evidence to confirm their own biases, why being kind and compassionate increases our chances of survival, and the importance of self-awareness and humility.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 6, 2024 • 2h 15min
Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish (I Curse You With Joy, Girls Trip, Night School) is an actor and comedian. Tiffany joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how much she needs laughter on a daily basis, her journey to find her biological father, and how messy her bedroom is. Tiffany and Dax talk about whether or not they think humans are designed to eat meat, what her love language is, and her first orgasm. Tiffany explains how some of her personal relationships changed after achieving success, what it's like to date as a successful woman, and which chapter was the hardest to write in her book.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 2, 2024 • 2h 18min
Charan Ranganath (on memory)
Charan Ranganath (Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters) is a neuroscientist. Charan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the mechanics of memory, how AI learning is different than human learning, and the influence that present context has on memories. Charan and Dax talk about the relationship of imagination to memory, the problems with hypnosis, and repressed memories. Charan explains how sleep can conceptualize memories, the ways photos can influence memories, and how traumatic memories affect the brain.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 29, 2024 • 2h 5min
Chris Pine
Chris Pine (Poolman, Star Trek, Wonder Woman) is an actor, producer, and director. Chris joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the thrills of a catastrophe, falling in love with nicotine toothpicks, and what growing up in old Hollywood was like. Chris and Dax talk about how hard it is to expose your emotions, how much they love saunas, and the experience of feeling fraudulent. Chris admits to his preconceptions of Dax, the juxtaposition of how he sees himself vs how others see him, and his love for the city of Los Angeles.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 26, 2024 • 1h 9min
Armchair Anonymous: Wild Card IV
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy story.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 25, 2024 • 2h 5min
Phil Heath (professional bodybuilder)
Phil Heath (Breaking Olympia) is a 7x Mr. Olympia winner and professional bodybuilder. Phil joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what his diet is like, how he lost his innocence at an early age, and his journey into bodybuilding. Phil and Dax talk about their admiration for Arnold Schwarzenegger, how they learned to control their aggression, and the ways social media has changed the bodybuilding industry. Phil explains how he feels about his own insecurities, what it's like to be acknowledged by your heroes, and coping with his new identity as he transitions out of the sport.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 22, 2024 • 2h 27min
Maya Rudolph
Maya Rudolph (Loot, Bridesmaids, The Way Way Back) is an actor, comedian, and writer. Maya joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why she wants one of her kids to be a chef, her love for the city of Austin, and how she never knows when someone is flirting with her. Maya and Dax talk about why they never fell in love, what being compared to your parents is like, and how much she loves working with her friends. Maya explains what happened when Dax recommended a Greek restaurant to her, how she wants to be more adventurous in her life, and how well she does with spicy wings.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 19, 2024 • 1h 1min
Armchair Anonymous: Cautionary Tale
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a cautionary tale.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 18, 2024 • 2h 18min
Patric Gagne (on sociopathy)
Patric Gagne (Sociopath: A Memoir) is a psychologist and author. Patric joins the Armchair Expert to discuss being a diagnosed sociopath, how sociopathy exists on a spectrum, and having to lean on her mother's moral compass as a child. Patric and Dax talk about what it's like to have to mask your true feelings, how everyone needs a different playbook for their lives, and the relationship between sociopathy and anxiety. Patric explains why she became so interested in other people's lives, how she eventually found love, and finding empathy and strong feelings for pets.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 15, 2024 • 2h 1min
Joey King
Joey King (We Were The Lucky Ones, Kissing Booth, The Act) is an actor. Joey joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why she's a worst-case-scenario kind of person, why she presents older than she actually is, and how she handles physical pain. Joey and Dax talk about the techniques they use to improve their health, shaving her head for roles, and how much they sweat when they sleep. Joey explains how she feels about getting married at a young age, why she loves celebrating holidays, and her death row meal.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.