
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

May 11, 2023 • 2h 18min
Gretchen Rubin (on happiness)
Gretchen Rubin (Life in Five Senses, The Happiness Project) is an author and podcaster. Gretchen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what led her to the happiness space, how important relationships to other people are, and the individualistic nature of happiness. Gretchen and Dax talk about the ways physical activities make your emotions respond, how your sense of smell forces you to stay present, and her prescription for creativity through sight. Gretchen explains how slow time can move when you are doing something novel, what obliger-rebellion is, and why she is so intrigued by people who develop routines in their lives.
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May 8, 2023 • 2h
Nicholas Braun
Nicholas Braun (Succession, Zola, Minutemen) is an actor. Nicholas joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he got into show business, doing Meisner acting exercises with his dad, and his car that he named the "Daxi Taxi." Nicholas & Dax talk about packing a lip, the comedic trajectory of Succession, and their love for Friday Night Lights. Nicholas explains how uncomfortable talking about his love life is, how he feels about this being the last season of Succession, and shooting his shot with Kim Kardashian.
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May 5, 2023 • 46min
Armchair Anonymous: Movie Theater Experience
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about their craziest movie-going experience.
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May 4, 2023 • 1h 52min
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Bridgerton, Scandal) is a producer, writer, and showrunner. Shonda joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what her experience has been working for a streaming service versus network television, why she loves meeting other showrunners, and her ability to stay unburdened by comparison. Shonda and Dax talk about their relationship with making money, the power of Chicago, and the impact of being interviewed by Oprah. Shonda explains how she is naturally a shy person, how she feels about people being intimidated by her, and the decision to raise kids by herself.
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May 1, 2023 • 1h 49min
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton (Paris: The Memoir) is a model, actress, entrepreneur, and New York Times best-selling author. Paris joins the Armchair Expert to discuss playing into stereotypes early in her career, the power of shame, and how therapeutic it was to write her book. Paris and Dax talk about what their early experiences in Hollywood were like, why the bad boy persona is attractive, and how much she relates to Pamela Anderson. Paris opens up about her traumatic reform school experiences, being a new mother, and her obsession with making a billion dollars.
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Apr 28, 2023 • 56min
Armchair Anonymous: Gifts Gone Wrong
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a well-intentioned gift gone wrong.
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Apr 27, 2023 • 2h 1min
Jason Katims
Jason Katims (Dear Edward, Parenthood, Friday Night Lights) is a producer, writer, and showrunner. Jason joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his ability to embrace the ensemble, the relationship between an actor and writer, and what the responsibility of the creator is to the characters of a story. Jason and Dax talk about how much they loved working together on Parenthood, what their early film experiences were like, and how much they value a great crew on a project. Jason explains what it was like to employ his own father as an actor, his pattern of working off of source material, and what starts his creative gears.
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Apr 24, 2023 • 2h 42min
David Sedaris #4
David Sedaris, a celebrated comedian and author, shares his witty insights on everything from annoying trendy sayings to the art of crafting personalized postcards. He explores the parallels between food and drug addictions and reflects on the difficulty of accepting help from others. The conversation takes a humorous turn as they discuss language quirks, the societal value of satire, and the nuances of doing good deeds for strangers, all while celebrating the importance of heartfelt connections.

Apr 21, 2023 • 56min
Armchair Anonymous: Worst Homeshare
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about their worst homeshare experience.
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Apr 20, 2023 • 1h 59min
Nita Farahany (on neurotechnology and the law)
Nita Farahany (The Battle For Your Brain) is an author, professor, and scholar. Nita joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the effects of implementing brain wave monitoring, what body politics are, and how AI is currently being used to predict human behavior. Nita and Dax talk about the fears they have surrounding neurotechnology, whether transferring a person's consciousness will be possible some day, and how fast surveillance is normalized. Nita explains why the definition of death is being debated, how privacy practices often don't align with privacy preferences, and what cognitive rights laws could look like in the future.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.