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
Jul 31, 2023 • 2h 1min
Kate Mara
Kate Mara (Black Mirror, A Teacher, House of Cards) is an actress. Kate joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her name, being an extreme introvert as a kid, and having two great grandparents who founded NFL teams. Kate & Dax talk about redheads, famous horses, and how much they love chimps. Kate talks about the process of screen test kissing, working with David Fincher as a director, and joining the Black Mirror universe.
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Jul 28, 2023 • 43min
Armchair Anonymous: Simulation
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about their craziest simulation moments.
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Jul 27, 2023 • 1h 28min
Jennifer Ackerman (on owls)
Jennifer Ackerman (What an Owl Knows, The Genius of Birds, The Bird Way) award-winning science writer, speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author. Jennifer joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why people like to work with large birds, how owls hunt, and how polarizing owls are across cultures. Jennifer and Dax talk about how owls have been a source of artistic inspiration, how not all owls are nocturnal, and what we can learn from the silent flight of owls for technological advances. Jennifer explains how some owl babies can mimic sounds to protect themselves, that some owls live in colonies, and the benefits of owls to farmers.
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Jul 24, 2023 • 2h
Terry Crews
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Idiocracy, The Expendables) is an actor, television host, and author. Terry joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his inspiration for President Camacho, what growing up in an ultra religious household was like, and how his relationships changed after fame. Terry and Dax talk about how serious car culture is in America, what affects drugs have had on blue collar communities, and their worst auditions. Terry explains how he overcame an addiction to pornography, what his fitness philosophy is, and what he thinks having privilege means.
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Jul 21, 2023 • 41min
Armchair Anonymous: News
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they made the news.
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Jul 20, 2023 • 2h 1min
Jake Tapper
Jake Tapper (All the Demons are Here, The Devil May Dance) is a journalist, news anchor, and author. Jake joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his thoughts on Evel Knievel, what going to summer camps as a kid was like, and how he originally wanted to be a cartoonist. Jake and Dax talk about his path to journalism, what lessons can be learned from failing, and the difficulties in being a political centrist. Jake explains why he loves thrillers, how he does research for his own novels, and the biggest movie he's ever been in.
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Jul 17, 2023 • 1h 60min
Elizabeth Banks Returns
Elizabeth Banks (Cocaine Bear, The Beanie Bubble) is an actor, producer, and director. Elizabeth returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss her feelings about using AI in film, what her experience doing a USO tour was like, and her approach as a director. Elizabeth and Dax explain the party game Empire, their thoughts on the Beanie Babies phenomenon, and if they would ever want to go back to college. Elizabeth explains her obsession with her kids' futures, how she views open romantic relationships, and why she loves when people compliment each other.
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Jul 14, 2023 • 44min
Armchair Anonymous: Prank Gone Wrong
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a prank gone wrong.
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Jul 13, 2023 • 2h 24min
Neil Theise (on Complexity Theory)
Neil Theise (Notes on Complexity) is a diagnostic pathologist, stem cell biologist, and complexity theorist. Neil joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the principles of complexity theory, the way it works at different levels of scale, and how it differs from chaos theory. Neil and Dax talk about emergent self-organization, how randomness encourages change, and negative feedback loops. Neil explains the importance of your microbiome, how the universe is an endless unfolding range of possibilities, and how he learned to fear a lot less.
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Jul 10, 2023 • 1h 54min
Michael Shannon
Michael Shannon (George and Tammy, Nocturnal Animals, Boardwalk Empire) is an Academy Award-nominated actor. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what he thinks about non-alcoholic beers, how theater became a refuge for him, and what shooting a movie in a real prison was like. Michael and Dax talk about who their favorite jazz musicians are, the dynamics of having a stepdad, and how they approach taking on different roles in movies. Michael discusses being fired from an acting job, how he feels about country music, and his experience raising daughters.
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