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
Jun 15, 2023 • 2h 3min
Megan Phelps-Roper
Megan Phelps-Roper (The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling, Unfollow) is a journalist, author, and podcaster. Megan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it was like to leave the Westboro Baptist Church community, her views on organizations who use shame to control people, and what power people can have in asking questions. Megan and Dax talk about why having compassion for people who are different from you is important, being taught to question everything no matter the cost, and why freedom of speech is such a controversial topic. Megan explains how she was argued out of her belief system, why she agreed to be apart of a podcast about J.K. Rowling, and why having dissenting opinions is the key to a successful pluralistic society.
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Jun 12, 2023 • 1h 48min
Natalie Portman Returns
Natalie Portman (Angel City, Black Swan, Thor) is an Academy Award-winning actress, director, and co-founder of Angel City FC. Natalie returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss what she's currently consuming, the broadening access of content, and to hear about Monica's Paris masseuse story. Natalie and Dax talk about the starkness of the pay discrepancy in sports between men and women, the socialized gender differences in sports, and the importance of having female athletes to idolize. Natalie explainsthe focus on experience at the Angel City Stadium, how her soccer team is being used as a proof of concept for other teams, and her insistence to experience real things in life.
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Jun 9, 2023 • 40min
Armchair Anonymous: Nurses
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us their craziest nurse stories.
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Jun 8, 2023 • 2h 12min
Lee Hood & Nathan Price (on the future of medicine)
Lee Hood (world-renowned biologist) and Nathan Price (professor) are the authors of The Age of Scientific Wellness: Why the Future of Medicine Is Personalized, Predictive, Data-Rich, and in Your Hands. Lee and Nathan join the Armchair Expert to discuss how artificial intelligence is changing the medical industry, how infectious disease has impacted our world, and the effectiveness of prescriptions. Lee, Nathan, and Dax talk about the ways treating chronic disease has become a business, what systems biology is, and the advances in preventing Alzheimer's. Lee and Nathan explain digital twins and how they'll change medicine, the future of wellness and prevention, and the differences between your biological and chronological age.
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Jun 5, 2023 • 1h 54min
Lizzy Caplan
Lizzy Caplan (Fatal Attraction, Masters of Sex, Party Down) is an actor and producer. Lizzy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how hard it is to hang out with friends in LA, how she started dating her husband, and what she thinks about matchmaking. Lizzy and Dax talk about how they dealt with their parents getting cancer, how she views modern parenting culture, and how scary doing comedy can be. Lizzy explains what her favorite sex scenes are, how she feels about reboots, and how much she loves the food in London.
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Jun 1, 2023 • 1h 46min
James Comey (Former director of the FBI)
James Comey (Central Park West) is a former FBI director, lawyer, and author. James joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he got into a law enforcement career, his experience investigating mafia families, and what he learned working in the private sector of law. James and Dax talk about how much mafia families are influenced by Hollywood, what the typical stereotype of an FBI agent is, and how he handled the politics of the role as director. James explains what changes he tried to bring to the agency, how being held at gunpoint changed his perspective on life, and why he wanted to write a fiction novel.
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May 29, 2023 • 1h 55min
Charlie Day Returns
Charlie Day (The Super Mario Bros, Always Sunny, Fool's Paradise) is an actor, producer, and podcaster. Charlie returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss what his early dating experiences were, what doing live podcast shows has been like, and what movies influence his own directing projects. Charlie and Dax talk about the last comedies they saw in the theaters, how actors doing commercials has changed, and what happens when you give commencement speeches. Charlie explains his approach to voicing Luigi, how he feels about people doing impressions of him, and what it was like playing a character who barely speaks.
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May 26, 2023 • 56min
Armchair Anonymous: Wild Card II
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us their craziest stories.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 25, 2023 • 2h 7min
Michael Waldman (on the Supreme Court)
Michael Waldman (The Supermajority, The Fight to Vote, The Second Amendment) is an attorney, presidential speechwriter, and author. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how the U.S. Supreme Court is involved in modern policymaking, what the concept of originalism is, and how extremism is influencing judges rulings on cases. Michael and Dax talk about the changes Congress can make to how justices are appointed, how public hearings have become spectacles for entertainment, and what role the media has in shaping the court of public opinion. Michael explains how the office of the President was founded, the struggles between gun rights and public safety policy, and why it's important to protect judicial independence.
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May 22, 2023 • 2h 13min
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers—Kevin, Joe, and Nick—share their unique journeys in music and family. They dive into how their upbringing shaped their spirituality and spotlight the ups and downs of growing up in the public eye. The brothers reveal their most embarrassing performance moments and the complexities of sibling dynamics in their band. The discussion touches on parenthood's impact on their perspectives and the evolution of their music, including the inspirations behind their latest album. Heartwarming and humorous, their banter offers a glimpse into their close-knit bond.
