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
Nov 21, 2022 • 1h 35min
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, 23 Hours to Kill) is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Jerry joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how much he dislikes vacations, why you shouldn't worship your children, and his ability to read people quickly. Dax and Jerry talk about how the algorithm isn't good for the art form of comedy, where their attraction to cars comes from, and the nice ways to scratch your face. Jerry explains how everyone is in the perfect car for them even if they borrowed it, how art is the disguising of art, and why everything in life needs to be edited.
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Nov 18, 2022 • 46min
Armchair Anonymous: Thanksgiving
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about the craziest thing that happened at Thanksgiving dinner.
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Nov 17, 2022 • 1h 60min
Yuval Harari Returns Again
Yuval Noah Harari (Sapiens, Unstoppable Us) is a historian, philosopher and best-selling author. Yuval joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how people create fantasies in their minds about the real world, why he wanted to write a children's book, and how humans are capable of building large collaborative communities. Yuval and Dax talk about how the invention of fire advanced human civilizations, how humans evolved to the top of the food chain, and why people lose their faith in the systems that run their lives. Yuval explains why he doesn't like to hear his own voice, what the concept of social scores based on technology tracking is, and how the stories of religion can change over time.
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Nov 14, 2022 • 2h 24min
John Stamos
John Stamos (Full House, Big Shot, ER) is an actor and musician. John joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his DM to Dax about loving the podcast, his fear of putting himself out there and giving 100%, and the time someone tried to set him up with Kristen. John and Dax talk about their shared love of Howard Stern, what the term "epcotting" means, and his experience on daytime soap operas. John explains how he wanted to get famous so he could have bodyguards beat up his high school bully, the hyper-nostalgia of Full House, and John brings Monica a surprise.
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Nov 11, 2022 • 55min
Armchair Anonymous: Stuck
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about the worst place they've been stuck.
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Nov 10, 2022 • 2h 28min
Layne Norton (scientist and bodybuilder)
Layne Norton, Ph. D. (BioLayne) is a scientist, professional bodybuilder, and physique coach. Layne joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he approaches teaching people about exercise, his thoughts on the artificial sweetener debate, and his views on the use of steroids in bodybuilding competitions. Layne and Dax talk about how diet culture can shape people's identities, how eating disorders can be treated as addictions, and how important the power of habit-forming can be to one's health. Layne explains why tracking what you eat is beneficial, why having accountability with empathy is crucial in weight loss, and how detrimental stress can be to the human body.
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Nov 7, 2022 • 1h 50min
Constance Wu
Constance Wu (Making a Scene, Crazy Rich Asians, Fresh Off the Boat) is an actress. Constance joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why she decided to write a book, the importance of having empathy and curiosity toward someone else's experience, and how she discovered her love for acting. Constance and Dax talk about her experiences working in television versus film, what they think being pessimistic means, and how Asian women are often treated on a production set. Constance explains her relationship with going to therapy, what being pregnant during the pandemic was like, and why she started running marathons.
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Nov 4, 2022 • 1h 2min
Armchair Anonymous: Dating App
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about their worst dating experience from a dating app.
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Nov 3, 2022 • 1h 41min
Will Bunch (on college in America)
Will Bunch (After the Ivory Tower Falls) is an author and journalist. Will joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he wanted to research the college story in America, why people are so politically divided over the subject of higher education, and why it's so expensive to go to American universities. Will and Dax talk about why it could be argued that college degrees are more about status than knowledge, how the debt relief program could shape the future of many people, and how it's possible for vocational schools to make a comeback. Will explains why some states stopped wanting to fund their public universities, how college is mostly about learning to think critically, and the concept of a credential society.
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Oct 31, 2022 • 1h 35min
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani is a singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Gwen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how she got started singing and writing songs, why she started a beauty line of makeup, and where she got her sense of style from. Gwen and Dax talk about their experiences with dyslexia, what growing up in 80's culture was like, and the differences between taxis and Ubers. Gwen explains how she was introduced to Japanese culture, how she got the offer to be on The Voice, and how spirituality has played a large role in her career.
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