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 8, 2021 • 1h 60min
Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is an actor, writer, and producer. Stanley joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he decided to move to England, the motivation for writing a cookbook with his parents, and his experience eating and talking all day on his food show. Stanley and Dax talk about the reason Stanley is routinely described as being sexy, making cocktails on social media, and how Italians are very territorial about their food. Stanley explains that understanding the quality of food doesn't make him a snob, the differences between English and American actors, and what it was like to lose his ability to taste from a tumor.
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Nov 4, 2021 • 1h 45min
Paul Bloom
Paul Bloom is a psychologist and professor at Yale University. Paul joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he loves to debunk simple ideas that people commonly have, how a full life requires both logic and emotion, and how people's empathy rarely extends past our own family or friends. Paul and Dax talk about why people seek out suffering in order to find pleasure, the fascination people have with villain types, and why hedonism can often lead to boredom. Paul explains how toxic positivity has actually prevented people from finding true happiness, the differences in the sexual fantasies between men and women, and whether or not having kids makes people happy.
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Nov 1, 2021 • 1h 45min
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is a Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and producer. Ed joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his experience breaking onto the British music scene, how he documents his achievements on bottles of wine, and how he thinks camera phones are ruining the self-confidence of performers. Ed and Dax talk about British musicians sounding American in their songs, how success should be defined by how much you love your work, and how Ed came to be on Game of Thrones. Ed explains the differences between American and English culture when it comes to sex, how he doesn't care much for award shows, and the reason why he turned an old barn on his property into a pub.
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Oct 28, 2021 • 1h 55min
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is an Emmy award-winning illusionist. David joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how his curiosity about the world led him to discover magic, how he wants his audience to be totally immersed at his shows, and how magic tricks have often influenced future technologies. David and Dax talk about the message behind his Statue of Liberty illusion, what their favorite magic movies are, and what his tactics are for keeping the secrets of his magic. David explains that he often doesn't enjoy the journey of creating a trick but loves the result, how being involved in Broadway improved his show performances, and that it is important for people to still have the ability to be amazed.
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Oct 25, 2021 • 1h 28min
Gwyneth Paltrow Returns
Gwyneth Paltrow (Sex, Love & Goop, Iron Man, The Royal Tenenbaums) is an actress, author, and businesswoman. Gwyneth joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience starting her own company, some of her medical ailments, and the topic of female sexuality. Gwyneth and Dax talk about the journey to quit smoking, how infidelity means something different to men and women, and how couples sometimes need to have some uncomfortable conversations. Gwyneth explains that people shouldn't be ashamed to not know something, how her sexuality is a very personal thing for her, and Monica opens up about her sexual history.
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Oct 21, 2021 • 1h 52min
Amishi Jha
Dr. Amishi Jha is a neuroscientist and professor of psychology at the University of Miami. Amishi joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up as an Indian-American in Chicago, why she started studying neuroscience, and her new book "Peak Mind". Amishi and Dax talk about what percentage of the brain we actually use, how people use confirmation bias to write their own story, and the power of attention on our perception of the world. Amishi explains how she manages her nervousness and anxiety, what the study of mindfulness actually is, and how she defines attentional rubber necking.
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Oct 18, 2021 • 1h 42min
Ron Howard
Ron Howard (Parenthood, The Da Vinci Code, Happy Days) is a director, actor, and producer. Ron joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his personal and professional relationship with his brother, how instrumental his parents were in him becoming a child star, and his experience directing some of the best actors of all time. Ron and Dax talk about what they learned from testing their projects with audiences, what he learned from raising twins, and what mistakes he has made in his career. Ron explains that he was an introvert in high school, how he used to watch wrestling with his dad, and why he decided to write a book about his childhood.
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Oct 14, 2021 • 1h 60min
Van Jones
Van Jones is an author, journalist, and lawyer. Van joins the Armchair Expert to discuss choosing activism after graduating from Yale Law School, his perspective on what "having privilege" means, and how he can work with both Democrats and Republicans. Van and Dax talk about how he became friends with Prince, being forced to resign from the Obama Administration, and what it's like to raise black children in America. Van explains that he still feels like a nerd at heart, what it was like being raised by a tough father, and why he's never had a drink of alcohol.
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Oct 11, 2021 • 2h 11min
B.J. Novak
B.J. Novak (The Office, Inglourious Basterds, The Premise) is an actor, producer, and writer. B.J. joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his time on Punk'd, that he regrets not enjoying his time on The Office more, and what it was like to get cast by his hero Quentin Tarantino. B.J. and Dax talk about how they could never be on a celebrity roast, how Pulp Fiction made him want to be a writer, and that people will always find their way around censorship. B.J. explains that he thinks everyone is actually smart, that he never thinks people are jealous of him, and that one of the most creative things he ever did was write a children's book.
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Oct 7, 2021 • 1h 49min
David Sedaris Returns
David Sedaris is an author and comedian. David joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his new book A Carnival of Snackery, why he can get away with saying things other people can't say, and how he takes five mile walks at midnight. David and Dax talk about the things they would get into before sobriety, knowing where every bathroom in New York City is, and how he is just never offended by anything. David explains that he loves when people are rude to him in real life and what he does when he's solicited for sex on the street.
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