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Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
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Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

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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.


1016 Episodes
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Amir Levine (Secure: The Revolutionary Guide to Creating a Secure Life, Attached) is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author. Amir joins the Armchair Expert to discuss dispelling myths and misconceptions about attachment theory, how the love he has for his dog helped him to understand his relationship with his father, and the test experiments that showed how attachment styles develop in early childhood. Amir and Dax talk about why attachment is really just a radar of availability for other people, the reasons secure adult attachment is linked to our exploratory drive, and how a breakup was the catalyst that led him to co-write Attached. Amir explains the role a sense of reciprocity plays in shifting into secure attachment, the physiological and neurological responses involved as we evolve our attachments, and the beauty in appreciating the hidden sparks of talent in our loved ones. Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: https://www.allstate.com/Head to turbotax.com to find a store location near you and get matched with a TurboTax expert — with real-time updates in the iOS app.This episode is sponsored by AppleTV. Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/mr2caw2cSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Amanda Peet Returns

Amanda Peet Returns

2026-03-0902:17:03

Amanda Peet (Fantasy Life, Your Friends & Neighbors, The Whole Nine Yards) is an actor, writer, and producer. Amanda joins the Armchair Expert to discuss being a serial monogamist during her dating years, what relation she has to the designer of Radio City Music Hall, and going from a hippie Quaker school in Manhattan to a stuffy private school in London. Amanda and Dax talk about recognizing a pattern of existential thinking when her kids turn seven, undergoing psychoanalysis at age 13, and contending with the cultural mores of Something’s Gotta Give. Amanda explains relishing the opportunity to play a high functioning character with mental illness in her new film, exploring a complicated relationship with wealth in Your Friends and Neighbors, and recently finding a new gear in acting.Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: https://www.allstate.com/Head to turbotax.com to find a store location near you and get matched with a TurboTax expert — with real-time updates in the iOS app.This episode is sponsored by AppleTV. Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/mr2caw2cSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy first responder story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sasha Hamdani (on ADHD)

Sasha Hamdani (on ADHD)

2026-03-0401:33:331

Sasha Hamdani (Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply) is a board-certified psychiatrist and ADHD clinical specialist. Sasha joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the classroom insurrection she started which led to her ADHD diagnosis, how her residency rebuilt the confidence that medical school degraded, and that symptoms known today as ADHD first showed up in the 1700s. Sasha and Dax talk about her beef with diagnostic labels and how often trauma is misdiagnosed as ADHD, how liberating it was to understand the way her brain functions, and neurological reasons why grief is so destabilizing for someone with ADHD. Sasha explains the importance of being able to emotionally regulate before conflict, her hot take on self-diagnosis, and non-stimulant, skills-based approaches that work well to treat ADHD.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Marcus Mumford

Marcus Mumford

2026-03-0201:54:025

Marcus Mumford (Prizefighter, Sigh No More, Wilder Mind) is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer, and producer. Marcus joins the Armchair Expert to discuss enjoying occupying the liminal space between his kids and his parents, being born into the church attended by Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, and becoming pen pals with his wife Carey Mulligan at bible camp when they were 10 years old. Marcus and Dax talk about finally feeling able to embrace being an artist with his new record, forming Mumford & Sons from childhood friends, and not understanding ahead of time how performing at the Grammys would impact their career. Marcus explains loving to tour in weird ways like on a boat and a train, releasing a weight with his song Cannibal, and the magical experience of readiness on his new album Prizefighter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a crazy Las Vegas story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Adam Mosseri (Instagram, Facebook, Fortune’s 40 Under 40) is the CEO/Head of Instagram at Meta. Adam joins the Armchair Expert to discuss being the suit in a family of artists and designers, how we build up emotional affinities for particular brands, and why his approach to design is based in problem solving. Adam and Dax talk about using intelligent technology to evaluate safety at scale, how the Instagram algorithm actually works, and the arms race of the ability to detect when something was made by AI. Adam explains the process of rolling out new features and dealing with mistakes, the implications of how power has been shifting from institutions to individuals, and his prediction that authenticity is becoming infinitely reproducible.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown

2026-02-2302:05:462

Sterling K. Brown (Paradise, The People v. O.J. Simpson, This Is Us) is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor. Sterling joins the Armchair Expert to discuss learning from his father not to allow what he does for a living to dictate who he is, the benefits of having a good stubbornness, and how speaking in tongues as a child was good acting training. Sterling and Dax talk about meeting his wife as a student at Stanford, his lucky break as a reader for a Brecht play, and developing empathy for Chris Darden while playing him in The People v. O.J. Simpson. Sterling explains his mantra that you can’t be a fan and in the game at the same time, the fun of doing his second project with Dan Fogelman, and why he wouldn’t change anything that brought him to this point. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a unique kink.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Colleen Cutcliffe (Pendulum Therapeutics) is a doctor of biochemistry and microbiology and CEO and co-founder of Pendulum Therapeutics. Colleen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss starting a microbiome supplement company inspired by her premature daughter who had to take antibiotics, applying hyenas' evolved ability to digest rotting meat to study gut bacteria, and how fecal transplants reliably help treat C. diff. Colleen and Dax talk about the real linkages between microbiome and depression, obesity, and more, how the body’s natural GLP1s function, and why a healthy gut is a resilient gut. Colleen explains her wooden fence analogy to illustrate leaky guy syndrome, remarkable results from experiments giving mice Akkermansia, and that the beauty of the microbiome is that everything is recoverable.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Charlie Puth

Charlie Puth

2026-02-1601:54:092

Charlie Puth (Whatever’s Clever, Voicenotes, Nine Track Mind) is a Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning songwriter, recording artist, and producer. Charlie joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his opinion that standup is the scariest job, how everyone in New Jersey is their own local celebrity, and that what’s most important about recording is capturing the air in the room. Charlie and Dax talk about the photographic memory-like way he approaches sound, learning he wanted to write his own music after discovering 70s pop and R&B, and making a Christmas album that he sold door-to-door at age 11. Charlie explains why his history with his wife is like a country song, the realization that he had to remove fraudulence from his life, and embracing the beauty of imperfection in being human.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a meet cute.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Justin Garcia (The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love) is an evolutionary biologist, researcher on sex and relationships, and Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute. Justin joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the unique quality that human sex is so tied to our social behavior, the physiological constraints on mating in other animals, and how sexually we are like magpies. Justin and Dax talk about why gorillas have really small testes, how the pandemic resulted in couples weathering the storms of relationship conflict, and an evolutionary explanation for how difficult it is to choose mates on a dating app. Justin explains how collecting hormone samples at a brothel in Las Vegas led him to write his book, why there’s no requirement to enter a relationship fully healed, and the social science behind love, partnership, fidelity, and heartbreak.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Kaley Cuoco Returns

Kaley Cuoco Returns

2026-02-0901:42:40

Kaley Cuoco (Vanished, The Big Bang Theory, The Flight Attendant) is an actor and producer. Kaley returns to discuss whether she’s on the slippery slope to getting a tiger, her recent obsession with near-death experiences, and being blessed with the gift of the ability to sleep anywhere, anytime. Kaley and Dax talk about the manager-facilitated meet-cute with her now-fiancé, her hosting pitch for an NFL Honors gig, and how she has such a healthy attitude towards rejection as an actor. Kaley explains what was most memorable about walking onto Season 8 of Charmed as a new cast member, the game-changing decision to sleep in different bedrooms, and playing an archeologist in Albania on her new show Vanished.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a cooking disaster.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Claudia Rowe (Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care) is a decorated journalist, advocate, and author. Claudia joins the Armchair Expert to discuss making the shift from using long-form journalism to a book to tell a story, touching off a five-year correspondence with a confessed serial killer, and confronting why she became fixated on what causes a person to commit murder. Claudia and Dax talk about her harrowing experience writing a true-crime memoir, realizing that this trial of a teenager in foster care actually corresponded to all the reporting she’d done, and how the failures of the foster system factored into the case of Maryanne. Claudia explains collaborating with incarcerated individuals to articulate thoughts about the carceral system, how poverty can often look like neglect, and her argument for a rehabilitative system of child care.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Anderson .Paak

Anderson .Paak

2026-02-0202:07:332

Anderson .Paak (K-Pops!, Oxnard, Malibu) is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, music producer, and filmmaker. Anderson joins the Armchair Expert to discuss people discovering him through his wide-ranging collaborations, how his dad and uncle were like the hood version of Freaky Friday, and feeling grateful that he took the opportunity to repair with his father before he passed. Anderson and Dax talk about how his mom turned a strawberry stand into a multimillion dollar business into a prison stay, why the best musicians come out of church bands, and staring at Dr. Dre’s feet while playing him songs for the first time. Anderson explains going viral with his Tiny Desk concert, making music videos as training to direct his first film, and why having a Trust Your Gut tattoo helps him to remember to do so.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy story about finding a foreign object in a patient's butt.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ellen Huet (Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult) is a journalist, startup founder, and author. Ellen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss must-haves versus most-haves in terms of cult sexuality requirements, her hot tips for avoiding cults that are too extractive, and her dealings with Silicon Valley and venture capitalists. Ellen and Dax talk about when she began covering orgasmic meditation startup OneTaste, the OM course to cult pipeline, and the intricacies and systems of manipulation concocted by OneTaste’s leader. Ellen explains unpacking potential power dynamics of sexual abuse, how much status games weigh into human behavior, and why she believes there’s no one invulnerable to indoctrination.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Marcello Hernández

Marcello Hernández

2026-01-2601:52:063

Marcello Hernández (American Boy, SNL, Happy Gilmore 2) is a stand-up comedian, sketch performer, and actor. Marcello joins the Armchair Expert to discuss unsponsored gift selections from Marshalls, why Dominican kids are 12 years old but they’re also 40, and thinking he may have finally found his writing process. Marcello and Dax talk about the influential character he adopted during Model UN, leaving his first wife (soccer) for his mistress (stand-up), and how a depressive episode amid Covid lockdown led to a full-time job in comedy. Marcello explains his uncertain fate at SNL following an initial sit-down with Lorne Michaels, the wholesome reason for featuring his mom in his work, and what his aspirations of becoming a teacher and a comic had in common.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Comments (2323)

Erin Brumbley

my kid calls hot dog on a bun, a hotdog sandwich. it's a sandwich!

Nov 19th
Reply

Lo Fox

The editor of this show should really chew on what Stephen is saying around 54:15.

Oct 24th
Reply

Michael McCarthy

Wow. Great episode. I never paid much attention when this was going on, and only learned more about it when enough information was known publicly for the case against her to seem absurd. She seems like a very bright and articulate.person with a deep capacity for empathy and compassion. The fact she found empathy for her prosecutor is proof of that. I would not be so sympathetic to a lawyer who doesn't understand the difference between fact and opinion.

Oct 7th
Reply (1)

Mina Rabiei

I enjoyed the whole episode 🌱 Thank you

Sep 13th
Reply (1)

Mahla

ایول

Sep 7th
Reply

Amirreza Z

It was a nice interview... I enjoyed it 👌🏼👍🏼

Jul 21st
Reply

Doreen DiSalvo

Very interesting about her breast cancer diagnosis and thoughts. I can relate to so much of that part of the story. thanks!

Jul 9th
Reply

ID19619055

The hamster thing is definitely a well-known homophobic urban legend.

Jul 5th
Reply

Jacqueline Williams

How long before we stop protecting fundamentalist psychos stealing children and abusing young women?

Jun 24th
Reply

Mahdi Karimi

سلام من از ایران هستم ایرانی پیدا میشه این جا ؟؟؟

Jun 7th
Reply

wildspirit 67

Mae was on Hope Floats also

May 14th
Reply

Adam Balogh

i hate you enough to kill.... for having a wonderful childhood.... mine wasn't... shut the fuck up about your perfect upbringing before i lose it and eat your fucking heart.... liver.... kidneys.... eyes.... ears.... gall blader... I'm not alone....

May 10th
Reply

hwithoutsound

I was a screamo kid back in the day & still use that term so fair play to story teller # 2

May 4th
Reply

hwithoutsound

I haaaaaaaated when bands called for the wall of death. I always ended up in the middle as I tried to get away. also, high five to another member of the concert induced hearing loss club!

Apr 20th
Reply (3)

hwithoutsound

the lady who claimed to have grown up with pitbulls really reinforced false stereotypes about them. I've had them. currently have 2. other dogs in the fam are banned from gatherings b/c of bite risk - my pitbulls are expected to attend. if you raise them correctly they're no more dangerous than other comparable sized dogs.

Apr 20th
Reply

hwithoutsound

holy crap! I've never heard someone say my specific autoimmune disease correctly on a podcast. I got diagnosed at 32 so I feel for her dad

Apr 7th
Reply

hwithoutsound

as someone who benefited as a child from grandparent's rights it pisses me off that people abuse it & use it as a weapon

Apr 7th
Reply (1)

hwithoutsound

I relate to the track girl so hard. I finished a cross country race & kept running to the trees & puked - turned around & everyone was watching. the next race was worse haha

Apr 5th
Reply

Lee-Ann Doerksen

The episode spontaneously stopped when Johnathan was explaining the 7 different types of thrills...

Mar 14th
Reply

Erin Brumbley

this is not the whole episode. what the heck?

Mar 14th
Reply (1)
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