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Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

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.

Flightless Bird: Lord of the Rings

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 41 views
  • 10 days ago
  • 01:02:59

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier still finds himself stranded back in New Zealand, waiting for his new Visa to be issued so he can make more American Flightless Birds. Cut off from America, he decides to do one of the most touristy things he can imagine: he sets off for Matamata and the tiny sleepy village of Hobbiton. Left over from the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit, he goes to meet Hobbiton general manager Shayne Forrest, who takes Farrier around the most incredibly detailed living film set he’s ever seen. Farrier discovers that Hobbiton has recently opened up a Hobbit house, so Farrier goes inside to experience it with an American man called Matt. Outside, Farrier is lucky enough to meet Pickles, Hobbiton’s one and only rescue cat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Conor McGregor & Jake Gyllenhaal

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 81 views
  • 11 days ago
  • 01:52:50

Conor McGregor is a mixed martial arts fighter, businessman, and actor. Jake Gyllenhaal is an actor. Conor and Jake join the Armchair Expert to discuss what their experience was collaborating to remake Roadhouse, how promoting a movie is different than promoting a fight, and what the motivation was for Conor to learn mixed martial arts as a young man. Conor, Jake, and Dax talk about what it’s like growing up in hypermasculine environments, how they approach failure, and what it’s like raising children as a fighter. Conor and Jake explain what training for a fight does for your physical health, what it takes to create believable fight scenes, and how much they love being creators. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Armchair Anonymous: Cult

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 87 views
  • 14 days ago
  • 01:05:10

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they escaped a cult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill Gates Returns

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 80 views
  • 15 days ago
  • 01:47:36

Bill Gates is a businessman, investor, and philanthropist. Bill returns to the Armchair Expert (from India!) to discuss the process of partnering with governments to provide vaccines, what data he looks at to assess what a successful project is, and why he is comfortable being critical of others' ideas. Bill and Dax talk about how impactful having a good meeting with peers can be, how important it is to admit that you aren’t an expert at something, and what superpowers they would want. Bill explains why he loves the history of science, how much of his foundation’s research goes towards world health, and what impacts A.I. will potentially have on the global economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Synced: Gate Boyfriend

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 63 views
  • 16 days ago
  • 52:40

In this episode of Synced, Liz shares her latest meet cute with Monica, they discuss phone background etiquette, and talk through how they would respond if one of them committed murder. They deep dive into a listener question on how to handle an odorous coworker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Flightless Bird: Feijoas

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 50 views
  • 17 days ago
  • 45:24

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier finds himself stranded back in New Zealand, waiting for his new American Visa to be issued. He decides to investigate New Zealand’s most famous fruit - not the kiwifruit, but the feijoa. They’re an icon in New Zealand, put in everything from chocolate to vodka. Farrier then sets out to understand why the feijoa has never taken off in America - and is shocked to find an underground network of feijoa lovers throughout California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maisie Williams

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 72 views
  • 18 days ago
  • 01:59:54

Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones, The New Look, Pistol) is an actor. Maisie joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how she connects with other young actors who achieve success early, how her relationship with doing press has evolved, and how she originally wanted to be a dancer. Maisie and Dax talk about what it’s like to be on a massive television show, having to learn to use a sword with her opposite hand, and growing up on a tv set. Maisie explains how the golden era of fashion happened during World War II, how early fashion designers contributed to movements like feminism, and what actors above 50 she’d want to date.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Armchair Anonymous: Cheated

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 53 views
  • 21 days ago
  • 48:12

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they cheated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jared Cohen Returns

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 100 views
  • 29 days ago
  • 02:12:10

Jared Cohen (Life After Power, Accidental Presidents) is an author and businessman. Jared returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss what other oddities he collects from former US Presidents, the burden of legacy, and the history of third parties in the presidential elections. Jared and Dax talk about why authority in institutions matters, how much being a politician has changed, and the impact of geopolitics on business. Jared explains the relationship between ambition and happiness, how social media algorithms accelerate the radicalization process, and how he convinced Adam Grant to become his unofficial therapist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Synced: The Pool

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 93 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 46:36

In this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz discuss their nonnegotiables in a relationship, Monica tells an ex she doesn't want to be friends, and they debate the orange peel theory. They answer listener questions on how to turn down a drink from a stranger at a bar, asking for a prenup, and supporting a friend's financial endeavors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Flightless Bird: Costco

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 110 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 52:00

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to understand Costco, the giant membership warehouse club loved by millions of Americans, a store that now pulls in $64 billion in revenue each year. Farrier meets up with a friend of the show Andy, who takes David inside Costco for his first shopping trip. David is so impressed he signs up as a card-carrying Costco member, before returning with a former staff member to get the goss. Finally, Farrier talks to a staff member who’s been at Costco for a quarter of a century, meeting his wife at Costo, buying his engagement ring at Costco, and naming their dog after the iconic Costco brand, Kirkland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bradley Cooper Returns

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 170 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 02:03:13

Bradley Cooper (Maestro, A Star is Born, Silver Linings Playbook) is an award-winning actor, producer, and filmmaker. Bradley returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss why it’s important to be a good dancer, his new love of reality television, and how much he’s worked on improving his self-esteem. Bradley and Dax talk about their morning rituals, how they’ve learned to evaluate their own stories, and how fulfilling it has been to become a parent. Bradley explains the importance of having empathy as an actor, the talent of Leonard Bernstein, and what makes him cry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Armchair Anonymous: Greatest Fear

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 85 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 45:55

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time their greatest fear came true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob Reiner

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 120 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 02:03:25

Rob Reiner (God & Country, Spinal Tap, All in the Family) is an actor and filmmaker. Rob joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1960 World Series, why he prefers directing over acting and writing, and what it was like working with Martin Scorsese. Rob and Dax talk about their time in improv groups, the rise of All in the Family, and how fascinated they both are with Russia. Rob explains how much he looked up to and wanted to be like his father, why Christian Nationalism is a danger to the country and Christianity, and Dax tells him how much he sounds like best boy, Jimmy Kimmel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Synced: DePENS

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 88 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 53:42

In this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz debate the price of authenticity and revisit the pen conversation from last week, but this time include an expert. They answer listener questions on handling patriarchy in the workplace, getting over a comparison to an unflattering animal, and feeling shame for wanting one's partner to be more masculine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Flightless Bird: Roswell

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 100 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 55:29

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to the town of Roswell, New Mexico - home of the 1947 UFO crash that ignited the imagination of the entire planet. After visiting the Roswell UFO Museum, Farrier sets out to see what makes Roswell, well, Roswell. He meets up with artist Michael Beitz who runs the Meow Cat Sanctuary, before getting some Mexican food with local cowboy “Spider Dailey”, who fills Farrier in on the local military academy… and how to be an anarchist. He also goes to see Nancy Fleming who runs the Miniatures & Curious Collections Museum, and stops by Roswell’s UFO-themed McDonalds where he meets a man who’s had a close encounter of his own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Camila Mendes

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 130 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 02:23:12

Camila Mendes (Riverdale, Upgraded, Música) is an actor and producer. Camila joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how young artists are often more vulnerable to the public, how much she has started to lean into her culture, and learning Alexander technique. Camila and Dax talk about what types of people they are attracted to, what it’s like to know a second language with a significant other, and how to balance family dynamics. Camila explains how she booked a TV show while still in acting school, how romantic comedies have changed, and how teasing someone can be a form of affection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Armchair Anonymous: Valentine's Day Disaster

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 81 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 58:59

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a Valentine’s Day disaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charles Duhigg (on being a supercommunicator)

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 85 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 02:07:56

Charles Duhigg (Supercommunicators, The Power of Habit) is a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and best-selling author. Charles joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the difference in culture at the LA Times and New York Times, the benefits of bettering your communication, and how well humans can detect inauthenticity. Charles and Dax talk about how our brains latch on to vulnerability, the three types of conversations, and the importance of matching them. Charles explains that successful conversations are ones where you understand one another at the end, how laughter shows your willingness to connect, and how to loop for understanding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Synced: The Recital

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

  • 83 views
  • about 1 month ago
  • 58:46

In this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz perform their 'hot girl hobby' challenges, they discuss misplaced anger on the internet, and question if taking a pen is considered stealing. They answer listener questions on whether one should buy gifts for others when it's not reciprocated and how to help a friend who unknowingly struggles with how to apply makeup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices