Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

In this Armchair Anonymous episode, Dax and Monica listen to listener-submitted stories about bad teachers.

Angela Duckworth returns to discuss her new book 'Situated', which explores how people and places shape our potential. She shares a near-drowning story, reflects on a 15-year-delayed apology to a fellow author, and reveals how a graduate student’s critique of 'Grit' redirected her research. Dax and Angela talk about the arrival fallacy, why Leon Marchand changed his environment to break a world record, and why grit alone isn’t enough.

Lizzo joins Dax Shepard to talk about her journey from a Detroit church upbringing to Grammy-winning stardom. She shares stories of being mocked for 'talking white' and loving anime in Houston, losing her father at 19 who believed she could be the next great flute player, and playing in a dozen Minneapolis bands at once. The conversation covers the delayed success of 'Truth Hurts,' the story behind the vulnerable interview that sparked 'My Skin,' and why fame makes people fear the other shoe will drop. Lizzo also explains how she learned to turn insults back on bullies, a tactic she calls emotional judo.

Dax and Monica hear anonymous stories from listeners about their most memorable summer flings. The episode features several callers recounting brief romantic encounters from their past, exploring themes of nostalgia, early sexual experiences, and the unique intensity of short-term summer relationships.

Ray Madoff, a Boston College law professor and tax-policy expert, joins Dax Shepard to discuss how America’s tax code enables a new aristocracy. She explains why salaries are taxed heavily while the ultrawealthy pay almost nothing on capital gains, how a $50 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer yielded only $28 billion in estate tax, and why high earners and the truly wealthy are not the same group. Ray argues that closing loopholes and taxing wealth more fairly could save capitalism from its own excesses, and maintains that the problem is the system, not the billionaires themselves. Along the way, she shares stories from her own unlikely path from mediocre high school student to Wall Street tax lawyer and beloved professor.

Gal Gadot joins Dax Shepard to discuss her journey from beauty pageant winner to international action star. She recounts surviving a life-threatening cerebral venous thrombosis after childbirth and training with an Olympic coach for The Runner. They talk about almost quitting acting, being discovered for a Bond audition while studying law, and why she believes struggle is essential to happiness. The conversation covers parenthood, emotional aging, and the resilience that has defined her career.

Dax and Monica host another installment of Armchair Anonymous, where they read and react to wild stories submitted by listeners. This 'Wild Card' episode features a mix of unpredictable, crazy anecdotes from Armcherries, offering laughs and surprises in a casual, off-the-cuff conversation with no fixed theme.

Olivia Fox Cabane, author of The Charisma Myth, joins Dax to discuss how she turned charisma into a learnable skill. She explains how growing up in Paris without television or movies and receiving an autism diagnosis in her 40s led her to decode human interaction like a foreign language. The conversation covers body language’s surprising power in pitch meetings, why focused listening gives introverts a charisma advantage, and why genuine warmth can’t be faked. The episode also explores the dangers of too much charisma and the emerging science of digital charisma.

Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney join Dax Shepard to discuss their marriage, parenting, and careers. They share how working together strengthened their bond, how quiet moments create connection for busy couples, and the surreal experience of raising kids who view the sitting president as their family's adversary. The conversation also covers professional tricks for rescuing unprepared talk-show guests, the value of traditions that spark collective joy, and why deliberate distortion is more damaging than honest disagreement.

Dax Shepard and Monica Padman listen to and react to listener-submitted stories about unusual or humorous spa experiences, continuing the "Armchair Anonymous" series where the hosts read audience anecdotes.

Chris Young, author of The Wound Is Where the Light Enters, shares his journey from a childhood consumed by his mother’s addiction and extreme poverty—including two years without utilities—to selling drugs by age 11 and eventually a life sentence. He and Dax discuss how small decisions hardened his identity, the powerful courtroom speech that prompted his judge’s resignation, and the diverse coalition that fought for his clemency. Chris challenges rigid notions of family, redefining it as a verb, and reframes hope as a vital addiction for survival.

David Sedaris joins Dax to talk about strange turns in his life and work, from discovering his name in the Epstein files to crossing state lines after midnight for a tumor removal that ended with him feeding the tumor to a snapping turtle. They cover his process of testing and rewriting essays onstage and granting relatives veto power over his stories. The conversation shifts to why he moved from life's biggest moments to writing about almost nothing, and why he thinks talking to strangers creates real connection. David explains his views on treating words as violence and argues that comedy should be as tasteless as possible.

Dax Shepard and Monica Padman host an Armchair Anonymous episode focused on extreme weather. Rather than interviewing an expert, they invite members of the show's audience, called Armcherries, to share their own extreme weather stories. The episode is built around listener anecdotes, with the hosts guiding the conversation.

Psychologist and founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Marc Brackett joins Dax Shepard to discuss the childhood trauma that shaped his life's work, the fallout from disclosing it on national television at 12, and the uncle whose simple compassion finally made him feel safe. The conversation covers how Brackett's ideas became the RULER program now reaching 10 million children, being called out by his mother-in-law for failing to regulate during lockdown, and the discovery that Yale students often mistake envy for stress. Brackett explains why avoiding emotion is harmful, how precisely naming a feeling changes what can be done with it, and why the best emotional allies listen instead of trying to fix.

Taron Egerton (Kingsman, Rocketman, Apex) joins Dax Shepard to discuss his journey from a Welsh village with a famously long 59-letter name to Hollywood. He talks about growing up raised by a single mother, finding acting after being bullied for being an artistic kid, and Colin Firth mentoring him on Kingsman. The conversation explores psychological concepts like embracing his shadow, destroying his idealized self-image, and believing in a benevolent universe.

Dax and Monica host an Armchair Anonymous episode where a fan shares a wild hotel story.

Christopher Whitcomb, a former FBI Hostage Rescue Team sniper and bestselling author, discusses his unusual path from teaching and speechwriting to the FBI’s elite tactical unit. He recounts his presence at pivotal events like Ruby Ridge and Waco, and explains why he chose to re-examine the Idaho murders even after the suspect’s guilty plea. The conversation covers the psychological mindset required for high-stakes operations, the retrospective judgment of split-second life-or-death decisions, and the enduring importance of seeking truth when a case appears closed.

Scott Eastwood (actor, producer, and entrepreneur) joins Dax Shepard to discuss his unconventional upbringing between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Hawaii, getting expelled after raiding a pot farm, and bar-backing his way through college. He talks about swearing off war movies before Lucky Strike pulled him back, nearly coming to blows with Shia LaBeouf on Fury, and defying his agents to star in Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” video. Eastwood opens up about the dark side of fame, how film sets delay grief, and why you should say what you feel before time runs out.

Dax and Monica host an Armchair Anonymous segment where listeners call in to share their most harrowing home intruder stories. The conversation explores the acute fear, lingering shock, and the way a break-in can permanently alter one's sense of safety at home. The hosts and callers reflect on the unexpected twists and the psychological aftermath of these violations.

Eva Benefield, author of Ghost Girl, joins Dax to discuss her traumatic childhood in the Charleston Lowcountry, losing her mother at 14 and her father in the Black Swan murder case. She explains how dark humor on TikTok became a coping tool, how building her apparel brand Ghost Cowboy provided a creative outlet, and how writing her memoir helped her process ongoing grief. The conversation explores why she found closure not in a courtroom verdict but in her own storytelling.

Actor Alan Ritchson (War Machine, Reacher, Motor City) joins Dax to discuss his unconventional path from ballet to action star, growing up in a military family, and navigating recent diagnoses of ADHD and CPTSD. The conversation covers childhood bullying, exploitation he faced as a young model, and his ongoing struggle to separate his self-worth from career success. Ritchson shares how EMDR therapy has helped him process trauma and reflects on the complicated role resentment plays in his life, plus his belief that some people are called to fight for others.

Dax and Monica listen to and discuss a wild story shared by an anonymous Armcherry. No specific guest or story details are available from the provided show notes.

Tommy Lee joins Dax Shepard to talk about his unlikely path from a kid split between Greece and California to rock stardom. He shares how ballet training shaped his drumming and showmanship, why he dropped out of high school after landing a record deal, and the band's collective decision to get sober before recording *Dr. Feelgood*. They explore the loneliness that can come with fame and how bonsai trees became a form of meditation for him. The conversation also touches on the gap between the life people envy and the reality of living it.

Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own) joins Dax Shepard to talk about growing up shy and tall in a strict New England home, reinventing herself as an exchange student in Sweden, and the unusual path from department-store mannequin to her first role in Tootsie. She reflects on winning an Oscar at 32, the transformative power of film roles, and how Susan Sarandon taught her to stop apologizing for existing on set. The conversation also covers her discovery of athleticism during A League of Their Own and how the precision of Olympic archery gave her relief from the subjectivity of Hollywood. Davis outlines her conviction that lasting cultural change begins when unconscious bias is made impossible to ignore.

Dax and Monica listen to listeners' harrowing stalking experiences. The anonymous format allows people to share deeply personal and often terrifying stories about being pursued, revealing the dark side of obsession and the lasting impact on victims.

Grant Achatz, the chef behind Alinea and Next, joins Dax to discuss his journey from a small-town Michigan diner to the pinnacle of molecular gastronomy. He reflects on his demanding apprenticeships under Charlie Trotter and Thomas Keller, the philosophy of constant reinvention, and how he uses food as a narrative medium. Achatz shares his harrowing experience with stage IV tongue cancer at the height of his career, and his perspective on AI as a tool rather than a threat in the creative process.

Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This, GLOW) joins Dax to talk about her BRCA mutation discovery and advocacy for genetic testing, the exhaustion of life-or-death medical choices, and how anxiety shifts after facing your worst fears. They also discuss the grind of Hollywood, learning to pivot instead of waiting for permission, and the relief of finally calming down after career success.

In this episode of Armchair Anonymous, Dax Shepard and Monica Padman invite Armcherries to share their wildest animal attack encounters. The stories range from frightening to absurd, showcasing the unexpected dangers of the natural world. As always, the hosts react with humor and empathy, turning terrifying experiences into engaging conversation.

Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and founder of McSweeney’s, joins Dax Shepard. He shares the quirky family story behind the name McSweeney’s, his love for writing and book design from a young age, and the experience of moving to Berkeley to raise his brother after his parents’ deaths. The conversation covers shaking up staid literary readings with the band They Might Be Giants, building a creative community out of rejected magazine pieces, and his philosophy on why children’s writing deserves to be published. Eggers also reflects on how writing imposes order on chaos and why the most fulfilling creative path is the one with the least preciousness.

Lukas Gage (The White Lotus, author) joins Dax to discuss his chaotic upbringing in San Diego, surviving a hate crime, and his time in a troubled teen wilderness program. He opens up about navigating Hollywood as a closeted actor, his BPD diagnosis, and the distorting effects of shame and secrecy. The conversation covers the surreal experience of a Kardashians wedding and an on-set injury with Conor McGregor. Lukas reflects on how stopping the performance of other people’s approval allowed him to reclaim his identity.

Dax Shepard and Monica Padman host a special Armchair Anonymous episode where listeners call in to share surprising and shocking family secrets. The stories range from hidden parentage to long-buried scandals, revealing the strange truths families keep. The conversation is candid, funny, and occasionally jaw-dropping.

Edward Norton joins Dax Shepard to discuss growing up with a visionary city-planner grandfather, living methodically on $11,000 a year as a young actor, and founding a port-emissions company that cleans pollution from cargo ships. They also explore the actor's 'narcissistic brain,' why he doesn't treat film like a volume game, and the exhilarating trust Olivia Wilde created while directing The Invite. Norton outlines the difference between iconic and shape-shifting actors, explains why uncertainty can be the gateway to deeper work, and reflects on how the things we absorb from the world become what we eventually give back through art.

Olivia Wilde joins Dax Shepard to discuss her upbringing by war-correspondent parents, the accelerated maturity she developed at Georgetown, and finding her footing at boarding school. They talk about the misguided lessons she absorbed in LA audition rooms, the pivotal decision to leave The OC to pursue film, and the leap from directing music videos to her debut feature Booksmart. Olivia also shares why the most personal work usually becomes the best work, how parenting has taught her patience and humility, and why society needs to relearn the lost art of disagreement.

Dax and Monica dedicate the episode to a listener favorite, 'Armchair Anonymous,' now in its third iteration of the 'Foreign Object in Butt' series. Curious armchair experts call in to share a truly bizarre medical story involving the discovery of an object where it shouldn't be. The hosts react with shock, humor, and empathy, creating a lighthearted yet oddly educational half-hour. The segment exemplifies the show's ability to find common humanity in the most awkward situations, reminding listeners that everyone has embarrassing moments. As always, Dax and Monica's chemistry makes the cringe-worthy tale entertaining and connective.

Susie Wolff, former professional racing driver and now managing director of the F1 Academy, joins Dax to discuss her journey from a motorsport-obsessed childhood in Scotland to racing against Lewis Hamilton as a kid and eventually building a development series for female drivers. She opens up about the physical demands of driving an F1 car, the evolution of her relationship with femininity in a male-dominated sport, and the emotional experience of revisiting her past through her memoir. The conversation explores what it means to be validated purely by performance when almost everything else around you questions your place.

Steve Aoki joins Dax Shepard to discuss his larger-than-life father, Rocky Aoki, founder of Benihana, and how competing for his approval shaped his relentless ambition. He reflects on growing up as a skater kid in Newport Beach, finding belonging in the straight-edge hardcore punk scene, and launching his record label Dim Mak from his living room. Aoki explains how DIY ethics made creativity feel accessible, why he still regrets turning down a cameo in Tropic Thunder, and how becoming a father shifted his priorities toward brain health, longevity, and being present.

Dax Shepard and Monica Padman chat with Armcherries (listeners) who share personal stories about their most outrageous, annoying, or bizarre neighbor experiences. This episode is a collection of hilarious and shocking anecdotes from the audience, offering a window into the unpredictability of living near others. There is no guest expert or central discussion, just spontaneous storytelling.

Leslie John, a behavioral scientist and Harvard Business School professor, discusses her research on self-disclosure, privacy, and why we underestimate the benefits of oversharing. She explains how growing up in a penny-pinching household drove her to study human irrationality and how one mortifying over-share led to finding lifelong mentors. The conversation covers the cognitive toll of keeping secrets, why sketchy websites encourage more honesty than polished ones, and how parasocial relationships fill a real intimacy gap. John argues that strategic vulnerability is a social tool that builds trust, and that we're often better off revealing more than we think.

Hunter Biden, former attorney, artist, and recovery advocate, joins Dax to discuss his life growing up in a political family, the tragic car accident that killed his mother and sister, and the unconditional love of his brother Beau. They explore the paradox of self-destruction as both comfort and danger, and unpack the myth of the 'functional' addict. Hunter shares how addiction reduces the world to a single need and how public humiliation did not rob him of the capacity for redemption. The conversation ends with what it means to rebuild a life honestly and openly, without hiding.

Dax and Monica host the latest installment of Armchair Anonymous, where listeners call in to share their most outrageous personal stories. This episode focuses on camping tales, with Armcherries recounting their wildest outdoor misadventures.

Darby Saxbe (Dad Brain) is a clinical psychologist and tenured professor who studies family stress and the transition to parenthood. She joins Dax to discuss her own childhood, her parents' dramatic divorce, and why science has historically overlooked fatherhood. Darby explains the hormonal and neurological changes men undergo when they become dads, including why 'dad bod' is biologically real and how caregiving actually changes male brains. She also draws on hunter-gatherer communities, Barcelona playgrounds, and Swedish 'latte papas' to show how different cultures handle child-rearing, and she makes the case that kids need more community, boredom, roughhousing, and freedom than modern parenting typically allows.

Hannah Berner (Giggly Squad, Summer House) joins Dax to talk about her journey from Division I tennis to stand-up comedy. She opens up about the performance anxiety she faced as a college athlete, the identity crisis that followed after she left the sport, and how stand-up became the first place she felt truly herself. They discuss nightmare subway stories, the pressure of filming a Netflix special, and why embarrassment can be freeing. Hannah also shares why changing your dream doesn’t mean you failed.

In this installment of Armchair Anonymous, Dax and Monica invite listeners to share real, personal stories about a time they stole something. The format replaces the show's usual celebrity interview with candid, call-in storytelling, offering a range of theft-related experiences told by the Armcherry community.

Cohen Miles-Rath, a mental health advocate and suicide prevention professional, joins Dax to discuss his tumultuous upbringing between two very different households, his path as a distance runner and first-generation college student, and the mounting pressures that unraveled his identity. He recounts his psychotic break—driven partly by cannabis and sleeplessness—that led to a terrifying attempt on his father's life and subsequent incarceration. Cohen describes the visceral reality of hallucinations and delusions, the unconditional love that became the cornerstone of his recovery, and why staying well demands daily vigilance and a strong support system. He shares his story openly to help dismantle stigma around severe mental illness.

Lena Waithe, Emmy-winning writer and creator of The Chi, joins Dax to reflect on her journey from a talkative kid in Chicago to a force in Hollywood. They discuss how her grandmother introduced her to television and shaped her storytelling instinct. The conversation delves into the misconception that identity alone constitutes activism, and they reframe aging not as a fear but as a privilege. Lena also opens up about the difficult creative evolution of The Chi and the mentors who helped her along the way.

Dax and Monica host an Armchair Anonymous segment featuring listeners sharing their craziest graduation stories. In this call‑in format, Armcherries recount wild, embarrassing, and often hilarious moments from their graduation ceremonies and celebrations, with the hosts’ banter adding to the humor.

Ezra Klein, journalist and podcast host, returns to Armchair Expert to discuss the intersection of personal growth and politics. He and Dax explore how self-improvement has become politically coded, why attention is politics' most valuable currency, and why there is no liberal Joe Rogan. They examine how cancellation can backfire into shadow influence and why democracy depends on moral imagination. Ezra argues that the desire to become a better person shouldn't be owned by one political side.

Jack McBrayer (Zillow Gone Wild, 30 Rock) joins Dax to discuss his upbringing in a family of teachers, finding creative community in Chicago improv, and his photographic memory for dates. He shares why suntanning is his form of meditation, why reading the room isn’t inauthenticity, and why the feeling of tight skin can be a signal to jump into the next chapter.

Dax and Monica listen to Armcherries share their worst roommate stories. The segment is part of the ongoing ‘Armchair Anonymous’ series, where listeners submit real-life anecdotes. This is the second installment focused specifically on bad roommates, featuring a mix of cringe-worthy and hilarious living situations, as the hosts react with their signature humor and empathy.

Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau, a leading child sexual abuse prevention researcher, and Luke Malone, an Emmy-nominated journalist, discuss the staggering prevalence of abuse and why society struggles to talk about it. They explain critical distinctions—between pedophilia and offending, and how much abuse is perpetrated by other children—and argue that prevention must be treated as a public health issue rather than solely a criminal matter. The conversation highlights how shame and stigma prevent both victims and those at risk of offending from seeking help, and that compassion and accountability must coexist for real change to happen. The episode, born from a reluctant interview that became a long collaboration, offers a blueprint for shifting from punishment to prevention.

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile joins Dax to discuss her feral childhood in rural Washington, navigating her father's alcoholism, and being denied baptism as a teen. She shares how relentless hustle built her career, working with producers like Rick Rubin and T Bone Burnett, and her role in reviving Joni Mitchell and Tanya Tucker. They explore how marriage equality transformed her life and her reverence for LGBTQ elders, as well as how faith, family, and service guide her.

In this Armchair Anonymous episode, Dax and Monica listen to Armcherries share wild and crazy stories from waterparks. The stories capture the unexpected dangers and absurdities that can arise at these seemingly fun destinations.

Ben McKenzie, actor and author of Easy Money, joins Dax to discuss his pivot from starring in a hit TV show to becoming one of crypto's most vocal skeptics. He recounts his upbringing in a civically minded Austin family, studying economics at UVA, and the jarring experience of overnight fame and imposter syndrome. The conversation then focuses on his investigation into cryptocurrency markets — how behavioral economics explains the irrationality behind financial manias, how systems of trust and hype are weaponized, and why the promise of 'easy money' preys on a universal human vulnerability.

Actor Chace Crawford (The Boys, Gossip Girl) joins Dax Shepard to discuss his peripatetic childhood moving between Texas, Oklahoma, and Minnesota, and how constantly making new friends turned him into a people-pleasing chameleon. He recounts crashing a car while valeting in Malibu and narrowly missing a role on Friday Night Lights before achieving overnight fame on Gossip Girl. Crawford reflects on how celebrity can push you toward self-absorption or paranoia, how alcohol seemed to make social demands easier, and why chasing the next wave of validation always proves empty.

Dax and Monica share listener-submitted stories about times people had to evacuate unexpectedly—from chaotic exits to dangerous emergencies. The anonymous callers recount the surprises, lessons, and stranger-than-fiction moments of being caught off guard when the need to flee arose.

Patrick Radden Keefe, author of London Falling, Empire of Pain, and Say Nothing, joins to discuss his winding path from an intellectual upbringing to writing for The New Yorker. He describes the years-long investigation behind London Falling, the mysterious death of Zac Brettler tied to hidden identities and extreme wealth, and how proximity to oligarch culture and social media can warp ambition. The conversation explores the soul of storytelling through digression and the challenge of holding empathy for people in unknowable circumstances.

Jack Antonoff joins Dax to talk about growing up in suburban New Jersey as an unsupervised middle child, losing his sister at a young age, and finding identity through obsessive music discovery. He recounts the grind of DIY touring as a teenager and his evolution from punk purist to collaborating with global pop stars. The conversation explores how environment and movement fuel his creativity, why grief clarified what matters to him, and the constant fear of running out of ideas that drives his restlessness. He shares why starting over is essential to staying creatively alive.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries who call in with a crazy bar story.

Tara Stoinski, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, returns to discuss her recent work with mountain gorillas in Rwanda. She shares insights from documenting rare dominance battles, the distinct social structures of gorillas compared to chimpanzees, and the critical importance of long-term behavioral research. Tara also explores how early life trauma affects gorilla behavior and how strong social bonds serve as a survival mechanism, drawing parallels to human health.

Laufey (A Matter of Time, Mei Mei the Bunny, and Bewitched) is a two-time Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy twin story. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Alvin E. Roth (Moral Economics) is a Nobel Prize-winning economist, Stanford professor, and author.

Tom Pelphrey (Task, Ozark, Love and Death) is an Emmy-winning actor and mental health advocate. He joins Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in New Jersey near the Shore, the impact of his intense high school acting teacher, and how he maintains lifelong childhood friendships.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they were scammed. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Rachel Zoffness (Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal) is a psychologist, pain scientist, and author.

Jennie Garth (I Choose Me, 90210, What I Like About You) is an award-winning actor and author.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a really bad date. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Emily & Matt Hyland (Emily, Pizza Loves Emily, Emmy Squared Pizza) are restaurateurs and authors, with Matt a Michelin-recognized chef and culinary creator, and Emily an educator, poet, and mindful movement teacher.

Nikki Glaser (Good Girl, Golden Globes, Alive and Unwell Tour) is an Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe-nominated comedian and television host.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy spring break story. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Michael Pollan (A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness) is a science and environmental journalist.

Ike Barinholtz (Artificial, Funny You Ask, The Studio) is an award-winning actor, writer, and comedian.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy story. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

David Sussillo (Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind) is a technologist, neuroscientist, and professor at Stanford University.

Nate Bargatze (The Breadwinner, Hello World, Your Friend) is a standup comedian, writer, and actor.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a funny pregnancy story. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Kathryn Paige Harden (Original Sin On the Genetics of Vice, the Problem of Blame, and the Future of Forgiveness) is a psychologist, professor, and behavioral geneticist.

Zach Braff (Scrubs, Garden State, Bad Monkey) is an actor, writer, and director. Zach joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his storied doppelgänger switcheroo, coming up with a special camera rig to shoot the game play scenes in Ted Lasso, and the responsibility he feels directing seasoned actors.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a remodeling disaster. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Amir Levine (Secure: The Revolutionary Guide to Creating a Secure Life, Attached) is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author.

Amanda Peet (Fantasy Life, Your Friends & Neighbors, The Whole Nine Yards) is an actor, writer, and producer.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy first responder story. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Sasha Hamdani (Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply) is a board-certified psychiatrist and ADHD clinical specialist.

Marcus Mumford (Prizefighter, Sigh No More, Wilder Mind) is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer, and producer.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a crazy Las Vegas story. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Adam Mosseri (Instagram, Facebook, Fortune’s 40 Under 40) is the CEO/Head of Instagram at Meta.

Sterling K. Brown (Paradise, The People v. O.J. Simpson, This Is Us) is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a unique kink. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at

Colleen Cutcliffe (Pendulum Therapeutics) is a doctor of biochemistry and microbiology and CEO and co-founder of Pendulum Therapeutics.

Charlie Puth (Whatever’s Clever, Voicenotes, Nine Track Mind) is a Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning songwriter, recording artist, and producer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Esther Perel on modern relationships, the paradox of wanting both security and adventure from the same partner, and why the crisis of desire in long-term relationships is inevitable — but not unsolvable.

Shepard marks three years since his relapse and recovery. A raw, emotional episode about the shame of public relapse, the mechanics of rebuilding trust, and why recovery is never 'finished.'

McConaughey on his career transformation from rom-com star to Oscar winner, the intentional two-year hiatus that made it possible, and his philosophy of 'greenlights' — signs that you're on the right path.

Brene Brown on vulnerability, shame, and why the pursuit of certainty makes us fragile. Shepard pushes on whether vulnerability has limits — can you be too open? Brown's answer is nuanced and surprising.

Anna Kendrick opens up about surviving a psychologically abusive relationship, her journey to recognizing the patterns, and why she decided to speak publicly. Shepard connects her experience to his own recovery from addiction.