Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

David Arquette (Scream, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ready to Rumble) is an actor. David joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he almost died in a professional wrestling match, what growing up fast in Hollywood was like, and how much he loves Bozo the Clown. David and Dax talk about how they had to learn to not be so hard on themselves, how the new Scream movie is different from the others, and how time moves faster when you get older. David explains how he thinks we live in a society of punishment, that he is a certified Bob Ross instructor, and how he never wants his daughter to do a Google search on him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian Klaas is a political scientist and professor. Brian joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the topics of power and corruption, how he got connected to talk to dictators for his research, and the differences between functional and dysfunctional psychopaths. Brian and Dax talk about power-seeking versus power-obtaining behavior, how faces can influence the results of elections, and the story of the Madagascar Yogurt Kingpin. Brian explains how systems of power can be reformed using shadow boards, how police recruiting strategies differ, and how the psychological distance between humans can have an effect on policymaking. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristen Stewart (Spencer, Twilight, Charlie's Angels) is a Golden Globe-nominated actor and filmmaker. Kristen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience starring in movies at a very young age, how she secretly is really into cars, and the personal similarities she felt when playing Princess Diana. Kristen and Dax talk about how they feel their best movies never make any money, how they listen to the same song over and over if they love it, and how Kristen jumped on Dax's Halloween hayride without him knowing it. Kristen explains that she never remembers the stuff she says during press events, how she thinks horoscopes can be weirdly accurate, and how she learned to stop dreading uncomfortable situations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael Moore (Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine, Where to Invade Next) is a documentary filmmaker and author. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it means to be liberal in America today, how he got interested in politics from winning a position on the school board when he was 18, and how he thinks we can fix social security inequalities. Michael and Dax talk about what happened to the auto industry in Detroit, how the people of Michigan reacted to Roger & Me, and why it is so hard for Americans to agree on the subject of abortion. Michael explains why he doesn't drive an electric car, what being bottle-fed as an infant did to him, and how he feels Americans are closer to each other on political issues than we are led to believe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Max Greenfield (New Girl, The Neighborhood) is an actor. Max joins the Armchair Expert to discuss writing a book for beginner readers, how being dyslexic doesn't mean that you can't learn, and how he struggled for a long time before becoming a successful actor. Max and Dax talk about their experiences with sobriety, how Max committed to adopting a dog right before going into treatment, and how much they love the schedule of filming a TV show. Max explains how he is pretty sure he had a concussion playing football in high school, what it's like to be married to a casting director, and how he didn't know what pants to wear after coming out of lockdown. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stacey Abrams (Stacey's Extraordinary Words) is a political leader, voting rights activist, and best-selling author. Stacey joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her work to expand voting rights for disadvantaged communities, the corruption she has seen within the American political system, and how the sources of information have been fractured by social media. Stacey talks about embracing her heritage at a young age, how her parents encouraged her to be educated despite their social standing, and her experience running for Governor of Georgia. Stacey explains why she wanted to write a children's book about her struggles in school, her views on forgiveness and repentance for public figures, and how her dad was a fantastic storyteller despite being dyslexic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jeremy Renner (Mayor of Kingstown, Hawkeye, The Hurt Locker) is an actor. Jeremy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss where the confidence in his own masculinity comes from, how his first investments were in real estate, and how he was a makeup artist while auditioning for roles early in his career. Jeremy talks about how he bought a fleet of firetrucks to support volunteer crews in his community, what the experience of shooting The Hurt Locker was like, and how his relationship with the original six Marvel stars has evolved over the years. Jeremy explains why he took the Mayor of Kingstown role without reading a single line of the script, how never used to buy things for fun, and how he was always more comfortable on the stage than on film. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eric Schmidt (The Age of AI: And Our Human Future) is a technologist, businessman, and former CEO of Google. Eric joins the Armchair Expert to discuss writing a book with Henry Kissinger about the growing industry of Artificial Intelligence, how AI will shape the minds of younger generations, and how it can discover new truths that humans can't see. Eric and Dax talk about the possible solutions for homelessness, how other countries are addressing the housing crisis, and how we should stop criminalizing addictive behavior. Eric explains the concept of large language models as it relates to AI, how the internet isn't optional but fundamental for people in today's world, and that in the near future the only resource left for humans compete over will be fame. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dwyane Wade is a former professional basketball player, film producer, and author. Dwyane joins the Armchair Expert to discuss navigating different forms of addiction throughout his life, how he never had too big of an ego to ask for mentorship, and who he thinks is the greatest basketball player of all time. Dwyane and Dax talk about picking up golf in retirement, how the system of athletic scholarships needs to be reformed, and the experience of being celebrated for just being a good father. Dwyane explains what Shaquille O'Neal did for his basketball career, why he wanted to do a photographic book highlighting the big moments of his life, and how his own family didn't congratulate him on being named one of the top 75 best basketball players ever. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us for our annual holiday party where Dax, Monica and Wobby Wob reflect on the holidays and we welcome music and holiday cheer from Norah Jones & Kristen Bell. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this special episode, we revisit some of our favorite moments from 2021. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anderson Cooper (Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty) is a broadcast journalist and political commentator. Anderson joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the relationship with his mother after the passing of his father, the reasons why he sought adventure in his life, and the motivation for writing a book about his ancestors. Anderson and Dax talk about why the Vanderbilts constructed such elaborate American palaces, how that time period was the beginning of celebrity in America, and how the inheritance of the family mansions affected future generations. Anderson explains that there was a pathological desire for money within the family, that the concept of a trust fund was explained to him at a very early age, and how he approaches the subject of money with his own son. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brooke Shields (A Castle for Christmas) is an actor and model. Brooke joins the Armchair Expert to discuss raising two teenage girls, how her mother always aspired to be a model, and the misogyny that exists within the advertisement industry. Brooke and Dax talk about wanting to make their real-life experiences into movie scenes, how celebrities are often sexualized at a very young age, and why she decided to go to an Ivy League school. Brooke explains how she is working to help women over 40 find their identity, that it was like a dream to shoot a movie in Scotland, and how she is an advocate for the mental health of mothers everywhere. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn, Masters of Scale) is a software entrepreneur and author. Reid joins the Armchair Expert to discuss being obsessed with role-playing games as a kid, how he wanted to go to boarding school to have more experiences, and what it was like to work at Apple before the return of Steve Jobs. Reid and Dax talk about how we are already living in the metaverse, the ethics and responsibilities of operating a large scale company, and how to successfully pitch your idea to a room of investors. Reid explains how the most successful companies prioritize speed over efficiency when they launch, that he started a social network before MySpace and Facebook existed, and why people need to learn how to fail early in order to succeed later. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bradley Cooper (Nightmare Alley, A Star is Born, The Hangover) is an actor and filmmaker. Bradley joins the Armchair Expert to discuss their long-standing friendship that started at the beginning of their sobriety, exploring the mysteries of the human experiences through storytelling, and how he almost didn't get his breakthrough role in The Hangover. Bradley and Dax talk about how their careers took drastically different paths, how they were both once involved in an FBI investigation, and how beautiful Bradley's new movie Nightmare Alley is. Bradley explains that he was very surprised when he was voted Sexiest Man Alive, how he used to be obsessed with reading the comments about his character in Alias, and being held at knifepoint on a New York subway. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chris Wallace is a journalist, author, and television news anchor. Chris joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how being the son of a famous journalist shaped his career, who his most memorable interviews have been, and his views on how we ended up with an opinion-driven 24-hour news cycle. Chris talks about how he has always tried to be an unbiased journalist, why he decided to write a book about Bin Laden's capture, and what it was like to moderate a presidential election twice. Chris explains how he once attended the Republican Convention as Walter Cronkite's assistant, that he was sat in the last row for his first Emmy's win, and what hard-nosed question he asked Vladimir Putin. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nick Offerman (Where the Deer and the Antelope Play, Parks and Recreation, Devs) is an actor, comedian, and carpenter. Nick joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up on a farm outside of Chicago, how he is often introduced as a master woodworker, and the story behind Ron Swanson. Nick talks about how his new book is about people getting more in touch with the nature around them, how it was tough to go from the theater scene to the television scene, and how he was once commissioned to make a kitchen table for Rainn Wilson. Nick explains that he has always kept the mentality of a student to keep learning new things and what it means to him to be a patriotic American. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Erin Lee Carr (Britney Vs Spears, I Love You Now Die, Mommy Dead and Dearest) is a documentary filmmaker, writer, and producer. Erin joins the Armchair Expert to discuss producing her new documentary Britney Vs Spears, her thoughts on conservatorship reform, and why Britney had such widespread mass appeal. Erin explains how the level of scrutiny on Britney was the same as someone like Princess Diana and how the lawyers in Britney's case took financial advantage of the situation. Erin talks about recently trying to reduce her screen time, her upcoming murder documentary, and what documentaries she and Dax love right now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rachael Ray (This Must Be the Place) is a cook, businesswoman, and best-selling author. Rachael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how she dealt with losing all her material possessions when her house burned down, how her sense of privacy changed after filming a show from her home, and how she loves to create an experience for people through food. Rachael talks about how she has never cared about money a day in her life, how she has modeled her work ethic after her grandfather and mother, and how teaching a cooking class eventually led to a Food Network deal. Rachael explains that she achieved a lifelong dream to own property in Italy, how she doesn't care at all what people think about her, and that a home is a frame of mind and not the stuff in it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Khalil Gibran Muhammad (Some of My Best Friends Are) is a Harvard professor and historian. Khalil joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how the Civil Rights movement was shaped by the Cold War, how Chicago politics gave black people the opportunity to exercise their political muscles, and how the post-slavery system of institutions sought to control those who just received their freedom. Khalil and Dax talk about how the redlining of the mortgage system disenfranchised many hopeful black homeowners, how the political system fits into the equation of progress, and how interviewing Rodney King influenced him to pursue a career in the legal system. Khalil explains that teaching critical race theory can shape how laws are written in the future, his experience having a white guy as a best friend, and why all Americans should fight against fascism. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, Green Street, No Man of God) is an actor and producer.Elijah joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how New Zealand became his home while shooting Lord of the Rings, the connection he has to other child actors of his generation, and how he learned to form his identity at a young age. Elijah and Dax talk about their shared loved of Austin, quitting smoking after 20 years, and wishing he could have gone to college. Elijah explains that he made a conscious decision to take smaller roles, what his tattoos mean to him, and what it was like playing an FBI agent in his new movie, No Man of God. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven Pinker is an award-winning experimental cognitive psychologist, best-selling author, and Harvard professor. Steven joins the Armchair Expert to discuss correlation versus causation, why people have certain beliefs in conspiracy theories, and the difference between individual and collective rationality. Steven and Dax talk about free will, the effectiveness of a dictator's messaging, and how people will often believe their own experience over science. Steven explains that checks and balances are essential for societal accomplishments, how people want to put everything into discreet boxes, and that fear is the most powerful emotion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Drew Barrymore (The Drew Barrymore Show, E.T., Charlie's Angels) is an actor and producer. Drew joins the Armchair Expert to discuss being a child star in Hollywood, going through treatment for addiction at a young age, and how becoming a parent changed her life. Drew and Dax discuss how alcohol makes you feel invincible, that forgiving yourself can be the hardest thing you will ever do, and how hard dating can be when you have been famous for most of your life. Drew explains how she hates the idea of parent shaming, that work has always been an anchor in her life, and how she has always searched for stability because she never had it as a child. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andrew Huberman (Huberman Lab) is a neuroscientist and Stanford professor of Neurobiology. Andrew joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how testosterone treatment affects the development of the brain and body, what it means to have "roid rage" and how he considers anorexia the most dangerous disorder someone can suffer from. Andrew and Dax discuss the connection between blinking and our concept of time, going through trauma and what people do to prevent going through it again, and how lowering estrogen levels can have negative effects on the body. Andrew explains how sunlight can affect people's drive to be attracted to one another, alternative sleep aids that he would recommend over melatonin, and what it means to have a dad bod. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, The Green Knight, Blue Bayou) is an Academy Award-winning Swedish actress. Alicia joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how her ballet training translated to her film career, moving to Stockholm at 15 from a small town, and her experience on the set of Ex Machina. Alicia and Dax talk about the difference between Swedish and American cultures, how we overuse the phrase I love you, and how she was terrified about doing an American accent in her new movie.Alicia explains how her dad can have deep conversations with strangers, how New Orleans is one of her new favorite cities, and that she hopes to have some comedy roles in the future. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz (The Scaffold Effect) is a psychiatrist and founder of the Child Mind Institute. Dr. Koplewicz joins the Armchair Expert to discuss child mental health advocacy, the controversy of medication as treatment for children, and how he deals with parents who don't believe in child psychiatry. Dr. Koplewicz and Dax discuss the problem with calling children normal or abnormal, how young people use alcohol and marijuana to self-medicate their social anxiety, and how dyslexia can be seen as a gift. Dr. Koplewicz talks about how people's attitudes towards science has changed, how certain prescriptions can affect a child's development as an adult, and the new film, Dear Evan Hansen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amanda Peet (The Chair, Saving Silverman, Brockmire) is an actress, producer, and screenwriter. Amanda joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her early dating life, growing up in New York and London, and showing her kids inappropriate movies. Amanda and Dax talk about being Capricorns, how Amanda thinks Dax sounds like Bill Gates, and how difficult is it to be a showrunner. Amanda explains her parenting strategies, that she created her own show because she wasn't happy with the roles she was being offered, and what she thinks about people who named their kids after Game of Thrones. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kate Bowler is a New York Times best-selling author, podcast host, and professor at Duke University. Kate joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up around Mennonites, the debate over religious authority, and the Christian crisis of conscious. Kate and Dax talk about the many different American religious denominations, going through cancer treatment while still writing a book, and how some people confuse faith with certainty. Kate explains that she strived for a dream job in academia because of her father, that she used to treat life like a problem to be solved, and how the middle class is raised to be optimistic about the future. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Awkwafina (Shang-Chi, Nora from Queens, Crazy Rich Asians) is a Golden Globe award-winning actor, comedian, and rapper. Awkwafina joins the Armchair Expert to discuss being self-conscious about her raspy voice, playing the trumpet because everyone wants to play percussions, and traveling to China to learn Mandarin. Awkwafina and Dax talk about hosting SNL, being rejected from college, and recognizing their parent's regional accents. Awkwafina discusses the pressures of being a first-generation Asian American, her role in an upcoming Marvel movie, and being in a depressive state starting out her rap career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carmelo Anthony (Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised) is a 10x NBA All-Star, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Carmelo joins the Armchair Expert to discuss dealing with depression as a child, his relationship with his blue-collar stepdad, and being recruited to play basketball for a Catholic high school. Carmelo and Dax talk about the similarities in growing up in Baltimore versus Detroit, learning how to survive in tough neighborhoods, and how he tried to go by another name when he started a new school. Carmelo explains that he never sought out approval from his older brothers, that he always wanted to see his friends succeed more than they did, and his experience dealing with depression. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brie Larson (Room, Captain Marvel, Learning Lots) is an Academy Award-winning actor, producer, and director. Brie joins the Armchair Expert to discuss being home schooled as a child, how she knows her way around set from being an actor for over 20 years, and how she used to be a touring pop singer. Brie and Dax talk about trying to be people pleasers, learning how to accept success and failures, and whether you should comment on how attractive someone is.Brie explains how indie films rely heavily on strong performances from the actors, how she's trained really hard to be in Marvel movies, and that she sometimes benefits from being mistaken as Alison Brie. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Samantha Bee (Daily Show, Full Frontal, Detour) is an Emmy-nominated writer, comedian and television host.Samantha joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how she never thought her career would pan out, that she used to be very uncomfortable during auditions, and how doing an all-female sketch comedy group helped her confidence.Samantha and Dax talk about her combative interview style, what she learned from her time on The Daily Show, and her objections to ill-informed people trying to bend the world to their will. Samantha explains how she has always had a hard time respecting authority figures and that one of her mom's boyfriends lived in a haunted house. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Perry Mason) is an Emmy Award-winning actor. Matthew joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his fascination with Ernest Hemingway's overt masculinity, the process of buying and restoring an old boat and wanting to pass on Welsh culture to his kids who are growing up in Brooklyn. Matthew and Dax talk about their newfound love of Formula 1 racing, growing up with a chip on your shoulder, and being drawn to characters who thrive around chaos. Matthew explains why he was overwhelmed by his role on Perry Mason, that the most awkward conversations on The Americans always happened when their characters were in their undercover costumes, and how he perfected his American accent by imitating George Clooney. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Padma Lakshmi is a food expert, author, and television personality. Padma joins the Armchair Expert to discuss moving to America from India at a young age, how she feels people from India have been misrepresented in American pop culture, and that people need to start having more complex nuanced conversations that might be uncomfortable. Padma and Dax talk about how American culture is really a mixture of many cultures, how learning recipes from your ancestors brings you closer to them, and why Americans love monster trucks so much. Padma explains the importance of teaching your kids about seasonal foods, how she came to write multiple cookbooks, and how Indian food is a good baseline for eating healthy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cecily Strong (SNL, This Will All Be Over Soon, Schmigadoon!) is an Emmy-nominated actress and comedian. Cecily joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the loyalty of Chicagoans, being expelled from high school for having pot, and doing improv comedy on a cruise ship. Dax and Cecily discuss how much they love the midwest outdoors and how they both want Puerto Rican funerals. Cecily explains why she likes to view coincidences as gifts, how important levity and laughter are for grief, and her realization that her thoughts aren't facts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Maya Shankar is a Behavioral Scientist and former Senior Advisor in the Obama White House.Maya joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the concept of identity foreclosure, how people craft a narrative about themselves in order to connect to other people, and that there is a danger in tying our identities to our opinions and values. Maya and Dax discuss how they each define manifestation, the difference between bragging and self-promoting, and that admitting you are wrong about something actually gives you more credibility. Maya explains that changing minds is the most coveted form of change, that we are terrible cognitive forecasters, and how people can shift their reality based on their belief systems. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristen Bell is an actress, singer, and podcaster Dax Shepard's wife. Kristen rejoins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience shooting Family Game Fight, which animal she thinks is the cutest on the planet, and how she feels we can solve the collective male rage that exists in the world. Kristen, Dax, and Monica reveal what they love most about each other, how women are expected to self-regulate, and what you should do if you are ever buried in an avalanche. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daryl Hall is a singer, songwriter and the lead vocalist of Hall & Oates. Daryl joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his relationship over the years with John Oates, learning how to sing from his mother, and being immersed in the R&B music scene in Philadelphia. Daryl and Dax talk about what having perfect pitch means, the amount of #1 hits Daryl has had, and how musicians today have more avenues for success than he had. Daryl explains how the music business can be compared to organized crime, what it's like to have Lyme disease, and how he met John after leaving a show because a fight broke out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Ocean's Eleven, Stillwater) is an Oscar Award-Winning and Golden Globe Award-Winning actor, producer, and screenwriter. Matt joins the Armchair Expert to talk about his experience writing Good Will Hunting with Ben Affleck, what it was like attending the Monaco Grand Prix with Brad Pitt, and how your subjective experience changes when you become famous.Matt explains how easy it is to be generous when things are going your way, how he picked his movies based on the directors rather than the roles, and what he learned after surrounding himself with oil roughnecks for his new movie. Dax explains the role Matt has had in Monica's life and Dax and Matt bond over their love of Lisa Bonet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark Ronson is a 7x Grammy Award-winning, Oscar Award-winning, record producer and DJ. Mark joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he was obsessed with music from a very early age and his experience producing artists like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Amy Winehouse. Mark and Dax talk about getting hyped up to perform on stage, growing up around strong women, and what it was like to see Quincy Jones' wall of Grammy's. Mark explains that he is not an expert at one specific instrument, how he was blown away by Bradley Cooper's talent, and that it doesn't bother him when other musicians don't recognize him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.