
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
1,045 episodes — Page 15 of 21

Ep 350Leon Bridges
ELeon Bridges (Gold-Diggers Sound, Coming Home) is a Grammy Award-winning R&B recording artist and songwriter. Leon joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the Fort Worth music scene, developing his aesthetic, and his desire to keep evolving his sound. Leon talks about being bashful and quiet as a kid, tasting fame at his senior year talent show, and how he likes to recharge in solitude. Leon discusses how pressured he felt during the process of his second album, how he had to learn to embrace discomfort, and Dax asks Leon about his dating life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 349Tim Grover
ETim Grover is a mental and physical performance coach. Tim joins the Armchair Expert to talk about training athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, how his parents really wanted him to be a doctor, and what he's learned over the years about defining what winning means. Tim and Dax discuss the difference between the physical and mental aspects of being a great athlete, his perspective on The Last Dance documentary, and that waking up at 4 am to work out isn't for everybody. Tim explains that being selfish to work on yourself is not a negative trait, how people can achieve greatness by taking it step-by-step, and what Dennis Rodman would eat before every basketball game. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 348Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher
EMila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher rejoin the Armchair Expert to explain how they got into cryptocurrency, how a decentralized currency can exist at the same time as a national currency system, and how El Salvador has recently adopted Bitcoin as their national currency. Mila tells us about her new NFT animation show stoner cats, how people can purchase a token to view it, and how it differs from current production models. Ashton explains that the cost of crypto is linked to the amount of energy used to produce it and what fail-safes you can implement to avoid losing large amount of cryptocurrency to hackers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 347Esther Perel Returns
EEsther Perel is a psychotherapist and New York Times best seller. Esther joins the Armchair Expert to talk about how social boundaries were affected during the Covid-19 pandemic, how helping people during this time helped her feel less anxious herself, and her thoughts on how people re-entered society after the lockdown ended. Esther explains the difference between fidelity, exclusivity, and loyalty when it comes to romantic relationships, how confirmation bias plays a role in how you deal with people you live with, and that you should be thankful more often to loved ones for things they do for you. Esther, Dax, and Monica play Esther's new card game, Where Should We Begin - A Game of Stories. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 346Kate Beckinsale
EKate Beckinsale (Jolt, Underworld, Pearl Harbor) is an English actress. Kate joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the impact of her father dying at a young age, how she's never been drunk, and how people often troll her for her height. Kate discusses her time at Oxford studying Russian literature, how it almost ruined reading for her, and the experience of being cast in Pearl Harbor. Dax and Kate discuss their love for Brad Pitt and how often women come up to her and tell her that she's their husbands' hall pass. In the fact check, we check in on Dax's road trip and Monica's camping trip. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 344Michael Pollan
EMichael Pollan (This is Your Mind on Plants, The Omnivore's Dilemma) is an author, journalist, and professor at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss changing your consciousness through plant-based drugs, how drugs are nature's tools for coping with the ego, and the stigmas associated with psilocybin mushrooms. Michael and Dax talk about addictions to drugs like alcohol and caffeine, the social norms that were created for everyday drugs like nicotine, and getting into hot water for growing opium in his garden. Michael explains that there are evolutionary reasons for plants to produce psychedelic effects on humans and animals, how the war on drugs affected the public perception of controlled substances, and that psychedelics need to be regulated if they are ever made legal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 343Quentin Tarantino
EQuentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time of Hollywood, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs) is an Academy-Award winning & Golden Globe-Award winning film director, screenwriter, producer, author, and actor. Quentin sits down with the Armchair Expert to discuss how movie crews have a military aspect to their hierarchy, the phenomenon that is Pulp Fiction, and what it was like starting a sub-genre in crime and gangster films. Quentin explains how Reservoir Dogs made him a rockstar in Britain, how cool is an aesthetic and not an attitude, and that he doesn't want to work with actors who just want to be in a "Tarantino" movie. Quentin talks about how good-looking Brad Pitt is and his take on movie theaters closing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 342Barack Obama
EBarack Obama (A Promised Land, Dreams From My Father) is a politician and served as the 44th President of the United States. President Obama joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the expectations that were set on him from his mother and how sports shaped his youth. Barack and Dax discuss being the brunt of the jokes from their children, growing up in single-mother households, and what it was like to be guarded by LeBron James in a pickup basketball game at the White House. Barack explains what he learned about being a father from his time helping to raise his siblings, why he transferred to Columbia after two years of college, and how most politicians will do anything to avoid public failure. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 341J.B. Smoove
EJ.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spider-man: Far from Home, May I Elaborate?) is an actor, comedian, and writer. J.B. sits down with the Armchair Expert to discuss his attraction to the era when men wore nice suits and shoes, how he custom-built his closet, and thrifting to find unique clothing. J.B. talks about his time starring on Curb Your Enthusiasm, his approach to working with Larry David, and how he feels like he can say things as Leon that J.B. would never say. J.B. talks about taking a job as a Saturday Night Live writer, his admiration for Jerry Seinfeld, and how you should look a man straight in the eyebrows when you meet him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 340Tara Stoinski
ETara Stoinski is a primatologist and President, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Tara joins the Armchair Expert to discuss studying gorillas for more than two decades, her desire work with animals from a young age, and how ecotourism in Africa is helping the conservation efforts and the local economy. Tara explains gorilla mating rituals and communication tactics, the new technology they use to study and collect data on primates, and how gorillas have an effect on global climate change. Tara also talks about losing her husband to cancer and how she threw herself into her work to help cope with the trauma. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 339Luke Wilson
ELuke Wilson (12 Mighty Orphans, The Royal Tenenbaums, Idiocracy) is an actor. Luke joins the Armchair Expert to discuss cameramen being the coolest people on set, his interest in reading about music, and growing up as the youngest brother in Texas. Luke and Dax talk about wishing they had bought property in Austin back in the '90s, being fascinated with other people's acting process, and having to be reminded about storylines for their acting roles. Luke explains how he got involved in working with Wes Anderson, being nervous about playing a football coach, and that Dax does a pretty good Owen Wilson impression. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 338Fresh
EFresh (Richfresh, Henry Mask) is a fashion designer based in Los Angeles. Fresh joins the Armchair Expert to talk about getting into fashion in middle school because he was told he didn't dress well, teaching himself how to tailor suits because no one would apprentice him, and being the youngest and only black tailor in most shops in New York. Fresh explains how he ended up in a homeless shelter because of his drug addiction, raising a daughter on his own, and becoming a symbol of alpha male culture which he later rejected. Fresh talks about how his father's passing affected his outlook on life, that he used to blame everyone else for his misfortunes, and how he identified the sacrifices he needed to make to achieve success. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 337Barry Meier
EBarry Meier (Spooked, Pain Killer) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and a former New York Times journalist. Barry joins the Armchair Expert to discuss investigating the opioid crisis, how Big Pharma played a role in perpetuating the problem, and the depths in which people will go to make money on people's addictions. Barry and Dax talk about the modern-day private spy industry, news media bias, and how the spread of misinformation has shaped the political landscape. Barry explains how spy companies use digital tactics to acquire information, how phone hacking has become harder and harder to police around the world, and that the use of dirty tactics in private espionage is being solicited more frequently. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 336Jessica Biel
EJessica Biel (7th Heaven, The Sinner, Cruel Summer) is an actress and producer. Jessica joins the Armchair Expert to discuss having a baby during the pandemic, her experience on a hit sitcom early in her career, and starting her own production company at 22 years old. Jessica and Dax talk about being typecast in acting roles, trying to sell their tv scripts to studios, and Jessica's attraction to her husband Justin Timberlake. Jessica explains that she has always been a people pleaser, whether or not she wants her kids to get into show business, and what it was like hanging out with Jay-Z and Beyonce. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 335Chris Bosh
EChris Bosh is an eleven-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion, and an Olympic gold medalist. Chris joins the Armchair Expert to talk about growing up in Dallas, what it was like being 6' 11" in high school, and going to Robotics Club before basketball practice. Chris and Dax discuss young athletes learning how to manage their money, winning championships with your friends, and how much they both love Austin. Chris talks about being forced into early retirement because of health issues, finding a new identity outside of basketball, and writing his first book, "Letters to a Young Athlete." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 334Russell Brand
ERussell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Revelation, Under the Skin) is an English comedian, actor, podcaster, writer, and activist. Russell joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how addiction is just amplified attachment, his tendency to use material means to resolve his spiritual issues, and his initial reluctancy about recovery. Dax and Russell talk about their relationship with women, their shared impulse to move towards chaos, and the importance of valuing your inner life more than your outer life. Russell explains how he came to find transcendental meditation, the role community plays in his life, and how our brains are a tangled fishing net. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 332Bubba Wallace
EBubba Wallace is a professional stock car racing driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. Bubba joins the Armchair Expert to talk about growing up in North Carolina, learning to race in his Dad's go-kart, and how he was more interested in playing basketball as a kid. Dax and Bubba discuss the mental strength needed to be a race car driver, the Confederate flag being banned by NASCAR, and becoming an activist for cultural change in his sport. Bubba talks about having Michael Jordan as his new boss, wanting to be known more for winning races, and being tougher on himself than anyone else. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 331Vincent D'Onofrio Returns
EVincent D'Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket, Jurassic World, Mutha) is an actor and author. Vincent returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss his new book of short poems, his acting process to find his character's voice, and being a perfectionist about learning his lines. Vincent and Dax talk about their love for Chris Pratt, their scuba diving experiences, and that they want to collaborate on a project involving Dax's drawings. Vincent explains that he never gets nervous around other actors and that he wants Dax to move to Europe with him someday. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 330Susan Stryker
ESusan Stryker is a professor, author, filmmaker, and theorist whose work focuses on gender and human sexuality.Susan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the transgender experience in today's modern world, consulting on the Lady and the Dale docuseries, and how transgender hate is rooted in racism, colonization, and oppression. Susan and Dax talk about the history of criminalization of non-reproductive sexuality, the cross-cultural view of transgender people, and what transmisogyny means. Susan and Dax debate how people should approach transgender Olympic athletes, beliefs about masculinity, and what actually gives an athlete an advantage. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 329Julianna Margulies
EJulianna Margulies (ER, The Good Wife, Sunshine Girl) is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award-winning actress. Julianna joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her parents splitting up when she was young, growing up in Paris, and how her husband is the perfect person for her after a lot of difficult relationships. Julianna talks about shooting her first movie in Prague with Steven Seagal, her experience working on ER with George Clooney, and wanting to write an actor's handbook for set etiquette. Julianna explains her need to ignore negative reviews, how she's only recently joined social media, and why everyone should work in the service industry at some point in their careers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 328Yusef Salaam & Ethan Herisse
EYusef Salaam (Exonerated Five, Better Not Bitter) and Ethan Herisse (When They See Us) both join the Armchair Expert to discuss the impact that the Netflix series has had on popular culture and how their friendship has grown over the years. Yusef talks about not being bitter about his experience in prison, the impact his mother had on him, and how he used meditation to get through incarceration. Ethan discusses moving to LA when he was 12 to pursue acting, narrating Yusef's new book, and being a student majoring in Chemistry. Yusef explains his perspective on reparations, the law of abundance, and that the memories of prison will stay with him forever. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 327Daniel Kahneman
EDaniel Kahneman is a psychologist, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Daniel joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the complexity of human nature, studying judgment and decision-making, and his experiments involving loss aversion. Daniel explains that memories can play tricks on our minds when remembering experiences and how to avoid noise and bias in the corporate hiring process. Daniel recounts his childhood growing up in Nazi-occupied France and his encounter with an SS soldier, he breaks down decision hygiene, and how it relates to vaccines. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 326Jonathan Tucker
EJonathan Tucker (Parenthood, Kingdom, Debris) is an actor. Jonathan joins the Armchair Expert from his 1989 Cadillac DeVille to discuss his plan to live in his van before the pandemic happened, growing up in tough Charlestown Boston, and how the neighborhood has changed over the years. Jonathan explains how codeswitching led to acting, getting into ballet at a young age, and how he wants his children to be inspired by their multi-cultural background. Jonathan and Dax discuss getting in shape mentally and physically for roles, how Parenthood changed his life, and the power of authenticity. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 325Prince Harry
EPrince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is a member of the British royal family. Prince Harry joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how to approach mental health issues, growing up with privilege, and how healing it is to perform a service for someone. Harry discusses how much like the Truman Show his life is, unconscious bias, and how people can change their mindset once they acknowledge it. Harry talks about his time in the military service, how it opened his eyes to the trauma people face around the world, and how much more important mental health is than physical health. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 324Seth Rogen Returns
ESeth Rogen is an actor, writer, producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Seth returns to Armchair Expert to discuss his approach for writing his new book, how awful weed paraphernalia is, and why he started his high-end weed company. Seth and Dax discuss why weed was stigmatized for years, why it should never have been illegal in the first place, and how he's not afraid to hurt racist people's feelings. Seth explains getting started in comedy by writing jokes about his grandparents, how he doesn't understand the tv world as much as film, and how amazed he is when he meets grown men that grew up watching his movies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 322Kwame Onwuachi
EKwame Onwuachi is a James Beard award-winning chef and author. Kwame joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his experience as a contestant and judge on Top Chef, writing his first book, and cooking for Obama, Oprah, and Dave Chappelle. Kwame and Dax talk about their shared experience growing up in a single-mother household and how as a kid, Kwame was sent to Nigeria for two years to live with his Grandpa. Kwame explains that opening his own restaurants has taught him how to be a better leader and that he's not the best Spades partner if you want to win. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 321Kelly Osbourne
EKelly Osbourne is an English television personality, actress, singer, model, and fashion designer. Kelly joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how her reality show changed her life, her history with addiction, and how Dax used to attend meetings at her house. Kelly discusses becoming ruthless after having her heart broken, what it was like always having a camera around, and how she can't watch the Britney documentary. Kelly and Dax discuss the fellowship of the AA program, relapsing when she was her happiest, and how they're both most vulnerable when things are great. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 320Alexi Pappas
EAlexi Pappas is a Greek-American Olympic runner, filmmaker, actor, and writer. Her debut memoir-in-essays, Bravey was published in January 2021. Alexi joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience competing at the Rio Olympics, getting into running later in life, and the impact her father had in her life after her mom passed away. Alexi and Dax discuss post-Olympic situational depression, treating mental health the same as physical health, and striving to achieve as many goals in life as possible. Alexi talks about being into improv comedy at Dartmouth, why she wanted to produce books and film, and her future in the arts and performing space. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 319William Jackson Harper
EWilliam Jackson Harper (The Good Place, Midsommar, Dark Waters) is an Emmy-nominated actor and playwright. William joins the Armchair Expert to discuss feeling like an outsider growing up in a Dallas suburb, not being good at anything as a kid except acting, and his father passing away at a young age. William and Dax discuss him moving to New York to pursue a Broadway career, how he never felt like the television and film world would accept him, and his many bad haircuts over the years. William explains how he almost quit acting and how his experience on The Good Place changed his life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 318Dorothy Brown
EDorothy Brown is an author and law professor at Emory University. Dorothy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her new book "The Whiteness of Wealth" and how race relates to taxes and wealth inequality. Dorothy and Dax discuss the problems with the current tax system and solutions to the systemic racism of tax law. Dorothy explains the differences in married couples filing for taxes, homeownership value, and how wages are invested among white and black communities. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 317Andrew Yang
EAndrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, non-profit leader, and currently running for Mayor of New York City. Andrew joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up as a first generation Asian American in the 80's, being an older dad to young kids, and running for mayor of New York City. Andrew and Dax discuss universal basic income and how artificial intelligence technology is threatening American jobs. Andrew explains the concept of human-centered capitalism, his ideas about value-added tax for the economy, and reflects on the recent hate crimes against Asian Americans. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 316Macklemore
EMacklemore is Grammy Award-winning rapper and songwriter. Macklemore joins the Armchair Expert to talk about growing up in a progressive neighborhood in Seattle, falling in love with music when he heard the Beverly Hills Cops soundtrack, and why he chose East Coast Rap over West Coast Rap. Dax and Macklemore open up about their journeys with sobriety and Mackelmore explains how fame fueled his addictions. Macklemore discusses the relationship between artistic ability and narcissism, his new line of golf clothing, and being a white artist in the hip hop space. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 315Michael Moss
EMichael Moss is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss food addiction, the invention of processed food, and what government oversight of the food industry would look like. Michael and Dax discuss free will when it comes to diet, how big food companies use marketing tactics to influence our choices, and that obesity is a crude measure of health.Michael explains the phenomena of dieting and how income inequality affects people's access to healthy food. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 314Hank Azaria
EHank Azaria (The Simpsons, Brockmire, The Birdcage) is an Emmy-award winning actor and comedian. Hank joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his addiction and recovery, being mistaken as someone in the upholstery business, and the controversy around his Simpson's character. Hank and Dax discuss getting in touch with your emotions to help with conflict resolution and how addiction is really just an obsession. Hank talks about his perspective on white privilege, how he's learned to smile more when meeting people, and that he can't believe more baseball announcers haven't been canceled. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 312Daniel Goleman
EDaniel Goleman, PhD is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-nominated author and science journalist. Daniel joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the differences between cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, and empathic concern, and that emotional intelligence starts with being aware and able to name your feelings. Daniel explains the importance of cognitive control, that the same circuitry that helps you focus also calms you down, and the impact your emotional intelligence has on your health. Daniel discusses the flawed understanding of emotion vs logic, that the brain is designed to learn from life when it comes to emotional intelligence, and the science behind how your brain communicates emotions with another person. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 311Lamorne Morris
ELamorne Morris (New Girl, Woke, Unwanted) is an actor, comedian and podcaster. Lamorne joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up on the southside of Chicago, how he knew he wanted to get into comedy at a young age and his relationship with his father. Lamorne and Dax discuss systemic racism, the time he got handcuffed after trying to stop a fight, and the conflicting nature of playing a police officer on tv while also confronting what's going on in real life. Lamorne talks about auditioning for New Girl 15 times before he finally got the role, his new scripted podcast Unwanted, and Dax opens up about a deep insecurity. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 310Walter Isaacson
EWalter Isaacson is an American author, journalist, and professor. Walter joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his work as a biographer, that it's important to remember that all people are human, and how much more inspiring they are when you realize that. Walter explains the three great innovation revolutions of modern times, how transformative Jennifer Doudna's gene editing work is, and how she used her knowledge of CRISPR to help with the fight against covid. Dax and Walter discuss the dilemma of editing out certain negative traits and the effects it can have on shaping a person and the importance of trying to maximize the Utopia of gene editing while minimizing the many unforeseen issues that will arise. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 309Rachel Bilson
ERachel Bilson (The O.C., Hart of Dixie, Jumper) is an actress and podcast host. Rachel joins the Armchair Expert to discuss getting her role on The O.C. at twenty-one years old and how being a fourth-generation actor helped keep her grounded. Rachel and Dax discuss Rachel's tantric sex expert mother, how to talk to your kids about sex, and how poorly certain things they used to watch have aged. Rachel tells us about her new podcast, the time someone broke into her house and took a poop in her bathroom, and Rachel & Monica bond over the Bachelor. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 308Sam Pollard
ESam Pollard is an Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated director and producer. Sam joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in Harlem in the 50s, his path into becoming a film editor, and working with Spike Lee. Sam talks about his new film MLK/FBI: the red scare, non-monogamous activity, and racism. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 307Susan Liautaud
EDr. Susan Liautaud (The Power of Ethics) is an author, teacher of ethics at Stanford University, and founder of Susan Liautaud & Associates Limited. Susan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss ethics: the six forces present in all ethical dilemmas, why we can't look at things in a binary manner, and how we're only as ethical as our last decision. Susan explains that there's no place for blame, shame or guilt in ethics, what incentive people have to make ethical decisions, and the need to make ethics accessible to everyone. Dax & Susan discuss the need to think about the consequences that could happen, not just the consequences that will happen and in the fact check, we have a visit from the man whose simulation we are all living in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 306Robin Thicke
ERobin Thicke is a singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, musician and actor. Robin joins the Armchair Expert to discuss losing his home to the Malibu fires, his time on set of Growing Pains with his dad, and getting his first recording contract at 16 years old. Robin opens up about losing himself after the death of his father, how he was still searching for his dad's attention and approval, and how important focusing on balance in his life is. Robin discusses what he learned from the commercial flop of his first album and how his partnership with Pharrell started. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 305Ethan Kross
EEthan Kross (Chatter) is an experimental psychologist, neuroscientist and writer, who specializes in emotion regulation. Ethan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the usefulness of your inner voice and how to harness it. Ethan explains how important context is when triggering emotions, how negative emotions are just as vital as positive ones, and the ways language can shape our emotional experiences. Ethan discusses how having the ability to feel the way we want all the time could be problematic and tips on how to be in the past and the future without being sucked in the chatter. In the fact check, Dax & Monica discuss the Royals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 304Ben Schwartz
EBen Schwartz (Parks and Recreation, House of Lies, Middleditch and Schwartz) is an actor, comedian, writer, director and producer. Ben joins the armchair expert to discuss starting off in improv comedy, how Eugene Cordero is the funniest person in the world, and dancing with Dax at a pajama birthday party. Ben recounts working as a camp janitor as a minor, the importance of separating his self-worth from the work he does, and his experience going on the Letterman show. Monica divulges her attraction to Ben and the lengths she would go to be near him at his shows and Dax tells him how special his hair thickness is. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill Gates Book Talk
bonusEDax and Monica host a conversation with Bill Gates about his new book, How To Avoid A Climate Disaster, for the Chicago Humanities Festival. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 302George Saunders
EGeorge Saunders (A Swim in a Pond in the Rain) is a #1 New York Times bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author. George joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the mental phenomena of life, farting in an elevator, and romanticizing everything as a writer. George explains how he learned that being a writer wasn't about your adventure resume, how to trust your own mind and bless your reactions, and how he finds inspiration by revisiting great works. George discusses how underestimated the role of encouragement is, that self-remonstration is the enemy of art, and how writer's block is having artificially elevated expectations of yourself. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 301Rupert Grint
ERupert Grint (Harry Potter, Servant, Sick Note) is an English actor known for his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film series. Rupert joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how different of a role his character on Servant is from anything he's done before, how he can't fully detach from Ron Weasley, and what it was like going through puberty on camera. Dax tells Rupert he was obsessed with how handsome he got throughout the films and Rupert talks about buying a hovercraft, ice cream van, and alpacas. Rupert discusses the birth of his daughter during the pandemic and Dax explains why you never fight a redhead. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 300Michael Eric Dyson
EMichael Eric Dyson is a professor, ordained minister, political commentator, and the author of seven New York Times bestsellers. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss preaching at the National Cathedral on the King's Sunday, the transition from going to an inner-city segregated school to a school with rich white kids, and how the church became a lifeline for him. Michael recounts the day when Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and his last great speech, the level of mastery of Jay-Z, and how race is shaped by the environment and context of the culture. The two discuss white privilege, the Capitol protestors, and their opinions on why the 2020 election was so close. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 299Amy Poehler
EAmy Poehler (Moxie, Parks and Recreation, SNL) is an actress, comedian, writer, producer, and director. Amy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how much she likes to identify as an outsider that worked her way in, how control is the dream state, and how important it was for Dax to do car stuff in Baby Mama. Dax & Amy bond over having a class warfare chip on their shoulder and how much they both rely on things in the future. Amy discusses the expectation for women to come at success with a sense of humility, how much her mom's encouragement and dad's attention affected her confidence, and the time she tried to be a third to Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 298Chad Sanders
EChad Sanders is the author of the book Black Magic: What Black Leaders Learned from Trauma and Triumph. Chad joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his experience at Morehouse College, how isolating code switching can be, and his journey to embracing who he really was while working at Google. Chad explains that race is the operating system of everything, how black people are expected to be bold enough to make a mark but not too bold to get kicked out of the club, and the theoretical liberalism of Silicon Valley. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 297Jane Goodall
EDr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace is an ethologist and advocate for the environment, animals, and the natural world. Jane joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her journey to studying chimpanzees, how her approach of empathy allowed her to learn how human chimps are and that they have a culture of their own. Jane explains how similar the gender roles are between chimps and humans, her trajectory of going deep into the jungle and coming out a world icon, and how the Jane Goodall Institute has grown to 24 institutes in 24 separate countries. Dax admits that if he met Jane, he would try to groom her. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.