This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to discover why America is yet to fully embrace the electric kettle. Why does America insist on the stovetop kettle when it could be boiling its water so much faster? To find out, David talks to Bruce Richardson, a tea master who founded Elmwood Inn Fine Teas in Kentucky, and wrote a book called “The New Tea Companion.” Bruce is a man obsessed with the correct boiling point of water, whose worst enemy is the microwave. Richardson teaches David about the shady events of 1773, in which a bunch of costumed protestors threw British tea into the ocean in a case of tea treason. Could these events still be felt today in America’s rejection of the British invention of the electric kettle? Or is it a voltage issue? Tony Gebely, author of “The Philosophy of Tea: A User's Guide” has some of his own theories - theories which lead the creator of America’s premiere electric kettle brand, Fellow. Jake Miller prefers his boiling water on coffee, not tea - and he argues (somewhat in jest) that the electric kettle could have a massive impact on America’s GDP.

Robert Downey Jr. (Downey's Dream Cars, Sr., Iron Man) is an actor and producer. Robert joins the Armchair Expert to discuss their journey to becoming soulmates, how important it is to have deep meaningful relationships, and what acting process works best for him. Robert and Dax talk about what it's like to have an addictive personality, finding closure with their fathers, and whether life is a joke or tragedy. Robert explains what prison was like, why he wanted to modernize his car collection, and what the two most significant projects he's been involved in were.

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Prophet Ezekiel Profit is the original founder of Meaningful Existence, a spiritual community, recently bought by actor Jonah Hill who has disrespectfully repurposed it into a "mental health" endeavor. We discuss Prophet's harrowing and ever-evolving origin story including his birth from a 1x1 square mom, how he found his calling via a Rueben sandwich at Jerry's Deli, and we touch on his critical role in inventing the Queen's brail.We talk about the scandal that ultimately led to the demise of his spiritual community (involving the late Bernie Madoff) and we deep dive into his core philosophy that money can buy happiness.

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Megan Phelps-Roper (The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling, Unfollow) is a journalist, author, and podcaster. Megan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it was like to leave the Westboro Baptist Church community, her views on organizations who use shame to control people, and what power people can have in asking questions. Megan and Dax talk about why having compassion for people who are different from you is important, being taught to question everything no matter the cost, and why freedom of speech is such a controversial topic. Megan explains how she was argued out of her belief system, why she agreed to be apart of a podcast about J.K. Rowling, and why having dissenting opinions is the key to a successful pluralistic society.

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This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier attempts to get over the trauma of his last trip to the DMV, where Monica Padman’s dirty Prius ruined everything. Will David finally get his license or are he and Monica doomed to fail for all eternity? To help him on his quest, Farrier talks to the head of the California DMV, Steve Gordon. Gordon was brought in four years ago by the governor of LA, Gavin Newsom, to sort out a DMV plagued by issues - and Farrier figures he might have some tips. Or, at the very least, clear up why LA driving licenses list your height and weight… and whether driving instructors want you to pass or fail.

Natalie Portman (Angel City, Black Swan, Thor) is an Academy Award-winning actress, director, and co-founder of Angel City FC. Natalie returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss what she's currently consuming, the broadening access of content, and to hear about Monica's Paris masseuse story. Natalie and Dax talk about the starkness of the pay discrepancy in sports between men and women, the socialized gender differences in sports, and the importance of having female athletes to idolize. Natalie explainsthe focus on experience at the Angel City Stadium, how her soccer team is being used as a proof of concept for other teams, and her insistence to experience real things in life.

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Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us their craziest nurse stories.

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Lee Hood (world-renowned biologist) and Nathan Price (professor) are the authors of The Age of Scientific Wellness: Why the Future of Medicine Is Personalized, Predictive, Data-Rich, and in Your Hands. Lee and Nathan join the Armchair Expert to discuss how artificial intelligence is changing the medical industry, how infectious disease has impacted our world, and the effectiveness of prescriptions. Lee, Nathan, and Dax talk about the ways treating chronic disease has become a business, what systems biology is, and the advances in preventing Alzheimer's. Lee and Nathan explain digital twins and how they'll change medicine, the future of wellness and prevention, and the differences between your biological and chronological age.

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This week on Flightless Bird, David becomes fixated on the beaver, the rodent that’s become synonymous with Buc-ees, the giant American gas station. But David quickly learns there is so much to the beaver, the biggest rodent in the United States. With over 15 million of them spread over North America, they were once hunted almost to extinction for their pelts. David talks to Leila Philip, author of Beaverland, an incredible book about how the beaver transformed America. David learns that the beaver was responsible for creating America’s first multi-millionaire and how that money was turned into a real estate empire that we can still see today. David also finds out how important America's beavers were to building America and how we might need them to survive on a planet where wildfires are becoming increasingly prevalent.

Lizzy Caplan (Fatal Attraction, Masters of Sex, Party Down) is an actor and producer. Lizzy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how hard it is to hang out with friends in LA, how she started dating her husband, and what she thinks about matchmaking. Lizzy and Dax talk about how they dealt with their parents getting cancer, how she views modern parenting culture, and how scary doing comedy can be. Lizzy explains what her favorite sex scenes are, how she feels about reboots, and how much she loves the food in London.

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