Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Minka Kelly (Tell Me Everything, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood) is an actress, model, and New York Times Bestselling author. Minka joins the Armchair Expert to discuss confronting her childhood, her complicated relationship with her mother, and not wanting to sensationalize trauma. Minka and Dax talk about the collateral beauty of growing up the way they did, what it's like to love someone that is the source of your pain, and becoming a master at disassociation. Minka explains her own relationship with addiction, how she found her confidence on the set of Parenthood, and the time she had to saw a man's foot off.

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Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a time they stood up to bully.

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Peter Singer (Animal Liberation Now, The Life You Can Save) is a philosopher, professor, and author. Peter joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what the concept of moral relativism is, how philosophy relates to rationality, and what the difference is between being a consequentialist versus a utilitarian. Peter and Dax talk about why ethically raising animals for food is uncommon, whether animals actually feel suffering, and what harm is done to the environment by raising animals on a commercial level. Peter explains why he started doing studies on effective altruism, how people can know if their charitable donations are actually helping people, and why he is drawn to asking questions about controversial ideas.

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This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier realizes that New Zealand doesn’t have attics or basements, so sets out to discover why so many of America’s 333 million homes do. David talks to Stephen Fox, an architectural historian and a lecturer at the Rice School of Architecture in Houston, who explains the practical reasons for these spaces, as well as why they’ve turned into habitable spaces. David then talks to filmmaker and architect Giorgio Angelini about what these spaces mean culturally to Americans, as paradoxically a place of safety and warmth but also of mystery and horror. The two of them discuss various formative experiences to be found in the attic, before David turns back to the egg episode, attempting to get closure with his best friend Rosabel following an incident where he cracked an egg over her head.

Kelly Clarkson (Chemistry, The Kelly Clarkson Show) is a Grammy award-winning singer, author, and talk show host. Kelly joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why she prefers having a small ranch in Montana over a big house in Tennessee, what she thinks about being a rule follower, and how having kids changed her perspective on her own childhood. Kelly and Dax talk about their relationship with coming from reality television, what it was like working with Snoop Dogg, and realize they are opposites. Kelly explains why constantly craving for more doesn't lead to a happy life, the importance of being authentic to yourself, and her journey to hosting a talk show.

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Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about an unexpected orgasm.

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Chris Paul (Sixty-One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court) is a 12x NBA All-Star, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, and author. Chris joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in the Bible Belt, how much he values the relationship between his parents and his kids, and the need for reciprocal relationships. Chris talks about what he learned from working at his grandfather's service station, his experience when his grandfather was tragically killed, and why he was not allowed to go to the murder trial. Chris explains the work he's doing with Club 61, how he decided to honor his grandfather on the court, and the importance of his male friendships.

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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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