Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard and co-host Monica Padman have built something genuinely special with Armchair Expert. With over 1,000 episodes and a 4.6-star rating from an astonishing 68,000 reviews, it is one of the most popular podcasts in existence. Shepard's approach is disarmingly honest: he leads with vulnerability, talks openly about his recovery from addiction, and creates a space where guests feel comfortable doing the same. Shepard brings an anthropology degree, four years of improv training, and over a decade of sobriety to his interviews, which is an unusual combination that produces surprisingly deep conversations. Recent guests include Charlie Puth, Kaley Cuoco, Anderson .Paak, and Elizabeth Smart. Episodes typically run 90 minutes to two hours for interviews, with shorter Armchair Anonymous episodes featuring listener-submitted stories. Monica Padman is a crucial part of the equation. She pushes back on Dax, fact-checks his claims in follow-up segments, and brings a warmth that balances his occasional tendency to dominate conversations. The show covers everything from celebrity stories to evolutionary biology to personal growth, but it always comes back to the messiness of being human. Shepard has said he is "endlessly fascinated" by that messiness, and it shows. If you like when Rogan gets vulnerable with guests and conversations turn personal, Armchair Expert makes that its entire identity.