Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Mom's Car: Ryan Hansen
Nov 4, 2025
Ryan Hansen, an actor and comedian known for his roles in *Veronica Mars* and *Party Down*, shares hilarious and heartfelt stories from his youth. He recalls feeling famous at church, influenced by his pastor father. Together with Dax and Aaron, Ryan dives into mischievous teenage antics, including a legendary redheaded troublemaker and embarrassing first sexual encounters. The trio humorously reflects on the ups and downs of high school life, from acting out as an escape to awkward sexual experiences involving everything from rocks to Jell-O.
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Misbehavior As Emotional Escape
- Aaron links delinquent behavior to escaping a difficult home life and envying those who felt no guilt.
- Feeling life was unjust justified risky acts for him as a form of emotional compensation.
From Not-Cool To Multi-Activity Senior
- Ryan describes transitioning from not-cool in elementary to popular in high school: he ran for freshman class president and joined ensemble, football, and cheer.
- By senior year he was a captain, but poor grades eventually got him kicked out of some activities.
First Time Drinking In Vegas
- Ryan's first drinking memory was in ninth grade in Las Vegas at a friend's family's hotel where teens drank on the Strip.
- That trip marked his early introduction to alcohol and risky experimentation.