Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Zooey Deschanel Returns
14 snips
Dec 15, 2025 
Zooey Deschanel, beloved actress and one half of She & Him, returns to share insights about her new film, Merv. She recounts the chaos of her parents’ house fire and the lessons learned from evacuation, including the importance of a well-packed go-bag. The conversation touches on her childhood ADHD, the comfort of rewatching New Girl, and the quirks of her tinkerer partner. Zooey also reflects on holiday traditions, shares a heartfelt rendition of 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', and discusses her kids' newfound interest in Elf.
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Kittens Comfort During Evacuation
- During evacuation Zooey stayed in a tiny hotel room with three newly adopted kittens that snuggled her non-stop out of worry.
- The kittens' affection made it hard for her to sleep because they kept licking exposed skin.
Comfort TV Builds Deep Loyalty
- Fans rewatch comfort TV like New Girl as a nightly ritual because it provides coziness and emotional safety.
- Creators can view such shows as a source of small, repeated comfort for audiences rather than one-off hits.
Delay Professional Acting For Kids
- Let kids explore performing but avoid child professional acting; delay serious auditions until they're mature and can drive themselves.
- Encourage theater and music for skill-building, then transition to professional auditions later if they wish.
