Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Samantha Bee (Daily Show, Full Frontal, Detour) is an Emmy-nominated writer, comedian and television host.Samantha joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how she never thought her career would pan out, that she used to be very uncomfortable during auditions, and how doing an all-female sketch comedy group helped her confidence.Samantha and Dax talk about her combative interview style, what she learned from her time on The Daily Show, and her objections to ill-informed people trying to bend the world to their will. Samantha explains how she has always had a hard time respecting authority figures and that one of her mom's boyfriends lived in a haunted house. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Perry Mason) is an Emmy Award-winning actor. Matthew joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his fascination with Ernest Hemingway's overt masculinity, the process of buying and restoring an old boat and wanting to pass on Welsh culture to his kids who are growing up in Brooklyn. Matthew and Dax talk about their newfound love of Formula 1 racing, growing up with a chip on your shoulder, and being drawn to characters who thrive around chaos. Matthew explains why he was overwhelmed by his role on Perry Mason, that the most awkward conversations on The Americans always happened when their characters were in their undercover costumes, and how he perfected his American accent by imitating George Clooney. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Padma Lakshmi is a food expert, author, and television personality. Padma joins the Armchair Expert to discuss moving to America from India at a young age, how she feels people from India have been misrepresented in American pop culture, and that people need to start having more complex nuanced conversations that might be uncomfortable. Padma and Dax talk about how American culture is really a mixture of many cultures, how learning recipes from your ancestors brings you closer to them, and why Americans love monster trucks so much. Padma explains the importance of teaching your kids about seasonal foods, how she came to write multiple cookbooks, and how Indian food is a good baseline for eating healthy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cecily Strong (SNL, This Will All Be Over Soon, Schmigadoon!) is an Emmy-nominated actress and comedian. Cecily joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the loyalty of Chicagoans, being expelled from high school for having pot, and doing improv comedy on a cruise ship. Dax and Cecily discuss how much they love the midwest outdoors and how they both want Puerto Rican funerals. Cecily explains why she likes to view coincidences as gifts, how important levity and laughter are for grief, and her realization that her thoughts aren't facts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Maya Shankar is a Behavioral Scientist and former Senior Advisor in the Obama White House.Maya joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the concept of identity foreclosure, how people craft a narrative about themselves in order to connect to other people, and that there is a danger in tying our identities to our opinions and values. Maya and Dax discuss how they each define manifestation, the difference between bragging and self-promoting, and that admitting you are wrong about something actually gives you more credibility. Maya explains that changing minds is the most coveted form of change, that we are terrible cognitive forecasters, and how people can shift their reality based on their belief systems. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristen Bell is an actress, singer, and podcaster Dax Shepard's wife. Kristen rejoins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience shooting Family Game Fight, which animal she thinks is the cutest on the planet, and how she feels we can solve the collective male rage that exists in the world. Kristen, Dax, and Monica reveal what they love most about each other, how women are expected to self-regulate, and what you should do if you are ever buried in an avalanche. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daryl Hall is a singer, songwriter and the lead vocalist of Hall & Oates. Daryl joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his relationship over the years with John Oates, learning how to sing from his mother, and being immersed in the R&B music scene in Philadelphia. Daryl and Dax talk about what having perfect pitch means, the amount of #1 hits Daryl has had, and how musicians today have more avenues for success than he had. Daryl explains how the music business can be compared to organized crime, what it's like to have Lyme disease, and how he met John after leaving a show because a fight broke out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Damon, Oscar-winning actor and writer known for Good Will Hunting and the Bourne films. He recounts writing with Ben Affleck, navigating fame and imposter feelings, and choosing projects for directors not ego. Conversation ranges from roughneck research for Stillwater to surreal moments at the Monaco Grand Prix with Brad Pitt.

Mark Ronson is a 7x Grammy Award-winning, Oscar Award-winning, record producer and DJ. Mark joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he was obsessed with music from a very early age and his experience producing artists like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Amy Winehouse. Mark and Dax talk about getting hyped up to perform on stage, growing up around strong women, and what it was like to see Quincy Jones' wall of Grammy's. Mark explains that he is not an expert at one specific instrument, how he was blown away by Bradley Cooper's talent, and that it doesn't bother him when other musicians don't recognize him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leon Bridges (Gold-Diggers Sound, Coming Home) is a Grammy Award-winning R&B recording artist and songwriter. Leon joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the Fort Worth music scene, developing his aesthetic, and his desire to keep evolving his sound. Leon talks about being bashful and quiet as a kid, tasting fame at his senior year talent show, and how he likes to recharge in solitude. Leon discusses how pressured he felt during the process of his second album, how he had to learn to embrace discomfort, and Dax asks Leon about his dating life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.