Armchair Expert Mondays with Dax Shepard - Armchair Umbrella

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J.B. Smoove Jun 28, 2021

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J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spider-man: Far from Home, May I Elaborate?) is an actor, comedian, and writer. J.B. sits down with the Armchair Expert to discuss his attraction to the era when men wore nice suits and shoes, how he custom-built his closet, and thrifting to find unique clothing. J.B. talks about his time starring on Curb Your Enthusiasm, his approach to working with Larry David, and how he feels like he can say things as Leon that J.B. would never say. J.B. talks about taking a job as a Saturday Night Live writer, his admiration for Jerry Seinfeld, and how you should look a man straight in the eyebrows when you meet him.

Luke Wilson Jun 21, 2021

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Luke Wilson (12 Mighty Orphans, The Royal Tenenbaums, Idiocracy) is an actor. Luke joins the Armchair Expert to discuss cameramen being the coolest people on set, his interest in reading about music, and growing up as the youngest brother in Texas. Luke and Dax talk about wishing they had bought property in Austin back in the ’90s, being fascinated with other people’s acting process, and having to be reminded about storylines for their acting roles. Luke explains how he got involved in working with Wes Anderson, being nervous about playing a football coach, and that Dax does a pretty good Owen Wilson impression.

Jessica Biel Jun 14, 2021

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Jessica Biel (7th Heaven, The Sinner, Cruel Summer) is an actress and producer. Jessica joins the Armchair Expert to discuss having a baby during the pandemic, her experience on a hit sitcom early in her career, and starting her own production company at 22 years old. Jessica and Dax talk about being typecast in acting roles, trying to sell their tv scripts to studios, and Jessica’s attraction to her husband Justin Timberlake. Jessica explains that she has always been a people pleaser, whether or not she wants her kids to get into show business, and what it was like hanging out with Jay-Z and Beyonce.

Russell Brand Jun 07, 2021

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Russell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Revelation, Under the Skin) is an English comedian, actor, podcaster, writer, and activist. Russell joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how addiction is just amplified attachment, his tendency to use material means to resolve his spiritual issues, and his initial reluctancy about recovery. Dax and Russell talk about their relationship with women, their shared impulse to move towards chaos, and the importance of valuing your inner life more than your outer life. Russell explains how he came to find transcendental meditation, the role community plays in his life, and how our brains are a tangled fishing net.

Vincent D’Onofrio Returns May 31, 2021

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Vincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket, Jurassic World, Mutha) is an actor and author. Vincent returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss his new book of short poems, his acting process to find his character’s voice, and being a perfectionist about learning his lines. Vincent and Dax talk about their love for Chris Pratt, their scuba diving experiences, and that they want to collaborate on a project involving Dax’s drawings. Vincent explains that he never gets nervous around other actors and that he wants Dax to move to Europe with him someday.

Julianna Margulies May 24, 2021

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Julianna Margulies (ER, The Good Wife, Sunshine Girl) is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award-winning actress. Julianna joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her parents splitting up when she was young, growing up in Paris, and how her husband is the perfect person for her after a lot of difficult relationships. Julianna talks about shooting her first movie in Prague with Steven Seagal, her experience working on ER with George Clooney, and wanting to write an actor’s handbook for set etiquette. Julianna explains her need to ignore negative reviews, how she’s only recently joined social media, and why everyone should work in the service industry at some point in their careers.

Jonathan Tucker May 17, 2021

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Jonathan Tucker (Parenthood, Kingdom, Debris) is an actor. Jonathan joins the Armchair Expert from his 1989 Cadillac DeVille to discuss his plan to live in his van before the pandemic happened, growing up in tough Charlestown Boston, and how the neighborhood has changed over the years. Jonathan explains how codeswitching led to acting, getting into ballet at a young age, and how he wants his children to be inspired by their multi-cultural background. Jonathan and Dax discuss getting in shape mentally and physically for roles, how Parenthood changed his life, and the power of authenticity.

Seth Rogen Returns May 10, 2021

Show notes

Seth Rogen is an actor, writer, producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Seth returns to Armchair Expert to discuss his approach for writing his new book, how awful weed paraphernalia is, and why he started his high-end weed company. Seth and Dax discuss why weed was stigmatized for years, why it should never have been illegal in the first place, and how he’s not afraid to hurt racist people’s feelings. Seth explains getting started in comedy by writing jokes about his grandparents, how he doesn’t understand the tv world as much as film, and how amazed he is when he meets grown men that grew up watching his movies.

Kelly Osbourne May 03, 2021

Show notes

Kelly Osbourne is an English television personality, actress, singer, model, and fashion designer. Kelly joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how her reality show changed her life, her history with addiction, and how Dax used to attend meetings at her house. Kelly discusses becoming ruthless after having her heart broken, what it was like always having a camera around, and how she can’t watch the Britney documentary. Kelly and Dax discuss the fellowship of the AA program, relapsing when she was her happiest, and how they’re both most vulnerable when things are great.

William Jackson Harper Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

William Jackson Harper (The Good Place, Midsommar, Dark Waters) is an Emmy-nominated actor and playwright. William joins the Armchair Expert to discuss feeling like an outsider growing up in a Dallas suburb, not being good at anything as a kid except acting, and his father passing away at a young age. William and Dax discuss him moving to New York to pursue a Broadway career, how he never felt like the television and film world would accept him, and his many bad haircuts over the years. William explains how he almost quit acting and how his experience on The Good Place changed his life.