Dave Burd (Dave, Penith, Professional Rapper) is a rapper and actor. Dave joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he has no sense of direction without GPS, why he thought it was important to share his medical condition with the world, and the comedians he idolized growing up. Dave and Dax talk about how much pressure there is to go to college to achieve success, how he was exposed to content creation, and how much they value the opinions of their peers. Dave explains how he balances making music and a television show, what a hype man is, and how giving love can be as rewarding as receiving it.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a resolution gone bad.

Vanessa Marin (Pillow Talks, Sex Talks: The Five Conversations That Will Transform Your Love Life) is a sex therapist and podcaster. Vanessa joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience getting the “the talk” from her parents, why there is often so much shame around sexuality, and how much stress kills libido. Vanessa and Dax discuss how vulnerability and neediness differ, how sex is often more focused on male pleasure, and responsive vs spontaneous desire. Vanessa talks about the psychology involved when initiating sex, the importance of understanding that emotional and physical intimacy go hand-in-hand, and when to best talk to your partner about sex.

In this week's episode of Synced, Monica and Liz share their natal charts, they debate the validity of pet psychics, and Liz receives advice from another Uber driver. They answer listener questions on breaking up one's family for 'true' love, how to recover after faking orgasms in a relationship, and how to cope with not feeling wanted.

Wyatt and Kurt Russell (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) are actors. Kurt and Wyatt join the Armchair Expert to discuss their memories of spending summers at their lake house, why Wyatt chose acting over playing hockey, and what it’s like to be a violin-maker. Kurt, Wyatt, and Dax talk about what it was like to play the same character as father and son, how Kurt chose his most iconic roles, and how fun it is to work with stunt people on set. Kurt and Wyatt explain their approach when people have preconceived notions about them, what Wyatt learned from his dad about work ethic, and how humbling it can be to run a business.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a crazy concert experience.

Matthew Desmond (Poverty, by America) is a sociologist and author. Matthew joins Armchair Expert to discuss why he became interested in studying poverty in America, how people are being priced out of their own neighborhoods, and what solutions he feels would help unhoused people the most. Matthew and Dax talk about why a wealthy country can have such a large wage gap, what metrics the government uses to define who an impoverished person is, and how some financial institutions are predatory towards people with less money. Matthew explains why people should change their outlook on paying taxes, how welfare dependency is not as common as people think, and what he thinks caused the mass amount of economic inflation.

In this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz discuss grief, sleepovers, and superstitions. They answer listener questions on setting boundaries with a parent when it comes to one's health, communicating thoughts about thongs and pubic hair to a partner, and advice for someone who just turned 30.

Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers, Billions, Sideways) is an actor. Paul joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he felt about living up to his father’s accomplishments, how bad he is at math, and why he got into theater. Paul and Dax talk about what their favorite cigarettes used to be, what boarding school culture is like, and what it means to be a lead actor. Paul explains what it’s like to play unlikeable characters, what he’s learned about historical figures from his roles, and why he is obsessed with fantastical ideas.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a crazy gym story.

Billie Joe Armstrong (Saviors, American Idiot, Dookie) is a musician and lead vocalist of the rock band Green Day. Billie joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it’s like to have a brother 20 years older than him, the evolution of punk music, and his songwriting process. Billie and Dax talk about what it’s like to move into a big city from a small town, what it’s like to be in love at a young age, and where the name Green Day came from. Billie explains what his experiences with addiction have been, how his wife started a chimp sanctuary, and why the band wanted to produce their latest album in England.

In the first episode of 2024, Monica and Liz contemplate deep conversations with strangers, share their New Year's resolutions, and discuss if they bring sex toys home for the holidays. They answer listener questions on how to deal with a friend who focuses on the cost of luxury items and getting secondhand embarrassment from a partner.

Taraji P. Henson (The Color Purple, Empire, Hustle & Flow) is an actor, producer, and director. Taraji joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it was like playing a character with a lot of trauma, why she feels it’s important to travel, and how she felt about her mom dating. Taraji and Dax talk about how rejection can help someone find success, what having a child in college is like, and why lifting up others is important. Taraji explains why she doesn’t like the term black movie, how her foundation is working to improve mental health, and how she wants to play a superhero on screen one day.

The basketball season comes to an unexpected ending, and Chad confronts his dad about a powerful moment in their relationship. Chad wants to close the book on these memories, but Dax and Monica push him to dig deeper on exactly what happened all those years ago.

Join us for our annual holiday spectacular as we open presents, we talk about why this Christmas is bittersweet, we discuss why parents aren’t sexy, and we take time to reflect on 2023 and what’s to come in 2024.

Chad’s mom said Chad never wanted things sugar-coated as a kid. He wanted the truth. Chad faces a truth he isn’t ready for when he uncovers information about The Driver that had been hiding in plain sight.

On this special episode, we revisit some of our favorite moments from Thursday episodes in 2023.

In the last episode of the year, Monica and Liz make tea while debating wastefulness and discussing Liz's reintroduction to meat. They answer listener questions on regretting giving out a phone number, obsessing over someone else's divorce, and how to handle being ghosted post-abortion.

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier dives headfirst into one of America’s favorite foods, the humble hot dog. He learns that Americans eat around 20 billion hot dogs a year, which means the average American eats about 70 hot dogs per year. Why? How did this simple food get so popular here? To understand, Farrier decides to talk to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council. Eric Mittenthal picks up and answers some of Farrier’s burning questions. David then takes foodie and Flightless Bird producer Rob Holysz out to eat some hot dogs - first at the iconic LA joint Pinks, and then to the very niche Wurstküche in the Arts District. There David and Rob dine on rabbit, buffalo, and rattlesnake. They also set out to answer the burning question: “Is a hotdog a sandwich?”

On this special episode, we revisit some of our favorite moments from Monday episodes in 2023.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a wild holiday vacation.

Nothing compares to the butterflies of teenage love in high school. But teenage romance can lead to grave outcomes.

Adam Frank (The Little Book of Aliens) is a physicist, astronomer, and writer. Adam joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he dealt with being an outsider in school, why he was drawn to science fiction, and how he discovered a secret language in mathematics. Adam and Dax talk about what the search for intelligent life outside Earth looks like, how common it is for other planets to have water, and what the concept of a liquid brain is. Adam explains why people are so obsessed with UAPs, why looking into space is like looking back in time, and how he thinks climate change is affecting the planet.

In this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz discuss the social politics of pooping around others, the difficulties of sharing a bed, and in true sleepover fashion they call all the boys they know. They answer listener questions on how to deal with a narcissistic friend, when it's appropriate to look through a partner's phone, and they break down types of therapists.

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier takes Monica’s advice from an earlier episode and investigates America’s obsession with quilts. He begins his journey by interviewing quilting podcaster Ashelyn Downs of “The Grateful Thread”. Farrier discovers that quilting is not just oldies sitting by the fire, but that there’s a new movement of younger, more diverse quilters taking over America. He sets off to meet Latifah Saafir, an engineer who now makes some of the most amazing quilts you’ll see, incorporating bits of her culture and life into the quilts she makes. David then stops in on another young quilter, Luke Haynes, who has some of his quilts hanging on gallery walls. Luke insists on making a quilt featuring the one and only Monica Padman.