Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about their worst parenting moment.

Dr. Andrew Newberg (Sex, God, and the Brain) is a neuroscientist and author. Andrew joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how philosophy and science can work together, how the study of seizures has changed over time, and why he started to take a more spiritual scientific approach to his research. Andrew and Dax talk about how human rituals developed, how religion and sex shaped the evolution of civilization, and the biochemistry of god and sex. Andrew explains why happens to the body during intense spiritual experiences, why he was interested in studying orgasmic meditation, and the good vs the bad of religion and spirituality.

In this episode of Synced Monica and Liz discuss the best jobs for robots, how they would handle a burglary, and Liz recaps her time at the DNC. They answer listener questions on airplane seat ettiequte & feeling shame after having sex in a park on a first date.

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier sets out to understand OnlyFans, which while based in the UK boasts a mostly US based audience. David talks to Sara (@pockowokosara) who we first met on Flights of Fancy, an OnlyFans creator based in the USA. She talks about her experiences making content and what it’s like managing and catering to a paying audience. David then explores the world of male only fans creators, talking to Jakk Maddox about some of his stranger experiences on the platform. David ends his journey by talking to someone who used to work for creators as an OnlyFans “chatter,” essentially pretending to be someone else!

Sam Richardson (Sausage Party: Foodtopia, Veep, Detroiters) is an Emmy award-winning actor and comedian. Sam joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his thoughts on the institution of marriage, how his parents met in Ghana, and going to a Jesuit school. Sam and Dax talk about famous Michiganders, his time on the Second City cruise ship, and local Detroit commercials. Sam explains how much Veep taught him about being on set, having to fight the regrets of his convictions, and his favorite ride at Cedar Point.

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

Dan Slepian (The Sing Sing Files, Dateline) is a journalist, television producer, and author. Dan joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he liked to watch the news as a child, who some of his favorite talk show hosts were, and how he landed his first internship at NBC. Dan and Dax talk about how Dateline segments are produced, why he chose to focus on helping people that don’t have a voice, and how he chooses the stories he pursues. Dan explains how convictions are overturned, the hidden epidemic of the wrongfully incarcerated, and the depth of the problems of mass incarceration.

In this episode of Synced Monica and Liz reflect on men who identify as men vs men who identify as people, they discuss middling at a dinner party, and Liz shares her international airport event. They answer listener questions on asking a spouse’s permission to lose weight and when to say ‘I love you.’

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier discovers that Rhode Island is not in fact an island. If not an island - what is it? Farrier talks to linguist Kate who has a true love for Rhode Island - and she educates David about the vampire buried there, the food Rhode Island loves, and its place in pop culture. Along the way Farrier discovers Rhode Island has a lot in common with his favourite place, New Zealand - which, arguable, is an island. Subscribe to the Flightless Bird feed at https://linktr.ee/flightlessbirdpod.

Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Euphoria, Rustin) is an actor, playwright, and director. Colman joins the Armchair Expert to discuss dancing and culture, being a shy kid in school, and why he feels like he’s his best self right now. Colman and Dax talk about how some people make social choices to not feel different from others, the experience of going to acting class, and what is was like stepping into the world of Euphoria. Colman explains when he felt like he needed to make a life change, why he stopped saying yes to every audition, and how genuinely interested he is in other people’s stories. Claim your free ticket to Sing Sing at see.singsing.movie/armchairexpert

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about the craziest thing that ever happened to them on an airplane, again.

Raj M. Shah is a technology entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and former director of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit. Christopher Kirchhoff is an expert in emerging technology and founder of the Pentagon’s Silicon Valley office. Raj and Christopher join the Armchair Expert to discuss how to reduce the risk of great power wars, the discrepancy between the private sector and military technologies, and how investing in military technology helps to maintain peace. Raj and Christopher talk about the resistance to changing defense policy, how drones are influencing military strategy, and what checks and balances exist in most military contracts. Raj and Christopher explain how US military technology is at risk of falling behind other countries’ innovations, what government bureaucratic roadblocks exist in developing new tech, and the optimism around young engineers solving the problems in military defense.

In this episode of Synced Monica and Liz discuss the gender of America, they talk about the contribution of single women and their strongest point of empathy. They answer listener questions on how to tell a partner something is a turn off, whether a married couple should start an anonymous OnlyFans, and thoughts on a man asking a father for a woman's hand in marriage.

This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier investigates why American opossums are so different to New Zealand possums. Speaking of which - why does one have an “O” in front of them? To find answers, David meets up with a possum called Horace, and learns that contrary to popular opinion possums are not related to rats. In fact possums have many amazing traits including being pretty much immune to rabies, being living fossils, and masters at playing dead. While New Zealand possums are terrible for the environment, the possums Farrier discovers in LA are very different beasts.

Julianne Hough (Everything We Never Knew, Dancing with the Stars) is an actor, dancer, and choreographer. Julianne joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in the Mormon church, going to live with a Russian family to dance when she was 9 years old, and her relationship with perfectionism. Julianne and Dax talk her ambitions to act and sing, her addictive loop, and her pursuit to be a country music singer. Julianne discusses her identity being tied to the shows she’s on, going through her divorce during covid, and why she wanted to open up about her struggles with loss and grief.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a cooking disaster.

Dr. Richard Isaacson is a neurologist with a focus on the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Richard joins the Armchair Expert to discuss who his medical idol is, the importance of preventative medicine, and how he got involved in Alzheimer’s research. Richard and Dax talk about the core tenants of brain health, some of the main factors of developing dementia, and how to lower the risk of developing amyloid in the brain. Richard explains how important diet is for cognitive ability, what role genetics play in developing brain diseases, and the need for modifying your physical activity as you age.

In this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz discuss feeling luthy and have a candid conversation about sexual fantasies. They answer listener questions on whether it's okay to date someone on the sex offender registry and what to do when you find out a partner has given you arousal chocolate without your consent, They play a condiments version of fuck marry kill and then give advice on how to confront someone who has been mispronouncing their name for almost a decade.

Jack Black (Borderlands, Kung Fu Panda, High Fidelity) is an actor and musician. Jack joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he feels about being shouted at on the street, getting started in the alternative comedy scene, and having two brainiac parents. Jack and Dax talk about their experiences with drug use, how theater saved his life, and what bands influenced his music career. Jack explains when he feels like he found his acting voice, why he loves acting in movies adapted from video games, and chronological music marathons.

Marion Jones is an Olympic track-and-field athlete and professional basketball player. Marion joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in Sherman Oaks, her first exposure to the Olympics, and when she knew she wanted to be an Olympic champion. Marion and Dax talk about how much her mom helped guide her career, the feeling of winning her gold medals, and getting the call from federal prosecutors about performance-enhancing drugs. Marion explains her decision to come clean, what her experience was being incarcerated, and how failure doesn’t have to be forever.

In this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz discuss the new political developments of the day, Monica shares her evolving feelings on online negativity, and Liz recounts a string of massage events. They answer listener questions on ignoring election news, hiding debt from a spouse, and confronting a partner who likes thirst-traps on Instagram.

Teddy Swims (I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy) is a singer-songwriter. Teddy joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in small town Georgia, meeting Dave Chappelle, and having to learn to not come on too strongly to people. Teddy and Dax talk about how important personal relationships are to him, being surrounded by sweet men in his life, and when he started getting tattoos. Teddy discusses his relationship with how he looks, mistaking familiarity with comfort and love, and celebrating pain and agony in music.

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

Andrea Dunlop (Nobody Should Believe Me, The Mother Next Door) is an author and podcaster. Andrea joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her journey to becoming a writer, how her sister tried to sue her for defamation after her first book, and her personal relationship to Munchausen by proxy (MSP). Andrea and Dax talk about willful deception and reality distortion, the gendered aspects of MSP, and why confronting and taking action against it is so hard. Andrea discusses the disorientation of betrayal trauma, the medical kidnapping conspiracy theory, and if there are any predictable causes of MSP.

Happy 1 year of Synced! In this episode Monica and Liz reflect on the past year, they discuss the book of the summer, and exchange paper anniversary gifts. They answer listener questions on condom etiquette, how to hide an early pregnancy from friends, and they discuss when it's appropriate for a man to "step in" physically.