Instagram/@daxshepard
Dax Shepard’s newest episode of the Armchair Expert podcast features the ever-popular co-author of Freakonomics, Stephen Dubner, once again as a guest. The conversation is a mix of the usual topics of interest and the necessity in the intricate debates of precisely defining the terms. The audience reacted positively to the breadth of the episode and the chemistry between the two hosts.
Advertisement
In the podcast, Dax Shepard referred to Stephen Dubner as his ‘Freakonomics Friend’ in what he dubbed their ‘third or twelfth’ joint appearance. Shepard was very enthusiastic about this reunion, as he said, ‘brothers in that we will talk to anybody about anything, anytime.’ The promo video that accompanied the announcement of Shepard had the host explaining his method of handling discussions, especially in the case of the polar thinking situation.
‘When someone comes at me with the binary or for us or against us, what I try to do,’ Shepard explained in the video, ‘what I probably do do mostly is I say, okay, so let first of all, let’s define terms.’ He was considering this as a technique he picked up in academia where political and economic labels were used as a scenario that needed a precise definition for meaningful debate to take place.
The podcast episode was an enormous success with the Armchair Expert audience, who inundated the comment section with compliments for the material and the chemistry of the two hosts. Some commenters noted the resemblance between Dubner’s voice and Ira Glass’s, the host of This American Life. ‘His voice is so close to Ira Glass’s,’ one person commented, while another simply remarked, ‘Woah! He sounds like Ira Glass!!!’ This voice comparison turned out to be a talking point which the audience did not expect.
Even the listeners who were not enough of the episode expressed their gratitude for its subject and timing. ‘Just so good!! Exactly what I needed,’ quoted a satisfied listener. Another one dubbed the discussion ‘beautiful conversation on nuance and American group think’ and was really pleased that these issues were being discussed. Political fatigue and empathy were among the topics that several commenters pointed out as particularly worth noticing in the discussions.
One perceptive comment highlighted the political relevance of the episode to today’s social interactions. ‘Phenomenal discussion about contempt and character,’ said the comment. ‘Should be required listening for every American! I’m all for shutting up about politics for a year as a moratorium. Can you imagine how peaceable and kind we’d be?!’ The idea of removing political tension through disengagement and waiting was as mentioned before dispelled in the replies.
The podcast’s profundity led to comparisons with some previous extraordinary interviews. ‘Great episode! Had the same depth feels as Malcolm Gladwell episode,’ was the comment made by one long-time listener who has been with the podcast since it started. Another user mentioned the hosts’ curiosity, considering ‘curiosity, wonder, and a desire to understand’ as ‘hallmarks of the Armchair Expert Adventure.’
During the whole conversation, personal links to the talk were constantly popping up in the comments. One listener said, ‘love that you guys got into the study on abortion decreasing crime! i used that study in a paper i wrote for a law and economics class to support roe… back when i had no idea it would be overturned.’ This shows how the podcast topic resonated with the audience’s both education and personal experiences.
And, apart from the in-depth discussion, the audience also appreciated the laid-back atmosphere that Shepard brings. ‘Oh to be sitting across from Dax Shepard, while he’s interviewing you,’ one fan said, depicting the nice interaction that many of the listeners observed. A few of the comments even mentioned Shepard’s backward hat to be part of his down-to-earth look, with one calling it ‘🔥’ and another describing the ‘backward hat vibe’ as ‘amazingerrr.’
The episode actually led to some reading recommendations, one of the commenters suggested John Colapinto’s book ‘This is the Voice’ as a possible future topic that would fit in with Shepard’s anthropological interests. Another listener mentioned that he had immediately bought Dubner’s book after the podcast, showing the strong influence of the podcast on the audience’s behavior.
The long-time fans of both Shepard and Dubner were particularly thrilled with the collaboration. ‘Score! My two favorite podcasts bundled together!’ was the response of one listener who was very happy. Another one compared Dubner to ‘the most refreshing person ever’ whenever he is on, adding that ‘his brain and mine are similar and it feels comfy.’
The comment section illustrated the personal connections that the listeners have with Shepard and his work. A commenter directly addressed Shepard about salad bar discussions during the fact-check segment, recommending specific salad bar restaurants in Southern California and acknowledging Shepard’s previously stated unwillingness to drive long distances for meals. Dax Shepard and Matt Friend have previously collaborated on memorable podcast content.
One of the main features of the audience posts was the appreciation for the subtle dialogue in a more and more polarized world. The prefered ways of listeners to express simplicity, definition, and debate over complexity, oversimplification, assumptions, and dialogue were as follows: ‘Knowing what to measure and how to measure it makes a complicated world much less so.’ This comment of a listener perfectly summarized the conversation—this is a Freakonomics principle that clearly resonated with the Armchair Expert audience.
Advertisement
The audience’s lively reaction to this episode is an indication of the still existing appetite for deep and long conversations in today’s media landscape. The fact that Shepard is able to create such a venue where troubling concepts are analyzed with both academic rigor and personal empathy is one of the main reasons for the continued popularity of his podcast. This meeting with Stephen Dubner was the installment in the series that listeners seem to want of a continuous dialogue between the two questioning minds. Kristen Bell often shares amusing stories about her relationship with Dax Shepard. Dax Shepard and Alicia Silverstone have also had memorable podcast discussions together. Kristen Bell’s candid moments with Dax Shepard are always entertaining for fans.
About the Author
