Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Charlie Puth

February 16, 2026

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  • Charlie Puth possesses a photographic memory-like approach to sound, allowing him to replicate music by ear, which his mother recognized early on by allowing him to skip formal music reading instruction. 
  • Charlie Puth believes standup comedy is the scariest job because, unlike musicians, comedians have no musical bed or production elements to rely on if the performance falters. 
  • Charlie Puth's early career trajectory was heavily influenced by external validation, leading him to initially pursue producing rather than performing and later trying to manufacture controversy due to poor advice. 
  • Charlie Puth realized his past relationships failed because he was presenting a fraudulent, overly confident persona instead of embracing his true, less polished self, which his wife always saw. 
  • The shift away from seeking external validation and making up stories in interviews, which began around 2019, was crucial for Puth to stop feeling fraudulent and improve his music. 
  • Puth's recent focus on TikTok has been a deliberate effort to reclaim his artistic identity by teaching the technical layers of music production in an entertaining, human way, contrasting with the perceived perfection of current pop music. 
  • The speakers recount an exciting trip to the Everglades involving an airboat tour, meeting a sober Nicaraguan guide, and successfully convincing the guide to let them drive the airboat. 
  • Dax Shepard recounts being pulled over by CHP for taking an incorrect exit lane, receiving a warning due to his unfamiliarity with the local highway system after moving. 
  • The conversation concludes with a segment of 'Charlie Facts' covering Charlie Puth's Super Bowl performance, a discussion on the Blurred Lines copyright case against Marvin Gaye's estate, and a vocabulary quiz on SAT words starting with 'J'. 

Segments

Podcast Introduction and Guest Overview
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Charlie Puth’s new album, ‘Whatever’s Clever,’ was scheduled for release on March 27th.
  • Summary: Dax Shepard introduces Charlie Puth, noting his Grammy and Golden Globe nominations as a songwriter, artist, and producer. The introduction highlights Puth’s albums, including ‘Nine Track Mind,’ ‘Voicenotes,’ and the then-upcoming ‘Whatever’s Clever.’ Shepard praises Puth’s musical mind as shocking and beautiful.
Sponsor Read: Quince
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(00:00:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Quince offers premium quality clothing and home goods by cutting out middlemen, allowing them to sell items like Mongolian cashmere and Italian leather at sensible prices.
  • Summary: The segment promotes Quince, emphasizing their direct-to-consumer model which bypasses luxury markups. They focus on delivering high-quality, classic styles made with ethical craftsmanship. Listeners are directed to quince.com/dax for free shipping and 365-day returns.
Sponsor Read: FX’s Love Story
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(00:01:57)
  • Key Takeaway: FX is releasing a limited series about the complex courtship and national obsession surrounding the love story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.
  • Summary: The advertisement promotes the new limited series from executive producer Ryan Murphy. The show explores the romance of the iconic couple considered American royalty. The series is available to watch on FX, Hulu, and Disney Plus bundle subscribers.
Dog Incident and Phobia Discussion
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(00:02:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Dax Shepard recounted an incident where he stopped traffic to rescue a small, fluffy dog running in the street in Montecito, only to be met with indifference by the dog’s business manager when he called the tag number.
  • Summary: The conversation shifts to a story about Dax Shepard rescuing a dog, which leads to a discussion about dog phobias. Shepard reveals he was brutally attacked by two Dobermans as a child, resulting in 400 stitches, though he still loves dogs and adopted a black lab later.
Self-Consciousness and Voice Perception
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(00:05:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Charlie Puth is self-conscious about his singing voice, which is common because recorded audio only captures about 30% of the sound vibration heard internally.
  • Summary: Puth admits to being self-conscious about his singing voice, contrasting it with his comfort in hearing his speaking voice recorded frequently. Shepard explains the physics of how recorded sound differs from the bone conduction experienced when speaking. Puth describes feeling nervous performing jazz standards live without his usual musical support.
Standup Comedy vs. Music Performance Fear
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(00:08:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Standup comedy is considered the hardest and scariest job because, unlike music performances, there is no background music to carry the performer through moments of poor reception.
  • Summary: The speakers compare the fear associated with live performance, concluding that standup offers no sonic safety net. Puth notes that musicians have music behind them, which can carry them if they are only doing ‘just okay.’ The silence in comedy is highlighted as being as important as the words used to break tension.
Importance of Recording Room Tone
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(00:09:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Capturing the air and tone of the recording room is as crucial as the performance itself, setting the stage for the entire record, as exemplified by Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On.’
  • Summary: Puth explains that when recording vocals, especially with a group like Boyz II Men (144 vocal tracks), microphone placement is adjusted to capture the room’s atmosphere. He cites the party sounds at the beginning of Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ as an example of essential room tone. The Led Zeppelin recording technique in a stairwell is mentioned as ‘Nature’s Reverb.’
New Jersey Culture and Musical Roots
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(00:12:25)
  • Key Takeaway: In New Jersey, everyone claims local celebrity status, often through tenuous connections to figures like Bruce Springsteen or members of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band.
  • Summary: Puth describes his hometown of Rumson, New Jersey, as a fancy, business-oriented town near the water where people commute to Manhattan via ferry, sometimes serving vodka early in the morning. He notes the local phenomenon where everyone claims to know a major musical figure, like Bruce Springsteen.
Early Musical Aptitude and Memory
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(00:14:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Charlie Puth’s mother, a music teacher, recognized his ability to memorize and play songs by ear, leading her to stop teaching him formal music reading.
  • Summary: Puth recalls his mother being his first piano teacher at age four, focusing on his ability to hear a song on tape or CD and play it back perfectly. This ability led to him playing the entire Catholic mass from memory at age 11 when the organist failed to show up, startling his parents.
Musical Approach and Pop Music Realization
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(00:15:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Puth approaches music very literally, identifying keys and chords (like A-flat minor in NSYNC’s ‘Bye Bye Bye’), but it was 70s pop and R&B that ignited his passion to write music that moves people.
  • Summary: Puth describes his auditory processing as physical and literal, equating sound to memorizing vocabulary words. He realized his desire to write music that changes the vibe of a room after hearing James Taylor and Luther Vandross records. This realization led him to study jazz but ultimately focus on marrying jazz elements with pop songwriting, inspired by Max Martin’s production.
Early Career Misdirection and Self-Deception
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(00:24:48)
  • Key Takeaway: After signing his record deal in 2014, Puth initially intended to be a producer, leading him to follow bad advice to create fake controversy, which he now views as a classic music industry faux pas.
  • Summary: Puth admits that after the success of ‘See You Again,’ he felt overwhelmed and was advised by others to manufacture controversy to boost his music. He acknowledges that his early career involved lying to himself about wanting to be the artist rather than the producer, which affected his relationships.
Dopamine Crash After Performance
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(00:27:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The intense adrenaline rush from performing for large crowds leads to a significant chemical crash afterward, causing a search for dopamine hits to regain homeostasis.
  • Summary: Puth describes the depressing feeling of coming off stage after 50,000 people cheer, followed by jet lag, as a chemical withdrawal. He notes that his brain already feels like it is on drugs without any substances, making him grateful he avoided further medication.
Transition to Artist and Inconsistent Debut
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(00:40:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Following his record deal, Puth scrambled to write his debut album after having two major hits (‘See You Again’ and ‘Marvin Gaye’) without a cohesive project, resulting in an inconsistent final product.
  • Summary: After graduating college, Puth pitched his music to publishers until he wrote ‘See You Again,’ which led to him being signed to Atlantic Records. He felt overwhelmed by the sudden attention and had to rely on A-list writers to craft his first album quickly while traveling.
Fading Confidence and Fraudulence
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(00:50:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Charlie Puth’s confidence faded in 2019, leading him to make up stories in interviews rather than focusing solely on his music.
  • Summary: Puth felt impervious to criticism until 2019, when he realized he was fabricating interview narratives instead of exploring musical avenues. This period involved a panic about not belonging among other pop stars, stemming from the core New Jersey boy feeling disconnected from his public persona. He notes that this dishonesty prevented relationships from progressing past a certain point.
Relationship Struggles and Honesty
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(00:51:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Puth realized his inability to be honest with himself and others, exemplified by projecting a confident persona like Camila Cabello’s, caused his relationships to fail.
  • Summary: The inability to move past a certain point in relationships was attributed to a lack of honesty with himself and others. Puth observed that many pop stars project extreme confidence, but this persona often masks the reality of their background. The experience of superstardom is described as abnormal, particularly the isolation after leaving the stage.
Overcoming Depression and Fraudulence
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(00:52:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Puth experienced increasing depression correlating with his success and only stopped feeling fraudulent two years prior to the recording.
  • Summary: Puth was very depressed during his peak success, feeling that the more successful he became, the sadder he got due to feeling fraudulent. He used Xanax and the attention of girls to soothe himself, which only perpetuated the fraudulence. His wife, a family friend, stuck by him through this period, which he describes as having a country song-like history.
Winning Back His Wife
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(00:56:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Puth won back his wife by demonstrating commitment through punctuality and consistency, avoiding the spectacular gestures that characterized his failed relationships.
  • Summary: To win back his wife, Puth committed to being punctual and following through on his word, contrasting sharply with his previous extravagant behavior. Their first date was at Lillia in Brooklyn, marking a significant step since they had known each other their whole lives without dating formally. He realized that his true strength lies in presenting himself as a normal person, which is how his wife always knew him.
Generational Differences in Experience
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(00:57:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Younger generations prioritize joy from experiences over possessions, leading to a higher baseline interest in quality dining experiences.
  • Summary: Puth notes that his generation often lacked knowledge of high-quality restaurants compared to younger people. The younger generation seems to recognize that joy comes from experiences rather than material possessions like a snowblower. This shift in focus is seen as healthy, even if it seems reckless with money to older generations.
The Power of Authenticity in Music
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(01:02:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Musical impact comes from genuine truth, and Puth learned that layering ‘grit’ or imperfection (like distorted drums) is essential for making pop music resonate.
  • Summary: Every song that resonates widely comes from truth, and Puth realized his music suffered when his environment was inauthentic. He explains that production often requires layering a ‘garnish of grit’—like a crunchy kick-snare—over clean tracks to achieve impact. This concept of embracing imperfection is linked to the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi.
TikTok as Reclaiming Artistry
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(01:03:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Puth used TikTok to demonstrate the visceral impact of small musical changes and to teach production layering, reclaiming his role as an artist driven by passion, not just job requirements.
  • Summary: Going hard on TikTok was a way to show that music affects him viscerally and to teach the layering process of songwriting, starting from the kick drum foundation. He used an entertaining lesson format to explain how elements like reverb act as the final ‘sprinkles’ or glaze on a track. This approach emphasizes that good ideas can be captured simply using GarageBand on a phone, valuing the ‘crummy’ sound that people can relate to.
Taylor Swift’s Compliment and New Direction
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(01:08:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Taylor Swift’s lyric suggesting Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist inspired him to focus on singing about real, human experiences rather than chasing hits.
  • Summary: Puth initially worried the lyric in Swift’s song might imply he needed to be bigger, but realized it was a huge compliment recognizing his musical genius. This prompted him to consider opening up more in his music, mirroring the relatable human lyrics that make Swift beloved. He is working on a song titled ‘I Used to Be Cringe’ as a direct response to this realization.
Mining for Emotional Material
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(01:10:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Collaborator Blood Pop pushed Puth out of his comfort zone by suggesting he write about his father, leading to the emotionally resonant song ‘Cry’ featuring Kenny G.
  • Summary: Puth learned that making beautiful art often requires feeling uncomfortable, as suggested by collaborator Blood Pop. The suggestion to write about his father, initially met with defensiveness, resulted in the song ‘Cry,’ which encourages emotional vulnerability. Blood Pop, who also works with K-pop artists, is described as a very smart person who helps mine deeper emotional content.
Super Bowl Anthem and Musical Vision
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(01:14:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Puth plans to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl in D major, envisioning a grand arrangement featuring an orchestra and choir backed by a warm Rhodes keyboard sound.
  • Summary: Puth is excited to sing the anthem, noting he is only the second New Jersey native to do so after Whitney Houston. He has the entire musical arrangement planned in his head, including the key of D major and the use of a warm 1970s Rhodes sound. He imagines the performance culminating with the string section leading into the F-16 flyover.
New House Realities and Superstitions
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(01:23:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Moving into his new house brought feelings of unworthiness and anxiety about loss, alongside navigating family superstitions like boiling milk to symbolize abundance.
  • Summary: Puth felt a strange sense of not deserving his new, nice house, expecting something bad to happen, which he attributes to a lack of imposter syndrome regarding good fortune. He successfully performed a family ritual of boiling milk until it overflows to usher in abundance, using aluminum foil to manage the mess. This ritual symbolizes an abundance of food, love, and warmth, with the overflow ideally directed north or east.
Everglades Airboat Adventure
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(01:39:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The group successfully drove an airboat in the Everglades after meeting a sober Nicaraguan guide and achieving their fantasy goal.
  • Summary: The airboat is driven using a stick to control the rear fins that direct the air from the large propeller, while a gas pedal controls speed. Steering involves moving the stick backward or forward to direct the boat left or right, as traditional turning is not possible. The experience included seeing alligators and crocodiles up close while drinking beer.
Dax’s Traffic Stop Story
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(01:44:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Dax Shepard received a warning from a California Highway Patrol officer after mistakenly using a restricted lane because he is unfamiliar with highways other than the I-5.
  • Summary: Dax was pulled over by CHP for entering a lane designated for buses or other specific traffic near an exit. He admitted to the officer that he doesn’t live locally and usually only uses the I-5 highway, which led to the officer issuing a warning instead of a ticket.
Upscale Dining and Trip Wrap-up
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(01:46:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The group visited an upscale restaurant in the area that featured performers, contortionists, and acrobatics, marking the end of the speaker’s time on the show.
  • Summary: The restaurant experience was described as vibrant and upscale, featuring performers hanging from the ceiling by their hair. This event concluded the speaker’s filming schedule for the show, leading to a reflection on having four distinct life experiences in a short period.
Charlie Puth Facts Review
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(01:48:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Charlie Puth’s Super Bowl performance was highly praised by other musicians as one of the best performances they had witnessed.
  • Summary: The discussion confirmed Charlie Puth’s successful Super Bowl performance, which included a choir. The segment also detailed that the song ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams was successfully sued by the Marvin Gaye estate for $7.3 million over lifting the groove and feel of ‘Got to Give It Up.’ The conversation also touched upon the structure of music, noting that three basic guitar chords can form 80% of rock music.
Vocabulary and Trivia Segment
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(01:53:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The speakers confirmed the existence of the Malibu restaurant Bui and identified the host of a 90s New Jersey radio show as Harry Harrison.
  • Summary: The Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer, Kintsugi (golden joinery), was mentioned as a concept related to embracing imperfection. The speakers also identified Harry Harrison as a 90s morning host on 101.1 WCBS FM, noting the name sounds like a nod to the character in Harry and the Hendersons. The segment concluded with a successful quiz on three SAT words starting with ‘J’: juxtaposition, judicious, and jubilant.