Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Kristen Bell & Justine Lupe

September 29, 2025

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  • Justine Lupe executed an elaborate, multi-week prank on Kristen Bell involving the staged consumption of urine, which was ultimately revealed to be chamomile tea for April Fool's Day. 
  • Justine Lupe's strong sense of justice is rooted in her family history, as her activist grandmother founded the Denver School of the Arts, where Lupe later attended. 
  • The audition process for Juilliard is described as an extremely rigorous, multi-stage event involving four monologues, singing, an interview, and final callbacks with mock classes, which Justine Lupe navigated with significant parental support during a blizzard. 
  • The dynamic between the two main characters in *Nobody Wants This* is fundamentally a love story centered on sisterhood, where dislodging one character destabilizes the entire narrative structure. 
  • The guests discussed the differing pressures and experiences of working in television versus theater, noting that the collaborative unit of a TV set makes the work less brutal than facing the audience nightly in theater. 
  • The conversation explored the tension between an actor's desire for preparation and knowing the narrative track versus the value of embracing ambiguity and surprise in performance, referencing directors like David Fincher. 
  • Dax Shepard recounted the resolution of a complex mystery involving a lost wallet, which was ultimately found and thrown over a wall by a good Samaritan, leading to a discussion about feel-good news. 
  • The conversation shifted to promoting Justine Lupe's upcoming true-crime/mystery podcast, "Beth's Dead," releasing on October 30th, and Dax Shepard's recent, physically demanding project of cutting down a large tree on his property. 
  • The hosts explored the meanings of their names (Justine meaning justice, Dax meaning leader/from the waters, Monica meaning advisor/counselor, and Robert meaning bright fame) and discussed astrological signs, noting that Dax's Sun and Moon signs are both Virgo, while his rising sign is Libra. 

Segments

Dax’s Fashion Identity Debate
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(00:03:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Dax Shepard debated sacrificing his signature casual style (Vans with suits) for a more formal look at the Emmys out of respect for the late Giorgio Armani.
  • Summary: Dax Shepard considered wearing nice shoes instead of his usual Vans with a suit for the Emmys, a decision influenced by the recent passing of designer Giorgio Armani. The decision was put to a vote among the women present, highlighting Dax’s tendency to maintain a distinct personal style, which included previous phases like wearing only cowboy shirts. Ultimately, he wore the formal shoes out of respect for the designer.
Justine’s Justice Hang-up and ADHD
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(00:08:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Justine Lupe possesses an inflated sense of justice, a trait potentially linked to ADHD, which she is currently exploring with a couples therapist.
  • Summary: Justine Lupe acknowledged having a strong, almost irrational desire to intervene when witnessing unfairness, noting her name means justice. Dax Shepard introduced the concept that an inflated sense of justice is a common comorbidity of ADHD, which a recent couples therapist suggested Justine might have. This contrasts with her husband, a neat Virgo, who is frustrated by Justine’s tendency to leave items everywhere.
The Urine Drinking Prank Origin
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(00:15:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The elaborate prank began when Kristen Bell overheard Justine Lupe mention drinking the first urine of the day to reinstall depleted minerals on set.
  • Summary: The prank was initiated when Kristen Bell overheard Justine Lupe casually mention drinking her first urine of the day for mineral reinstallation during a scene setup. Kristen immediately contacted Dr. Mike, who advised that while insane, it likely wouldn’t cause harm, giving Kristen the green light to proceed with the deception. Kristen then prepared an AI-generated article supporting the practice to counter Justine’s claims.
The Prank’s Escalation and Finale
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(00:17:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The prank culminated with Justine Lupe presenting Kristen Bell with three mason jars of ‘her best batches’ of urine, only to reveal the entire charade was an elaborate April Fool’s joke.
  • Summary: The prank escalated when Justine brought a mason jar of urine to work, which was then moved to a canteen, and later, Kristen overheard Justine arranging for the ’liquid container’ to be sent up to the set. The final reveal occurred when Justine presented Kristen with three jars of graduated-color liquid, claiming they were high-quality mineralized urine, before announcing it was all for April Fool’s Day.
Justine’s Colorado Upbringing and Activism
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(00:30:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Justine Lupe grew up in Colorado after her artist father chose to prioritize family life over his New York art career, and her grandmother was a major civil rights activist.
  • Summary: Justine Lupe was born in New York but moved to Colorado as a baby when her father decided to take a steady job at the Denver Art Museum rather than pursue freelance art. Her grandmother was a significant activist who enforced busing systems and founded the Denver School of the Arts. This background likely contributed to Justine’s inherent sense of justice.
The Grueling Juilliard Audition Journey
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(00:38:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Justine Lupe’s successful audition for Juilliard involved four monologues, singing ‘Fever’ inappropriately, and a near-disaster road trip across the country during a blizzard with her father.
  • Summary: The Juilliard audition required four monologues, a singing portion where Justine was told to stop for being too sexual, and a final callback round involving mock classes. When a blizzard canceled her flight, her father drove her 16 hours from Chicago to New York in a rental car, stopping only for five-minute naps. She credits the exhaustion from this journey with burning off her nerves, allowing her to perform well enough to be one of the 16 accepted students.
Juilliard’s Rigor and Actor Development
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(00:45:05)
  • Key Takeaway: While Juilliard aims to strip away habitual behaviors to create a ‘blank slate’ actor, there is a risk that this process can diminish the unique ‘sparkle’ or essence that initially got students accepted.
  • Summary: The goal of the rigorous four-year program is to remove ingrained habits so actors can be free to choose their performance choices, essentially creating a blank slate. Dax Shepard expressed concern that this process might beat down the unique qualities that made students appealing in the first place. Justine acknowledged this risk but noted she maintained enough defiance to avoid becoming an ‘acting android’ or bot.
Sisterhood Focus in Nobody Wants This
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(00:50:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The core of the current season of Nobody Wants This is explicitly framed as a love story about the sisterhood between the two main characters.
  • Summary: The writers, particularly Aaron, view the story as centering on the sisterhood, which requires the balance between the two main characters to function. Last season’s conflict was framed as one character losing the love of her life when the other found romantic love. This season focuses more heavily on the events surrounding the sisters’ relationship.
Juilliard Training and Acting Goals
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(00:52:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Juilliard training emphasizes classical theater, which one guest found challenging because the elevated language felt inauthentic compared to natural human speech.
  • Summary: The guest questioned if Juilliard focuses more on classical theater than comedy, noting a personal resistance to the formal language used in classical projects. The guest’s initial career aim was simply to secure any acting work, leading to early roles written by Noah Baumbach and David Chase.
Actor Preparation and Repetition
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(00:53:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Some directors, like David Fincher, utilize extreme repetition to push actors past their preconceived ideas and preparation into a deeper, unplanned level of discovery.
  • Summary: The speakers noted a personal ‘fraudulent alarm’ that goes off when repeating lines too many times, leading to a feeling of flatness. Conversely, the method of over-repetition is intended to bypass the actor’s initial concept of the scene. This technical approach can be a relief for actors, as it shifts focus away from personal performance quality.
Motivation: Proving vs. Evolving Self
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(00:55:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The desire to evolve into a better person—being kinder and working on oneself—is intrinsically linked to the goal of becoming a better actor.
  • Summary: The guest framed their career trajectory around becoming a better version of themselves, with acting being a component of that personal evolution, rather than having something to prove in an arrogant sense. The rarity of consistent acting opportunities motivates a desire to capitalize on the work and not take it for granted.
TV vs. Theater Experience
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(00:57:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Working on a television set provides a sense of ‘unit’ with the crew that alleviates the personal pressure and brutality felt when facing the audience nightly in theater.
  • Summary: The guest found facing the audience every night in theater to be brutal, leading to feelings of excessive personal responsibility. The collaborative environment of a TV set, involving the crew and craft services, removes the preciousness associated with individual performance success.
Reaction to Previous vs. Current Show Success
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(00:58:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The level of public reaction to Nobody Wants This felt comparable to the cultural phenomenon experienced by Girls, though the guest felt less personal ownership over the Succession success.
  • Summary: The guest noted that their experience on Succession was as a less core member, leading to less personal feeling regarding its massive reaction in media hubs like New York. The reaction to Nobody Wants This was described by agents as comparable to the attention Girls received. The guest was in a postpartum bubble when Nobody Wants This premiered, experiencing its impact differently.
Season Two Pressure and Romance Focus
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(01:00:29)
  • Key Takeaway: The creators of Nobody Wants This consciously decided to avoid the common TV trope of breaking up the central couple every other episode, prioritizing the romance viewers tune in for.
  • Summary: Despite initial pressure following the massive success of Season One, the writers committed to giving the audience what they want regarding the central romance. The showrunners assured the cast they would not introduce unnecessary strife just for drama’s sake. Viewers watch the show specifically to feel the romance unfold.
Ambiguity in Character Relationships
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(01:01:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Actors often desire certainty about motivations, but the ambiguity surrounding the Morgan/Sasha relationship—whether it was infidelity or just magnetic energy—was smart writing that kept the audience engaged.
  • Summary: The vagueness of the Morgan and Sasha dynamic in Season One was initially frustrating for the actors who wanted clear answers about the relationship’s trajectory. The ambiguity allowed the audience to experience the ‘alive and scary’ nature of that gray area, which makes for great drama. The writers intentionally left the future of that magnetic energy uncertain.
Emotional Math vs. Actor Certainty
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(01:02:40)
  • Key Takeaway: One perspective on acting involves calculating ’emotional math’—the temperature and consequence of sequential emotions—rather than needing absolute certainty about motivation.
  • Summary: Actors often feel they need to know exactly what they are after in a scene, but life rarely works that way, sometimes involving dreams or vague attractions. The ’emotional math’ approach focuses on the temperature of an emotion (small anger vs. huge anger) and its resulting consequences. Knowing the narrative track allows actors to lay the groundwork for future emotional shifts.
Unscripted Moments Shaping Storylines
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(01:05:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Writers for successful shows like Succession and Veronica Mars actively observe and incorporate unscripted, spontaneous actor interactions into developing storylines.
  • Summary: An unwritten moment where Kieran Culkin checked out J. Smith-Cameron’s character’s backside was caught on camera and subsequently developed into a storyline between Roman and Gerri. Similarly, Logan Echolls was never intended to be Veronica Mars’s love interest until the simmering chemistry between the actors was recognized by the writers.
Podcast Finances and Character Wealth
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(01:08:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The financial status of the characters in Nobody Wants This is intentionally left vague because the writers, who grew up with money, do not see wealth as a primary source of conflict for their characters.
  • Summary: The guest expressed confusion over how the characters afford their lifestyle without visible income sources like podcast ad revenue, which the show’s creators do not read. The writers’ backgrounds mean they do not prioritize explaining the characters’ financial stability, contrasting with the guest’s own experience growing up without money. This lack of financial concern is a key difference in the characters’ overall equation.
Rules for Discussing Relationships on Podcast
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(01:15:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts maintain unspoken rules about protecting family and children while generally keeping personal relationship discussions honest, though they edit out potentially damaging soundbites.
  • Summary: The hosts trust each other to represent one another accurately, but they are careful about how relationship details are presented to avoid misinterpretation, such as being labeled as having an open relationship. The conversation about cheating versus drunk driving was almost cut due to concerns about how a flippant soundbite could be taken out of context by others, like school parents. Discussing their children has become increasingly difficult as they get older.
The Idea of a Celebrity vs. Knowing Them
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(01:21:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Meeting and knowing a celebrity often cures the obsession with their public persona, as the real person is usually better than the idealized ‘idea’ of them.
  • Summary: The experience of knowing someone like Kristen Bell transforms the initial obsession with the ‘idea of her’ into a preference for the real person. This phenomenon applies to figures like Robert Downey Jr., where the friend is separate from the movie star persona. Knowing someone well can lead to a healthy disinterest in celebrity culture.
Owning Sexuality vs. Being ‘Cute’
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(01:27:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Societal and personal conditioning, such as growing up in a strict religious environment, can lead actors to lean into a ‘cute’ persona because it feels safer than owning overt sexuality.
  • Summary: The guest felt they were validated as ‘cute’ and ‘funny’ in their twenties, which is a safer identity to own than ‘sexy,’ especially given a Christian upbringing where overt sexuality was discouraged. One guest admitted to having a meltdown over aiming for a ‘bombshell look’ because they felt ashamed of owning their sexuality. Dax Shepard’s openness about his sexuality is credited with helping his wife integrate that aspect of herself.
Tom Hanson’s Lost Wallet Mystery
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(01:36:16)
  • Key Takeaway: A lost wallet belonging to the host’s father, which caused an extensive search, was ultimately found by gardeners after being thrown over the property wall by an unknown passerby.
  • Summary: The host’s father, ‘Uncle Grandpa,’ tore apart his truck looking for his wallet after it likely fell out upon entering the driveway. After two days, gardeners found the wallet in the fake grass near the property wall. The most logical conclusion is that a Good Samaritan saw the wallet and threw it over the wall, solving the mystery.
Wallet Mystery Resolution
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(01:40:05)
  • Key Takeaway: A lost wallet was recovered after sliding off a truck, being blown by a leaf blower, and then being thrown over a wall by an unknown good Samaritan.
  • Summary: The resolution of the wallet mystery involved tracing its path after it fell out of a truck. A leaf blower likely moved the wallet to a location where a passerby found it and threw it over the wall for safekeeping. The speaker expressed deep gratitude to this unknown ‘Armcherry’ for the kind act.
Promoting Monica’s Mom Episode
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(01:41:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Dax Shepard strongly recommended listeners watch Monica’s episode of ‘Mom’ due to her highly expressive face and the successful execution of a prank on Dax.
  • Summary: The episode of ‘Mom’ featuring Monica is highlighted as being very funny, largely due to Monica’s expressive facial reactions. The prank involved tricking Dax by using phrases he had previously used, exploiting his susceptibility to believing what he wanted to believe.
New Podcast Announcement
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(01:43:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Justine Lupe’s new podcast, ‘Beth’s Dead,’ a true crime/Nancy Drew mix, will be released all at once with 10 episodes on October 30th via Patreon.
  • Summary: ‘Beth’s Dead’ is a project Justine Lupe has worked on for two years, blending true crime elements with mystery. The release date is set for October 30th, chosen to precede Halloween (Devil’s Night) to avoid listener distraction. The ending of the podcast is described as poetic and highly relevant to the themes discussed on the ‘Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard’ show.
Fun Facts and U.S. Open Invite
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(01:45:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Scott Z. Burns, writer of Dax Shepard’s favorite movie ‘Contagion,’ also created the ‘Got Milk’ campaign, and an anonymous listener invited Dax and Monica Padman to the U.S. Open.
  • Summary: The connection between the film ‘Contagion’ and the ‘Got Milk’ advertising campaign, both created by Scott Z. Burns, surprised Dax Shepard. An invitation was extended to Dax and Monica Padman to attend the U.S. Open, with the promise to relay the message through proper channels.
Guest Cocktail Idea
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(01:47:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Dax Shepard plans to create a signature cocktail for Justine Lupe as a gesture, inspired by the tradition of signature drinks at major events like the Kentucky Derby.
  • Summary: Signature cocktails are noted as being an important part of branding for large events and even personal events like weddings. Dax intends to research and present a specific drink for Justine Lupe during the show. Rob was tasked with quickly acquiring Grey Goose vodka and limes for this purpose.
Underestimating Physical Tasks
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(01:48:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Dax Shepard severely underestimated the time required to cut down and dispose of a large tree on his deck, taking five and a half hours instead of the estimated one hour.
  • Summary: The tree had been on the deck for five years, and Kristen Bell wanted it removed for functional reasons, despite initial sentimental attachment. The task involved using a chainsaw and then meticulously cutting the wood into small pieces to fit into three green waste containers. The intense physical labor left Dax sore the next day, illustrating his pattern of underestimating task duration.
Local Police Standoff Incident
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(01:53:30)
  • Key Takeaway: A major police standoff involving helicopters, a pit maneuver, and tear gas occurred near their home, frightening Lincoln.
  • Summary: The incident involved a stolen car, a police pursuit ending in a standoff, and lasted until 3 AM. Police eventually used tear gas to force the suspect out of the vehicle. Dax attempted to use CBT techniques to calm Lincoln by walking through the worst-case scenarios logically.
CBT Technique for Rumination
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(01:57:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Dax invented a new CBT technique involving counting to ten every time a ruminative thought enters the mind to interrupt the negative thought spiral.
  • Summary: The technique is effective because the act of counting interrupts the ’launch off point’ of rumination, preventing the descent into deeper negative thought patterns. Dax found that counting to ten about 40 times over a few hours significantly reduced his rumination. He suggested an advanced version could involve starting the count from the previous stopping point.
AI Safety Guardrails
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(02:00:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The AI Dax used refused to provide instructions on how to burn a tree stump using kerosene, citing safety concerns, while another AI (‘Gronk’) reportedly has no such guardrails.
  • Summary: Dax sought instructions for burning a stump after seeing a video, but his primary AI declined due to the danger involved. This contrasts with ‘Gronk,’ which is implied to provide instructions for potentially dangerous activities without restriction. The lack of guardrails in some AIs raises concerns about their use by angry individuals.
Clip from Nobody Wants This
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(02:02:03)
  • Key Takeaway: A clip from ‘Nobody Wants This’ revealed that Kristen’s character’s partner, Noah, is perceived as a good father figure, but the characters have not discussed the logistics of having children, particularly regarding religious differences (no Santa, no bacon).
  • Summary: The characters both want children, but the practical implications, such as raising children without certain traditions like Santa Claus, remain unaddressed. The discussion briefly touched upon the ages of the characters in the show, noting that Kristen’s character is likely in her mid-30s.
Age Perception in Acting
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(02:03:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Actors often play roles significantly younger or older than their actual age, as demonstrated by Dax Shepard’s experience on ‘Parenthood’ where he was playing younger than Erica Christensen.
  • Summary: Dax noted that on ‘Parenthood,’ he was playing younger than Erica Christensen, despite looking older than her in reality. He mentioned that sometimes roles are written several years younger than the actor’s actual age, which can be beneficial for career longevity. Dax is currently 50, while actors like Timothy Olyphant (57) and Brad Pitt (11 years older) look remarkably young for their age.
Facelifts and Career Choices
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(02:07:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Dax Shepard does not plan to get a facelift, but acknowledged that modern procedures are more natural than older examples, and he might consider one for a ‘dream role’ from a director like Tarantino or Scorsese.
  • Summary: Dax believes that for men in acting, the pressure is often to play their age or older, unlike some women who appear to get procedures younger. He noted that contemporary facelifts look significantly improved compared to the overly tight results seen in the past. He confirmed he has a new acting job coming up that he is excited about but cannot yet disclose details.
Name Meanings and Astrology Facts
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(02:10:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Justine’s name means justice, Dax’s means leader/from the waters, Monica’s means advisor/counselor, and Robert’s means bright fame; furthermore, people with ADHD are often justice sensitive.
  • Summary: Individuals with ADHD are frequently justice sensitive, reacting strongly to perceived injustice due to emotional dysregulation and lower dopamine levels. Dax Shepard is a double Virgo (Sun and Moon), with a Libra rising sign, suggesting he presents as diplomatic but internally processes emotions with Virgoan traits. The segment concluded with Dax requesting the negative traits associated with his Capricorn sign to balance the positive ones.