Armchair Expert Umbrella is a media/podcast network comprised of all shows produced by Armchair Expert.
Flightless Bird: Quilts
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 Haines, who has some of his quilts hanging on gallery walls. Luke insists on making a quilt featuring the one and only Monica Padman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe (Poor Things, Platoon, The Lighthouse) is an actor. Willem joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he doesn’t have the desire to buy things, how being raised by his siblings affected his perspective, and how his parents encouraged him to be ambitious in life. Willem and Dax talk about how one’s identity can be defined by social conditioning, how he loves collaborating with others on a project, and how he feels about playing big characters. Willem explains how good directors make the film process more enjoyable, how he feels about knowing too much about other actors, and what he thinks about being so recognizable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Armchair Anonymous: Meet Cute
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a meet cute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Yearbook - Chapter 4: Local Celebrity
As the Blake basketball team roars through its thrilling season, Chad and his teammates experience local stardom. With his newfound status, Chad gets access to all of the hottest house parties…and ends up in white student’s houses for the first time with their parents out of town. Behold, the high school rager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova is a 5x Grand Slam-winning former professional tennis player, investor, and entrepreneur. Maria joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how her priorities changed after retiring from tennis, her experience as a child moving to the US from Russia, and where her strong work ethic came from. Maria and Dax talk about how isolating success can be, what it takes to be critical of yourself, and how they both approach conflict in their relationships. Maria explains how much pressure there is on individual athletes to perform at a high level, why she wants to be a voice for female empowerment, and her superstitions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Synced: Vorsh!
In this episode of Synced, Monica and Liz debate high school hotness, they role play an important negotiation, and a special guest joins the squad to talk about eating while masturbating & fluid sexuality. They answer listener questions on how to set a boundary with a family member who drinks too much and if one needs to tell their new love interest that they slept with a hometown ex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Flightless Bird: American Accents
This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier seeks to be better understood by his co-hosts by diving headfirst into the American accent. He meets with dialect coach Joel Goldes, who’s helped coach actors like Viola Davis through her various accent roles. As “The Dialect Coach” (www.thedialectcoach.com), Joel teaches David how to place his tongue to sound more American, and takes Farrier through what he’s been doing wrong. Monica, Rob, and David also take an accent quiz to see how good they are at picking American accents (which you can try at home too: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliafurlan/pahk-the-cah-nomaaaaaah) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste (American Symphony) is a musician and composer. Jon joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why some people feel unworthy of others, why it’s important to feel rejection, and how music can connect all types of people together. Jon and Dax talk about why they want to evolve as artists, how priorities can change when a loved one is sick, and what it’s like to have a relationship in the public eye. Jon explains what obligations he feels when fans approach him on the street, how TV shows can affect people’s view of other cultures, and why he can still accept criticism of his work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Armchair Anonymous: Wild Card III
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us their craziest stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Yearbook - Chapter 3: Insecurity
Like every high schooler, Chad wanted to be cool and wanted to be liked. He twisted himself in knots trying to be popular, trying to be an athlete, and trying to be a lady’s man. But some kids never get the luxury of normal teenage angst… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Daniel Markovits (on meritocracy)
Daniel Markovits (The Meritocracy Trap) is a law professor and author. Daniel joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it was like growing up in different countries, why freedom of speech can sometimes be controversial, and why great art can impact society as much as scientific breakthroughs. Daniel and Dax talk about what it means to study meritocracy, how the landscape of going to college has changed, and how having educated parents affects a child’s development. Daniel explains why there is such a wide gap between the wealthy and the middle class, how some institutions use diversity to exclude people, and how the American marketplace is driven mostly by policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Synced: Maxing Out
In this episode of Synced, Liz and Monica discuss an important vacation hack, Monica shares her infamous fetish with Liz, and they debate the validity of a 'twin flame'. The two answer listener questions on giving unsolicited career advice and what to do when you break the trust of a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Flightless Bird: Cereal
This week on Flightless Bird, David Farrier investigates America’s extreme love of cereal. He sets out to answer why America needs over 5000 different types of cereal, and why some of the most popular cereals have been discontinued. He meets with YouTube cereal reviewer Thomas Hicks, AKA The Cereal Snob (https://www.youtube.com/c/CerealSnob), to get the lowdown on how much milk should be used in cereal, and what types of cereal are the best. David also discovers that cereal was invented by John Harvey Kellogg in the 1890s, who created the humble cornflake. David finds that Kellogg was trying to create something so bland it would stop people masturbating or having sex! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives, Flamin’ Hot) is an actor, producer, and director. Eva joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why she loved having kids later in life, how she views religion versus spirituality, and what growing up on a Texas ranch was like. Eva and Dax talk about what types of people they are attracted to, why acting in soap operas is so much work, and what biohacking techniques they use to improve their health. Eva explains why she wanted to make a film about Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, the importance of Latinos seeing themselves reflected on screen, and how she used Desperate Housewives as her film school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Armchair Anonymous: Piercing & Tattoos
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us about a crazy piercing or tattooing incident. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices