Reviews

This is the best podcast that I’m aware of for curious people. Dax delivers in-depth, wide-ranging conversations with writers, politicians, scientists, social scientists, and creatives. He clearly does his research and asks great questions. (I’m a writer who’s interviewed hundreds of people, and he’s become my interviewing role model.) I learn something interesting from every episode, even when he’s talking to someone I’m very familiar with. The conversations are never stodgy. The vibe is smart friends hanging out and going deep, with plenty of humor (and usually some vulnerability). Dax has a gift for making his guests feel comfortable, so people who are more formal and guarded in other settings get real on Armchair. His sidekick, Monica Padman, has her fans and detractors. She certainly doesn’t prep for the podcast like Dax does, and I find her rants about hyper-first-world problems hard to listen to, but she does bring a unique perspective to the pod. I’m profoundly disappointed that Armchair Expert signed on with Amazon. Bezos is buying up media outlets as a political bargaining chip, which has certainly paid off for him. But there’s a high price for the outlets he snaps up. We saw what happened at the Washington Post. When the Post decided it didn’t want to “get political,” it became brazenly clear what that meant. I hope Armchair will be allowed to continue speaking freely. It’s an extraordinary podcast.

Love you guys and the show so much. A bright spot in my day, or middle of the night while I’m up nursing babies. Thank you 💛☀️

I started listening about 2 years ago and have gone back and listened to most of the old episodes too. The interviews are thoughtful and in-depth, Dax and Monica are so much fun to listen to! My favorite podcast, and I look forward to each episode.

Not only has this quickly become my favorite podcast, it has truly changed my life for the better. In the episode with Nikki Glaser she mentioned how the book Stop Drinking Now, by Allen Carr helped her up stop drinking. I read it, and was able to give up alcohol with any discomfort. Then the episode about narcissists led me to read the guest’s book, It’s Not You, which is helping me to heal from my marriage with a narcissist. Thank you Dax and Monica from the bottom of my heart.

Whenever my wife is telling a really long story, lol I think of how excited Monica and Dax were listening to us and I try to be more like that!! I’m mostly just listen to armchair anonymous every Friday Long road trip. It’s our favorite but the way your audience is so connected with you guys makes me so happy!! I love the show. You guys have a great guest and I hope You have a good weekend😎🙌🏾

I absolutely love Monica. She provides a balance and insight that deserves to be heard, and everyone who is saying otherwise is unwilling to hear an important perspective that gives this podcast its unique ability to touch so many people. Thank you Monica and Dax!

Monica is also wonderful and this pod makes me feel like we’re friends—I love how much I learn and I love how approachable and open you both are. Smart, accomplished and capable hosts who are (as best I can tell) so receptive and endlessly teachable! The guests you bring on are people who would not have ended up on my radar otherwise and my world has expanded because of it. Special thanks to Dax for being a model of someone in a place of privilege who seizes the opportunity to recognize the luck of and appreciate his charmed life and uses his ability to shine a light on ways most dudes can follow to be better dudes. Your humility and gratitude is wonderful to behold. Thank you

I am such a fan of this podcast but really wish that Monica and Dax called out Andrew Schulz for interviewing a RAPIST. Why are we trivializing the fact that Donald Trump has been charged with rape? Giving a rapist a platform is not okay when you claim to love your wife and daughter, Andrew Schulz.

I don’t know what the deal is with the editing, but it really messes up the conversations. It’s like it’s trying to cut out any millisecond of dead air and it makes it seem so unnatural and like you’re cutting stuff out even though I don’t think you are. Btw, I appreciate Dax willing to voice both sides takes on stuff. The people giving 1 star reviews being over dramatic saying you can’t normalize certain people or opinions is mind blowing and gross to me. It’s like they want to silence conservative points of view or something. The irony is that the elitist moral superiority line of thinking is exactly why the 2025 election went the way it did. People have ideological differences and THAT IS FINE, in many cases nobody is “right” or “wrong”. Anyway, it’s a good show but please fix the editing stuff. That’s the main reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

Love the pod! Monica is a great counter balance to Dax. The show doesn’t work without her. Look forward to every episode!

Thank you thank you thank you for your top notch content. I love your fair, and well informed stance on complicated issues I can’t begin to express how much I’ve learned on subjects I never would have sought out for myself. You guys never disappoint! 🫶

Dax, I have loved you forever. Parenthood made me love you more, but this podcast is exceptionally good. I started a new job where ear buds are allowed and I can’t get enough. I loved Bateman, also my favorite guy ever. I loved the episode with RDJ, but today I listened to your mom. Probably my favorite and so relatable. She’s a GOAT and I love her. Thanks for being you and doing this podcast.

Please let these convos breathe!

Really enjoy the interviews, gives a good balance of information. I do want to say, I see what Dax is saying about all the men being hated on for the last 10 years. But to put it in perspective, women have been hated by men for thousands of years. So that’s probably why they aren’t getting much sympathy these days. Just a thought. Keep up the great conversations!

I LOVE this podcast and the fact check is one of the greatest parts but…when Dax and Monica start fighting over a topic I turn it off and don’t go back. I can’t imagine a ton of people like to listen to the two of them fight.

I’ve always loved the banter between the two of you but don’t introduce Monica’s factcheck and then argue everything she says or somehow find a way to turn the conversation to you. This has been the last good majority of fact checks now and it’s getting a little tiring. It doesn’t even sound like Dax has his own opinion, more so just has to argue for the sake of arguing. If it felt organic it’d be one thing but lately it just feels old and tiring.

This is my favorite podcast! I love Dax’s perspectives on trauma and it gives me so much hope that these convos can be more open! I also love Monica and am so glad she’s on the show. I’ll always rate it 5 stars but Dax, lighten up on Monica in the fact checks 🩷

Long time listener. Almost quit caring when Dax said Rogan was “fine”. Nope, not for a majority of us who believe life can be lead in a more compassionate less machismo way. Monica thankfully articulated why it’s important to have other voices balance out the awfulness of recent propganda. Grateful to her for standing up for the audience who has a broader universal understanding (not just the “disenfranchised white men”)

I like to learn new information and hear different views challenged. I also like to enjoy just “checking out” yet being entertained. This show is a good way for me to get out of my head of constantly thinking about negativity.

This has become one of my most favorite podcasts. I found it late but binged the episodes. I’m so impressed with the research done on all the guests and how closely Dax and Monica listen to their guests and follow up. They’re up there for me with Howard Stern. Give them a talk show please!

What about interviewing Bonnie Hunt..since you did her show!

I’ve listened to so many of the shows under the Armchair Expert Umbrella. It’s relatable, informative, and funny. I would especially recommend the Experts episodes! It’s so cool they highlight experts in fields that aren’t normally interviewed on mainstream shows.

I’m already beginning to become absorbed this podcast series

The editing feels rushed. Incredible content. Hard to fully enjoy.