Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Episode: "Jake Johnson Returns Again"

Date: December 8, 2025

Guests: Jake Johnson, Monica Padman

Episode Overview

In this candid, laughter-filled reunion, Dax Shepard and Monica Padman welcome back their friend Jake Johnson—actor, writer, director, and co-host of the advice podcast "We're Here to Help." The conversation bounces between nostalgia for old Hollywood, the changing landscape of fame, creative fulfillment, personal loss, mental health, Tom Cruise tales, podcasting quirks, and the enduring power of friendship. The trio’s rapport is lively, unfiltered, and as always, eager to dissect the oddities and joys of being human.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Nostalgia and Change in Hollywood

• Shifts in the Industry: Jake laments the fading era of network TV, big studio comedies, and career-defining commercials, recalling how actors used to "quit their catering jobs" after one big gig (11:29).
  • "I loved that everybody used to come out for pilot season, every actor had the same story forever." – Jake Johnson (11:29)
• Gratitude for the Old, Embracing the New: Instead of getting hung up on what's lost, Jake and Dax find gratitude for having experienced “the golden age,” while appreciating the liberating anonymity and creative control in today’s world (12:04–12:34).
  • "You could be bummed they're gone, or you can go like, oh, fuck, yeah. I got to do movies where tens of millions of people went and saw it." – Dax Shepard (12:05)

Personal Approach to Career and Fulfillment

• Doing It "Their Way": Both Dax and Jake reflect on intentionally carving their own unique, self-directed career paths—even if that means walking away from mass fame or lucrative offers (13:33–14:09).
  • "I'm on this rock for hopefully 90 years. What'd you do while you were here? Was it interesting?... I don't want to play anybody else's game." – Jake Johnson (13:47)
• Pride Mixed with Self-Protection: The guys analyze whether their philosophies about the business (“my way or the highway") might sometimes act as rationalizations for avoiding risk or rejection (15:41).

On the Changing Nature of Fame

• Relief in Anonymity: Jake rejoices at being unrecognized during a recent family outing, appreciating the buffer “between work and real life” that a lower public profile can provide (16:14).
  • "It was so nice. I didn't even do the weird glasses...I hate being that guy." – Jake Johnson (16:24)
• Ambivalence About Recognition: He discusses the awkwardness of fan encounters when alone and the gratitude (and weirdness) that comes with it (17:55–18:32).
  • "Give me a second to catch up to this moment. I'm listening to a weird song. I'm somewhere else." – Jake Johnson (18:04)

Control, Anxiety, and Letting Go

• Letting Go of Control: Both men share new attitudes toward their work: dropping the compulsion to control and instead focusing on presence and collaboration—citing the advice, "My whole job is to get it so you can be present" (22:20).
• Battling Old Patterns: Jake admits that in the past, art and career were all about survival, external validation, and fear of collapse—driving him into cycles of perfectionism and, sometimes, drinking to escape (31:05).
  • "I'm trying to stay in front of the darkness. I can't do it like this because I don't want the darkness to take me away." – Jake Johnson (24:36)
• Mutual Recognition: Dax and Jake commiserate on resisting “power struggles” and learning to trust the process, even without knowing the outcome (25:52).

Mental Health & Loss

• Grieving a Friend: A notably sincere segment addresses the suicide of Jake’s close friend, Jeff Ba—how their friendship and communication style might have veiled vulnerability and the regret that follows (39:49–49:57).
  • "All the debate stopped. And I was like, that's not fair, man, because we haven't finished." – Jake Johnson (42:36)
• Male Friendship & Emotional Honesty: Jake advocates for more explicit expressions of care among male friends, wishing he’d said, “I need you” more openly (45:54).
• Impact on Perspective: The death brings home the finite nature of life and energy, pushing Jake to seek more balance and acknowledge his own emotional limits (39:32).

Podcasting: Philosophy, Freedom, and Community

• On 'We're Here to Help': Jake details the evolution of his advice podcast—a freewheeling, "bad advice" call-in show where sincerity and comedy collide (50:02–54:53).
  • "I love that there's not a studio or a network so we can keep changing it...I like that there can be experiments." – Jake Johnson (50:09)
  • Memorable Call: A humorous popcorn-obsessed husband turns into a crowdsourced kidney-donor campaign, illustrating the show's unexpected heart and reach (51:04–52:16).
• Structure vs. Sincerity: The trio discusses their podcasting differences—Dax’s show leans into sincerity and empathy, while Jake thrives in comedic chaos, embracing caller confrontation a la Howard Stern (54:16–57:32).

Acting: Self-Worth and Creative Growth

• Devaluing What Comes Easy: Jesse Hodges’ observation that Jake denigrates acting because it comes naturally, and thus seems less valuable, sparks self-reflection about worth and effort in creative work (29:29–29:56).
  • "The thing that you're good at is the thing you don't value. And the thing you value is the thing you're not good at." – Jesse Hodges via Jake (29:44)
• Redefining Motivation: Jake now prioritizes working with sharp collaborators and doing the job for joy/love—not vengeance or fear of failure (31:04–31:07).

Stories from the Industry: Tom Cruise & Beyond

• Working with Tom Cruise:
  • "The Mummy" Experience: Jake provides anecdotes from the set of "The Mummy," illustrating Cruise's preternatural focus, physical intensity, control over set and performance rhythm, and his commitment to the international audience (62:39–76:24).
    • "He knows every single lens and how you’re supposed to act for each lens and expects you to also." – Jake Johnson (74:13)
    • Cruise’s view of himself: "Why would I ever put bad gasoline in [my body]? I’m a Ferrari." (76:24)
  • Pace and Performance: Cruise's direct (and kind) guidance helped Jake adapt to the film’s required speed and global clarity: cut down on improv, simplify for dubbing, harmonize with Cruise’s tempo (72:47–73:36).
  • Workout Antics: Cruise's 'all-or-nothing' intensity even in workouts ("If you say amrap [as many rounds as possible], I have to go as many rounds as possible, and it's too, too hard." – 79:36) and his ability to make even mundane routines into meditations on discipline.
• Theme Parks & Christmas Cake Lore:
  • Jake confirms the legend of Tom Cruise's holiday cake gifts (118:16–121:13), sparking a humorous aside about who might get them and what it means to receive one.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Acting Philosophy:

  • "I want it to be very personal. I always need it to feel right. And it's hard because I'm not always in touch with my feelings." – Jake Johnson (14:11)

• On Creative Control:

  • "I was trying to control everything, which goes back to childhood stuff. And now as I'm controlling less, I'm like, this is the job." – Jake Johnson (22:08)

• On Mental Health and Friendship:

  • "What am I doing wrong to not let people who... know how much we all loved him? ...Maybe you have to say it." – Jake Johnson (45:54)

• On Podcast Community:

  • "I love when somebody calls on our show and... they're like, don't do that right now. Don't do that thing you do. It makes it feel like we're old friends." – Jake Johnson (55:57)

• On Tom Cruise:

  • "He's the best movie star in the time. The best." – Dax Shepard (63:54)
  • "I'm a racehorse. If you say sprint, I have to sprint. Why would I put a French fry in my body?" – Tom Cruise via Jake Johnson (79:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Nostalgia for Old Hollywood / Industry Change: 11:13–14:09
• Carving a Unique Career Path: 13:33–15:41
• Fame and Anonymity Reflections: 16:14–18:32
• Creative Control & Actor Presence: 22:08–25:52
• Grieving Jeff Ba’s Death / Male Vulnerability: 39:46–49:57
• ‘We’re Here to Help’ – Podcast Philosophy & Kidney Donor Call: 50:02–52:27
• Podcast Tone: Comedy, Levity, and Sincerity: 54:16–57:32
• Stiller & Dink Project: 59:48–62:36
• Tom Cruise Stories & Acting Lessons: 62:39–79:55
• Tom Cruise’s Cake Tradition: 118:16–121:13

Episode Flow, Tone & Style

The entire episode is rapid-fire yet contemplative, weaving between riotous bits—like inventing euphemisms for anatomy or roasting each other's teenage looks—and moments of aching honesty about loss, regret, and the shifting tides of ambition. Dax and Jake’s kinship is a throughline; they offer each other both ribbing and real emotional support. Monica provides both comic relief and sharp questions that drive the conversation deeper.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode is a masterclass in what makes "Armchair Expert" beloved—a heady mix of industry insider talk, self-examination, straight-up laughs, and openness about life’s emotional complexities. Jake Johnson is at his most relatable and revealing, talking honestly about work, family, loss, fun, and growth. There’s a lot for fans of "New Girl," creative careers, mental health, podcasting, pop culture, and friendship to love—plus hilarious Tom Cruise insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

End Note:

Skip the ads, but don’t skip this reunion of kindred spirits working out what it means to be a creative human—and a better friend—in real time.