Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Mom’s Car: Tim Lovestedt (October 28, 2025)
Episode Overview
In this “Mom’s Car” episode of Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard is joined by his old friend and improv collaborator, Tim Lovestead, for an unfiltered, nostalgic, and often hilarious conversation about friendship, career journeys, the unpredictability of showbiz success, and the quirks of their youth. With the signature Armchair warmth and vulnerability, the conversation digs into the contrasting experiences of Dax and Tim during their Groundlings days, their wins and setbacks, and the deep bonds that have kept them friends for three decades.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Brad Pitt Episode Recap (01:07–07:05)
- Dax’s Recent Brad Pitt Interview: The episode opens with Tim’s shock that Dax recently had Brad Pitt as a guest.
- Dax describes Pitt as being in a great mood, relaxed, and fun—“even if I don’t get anything story-wise new, you’ve never seen him like this in an interview. He’s just having so much fun.” (Dax, 01:24)
- Dax’s Brad Pitt Bit: Dax shares the anxiety of Pitt discovering his famous on-air “crush” routine, including a story of guest-hosting Ellen where Pitt reciprocated the joke (“I have a pretty big crush on Dax Shepard”)—a surreal and validating moment for Dax. (02:24–03:33)
- Pitt’s Approach to Interviews: Discussion of Pitt’s rarity on late-night interviews and his affinity for topics like cars and Formula One, interests he shares with Dax.
- Behind-the-Scenes Notes: Recording schedules, episode releases, and Dax’s production process.
2. Drinks, Old Jobs & LA Memories (07:47–15:43)
- Tim’s Wine Job and Drinking Habits: Tim explains the odd reality of working in wine while not being much of a drinker, and his moderation approach.
- “You have the healthiest relationship with drinking, annoyingly so, that I’ve ever seen.” (Dax, 08:07)
- Tall Boys & Movie Nights: Reminiscence about bringing Coors Banquet tall boys to see truck-driving movies like “Black Dog” and loving semi-truck flicks as kids.
- Grocery Store Tales: Tim’s stints at Vons and Gelson’s, and blowing out his ACL while working at the checkout—experiences emblematic of their pre-comedy grind.
- “He has an impressively girthy head… smart, handsome and well endowed.” (Dax, 00:00—episode intro joke)
3. Finding Comedy, Groundlings Years & Friendship Origins (15:43–23:46)
- Getting into Comedy & Meeting at Groundlings: Dax and Tim detail their origin story: friends via Kareem, early improv experiences, and becoming close through hanging out, cooking meals, and exploring LA.
- “I’m kind of proud of myself for that invite. Because it’s so romantic at that age—‘do you want to come over and I’ll cook you dinner?’” (Dax, 16:56)
- Groundlings Struggles and Structure: Tim describes the audition/review process, setbacks, and eventual acceptance into Sunday Company alongside Dax, after an initial disappointment.
- Importance of Teamwork and Shared Creativity: The value of being part of an ensemble where creativity flourished, even if recognition or commercial success didn’t always follow.
4. Survivor’s Guilt & Showbiz Luck (23:13–28:43)
- Hit the Jackpot Reflection: Dax opens up about his “survivor’s guilt”—feeling he won the career lottery while others, equally (or more) deserving, did not. (25:40)
- "The notion that some people hit the jackpot and some didn't feels terrible on my side..." (Dax, 25:40)
- Handling Peers’ Success: Both recall witnessing friends like Kristen Wiig, Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy, Caitlin Olson, and others attain significant fame, and grapple with the mix of pride and bittersweetness that comes with being part of such a talented group.
- “There’s so much in the world I can’t control... that’s timing and luck.” (Tim, 26:44)
- Magic of the Sunday Company Era: Both affirm that the joy of sketch comedy and being on stage with friends was as good as it gets, regardless of career outcomes.
- “It never got better... That was it. Being in the Sunday Company, having a show to do on Sunday—it’s about as great as it ever felt.” (Dax, 27:34)
- Competitive Environment: The competitive nature of Groundlings is discussed candidly—counting sketches, fearing ejection, and how pressure equaled both stress and growth.
5. Friendship Longevity & Handling Setbacks (28:55–33:46)
- Famous Friends & Staying Grounded: Tim talks about coming to terms with friends’ varying levels of fame—“my friends are going to be my friends not because they’re famous, but because we are friends.” (Tim, 30:28)
- Maintaining Community After Groundlings: Dax admits envy at Tim’s ability to maintain deep connections to the Groundlings community, whereas Dax’s flourishing film career took him away from those roots.
- Processing Rejection: Both share the emotional and practical aftermath of being cut from Sunday Company, and how that energy drove them elsewhere—Tim went back to college, Dax into movies.
6. Lies We Tell & Borrowed Glory (40:32–47:13)
- Tall Tales & Self-Mythologizing: The hosts and Aaron (another guest) swap funny, revealing stories of the harmless (and not-so-harmless) lies they’ve told to appear tougher/cooler/more accomplished in new social circles—like Dax claiming to have trained at the famous Kronk Gym, and Aaron lying about being a Marine.
- “With Guy now, going on 21 years. I still text him, he probably still thinks I trained at Kronk Gym with Tommy Hearns.” (Dax, 41:21)
- “I have been telling people I was a Marine. Which came with a lot of stories, because once you commit…” (Aaron, 41:50)
- Owning and Letting Go of Exaggerations: They joke about adopting friends’ stories as their own and the confusion that arises from decades of overlapping memories.
- “Half the stories that any of those guys tell about skateboarding, I have adopted because I love skateboard culture...” (Tim, 44:39)
7. Reflecting on Friendship & Fathers (48:20–end)
- 30 Years of Friendship: Dax and Tim acknowledge the rarity and depth of their decades-long friendship, surviving all the twists of life and career.
- “We’re like 30 years into friendship.” (Dax, 48:22)
- Fathers, Mortality & Beating the Odds: The trio touch on their fathers’ young ages at death and how they’re outliving—or trying to outpace—their old men.
- “We’re going to beat our fathers.” (Dax, 48:27)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “There’s no form of conveyance I wouldn’t have joined him (Brad Pitt) on. Carry me on a jackass’s back up a fucking hill just to hang out with you.” – Dax Shepard (02:01)
- “I have two of you in my head. I have a dude I know, and then I have Brad Pitt... Do you have that with anyone?” – Dax Shepard (03:40)
- “You have the healthiest relationship with drinking, annoyingly so, that I’ve ever seen.” – Dax Shepard to Tim (08:07)
- “Nothing ever happens. Oh, what an innocent era. We had a .30-06 and a 12 gauge shotgun in the theater.” – Dax Shepard recalling old sketches (22:08)
- “It never got better... That was it. Being in the Sunday Company, having a show to do on Sunday—it’s about as great as it ever felt.” – Dax Shepard (27:34)
- “My friends are going to be my friends not because they’re famous, but because we are friends.” – Tim Lovestead (30:28)
- “I always liked being part of a team... I just carried on with it.” – Tim Lovestead (31:52)
- “I boxed a guy on an I (beam) while building a skyscraper.” – Dax Shepard, mocking the escalation of self-mythologizing (46:17)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:07 – Brad Pitt interview revelations, helicopter story
- 07:47 – Tim’s wine job, healthy drinking habits
- 08:49 – Nostalgic tales of movies, “Black Dog,” and tall boys
- 15:43 – Groundlings era, meeting through Kareem, LA origins
- 23:13 – Survivor’s guilt and assessing who “makes it” in showbiz
- 27:34 – Peak moments at Sunday Company
- 31:22 – Maintaining (and missing) Groundlings friendships
- 39:39 – Cultural awkwardness, lying to fit in, Swedish/American differences
- 41:02 – “Lies We Tell”: Marine/Kronk Gym stories
- 48:20 – Friendship milestones & reminiscing about fathers
Tone and Style
The episode is rich in camaraderie, loaded with self-deprecating humor, and unwaveringly candid about insecurities and nostalgia. Dax and Tim’s chemistry is easy and relaxed, alternating between raw pathos and absurd reminiscence, with frequent digressions into stand-up style bits and affectionate ribbing. The tone is warm, irreverent, and at times deeply reflective—summing up what longtime listeners love about Armchair Expert.
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