Armchair Expert: "Mom's Car" with Timothy Simons

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Dax Shepard (Tom Papa guest hosting), with Aaron
Guest: Timothy Simons

Episode Overview

This episode of “Mom’s Car,” a segment of the Armchair Expert podcast, features actor Timothy Simons (best known for his roles on Veep, Handmaid’s Tale, and Nobody Wants This). The conversation, set primarily in a car with hosts Tom Papa and Aaron, covers Timothy’s upbringing in rural Maine, his journey through ADHD diagnosis, family dynamics, substance use, and his untraditional path to a successful acting career. The episode winds through thoughtful, vulnerable stories to irreverent humor, all punctuated by astute observations about being human.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Growing Up in Small-Town Maine

• Timothy’s Maine Roots: Simons describes a childhood filled with woods, lakes, a tiny hometown, and vivid memories of a local Shakespeare theater (01:10–02:45).
• Brush with Celebrity: He fondly recalls meeting David Harbour at the theater as a teenager and being starstruck (01:34–02:25).
• Small School Life: Monmouth Academy, the local high school, would graduate as few as 10–12 students per year. “That makes dating rough,” jokes Tom (02:54–03:02).

2. Family & Community Themes

• Parents as Founders: Both parents helped found the public high school Simons attended (03:16–03:33).
• Comparing Upbringings: The hosts compare regional quirks (driving habits, “camp culture,” Midwest vs. LA) and share stories about learning respect and empathy (04:16–05:04).

3. ADHD, Self-Diagnosis, and Parenting

• Learning about ADHD: Simons was diagnosed in high school at a time when it was relatively novel, following a significant academic decline (06:17–07:19).
  • Quote (Tim, 06:17): “I was diagnosed when it was still a pretty novel thing… had to go to a children’s hospital in Boston.”
• Tests and Experience: Simons describes hours of diagnostic tests, both physical and mental, and how novelty even made it enjoyable (07:59–08:16).
• Comorbidity of ADHD: The trio dives into how a heightened sense of injustice often accompanies ADHD, and how this has affected their lives (05:06–10:47, 09:35–10:54).
  • Quote (Tim, 09:35): "I've really kind of dialed into that… when I feel it happen, the injustice… it's managed to calm me down."
• Genetics vs. Nurture: They debate whether traits like frugality or emotional inflexibility are genetic or learned, drawing on their own experiences as parents (11:02–14:31).

4. Sobriety and Family Dynamics

• Parallel Addictions: Tom and Aaron share their sobriety journeys and how getting sober affected their perspectives on parenting and self-awareness (14:44–16:13).
  • Quote (Aaron, 15:18): “This is like Bob Vila got in there and got down to the studs. This is the biggest turnaround I’ve ever seen in sobriety.”
  • Quote (Aaron, 16:15): "That's why I hate my son—because he's me. I love him now."
• Estrangement & Reconnection: Aaron talks candidly about keeping distance during Tom’s sobriety, and their eventual reconnection (25:29–26:42).

5. ADHD Medication & Self-medicating

• Ritalin Impact: Simons discusses being prescribed Ritalin, how much it helped, and the responsibility of managing medication (18:32–19:13, 27:00–27:30).
  • Quote (Tim, 18:42): “An incredibly positive impact, yeah.”
• Moderation & Addiction: The group’s relationships with addiction and moderation surface regularly, with Simons reflecting on his “annoyingly moderate” father (19:25–20:20).
• Quitting Smoking: Stories are exchanged about quitting cigarettes, signifying transition points in their personal growth (20:49–21:39).

6. Executive Dysfunction and Everyday Life

• Practical Challenges: Simons jokes about ADHD making simple tasks—like planning routes for food delivery—much more complicated (21:56–22:16).

7. Path to Acting Career

• Unconventional Route: Simons details how he moved to LA at age 30 with minimal experience, started running commercial auditions, and parlayed those insights into his big break (31:38–36:12).
  • Quote (Tim, 32:18): "They love people who are 30 with almost no experience."
• Support and Community: He credits supportive environments, long rehearsal periods, and ensemble casts (especially in Veep) for facilitating his career leap (38:23–40:04).

8. Navigating Fame and Recognition

• Comparing Projects: Simons reflects on the way fan recognition differs between Veep and Nobody Wants This (44:52–45:51).
  • Quote (Tim, 45:11): “When I go to the airport, I will be recognized... minimum 10 times.”
• Mistaken Identity: Anecdotes about fans mixing Simons up with the lead from Baby Reindeer highlight the odd, humbling nature of fame (46:41–47:10).
• Actor Comparisons: The trio discusses the universal awkwardness of being told you look like another actor—often unflatteringly (48:33–49:20).
  • Quote (Tom, 49:02): “Anytime I’m told I look like the person, I’m like, Jesus, it’s that bad, man.”

9. Ensemble, Community, and Small-World Stories

• Funny Coincidences: Connections across the theater/TV/film worlds and the serendipity of these relationships underlie the importance of community (43:01–44:49).
  • Quote (Tim, 44:49): “That is that thing that I love about the small world versions of this.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [07:00] Tom Papa (mocking diagnosis delivery): “Flipping through the pages. And I gotta tell you, your brain lit up... every lobe was firing.”

• [10:50] Timothy Simons (on airport lines and injustice): “I would be mad for the whole flight... while, yes, that person should still be executed for doing that. I’m able to just understand it’s gonna take a while to pass that law.”

• [13:35] Tom Papa (on parenting): “I have a very easy time parenting our daughter that’s just like Kristen, and she has a very easy time parenting the one just like me.”

• [16:13] Timothy Simons (to Aaron): “That was you when you were a kid.”
  (Discussing inherited behaviors in their children.)

• [32:18] Timothy Simons (on his LA move): “They love people who are 30 with almost no experience.”

• [39:08] Timothy Simons (on new actor confusion): “Do I have to wear my glasses in the show now?”

• [44:49] Timothy Simons (on meeting Michael Shannon): “Because I went and saw a play when I was a kid, I got to see David Harbour. And just because I showed up in Chicago, I met Michael Shannon.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:45: Timothy’s Maine upbringing & early brush with theater/David Harbour
• 05:06–10:54: ADHD comorbidities, injustice, and day-to-day impact
• 11:02–14:31: Parenting, genetics, and self-recognition in children
• 14:44–16:13: Aaron & Tom on sobriety and familial reflection
• 18:32–21:39: ADHD medication, moderation, and quitting smoking
• 31:38–36:12: Timothy’s journey from commercial auditions to Alison Jones & Veep
• 38:23–40:04: Simons on supportive ensembles and "learning on the job"
• 44:52–46:40: Fame, recognition, and the fan experience
• 48:33–49:20: On being compared to other actors—often poorly

Conclusion & Tone

This episode is a compelling, meandering drive through the realities of small-town America, the baggage (and gifts) of ADHD, generational quirks, and the humor necessary to survive and thrive in the entertainment industry. Simons is open, self-deprecating, and sharp, with Tom Papa and Aaron prompting both laughter and real insight about what it means to grow—personally and professionally.

Original Tone: Casual, irreverent, vulnerable, and comedic—balancing personal revelations with sharp, dry wit.
Memorable for: Honest reflections on mental health, family, addiction, and the randomness—and community—of show business.