Summary7 min read

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Guest: Reese Witherspoon

Release date: November 3, 2025

Overview

In this lively, honest, and insightful episode, Dax Shepard and Monica Padman sit down with acclaimed actor, producer, and newly published novelist Reese Witherspoon. Spanning Reese’s Southern upbringing, her multifaceted acting career, parenting philosophies, societal shifts in gender roles, and her new novel, this episode brims with vulnerable reflections, sharp wit, and memorable anecdotes. The trio digs deep into themes of ambition, evolving notions of partnership, confidence, personal growth, and the crucial role of female friendship and support—garnished with laughter, playful teasing, and the occasional life challenge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Reese’s Early Life and Family Background

[11:01–18:47]

Born in New Orleans, lived on a military base in Germany until age 5, then settled in Nashville.
Developed an affinity for languages due to early immersion in German and Spanish.
Highlights the academic and joyful blend of her parents—her mother a doctor of nursing; her father an ENT doctor who worked with high-profile clients (e.g., Ozzy Osbourne, George Jones).
Family experiences with cars and gun shows, and the impact of growing up with a protective, inventive older brother.

“My mom is just pure happiness and joy. Just Mrs. Santa Claus. My dad is more academic…living in his head a bit.” — Reese Witherspoon [16:23]

School, Teenage Years, and Confidence

[19:19–24:19]

Reese describes herself as “very academic, but also in my head, like fantasies and make-believe. I was a loner.”
Attended an all-girls school, which she credits for fostering female confidence and strength in a patriarchal Southern context.
Early leadership and producer tendencies—from creating “time capsules” to running mock trials.

“I was Diane Sawyer…I was a producer. Even back then and I didn’t know I was producing.” — Reese Witherspoon [20:52]

Education, Early Acting, and Reluctant Stardom

[24:19–26:18]

Enrolled at Stanford but struggled with the tech-heavy, early-internet culture and lack of a creative community.
Did not intend for acting to become a full career, originally saw it more as a hobby.

“I thought acting was a hobby to pay your bills.” — Reese Witherspoon [23:00]

Parenting, Daughters, and Modern Gender Dynamics

[08:33–10:19], [25:18–29:00]

Reese reflects on intense “travel soccer” schedules for her kids and draws parallels to her own driven adolescence.
Both Dax and Reese discuss the lasting impact of fathers as role models for daughters.
Touch on the evolving expectations for young women in relationships and ambition.

“What you say to your daughters, you write on their mind with a Sharpie. It’s not a dry erase board.” — Reese Witherspoon [25:18]

Romantic Partnering & Societal Shifts in Dating

[29:00–44:00]

The group dissects difficulties in modern dating: shifting dynamics between ambitious women and men’s roles, the decline of rom-coms as cultural “training wheels” for relationships, and the evolving power balance.
Reese challenges Monica to ask three men out in the next three months (“The Reese Challenge”), offering both accountability and a script.
Discussion on women “anointing” men, both on screen and off, contributing to male stardom.

“If you have a gangster mom, you probably are going to be able to let my daughter shine and not be threatened.” — Dax Shepard [28:39]

“I think women make movie stars…If you respect the woman that’s looking at this man like, you hung the stars, you are the guy…that’s what makes a man a movie star.” — Reese Witherspoon [55:36]

Hollywood Anecdotes: Career Highlights & Turning Points

[43:00–51:53]

Discusses shooting intense films like Fear and Freeway— the latter pivotal in revealing her comedic potential.
The enduring impact of Election, including physical aftereffects of inhabiting the character Tracy Flick.
Hosting SNL immediately after 9/11: overwhelming pressure and historical responsibility.

“I would give that [SNL after 9/11] 0 stars. Do not recommend.” — Reese Witherspoon [50:11]

Walk the Line, Method Acting, and On-Screen Partnerships

[51:53–56:35]

Preparation for Walk the Line: months of vocal training, “living in character” alongside Joaquin Phoenix (a.k.a. J.R.), and the unpredictable “rules” of method acting.
Reese’s theory that women’s on-screen validation cements a male actor’s legacy.

“I called [Joaquin]…I go, dude, I make you look—and I was being funny, but I kind of mean it…You and I are really good together.” — Reese Witherspoon [55:58]

Gendered Interview Patterns, Motherhood, and Self-Reflection

[59:20–64:10]

Reese observes that women are routinely questioned about motherhood and relationships—a scrutiny male contemporaries typically escape.
Reflects on her life’s visibility and how public perception entwines with private growth.

"The more open somebody is, the more we are wanting to talk about those more intimate conversations, like romance and dating and dads." — Monica Padman [60:47]

Southern Values, Nashville, and Identity Trade-offs

[62:03–66:09]

Dax and Reese discuss moving (back) to Nashville, revisiting family routines, and how Southern hospitality contrasts with their LA experiences.
Dax prioritizes raising assertive daughters, even at the cost of Southern “respectability.”
Reese praises Nashville’s collaborative, “open source” creative and professional community.

“Most people just go to work, pick up their kids, try and pay their bills. Everyone’s suffering. But I just do feel like the temperature comes down there.” — Reese Witherspoon [65:17]

Writing Gone Before Goodbye with Harlan Coben

[66:09–73:36]

Reese describes co-writing her first novel: the creative process of blending her medical family background, thriller elements, and collaborative sessions with Coben.
The main character, Maggie McCabe, is a military surgeon whose fall from grace leads her into the covert world of private surgeries for the ultra-wealthy, inspired by real medical stories and international research.
Audiobook adaptation features Reese and Chris Pine—praised by Dax for its high-caliber “old radio show” enjoyment.

“I had massive amounts of therapy and it really helped. I had a great therapist.” — Reese Witherspoon [40:02]

Longevity, Achievement, and Self-Worth

[82:22–84:18]

Discussion on what it means to slow down and stop equating self-worth with productivity.
Reese is honest about her restless ambition, ongoing evolution, and the allure (and difficulty) of separating self-worth from achievement.

“Sometimes I’ll stay in the shower, and I’ll just cry and go, ‘wish I could turn it [the drive to achieve] off.’” — Reese Witherspoon [83:24]

Female Friendship, Professional Collaboration, and Community

[76:13–80:09]

Reese’s friendships with Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and others—she credits long-term, supportive relationships as crucial to both resilience and creativity.
The “alchemy” of camaraderie on Big Little Lies and The Morning Show, and the importance of female leads joining forces rather than competing.

“Nicole and I decided to do that [Big Little Lies] together…She and I just like, toodle around together.” — Reese Witherspoon [79:03]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

“What you say to your daughters, you write on their mind with a Sharpie. It’s not a dry erase board.” — Reese [25:18]
“I think women make movie stars.” — Reese [55:36]
"Sometimes I'll stay in the shower...and cry and go, wish I could turn it off." — Reese [83:24]
“If you respect the woman...that’s what makes a man a movie star.” — Reese [55:44]
"I was Diane Sawyer and...a producer. Even back then I was producing and didn't know I was producing." — Reese [20:52]
“I have a plan. I have a backup plan. And I have three more plans after that.” — Reese [45:09]

Timestamps for Major Segments

[03:47] Reese joins the episode
[11:01]–[18:47] Early life, family background, and influences
[19:19]–[24:19] School days, popularity, and all-girls education
[25:18]–[29:00] Father-daughter dynamics and confidence
[29:00]–[44:00] Modern dating, gender roles, and the “Reese Challenge”
[43:00]–[51:53] First major film experiences: Fear, Freeway, and Election
[51:53]–[56:35] Walk the Line, method acting, and Reese’s “movie star” theory
[59:20]–[64:10] Media, motherhood, and Southern/Nashville values
[66:09]–[73:36] Writing Gone Before Goodbye with Harlan Coben
[76:13]–[80:09] Female friendship and “girl squad” support
[82:22]–[84:18] Restlessness, productivity, and self-worth

Tone and Dynamics

The episode is candid, self-effacing, and peppered with playful banter—Dax’s signature vulnerability meets Reese’s Southern charm and Monica’s grounded insight. Reese is open about her fears, insecurities, and ongoing self-work, modeling the evolution she’s encouraging in others. The conversation comfortably oscillates between laughter and depth, offering practical wisdom on life, love, ambition, and acceptance.

For Further Listening

Gone Before Goodbye audiobook, narrated by Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine
Recent episodes with Jennifer Aniston and Alexander Skarsgård for more industry and relationship insights

Final note:
This episode is full of warmth, wit, and substance—offering not only a behind-the-scenes look at Reese Witherspoon’s storied career and recent endeavors, but also genuine wisdom on personal (and societal) transformation. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the Armchair universe, there’s plenty here to inspire, amuse, and provoke reflection.

Loading summary

Transcript1,715 lines

[00:00]
Dax Shepard
Wondry plus subscribers can listen to Armchair Expert early and ad free right now. Join Wondri in the Wondry app or on Apple podcasts or you can listen for free wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome, welcome, welcome to Armchair Expert. I'm Dax Shepard and I'm joined by Monica Padman.
[00:19]
Reese Witherspoon
Hi.
[00:20]
Dax Shepard
We are keeping the powerful gal train a chugging.
[00:25]
Monica Padman
It's so cool.
[00:27]
Dax Shepard
What a fall we've had.
[00:29]
Reese Witherspoon
It's true.
[00:30]
Dax Shepard
Brie in there too.
[00:31]
Monica Padman
Oh great. Yes.
[00:33]
Dax Shepard
Reese Witherspoon. I'm not going to say my German pronunciation. You'll have to listen to the fact check for that. Reese is an award winning actor, producer and author. Legally Blonde, the morning show, Big Little Lies, Cruel Intentions, my favorite movie ever, Election Sweet Home Alabama. She's got a novel out right now that she co wrote this Girl Can't Stop, Gone Before Goodbye. And yes, she teamed up with best selling author Harlan Coben who as we discussed in here has got like 57 shows on Netflix. He's like the most prolific person ever. And the very fun part about the audiobook is that she reads it and of course she brings all of her talent to bear on it and it's wonderful. I recommend it. Please enjoy. Reese Witherspoon. This episode of Armchair Expert is presented by Apple Pay. You know, holiday shopping can be a hassle, but Apple Pay makes it so much easier. Whether you're shopping online or in store, look for the Apple Pay button or contactless symbol at checkout. No more digging for your wallet or filling out long online checkout forms. It works at millions of places, including stores, websites and apps. This means you can spend less time at checkout and more time finding the perfect gifts. Pay the Apple Way terms apply. We are supported by Allstate. You know what's smart? Checking Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds on car insurance. You know what's not smart? Not checking your phone's volume before blasting your morning pump up playlist in the office break room. Or not checking that your laptop camera's off before joining the meeting in your robe or something. I'm a little too familiar with not checking your grocery list before heading to the store and realizing you bought everything except what you needed. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary subject to terms, condition and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. A diamond is forever. Here on the show, we talk to guests about their past, where they are today, and what they want for the future. And it kind of makes you realize you're never really done, are you? You're constantly changing, shedding old versions of yourself to reveal someone stronger, smarter, funnier even. Although my kids might argue that the point is you're evolving, becoming better every day. That's why Desert tone diamonds are the perfect way of celebrating you are and all that you're still becoming. They come in a range of unique, unexpected colors. Colors that reflect your unique, unexpected journey. Like warm whites, pale champagnes, deep ambers, smoky whiskeys. Natural colors that are truly unlike anything else. Just like you. So this holiday season, gift yourself a desert diamond to reflect all the shades of you. That's why a diamond is forever. Visit adiamondisforever.com to learn more. Hi. Oh, yeah.
[03:47]
Reese Witherspoon
Let's hug.
[03:48]
Monica Padman
Let's do it. Good to see you. I feel like I have done this.
[03:51]
Reese Witherspoon
Podcast, but I haven't.
[03:51]
Monica Padman
You haven't. You have not. But I just met with you and Kristen. That's right, you did.
[03:55]
Reese Witherspoon
But that wasn't this.
[03:56]
Monica Padman
That wasn't this. That was called Shattered Glass. That was on Zoom. That was a Hooray Women podcast.
[04:03]
Reese Witherspoon
Hooray Women.
[04:04]
Dax Shepard
This is a Hooray Men podcast. We celebrate all the achievements of men historically.
[04:10]
Reese Witherspoon
We love men. I am raising two of them.
[04:13]
Monica Padman
Yeah, I know.
[04:14]
Dax Shepard
I want to talk about that.
[04:15]
Monica Padman
That's so sweet.
[04:17]
Dax Shepard
Will you flash your watch at me for one second?
[04:19]
Reese Witherspoon
Are you a watch guy?
[04:20]
Dax Shepard
I love that watch. It's really handsome.
[04:22]
Reese Witherspoon
It's got a good story.
[04:23]
Dax Shepard
It does. What's the story?
[04:24]
Monica Padman
I hear it.
[04:25]
Reese Witherspoon
I think I want to tell this story.
[04:28]
Monica Padman
We can always cut it after the.
[04:29]
Reese Witherspoon
It was like somebody didn't want to pay me.
[04:31]
Dax Shepard
Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[04:32]
Reese Witherspoon
And I was like, there's this really cool watch I want. And it's so dumb because what they should have paid me.
[04:37]
Dax Shepard
Sure, sure, sure, sure.
[04:38]
Reese Witherspoon
But I was like, I love this watch, and I would never buy this for myself.
[04:43]
Monica Padman
That's a great.
[04:44]
Dax Shepard
That's more fun than the amount of money maybe you should have got that would be sitting in a bank account at some point. So in a weird way, it is more valuable, you know? No, you're not.
[04:53]
Reese Witherspoon
Accumulated interest, net present value, cash.
[04:56]
Monica Padman
Dax bought me a car. Not that exact situation, but similar, similar.
[05:01]
Dax Shepard
I'd offered her a bonus, and she turned it down.
[05:04]
Monica Padman
Wow.
[05:05]
Dax Shepard
I didn't phrase her right. There was some inelpers. Sure, sure, sure. I did not probably phrase any of it all correctly, but then she's like, no, I don't fucking want this bonus. And I was like, oh, fuck. And then I was like, well, if I just drop a car off, what's she gonna do? She's not gonna go through the pain in the ass of returning the thing.
[05:22]
Reese Witherspoon
That's true.
[05:22]
Monica Padman
And I didn't. It's still my car. It's a great car.
[05:25]
Dax Shepard
Somehow I did this car.
[05:27]
Monica Padman
You're a car guy though, right?
[05:28]
Reese Witherspoon
You love cars.
[05:28]
Dax Shepard
I am a car guy. Well, you went to our.
[05:30]
Reese Witherspoon
I figured that out when I saw your station wagon. Was like.
[05:33]
Monica Padman
That is.
[05:35]
Dax Shepard
Were you horny? Be honest. Choice.
[05:39]
Monica Padman
It didn't do anything for you.
[05:40]
Reese Witherspoon
Closed the shop.
[05:41]
Dax Shepard
It only makes dudes horny, unfortunately.
[05:44]
Reese Witherspoon
That station wagon with the wood paneling.
[05:45]
Dax Shepard
Yes. Because it has a 700 horsepower engine in it. If you were hearing it run, you'd be like, what is that?
[05:51]
Monica Padman
I will give it to you that a lot of men who come through this attic and garage have commented on the cars, have commented on Dax's muscular.
[05:58]
Dax Shepard
Body, which again, women don't like, but men like. There's all these things I do and I'm not sure why. Because only men like it.
[06:04]
Reese Witherspoon
That's not true. That's not true.
[06:06]
Dax Shepard
I think it's mostly true.
[06:08]
Reese Witherspoon
What are you eating?
[06:09]
Dax Shepard
Nicotine mint. And then I have a spray as well. Were you ever a nicotine person?
[06:14]
Reese Witherspoon
No. I tried really hard to smoke and it was just a big fail. Why?
[06:19]
Dax Shepard
What went wrong? They're pretty easy to operate.
[06:21]
Reese Witherspoon
No, I couldn't breathe it in. I couldn't inhale. I was just a ding dong.
[06:25]
Monica Padman
Oh my God.
[06:25]
Reese Witherspoon
Why? Why are you the cutest human?
[06:27]
Dax Shepard
Hand it to her on camera, please. I want the world to know and I want her to unwrap it.
[06:32]
Monica Padman
People want to know.
[06:32]
Dax Shepard
Your most popular guest always.
[06:34]
Reese Witherspoon
This is amazing. What is this? It's sourdough.
[06:36]
Dax Shepard
Please unwrap it and smell it. Cause it smells good.
[06:39]
Reese Witherspoon
I mean, I can smell it through there.
[06:40]
Monica Padman
Okay.
[06:41]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay. I'll see you. I'll see you at the other place. Okay.
[06:44]
Dax Shepard
Thanks for the bread.
[06:44]
Reese Witherspoon
Text me, call me.
[06:45]
Monica Padman
Sourdough. This is a real Taylor Swift move she just did, providing Sourdough.
[06:52]
Reese Witherspoon
She's no dummy.
[06:52]
Monica Padman
She's no dummy.
[06:53]
Dax Shepard
They call her the Taylor Swift of the acting world.
[06:58]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm so loved. She is loved and she's just so talented.
[07:02]
Dax Shepard
I know she really voice.
[07:04]
Reese Witherspoon
I know the voice. She can do it all.
[07:06]
Dax Shepard
It's maddening.
[07:06]
Reese Witherspoon
Is it maddening?
[07:07]
Dax Shepard
It is. When you live with someone who's dramatically better at everything than you, it can be maddening.
[07:13]
Reese Witherspoon
But you have your own skills.
[07:14]
Dax Shepard
I can lift things. I can lift heavier things.
[07:18]
Reese Witherspoon
No, you're hysterically funny. You're an amazing writer. You're great on camera. You make difficult people look great.
[07:25]
Dax Shepard
Oh, thanks.
[07:26]
Monica Padman
Wow, that's.
[07:26]
Reese Witherspoon
You can make an introvert talk about their lives.
[07:29]
Monica Padman
That's good.
[07:30]
Dax Shepard
Okay, good.
[07:31]
Monica Padman
Nice combination.
[07:32]
Dax Shepard
I'll take it.
[07:32]
Reese Witherspoon
And you're good with research. I was like, oh, God, what are they going to dig up?
[07:35]
Monica Padman
He is very good with research.
[07:36]
Dax Shepard
But you should know where this starts.
[07:38]
Reese Witherspoon
Hold on. Am I supposed to smell the bread?
[07:40]
Monica Padman
Yeah, let's smell it. Let's take a look at it.
[07:42]
Dax Shepard
And look at the top. This thing turned out.
[07:44]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, it's pretty. Oh, my God, the prop department of butter. And some flaky salt. And a radish.
[07:51]
Monica Padman
A radish?
[07:52]
Dax Shepard
No, we're out on the radish.
[07:54]
Reese Witherspoon
The little like tomato and matzo. Whatever. I'm excited. If she and I were ever friends and had to spend time together, we just have a crafternoon. We just craft.
[08:02]
Monica Padman
Oh, she would love that.
[08:03]
Dax Shepard
What's your favorite kind of crafting? You're almost finding it irresistible to not make a sweater out of that little yarn.
[08:08]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm making a little flower. I do paint my numbers. I do watercolor. I do picture frame making. I do chocolate bon bon making.
[08:16]
Monica Padman
Like when you stuff a little chocolate.
[08:19]
Reese Witherspoon
You like make a shell. You create a ganache, then you cap it, then you decorate it.
[08:23]
Monica Padman
I love that.
[08:24]
Reese Witherspoon
It's a process.
[08:25]
Monica Padman
You could get into jam. Who are really into jam.
[08:28]
Dax Shepard
Not with the soccer schedule I just learned about. You're not going to do a damn thing other than travel for soccer.
[08:34]
Reese Witherspoon
I want to have a lake house. I want to be that Americana lake house person. And my kids travel soccer schedule is real intense.
[08:42]
Dax Shepard
Now, I don't want to be a dick, Rhys, but is there any party when you see that? Because you just told me it's like a 32 week schedule.
[08:49]
Reese Witherspoon
Parents are going to relate.
[08:50]
Monica Padman
Oh, yeah, yeah.
[08:51]
Dax Shepard
And that's too much.
[08:51]
Reese Witherspoon
There's too much collective outrage.
[08:53]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[08:53]
Monica Padman
Why is it like that?
[08:55]
Dax Shepard
That's 65% of the year, which is too much to be doing anything. For starters. Is there any part of you that's like, are we gonna try to go professional? Cause if not, this seems really excessive.
[09:07]
Reese Witherspoon
I understand what you're saying. I see where you're going. Like, does my kid have an opportunity be like D1 in college.
[09:12]
Dax Shepard
There we go.
[09:13]
Reese Witherspoon
D3.
[09:14]
Dax Shepard
Fuck it. D6.
[09:15]
Monica Padman
Any way in?
[09:16]
Reese Witherspoon
No clue. But let me tell you how smart my Kid is. His EQ is off the charts. He goes, you know, mom, how old were you when you did your first movie?
[09:22]
Dax Shepard
He did his research.
[09:24]
Reese Witherspoon
14. He. He's like, I'm 13. Soccer is acting for me. Did your mom take you to acting classes? I was like, yes. He was like, how many? I was like, two or three a week.
[09:35]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[09:35]
Reese Witherspoon
And I was like, that's your dream, buddy. I get it.
[09:37]
Monica Padman
But then did you show him your net worth? And you were like, is soccer gonna get you this? Listen, you know what you could have done?
[09:44]
Reese Witherspoon
Cristiano Ronaldo is doing a lot better than me. I'm just letting go.
[09:47]
Dax Shepard
Just wrote today that he's got a billion dollars. This morning. I read him. He's doing.
[09:50]
Reese Witherspoon
He's doing better than me. Okay.
[09:52]
Monica Padman
All right. That's fair.
[09:53]
Dax Shepard
He had the moral high ground on this debate. I'm gonna. Excited. I am that you're here. Genuinely. Do you know I was on a 7am flight this morning to Nashville, which is now my spiritual headquarters. I cannot be there enough. And I'm taking a motorcycle trip out of Nashville and riding for some days. And Monica's like, hey, Reese is available this day. And I was like, ugh, I'm going to Nashville with Aaron.
[10:19]
Monica Padman
I said, no, you're not.
[10:20]
Dax Shepard
And I'm going to be dead honest with you. You're probably among maybe three people I was willing to change my flight for.
[10:25]
Reese Witherspoon
Thank you.
[10:26]
Dax Shepard
Yes. That's how excited I am to have you.
[10:30]
Reese Witherspoon
We should have had Monica come with us.
[10:31]
Monica Padman
I did think that that would have been plan B. But it's fun to have you here. This is our sanctuary.
[10:36]
Reese Witherspoon
I know. I love it.
[10:37]
Dax Shepard
I wanted to do Nashville. That would have been really fun, actually. Did you see the whole little setup in the barn?
[10:42]
Reese Witherspoon
It looks like this, but, like, blue, maybe.
[10:44]
Monica Padman
Yes, Correct.
[10:45]
Dax Shepard
Is that what color it is?
[10:46]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes. Good job. I mean, I was impressed. Rob did it.
[10:49]
Dax Shepard
Rob did the whole thing, and he did it in five minutes.
[10:51]
Reese Witherspoon
That's amazing.
[10:51]
Dax Shepard
You should try to steal Rob from us. If I were you, I would make a play.
[10:56]
Reese Witherspoon
We've been talking.
[10:57]
Dax Shepard
Okay. So, Reese, you're born in New Orleans, but you do grow up in Nashville. Yeah.
[11:02]
Reese Witherspoon
My dad was in the military, so was born in New Orleans, so we moved to Germany, and I grew up on a military base in Wiesbaden, Germany.
[11:08]
Dax Shepard
To what age?
[11:09]
Reese Witherspoon
5.
[11:10]
Dax Shepard
Do you have any memories of that?
[11:11]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes. I went to German school. I spoke German.
[11:13]
Dax Shepard
You did?
[11:14]
Reese Witherspoon
And I spoke Spanish and I spoke English, obviously.
[11:17]
Dax Shepard
Did you retain any German?
[11:19]
Reese Witherspoon
No, but a lot of Spanish. And then language, I think because I was exposed so young is not hard for me.
[11:26]
Dax Shepard
It's no wolf.
[11:27]
Reese Witherspoon
I just don't feel intimidated by it. I'll throw myself out with some bad Spanish, some really rusty high school French.
[11:34]
Dax Shepard
When you travel in Europe, do you try to. Yeah. And your kids go like, oh, my God, cringe. Just fucking speak English, please. No.
[11:42]
Monica Padman
I think the locals appreciate the trying. If you just go. And you're just speaking English, I don't think they like that.
[11:49]
Dax Shepard
I disagree. If they speak English at a 9 and you speak Spanish at a 2, it is very inefficient for them to get through. You're too Spanish. They're like, guys, let's just do. I do English very well. Let's just do that.
[12:02]
Reese Witherspoon
True, right? It's selfish.
[12:04]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. I don't want to be the thing you practice on.
[12:07]
Reese Witherspoon
But if you do it joyfully and.
[12:08]
Dax Shepard
Like, laugh at yourself, I like to do that, too. To my wife's chagrin. I like to just find a few words and blurt them enthusiastically, as were in other countries. That's not even a word in Italy. But that was a word.
[12:21]
Reese Witherspoon
I thought I speak Italian, but I only say capisco, solopocco, italiano. But that doesn't mean anything.
[12:26]
Dax Shepard
Apparently, the Italiano Mazz.
[12:29]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[12:30]
Dax Shepard
I just know pronto and ciao, Pronto, ciao' cause when they pick up the phone, pronto, ciabello.
[12:35]
Reese Witherspoon
It's just fun.
[12:35]
Dax Shepard
I know. I love it, too.
[12:37]
Reese Witherspoon
I took my son on a solo vacation, just mom and kid, to Italy this summer, and we had the best time. We were joking around. He learned Italian on duolingo and he just went hard at it. It was so fun.
[12:50]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Those trips are so fun. Just the two of you.
[12:53]
Reese Witherspoon
And literally, we did almost nothing. We just ate pasta and jumped in the ocean and we just laughed.
[12:59]
Dax Shepard
Were you binging a show?
[13:01]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay. Yes.
[13:02]
Dax Shepard
Because I did the same trip with Lincoln last year to Portugal to go see Taylor Swift.
[13:06]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, my God.
[13:06]
Dax Shepard
And we stayed at a great hotel and we had room service. And then we were binging the Kristen Wiig show. Palm Royale. Perfect show for us. And then we rented a motorcycle and we ripped around the city. And I got home and I said to Kristen, I'm like, that might be the best trip I've taken with a woman anywhere ever in my whole life. I think that was the best one.
[13:23]
Reese Witherspoon
Totally. Does she love your jokes? And you guys are just so simpatico.
[13:26]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[13:27]
Reese Witherspoon
Both my sons and my daughter, I've had great opportunities to take each one of them on solo vacations. It's really fun.
[13:34]
Dax Shepard
The whole time I was doing it, I was like, you know, she's doing this now, but this is a closing window. I gotta do this now. It's not like when she's 19, she's gonna be like, yeah, dad, let's go get on a scooter and rip around Lisbon and go see Taylor. I mean, fingers crossed.
[13:48]
Monica Padman
Is this where you jumped off the cliff?
[13:50]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes.
[13:51]
Monica Padman
Oh, that looked so scary.
[13:53]
Dax Shepard
That would not have been for you.
[13:55]
Monica Padman
No, I would not. I would have passed on jumping off the cliff. Too scary. I was impressed.
[14:01]
Reese Witherspoon
Cause your son, I feel like if any of your kids go, I'll do it. If you do it. What am I gonna do? Say my mom didn't do it and I did?
[14:09]
Dax Shepard
I agree.
[14:09]
Reese Witherspoon
I have to.
[14:10]
Dax Shepard
I'd rather be dad.
[14:11]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[14:11]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[14:12]
Reese Witherspoon
That's jet skiing. That is water skiing. That is jumping off cliffs. That is snow skiing.
[14:18]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. I just pray my daughters don't want to start doing paragliding or something.
[14:22]
Reese Witherspoon
I'll do it.
[14:22]
Monica Padman
Wow. This is surprising, because you strike me as someone who would not do something they didn't want to do.
[14:27]
Reese Witherspoon
Not caut.
[14:29]
Dax Shepard
Have you sustained any injuries due to this lack of caution?
[14:31]
Reese Witherspoon
This is kind of crazy, you guys. My girlfriend was dating an NFL player, and she brought him over for dinner and whatever he was talking about, you know, CT and serious stuff. And she's an actress, and I'm an actress. And we both started talking about the amount of concussions we've had on set. On set.
[14:47]
Dax Shepard
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
[14:48]
Reese Witherspoon
Let's not even talk about what predates sex. It was like my rough and tumble childhood with my big brother, who was like, you do it first, sister, I'll do it second.
[14:57]
Monica Padman
Oh, that's where it comes from.
[14:59]
Dax Shepard
Oh, you're a little sis. Yeah, that says a lot.
[15:02]
Reese Witherspoon
I had probably three pretty big concussions as a kid. And then on set, probably three or four.
[15:08]
Dax Shepard
And just really quick, Ironically, your father's a head and neck.
[15:11]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, he's an ear, nose, and throat.
[15:13]
Dax Shepard
Oh, he's an ent.
[15:14]
Reese Witherspoon
So I take back your research comments.
[15:17]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, well, I'm gonna sue Wikipedia. Cause it said he was a head and neck.
[15:22]
Reese Witherspoon
No, he's not head and neck. He's ear, nose, and throat. So he would work on people's vocal cords in Nashville.
[15:26]
Dax Shepard
Okay. But back to Germany, what were the German memories?
[15:29]
Reese Witherspoon
Like, what pops out Going to German Montessori school. It was a really great environment for learning and discovery. And then every Saturday morning, my mom would give US a dollar, and we could walk down to the German candy store and buy gummy bears. Ooh. She was a nurse. This is confusing and not interesting, but she was a nurse in New Orleans. When we went away to Germany, she didn't work, but she was, like, so bored around the house. So she did one day a week at a Wedgwood china shop.
[15:58]
Monica Padman
Like, selling it.
[15:59]
Reese Witherspoon
Selling china.
[16:01]
Dax Shepard
Wow.
[16:02]
Reese Witherspoon
And then when we came back to America in 1981, she went back to nursing.
[16:06]
Dax Shepard
She has a doctorate degree.
[16:08]
Reese Witherspoon
She's a doctorate. She taught nursing at Tennessee State University.
[16:11]
Dax Shepard
Pediatric. Nursing.
[16:12]
Reese Witherspoon
Pediatric, yeah.
[16:13]
Dax Shepard
Okay. One of them was right.
[16:15]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah. She taught at Tennessee State University, and then she was a labor and delivery nurse at Vanderbilt.
[16:20]
Dax Shepard
Whose personality do you have more, mom or Dad?
[16:23]
Reese Witherspoon
I think I'm a really interesting blend of the two because my mom is just pure happiness and joy. Just misses Santa Claus. Happy and loving. Children, animals. And then my dad is more academic and very nerdy and studies and living.
[16:39]
Dax Shepard
In his head a bit.
[16:40]
Monica Padman
Serious.
[16:41]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes. My dad is one of those people who's so smart. He got perfect score on his SATs, perfect score on his MCATs. He graduated with honors from Yale.
[16:50]
Dax Shepard
Why'd he go the military route?
[16:52]
Reese Witherspoon
Couldn't afford to pay for medical school. Also, it was the time when men were getting drafted. He got drafted, but he deferred. Cause he had to finish medical school. And then he signed up for seven years and the GI Bill paid for. My grandparents didn't have enough money to pay for Yale and for med school. So he got it all paid for.
[17:10]
Dax Shepard
That's great. And so after Germany, then you moved to Nashville.
[17:13]
Reese Witherspoon
Then we moved to Nashville.
[17:15]
Dax Shepard
And he was gonna go specifically to work on singers.
[17:18]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, I think he was trying to figure out what kind of specialty he was gonna do. But he developed that idea in Germany, and he thought, that's a good practice to get in in Nashville.
[17:28]
Dax Shepard
Did he have any famous clients? Did he work on Waylon Jennings vocal cords or anyone that I'm obsessed with?
[17:34]
Reese Witherspoon
One of his clients is living, and I can't say, but you, like, lose your mind. And I wasn't supposed to know, but she told me. She was like, you know, your dad fixed my vocal cords. I was like, what? But George Jones.
[17:45]
Dax Shepard
Oh, George Jones.
[17:46]
Reese Witherspoon
George Jones. I bet his cords were a mess.
[17:48]
Dax Shepard
It sounds like he goes after the real rough dummy.
[17:51]
Reese Witherspoon
I only remember this one time. My dad got called emergency Ozzy Osbourne. Had to do a concert in Nashville one night, and my dad had to go to his hotel room to help him because he had vocal strain.
[18:01]
Dax Shepard
No kidding.
[18:02]
Reese Witherspoon
And he was like, I missed Ozzy Osbourne last night.
[18:05]
Dax Shepard
That's great.
[18:06]
Reese Witherspoon
Which is kind of cool. So I would say very, very academic and intellectual and loved cars. I've spent every weekend of my life at either the gun and knife show.
[18:17]
Dax Shepard
Bill Goodman's gun and knife show.
[18:18]
Reese Witherspoon
Buy, sell, trade. Don't you dare miss it. Or nascar.
[18:21]
Dax Shepard
This is why you hated my station wagon. Now you get it. Hated on.
[18:24]
Reese Witherspoon
I don't hate it. I've just been on the side of the road with that thing that doesn't work, and I just swore to myself it wouldn't.
[18:30]
Monica Padman
PTSD.
[18:31]
Reese Witherspoon
We always had some variation of a 1976 Cadillac El Dorado.
[18:38]
Dax Shepard
Oh, lovely.
[18:39]
Reese Witherspoon
He had four of them when I was growing up, and we were always on the side of the road fixing it, but we were always at a car show or a gun show or a knife show.
[18:47]
Dax Shepard
And did your brother take to all that stuff? Were they able to bond on that?
[18:51]
Reese Witherspoon
My brother can fix a Harley BMW. He could fix any of your cars.
[18:55]
Dax Shepard
Well, bring him over to the barn. I think he'll appreciate what was happening in there.
[18:58]
Reese Witherspoon
He'll lose his chicken.
[18:59]
Dax Shepard
Okay. Who'll lose his chicken? One for me.
[19:01]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, Dax, you know what you're doing over here.
[19:05]
Dax Shepard
Is he a brainiac as well, your brother?
[19:07]
Reese Witherspoon
He's really, really smart. Engines and how things work. He can fix anything.
[19:11]
Dax Shepard
Wow.
[19:12]
Reese Witherspoon
H. Oh, my. It's great. Yeah.
[19:14]
Dax Shepard
Do you call him over to the house?
[19:16]
Reese Witherspoon
He fixes everything in my house that's useful.
[19:19]
Dax Shepard
Okay. So going to school. Who were you? Reese? What kind of kid. I know what's happened.
[19:24]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay? Please just fix my hair. I don't have a challenge right now. Now I'm self conscious.
[19:29]
Dax Shepard
No, no, you. I just got. I'm now nervous she's gonna say, I'm not directing to that.
[19:34]
Monica Padman
He did that to Jennifer Aniston's hair, too.
[19:36]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, my God.
[19:37]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Funny enough, I've only fixed hair, like, twice in the last week.
[19:41]
Monica Padman
I was so nervous when you went up to her hair. I was like, her hair? That's a scary thing to touch.
[19:46]
Dax Shepard
But you did it because it's like a national treasure.
[19:49]
Reese Witherspoon
Her hair is, like, insured by force of London. Exactly. It's like Guinness book of world record terror.
[19:56]
Dax Shepard
What if I would have went to touch Aniston's hair, and then guys bust through the garage on rappel. Like, the security team came in.
[20:02]
Monica Padman
I was nerv.
[20:04]
Reese Witherspoon
She does have grid hair.
[20:05]
Monica Padman
Oh, yeah.
[20:06]
Dax Shepard
Okay. So what kind of kid were you?
[20:08]
Reese Witherspoon
Very academic, but also in my head, like fantasies and make believe. And I was a loner.
[20:15]
Dax Shepard
Well, I was gonna say, yeah. Were you popular?
[20:17]
Reese Witherspoon
I got popular in junior high, in high school. But I was like, oh, I better learn to make friends.
[20:23]
Dax Shepard
And you joined the cheer team for that?
[20:24]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, I was a cheerleader for six years. That was really fun.
[20:28]
Dax Shepard
Were you lonely or you just preferred to be alone?
[20:31]
Reese Witherspoon
No, I wasn't lonely. I had these stories in my head. I was writing and creating. I always had a video camera. So I was the girl who was the yearbook girl, the videographer. And I'd be like, guys, this is gonna be so cool. We're gonna remember this moment forever. We gotta do a time capsule. We're gonna bury this in a box in my backyard. Yeah. I was that person.
[20:50]
Dax Shepard
You were on fire to be on planet Earth and get it all done.
[20:52]
Reese Witherspoon
I was Diane Sawyer and I was investigative journalist. And I was. I was a producer. Even back then I was producing.
[20:58]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[20:59]
Reese Witherspoon
And I didn't know I was producing.
[21:00]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So you went to an all girls high school. Yeah.
[21:03]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes. That I loved.
[21:05]
Dax Shepard
Right. So let's talk about the benefits of that. Cause I'm already seeing them very clearly displayed at my daughter's all girls school, which is. We went on that campus for the tour and I was like, my God, this is awesome. I've never seen so many outgoing girls that are just out loud, so confident. This was not my school experience. Immediately was like, oh, my God, I wanted to go here so bad. So that's kind of the upside. What were the upsides for you of that?
[21:28]
Reese Witherspoon
Growing up in the south is a historically kind of patriarchal place.
[21:33]
Dax Shepard
Sure.
[21:34]
Reese Witherspoon
So it was important that there was this carved out place for us to express ourselves, to not have to present or be evaluated. The metrics for our success were not about popularity or being homecoming queen.
[21:48]
Dax Shepard
Right.
[21:48]
Reese Witherspoon
Now, that said, there was an aspect of that because we could participate at the boys school. But it was opt in, opt out.
[21:55]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Who were you cheering for?
[21:56]
Reese Witherspoon
The boys school. Where my dad went, my brother went. But it wasn't like I was there all the time. I love community and groups of people, and I love teams.
[22:03]
Dax Shepard
When I was reading about you a lot over the last few days, there's one little inconsistent thing with you by your own admission, which is you have this incredible confidence professionally and in business and running things and being a leader. And then you've admitted to having kind of a lack of confidence romantically young. When I read that, I'm like, that's incongruous. With what I would expect.
[22:26]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[22:27]
Dax Shepard
But I do wonder, is that maybe the one price you pay for going to an all girls school, you just kind of woke up with a lot of options, but you had no experience.
[22:35]
Reese Witherspoon
I have my own theories about it. Yeah.
[22:37]
Dax Shepard
I wanna hear it.
[22:37]
Reese Witherspoon
I don't think it's about girl school. Cause I had lots of dates and I had really great healthy relationships in high school. The transition to college was tough. I didn't have money to pay for college, so I had to work in the movie business and make money. And I was like constantly in this shuffle. Am I a college student or am I trying to be an actor?
[22:56]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[22:57]
Reese Witherspoon
Cause I thought it was gonna be maybe a doctor. I thought acting was a hobby.
[23:00]
Dax Shepard
Had you only done man in the Moon at that point?
[23:03]
Reese Witherspoon
I done man in the Moon. I did this Disney movie. I did like Mov of the Week.
[23:07]
Dax Shepard
You weren't certain that that was going to be a viable career quite yet.
[23:11]
Reese Witherspoon
No. And I came from parents who were in the medical business. They were like, that's just a hobby to pay your bills, right?
[23:16]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, that's what I was curious about. Because did they not think some of that stuff was vapid? Like being in pageants and stuff?
[23:22]
Reese Witherspoon
We didn't do pageants.
[23:23]
Dax Shepard
What was the 10 state?
[23:24]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, that was mock trial.
[23:25]
Dax Shepard
Oh, it was a mock trial.
[23:26]
Reese Witherspoon
I went mock trial. Yeah.
[23:28]
Monica Padman
Very smart.
[23:29]
Reese Witherspoon
Middle Tennessee best witness or something. Oh, my senior year.
[23:33]
Dax Shepard
Okay, okay.
[23:33]
Reese Witherspoon
I was a belligerent witness.
[23:35]
Dax Shepard
You are.
[23:37]
Reese Witherspoon
Which actually has shades of Legally Blonde.
[23:39]
Monica Padman
I'm like, oh, that's so true.
[23:40]
Reese Witherspoon
I never even thought about it until now.
[23:42]
Monica Padman
Oh, that's funny.
[23:43]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. So you went to Stanford.
[23:44]
Reese Witherspoon
But it had immediately this, like, I don't relate to anybody. It was a big culture shock. Everybody was in tech. It was early Internet days. People were coding. I was like, what are you doing? I don't understand. And I was this artist and I was trying to make short films there. Maybe it's different environment now, but there weren't people starting film societies. There was me and this one kid, Brian, and me and the one kid, Brian, and this girl Liz that I like hijacked on my floor, who was. And this psychology major. And I was like, let's write a movie. Brian was like, yes. It was the three of us. I was like, this is not working.
[24:19]
Dax Shepard
Is Brian on top of the world somewhere? We've lost touch with him. Brian, Brian. We love you, Brian.
[24:27]
Reese Witherspoon
He was awesome. I was like, you, me? We're out of here. Oh my God.
[24:31]
Dax Shepard
We are way too psych broad in the mix, too. We need the dark horse.
[24:34]
Reese Witherspoon
And I do remember him. And I was walking past the computer lab where everybody was, like, coding. I was, like, coding. What's that for?
[24:40]
Monica Padman
Oh, my God.
[24:42]
Reese Witherspoon
Idiot.
[24:43]
Dax Shepard
Was your kiss in man in the Moon your first real life kiss?
[24:46]
Reese Witherspoon
No, I kissed a boy in fifth grade at the roller skating rink.
[24:50]
Monica Padman
Wonderful picturesque.
[24:52]
Dax Shepard
What would you give yourself as a roller skater? Out of 10? Eight. Nice. Yeah, you could shoot the duck and go backwards. And dance proficiently.
[25:00]
Reese Witherspoon
I mean, slowly.
[25:01]
Dax Shepard
Okay. Okay.
[25:02]
Monica Padman
Count.
[25:03]
Dax Shepard
So how do we decide to leave Stanford?
[25:06]
Reese Witherspoon
Wait, wait. I wanna hear Monica's take on why I had bad relationships in my 20s.
[25:11]
Dax Shepard
I didn't even hear your theory.
[25:12]
Monica Padman
Yeah, we didn't hear. Well, no, I want to take a.
[25:14]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm open to any and all theories. I don't think it was girl school.
[25:17]
Dax Shepard
Great. So what's your theory?
[25:18]
Reese Witherspoon
You're a girl dad. I think that this is important. Girl dads need to hear this. It's so, so important what you say to your daughters. You write on their mind with a Sharpie. It's not a dry erase board. So, what, you give them the tools of self confidence, self worth. What they're looking for in a partner, what they want in their 20s versus their 30s. You get a lot of that from your dad.
[25:41]
Monica Padman
Yes, that is correct.
[25:43]
Dax Shepard
Okay. You'll be relieved to know my mantra since I've had them is, okay, they're gonna date me, so what am I gonna be that they go out and try to find?
[25:51]
Reese Witherspoon
That's right.
[25:52]
Dax Shepard
So if they wanna talk to me, I gotta drop everything and, like, look in their eyes and listen to them and take them seriously.
[25:58]
Reese Witherspoon
That's beautiful.
[25:59]
Dax Shepard
And give them my time, whoever they're with, to drop every fucking thing and listen to them.
[26:04]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, I like that you're emotionally vulnerable, too. They learn a lot from parents who don't pretend to be perfect, who also say, hey, look, I've had my issues, I've messed up, but what I am is consistent. And that's what you need in your life. Somebody who cherishes you, loves you, doesn't harm you. I mean, it's that explicit.
[26:22]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, yeah, that's a really obvious point. Now that you bring it up, it's actually very poignant.
[26:27]
Reese Witherspoon
So, captain, obviously I always say to people dating, you're looking for a 10, but are you a 10? Do your own, like, exactly. I got X.
[26:36]
Monica Padman
Exactly. Like an eight and a half.
[26:39]
Reese Witherspoon
Are we really judging people on an appropriate spectrum? We want somebody who's extremely funny, completely self made. Not arrogant, but self confident. He's gotta be funny, he's gotta be smart. He's gotta have a good job. He's gotta like his mom. He's gotta have a great family.
[26:50]
Monica Padman
He's gotta be masculine, but emotional. Yeah. It's a lot.
[26:53]
Reese Witherspoon
What are we talking about?
[26:54]
Monica Padman
It's a lot. I know. It's too much.
[26:56]
Dax Shepard
Good luck, everybody.
[26:56]
Reese Witherspoon
You're also gonna need to meet a human correct. And he's gonna have to deal with your quirks and wrinkles.
[27:02]
Dax Shepard
I think the thing that's upside down. I think about this a lot in terms of Kristen and I, which is they wanna meet someone that's perfect for them. And if you were to do that somehow, which is not possible, the only trajectory's down. They get less perfect. As opposed to, I meet this person that's not perfect for me, they have a few things that I find irresistible. And then through this many years together, it just gets better and better and better. And I like her more and more and more and she likes me more and more and we grow more towards each other. If you're trying to start at perfection, I'm not even sure where you're going. If you start with, yeah, this is pretty fucking good. I think we might be able to make this work. You're kind of on this wonderful journey upward. And I just think people have it a little backwards of what the trajectory is supposed to be.
[27:46]
Reese Witherspoon
No, that's so true. Because it's almost like you're making this relationship and it's a work in progress. Yeah.
[27:51]
Dax Shepard
Cause I'm a fucking work in progress. When she met me at 22, I, you know.
[27:55]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, you're not fully cooked.
[27:57]
Dax Shepard
I'm still making pretty major mistakes. I'm fighting guys at stoplights and stuff. Like I've got some growth ahead.
[28:04]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah. And she's developing and growing and expanding. What do you think your girls should look for? Can you help out the ladies out there? Imagine your daughters were in their twenties. Let's just talk about twenties.
[28:14]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[28:15]
Reese Witherspoon
What characteristics in a 20 year old guy should they be looking for in mid twenties? Let's talk mid twenties.
[28:23]
Dax Shepard
I'm just will be projecting my stuff, Right. So my mom was incredibly ambitious. She was on fire to devour the world. I cannot be with people who are not on fire to devour the world. It's just such a bone killer for me.
[28:39]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[28:39]
Dax Shepard
If my girls bring home a guy who's just on fire for something, I don't need him to be succeeding at it. But if he's pursuing Something passionately and he has purpose. I think that's probably the most I would want. And then ideally, I would hope that they had had a really powerful mom. I think if you have a gangster mom, you probably are gonna be able to let my daughter shine and not be threatened.
[29:01]
Monica Padman
Yeah, I think that's the big thing is having a partner that allows you to be you.
[29:05]
Reese Witherspoon
That's so true.
[29:06]
Monica Padman
And not squash whatever shine you have.
[29:09]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah. Girls, right now, there's a feeling of, I got this. I'm taking the world. I don't have to take crap from anybody. I'm gonna negotiate my own salary. I'm gonna start my own startup.
[29:19]
Monica Padman
It's because of you. You're someone to look at.
[29:21]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm not gonna blame Taylor Swift, but it is.
[29:23]
Dax Shepard
It's a very confusing time for young people because all of the historical identities are being shaken up dramatically. And I don't think people know how to find their footing in that.
[29:35]
Reese Witherspoon
I will also say men don't know where they fit in the diaspora.
[29:38]
Dax Shepard
God, no.
[29:38]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[29:39]
Dax Shepard
I had a makeup artist in New York last year. She was super beautiful. She was probably 35. She lived in Brooklyn. She was from Ohio. And I'm asking her how she likes Brooklyn. She goes, well, I like it, but I don't like it. I'm like, well, what don't you like about it? And I'm sensing something. And I'm like, is it hard to meet guys here? And she goes, yeah, I cannot meet a guy here. And I'm looking at her, and she's beautiful. And I go, are you telling me guys are not coming up to you when you go out to eat or go to a bar? He's like, no dude comes up to me or any of my friends anymore. And I'm like, okay, this system is really fucking broken.
[30:14]
Reese Witherspoon
Something's wrong.
[30:14]
Dax Shepard
Dudes need to be going up to girls and asking for numbers.
[30:17]
Reese Witherspoon
Can I tell you I have a theory about it?
[30:18]
Dax Shepard
Please.
[30:19]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay. It all has to do with rom coms and sitcoms. Do you know how there's been, like, the past 10 years. I would even say past 15 years. This decline in the making of rom coms, or, like, legitimate big movie stars being in rom coms.
[30:36]
Dax Shepard
Stay tuned for more Armchair Expert if you dare. This message is brought to you by Apple Pay.
[30:44]
Monica Padman
Dax, can you believe it's already fall? This year's flown by.
[30:48]
Dax Shepard
I know, right? But fall is my jam. Remember that farmer's market we hit up last weekend?
[30:53]
Monica Padman
Yes. All those vendors with their yummy apple ciders and the big pumpkins. I love big pumpkins.
[30:59]
Dax Shepard
Artisanal apple cider, don't forget. And the smell of fresh, fresh baked goods. Heaven. But here's what blew my mind. So many vendors accepted Apple Pay.
[31:08]
Monica Padman
It was so convenient. I love Apple Pay. Everywhere I saw the contactless symbol, I just double clicked the side button on my phone to bring up my card. And then just a quick little face ID scan, tap, boom. So easy.
[31:20]
Dax Shepard
Apple Pay has been my MVP this season to buy festive fall treats and drinks.
[31:24]
Monica Padman
And you know, I'm on a mission to find the best fall themed latte in town. You know this.
[31:29]
Dax Shepard
I do know that. How's it going? That maple one you were telling me about sounded pretty insane.
[31:33]
Monica Padman
It was so good. And get this, you can also use Apple Pay at lots of cafes. No fumbling for your wallet. Just double click, tap and sip.
[31:42]
Dax Shepard
It works at millions of places. Anywhere you see the contactless symbol in stores or see the Apple Pay button online and in apps.
[31:50]
Monica Padman
Exactly. Making it easier to enjoy all the fall goodness.
[31:53]
Dax Shepard
Speaking of which, I'm totally set for Halloween. Apple Pay made it a breeze to purchase the perfect decorations online. Online, right from my iPhone. I just tap the Apple Pay button at checkout, double click to authenticate and boom. Payment complete. No long checkout forms, no fuss.
[32:08]
Monica Padman
Fall festivities have never been more fun or easy.
[32:11]
Dax Shepard
Pay the Apple way. Terms apply. We are supported by quints. When the weather starts to turn and the holidays are coming up, I just want getting dressed to be easy. Stuff that feels good, looks sharp, and actually lasts. That's why I've been into quints and the bonus bonus. Quint's pieces make great gifts too.
[32:32]
Monica Padman
They really do. They've got the sweaters, but they also have homeware. You can get all of your holiday shopping done just on quints.
[32:39]
Dax Shepard
Home, bath, kitchen, you name it, you can get it. It is a great place for gifts.
[32:44]
Monica Padman
I ordered some sheets, some really, really amazing sheets. They're also so cute. They. They're striped. I love quints. And I feel like it's a hack, honestly. It's like the quality is so good and. And it's so reasonable.
[32:59]
Dax Shepard
This season's lineup is simple but smart and Easy with Quint's $50 Mongolian cashmere sweaters that feel like an everyday luxury, and wool coats that are equal parts stylish and durable. By partnering directly with ethical factories and top artisans, Quint cuts out the middlemen to deliver premium quality at half the cost of other high end brands. So you can give luxury quality pieces without the luxury price tag tag Give and get Timeless holiday staples that last this season with quints. Go to quint.com stacks for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N c e.com Dax Free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Dax we are supported by Addie.
[33:48]
Monica Padman
I know about Addie. The little pink pill, right?
[33:50]
Dax Shepard
Yes, that's right. Addie is the FDA approved pink pill clinically proven to boost desire in certain premenopausal women who are bothered by a low libido.
[34:01]
Monica Padman
I love this. It's really nice that there's an option out there for women who are dealing with low desire and I like that. Addie's non hormonal and created by a woman for women. Addie is helping women feel like themselves again and that's really important.
[34:15]
Dax Shepard
It really is. So armchairies if your libido could use a little jump start, Addie's got you covered. Learn more@addie.com that's a D-Y-I.com use code DAX for a ten dollar telemed appointment at addy.com addi or flibanserin is for premenopausal women with Acquired Generalized Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder HSDD who have not had problems with low sexual desire in the past who have low sexual desire. No matter the type of sexual activity, the situation or the sexual partner. This low sexual desire is troubling to them and is not due to a medical or mental health problem, problems in the relationship or medicine or other drug use. Addie is not for use in children, men or to enhan. Your risk of severe low blood pressure and fainting is increased if you drink one to two standard alcohol drinks close in time to your Addie dose. Wait at least two hours after drinking before taking Addi at bedtime. This risk increases if you take certain prescriptions, OTC or herbal medications or have liver problems and can happen when you take Addi without alcohol or other medicines. Do not take if you are allergic to any of Addi's ingredients. Allergic reactions may include hives, itching or trouble breathing. Sometimes serious sleepiness can occur. Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, tiredness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and dry mouth. See full P I am medication guide including box warning@addi.com PI Addy use code DAX for a ten dollar telemed appointment@addy.com that's a D D Y I.com we are supported By Function Health. You know what's fascinating? Your body is constantly sending signals about your health. But most of us only see a tiny fraction of that data. That's why I chose Function. It's the only health platform that gives you access to over a hundred biomass markers, from hormones to heart health markers, all tracked in one secure place.
[35:57]
Monica Padman
I love this because I agree that normal regs, blood work and stuff, it doesn't get it all. And sometimes you find hidden things in these hormone checks.
[36:07]
Dax Shepard
Yes, I love seeing my health data mapped out over time. Helps me understand exactly what's happening in my body. It's no wonder top health leaders like Dr. Mark Hyman and Andrew Huberman are behind Function Health. This platform truly empowers you to own your own health journey. Learn more and join using the first 1000 people get a hundred dollar credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com DAX or use code DAX100 at sign up to own your health.
[36:42]
Reese Witherspoon
It's not just rom com movies, but I also think the rom com television show, the television show that you watched when you were 11, 12 and 13, that made you imagine and visualize dating skills. I like that girl. I'm gonna, oh, what if she says no? Okay, well my favorite character on the television show did that. Everybody Hates Chris. Chris asked out the hot girl and she said no. But the other girl, she really likes him and he can't tell. So I've been watching these shows with my 13 year old boy. Like Goldberg's is a great show. Everybody Hates Chris, a great show. Young Sheldon is a great show. It's not just young Sheldon. There's two other teenage characters who are dating shows like that where they're learning about relationship and romantic dynamics.
[37:23]
Dax Shepard
Well, and the thing that you pointed out that's the most important in there for a boy to hear is, oh right, terrified. I'm so scared to ask a girl. And then you go like, yeah, you're gonna ask 25. It's a numbers game and someone's gonna say yes. Like someone needs to tell you everyone's equally afraid of it and you just gotta do it.
[37:37]
Reese Witherspoon
And it's a muscle. It's kind of fun and you're in the game. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then every once in a while you get a great friendship or I don't know what it is, but I do think these 10 to 15 years where the Internet started, social media started and then we stopped, we started kind of going, rom coms are cringy. But it was actually where we learned Social dynamics from Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
[37:57]
Dax Shepard
Talking on the phone. What dude can talk on the phone now? I don'. Any kid can talk on the phone.
[38:00]
Reese Witherspoon
Witty banter.
[38:01]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[38:02]
Reese Witherspoon
It is so fun. Make the first move.
[38:04]
Monica Padman
Yeah, I know.
[38:06]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[38:06]
Monica Padman
But that's part of the thing. Women also have to not just sit and say, like, no one's coming up to me. If they see someone they like, we can't be like, I want to run the world. And also, you come up to me. We got to do both.
[38:18]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay. So do you.
[38:19]
Monica Padman
I don't do anything.
[38:20]
Reese Witherspoon
You don't.
[38:21]
Dax Shepard
I'm horrible.
[38:22]
Reese Witherspoon
Are you single?
[38:23]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[38:23]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay. Do you ask guys out?
[38:25]
Monica Padman
Nope.
[38:26]
Reese Witherspoon
So who are you talking. You're preaching, girl.
[38:28]
Monica Padman
No, I know. That's why I can say it, because I'm bad at this.
[38:32]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay, well, I'm gonna give you a job, a task. Yes. Okay. In the next three months, I want you to ask out three different people.
[38:40]
Dax Shepard
Wow. The Reese challenge.
[38:42]
Reese Witherspoon
And I'm gonna give you my phone number. You're gonna text me each time you did it.
[38:45]
Dax Shepard
Oh, wow. You have a life coach. I didn't expect you to get a life coach out of this.
[38:50]
Monica Padman
I'm so sweaty.
[38:51]
Reese Witherspoon
I'll give you a script if you want it. Okay. I know this is a little forward. I've never done this before. I just noticed that you might be single, but I have noticed you a couple times. And would you ever want to just get coffee with me?
[39:01]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. See, Reese, I've been giving her the same advice, but it didn't go down the stairs.
[39:05]
Monica Padman
Now I'm giving it. Yeah. Now I have to take it.
[39:08]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm going to hold you accountable.
[39:09]
Monica Padman
Wow. I will do it. I will do it.
[39:11]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[39:11]
Reese Witherspoon
You promise?
[39:12]
Monica Padman
I promise I will do it.
[39:13]
Reese Witherspoon
You're looking at me in the eye.
[39:14]
Monica Padman
I know. And now I feel really trapped. I really do have to do it. We said it publicly.
[39:18]
Reese Witherspoon
We're going to jump off the cliff, and you're going to be okay.
[39:21]
Dax Shepard
Okay. I'm going to hit you with no. I'm going to let you enjoy this.
[39:25]
Monica Padman
This is very.
[39:25]
Reese Witherspoon
I want to see. I know.
[39:27]
Monica Padman
I'm like. I feel really scared. The other day, I was at a event, and there was a guy there, and he did start talking to me, and I was like, oh, he's cute. And then the event started, and I stepped aside, and I was like, I'm just going to leave. I don't know.
[39:41]
Dax Shepard
I don't. I don't know what's going on. I know.
[39:46]
Monica Padman
I don't. I have so many problems. I have so many problems. Maybe it's the thing you talked about. Maybe it's the permanent sharpie. It's still there.
[39:55]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, I think you have to rewrite it yourself.
[39:58]
Monica Padman
Well, I was gonna ask you that. I was like, did you get to.
[40:00]
Reese Witherspoon
Point over it and rewrite the rules?
[40:02]
Monica Padman
And you did that.
[40:03]
Reese Witherspoon
I had massive amounts of therapy and you were able to really helped. I had a great therapist.
[40:08]
Monica Padman
I do have a great therapist.
[40:09]
Reese Witherspoon
That's good.
[40:10]
Dax Shepard
All right, I'm gonna hit you with a couple more dynamics. So I think the rom com one is really good. Here's one. What I think you have a lot of these societal problems. Men historically will date hierarchical, socioeconomically, status. They will date laterally to themselves and below. They got no problem. You see guys all the time. An attractive woman, she didn't get out of high school, he doesn't give a fuck, doesn't make any money, he's there. And they can do that because historically, men grew up looking at their mother who didn't work, but they loved their mother blind. The ladies grew up looking at their dad who was out working and being a breadwinner. So unfortunately, women, this is statistically, this isn't my opinion. This is the data. Women like to date laterally or above, financially. You mean financially, status wise, everything. Now there's this huge shift happening with boys and girls, which is girls are going to college at 63% to boys 37. So if you have a system where women are only going to date above themselves, but they are above all of the dating pool, we're fucked. Everything's gotta evolve now. I think what's gonna help a little bit is increasingly there'll be lots of girls who grew up with dads who are stay at home dads. They'll inherit the thing that many boys my age inherited, and rightly so. Women got sick of being hit on by shitty fucking dudes who were bothering girls out of their league. That was a good complaint. But guess what? If you don't want that shit to happen, then you gotta start hitting on guys. If we're gonna evolve, everyone's gotta pick up their end of where this seesaw goes. So it's like, yeah, dudes need to lay off women and employees and people out of their league and not harass people. They should still go up to girls and ask for their number. But girls got to pick up that big hole in this system, which is someone's got to ask somebody out or.
[42:03]
Reese Witherspoon
We'Re not going to have grandkids.
[42:05]
Dax Shepard
If Girls and women are going to have all the money, status and positions. Then they got to start being willing to get with dudes who make 30 grand a year. These are all things that have to happen to counteract the things that I do agree with in sign off.
[42:18]
Reese Witherspoon
Right.
[42:18]
Monica Padman
The dudes, if they make 30,000 a year, they have to be okay with the woman making more and having a lot. And that's where there's still a discrepancy.
[42:28]
Dax Shepard
That's their work to do. And again, I do think as these future generations are being exposed to a family dynamic where it's like, dad didn't make what mom did. Mom was the breadwinner, mom was away on business. You know, Then the dude's not gonna have as much problem when he meets a woman that has that similar passion in the same way. That was the gift my mom gave me. My brother's the same way. My brother likes gangster and that's how it is.
[42:50]
Reese Witherspoon
Great. Is he single?
[42:52]
Dax Shepard
He's married for 30 years. Yeah.
[42:54]
Reese Witherspoon
Three adult children. Nevermind.
[42:59]
Dax Shepard
55. He's got a few strikes against him, let's just say. Okay, I'm gonna talk about your career for a second. Fear and Freeway right out of the gates. How do we get those?
[43:10]
Reese Witherspoon
Year at Stanford, I was a senior in high school. I graduated and I went and did Fear. I took a gap year and. And then I think during that year I made Freeway as well. And Freeway changed my whole life in many ways.
[43:22]
Dax Shepard
Right? Fear did, because you were terrified that you couldn't pull that off. It gave you some confidence.
[43:28]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, Freeway, it's a take on Little Red Riding Hood. And I'm Little Red Riding Hood and Kiefer Sutherland is the big Bad Wolf. And it's a sort of fantastical satire. Her mom's a drug addict. It's very 1996, very fringe of society.
[43:41]
Dax Shepard
But at the time we had like Natural Born Killer. We had California. Like that was the vibe.
[43:45]
Reese Witherspoon
Then Rhinestone produced it. Does that say it all perfect?
[43:47]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[43:48]
Reese Witherspoon
So I got chosen to do that part. I played this little redneck girl who has this real country attitude and she shoots Keith or Sutherland a hundred times. And it played at Sundance. And I thought it was the most serious drama of my life playing this character. And people laughed their asses off. People were like, oh my God, this is so funny. And so that's when I was like, oh, I'm funny.
[44:12]
Dax Shepard
You did not know prior to that?
[44:13]
Reese Witherspoon
I didn't know I was funny.
[44:14]
Dax Shepard
Did you identify as being funny in your social group?
[44:17]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, now I am, because I worked on it. I played straight really well, and I had this intensity about figuring out these really odd characters and playing them very straight and not a blink of self awareness in any of them.
[44:32]
Dax Shepard
Fear is fun or not fun. Is it fun?
[44:33]
Reese Witherspoon
It wasn't fun, but it made a lot of money.
[44:35]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, it was very popular.
[44:36]
Monica Padman
But then was that confusing if you're like, the experience sucked, but it didn't.
[44:40]
Reese Witherspoon
No. I never wanted to do a movie where I played terrified ever again. And I haven't since. I just don't do that. Well, that's not me.
[44:47]
Monica Padman
Like, oh, God, what now?
[44:49]
Reese Witherspoon
It's not my internal. I'm not here to play those characters.
[44:53]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[44:53]
Dax Shepard
Okay. So the thing I hate most in life is if anyone were to pity me. How do you feel about being pitied?
[44:59]
Monica Padman
Pitied for what?
[45:01]
Dax Shepard
Well, to me, like, playing that character, I wouldn't like either, because I don't want to be weak. I don't want to be scared. I don't want to be fragile.
[45:09]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm not any of those things. And I have a plan. I have a backup plan, and I have three more plans after that. That's the kind of charact.
[45:16]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Okay. When you do election, do you have a sense? Because that's kind of early in the Alexander Payne world.
[45:24]
Reese Witherspoon
I felt myself turning into the character for a second.
[45:27]
Dax Shepard
You went there right away.
[45:28]
Reese Witherspoon
My mouth started doing a weird thing. Yeah. When you bring up the character, I can't. Alexander said his favorite thing is that I go, you're a rabbit for the listener.
[45:38]
Monica Padman
A twitch.
[45:39]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, there was a mouth and nose twitch.
[45:41]
Reese Witherspoon
I had TMJ for 2 solid months afterwards because of how hard I clenched my teeth in that charact. And all she would do was wiggle her nose when she was mad. I'm so angry, but I'm not gonna show anybody.
[45:57]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, but my nose betrays me sometimes. When you read this script, were you able to understand that it was gonna be that?
[46:05]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes. And my boyfriend at the time told me, he was like, you have to watch CIS and Ruth because this guy's a genius. And that was Laura Dern. And if you haven't seen CIS and Ruth, just do yourself a favor. It is such a satire of living in America. And Ruth is a drug addict who gets pregnant, and then two sides of the whole abortion fight just fight over her and her unborn child. And I know that sounds very serious. It's deeply funny. I'm so excited.
[46:30]
Dax Shepard
It would remind you of. Do you remember More Perfect. Did you ever listen to More Perfect. It was a spinoff of Radiolab. Every episode's about a very historic Supreme Court decision that has been made. They give you the kind of history of the Supreme Court. It's fascinating.
[46:43]
Reese Witherspoon
Really good.
[46:43]
Dax Shepard
It's phenomenal. And it talks about so often. The plain of that they're going to use to challenge some law in court. They're not a great plain of. Right. They want to challenge this sodomy law in Texas. But the two guys that they're using, like, they're the worst. You know, they can't get these guys to show up.
[47:00]
Monica Padman
Just the opportunity to bring it to court. But it's like a crazy case.
[47:04]
Dax Shepard
Like, they're not showing up. They're hammering all the time. And he's like, I wasn't him. He's like, yes, you were. And you got to stop. Stick with this.
[47:10]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, that's so funny.
[47:10]
Dax Shepard
So, yes, the citizen Ruth is very much that. She becomes the mascot for people, and she's not a good mascot for either.
[47:16]
Reese Witherspoon
She is not. I can't wait. And then she, like, disappears, and you're like, oh. And you find her huffing paint, and Laura Dirt is so perfect. But anyway, I saw that movie, and I was like, oh, okay, now I understand tone. And I went in as the character to the audition, read the script, went in, Alexander was there, and he said, hello, And I said, hello, and he said, okay, would you like to read? I said, no, I'm not gonna read today. I'm the perfect person for this part, and you're either gonna cast me or not, but that's up to you.
[47:47]
Dax Shepard
Oh, wow.
[47:48]
Reese Witherspoon
Wow.
[47:49]
Dax Shepard
You really took a big swing.
[47:50]
Reese Witherspoon
I was like, what? I was like, it only makes sense. I'm the perfect person. I've always been born to play this part. And you're either gonna cast me or not, but either win or you lose, and it's up to you. And I was like, thank you.
[48:03]
Dax Shepard
I know you didn't even read the sides. Oh, my goodness. Wow. Had you run this game plan by anybody?
[48:10]
Reese Witherspoon
No, I did the whole thing in character with him.
[48:12]
Dax Shepard
Oh, my gosh.
[48:13]
Reese Witherspoon
And he was like, wow. I thought you were really amazing at Sundance. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I worked very hard on that part.
[48:22]
Dax Shepard
Wow.
[48:22]
Reese Witherspoon
I've never, ever done that ever in my whole life.
[48:25]
Dax Shepard
It worked despite the tmj. Was it fun to play?
[48:28]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, my God. So fun.
[48:29]
Dax Shepard
Because you're on Hint. You're on Hint. When you go crazy and you're tearing up the signs, it was so fun.
[48:35]
Reese Witherspoon
And Alexander would come up with the most fun stuff. He'd be like, rip the posters like, you're an animal. He'd show me, like, Kurosawa movies, like this samurai warrior slicing through the enemy. And then I go into the bathroom afterwards, after I've torn down the posters, and I look at my hands, and he's like, I want you to look at him like Lady Macbeth. Like, out, out, damn spot. And, like, scrub your hands as hard as you possibly can. I was like, this is my favorite direction.
[48:59]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. You're waiting for Tracy to just explode on screen. She might blow up from all the tension she's holding.
[49:04]
Reese Witherspoon
And he's like, when you're watching Matthew Broderick count the votes, stalk him like a panther and go up to the door and look at it like you're a mom panther watching prey in the wild.
[49:15]
Monica Padman
It was the greatest direction that's ever. Incredible.
[49:17]
Dax Shepard
I also like the kind of twist on what you're expecting, which is you're calling the teacher you've had an affair with. He's a fucking pussy. Peter kept his fucking mouth shut. It's like the opposite of what the trope is.
[49:29]
Monica Padman
Yeah. It's so iconic.
[49:32]
Dax Shepard
Is she serious?
[49:34]
Reese Witherspoon
I know when it came out, people were like, oh, my God, she's a monster. And now, then A.O. scott did this whole review of it five years ago. Maybe she wasn't. She was a child who was groomed by her science teacher. I know.
[49:47]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
[49:47]
Monica Padman
It's really shifted. It's so interesting.
[49:49]
Reese Witherspoon
And Maddie Broderick's character is complicit.
[49:52]
Dax Shepard
Sure, sure, sure.
[49:53]
Reese Witherspoon
Doesn't report it. And goes, hey, don't fuck with my friend. I'm also going to destroy your life. It's so petty and human.
[49:59]
Dax Shepard
Yes, yes.
[50:00]
Reese Witherspoon
We had so many.
[50:01]
Dax Shepard
Okay, now, I didn't know this. You hosted SNL the very first episode, back after 9. 11.
[50:08]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes.
[50:08]
Dax Shepard
How do you not try to get out of that? What was that whole experience?
[50:12]
Reese Witherspoon
I would give that 0 stars. Do not recommend the opposite of citizenhood.
[50:17]
Dax Shepard
0 stars.
[50:19]
Reese Witherspoon
I was coming off Legally Blonde. I wasn't supposed to be the season opener. I was supposed to be the second episode. And the first episode, they canceled it because of obvious reasons. Obvious. And then Lorne Michaels called me and he said, I really need you to show up. I really, really need this. Rudy Giuliani is going to be here. All the firefighters are going to be here. Paul Simon is going to say, I just need you to come out and do something a little light and help America. That we got to laugh Again, we've got to get back the national spirit.
[50:46]
Dax Shepard
How old were you at the time?
[50:47]
Reese Witherspoon
23 or 24? 24. I also had a baby. I had a one year old. I was a new mom. I had this biggest movie come out that summer. But if you know me, if I tell you I'm going to do something, I mean, there has to be a real disaster for me. Not because that's part of my southern and military ethics.
[51:06]
Dax Shepard
I would save 911 if ever there was.
[51:08]
Monica Padman
You mean a personal disaster.
[51:10]
Dax Shepard
You need even bigger disaster to fail.
[51:12]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, Lauren said if you don't want to do it, it's okay.
[51:15]
Monica Padman
Yeah, but you felt a responsibility.
[51:17]
Dax Shepard
But if he said, if you want to quit.
[51:18]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah. And I'm like, quit, quit me.
[51:22]
Dax Shepard
If you want to be a quitter, no one will care.
[51:24]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, that's how he does it. But we did it and it was good. And it was Amy Poehler's first show set.
[51:29]
Dax Shepard
Oh, really? Wow. Well, I think we know that. I think we've talked to Seth Meyers, Amy, about that. That their first shows were the first shows.
[51:37]
Monica Padman
9 11. Oh, wow.
[51:38]
Reese Witherspoon
Can you imagine?
[51:39]
Dax Shepard
No, no. Crazy talk about trial by fire. Was it out of body or were you present?
[51:43]
Reese Witherspoon
No, completely left my body.
[51:45]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, yeah.
[51:46]
Reese Witherspoon
And did not go again for 15 years. And it's not the show's fault. It was just too much responsibility for a 24 year old girl. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[51:53]
Dax Shepard
Okay, next thing is walk the line.
[51:56]
Monica Padman
What about cool intentions you have?
[51:57]
Dax Shepard
So, I mean, I'm blowing by legally bald. Mostly walk the line interests me a. Because of course I'm obsessed with June and Johnny. I was like everyone else. When you started singing in the movie, I was like, oh, damn, she's gonna sing. She's gonna. June Carter it. How terrified were you for that? Had you done any singing growing up in Nashville?
[52:18]
Reese Witherspoon
I did some singing training. I wanted to be a country music singer first.
[52:22]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[52:22]
Reese Witherspoon
And my mother let me take all these country music lessons and it was really fun. So I had done some vocal training. I went to this performing art camp for 13 year old kids in New York in the cast. So you would at the very end audition for a musical. You would do singing, dancing and acting. And then they gave you a report card basically. And three experts would evaluate you and they were like, your dancing can go on the shelf. Okay, we got better. We got better. And then you're singing. It's okay. Not great. Your acting's off the charts.
[52:55]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[52:56]
Reese Witherspoon
So you need to focus on that. And it was actually really helpful because.
[52:59]
Dax Shepard
You could have been pursuing the wrong.
[53:01]
Reese Witherspoon
So when James Mangold said, do you want to play June Carter? And I was like, sure, yeah. I mean, not the part where she's part of the Carter family. And he was like, no, no, no, I want you to sing. I want the thing for them not to be on stage and everything. I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, let me see if I can do it. And so I trained for five months. I did it every day. Then we recorded the album, and Joaquin in that band worked so hard.
[53:23]
Dax Shepard
You were singing with Joaquin during these five months?
[53:25]
Reese Witherspoon
We were all in this one house, Tebow and Burnett's house, working every day.
[53:29]
Dax Shepard
How fun was that?
[53:30]
Reese Witherspoon
So fun and nerve wracking and scary, but also fun. Yeah. Wow.
[53:34]
Dax Shepard
Okay. I know Joaquin a little bit. Sweetest, biggest human heart hanging out of his chest, kind of. Do you have that feeling about him as well?
[53:41]
Reese Witherspoon
He was different then. He was, but he's still a sweetheart. He was just in character. He was the whole time. Yeah.
[53:48]
Dax Shepard
And how do you deal with that?
[53:50]
Reese Witherspoon
You called him J.R. you asked J.R. how the concert was last night, and you asked J.R. what he was doing last night.
[53:57]
Dax Shepard
And really quick, would he tell you a fake thing that happened last night or would he say what? Actually, I don't know. J.R. went down to Arby's.
[54:05]
Reese Witherspoon
He would talk like that. Yes.
[54:06]
Dax Shepard
What confuses me about it is, okay, so you're Daniel Day Lewis, and you're playing Abe Lincoln, but you also have a wife back home, and you call her on the phone and you're like, so hold up. Does he call his wife and he's Abe Lincoln, but we're pretending Abe Lincoln lived in an era where there's cell phones. I get really confused.
[54:20]
Reese Witherspoon
You know how when people do magical reality movies, you have to understand the rules of magic?
[54:24]
Dax Shepard
That's what I'm asking for.
[54:25]
Reese Witherspoon
What are the rules of method acting? No clue.
[54:28]
Dax Shepard
That's what I want to know. So when you're asking J.R. like, hey, J.R. what'd you do last night? And he's saying, I shot up my Cadillac, are we in imagination world or did he shoot up his Cadillac last night?
[54:39]
Monica Padman
Imagination. Don't know imagination.
[54:41]
Reese Witherspoon
But I know some things were true and then other things I don't know if were true or not true.
[54:46]
Dax Shepard
And then when he would ask you, did you feel compelled to act like you or June Carter? Like, oh, I went to the.
[54:50]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm sure. Yeah.
[54:51]
Dax Shepard
I went to the premiere of I'm trying to think what movie would have been. No.
[54:56]
Reese Witherspoon
And also, Junior was in Junior's world. I'm making this sound so crazy. And we talked every day, and I would act like June towards him. So you know how June's sort of exhausted by him all the time. I'd be like, what'd you do last night, Junior? I heard you were out with everybody in Memphis. Oh, wow.
[55:13]
Monica Padman
Okay.
[55:13]
Reese Witherspoon
So you.
[55:13]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[55:14]
Reese Witherspoon
You are playing. You better be careful. Their daddies have shotguns. That's what I say. Stuff like that.
[55:19]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, okay.
[55:20]
Monica Padman
It probably helped. Method seems crazy, but I get why people do it.
[55:24]
Dax Shepard
It work phenomenal.
[55:26]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, my God, he's so good.
[55:27]
Dax Shepard
He's so good. It's impossible. You want to just cry the whole time. But you too, though.
[55:31]
Monica Padman
I know when you get on stage.
[55:32]
Dax Shepard
And you let it rip. I wanted to scream. It was like a action scene.
[55:36]
Reese Witherspoon
I have another theory.
[55:37]
Monica Padman
Ooh, we love your theories.
[55:39]
Reese Witherspoon
I think women make movie stars.
[55:43]
Monica Padman
Women make male movie stars.
[55:44]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah. If you respect the woman that is looking at this man like, you hung the stars. You are the guy. You're him. The quality of the level of woman that is opposite of you is what makes a man a movie star.
[55:58]
Dax Shepard
Ah.
[55:59]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm saying that in context of Walkline because I remember, I saw it when it was done. He was Joaquin then. And I called Joaquin. I go, dude, I make you look. And I was being funny. I was kind of mean it. You and I are really good together. And he was like, well, I'm not seeing and I won't watch it. I'm a serious regular God.
[56:22]
Dax Shepard
I'm not Johnny anymore.
[56:23]
Reese Witherspoon
I saw two years ago. We were stewed the shit. He goes, I finally saw the movie.
[56:27]
Dax Shepard
And I go, finally saw. You did?
[56:29]
Reese Witherspoon
And he goes, yeah, r made me watch it. I was like, what'd you think? He goes, you made me look really good.
[56:35]
Monica Padman
I love that. I love that theory.
[56:38]
Dax Shepard
Well, listen, you're so right. And it's even in real life. Why does America like me? 85% of it is, oh, this woman we love and trust a lot loves him. All the scary stuff, the addiction and the motorcycle. Well, this very trusted source seems to think he's just fine and safe. I feel that way too.
[56:56]
Reese Witherspoon
Thank you for acknowledging that.
[56:57]
Dax Shepard
Oh, it's 1,000% what's been going on. And then, by the way, I validate her in a weird way, because for the people that are like, oh, she's a goody goody, and she's perfect. They're like, well, no, this scumbag's with her. She must have some naughty.
[57:07]
Reese Witherspoon
You know, you're trying to be funny. But you're not.
[57:09]
Dax Shepard
No, no, no. This is really a dynamic that's happening, which we're both totally fine with.
[57:13]
Reese Witherspoon
It's fantastic.
[57:14]
Monica Padman
It also happens in day to day. I think in anyone's circles. If a woman who. Yeah. You respect or like, has high standards is dating someone.
[57:24]
Reese Witherspoon
Exactly.
[57:25]
Monica Padman
Then you're like, oh, there's probably something to this guy.
[57:28]
Dax Shepard
It's the anointer from the status thing that we just. A woman can anoint a man and a man can anoint a woman.
[57:35]
Reese Witherspoon
So you guys had some expert on about status and anointing. Okay, so that's what I'm talking about. Titanic without Kate Winslet.
[57:41]
Monica Padman
Yeah. No.
[57:42]
Reese Witherspoon
Who doesn't like, respect and admire Kate Winslet comes in, in that voice and she's like, my last words are about my love. I think it cemented him as one of the biggest movie stars of all time. Yeah. And he's very, very talented. But I'm just saying there's a role for the way women make men seem on film.
[58:03]
Dax Shepard
A thousand percent.
[58:04]
Monica Padman
I love this theory. I think it's great.
[58:05]
Dax Shepard
I think that's bulletproof.
[58:07]
Reese Witherspoon
Would you say some of these guys are maybe a little different off screen?
[58:09]
Dax Shepard
By the way?
[58:10]
Reese Witherspoon
Is that fair?
[58:10]
Dax Shepard
This is my complaint. All the time when we're watching something, Chris and I, I go, hold on. Why is she with this guy? Or why is he with this woman?
[58:19]
Reese Witherspoon
Thank you.
[58:20]
Dax Shepard
I've just lowered my assessment of him or her based on this fucking loop. Are there with.
[58:25]
Reese Witherspoon
And I think every movie star guy should really think hard about what makes you look young or virile or hot versus what makes you look substantive. I think it goes for guys in the real world, too.
[58:36]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[58:37]
Reese Witherspoon
Does women make you look respectable or substantive or deep? Or does it make you look like your insecurities hanging out? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
[58:45]
Dax Shepard
Maybe. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[58:46]
Reese Witherspoon
It takes all kinds. I got thousand percent sitting here casting judgment on men who date younger women. This is not a moratorium on what I think about dating.
[58:54]
Monica Padman
No, totally.
[58:55]
Reese Witherspoon
I don't want to feel judgy. It's not that. But I will say, like, I will leave a dinner party and go, that guy has a really cool wife. He must be pretty cool.
[59:04]
Dax Shepard
A thousand percent.
[59:05]
Reese Witherspoon
His wife is awesome.
[59:06]
Dax Shepard
Similarly, if you're a super high status, beautiful woman and your partner is an intellectual, I'm like, that's awesome. You had your pick of the litter and that was your pick. I'm doubling on you.
[59:17]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I agree.
[59:18]
Dax Shepard
It goes all the directions.
[59:19]
Monica Padman
Yeah. I Think it's really smart.
[59:21]
Reese Witherspoon
Can I ask you a question?
[59:22]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[59:23]
Reese Witherspoon
The last three podcasts I've done, people ask me a lot about dating and marriage and relationships. And I'm just so curious because every format that I listen to other people be interviewed, they don't ask them the same amount of stuff. Or is it just because I talk.
[59:35]
Monica Padman
About it a lot?
[59:36]
Dax Shepard
Well, let's be clear. And we gonna rewind the tape. I actually haven't asked you about dating. It has come up very naturally. Yes. Because you brought up how a woman can validate a movie star, which then led quite naturally into in real life. Because I said, yeah, that has happened to me in real life with Kristen.
[59:54]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, I see.
[59:55]
Dax Shepard
And then we're talking about, who do you date and what does that say about you? And then we're just here.
[60:00]
Reese Witherspoon
But then we talked about my early relationships and why is it because I went to girls.
[60:04]
Monica Padman
But that was a confidence question.
[60:06]
Reese Witherspoon
This is not calling y' all out.
[60:07]
Monica Padman
Or anything like that.
[60:08]
Reese Witherspoon
I literally am curious.
[60:09]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[60:10]
Reese Witherspoon
Because I did this interview with this podcast, and then the next week, they had on a very famous older actor. They did not ask him one thing about being a dad. They didn't ask him one thing about dating. 75% of my questions were about being a mom.
[60:22]
Monica Padman
And I was like, interesting.
[60:23]
Reese Witherspoon
Is that the most interesting thing about my. I mean, it is.
[60:25]
Monica Padman
It's a part of your life. It's not everything, though.
[60:28]
Dax Shepard
I don't know.
[60:29]
Reese Witherspoon
But are we more inclined to ask a thousand percent? And I don't have any problem talking about it. Do people ask you about being a dad?
[60:35]
Dax Shepard
No, they didn't ever. They're not interested.
[60:38]
Reese Witherspoon
See, I would like for you guys to ask more guys we talk about.
[60:43]
Dax Shepard
If I get any heat, it's because I do talk to dudes about having kids all the time.
[60:47]
Reese Witherspoon
Good.
[60:48]
Monica Padman
And we talk to men about relationships. I think what is happening is the more open somebody is, the more we are wanting to talk about those more intimate conversations, like romance and dating and dads, all of these things.
[61:04]
Reese Witherspoon
And I guess historically, I've been through a lot, and people know it.
[61:07]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[61:08]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm turning 50 this next year. And people grew up with me. And it's a beautiful thing that they were like, okay, when she was 14, I was 14. There's this historical context, and we're like, oh, I had a girlfriend and we broke up and she got divorced. So I fit in their timeline.
[61:21]
Dax Shepard
Yes. And can I tell you 100% what my intentions are? My curiosity about the Lack of confidence in dating. I don't need to know who you dated. I don't want to know anything juicy. I want to know how you didn't have confidence in there. That's an interest of mine.
[61:35]
Reese Witherspoon
How I didn't have confidence?
[61:36]
Dax Shepard
Yes. Like that interests me. If anything I'm interested in about your public stuff is like, you play June Carter, and this is a woman who is like, I don't give a fuck if you. If you think I'm nasty because I've had different husbands. You got to play this woman who owned it in a time which was much harder, I imagine, to own.
[61:55]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[61:55]
Reese Witherspoon
And there was a religious overlay too, of course.
[61:58]
Dax Shepard
And she's in Nashville. Like, there's a lot going on there. And so that's of great interest to me.
[62:03]
Reese Witherspoon
The religious judgment piece too, is really interesting as I find a lot of women from the Southeast kind of challenging their ideas of happiness and what is acceptable, what is not. As social mores are changing, their faith is still intact, but they want their faith to include a more tolerant, acceptant version of Christianity.
[62:26]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, this is great. And I wanted to do this more towards the end, but here we are. So. I have loved so much the summer we spent in Nashville for so many different reasons. I've talked about it ad nauseam on here, but one thing is, I've been here for 30 years. It has its values. Detroit had its values and its virtues. No one's got a monopoly on good things. Everything is trade offs. I met 60 people probably this summer, talked to them. I never once had one person tell me what they did for a living.
[62:53]
Monica Padman
I love that.
[62:54]
Dax Shepard
I fucking loved it. And then we get to a fun moment where it clashes for me. I'm out to eat with our two best friends there, and I fucking love them. You know them now.
[63:03]
Reese Witherspoon
I do.
[63:04]
Dax Shepard
She said it very kindly, but she's basically like. They're kind of shook with how our daughters will talk back to us or to anybody because it's very un Southern. Right. The whole there. Everyone's like, hi, Ms. Kristen. Hi, Mr. Dax.
[63:14]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes.
[63:15]
Dax Shepard
And there's value to that. There's something I appreciate about that. And she's like, yeah, your kids let it rip. They seem to have no kind of respect, is what she was saying, and feeling a little entitled. And I said, you're dead right. They do talk back and they are not respectful. I can understand where that seems completely unruly. But I want you to know what I'm prioritizing, which is when they're 19 and their boss is a fan. I want them to talk back. I want them to be disrespectful. I want them to always advocate for themselves whether I think they're right or wrong. And yeah, I'm willing to deal with this thing that is embarrassing at a restaurant for y', all, but I can deal with that. I can handle that. Because I want this other thing for them as women.
[63:57]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, I understand.
[63:58]
Dax Shepard
And she was like, yeah, it's pretty good point. Then we start exploring. Yeah, there is a price to pay. So all these things are trade offs and you're just trying to figure out like, where do I want to land in here and what piece do I want to steal from what think?
[64:10]
Reese Witherspoon
I think it's great that you're able to try something on, you know, try and assimilate to a different group of people. I don't have this overlay judgment of political assignment to good or bad.
[64:22]
Dax Shepard
Yes, thanks. But my question was you have moved back to Nashville.
[64:27]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[64:27]
Dax Shepard
So what things since you've landed, are you like, oh, yeah, I miss this so much. And which part of you are like, well, I've been somewhere else for a while. I'm like having to adjust to this.
[64:36]
Reese Witherspoon
A lot of different stuff. I enjoy it because I grew up there, so I know the back roads. I literally know the fastest way to get to anywhere.
[64:42]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Yeah.
[64:42]
Reese Witherspoon
I know where the good frozen yogurt shops are. I know where they make the best chocolate pie. So it's all those creature comforts of being in your hometown. I feel like the artistic sensibility there is open source. So if I know a great bass player, I'm going to tell you who they are. I'm going to have a singer, song and writer. And I can you come and add on. It's not gatekeeping and closed doors.
[65:03]
Dax Shepard
Super collaborative.
[65:05]
Reese Witherspoon
So I find as an artist, even though I'm not a musician and I don't participate in that part, I find for my artist friends that move there in the music world, they're like, oh my God, everybody's so welcoming.
[65:17]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[65:17]
Reese Witherspoon
And they'll be honest, like, I don't have time, but I can find somebody for you. And most people are just good people. Most people just put their pants on, go to work, pick up their kids, try and pay their bills. Everyone's suffering. But I just do feel like the temperature comes down there. Cause the cost of living is so much lower. Even though the people there will be like, it's insane.
[65:37]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. And it's. That's our fault too.
[65:39]
Reese Witherspoon
It's growing. Yeah.
[65:39]
Dax Shepard
It's Californian's fault.
[65:41]
Reese Witherspoon
It's actually you and Kristin. This is your fault.
[65:43]
Dax Shepard
It's my tipping point. Singularly Us.
[65:45]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, you were the tipping point. You keep promoting it.
[65:47]
Dax Shepard
Sorry. I talk about things I love.
[65:49]
Reese Witherspoon
The parts that are hard. I don't know.
[65:51]
Dax Shepard
None.
[65:52]
Reese Witherspoon
Not really for me. My whole family's there. It just makes my life easier.
[65:57]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. And how nice is it to have for your youngest son that network so present really great.
[66:03]
Reese Witherspoon
Two sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins, and I think it's been really good for. For our family.
[66:10]
Dax Shepard
Okay. I want to talk about Gone before. Goodbye.
[66:13]
Monica Padman
Yay.
[66:14]
Dax Shepard
You wrote a book.
[66:15]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes, I wrote a book.
[66:16]
Dax Shepard
And you wrote it with Harlan Coben, who I was ignorant on. Do you know Harlan Coben?
[66:20]
Monica Padman
No.
[66:21]
Dax Shepard
International best selling book, but has nine shows on Netflix.
[66:24]
Monica Padman
Oh, my God.
[66:27]
Reese Witherspoon
Nine shows, including the number one last year called Fool Me Once.
[66:30]
Monica Padman
Oh, wow.
[66:31]
Reese Witherspoon
He's this amazing, prolific writer, but also the world's nicest human. He's a master at what he does. Twists and turns. And I met him at a conference nine years, and I just kind of been watching his work, and all of a sudden I'm like, hey, I loved your Netflix show. Just stayed in touch. And his wife, she worked at Columbia in med school. She was the head of admissions, and she's a pediatrician. And we just became friends. And I had this idea about a female surgeon falling into this world of private wealth and private surgeries. And I called Harlan and I was like, I have kind of a crazy idea. And I pitched it to him and he was like, this is really good.
[67:07]
Dax Shepard
Oh, good, good, good, good.
[67:09]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah. So we wrote it.
[67:11]
Dax Shepard
What's that process like? How do you write together?
[67:14]
Reese Witherspoon
I had about the first hundred pages in my mind already worked out, and I defined the character and everything, and then he helped me. I didn't know what was gonna happen in the middle, and I didn't know how it was gonna end. And we just sat down and started brainstorming. So probably every other week, five hours.
[67:28]
Dax Shepard
You would get together in person.
[67:30]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah. And then he'd write a chapter, send it to me. I'd say, she doesn't talk like this. She would talk like that. He kept saying she was hot. Like, every person would say, she's so hot. You're hot. You're hot. I was like, why is everybody calling her hot? Why does that matter? Uh, so we got it down to one, like, one person saying she was hot.
[67:49]
Dax Shepard
Stay tuned for more Armchair Expert if you dare. This episode is brought to you by Kachava. Kachava is one of my favorite product words to say.
[68:02]
Monica Padman
Oh it is fun.
[68:02]
Dax Shepard
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[68:18]
Monica Padman
I love a strawberry flavor.
[68:19]
Dax Shepard
Me too. The Cachava strawberry is so fantastic. Strawberries, just inherently refreshing taste.
[68:25]
Monica Padman
It really is.
[68:26]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. With six indulgent flavors including chocolate, vanilla, chai, matcha, coconut, acai and strawberry. Each serving delivers 25 grams of plant based protein and 6 grams of fiber. I need that fiber. Everyone should have their fiber. It's a comprehensive meal replacement supporting strength, energy, energy, digestion, metabolism, cognition and immunity with no artificial ingredients, no GMOs and gluten free Ding ding ding. You've never tasted strawberry like this. Go to cachava.com and use code DAX for 15 off your next order. That's Kachava K-A C-H-A-V-A.com code DAX for 15% off this message is brought to you by Apple Card. You left your wallet in the car or was it at home? No need to panic. With your iPhone you can tap to pay using Apple Card with Apple Pay and earn unlimited daily cash back when you do. Apple Card is ready when you need it. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and more@applecard.com this episode is brought to you by Audible. Love can take many forms. Sometimes it's a chance encounter at a gas station that turns into a ten year your relationship. Other times it's texting someone you up and accidentally falling in love. Audible's collection of romance audiobooks has it all. Think relatable situationships, historical scandals, forbidden magic, and yes, plenty of stories that are headphones only. Wink wink. Hear modern rom coms from authors like Leanne Slade and Emily Henry. The latest romantasy series from Sarah J. Maas and Laura Warren Roberts. Regency favorites like Pride and Prejudice, plus all the steamy stuff. Whether it's a duke, a billionaire or a winged lord from the Night Court. Your first great love story is free when you sign up for a 30 day trial@Audible.com Dax okay, so the book is following Maggie McCabe and yeah, she was a military surgeon. Nod to Daniel like my dad, but she has lost her medical license. Yes, she's in a bad situation.
[70:41]
Reese Witherspoon
She's in a bad way. She started taking some pills and Got a little sideways during a surgery.
[70:47]
Dax Shepard
So she's kind of fucked because she can't do the things she's great at.
[70:50]
Reese Witherspoon
She's being sued for malpractice. She's lost her medical license. She's down on her luck. And she gets approached at an event.
[70:57]
Dax Shepard
From an old colleague, someone who knew.
[70:59]
Reese Witherspoon
Her mother, and says, I have an offer. He's a plastic surgeon. She said, if you come to. To New York, there's gonna be somebody in another room, and I'm gonna look the other way if you wanna take this offer. And so she gets hired to go to Russia to work on an oligarch and his girlfriend. Oh. Secretly. And she gets stuck in a crazy, almost Jason Bourne type world.
[71:21]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[71:22]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes.
[71:22]
Dax Shepard
But also, it's also believable, right, because there are people with kind of unimaginable wealth around the world. Indiscretion is the number one value proposition.
[71:33]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, I interviewed a lot of surgeons, really, and that was where a lot of the ideas came from, because they work for NGOs, they go to Africa to work on people. They go to India.
[71:43]
Dax Shepard
Well, it starts in Africa.
[71:44]
Reese Witherspoon
Right. The world of private surgery is actually really happening. It's very real. Businessmen in China will pay. That actually started. I was reading a Reese's Book Club book, and in it was a Chinese businessman paying his way to the top of the donor list at uc. And I was like, does this happen? And I asked the author. She's like, that happens. Do people get transplants of organs in other countries and you don't know where the organ came from? 100.
[72:11]
Dax Shepard
Of course.
[72:12]
Reese Witherspoon
So that's part of it. And then part of what was really fun, too, is I got to research longevity clinics in Dubai.
[72:18]
Dax Shepard
Oh, in Dubai.
[72:19]
Reese Witherspoon
So I talked to some people who go there once a year, and there's the blood oxygen stuff. So I imagined a world where one of those longevity clinics kind of grafted with Doctors Without Borders, and some unethical stuff started happening with refugees that were treating. You start to see it, and it gets very complex.
[72:39]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[72:39]
Reese Witherspoon
And my character starts to uncover some really sinister stuff.
[72:42]
Dax Shepard
And you're also embroiled in this crazy.
[72:45]
Reese Witherspoon
Opulent world, extreme wealth, where the rules are off.
[72:48]
Monica Padman
This sounds so intense, and so it was so fun, but, like, you had to, I'm sure, do so much research to understand this world.
[72:57]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[72:58]
Dax Shepard
I've talked to a couple tattoo artists. They, too, find themselves in these crazy situations. These famous ones, like, oh, I tattooed this chic in a 747, just the two of us flying to Wherever. Crazy kind of situations like that. Did you talk to anyone who had a insane. Like I did a facelift. On a helicopter.
[73:15]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes. On a military plane. On someone who did not want his enemies to know he was under anesthesia.
[73:21]
Dax Shepard
Oh, wow.
[73:22]
Reese Witherspoon
Crazy stuff. Yeah. There's an interesting biker thing too. Her father in law is a biker and he comes in and his network of people across Europe comes. That's a really important part of the third act.
[73:34]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[73:35]
Reese Witherspoon
So it reads kind of like a movie.
[73:36]
Monica Padman
Fun.
[73:36]
Dax Shepard
Oh, big time.
[73:37]
Reese Witherspoon
It's really fun.
[73:38]
Dax Shepard
And what's most fun about it? I listened to it.
[73:40]
Monica Padman
Oh, cool.
[73:41]
Dax Shepard
And you and Chris Pine. Who? I didn't even know you guys were friends. It makes sense. You did that movie together. I thought I didn't like him. Oh, I thought I didn't like him. He's a little shy or. I also worked with him and I was really friendly to him and he didn't. Then I saw him in a bathroom. I was just like, yeah, that doesn't like me. I don't know if I like him.
[73:55]
Reese Witherspoon
Were you being sensitive? Were you being sensi pants?
[73:58]
Dax Shepard
I'm very sensitive. Yeah. I'll be the first to make up a story.
[74:01]
Reese Witherspoon
Do you want people to come to you or would you prefer you go to them?
[74:04]
Dax Shepard
I'm happy with either. I was very engaging with him and he was by my assessment. I was like, he wasn't interested. That's fine.
[74:11]
Monica Padman
Fax needs a lot of approval. So if he's not getting it back, something's, you know, then I go straight.
[74:17]
Dax Shepard
Into like, I'll start writing a story about what? Like, okay, so he hates me. Why does he hate me? Trying to figure out like, oh my God, were we ever? Did I ever.
[74:25]
Reese Witherspoon
There's so many assumptions.
[74:26]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[74:27]
Reese Witherspoon
Where is the Four Agreements? Is it on the show?
[74:29]
Monica Padman
Oh, my friend is just telling me about it.
[74:32]
Reese Witherspoon
Please.
[74:32]
Dax Shepard
All to say, we interviewed him and I completely fell in love with him and then we went to the motorcycle track together and I adore him like crazy.
[74:41]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, good.
[74:41]
Dax Shepard
A lot of my favorite people are people, I thought.
[74:43]
Reese Witherspoon
I love that. Look at you being open minded to challenge your own assumptions.
[74:47]
Dax Shepard
It's the least I can do because I make so much many. But you guys read the book.
[74:52]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes. He plays my husband. He's so good.
[74:54]
Dax Shepard
Ooh, he's so good. I mean, I don't want to bag on other. I listen to a ton of books on tape throughout the year. We don't really ever get a list actors doing it. It's a significant bump in the experience.
[75:05]
Monica Padman
Oh, yeah, of course.
[75:06]
Reese Witherspoon
Thank you for saying that.
[75:07]
Dax Shepard
Yes. It's like listening to like a great radio show from the 30s. Well, we have performers now doing this.
[75:13]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes.
[75:13]
Dax Shepard
I'm sure you want people to buy the book and read it old fashioned. But I'm going to really recommend do this book on audio. It's so fun.
[75:19]
Reese Witherspoon
I am so happy if anybody consumes it in any possible way. Graphic novel.
[75:25]
Monica Padman
Are you so proud of yourself? Writing a book is a huge deal.
[75:28]
Reese Witherspoon
Thank you. I am really proud of myself because I was scared out of my mind.
[75:31]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[75:31]
Reese Witherspoon
It's scary. And I did it anyway. And I was like, I'm friends with so many authors and this is gonna be so awkward. They're all being so lovely. And even if they hate it, I say, tell me you love it. Cause I can't handle it.
[75:41]
Monica Padman
Yeah, that's great. Just tell me you love it. But we had Jennifer Aniston on and we asked, asked her.
[75:47]
Reese Witherspoon
Is that this year?
[75:48]
Monica Padman
Like two weeks?
[75:49]
Dax Shepard
Two weeks ago.
[75:50]
Monica Padman
And then we asked her how you two were different. And then we said, we're gonna ask you. I don't want to see how these compare.
[75:56]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh my God. I'm like, what did Jen say about me?
[75:59]
Monica Padman
She said, lovely stuff.
[76:00]
Reese Witherspoon
We've known each other so long and we are very different people, but opposites attracted.
[76:05]
Dax Shepard
You know, that adventure is a natural thing.
[76:13]
Reese Witherspoon
She's really warm and welcoming. She's like a big host. Come over. She's very warm and friendly. I think I'm more nerdy.
[76:20]
Dax Shepard
She said, you're Tracy Flick. Like, I'll just cut to the chase.
[76:24]
Monica Padman
She said you're studious and you're a straight A student.
[76:27]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm a straight A student. If there's a challenge, I'll take it. But hopefully I'm not so rigid. I used to be really rigid. I think my edges softened. Life does that to you. But Jen, I will say I've known Jen 20, 25 years. 26 years.
[76:42]
Dax Shepard
You had a little baby in your dressing room. I did, yeah.
[76:45]
Reese Witherspoon
She's always been really lovely and nurturing and warm and friendly and kind and has been through her own stuff. Oh, yeah. And also has reason to be a little guarded. Yes, I've cried in one of our interviews. Cause I was like, I just think people are so unfair sometimes that they think they know her and make assumptions.
[77:04]
Dax Shepard
Well, they want her to play a certain character they've designed and any deviation from that cannot be.
[77:10]
Reese Witherspoon
She's not who people think she is. She's not holding on to old Things.
[77:14]
Dax Shepard
Right. She's not pining for Brad debt.
[77:16]
Reese Witherspoon
No, no. She's doing great, by the way, at her 50th birthday, one of the biggest testaments I can say to what a wonderful person she is. People from her teenage years, people from her 20s, people who work in her home, every ex husband, ex boyfriend was there. She just is like a high spiritual integrity person.
[77:36]
Dax Shepard
She's not a burner of bridge.
[77:38]
Reese Witherspoon
Correct.
[77:38]
Dax Shepard
Are you a burner of bridges?
[77:40]
Reese Witherspoon
No, I have really good, clear pathways with people. It wasn't always like that. Cause I didn't have the words in my rigidity and I'm softened. I've had a lot of shit happen to me.
[77:50]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Do you think you suffered the most or people around you suffered the most when you were really strangleholding things?
[77:57]
Reese Witherspoon
I don't know. Probably me, but I never held grudges. I'm just not that person.
[78:01]
Dax Shepard
What I said to her, and I'll say to you, the cool thing about the morning show to me is there's been a lot of different ways in which you and her have moved forward, the possibilities for ladies. But one that still seemed to be not being addressed was an example I gave when we talked to her was somehow everyone's like, yeah, we can figure out how to get Brad Pitt, Clooney, and Matt Damon in Ocean's Eleven. I mean, they're all gonna get a fortune. But there was this kind of paradigm where it's like, there's one leading gal and there's only room for her and her paycheck. And it's gonna kill us to even give her what she's worth. There's no way we're giving it a. A second person. And I think that was like, one of the other remaining doors that needed to be broken. And I think it's pretty rad that you guys used your combined leverage to go like, no, this is bullshit. And I guess you had started it with big little lies. It was like, no, no, Me and Nicole Kidman are gonna be in this.
[78:54]
Reese Witherspoon
Nicole and I decided to do that together.
[78:56]
Dax Shepard
You didn't meet on it. You had already been friends.
[78:58]
Reese Witherspoon
No, we knew each other.
[78:59]
Dax Shepard
I must tell you, it was pretty funny from our point of view, because you were looking at lake houses, and.
[79:03]
Reese Witherspoon
I brought her with me, and you.
[79:05]
Dax Shepard
Were like, can we look at your house? And we're like, yeah, yeah, go crazy. Get it unlocked. And then the person when we had said to unlock is like, yeah. And then Nicole Kidman's over, and I'm like, oh, yeah, it's like, it's all going down over there. Who's next?
[79:19]
Reese Witherspoon
She's my really good friend, and we're neighbors, too, so we tootle and sometimes do errands together. Fun.
[79:25]
Dax Shepard
Well, it was very revealing. I'm like, this is so cute. You've driven 40 miles from your house to go look at our house, and somehow Nicole's also going to join you. And that's really telling of what friendship you have.
[79:33]
Reese Witherspoon
She and I just, like, toodle around together.
[79:34]
Dax Shepard
That's what you do in high school. Like, what are you doing? I don't know. I'm gonna go look at this thing. Sure, I'll come. That's a very.
[79:39]
Monica Padman
That's what girls do forever.
[79:40]
Reese Witherspoon
Sometimes Laura Durie comes with us, too.
[79:42]
Dax Shepard
Fun.
[79:43]
Reese Witherspoon
We all end up in the same place. Like, Shailene and Zoe and Duran and I all just had dinner.
[79:49]
Dax Shepard
Okay, good.
[79:49]
Reese Witherspoon
We just kind of reconnect. And our kids join in, too. We have a ton of girls. And my son comes and There was a special alchemy on that show on Big Little Lies. Mm. And it felt like a watershed moment, too, for women connecting over their deep, personal relationships and what women's conversations were really like in their inner lives.
[80:09]
Dax Shepard
Oh, I found the whole Nicole Kidman storyline. We just had Alexander Skarsgard.
[80:13]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, yeah.
[80:14]
Dax Shepard
By the way, I fell so in love with him. Oh, my.
[80:16]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, he's good.
[80:18]
Monica Padman
Chilling, playful.
[80:20]
Dax Shepard
Captain playful on top of being gorgeous.
[80:22]
Monica Padman
Oh, my God.
[80:23]
Reese Witherspoon
I know.
[80:24]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. That storyline. I was like, oh, wow. I've never been in that relationship, but I feel like that's the real, real version of it. I felt like I learned something. It felt so real in Big Little Lies, the storyline between those two.
[80:35]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, for sure.
[80:36]
Dax Shepard
I was like, oh, this is how it works. I see the trap of it.
[80:39]
Reese Witherspoon
Haven't you ever had a friend who suddenly goes through a breakup and says, hey, by the way, I wanted to share with you XYZ dynamic that you had no idea.
[80:48]
Dax Shepard
I've never had that moment. A guy would never tell me that.
[80:51]
Monica Padman
Really?
[80:52]
Dax Shepard
No. If a guy told me he was beating up his girlfriend, I think he would know. That would be a line for me. I would be judgmental. Yeah.
[80:59]
Reese Witherspoon
But he would say it in a different way. I lost control. I crossed the line.
[81:02]
Dax Shepard
And, yeah, my mom got beat. So you can go suck a dick. You can go get another friend.
[81:08]
Monica Padman
They're in denial, too. I don't think a lot of them think, oh, I need to reveal that I've done this bad thing. They've decided it's not A bad thing because you can't live like that.
[81:16]
Dax Shepard
But the complexity of the cycle I got, oh, this is a cycle. This is like a high and low. This is a dopamine deficit. This is sexual is.
[81:25]
Reese Witherspoon
It's also like, is this sexy?
[81:27]
Dax Shepard
I bet those orgasms were, bar none. I bet that's the height of that. I think that's what you're playing with and why it's heightened and then the lows are equal. And I was like, I get it. I didn't really even understand it, but it just felt so authentic where I was like, somebody got consulted and someone understands this.
[81:42]
Reese Witherspoon
That was interesting because that was like Nick and Alexander doing that together. The rest of us were in the biggest comedy of our life. Like, Duran and I were, like, killing it. I was like, d. I was blowing up my ad libs the other day. My was so funny. And she goes, girl, I was like, the momzilla you yesterday.
[81:59]
Monica Padman
And it was awesome.
[82:00]
Reese Witherspoon
And then I was like, but I'm a little worried about tone. She's like, tell me more. I'm like, well, I talked to Nick.
[82:06]
Dax Shepard
I think some dark shit's happening.
[82:08]
Reese Witherspoon
Nick is like, rocking in the corner and, like, can't speak. And I was like, are we in the same show?
[82:14]
Dax Shepard
I don't even know this is going to be on the same network at this point.
[82:17]
Reese Witherspoon
I know, but it works great.
[82:19]
Dax Shepard
Okay, my final question for you is. Because we're comparable ages.
[82:22]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[82:22]
Reese Witherspoon
You're invited to my 50th birthday party.
[82:24]
Dax Shepard
I can't wait to go. I'm a great attendee. I'll enter, entertain lots of people. I heard you say acting's a little less interesting and for good reason, and I share that sentiment. Can you compute or do you entertain or fantasize? Is there a world in which you could devote yourself with passion to something that wasn't productive?
[82:42]
Reese Witherspoon
Well, I'm working on that. So. I have a hobby, and that's chocolate making.
[82:46]
Monica Padman
Oh, yes. Bonbons.
[82:47]
Reese Witherspoon
Every instinct in my body wants to try and turn it into a business.
[82:50]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[82:51]
Reese Witherspoon
And it's just my hobby.
[82:52]
Dax Shepard
Could you. You retire? What?
[82:55]
Monica Padman
Hold on.
[82:58]
Reese Witherspoon
I'm 49.
[83:00]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, but you've been working since you were 14, so you kind of, you know.
[83:02]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, but I'm finding new outlets. So this writing a book, being a novelist, I could see myself doing this for a while. I have more stories in my head with this character.
[83:12]
Dax Shepard
Let me ask you this. Could you love yourself and have self esteem if you weren't productive? Do you think you have to be Productive. So you and I need to go, like, get coffee and stuff.
[83:21]
Reese Witherspoon
Maybe you could help.
[83:22]
Dax Shepard
Well, I'm wrestling with all the same stuff.
[83:24]
Reese Witherspoon
I think it's an internal drive. Sometimes I'll stay in the shower as soon as I cry and go, wish I could turn it off.
[83:30]
Dax Shepard
That's my hunch. So if you just want to do it because you love it. Monica, let's go. I'm a cheerleader. If you have what I have, which is like, I have to be spectacular for you to love me 100%, that needs addressing. Right. Or at least I know for me it needs addressing. And somehow retirement, that's the challenge. In some sense it is.
[83:51]
Reese Witherspoon
And I'm working on it. I am a work in progress on it. And now at least I'm. I'm seeing it. But you're right, it's tied to my self worth. And I feel like sometimes people see the achiever a certain way and it's really easy to judge. And I'm not saying like, boo hoo, I'm an achiever because it's one of the socially acceptable vices.
[84:09]
Dax Shepard
Yes. Cause it is a fucking addiction like all of us. It's an addiction. Yeah. You regulate your mood by this thing.
[84:15]
Reese Witherspoon
I recognize it. And I'm getting to a healthier place.
[84:18]
Dax Shepard
Okay. Reese, I adore you. We've been wanting you for so long. I'm truly flattered.
[84:24]
Reese Witherspoon
Longtime listener, first time guest.
[84:26]
Dax Shepard
My compliment. Cause I know it'll make you uncomfortable. I save it for the very end.
[84:29]
Monica Padman
You're hot.
[84:30]
Dax Shepard
No, you are hot. And I asked Kristen if I could tell you this. So throughout our 18 years together, when she has had these big victories and she shined, which she has so often, the go to for me is always, I'm like, look at you, girl. You're fucking Reese Witherspoon.
[84:51]
Monica Padman
Oh, far away.
[84:53]
Dax Shepard
Whole relationship. Every time she scores a touchdown, I'm like, girl, you're fucking becoming Reese Witherspoon. And she's so flattered by it.
[85:00]
Reese Witherspoon
That is really a lovely compliment.
[85:02]
Dax Shepard
And it's the truth.
[85:03]
Reese Witherspoon
Thank you for saying that.
[85:04]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[85:05]
Reese Witherspoon
And I feel like one day I'll be Kristen Bell.
[85:08]
Dax Shepard
Oh, well, I don't think that's we're.
[85:09]
Reese Witherspoon
Destined to be friends. I'm so glad it finally happened this year.
[85:12]
Dax Shepard
I like it. You're pursuing her with a new friendship. I like it about you.
[85:15]
Reese Witherspoon
We're stoking the little flames. We're being gentle with each other and kind of dancing around. We're like, do you like me? Do you like me? I don't know. Do you want to come to the Opry?
[85:22]
Dax Shepard
Do you want some bread?
[85:23]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, you want some bread? I'm like, okay, girl.
[85:25]
Dax Shepard
All right. Well, I adore you. Good luck, everybody. Check out Gone before goodbye. I recommend listening to it. And then, of course, season four of the morning show is on Apple right now. Tune in before it ends, binge it, catch up. It's fantastic. There's a lot of drama. Reese. Be well.
[85:40]
Reese Witherspoon
Thank you.
[85:42]
Dax Shepard
Stay tuned for the fact check so you can hear all the facts that were wrong. Okay.
[85:52]
Monica Padman
Okay.
[85:52]
Dax Shepard
Cute shirt. And appropriately, I have an update.
[85:55]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[85:56]
Dax Shepard
Dodgers.
[85:57]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[85:58]
Dax Shepard
Yes. How long have you had that shirt?
[86:00]
Monica Padman
Okay, I've had it for a long time, but it's my first time wearing it.
[86:04]
Dax Shepard
You've just been waiting.
[86:05]
Monica Padman
I keep forgetting, like, if they get.
[86:07]
Dax Shepard
Into the World Series a second time.
[86:10]
Monica Padman
That's right.
[86:10]
Dax Shepard
I'll bust out my Dodgers blue.
[86:13]
Monica Padman
Well, you know, I, I, I have a lot of school spirit, and I am loyal, and I am brand loyal to the Braves.
[86:24]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[86:25]
Monica Padman
So that is my number one team.
[86:28]
Dax Shepard
Okay. But I know people don't like this, but I like it.
[86:32]
Monica Padman
Yeah. I feel like I'm allowed to have a number two team.
[86:37]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[86:38]
Monica Padman
Because this is my city.
[86:40]
Dax Shepard
I know. I mean, this gets into a much bigger, deeper, philosophical conversation, which is like, loyal to loyalty in general.
[86:47]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[86:48]
Dax Shepard
I'm sometimes on here saying, you know, I don't think loyalty should come at the expense of the truth.
[86:53]
Monica Padman
Yeah. You have.
[86:54]
Dax Shepard
Or honesty. I have some things.
[86:56]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[86:56]
Dax Shepard
Mostly my baggage from having to be loyal to adults that maybe didn't deserve loyalty.
[87:01]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[87:01]
Dax Shepard
But just unrelated to sports car guys, they like to declare themselves. I'm a Chevy man. I'm a Ford guy. I'm a Mopar guy.
[87:10]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[87:10]
Dax Shepard
And so regularly, I'll post a picture of one of my cars. And I am loyal to horsepower.
[87:16]
Monica Padman
Right.
[87:17]
Dax Shepard
That's my elite.
[87:18]
Monica Padman
Exactly. Yeah.
[87:19]
Dax Shepard
And so I'll post a picture of my 454 SS pickup truck, and the Mopar guys will be like, bow tie sucks.
[87:26]
Monica Padman
Oh.
[87:26]
Dax Shepard
You know, I'm like, guys, this is a radical truck and you know it.
[87:29]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[87:30]
Dax Shepard
And then I'll post a picture of my Mopar Hellcat. The bow tie guys are upset. And then a Ford Raptor, they don't. So they don't like that. I, Dan and I do that with motorcycles and cars, and it's very disruptive.
[87:40]
Monica Padman
I think it. Yeah, it is. It is interesting and philosophical because I, When I hear that, I'm like, yeah, duh. Like, you should be able to, like, Whatever car you like. But I have no. I have no feelings about cars. So it's easy for me to say that.
[87:55]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[87:56]
Monica Padman
When I have feelings about things, I do. I do have a stronger reaction. Yeah.
[88:04]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. So sports teams I get hate because, I mean, the Red Wings are my team.
[88:10]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[88:10]
Dax Shepard
I grew up. They were the Bulls. I mean, they were just insanely good. And they're my team.
[88:15]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[88:15]
Dax Shepard
But I fucking love a Maple Leaf sweatshirt. They're so good looking. That blue with the leaf.
[88:22]
Monica Padman
Love the colors.
[88:23]
Dax Shepard
I'll wear that in a post in. My Detroit friends are very upset.
[88:26]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[88:27]
Dax Shepard
And look, I like the Rams, but if it's between them and the Lions, it's. I'm going Lions. So I like. I like the. The Rams. Yeah. And I like many teams. And then if they face each other, I will have a priority.
[88:41]
Monica Padman
Yes. That's how I feel. I feel like I can definitely be a huge, huge, hu. Huge Dodgers fan right now. Which I am the biggest. The biggest. But if they were playing the Braves. Sorry, I'm a Braves fan.
[88:56]
Dax Shepard
That's okay. See, my argument is that's okay. And in a world in which we think that in group out. Group and tribalism to cause for a lot of our current ailments, I think a little less of this.
[89:07]
Monica Padman
Yeah, I agree.
[89:08]
Dax Shepard
Probably better. Enjoy a lot of stuff.
[89:11]
Monica Padman
You can enjoy a lot of stuff, but also be really loyal to. To your teams. And don't ever say roll tie. I mean, are the Maple Leaves. They're called the Maple Leaves.
[89:23]
Dax Shepard
Toronto Maple Leafs.
[89:24]
Monica Padman
Okay. Also that's like.
[89:25]
Reese Witherspoon
Sorry.
[89:25]
Monica Padman
It's so Canadian.
[89:26]
Dax Shepard
It's so Canadian. Of course.
[89:28]
Monica Padman
So cute.
[89:29]
Dax Shepard
And they must be among the Rob. What, the first five? Yeah, they're. They're an original 16.
[89:34]
Monica Padman
Oh, wow. So.
[89:36]
Dax Shepard
And they hate that Detroit calls itself Hockey Town. Oh, because Detroit goes itself Hockey Town.
[89:41]
Monica Padman
Well.
[89:41]
Dax Shepard
And there's up all over the city Hockey Town. And like Will Arnett, who's from Toronto is like you Hockey Town. You didn't invent. You know, they're mad about.
[89:50]
Monica Padman
But that's because he is also very American because like, he's Canadian. I know, but. I know, but like that's his American side being like Hockey Town. Because what. You know, in our pod, Matt is Canadian and he has a bunch of friends who are Canadian and they're all on these chats and stuff about the Blue Jays. Exactly. And all of the Canadians. Canadians are like, good job when we win. And then like, you know, Charlie's doing like a suck it memes like gift to them. And they're like, no, we're happy for you guys.
[90:24]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Yeah.
[90:24]
Monica Padman
And, you know, it's just so. It is so American to be like, yes. And I. I definitely fall into that. I love winning.
[90:31]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. It's fun. And just has to be kept within reason.
[90:35]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[90:35]
Dax Shepard
Because. Okay, my updates were, I went to the Dodgers game last night.
[90:38]
Monica Padman
You went to the World Series game.
[90:40]
Dax Shepard
For the World Series. And my brother had just flown in an hour, hour before. And his. His. It's a bucket list for him to go to the World Series. And then my sister Carly, as Rob will attest, is a baseball junkie.
[90:52]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes.
[90:53]
Dax Shepard
So I took those two. And this type of game and in fact, in all disclosure and transparency was why I was there, which is when there's these big games, those teams like to have celebrities in the crowd for the television. They got more cutaways. It's bigger event.
[91:11]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[91:11]
Dax Shepard
So I got invited.
[91:13]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[91:13]
Dax Shepard
That would anger people. I was thinking this whole thing through. Like, you know, there's someone sitting here that's like, that's such that that guy would get a free seat when he's not even a hardcore fan.
[91:23]
Reese Witherspoon
Sure.
[91:24]
Dax Shepard
And that's a very legitimate point. Unless you're the Dodgers and you need cutaways.
[91:28]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[91:29]
Dax Shepard
You're like, yeah, but I need cutaways.
[91:30]
Monica Padman
It's all fine. People can be annoyed that I'm always.
[91:33]
Dax Shepard
Defending my tall poppiness. You know, like, I always have the argument prepared. Prepared for when I get confronted.
[91:37]
Monica Padman
Yes. I mean, I guess the question is, like, what, you're gonna say no to go to a fun.
[91:42]
Dax Shepard
Then it goes to me, like, why would I say no?
[91:44]
Monica Padman
Right, Exactly.
[91:45]
Dax Shepard
Because I didn't go to every game.
[91:47]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[91:47]
Dax Shepard
And I am a fair weather fan. And there's another thing. That's another thing. Like fair weather fans really anger really hardcore fans.
[91:56]
Monica Padman
But of course.
[91:57]
Dax Shepard
But why? Of course. I'll tell you why it shouldn't be. Of course. Fair weather fans are where the bulk of the viewership comes from. Where the bulk of the money comes. Were the bo. Oh, we got a picture. Oh, good. I don't even have to blatantly name drop. That's a friend of the pod, Chris Pine. That's his buddy Tyler, who's smiling. He was a great guy. Talked to him a bunch.
[92:18]
Monica Padman
Oh, how fun.
[92:19]
Dax Shepard
And that's our most sexy member of suits.
[92:22]
Monica Padman
Oh, wow.
[92:23]
Dax Shepard
And he's in all Toronto stuff and he's friends with Kevin Ziegers and he was there to support the Blue Jays. And I was thinking, what game is it safe like this. This is safe. We're all up one game, right? You're wearing all the Toronto stuff.
[92:37]
Monica Padman
Yeah, but it's scary.
[92:38]
Dax Shepard
But if it's game seven and we lose that game and you're walking out of the Dodger Stadium, which is known to get a little riff raffy. I'm. I was like, I'm going have to walk with this guy tonight.
[92:48]
Monica Padman
You're going to pretend given the.
[92:50]
Dax Shepard
The outcome of the game.
[92:51]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[92:52]
Dax Shepard
Cuz we lost pretty handedly.
[92:53]
Reese Witherspoon
Damn.
[92:54]
Dax Shepard
But this isn't what.
[92:57]
Monica Padman
Oh, no other friend is a.
[92:59]
Dax Shepard
These two were there. Flea and Brad Pit. What a combo. Oh, well, now I'm upset. Rob. I.
[93:08]
Reese Witherspoon
Sorry.
[93:08]
Dax Shepard
I thought everything was good until you showed me that picture.
[93:11]
Monica Padman
I mean, I mean, do down compare.
[93:15]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[93:15]
Monica Padman
You're with beautiful Chris Pine.
[93:18]
Dax Shepard
So this trip to the game was cute boy alert. I was coming in today to give a cute boy update.
[93:25]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[93:26]
Dax Shepard
Okay. So Patrick Adams is right there.
[93:29]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[93:30]
Dax Shepard
When he crossed and we chatted and I looked in his blue eyes and then he left, I said to Carly, wow, he delivers in real life, huh? And Carly was like, it's unbelievable. He's so gorgeous. And by the way, that was our second helping of it because on the walk in Monica, I see a very handsome guy, one of the most handsome guys I've ever seen in my life. It's Austin Butler.
[93:53]
Monica Padman
Oh, he is extremely.
[93:54]
Dax Shepard
And I have this vague sense that we, we have. Well, I know because Denafri was staying at the house for a week. And I know he just worked with him. So we were talking about him. He's like, he's a great kid. So I, I had the balls to. As he turned, I immediately waved at him and then he immediately came over. We started talking.
[94:11]
Monica Padman
Nice.
[94:11]
Dax Shepard
He's so gorgeous in real life, it's insane.
[94:15]
Monica Padman
Carly was like that tower once you.
[94:17]
Dax Shepard
Did and you delivers. Right? And he's a big boy.
[94:21]
Monica Padman
He's tall.
[94:21]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, he's tall and he's got wide shoulders. And then I saw today some because he said, oh my God, we're both friends with Duffy. My friend Duffy, who was ding, ding, ding. Brad Pitt's trainer, who clearly is now Austin's trainer.
[94:34]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[94:34]
Dax Shepard
And he's the Navy SEAL I always talk about. So then we're talking about bod. So then I looked up his Instagram today and he's got a shirtless photo and my God, ladies, go over to his Instagram. He's. He's looking insane.
[94:46]
Monica Padman
He doesn't need help. People are looking at his Instagram.
[94:51]
Dax Shepard
My brother, he hears Duffy DeCastro. So then my brother says to him, oh, are you stunty? Like, meaning, are you a stuntman?
[95:00]
Monica Padman
Uh huh. To Austin.
[95:02]
Dax Shepard
To Austin.
[95:03]
Monica Padman
You know what I love, mind you, everyone, I love that.
[95:06]
Dax Shepard
And I say, dave, he's Elvis. And then my brother goes, oh, my God, you are Elvis. I love that movie. I saw it twice. Lets it rip.
[95:20]
Monica Padman
That's nice.
[95:21]
Dax Shepard
It was hilarious. And then my sister was like hyperventilating with how hot he was.
[95:26]
Monica Padman
Oh my.
[95:27]
Dax Shepard
It was exciting.
[95:29]
Monica Padman
So exciting.
[95:30]
Dax Shepard
It was exciting for the whole family. And then Sha and Edward were two rows behind me and threw a napkin at my face. Fun. Yeah, it was very fun.
[95:38]
Monica Padman
That sounds like a great time.
[95:39]
Dax Shepard
It was. I felt popular. Oh, that's not Shaa, bro.
[95:43]
Monica Padman
That's Connie Britton.
[95:44]
Dax Shepard
That's Connie B.
[95:46]
Monica Padman
Got lots of people for lots of pod mates that were there. That's really cool.
[95:52]
Dax Shepard
Wow, wow, wow, wow. Yeah, it was a real CNB scene.
[95:56]
Monica Padman
Yeah. We did lose, so too many stars there. Yeah. They need to dial it back a little bit.
[96:04]
Dax Shepard
And you know, my insecurity, like the whole way there, I'm like, I know we're in this, this, this suite that the MLB has and I'm like, I'm gonna be in the, you know, I'm gonna be like, row nine in this thing. This is what I'm thinking. The whole, I'm not gonna see the game. They're gonna shit. Chris Pine's here.
[96:22]
Monica Padman
But also, also, again, though, the comparison. You. You as an admittedly fair weather fan.
[96:31]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[96:32]
Monica Padman
Zero loyalty. Yeah. Was invited to stay to go in the MLB suite. And you're like, oh, no, I'm not.
[96:39]
Dax Shepard
I'm insecure that I'll be on the last row of whatever this already. Yeah. Rarefied group is exactly. Yes. Very human of me.
[96:48]
Monica Padman
It's so human. And it's. And it's interesting.
[96:51]
Reese Witherspoon
It's hard.
[96:51]
Monica Padman
It's hard. We're all comparing no matter where we're at. Except maybe Brad.
[96:58]
Dax Shepard
It is all funny. It's very funny. It's very funny. You want me to admit the grossest thing?
[97:03]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[97:04]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. This is disgusting.
[97:05]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[97:05]
Dax Shepard
Because I get insecure is what it is.
[97:09]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[97:10]
Dax Shepard
And so when I am talking to a famous person and someone yells my name, I'm grateful. Like I was talking to Chris in front of the bathroom.
[97:20]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[97:20]
Dax Shepard
And dude walked by, he's like, what's up, D. Shepard? And I was like, oh, that's. I'm good. I'm glad Chris knows. At least some people know me.
[97:27]
Monica Padman
Oh, that's not that gross?
[97:31]
Dax Shepard
Pretty gross. Well, no, I'm, like, grateful for it. I'm like, oh, good. He saw that. I'm like, some people know who I am.
[97:38]
Monica Padman
I mean, it. It just makes. The only thing that it doesn't make sense about that is, like, he knows who you are. It's not.
[97:47]
Dax Shepard
Of course he does, but in my insecurity, he doesn't think anyone knows who I am because it's nonsense.
[97:53]
Monica Padman
Because he came on our show, so.
[97:55]
Dax Shepard
He obviously thinks, like, our show is this, like, cute thing and he's a movie star.
[98:00]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[98:00]
Dax Shepard
He feels bad for me that I got invited to the Dodgers game, but.
[98:03]
Monica Padman
Do you feel you. Oh, no. Yeah. This is.
[98:08]
Dax Shepard
I want to be very clear. These are like 7% preoccupation. They're actually not running the show at all. Yeah, they're like, just. They're. They're faint thoughts that cross my head and then I cbd pop them. I pound them down.
[98:20]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[98:20]
Monica Padman
That's all you can do.
[98:21]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. And. But. And, but then also when someone yells my name while I'm talking to him, I'm grateful that the person yelled my name.
[98:27]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[98:27]
Dax Shepard
Look, so I'm not like, vain and thin skin still, you know, I have.
[98:33]
Monica Padman
That, like, if I'm at a event or something. I do. Like if someone comes up and says they're a. Of the show.
[98:42]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[98:43]
Monica Padman
Because it does. Yeah.
[98:44]
Dax Shepard
Makes you feel like you deserve to be there.
[98:46]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[98:47]
Dax Shepard
It's getting. It's like getting you over your imposter syndrome.
[98:49]
Monica Padman
Yes, exactly.
[98:53]
Dax Shepard
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[99:36]
Monica Padman
Similarly, I went to an event this weekend.
[99:40]
Dax Shepard
A gala.
[99:41]
Monica Padman
I went to a lunch gala. We know. I love galas for the rape treatment center and Stewart House that's connected to ucla. And it was hosted by the cast of the Pit.
[99:55]
Dax Shepard
Oh. Oh.
[99:59]
Monica Padman
Which is very exciting.
[100:00]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[100:01]
Monica Padman
But like, so Molly sent me the thing and she was like, oh, yeah, she. She's connected to that organization. And she was like, maybe we should go to this. And I was like, yeah, absolutely.
[100:11]
Reese Witherspoon
Great. Cause.
[100:12]
Monica Padman
And I love galas and I love the pit. So three for three.
[100:17]
Dax Shepard
I don't Like, Ray, but the other two are really good.
[100:19]
Monica Padman
That's right.
[100:20]
Reese Witherspoon
That's right.
[100:20]
Monica Padman
So I, you know, we bought seats and whatever, but I was not expecting it to be. What was. It was. It was, like, big. There were a lot of people there and.
[100:34]
Dax Shepard
Be seen. Kind of like a Dodgers game.
[100:35]
Monica Padman
I guess I didn't expect it to be seen. Be seen. And.
[100:41]
Reese Witherspoon
And it is.
[100:41]
Monica Padman
What. So weird what goes on in your head? Because, like, I was like, I'm gonna have to go to this thing on Saturday. But then. Because I also. We did a live stream for Beth Stadt. Was like, but I gotta leave early.
[100:50]
Reese Witherspoon
I.
[100:50]
Monica Padman
Like, I gotta go for a minute, but then I gotta leave. And I was kind of preoccupied with that. I was like, oh, it's on the west side. Like, I have to drive over there. Sure, sure. Then we get there, and I was like, oh, shit, this is like an event.
[101:05]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Oh.
[101:07]
Monica Padman
And then. Yeah, it is. It's so gross. It's so gross. Because there was, like, a line, a talent. There was. There was a carpet.
[101:17]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[101:18]
Monica Padman
And there was, like, a line for talent. And.
[101:21]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. And then a gen pop line.
[101:23]
Reese Witherspoon
Right.
[101:23]
Dax Shepard
General population or whatever.
[101:25]
Monica Padman
And so, you know, we were walking around, like, where do we go? And I was like, oh, I guess we're in this line.
[101:30]
Dax Shepard
Okay. Huh? Gen pop.
[101:31]
Monica Padman
Yeah, we were in gen pop.
[101:33]
Reese Witherspoon
And.
[101:34]
Monica Padman
And I was like. And. And I was like, well, we're not talent.
[101:37]
Reese Witherspoon
And she was like.
[101:38]
Monica Padman
She was like, you are. And I was like, I'm not. Like, talent is invited specifically. And, like, meant, you know.
[101:45]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[101:46]
Monica Padman
And to sell tickets. Yeah. And like, you know, then we're walking by the carpet.
[101:53]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[101:53]
Monica Padman
And I'm seeing the cast of the Pit. They're doing, you know, little interviews.
[101:57]
Dax Shepard
You're like, I won't hate if someone grabs me and says, are you going to do the carpet? Yes, yes, of course.
[102:02]
Monica Padman
But also, no, I wasn't. I didn't, like, prepare.
[102:05]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[102:06]
Monica Padman
And I saw Ding, ding, ding, Friend of the pod, Max Greenfield.
[102:10]
Dax Shepard
Sure.
[102:10]
Monica Padman
And he was in, of course, the little talent area.
[102:13]
Dax Shepard
He's not in general.
[102:14]
Monica Padman
And I was, like, looking, and I was like, oh, Max is here. And then I was like, I'm not going to go say hi to Max, because he doesn't even know who I am. And also, I can't even go into the talent area because I'm not talent. This is all bad. Let's. I'm going to go get a mimosa. You know, so then, like, we went.
[102:32]
Reese Witherspoon
And.
[102:33]
Dax Shepard
And you leave your house. I'm thinking of the Birthday party you went to at all time.
[102:38]
Monica Padman
Oh, God, that was horrible.
[102:40]
Dax Shepard
You're there. You're like, oh, my God, just get out of here or get a drink or get out of here.
[102:44]
Monica Padman
I know. Thank God. I was with Molly. So we were just. Then we were just, like, there to have fun. And then we're walking in, and Max is there.
[102:54]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[102:55]
Monica Padman
And he. He sees me.
[102:57]
Dax Shepard
Oh, yeah. He's a very good boy.
[102:58]
Monica Padman
And he's a very good boy.
[103:00]
Reese Witherspoon
And I.
[103:00]
Monica Padman
And we. Then we start, of course, chatting. He was like, oh, my God, I saw Dax yesterday. This is so fun switching you guys out. And we were all chatting, and I was like, I felt better. And then I felt dumb for feeling better.
[103:13]
Dax Shepard
Like, mad at you. Disappointed in yourself.
[103:15]
Monica Padman
Yeah, it is. It's like, oh, I hope people see I'm talking to Max. And it's like, she belongs. She's like, she knows him. She belongs here.
[103:23]
Dax Shepard
It's the greatest movie of all time. You Can't Buy me love. He knew if he dated that popular girl, everyone would like him. And he was right.
[103:29]
Monica Padman
They already liked him.
[103:31]
Dax Shepard
They didn't.
[103:32]
Monica Padman
Well, I haven't seen it.
[103:33]
Dax Shepard
You haven't seen it? It's one of the great.
[103:35]
Monica Padman
And I love Patrick Dempsey.
[103:37]
Dax Shepard
You love it. He's at his absolute cutest.
[103:39]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[103:40]
Dax Shepard
That's the movie that made him a star.
[103:41]
Monica Padman
I know you love. You love that movie.
[103:43]
Dax Shepard
It's the best movie.
[103:44]
Monica Padman
But I. Anyway, and then. Yeah. It's all so dumb. It's so stupid. And then we sat down at the table, and this was so sim. This was so strange. These two women come up to me.
[103:59]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[104:00]
Monica Padman
And said, hi. You just had my best. You just had our best friend on. On your show. Jen. Met Jen. I was like, jen Aniston?
[104:11]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[104:12]
Monica Padman
And. And she was like, yeah. And I was like, oh, my gosh. And she was like, I came up on the show. I was like, oh, my gosh. You're the friend with the podcast. Dre.
[104:23]
Dax Shepard
Oh, my God. You met Dre.
[104:25]
Monica Padman
Yes, Dre. Dre. And Kristen. This. This woman, Kristen, and they're best friends with her. And she was like, yeah. And she shouted my podcast out. And I was like, oh, my God. Gosh, how crazy.
[104:36]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, truly.
[104:37]
Monica Padman
And we're all sitting at the same table.
[104:39]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[104:40]
Monica Padman
But also, what was so funny is I was, like, looking at her, and I thought, you look like. Like, you look like her. You talk like her.
[104:47]
Dax Shepard
Like, me and Aaron, when people are like, are they brothers?
[104:50]
Monica Padman
Do this. You start melding, and you become one thing. And it was really? It was. It was wild. And it's like who was who first or. Or not. Or you just like you're.
[105:00]
Dax Shepard
You become.
[105:01]
Monica Padman
Become just one meld.
[105:03]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Yeah. Aaron and I have had that forever.
[105:06]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[105:07]
Dax Shepard
We're girls that. Are you twins? And we're like. We don't look alike.
[105:11]
Monica Padman
Right.
[105:12]
Dax Shepard
But our thing is.
[105:13]
Monica Padman
So your vibe becomes one thing. I think Callie and I are the same.
[105:16]
Dax Shepard
Yes. And you guys definitely don't look alike.
[105:19]
Monica Padman
No.
[105:19]
Dax Shepard
No. But you do have like. If I just squint and I picture the halo and aura around you two. It is identical.
[105:26]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[105:27]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[105:27]
Monica Padman
But it.
[105:28]
Dax Shepard
It's a shoppie. It's a shoppie. Sparkly pink aura.
[105:32]
Monica Padman
You guys both shoppie.
[105:34]
Dax Shepard
Shoppie.
[105:35]
Monica Padman
Yeah. Cuz we shop a lot.
[105:36]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. And it's just like two little girls that got to go shopping permanently as adults. Yeah. It's like a fairy tale type. You and Kelly are. When you're together, it's. It's a. Well, it's like when Aaron and I are together, but it's like when a. A lowly girl from America finds out she's the prince princess, you know?
[105:55]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[105:55]
Dax Shepard
And they go over to England all of a sudden now they live in royalty.
[105:58]
Monica Padman
Oh, wow.
[105:58]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. And that's you guys.
[106:00]
Monica Padman
We've stumbled upon because you used to.
[106:01]
Dax Shepard
Go to the like the outlet stores.
[106:03]
Monica Padman
And stuff in Mall of Georgia.
[106:05]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. And try to like get as much as you could for a buck 20.
[106:08]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[106:08]
Dax Shepard
And now it's like the rains are off.
[106:11]
Monica Padman
Now it's Brentwood Country Mart on Black Friday.
[106:13]
Dax Shepard
Yes. And it's in stone.
[106:15]
Monica Padman
And it's what?
[106:16]
Dax Shepard
The shopping dates are in stone. They're. They're. They're holidays.
[106:20]
Monica Padman
Yes. It. Yeah, it's.
[106:21]
Reese Witherspoon
It's.
[106:22]
Monica Padman
It is funny. I notice it too. Like the way we. The jokes.
[106:28]
Reese Witherspoon
What we've.
[106:29]
Monica Padman
The cadence of the joke, like, very specific.
[106:32]
Dax Shepard
So you act differently when you're around her.
[106:35]
Monica Padman
Interesting.
[106:36]
Dax Shepard
And I bet she acts differently around you. And I bet you guys are both joining your fused identity.
[106:41]
Monica Padman
Yes.
[106:42]
Dax Shepard
Which is like you're much more. I don't want to say laid back in a negative way, but you're very laid back with her.
[106:47]
Monica Padman
Huh. That's interesting.
[106:49]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. You have a confidence and a. In a laid backness. I think when you're with her, you're kind of just like in playful. I'm in playful mode.
[106:58]
Monica Padman
It's very play. It's very playful.
[107:00]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. You're not taking much seriously. You're not good. Yeah.
[107:03]
Monica Padman
But then also she's who. That's who gets all the information about me with no reserve and vice versa.
[107:14]
Dax Shepard
What I feel when I'm with Aaron, which is kind of a, I think a healthy feeling. And particularly back when Aaron still drank and hung out in Detroit all day, every day.
[107:24]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[107:25]
Dax Shepard
Our politics were different. Right. Like, I just think we would be on different ends of many debates.
[107:33]
Reese Witherspoon
Really.
[107:33]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Oh, but when I'm with him, when I even consider that I have an identity that would be like I'm liberal or I'm. This seems really laughable because it's came after, you know, it's like I got old enough to even identify with these things. They came so much later that they feel weirdly fraudulent in a healthy way.
[107:56]
Monica Padman
Interesting.
[107:57]
Dax Shepard
Like whatever kind of identity I have in the world.
[108:01]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[108:02]
Dax Shepard
It just seems laughable when I'm with him because like he just knows me inside and out. As a little 11 year old before I had all this artifice.
[108:10]
Monica Padman
Right.
[108:11]
Dax Shepard
Actor.
[108:12]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[108:13]
Dax Shepard
This stuff.
[108:14]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[108:14]
Dax Shepard
And I like that.
[108:16]
Monica Padman
Yeah, I, I do too.
[108:18]
Reese Witherspoon
I do.
[108:18]
Monica Padman
I like that too.
[108:19]
Dax Shepard
Like he was a biker, going to outlaw bike events and getting in gnarly things and he had some identity as like outlaw biker for a while. But I'm like. But get real. Like the rest of the world seeing.
[108:33]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[108:33]
Dax Shepard
Oh, dude, that guy is scary. And he's a biker.
[108:37]
Monica Padman
Right?
[108:38]
Dax Shepard
And I'm like, no, that's just kind of this funny thing he's been doing for six years.
[108:42]
Monica Padman
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that makes sense. Yeah.
[108:45]
Dax Shepard
Not him. Yeah, he's a goofball. That's all he really is.
[108:50]
Monica Padman
Yeah. Maybe he was a goofball then there too.
[108:53]
Dax Shepard
I'm sure he was the funniest member of the outlaw bikers. But there was definitely a much different.
[108:59]
Monica Padman
You felt like he was trying on identity.
[109:02]
Dax Shepard
No, I think it was quite authentic to him.
[109:04]
Monica Padman
Yeah. Yeah.
[109:05]
Dax Shepard
He was a great fighter and rode motorcycles and was drunk all the time, so it's a pretty good fit.
[109:10]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah, yeah.
[109:11]
Dax Shepard
And his aspirations were like, what's the next ride and the next party and the next throwdown. Yeah, but those are all late.
[109:20]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[109:21]
Dax Shepard
Add ons for him.
[109:22]
Monica Padman
Yeah, yeah, that's true.
[109:26]
Dax Shepard
Go Dodgers. By the time this is out, I'm.
[109:29]
Monica Padman
Afraid, who knows what will happen.
[109:30]
Dax Shepard
It's funny because they, they walk Otani every time and the people next to me are like so, so mad. And I go, bro, what would you do if you were on that team? Like, of course they're walking him. They're acting like there's like an ethical thing. Oh, you know.
[109:47]
Monica Padman
Why is.
[109:47]
Reese Witherspoon
Why?
[109:48]
Dax Shepard
Well, because they want to see him hit.
[109:50]
Monica Padman
Right.
[109:51]
Dax Shepard
But they don't even give him a chance to swing. They announce we're walking him. Oh. And he just goes straight to first base. He doesn't even have an at bat. That is weird, because why waste all the pitches? Why waste at any of it? Like, they're just. They can declare now to keep the game moving fast. We're just gonna walk him. Well, they don't want him at a home run. They don't want him because he's hit.
[110:11]
Monica Padman
He hit 2. Who decides? Both teams decide.
[110:14]
Dax Shepard
No, no. The. The. The. The coaching staff on the. The Blue Jays. Blue Jays.
[110:21]
Monica Padman
They decide we're gonna walk them. Oh.
[110:23]
Dax Shepard
We're not gonna risk him to say no.
[110:26]
Monica Padman
I wanted. I don't want to.
[110:27]
Dax Shepard
No.
[110:28]
Monica Padman
Oh, so there's.
[110:30]
Dax Shepard
So Mac is our best hitter is not hitting.
[110:32]
Monica Padman
Yes. I see.
[110:34]
Dax Shepard
And they want there to be an ethical dilemma about it. Strategy.
[110:39]
Monica Padman
Strategy.
[110:39]
Dax Shepard
And I was like, bro, would you pitch to this dude? He's the only guy on our team that's hitting home runs.
[110:43]
Monica Padman
Yeah, exactly.
[110:44]
Dax Shepard
Why would they.
[110:45]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[110:45]
Monica Padman
I mean, if it's a rule of the game, what can you do? You know? What can you do?
[110:49]
Dax Shepard
They're using the robber. I was just saying it's part of the.
[110:54]
Monica Padman
It's part of the game.
[110:56]
Dax Shepard
Do you think I'll have a role in Settlers of Catan?
[110:59]
Monica Padman
The.
[111:00]
Dax Shepard
For people who don't know, Settlers of Catan has been bought as a property that's getting turned into either a television show or a movie or a series of movies.
[111:08]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[111:08]
Dax Shepard
And I feel like I was pretty much first one in. On the celebrity side.
[111:13]
Monica Padman
I want to be in.
[111:14]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[111:15]
Monica Padman
I'm a celebrity.
[111:16]
Dax Shepard
You can be. Hey, I'm going to be brick. Hey.
[111:26]
Monica Padman
I call it wheat.
[111:27]
Dax Shepard
Would that be terrible? If they're like, we got to make the. What do you call them? Not the supplements. The. Those are the. The four things you can get. They're called the commodity.
[111:37]
Monica Padman
The.
[111:38]
Dax Shepard
Not commod.
[111:39]
Monica Padman
Commodities.
[111:40]
Dax Shepard
Resources. Resources.
[111:41]
Monica Padman
Oh.
[111:42]
Dax Shepard
What if they decided to anthropomorphize the resources? That would be the worst. Well, you'd be. Or I would.
[111:49]
Monica Padman
Yeah. Because like, strong rock. Like, although you'd be competing with the rock.
[111:54]
Dax Shepard
It might be brick, I think. Bray.
[111:56]
Monica Padman
Oh.
[111:57]
Dax Shepard
Or it doesn't seem colorful enough. It seems underground and not light enough. But brick is both strong. Yeah. And vibrant.
[112:07]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[112:07]
Monica Padman
But brick is a little dumber.
[112:10]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[112:11]
Monica Padman
You know.
[112:11]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[112:12]
Monica Padman
I think ore is. Is.
[112:13]
Dax Shepard
Is more wizardy.
[112:15]
Monica Padman
Exactly.
[112:16]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. So wheat, Brick, or.
[112:21]
Monica Padman
And something green. Yeah. We're not going to get cast. We don't even remember.
[112:26]
Dax Shepard
This is crazy. I couldn't remember. Resources. Lumber.
[112:30]
Monica Padman
No.
[112:30]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Wool, wood, brick, wheat and ore. Who.
[112:35]
Monica Padman
What am I? I guess the only one that's kind of feminine is wheat. But I'm not wheat.
[112:41]
Dax Shepard
I think you're wood.
[112:42]
Reese Witherspoon
Really?
[112:43]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Brown trunk wood's great. It's a life force. You can't poo poo wood. Wood's the greatest.
[112:50]
Monica Padman
I know, but I just don't feel like it's me.
[112:52]
Dax Shepard
And the two best resources are brick and wood.
[112:55]
Monica Padman
I know.
[112:55]
Dax Shepard
That's how you win the game. PS if you haven't played.
[112:59]
Monica Padman
But I just. I'm not wood. You know, wood is.
[113:03]
Dax Shepard
Try to say something about wood, because I guarantee there's a version of wood that would betray that statement.
[113:08]
Monica Padman
No, I don't think wood's bad.
[113:10]
Dax Shepard
But even. What are you going to say about.
[113:11]
Monica Padman
Wood's everything but wood is like, I don't think I'm a tree. Like trees. Although I am a Virgo. Double Virgo. And Virgos are very grounded.
[113:25]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[113:26]
Monica Padman
Wood is ground. Trees are grounded into the earth.
[113:30]
Dax Shepard
I think it might be helpful for you to say what you're not the most. And I think wheat, you're not the most because.
[113:36]
Monica Padman
Because why? You can be honest.
[113:39]
Dax Shepard
It's flimsy and it's white.
[113:40]
Monica Padman
Yeah. White and blonde.
[113:42]
Dax Shepard
It looks like a blonde.
[113:43]
Monica Padman
Yeah, it is. It is.
[113:45]
Dax Shepard
With a hair blowing around.
[113:46]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[113:46]
Dax Shepard
Convertible.
[113:47]
Monica Padman
I would probably cast, like, Anya Taylor. Joy. The woman from Queen's Gambit.
[113:56]
Dax Shepard
Oh, smart. I'm going Sydney Sweeney. She was at the Dodgers game.
[114:01]
Monica Padman
Oh, she was nice.
[114:03]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[114:04]
Monica Padman
Wheat is like, they could tip over.
[114:08]
Dax Shepard
Okay, I'm sorry. I'm not. I'm not done with the Dodgers.
[114:11]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, okay, great.
[114:13]
Dax Shepard
Like, she was there. I saw a photo today.
[114:16]
Reese Witherspoon
Uhhuh.
[114:16]
Dax Shepard
And I was like. I mean, it's an appropriate sentence for me. And it's still a great sentence.
[114:23]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[114:24]
Dax Shepard
But boys love me and girls don't. Like, if I would have met her, a, she wouldn't have stopped. Like, when I made eye contact with her and waves, she'd have been like. Like, hey. And then kept moving.
[114:33]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[114:34]
Dax Shepard
Whereas Austin was like, oh, yeah, this guy's got bigger muscles than me. I'll talk to him.
[114:39]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[114:40]
Dax Shepard
Right. Well, you've observed this.
[114:42]
Monica Padman
I have.
[114:42]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay. Yes.
[114:43]
Monica Padman
So I. I'm going to poke some holes.
[114:46]
Dax Shepard
Okay. But boys in general, just because of these new muscles.
[114:49]
Monica Padman
It's not because of that.
[114:51]
Dax Shepard
She wouldn't have stopped to talk to me. She been like, where's Brad Pitt? I heard he's here.
[114:56]
Monica Padman
Okay. No.
[114:57]
Dax Shepard
What's the matter? What's the matter? Listen.
[115:02]
Monica Padman
Okay, because all this is. Is not exactly correct.
[115:05]
Dax Shepard
Okay?
[115:05]
Monica Padman
Men are very interested. A lot of men are interested in your muscles.
[115:09]
Dax Shepard
Thank you.
[115:09]
Monica Padman
That is 100.
[115:11]
Dax Shepard
We've observed it, and it's so fun for me. That's why I love them. I keep them forever. I like these young men who want to talk about my muscles. I love it.
[115:19]
Monica Padman
Okay. And you can.
[115:20]
Reese Witherspoon
That's great for you.
[115:21]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[115:21]
Monica Padman
But I actually. I don't think it's the. I think muscles is like. Like an easy thing to. To talk about, like, with a lot of women. Not all, but with a lot of women. Like, oh, my God, I love your dress.
[115:34]
Dax Shepard
It's like you have a gateway.
[115:36]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[115:37]
Monica Padman
But it's not. It's not why they're talking to you. And it's also, like, I think men want friendships. Like, they want to meet new men, and women want to meet new women. Okay, so there's just a draw. You're drawing.
[115:52]
Dax Shepard
She doesn't want to meet me.
[115:54]
Monica Padman
I don't know.
[115:54]
Dax Shepard
Maybe she's dying. I think we agree, though, that she doesn't want to maybe, don't we?
[115:58]
Monica Padman
Maybe she's an armchair.
[116:00]
Dax Shepard
I think she's really young and doesn't know who I am, which is totally understandable. And fine. And then I think boys end up knowing about me because of the motorcycles. Okay.
[116:12]
Monica Padman
Again, I think. I don't know. I don't. Also, why do they have to know you to want to talk to you?
[116:20]
Dax Shepard
Because they're at a very crowded place where everyone there wants to talk to. To them very naturally. They're doing a lot of sussing out of who they're going to stop and talk to.
[116:29]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[116:29]
Dax Shepard
They're on the move.
[116:31]
Reese Witherspoon
Right.
[116:31]
Dax Shepard
They gotta keep it moving. And. Of course.
[116:34]
Monica Padman
But maybe they're just like, I am not talking to anyone unless I know them. Like, I've met them, and I would really be able to have a conversation because, I mean, even David Chang, lest we forget.
[116:50]
Dax Shepard
Well, that.
[116:51]
Monica Padman
That was a horrible.
[116:52]
Dax Shepard
That was all your. You just spun out.
[116:55]
Reese Witherspoon
You.
[116:56]
Dax Shepard
As you agree, you really spun out.
[116:58]
Monica Padman
But.
[116:58]
Dax Shepard
And then also the fact that you were. You were so mad at me that at the Emmys, when I met Noah Wy. I did not tell him what a fan you were. You were upset.
[117:07]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[117:07]
Dax Shepard
And now you were at this thing with Noah Wylie, and you didn't even introduce yourself.
[117:11]
Monica Padman
Of course not.
[117:13]
Dax Shepard
So look at. You wanted me to do something that.
[117:16]
Monica Padman
You wouldn't do for yourself because you have. You are a Famous person.
[117:21]
Dax Shepard
I have muscles is why you want to talk to me.
[117:23]
Monica Padman
You are. You are at the Emmys as an actor and talking to another actor.
[117:32]
Dax Shepard
Plus one, but go ahead.
[117:33]
Monica Padman
Okay, I didn't want to say that. Listen, Noah Wiley almost sat at the table, okay. And then he didn't. He got moved. And I was sad about that because I would, I would have talked him if he was. Was at the table.
[117:49]
Dax Shepard
Yes.
[117:50]
Monica Padman
And I would have said, I'm Monica. I think you're gonna come on my podcast.
[117:56]
Dax Shepard
You know what would have been great for you to say?
[117:57]
Monica Padman
What?
[117:58]
Dax Shepard
Oh, my God. Hey, I saw you on the hayride last year.
[118:01]
Monica Padman
Because we already know I'm not willing to lie.
[118:04]
Dax Shepard
Okay. That's fair.
[118:05]
Monica Padman
You know, I just. I'm not.
[118:06]
Dax Shepard
So I would in that sit.
[118:08]
Monica Padman
I know you would, but I'm not gonna lie. Okay.
[118:10]
Dax Shepard
Okay. So back to your strategy.
[118:11]
Monica Padman
I would say, hi, I'm Monica. It's really nice to meet. Meet you. I think you might. Oh, no.
[118:19]
Reese Witherspoon
Oh, no.
[118:21]
Monica Padman
I'm doing a bad job.
[118:23]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, I think you should have stuck with the hay room.
[118:25]
Monica Padman
No, I'm not. I'm gonna, I'm gonna. I would say, I think we're.
[118:30]
Dax Shepard
Oh, boy.
[118:33]
Monica Padman
Hey, I'm good at talking to people. Okay. I would just say, hey, I think you're so hot. I had a dream about you last night.
[118:41]
Dax Shepard
There we go. You would be all ears. If you bring up work to him in any capacity, he's probably gonna be.
[118:47]
Monica Padman
Like, oh, no, he wouldn't, because that's him. Then he knows my I'm relevant. I would say you said, oh, my.
[118:53]
Dax Shepard
God, I had the hottest dream about you two weeks ago.
[118:57]
Monica Padman
About him last night. That is. It is weird that we.
[118:59]
Dax Shepard
It is, but.
[119:00]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[119:00]
Monica Padman
No, I, I, I want to hear it.
[119:02]
Dax Shepard
And I'm not even him.
[119:03]
Monica Padman
I would say, hey, I'm Monica. Really nice to meet you. I think we're scheduled. We're, like, working on you.
[119:13]
Dax Shepard
You're having a hard time transitioning.
[119:15]
Monica Padman
My podcast, Armchair expert with Dex. I think you guys have chatted, so I definitely pull you in.
[119:22]
Dax Shepard
Right. So if you're going to pull me in anyways, just go. Hey, I think we were both on Dex's hay ride last year.
[119:28]
Monica Padman
No, that's a lie.
[119:30]
Dax Shepard
Then you can talk about Halloween.
[119:32]
Monica Padman
I don't want to.
[119:32]
Reese Witherspoon
I want to.
[119:33]
Dax Shepard
Well, then the other thing will happen. Listen, start with some sugar and then ask him to eat.
[119:39]
Monica Padman
Listen, I think my way was going to be great. Doesn't he be like, oh, yes, I'm trying to.
[119:45]
Dax Shepard
Come on Are you willing to wear a body wire for this next.
[119:48]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[119:48]
Dax Shepard
Okay. Because I want to hear you. It's the transition into. I think we're trying to schedule you that you need to workshop a little bit.
[119:57]
Monica Padman
Hey, I'm Monica. Nice to meet you. This is my friend Molly.
[120:01]
Dax Shepard
You are. I. Were you I the hay ride last year.
[120:04]
Monica Padman
Oh, I. No, you were not.
[120:07]
Dax Shepard
Well, now you're gonna lie the other direction.
[120:09]
Monica Padman
I don't want you to know me.
[120:10]
Dax Shepard
From that or you know you from my success. Okay, maybe. I mean, look, try it. Try it, try it.
[120:17]
Monica Padman
I'm gonna try it.
[120:18]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[120:18]
Monica Padman
And when he comes on, let's ask him.
[120:20]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, we'll. We'll make him. We'll make him.
[120:22]
Monica Padman
Now he's definitely not coming on because this is.
[120:24]
Dax Shepard
We might have just lost him. But do you want to do some vax?
[120:27]
Monica Padman
Yeah. Yes. Okay. Reese.
[120:32]
Dax Shepard
Reese. Reese Witherspoon.
[120:35]
Monica Padman
That's right.
[120:35]
Dax Shepard
Do you think in Germany they would call her. I'm not going to do it. Because you're already nervous. Reese Witherspoon.
[120:45]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[120:45]
Dax Shepard
Probably didn't even sound German.
[120:47]
Monica Padman
Well, it sounded. What is.
[120:50]
Dax Shepard
Did it sound like Stephen Dobna?
[120:52]
Monica Padman
No.
[120:53]
Dax Shepard
Okay. That.
[120:54]
Monica Padman
That didn't sound anything.
[120:56]
Dax Shepard
I do hope because Stephen cuz I posted that clip.
[120:59]
Monica Padman
Uhhuh.
[120:59]
Dax Shepard
I hope enough people in Steven's life cuz remember I said just pay attention and in three years when we meet let's just notice if. But now I hope people who have heard that will start saying. Will start saying that to him. I think that would be so funny.
[121:12]
Monica Padman
That's funny. But then that's not a good experiment.
[121:14]
Dax Shepard
It's a terrible experience cuz I've tainted the tainted experiment.
[121:18]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah. Yeah.
[121:19]
Dax Shepard
Reese Witherspoon.
[121:20]
Monica Padman
I think it's sounded German when you said it.
[121:23]
Dax Shepard
Please.
[121:24]
Monica Padman
Do you want to do it again? You sure you don't want to get another one?
[121:27]
Dax Shepard
I'll want to as soon as you start talking. But I'm not going to.
[121:29]
Monica Padman
Okay.
[121:29]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[121:32]
Monica Padman
That'S gross. Now I want in n out because you brought in and out up and now I want that really good. And I want a martini.
[121:41]
Dax Shepard
Nice.
[121:43]
Monica Padman
And I want cigarette. Not a cigarette on a date. Texted me recently and said you teaching me how to drink. I think you teaching me how to drink martinis is the best thing that ever happened to me.
[121:56]
Dax Shepard
Oh wow. Yeah, that's.
[122:00]
Monica Padman
I just want you to know that she said that.
[122:02]
Dax Shepard
I know it's really flattering, but it's not what I want for her to be the best thing you taught her. Well, I mean you don't get to.
[122:11]
Monica Padman
Pick what the best thing is that I taught her.
[122:13]
Reese Witherspoon
I've taught her so much.
[122:14]
Dax Shepard
I love. I just love on us. So whatever makes her happy. I'm happy.
[122:18]
Monica Padman
She's doing great. It's not like drinking martinis is affecting her life poorly.
[122:22]
Dax Shepard
She's thriving.
[122:23]
Monica Padman
Very active and thriving.
[122:24]
Dax Shepard
She's fit. Playing a lot of sports.
[122:26]
Monica Padman
Exactly. She also a social butterfly.
[122:29]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[122:30]
Monica Padman
So I agree that I think the martinis. Probably the best thing that's ever happened to her.
[122:36]
Dax Shepard
You really broaden her horizons.
[122:38]
Reese Witherspoon
I did.
[122:38]
Dax Shepard
Okay. Reese.
[122:40]
Monica Padman
Reese. I bet Reese likes a martini.
[122:43]
Dax Shepard
Actually, I don't know if she does.
[122:46]
Monica Padman
We didn't ask. She mentioned high noon at one point, so I think she. She drinks when? Whenever she wants.
[122:54]
Dax Shepard
But I think she drinks responsibly.
[122:55]
Monica Padman
I just don't think she drinks martinis. Like that's a specific endeavor.
[123:02]
Dax Shepard
Very metropolitan.
[123:03]
Monica Padman
You mean cosmopolitan, but not.
[123:05]
Dax Shepard
Well, that's another drink. So I. I thought it would get confusing.
[123:09]
Monica Padman
I know. I've never had one of those.
[123:11]
Dax Shepard
Cosmo.
[123:12]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[123:12]
Dax Shepard
Even though you love sex in the city.
[123:14]
Monica Padman
Yeah. But actually, maybe because of it, I'm like, oh, wow.
[123:17]
Dax Shepard
So you do have a bit of me and you.
[123:19]
Monica Padman
I have. I have a lot of you and me.
[123:20]
Dax Shepard
I know.
[123:21]
Monica Padman
And you have a lot of me and you.
[123:22]
Dax Shepard
I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. But, like, I didn't like friends because everyone liked it, and you're like, what are you talking about?
[123:28]
Monica Padman
Yeah, that part's dumb.
[123:29]
Dax Shepard
Right. But the fact that you love sex in the city but you didn't want the cosmo is interesting. It's like you. There was a line.
[123:35]
Monica Padman
I guess so.
[123:36]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[123:37]
Monica Padman
There was something about the Cosmo that felt like posery, I guess. But I will say, when I was watching.
[123:45]
Dax Shepard
Seems like you would love one. I think I'm gonna have one.
[123:47]
Monica Padman
I don't know. No, you're not. And I don't know why. There's something about that drink that doesn't seem appealing to me.
[123:53]
Dax Shepard
Pink, isn't it? Pink?
[123:55]
Monica Padman
Yeah. But does it have crayon?
[123:57]
Dax Shepard
I don't know.
[123:58]
Monica Padman
Rob, can you look up if it has crayon?
[124:00]
Dax Shepard
Yep. Look up if it's good in combating UTIs.
[124:03]
Monica Padman
Vodka cran. Cause, you know, vodka crayon was my original drink.
[124:07]
Dax Shepard
Oh, it was. But you got sick on it, so.
[124:09]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[124:09]
Monica Padman
Or I just got sick of it, and I was like, so anything pinkish I think might be crayon?
[124:14]
Dax Shepard
Yes. Is cranberry juice.
[124:16]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[124:16]
Dax Shepard
That.
[124:17]
Monica Padman
So that's a no. For me.
[124:18]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[124:19]
Monica Padman
Dog.
[124:21]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[124:22]
Monica Padman
How much is Chris Chiano Ronaldo worth?
[124:27]
Dax Shepard
Oh, yeah. Maybe a bill.
[124:29]
Monica Padman
It says 1.4 billion. But we know we can't fully trust the Internet on net worth. We know this.
[124:35]
Dax Shepard
We know this. I know this personally.
[124:37]
Monica Padman
Exactly. So. So I. But that's what it says. According to the thing is the height.
[124:41]
Dax Shepard
Highest paid athlete currently yearly between his.
[124:45]
Monica Padman
It says he's the first billionaire footballer.
[124:48]
Dax Shepard
I feel like sports. You can get a little closer because the salary is public. True. Making 208 million euros in 2026 just from his salary. Salary. That's noble. They have to speculate a lot on all the endorsement deals. But.
[125:04]
Monica Padman
Okay, so you said bellissimo isn't a word in Italy. It is a word.
[125:08]
Dax Shepard
What does it mean?
[125:10]
Monica Padman
It means very beautiful. Gorgeous. Stunning.
[125:14]
Dax Shepard
So maybe my confusion is that I rarely say it correctly. Perhaps it's bellissimo.
[125:22]
Monica Padman
I think so.
[125:23]
Dax Shepard
Bellissimo.
[125:25]
Monica Padman
I don't. I don't see why.
[125:27]
Dax Shepard
It's a beautiful word. Right?
[125:28]
Monica Padman
It's a nice word.
[125:29]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[125:30]
Dax Shepard
You want to give it a shot?
[125:31]
Monica Padman
No, I'm okay.
[125:33]
Dax Shepard
Okay.
[125:33]
Reese Witherspoon
Okay.
[125:33]
Monica Padman
You said Wikipedia said that her name. Her dad was.
[125:36]
Reese Witherspoon
You're.
[125:37]
Monica Padman
You're gonna sue Wikipedia because it said her dad was a head and neck.
[125:41]
Dax Shepard
Oh, yeah.
[125:42]
Monica Padman
And he was ear, nose and throat.
[125:44]
Dax Shepard
Ent.
[125:45]
Monica Padman
But actually what it says is that he was.
[125:50]
Dax Shepard
I know it's a tough word. This is one of the hardest words I've ever seen.
[125:54]
Monica Padman
Odor. Hen. Laryngology. Odor. Henna. Laryngology.
[126:00]
Dax Shepard
Game of Thrones. Hodor.
[126:02]
Reese Witherspoon
It is.
[126:03]
Monica Padman
It does sound like that. That's horrible. And abbreviated to orl. Orl. Head and neck surgery or ear, nose and throat.
[126:15]
Dax Shepard
Or.
[126:16]
Monica Padman
Okay, so you don't have to continue.
[126:19]
Dax Shepard
It can be either or. I dropped my lawsuit. Wikipedia. Breathe easy. I would be getting some of my money back because I do donate to them often.
[126:26]
Monica Padman
Otolaryngologist.
[126:28]
Dax Shepard
Oh, odor. Odor.
[126:31]
Monica Padman
I guess this goes back to when you said the thing about prescriptions. And why are they like this? Yeah, this is like that. Like, why is that word like that?
[126:40]
Dax Shepard
That at least I hate it. And at least it definitely has a Latin origin.
[126:45]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[126:46]
Dax Shepard
Those words definitely in Latin mean head and neck.
[126:49]
Monica Padman
Right?
[126:50]
Dax Shepard
Right.
[126:50]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[126:51]
Dax Shepard
Zalgens is a totally made up word.
[126:54]
Monica Padman
That we know of. We don't know. Okay. So she said she won a mock trial award.
[127:03]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[127:04]
Monica Padman
And so I tried to look up the award and I couldn't find it.
[127:08]
Dax Shepard
But it was the 12 county nationals or something.
[127:12]
Monica Padman
She said it was like best witness or something like that. But in my Looking it up there was on the Tennessee Bar association website, it said the Academy Award winning actress Reese Witherspoon is perhaps the best known Tennessee mock trial alumna. She participated as part of the Harpeth hall schools team in the early 1990s. Although her online biography does not mention this important milestone exclamation point. They're very upset about that. Hopefully this episode, they'll be really pleased.
[127:46]
Dax Shepard
Yeah. Say it again. Say the name of the joint again.
[127:48]
Monica Padman
Well, that's from the Tennessee Bar association, but it's the Tennessee mock Trial.
[127:52]
Dax Shepard
Okay. Hemp. Hemsworth.
[127:55]
Monica Padman
She went to Harpeth Hall School, I guess. Or she was a part of the Harpeth hall schools team.
[128:01]
Dax Shepard
Harpeth. That's a pukey word.
[128:04]
Monica Padman
Harpeth.
[128:04]
Dax Shepard
Harpeth.
[128:06]
Monica Padman
It doesn't bother me. It sounds like a. Like a harpist.
[128:09]
Dax Shepard
That sounds nice, but I'm thinking, like, I sat down in this scene. There's like a little bit of harpeth on. Almost sounds like harpies or.
[128:17]
Monica Padman
Oh, all circles. You thought herpes was cute, though.
[128:21]
Dax Shepard
It is kind of cute in its original, original form.
[128:25]
Monica Padman
Harp. Because it kind of sounds like hair lip. It kind of s. Sounds like carpet, but like gross carpet. My lip just sh off. I got some harpeth.
[128:39]
Dax Shepard
It's a shame. That was one of your. Got a really strong features. Someone wrote in the comments on Bree's episode. Wow. Definitely realm features a.
[128:49]
Monica Padman
Because she has like. She's well endowed, right? Is that why?
[128:53]
Dax Shepard
Well, no, I think they were talking about her face, as we always do. She is well endowed. But I thought, well, now I got to rethink it. I hope that's not what they were saying.
[129:00]
Monica Padman
Well, that is.
[129:02]
Dax Shepard
She would actually love it. So now I don't care. I'm doing a 21 8. I'm back to a 360 girls.
[129:09]
Monica Padman
The. The stats around girls and boys in college. Girls are going to college at 63%. Oh, this. Wait, sorry. This is what you said. Oh, yeah. You said girls are going to College at 63% and Bo Boys at 37. Okay. In recent years, a higher percentage of girls than boys has entered college, with rates around 65% for women versus 57% for men. Among recent high school graduates, this trend has been consistent since 1996. Consequently, women now make up a larger share of the total undergraduate student population, approximately 58% compared to men, who are about 42%.
[129:44]
Dax Shepard
Okay. So was off by 5%.
[129:47]
Monica Padman
Okay. The four agreements. She brought up the four agreements at the very end. That's a very big book that people love. It's Self helpy. I don't know if you've heard about it.
[129:59]
Dax Shepard
I've heard it. I never read it.
[130:02]
Monica Padman
People I. Of all the genres, it's not for you as much.
[130:06]
Dax Shepard
Self help is the, the least consumed. For me, I don't know that I've ever read even one. I tried to read Eckhart to Tolle's book and I just put it down in the introduction.
[130:15]
Monica Padman
Yeah, yeah, I, I get that. It's interesting though because like we have like self help, that category bleeds into so many other things that we do. Like it's interesting.
[130:30]
Dax Shepard
Well, right, because most self help books are built on the shoulders of psychiatry and social sciences and I guess the Big Book of El Alcoholics Anonymous is the ultimate self help book.
[130:41]
Monica Padman
Yeah, that's true.
[130:42]
Dax Shepard
It's to help yourself, not kill yourself.
[130:46]
Monica Padman
Yeah, that's a pretty important one. How often do you guys at meetings ever like read out of it?
[130:52]
Dax Shepard
Yeah, in general, like if you go to a public California now all states have different traditions, like meetings. In Michigan, where I grew up, I prefer you would gather as a big group. They would read the, all the like preamble stuff, the tenants, the traditions and then they would break up. There would always be 12 tables. Oh, and each table was a step.
[131:19]
Monica Padman
Oh, that's cool.
[131:20]
Dax Shepard
So if you felt like you really were feeling powerless and you needed to work the first step or you were having a hard time letting things go and you know, you could kind of pick what step and then, and then that was generally should be the starting point of a share or the topic. I love that. And every, every meeting, at least that I went to a mission Michigan was all share meetings. Here in la, the vast, vast, vast majority of meetings are speaker meetings. So you go there and they always, always read how it works. Seldom have we seen a person who's thoroughly follow our path, you know the whole explanation. There are some that are constitutionally incapable if they can't be honest with themselves. It's I think page 58 and you read three or four pages and then at the end of that you're reading all 12 steps out loud.
[132:05]
Monica Padman
Okay, okay.
[132:06]
Dax Shepard
Then a speaker will get up and they'll do what in Michigan we would call it an open talk. And they'll speak for like 30 to 40 minutes.
[132:15]
Monica Padman
Oh, whoa.
[132:16]
Dax Shepard
They'll give their whole story what it was like, what happened and what it's like now. Oh, and at the end of that very customary here in LA, then people can come up and do two or three minute shares. But there's only like 10 minutes left for that. Or 15 or 20, depending on how long the person's the main speaker. Share was. I only go to share meetings. I go to only men's meetings. And we sit in a circle. And yes, we generally read some part of the book. Whoever has to read that night can just randomly open the book or maybe they wanted to. They wanted to remind themselves of a certain thing. So, yes, you do hear the book quote.
[132:53]
Monica Padman
Oh, interesting public means you don't hear.
[132:55]
Dax Shepard
A lot of the book. You mostly just hear how it works.
[132:58]
Monica Padman
Wow.
[132:59]
Dax Shepard
In the event that it's someone's first meeting.
[133:01]
Monica Padman
Right. That makes sense. Makes sense.
[133:03]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[133:03]
Monica Padman
Huh. Cool. And you guys take turns who's reading you?
[133:08]
Dax Shepard
We should. We do a bad job at that. Mostly my friend gets. Because he hosts the meeting and he generally. Oh, occasionally when I'm feeling generous, I'll go, I'll read. Because generally, if you read, you also have to share first. And it kind of blows. Sharing first. What's really fun is to hear, like, eight people share. And then it. It just conjures up all these memories and thoughts and. And then by the time it gets to you, it's like you really had a lot to stew on to share.
[133:32]
Monica Padman
Yeah, that makes sense.
[133:33]
Dax Shepard
But if you're just cold out of the gates, it's harder, huh? Yeah. And as you're reading it, most of us. It's harder for us to hear it when you're reading it than just hearing it.
[133:43]
Reese Witherspoon
Yes.
[133:43]
Monica Padman
That.
[133:44]
Dax Shepard
So you're so worried about reading out loud.
[133:46]
Monica Padman
Yeah.
[133:46]
Dax Shepard
So then you're supposed to have some kind of thought about what the reading, but you didn't really hear it all that well.
[133:51]
Monica Padman
I'm kind of. I'm actually. I'm very impressed that you guys stick to that. Even though that sounds like an annoying part, but it seems like an important part.
[133:59]
Dax Shepard
It's kind of like it.
[134:01]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[134:02]
Dax Shepard
I have no religion in my life.
[134:04]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[134:04]
Dax Shepard
And like, clearly religion has worked for 3,000 years for a reason. And there's something very soothing about the tradition of. All right now I'm hearing someone read the thing, and. Yeah, it's actually quite nice.
[134:17]
Monica Padman
That's great.
[134:17]
Dax Shepard
There are passages I hate because the book has all how to get sober. And then the back of the book is all personal stories. Some of them are fantastic, and some of them I hate. Some of them are like. They're religious zealots.
[134:29]
Reese Witherspoon
Right.
[134:29]
Dax Shepard
And really, Jesus just got him sober somehow. I don't.
[134:32]
Monica Padman
You know, how many pages is it?
[134:34]
Dax Shepard
It's a big book. I bet it's 4:30 or something. Wow. Rob. I heard one key hit. I thought, oh, maybe he's already checking.
[134:44]
Reese Witherspoon
Yeah.
[134:45]
Monica Padman
Interesting. Well, the four agreements.
[134:47]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[134:49]
Monica Padman
Are One, be impell, impeccable with your word. Two, do not take anything personally. Ding, ding, ding. I mean, I wasn't taking it personally. Do not take anything personally is a good one. I like that. I mean, it's very. Let them, actually.
[135:12]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[135:12]
Monica Padman
It's really hard.
[135:15]
Reese Witherspoon
Well.
[135:15]
Monica Padman
Oh, God, do I like that. Because sometimes things are personal. If someone says you are doing something. Yeah. Then that's personal again. I mean, it's not about you.
[135:25]
Dax Shepard
Actually, essentially not.
[135:26]
Monica Padman
It's not about you. But I think it's okay for you to say, like, don't talk to me that way. Right, right.
[135:32]
Reese Witherspoon
But it's.
[135:33]
Dax Shepard
There's a big difference between don't talk to me that way and being emotionally affected.
[135:36]
Monica Padman
Yeah, you're right. Or taking that on as truth.
[135:39]
Dax Shepard
Yeah.
[135:40]
Monica Padman
Yeah, that's interesting. Okay, so four is always do your best are the four agreements.
[135:46]
Dax Shepard
Will you read them quickly?
[135:47]
Monica Padman
One, be impeccable with your word. Two, do not take anything personally. Three, do not make assumptions. And four, always do your best.
[135:54]
Dax Shepard
I don't think I heard don't make assumptions.
[135:57]
Monica Padman
Oh, maybe I didn't say that one.
[135:58]
Dax Shepard
That one's. That's a. That's a big pothole for me. I make a lot of assumptions.
[136:04]
Monica Padman
Assumptions.
[136:07]
Dax Shepard
Make an ass out of you and me.
[136:08]
Monica Padman
That's what they say. That is what they say.
[136:11]
Dax Shepard
The book length. Yeah. So the original edition was 432 pages, which you said. 430. Oh, wow. But the fourth edition is 576. 576. Wow. It's a big book. That's why they call it the Big Book.
[136:26]
Monica Padman
That is a huge book.
[136:28]
Dax Shepard
Too big of a book.
[136:29]
Monica Padman
G. All right, well, I think that. Let me do it one more quick. Make sure I didn't skip. Oh, she brought up C2CTE. I just wanted to say that you.
[136:40]
Dax Shepard
Should get a tattoo that says cte.
[136:45]
Monica Padman
Yeah, that's it.
[136:46]
Reese Witherspoon
All right.
[136:47]
Dax Shepard
I love you.
[136:47]
Monica Padman
Love you.
[137:03]
Dax Shepard
Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondry app, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to every episode of Armchair Expert early and ad free right now by joining Wondry plus in the Wondry app or on Apple podcasts. Before you go, tell us about yourself by completing a short survey@wondry.com survey.