Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Guest: Sharon Horgan

Original Release Date: October 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging and candid episode, Dax Shepard and Monica Padman sit down with Sharon Horgan—Emmy-nominated actor, writer, director, and producer known for Bad Sisters, Catastrophe, and more. The conversation moves through Sharon’s unorthodox path to TV success, the cultural differences in British and American showbiz, the making of Bad Sisters, her thoughts on creative burnout, and juggling motherhood and creative life. The trio discuss vulnerability, family legacy, and the messy, honest parts of both making television and living a creative life. Sharon reveals some behind-the-scenes inspirations and anxieties, all with her signature wit and openness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Post-Emmys Hangover and Sharon’s Life Philosophy

[03:26]

• Sharon and the hosts bond over exhaustion from recent Emmy festivities. She shares chaotic and comedic stories from after-parties, including falling over after attempting an ambitious walk home.
• On powering through commitments, even after rough nights:
  • “If you tell someone you’re gonna be somewhere, come hell or high water, you’re gonna be there.” – Sharon Horgan [06:45]
• Discussion about the stressful logistics of award season—including outfit changes and jet lag.

2. Family Background and Early Influences

[07:24]

• Sharon reveals she's one of five siblings and discusses her "middle child" status.
• Her parents ran pubs in London and Ireland. Her father, a “tough” Irish-Kiwi publican, became a turkey farmer, a move motivated by creating a better family environment.
  • "My dad was the kind of person who didn't give a sh*t what anyone thought of him.” – Sharon Horgan [10:00]
• Reflections on inheriting some of her dad’s quirks, now embarrassing her own children.

3. Turkey Farming, Childhood Work, and Going Vegetarian

[13:31]

• Sharon and her siblings were “the labor” on the farm, especially during turkey-processing season.
• She admits becoming a vegetarian young due to the realities of turkey farming.
• Some memorable, darkly comic details about the process—including never being the one to kill the birds.

4. Creative Beginnings and Late Bloomer Status

[16:13]

• She describes her time as a “class clown” and being on the periphery of popularity in school.
• Went to art college, realized she wasn’t the “best,” dropped out, and moved to London at 19/20.
  • "There was a lot of time wasted. But once I started doing [writing], I was super hyperfocused." – Sharon Horgan [21:35]
• Spent six years working in a Job Centre—a period she describes as “depressing.”
• Return to university for an English and American Studies degree, but admits to poor memory retention outside scripts and lines.

5. Collaboration with Dennis Kelly & First Industry Breakthroughs

[19:31]

• Met creative partner Dennis Kelly in youth theatre. Their partnership sparked her start in sketch and sitcom writing.
• The arc from obscure sketch comedy and animated shows (Monkey Dust), to the big break with Pulling.
• Sharon recounts winning the British Comedy Award for Best Female Newcomer at 37, highlighting her “late” arrival in the industry and a lack of structure in her pursuit.

6. British vs. American TV Industry: Two Worlds

[22:04]

• Comparison of UK and US TV: In Britain, very few shows continue beyond two or three seasons—even beloved hits.
• She describes the heartbreak of having Pulling canceled after a short run, even when it felt like "the dream scenario."
• In the US, pilots abound but many never get produced: “People could happily make a great living never getting anything made here.” – Sharon Horgan [26:28]
• The realities of rapid-cancellation, pilot traps, and the weird economics of TV.

7. Catastrophe, Rob Delaney, and Creative Chemistry

[27:35]

• Sharon and Dax both praise Rob Delaney’s unique comedic voice, discovered through Twitter.
• Catastrophe began as a “mutual admiration” and grew into a stellar writing and performing partnership.
  • “You play the chemistry lottery.” – Dax Shepard [29:11]
• Sharon notes the blend of nerves and pride in handing off creative control in later projects, like writing Divorce for Sarah Jessica Parker.

8. Motherhood, Guilt, and Working in TV

[36:00]

• Intimate discussion on the “push-pull” of working in TV and being a mother.
  • “When you’re at work, you feel guilty you’re not with your kids. And when you’re with your kids, you feel guilty you’re not working.” – Dax Shepard [37:02]
• The dislocating bubble of production life and the whiplash of re-acclimating to family after.

9. Making ‘Bad Sisters’

[38:36]

• Bad Sisters as Sharon’s first big American hit.
• Adapted from a Belgian series, Sharon reimagined the tone for an Irish setting, blending comedy and darkness.
  • “It’s the hardest tone to pull off in anything—when you’re bouncing back and forth.” – Dax Shepard [40:33]
• She shares how specificity in casting and building chemistry made the show’s family dynamic “buzz.”
• Casting Eve Hewson (Bono’s daughter) involved discovering her authentic, grounded comic ability.
  • “A bad influence, but takes the work seriously.” – Sharon Horgan on Eve Hewson [45:46]
• Navigating leadership vs. ensemble mindset and the bittersweetness of being both boss and peer.

10. Awards, Representation, and Industry Intention

[47:14]

• Winning a Peabody Award highlighted the show’s combination of entertainment, intention, and representation.
  • “Success with intention, I guess. It’s not just about the entertainment.” – Sharon Horgan [48:22]

11. The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox

[48:35]

• Sharon’s latest acting work in Hulu’s The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, playing Amanda’s mother.
• She met the real Amanda Knox and her family, reflecting on the emotional weight of true crime stories.
• The complexity and controversy around telling such a divisive, traumatic story.

12. Development Projects & Managing Creative Overload

[55:01]

• Sharon discusses upcoming projects, including adaptations and new series at HBO and Netflix.
• Dax warns about creative burnout, referencing the Avicii documentary as a cautionary tale about overwork.
  • Sharon acknowledges her need to “catch up” due to her “late start,” but enjoys the work-life balance she’s created now.

13. Creativity, Sex Scenes, and Female Power in Writing

[61:46]

• The vulnerability and awkwardness of writing sex scenes for oneself and others—especially as a woman.
• Discussion of industry double standards regarding gender and creative expression in sexually explicit content.

14. Sobriety, Grief, and Returning to Drinking

[63:42]

• Sharon recounts three years of sobriety, the clarity and energy that came with it, and how grief (her father’s death) drew her back to drinking—for a while.
• The cyclical nature of habits, anxiety about parental drinking, and the onslaught of social media content about alcohol’s dangers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "My dad was the kind of person who didn't give a sh*t what anyone thought of him." – Sharon Horgan [10:00]

• "There was a lot of time wasted, but once I started doing [writing], I was super hyperfocused." – Sharon Horgan [21:35]

• "In Britain, it’s very rare for a show to go more than three seasons. Is that maddening?" – Dax Shepard [22:12]

• "You play the chemistry lottery." – Dax Shepard (on Catastrophe) [29:11]

• "When you’re at work, you feel guilty you’re not with your kids. When you’re with your kids, you feel guilty you’re not working." – Dax Shepard [37:02]

• “It’s the hardest tone to pull off in anything—when you’re bouncing back and forth.” – Dax Shepard (on Bad Sisters) [40:33]

• "Success with intention, I guess. It’s not just about the entertainment." – Sharon Horgan (on the Peabody Award) [48:22]

Key Timestamps

• 03:26 – Emmys aftermath and Sharon’s philosophy of commitment
• 07:24 – Horgan family dynamics and pub life
• 13:31 – Turkey farming and early vegetarianism
• 16:13 – Early adulthood, art school, and self-discovery
• 19:31 – Partnership with Dennis Kelly, finding her creative path
• 22:04 – British vs. American TV industry
• 27:35 – Rob Delaney, Catastrophe, and creative chemistry
• 36:00 – Working moms and professional guilt
• 38:36 – The making and success of Bad Sisters
• 47:14 – Peabody Award and intentional storytelling
• 48:35 – The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox
• 55:01 – Upcoming projects and creative workload
• 61:46 – Writing sex scenes; power and vulnerability
• 63:42 – Sobriety, grief, and drinking patterns

Flow & Tone

• The episode is candid, loose, and filled with self-deprecating humor.
• Sharon's warmth, insight, and comedic timing shine, making for a lively, unfiltered dive into the realities of being a creator and parent.
• Dax and Monica create a welcoming, playful environment, balancing admiration with relatable stories about insecurity and awkwardness.

Final Takeaway

This episode presents a rich, authentic portrait of Sharon Horgan—from her blue-collar roots and circuitous journey to TV success, to the struggles and joys of motherhood, the distinct flavors of UK and US television, and the constant wrestling act between personal ambition, anxiety, and creative satisfaction. Listeners walk away with a deep sense of Sharon’s resilience, humor, artistic rigor, and her refreshingly transparent attitude about the costs and rewards of a life in storytelling.