Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard: "Zooey Deschanel Returns"

Release Date: December 15, 2025
Guests: Zooey Deschanel
Co-host: Monica Padman

Overview

This festive holiday episode welcomes back Zooey Deschanel—the beloved actor and musician known for "New Girl," "Elf," and her She & Him holiday albums—to the Armchair Expert studio. Dax, Monica, and Zooey dive into everything from family, pets, and Christmas traditions to the wildfires that impacted Zooey's family, in a conversation both heartfelt and playful. The episode also features candid discussions about parenting, creativity, ADHD, the enduring appeal of "Elf," and ends with an intimate, live rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Sprinkled throughout are plenty of laughs, reflections on loss and growth, and some delightful asides on coffee, cats, home improvement, and viral cultural moments.

Key Discussion Points

Festive Beginnings and Coffee Talk

• [03:09] Cheerful banter about coffee mugs, gifts, and the Ember mug effect on their consumption habits:

  • Dax and Zooey swap stories about the new normal in drinking coffee—Ember mugs keep it warm, leading to more savoring and less frantic gulping.
    • Zooey: “It makes me drink just the right amount...which is a lot.”
    • Dax: “I used to drink two in the morning...mostly because I didn’t like that it was getting cold. And this, I leisurely sip. It’s cut down my coffee in the morning in half.”

• [04:16] McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit reminiscence:

  • Dax and Zooey reflect on the infamous lawsuit and the public's misunderstanding of the case after watching "Hot Coffee," the documentary.

Family, Fire, and the Enduring Bread Story

• [05:36] Zooey's mom's legendary homemade bread and the legacy of her sourdough starter:

  • After Zooey's parents’ home burned down in the wildfires, family heirlooms—including her mom’s 40-year-old sourdough starter—took on new significance.
    • Zooey: “My mom...has been baking bread my whole childhood...the starter’s been around 40 years.”
  • The emotional toll and the physical loss are recounted with humor and sensitivity.
    • Zooey: “You think of something else you lost that was precious. You go, ‘Oh no! The slate from being there...’”

• [09:10] Packing during a wildfire and family dynamics:

  • Insights into gendered responses to evacuation and loss (what would you save: clothes vs. cars), and Zooey’s partner Jonathan’s rugged, fix-everything Canadian upbringing.
    • Dax: “Kristen was making these decisions from her closet that were Sophie’s Choice-esque...I have a car collection that's going to be gone.”

Cats, Dogs, and “Fanciness”

• [10:20] On cats “being fancy” & pet ownership sexual stereotypes:

  • Musings about media depictions of cats vs. dogs, “Fancy Feast” ads, and why cats are coded as feminine.
    • Zooey: “We gender dogs as male and cats as female. That they’re fancy.”
  • [14:31] Cats vs. dogs: intelligence and trainability
    • Zooey: “My cats are so smart. I showed them to do something once and they do it immediately.”

• [12:15] First-time cat ownership:

  • Zooey’s newfound love for the affection and intelligence of her trio of kittens after a lifetime of being “a cat person without cats.”

Celebrity, Parenting, and “Elf”

• [17:23] On fans, “New Girl,” and using comedy for comfort:

  • Zooey reflects on her warm relationship with “New Girl” fans and how the show serves as a comforting bedtime re-watch for many.

• [20:20] Holiday classics & being iconic:

  • Zooey discusses the surreal and delightful experience of starring in a film like “Elf” that resurfaces annually to delight a new generation.
    • Zooey: “I knew when I read that script, if this hits, it’ll come around every year. That is good real estate.”
  • Her kids’ sidelong appreciation (preferring “Die Hard” over “Elf”), and the awkwardness of parents being on-screen—especially in romantic roles.

Kids, Child Stardom & Showbiz Realities

• [28:31] Raising kids with performing ambitions (but none of the stage-parenting):

  • Zooey is clear on following her own parents’ hard-won rules: kids can audition on their own at 16, but childhood is for being a kid.
    • Zooey: “You can do as much theater and music stuff and whatever you want...but you’re not going to be a child actor.”

• [29:34] Changing reality: classmates in commercials, the LA bubble, and wanting kids to know real-life means not everyone’s parent is a TV star.

ADHD: Culture, Diagnosis, and Coping Skills

• [37:43] A wide-ranging, candid segment on ADHD:
  • The hosts discuss the rise in self-diagnosis versus clinical diagnosis.
    • Zooey: “ADHD isn’t a problem with being able to focus. Sometimes it’s focusing more than you should.”
  • Monica distinguishes between genuine ADHD and cultural overidentification; Zooey shares her personal journey with coping strategies instilled from childhood.
  • Discussion of impulsivity, “time blindness,” and the sometimes-punishing internal monologue of those with ADHD.

Notable Quotes

• “My sister and I would talk about this...Do you have an endless running video in your mind of the dumbest shit you ever did? Just playing on repeat?" —Zooey [44:23]

"Merv": Dogs, Rom-Coms, and a Little Christmas

• [45:48] Zooey’s new film on Prime Video:
  • “Merv” is a rom-com about a couple sharing custody of a depressed dog post-breakup, with lots of adorable dog action (and some sausage-powered dog acting behind the scenes!).
  • Zooey: “It’s a dog movie. A rom-com. And kind of a Christmas movie too. It’s all in one.”

Notable Quotes

• “You’d be dead inside if not one of those hit you: Christmas, romance, and puppies.” —Dax [49:05]

Christmas Traditions, Home, and Instagram Detoxing

• [54:43] Decorating with wild abandon & evolving household rituals:
  • The household is described as a Christmas wonderland, complete with room-specific trees and custom ornament themes.
• [55:13] Digital detox from Instagram & TikTok (while keeping YouTube):
  • Zooey shares her decision to remove time-consuming social apps from her phone and the newfound time and peace gained.
    • Zooey: “I have so much time now. No offense to Instagram. I just erased it...and realized there’s a whole world out there.”

Food, Allergies, and Cookie Group Chats

• [56:35] What’s on Zooey’s Christmas dinner table? Chicken, roasted potatoes, salad, and cookies—lots of cookies!
  • Confessions of struggles with fake protein allergies and a pivot back to eating meat (sustainably).

Gift Exchange & Holiday Reflections

• [71:23+] (Segment: Group Gift Exchange)
  • Hilarity, elaborate gift giving (and logistical failures), and a video love letter “boyfriend” prank gift ensue, ending in laughter over personalized presents and inside jokes.
• [102:07] Golden Globe Nomination Announcement & Reaction:
  • Sincere gratitude, a bit of disbelief, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the emotions and realities of podcasting.

Segment: Fact Check

• [111:45+]
  • The episode wraps up with the signature “Fact Check” where Monica and the team address moments discussed earlier, including the McDonald's coffee case (naming Stella Liebeck), cat vs. dog intelligence, Los Angeles dog demographics, and a countdown of the best Christmas movies.
  • Notable trivia:
    • Cat owners statistically have slightly higher IQs, but both cats and dogs display unique intelligence.

Memorable Moment

[59:56] Live Performance: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

• Zooey, with accompaniment, delivers an achingly beautiful and intimate version of this classic, complete with a story about Judy Garland’s emotional original performance in “Meet Me in St. Louis."
  • Zooey: “It’s so beautiful...I’m crying. Tears behind my eyes just thinking about it.”

Selected Quotes & Highlights

• On fame and family:

  • “They thought everyone had a TV show and I was like, oh no. Okay, we need to make sure they know everyone has different jobs.” —Zooey [32:44]

• On ADHD and self-criticism:

  • “Do you have an endless running video in your mind of, like, the dumbest shit you ever did? Just playing on repeat?” —Zooey [44:23]

• On parenting and showbiz:

  • “You can do as much theater...but you’re not going to be like a child actor. We just want you to be a kid.” —Zooey [29:09]
  • “I want to protect going to Northwestern with crazy outfits and not fitting in.” —Dax [31:17]

• On the power of TV comfort food:

  • “A lot of people use [New Girl] as a comfort thing where they watch it again and again. I love that.” —Zooey [17:58]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:09] - Coffee Mugs and Hot Coffee Lawsuit Discussion
• [05:36] - Bread, Wildfire Loss, and Family Stories
• [10:20] - Cats vs. Dogs “Fanciness” and Ownership
• [17:23] - Fandom, “New Girl” and TV as Comfort
• [20:20] - “Elf” and Christmas Movie Legacy
• [28:31] - Parenting, Child Stardom, and Performance
• [37:43] - ADHD: Diagnosis, Culture, and Coping
• [45:48] - Zooey’s Movie “Merv”: Dog Rom-Com
• [54:43] - Decorating, Instagram Detox, and Christmas Dinner
• [59:56] - Zooey Sings "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
• [71:23+] - Group Gift Exchange
• [102:07] - Golden Globe Nomination Reaction
• [111:45] - Fact Check

Tone & Style

The episode is playful, honest, thoughtful, and intimate, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with real, sometimes raw reflections on family, loss, creativity, and finding joy amid chaos. Dax’s friendly ribbing, Monica’s wry observations, and Zooey’s sincere warmth set a cozy, inviting mood. Expect a blend of quirky banter, vulnerable confession, serious insight, and a good dose of holiday spirit.

Closing

This episode offers much more than celebrity levity—it’s a celebration of resilience, connection, nostalgia, and the small pleasures in life (like bread, cookies, or the purr of a cat). It’s a perfect companion for the holiday season, but delivers nuggets of wisdom and comfort for any time of the year.

Must-hear for fans of Zooey Deschanel, fans of genuine, meandering conversation, and anyone craving a reminder of the messy, beautiful, and downright funny experience of being human.

Recommended: Listen from [59:56] for Zooey’s gorgeous holiday song and the spirited discussion about perfection in music, nostalgia, and artistry.