Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

This episode features two standout advice calls—one about facing mixed-gender nudity in German saunas with your in-laws, and another about a dog's unfortunate obsession with eating his owner’s wife’s underwear. Between these calls, Jake and Dax banter about topics ranging from podcasting philosophy to cultural discomfort, nudity, masculinity, personal growth, and filmmaking. The episode closes with an intimate, insightful aftershow between Jake and Dax about creative life, their careers, and navigating adulthood.

Main Themes & Topics

Humility and Uncertainty in Life and Expertise
Cultural Clashes over Nudity (German Saunas)
Pets and Bizarre Domestic Challenges
Creative Careers & Self-Assessment
Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Growth

Key Discussion Points and Notable Moments

1. The Wisdom and Humility of Podcasting

[01:00–09:58]

Dax reflects on interviewing world experts, realizing there are rarely clear, “correct” answers in life or science.
[02:32 Dax:] “My conclusion after all this is like, there’s no right, man. Most things in life, like a slam dunk, is like, it’s 65% right. We know so little about everything.”
Both Dax and Jake discuss how exposure to powerful people (from Obama to Bill Gates) revealed that “the people running the world” are often not 100% sure either, which can be oddly comforting.
Dax describes a new humility and less dogmatic approach to opinions after eight years of podcasting.
They discuss hypervigilance and trauma bonding—being able to spot people with similar childhood experiences almost instantly.
Analogy is made between nature’s self-organizing systems (bird flocks, subways, New York staircases) and society functioning without a “master controller.”

2. CALL #1: The Great German Sauna Challenge

[15:09–43:08]

Setup

Caller: Heather, calling from Germany (normally lives in New Orleans), married to a German man.
Issue: Handling mandatory mixed-gender, nude sauna time with her German in-laws.

Highlights

Dax and Jake riff on German comfort with nudity, sharing personal anecdotes (Dax’s first teenage sauna in Germany: “I got bush for days, guys.” [18:31]).
Heather explains: saunas are central to health and family bonding, particularly in her husband’s (East German, “FKK”) culture, and swimwear is banned. She’s deeply uncomfortable being nude with her in-laws and worries about “missing bonding time.”
Laughter over whether seeing/being seen naked is worse; Jake and Dax agree seeing relatives naked is more scarring.
Jake: “I can’t eat a sandwich and see a guy’s testicles. I won’t eat.” [28:44]
Dax asks who’s pressuring her most—husband or in-laws? Heather says husband ("you're missing out on bonding").
Heather’s real fear: not being able to forget seeing her in-laws naked, not shame over her own nudity.
Action plan discussion ([32:42+]):
- Dax advises: Take ownership, explain it's cultural baggage, ask to wear a towel—German family likely won’t care.
- Jake’s escalating advice: “Don’t just go in naked. Go in with a little strut. Maybe do a little dance!”
- Dax (realistically): “Amazing opportunity to go sit naked... you’ll look back one day and be mad if you missed out.”
- Both agree the more embarrassed thing in German context is wearing the towel.
Resolution ([41:48]): Heather promises she’ll try joining the naked sauna sessions for the rest of the visit, promising to send voice memos recounting her experience.
Memorable Quotes:
- “You are a visitor to their family. When in Rome... Try it.” —Jake [39:40]
- “Your fear is embarrassment. What’s funny is they’d be more embarrassed for you in a towel than naked.” —Dax [39:47]

3. CALL #2: The Great Panty Caper

[43:17–66:32]

Setup

Caller: Chris, 38, Florida.
Issue: His dog, Oliver the doodle, has an uncontrollable habit of eating his wife Laura’s worn underwear, never Chris’s. Chris is both mortified and jealous (“I just want to be desired!”).

Highlights

The hosts crack up at the scenario and Chris’s candor; Dax and Jake get creative with solutions.
Chris has tried “baiting” the dog with his own sweaty underwear—no luck.
Dax suggests testing with new, similarly styled undergarments for Chris and Laura to isolate if it’s fabric, cut, or pheromones appealing to the dog.
Jake suggests adding strong, unpleasant smells (ammonia) to Laura’s underwear to turn Oliver off, or, on the flip side, stuffing Chris’s with enticing scents (pepperoni, mozzarella).
- “What if we throw, like, juices in there? A little turkey, a little ham, a piece of cheese, some brie...” —Jake [55:04]
Natalie Hollis worries about dog safety—ingesting underwear is risky. Dax suggests bear-proof hampers if all else fails.
Chris is mostly fixated on achieving “parity”—just one stolen pair of his would validate him.
Resolution ([63:38]): Chris will set up a “blind taste test” with safety precautions, doctoring the scents, and promises video evidence as a follow-up.

4. Post-call Aftershow: Two Dads, Two Careers, One Honest Chat

[66:52–99:47]

Topics

Jake urges Dax to direct another film, having admired his previous work.
They discuss the grind of acting versus directing, delegation issues, how they manage their careers alongside podcasting.
Both are candid about how their attitude towards acting and creative fulfillment has changed and matured, especially after years of feeling they had to “beg to be liked” in Hollywood.
Dax reveals he started getting more tattoos as a declaration—“I’m done with acting,” only to realize how much of that was about woundedness from rejection.
- “I came out here begging you to like me. I want to say, ‘F you, I don’t need you, and I’m done.’” —Dax [88:56]
They bond over late-in-life self-acceptance, antidepressants, and how their outlook shifted from needing to please others to doing work for their own pride, not “the audience.”
Poker is used as a metaphor for the acting world—don’t get caught up in others’ games or ego struggles, just play your hand.
- “My job is just to try my hardest. This is an individual journey.” —Jake [96:11]
- “Be of service to this thing in whatever way, even if it violates what I think.” —Dax on acting jobs [94:12]
Both reflect on aging in the industry, seeing younger crews and directors, and the freeing shift from “the grind” mentality to being more present and self-assured in their work.
Jake: “I don’t know why Dax is talking in the past tense. He’s got more in him.” [87:28]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

On experts and knowing less than we think:
- “We know so little about everything... and we think we know a lot more than we do.” —Dax (02:37)
On self-organizing human systems:
- “Somehow this whole madness self-organizes and works. Scary and liberating.” —Dax (09:41)
On the horror of seeing in-laws nude:
- “If I saw my mother fully naked, I would explode.” —Jake (27:43)
- “I can’t eat a sandwich and see a guy’s testicles. I won’t eat.” —Jake (28:44)
German sauna etiquette:
- “When in Rome. Try it.” —Jake (39:40)
- “Your fear is embarrassment. But what’s funny is they'd be more embarrassed for you in a towel.” —Dax (39:47)
On dogs and underwear jealousy:
- “At the end of the day, I just want to be desired.” —Chris (58:03)
- “We're basically just trying to shame a dog into things.” —Jake (65:24)
On aging and career:
- “Six years ago I thought, I’m so sick of begging you to like me.” —Dax (89:01)
- “I don’t know why Dax is talking in the past tense. He’s got more in him.” —Jake (87:28)
- “My job is just to try my hardest. This is an individual journey.” —Jake (96:11)
- “Be of service to this thing in whatever way, even if it violates what I think.” —Dax (94:12)
Jake’s motivational closing:
- “I ride with you. I’m excited to see what you do.” —Jake (100:50)
- “That’s going to be a fun 15, 20 year run for you. I feel it in my bones.” —Jake (101:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |--------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 01:00–09:58 | Deep dive on humility, expertise, and self-organizing social systems | | 15:09–43:08 | Heather’s German sauna call | | 43:17–66:32 | Chris’s dog/underwear dilemma | | 66:52–100:59 | Aftershow: Dax & Jake on filmmaking, acting, and growth | | 87:28 | Jake urges Dax to keep directing | | 94:12 | Dax’s advice on acting/serving the material |

Tone and Style

Conversational, irreverent, earnestly honest, full of playful banter and mutual affection.
Candid about embarrassing topics and personal growth.
At times coarse, hilariously blunt, always supportive.

Takeaways

There are rarely perfect answers—humility, humor, and openness win.
When in a new culture—embrace discomfort, bond with others, and laugh at yourself.
Search for validation (from people or pets) is universal and a good source for jokes—solutions: try everything, film it, report back.
Don’t sell yourself short—creative careers often circle back in unexpected, richer ways.
Growth comes from discomfort, candid conversation, and honest self-assessment.

Follow-Ups Assigned

Heather is to join her family for nude saunas, record her diary entries, and report back.
Chris will attempt the blinded, scent-based underwear dog test—video encouraged.

This summary covers the main narrative arcs, the humor and heart of the episode, and the most memorable quotes for each dilemma. The timestamps guide listeners to the major advice sections and the insightful host-to-host dialogue for easy navigation.

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Main Themes & Topics

Humility and Uncertainty in Life and Expertise
Cultural Clashes over Nudity (German Saunas)
Pets and Bizarre Domestic Challenges
Creative Careers & Self-Assessment
Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Growth

Key Discussion Points and Notable Moments

1. The Wisdom and Humility of Podcasting

[01:00–09:58]

Dax reflects on interviewing world experts, realizing there are rarely clear, “correct” answers in life or science.
[02:32 Dax:] “My conclusion after all this is like, there’s no right, man. Most things in life, like a slam dunk, is like, it’s 65% right. We know so little about everything.”
Both Dax and Jake discuss how exposure to powerful people (from Obama to Bill Gates) revealed that “the people running the world” are often not 100% sure either, which can be oddly comforting.
Dax describes a new humility and less dogmatic approach to opinions after eight years of podcasting.
They discuss hypervigilance and trauma bonding—being able to spot people with similar childhood experiences almost instantly.
Analogy is made between nature’s self-organizing systems (bird flocks, subways, New York staircases) and society functioning without a “master controller.”

2. CALL #1: The Great German Sauna Challenge

[15:09–43:08]

Setup

Caller: Heather, calling from Germany (normally lives in New Orleans), married to a German man.
Issue: Handling mandatory mixed-gender, nude sauna time with her German in-laws.

Highlights

Dax and Jake riff on German comfort with nudity, sharing personal anecdotes (Dax’s first teenage sauna in Germany: “I got bush for days, guys.” [18:31]).
Heather explains: saunas are central to health and family bonding, particularly in her husband’s (East German, “FKK”) culture, and swimwear is banned. She’s deeply uncomfortable being nude with her in-laws and worries about “missing bonding time.”
Laughter over whether seeing/being seen naked is worse; Jake and Dax agree seeing relatives naked is more scarring.
Jake: “I can’t eat a sandwich and see a guy’s testicles. I won’t eat.” [28:44]
Dax asks who’s pressuring her most—husband or in-laws? Heather says husband ("you're missing out on bonding").
Heather’s real fear: not being able to forget seeing her in-laws naked, not shame over her own nudity.
Action plan discussion ([32:42+]):
- Dax advises: Take ownership, explain it's cultural baggage, ask to wear a towel—German family likely won’t care.
- Jake’s escalating advice: “Don’t just go in naked. Go in with a little strut. Maybe do a little dance!”
- Dax (realistically): “Amazing opportunity to go sit naked... you’ll look back one day and be mad if you missed out.”
- Both agree the more embarrassed thing in German context is wearing the towel.
Resolution ([41:48]): Heather promises she’ll try joining the naked sauna sessions for the rest of the visit, promising to send voice memos recounting her experience.
Memorable Quotes:
- “You are a visitor to their family. When in Rome... Try it.” —Jake [39:40]
- “Your fear is embarrassment. What’s funny is they’d be more embarrassed for you in a towel than naked.” —Dax [39:47]

3. CALL #2: The Great Panty Caper

[43:17–66:32]

Setup

Caller: Chris, 38, Florida.
Issue: His dog, Oliver the doodle, has an uncontrollable habit of eating his wife Laura’s worn underwear, never Chris’s. Chris is both mortified and jealous (“I just want to be desired!”).

Highlights

The hosts crack up at the scenario and Chris’s candor; Dax and Jake get creative with solutions.
Chris has tried “baiting” the dog with his own sweaty underwear—no luck.
Dax suggests testing with new, similarly styled undergarments for Chris and Laura to isolate if it’s fabric, cut, or pheromones appealing to the dog.
Jake suggests adding strong, unpleasant smells (ammonia) to Laura’s underwear to turn Oliver off, or, on the flip side, stuffing Chris’s with enticing scents (pepperoni, mozzarella).
- “What if we throw, like, juices in there? A little turkey, a little ham, a piece of cheese, some brie...” —Jake [55:04]
Natalie Hollis worries about dog safety—ingesting underwear is risky. Dax suggests bear-proof hampers if all else fails.
Chris is mostly fixated on achieving “parity”—just one stolen pair of his would validate him.
Resolution ([63:38]): Chris will set up a “blind taste test” with safety precautions, doctoring the scents, and promises video evidence as a follow-up.

4. Post-call Aftershow: Two Dads, Two Careers, One Honest Chat

[66:52–99:47]

Topics

Jake urges Dax to direct another film, having admired his previous work.
They discuss the grind of acting versus directing, delegation issues, how they manage their careers alongside podcasting.
Both are candid about how their attitude towards acting and creative fulfillment has changed and matured, especially after years of feeling they had to “beg to be liked” in Hollywood.
Dax reveals he started getting more tattoos as a declaration—“I’m done with acting,” only to realize how much of that was about woundedness from rejection.
- “I came out here begging you to like me. I want to say, ‘F you, I don’t need you, and I’m done.’” —Dax [88:56]
They bond over late-in-life self-acceptance, antidepressants, and how their outlook shifted from needing to please others to doing work for their own pride, not “the audience.”
Poker is used as a metaphor for the acting world—don’t get caught up in others’ games or ego struggles, just play your hand.
- “My job is just to try my hardest. This is an individual journey.” —Jake [96:11]
- “Be of service to this thing in whatever way, even if it violates what I think.” —Dax on acting jobs [94:12]
Both reflect on aging in the industry, seeing younger crews and directors, and the freeing shift from “the grind” mentality to being more present and self-assured in their work.
Jake: “I don’t know why Dax is talking in the past tense. He’s got more in him.” [87:28]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

On experts and knowing less than we think:
- “We know so little about everything... and we think we know a lot more than we do.” —Dax (02:37)
On self-organizing human systems:
- “Somehow this whole madness self-organizes and works. Scary and liberating.” —Dax (09:41)
On the horror of seeing in-laws nude:
- “If I saw my mother fully naked, I would explode.” —Jake (27:43)
- “I can’t eat a sandwich and see a guy’s testicles. I won’t eat.” —Jake (28:44)
German sauna etiquette:
- “When in Rome. Try it.” —Jake (39:40)
- “Your fear is embarrassment. But what’s funny is they'd be more embarrassed for you in a towel.” —Dax (39:47)
On dogs and underwear jealousy:
- “At the end of the day, I just want to be desired.” —Chris (58:03)
- “We're basically just trying to shame a dog into things.” —Jake (65:24)
On aging and career:
- “Six years ago I thought, I’m so sick of begging you to like me.” —Dax (89:01)
- “I don’t know why Dax is talking in the past tense. He’s got more in him.” —Jake (87:28)
- “My job is just to try my hardest. This is an individual journey.” —Jake (96:11)
- “Be of service to this thing in whatever way, even if it violates what I think.” —Dax (94:12)
Jake’s motivational closing:
- “I ride with you. I’m excited to see what you do.” —Jake (100:50)
- “That’s going to be a fun 15, 20 year run for you. I feel it in my bones.” —Jake (101:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tone and Style

Conversational, irreverent, earnestly honest, full of playful banter and mutual affection.
Candid about embarrassing topics and personal growth.
At times coarse, hilariously blunt, always supportive.

Takeaways

There are rarely perfect answers—humility, humor, and openness win.
When in a new culture—embrace discomfort, bond with others, and laugh at yourself.
Search for validation (from people or pets) is universal and a good source for jokes—solutions: try everything, film it, report back.
Don’t sell yourself short—creative careers often circle back in unexpected, richer ways.
Growth comes from discomfort, candid conversation, and honest self-assessment.

Follow-Ups Assigned

Heather is to join her family for nude saunas, record her diary entries, and report back.
Chris will attempt the blinded, scent-based underwear dog test—video encouraged.

238: Bush For Days & The Great Panty Caper (with Dax Shepard)

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Summary

Podcast Summary

We're Here to Help

Episode Overview

Main Themes & Topics

Key Discussion Points and Notable Moments

1. The Wisdom and Humility of Podcasting

2. CALL #1: The Great German Sauna Challenge

Setup

Highlights

3. CALL #2: The Great Panty Caper

Setup

Highlights

4. Post-call Aftershow: Two Dads, Two Careers, One Honest Chat

Topics

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tone and Style

Takeaways

Follow-Ups Assigned

Summary

Podcast Summary

We're Here to Help

Episode Overview

Main Themes & Topics

Key Discussion Points and Notable Moments

1. The Wisdom and Humility of Podcasting

2. CALL #1: The Great German Sauna Challenge

Setup

Highlights

3. CALL #2: The Great Panty Caper

Setup

Highlights

4. Post-call Aftershow: Two Dads, Two Careers, One Honest Chat

Topics

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tone and Style

Takeaways

Follow-Ups Assigned