Dax Shepard

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)" Episode: Dax Shepard Release Date: September 18, 2024

In this engaging episode of "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," hosts Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson reconnect with longtime friend Dax Shepard. The conversation delves deep into personal growth, sobriety, the art of podcasting, and the enduring bonds of friendship formed during and after their time on the iconic sitcom "Cheers."

---

1. Welcome and Introductions

[00:58] Ted Danson:
Ted introduces Dax Shepard, highlighting his intelligence, humor, charisma, and unwavering honesty, all of which stem from his dedication to sobriety. He sets the stage by acknowledging the dynamic between himself and Woody, noting their differing personalities and the unique chemistry Dax brings to the conversation.

Notable Quote:
Dax Shepard: "He's incredibly intelligent, funny, charismatic, and probably one of the most truthful people I've ever met."
[01:05]

---

2. Navigating the Podcast Dynamic

The trio candidly discusses their initial nervousness about the podcast format, especially considering Woody’s laid-back nature contrasted with Ted’s more structured approach. Dax humorously raises concerns about managing Woody’s relaxed demeanor during recording sessions.

Notable Quote:
Woody Harrelson: "We're nervous."
[02:11]

---

3. The Genesis of Dax’s Podcasting Journey

Dax Shepard shares the origins of his acclaimed podcast, "Armchair Expert." He recounts his experiences transitioning from traditional late-night talk shows to the more intimate and authentic format of podcasting. Dax emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and honesty, which resonated deeply with his audience.

Notable Quote:
Dax Shepard: "I just love to hear these two... So buckle up. You're in for a treat."
[00:58]

---

4. Sobriety and the Transformative Power of AA

A significant portion of the conversation centers around Dax’s journey with sobriety. Despite initial reservations about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) due to his atheism and skepticism towards organized groups, Dax credits AA with saving his life. He discusses the profound impact of sharing personal struggles and the sense of community it fosters.

Notable Quote:
Dax Shepard: "If you own all your shit and talk about all your failings and your desires... It makes people relate to you."
[19:22]

---

5. The Role of Psychedelics in Personal Growth

Woody Harrelson brings up the topic of psychedelics as potential tools for healing and self-discovery. The trio debates the benefits and drawbacks, acknowledging ongoing scientific research while emphasizing that substances like LSD and mushrooms are not quick fixes but can aid in deeper personal transformation.

Notable Quote:
Woody Harrelson: "You can take that and it can bring you up to the elevator to the top of the mountain, but you still got to take the elevator back down and walk up, right?"
[21:58]

---

6. Insights on Effective Podcasting

Drawing from his own experiences, Dax offers valuable advice for aspiring podcasters. He underscores the importance of spontaneity and genuine reactions over meticulous scripting or premeditated questions. This approach fosters authentic conversations that engage and resonate with listeners.

Notable Quote:
Dax Shepard: "What you really want to do is stumble into a story you didn't know was coming, because your reaction will be that of a new novel story."
[51:24]

---

7. Humorous Anecdotes and Friendly Banter

The episode features light-hearted moments as Ted and Woody reminisce about their "Cheers" days. They share funny stories, including behind-the-scenes antics and playful ribbing, showcasing the enduring camaraderie and mutual respect that have sustained their friendship over the decades.

Notable Quote:
Ted Danson: "That was just Ted Danson."
[45:19]

---

8. The Challenges of Transitioning from TV to Podcasting

Ted Danson reflects on the difficulties actors face when transitioning from the structured environment of television to the more fluid format of podcasting. He and Woody discuss the pressures and fears associated with stepping into a new medium, emphasizing the importance of relaxation and authenticity.

Notable Quote:
Woody Harrelson: "There's this fear that you somehow have to... just step over."
[51:42]

---

9. Final Thoughts and Encouragement

As the episode winds down, Dax encourages Ted and Woody to embrace the podcasting journey with openness and honesty. He reinforces the idea that their natural curiosity and genuine interest in others are their greatest assets, ensuring that the conversations will be both meaningful and relatable.

Notable Quote:
Dax Shepard: "Take a breath. Do your mantra. Chill the fuck out. It's always happened. It'll always happen if you just chill out."
[54:09]

---

Conclusion

This episode offers a heartfelt exploration of friendship, personal struggles, and the evolving landscape of media. Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, and Dax Shepard provide listeners with profound insights into maintaining meaningful relationships and leveraging personal experiences to create authentic and impactful conversations. Whether you’re a fan of "Cheers," interested in podcasting, or on a personal journey towards sobriety, this episode delivers valuable takeaways wrapped in humor and genuine camaraderie.

---

Recommended for Listeners Who Enjoy:

• Deep, honest conversations about personal growth and challenges.
• Behind-the-scenes insights from veteran actors and podcast hosts.
• Humorous and heartfelt anecdotes from longstanding friendships.

Most Impactful Quotes:

• “If you own all your shit and talk about all your failings and your desires... It makes people relate to you.” – Dax Shepard
• “Take a breath. Do your mantra. Chill the fuck out. It's always happened. It'll always happen if you just chill out.” – Dax Shepard
• “We don't have to. 180. It's happening right now.” – Ted Danson

---

For More Episodes: Subscribe to "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform to stay updated on inspiring conversations with your favorite actors and guests.

Transcript

[Ted Danson]

You don't want to compromise on your vacation. In fact, you deserve more on vacation. Experience more with Norwegian Cruise Line. Find more amazing places to explore, more unique and longer itineraries, more time in port, and more entertainment and restaurant options on board NCL ships. Enjoy perks like unlimited open bars, specialty dining, free airfare for second guest, and excursion credits, too. There's more to a vacation with Norwegian. More to see, more to do, more to enjoy. Visit ncl.com call your travel advisor or 1-888-NCL cruise restrictions apply.

[Dax Shepard]

You're barely able to open an envelope. Your character. Right, Right. You're playing a dumb motherfucker, I think.

[Ted Danson]

Am I theory?

[Woody Harrelson]

Naive.

[Ted Danson]

Naive in a bird name. Welcome back to where everybody knows your name with me, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson. Sometimes today is a Woody day, and we're talking to my buddy Dax Shepard. Dax is married to Kristen Bell, also one of my favorite people, and he has all the things that I really admire in a person. He's incredibly intelligent, funny, charismatic, and probably due to his dedication to sobriety, one of the most truthful people I've ever met. He is an actor, comedian, filmmaker. He's hosted the hit podcast armchair expert since 2018. And the truth is we probably invited him here because we, we need to figure out how to do this. And he's one of the best. I have to preface this conversation with a warning. Dax's mind moves a mile a minute. So buckle up. You're in for a treat. Ladies and gentlemen, Dax Shepard.

[Woody Harrelson]

We'll be honest. We're nervous.

[Dax Shepard]

Wonderful.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

I'm sure Ted told you, but when he asked me to do it, I said I'm happy to come interview you two. So if at any point we want to just. 180 this, I'm happy to do that.

[Ted Danson]

We don't have to. 180. It's happening right now.

[Woody Harrelson]

Well, it already seems so much better to me to answer questions. Yes.

[Dax Shepard]

Right. A lot of. Lot of experience, a lot of practice. So my first thought when I learned of this, No, I just, I need to get some perfunctory things out of the way because when I first heard you guys were doing it in order, like, great. I love to hear these two. Second thought, oh, they must really have been friends. That's really comforting. Third, isn't Woody banging back edibles and vapes by like 11am by his own declaration. How will you manage that? And will the recording times reflect his imbibing period? This is literally my thought. Like, right when I Learned of it. I was like, how's Ted going to navigate that aspect?

[Ted Danson]

All of those things you just mentioned are true.

[Dax Shepard]

Okay.

[Woody Harrelson]

I did a little LSD before this, you know, because I just wanted to get in the right headspace.

[Dax Shepard]

Wonderful.

[Woody Harrelson]

But I don't think I did too much. No, but it's just coming on.

[Dax Shepard]

Your face is. Your face has an openness that only lysergic acid 22 can give a host. But you sound great.

[Ted Danson]

But to answer your question, Woody assured me that he does not work Stone.

[Woody Harrelson]

Oh, that is true.

[Dax Shepard]

Really? Even when you're. That's true. When you're acting, you don't especially.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah, well, I mean, even doing interview anything, I do not work, Stone, because it does not work for me.

[Dax Shepard]

I must be working.

[Woody Harrelson]

I go straight to paranoia.

[Dax Shepard]

Okay?

[Woody Harrelson]

And that's. We were talking yesterday, Georgie, that was the first time I experienced where, you know, I thought the show was over. And then we're up smoking, and then they're like, woody, come down for your monologue and cnc. And I'm like, what? And then came down. And what would have taken one. Took 10 takes. And Jimmy Burroughs was like, what the hell?

[Dax Shepard]

Where did Woody go? Did you go back up to the roof and bring Woody back down with you?

[Woody Harrelson]

It really is. It's a difficult thing for me. All the things that make pot great for me, like, just the relaxation, the communal aspect, they just all go out the window, and it's pure paranoia.

[Dax Shepard]

The dampening of the monkey brain. Is that what you get from it? That. The little organ grinder?

[Woody Harrelson]

Monkey organ grinder.

[Dax Shepard]

So who pitched this to you guys? And what. What are the fears?

[Woody Harrelson]

Oh, I'm glad you're saying this.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Woody Harrelson]

He pitched it to me as an idea, and I just immediately said yes, because you get. I get more Teddy time, which I would like to have.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah.

[Woody Harrelson]

And Georgie was the one who said, you know, the only way you're going to spend time with people because we're all so busy is if you work with them. So now we're getting, you know, daily encounters.

[Ted Danson]

And I had the same reaction about hanging with Woody, but before Woody came into the picture, it was, yeah, I would love to celebrate.

[Dax Shepard]

Cheers.

[Ted Danson]

Cheers. It's worth celebrating. And I wouldn't be here talking to you if it weren't for Cheers. So I'm very happy about that. And I would like. Then when Woody came on board, it was like, I also want to meet Woody's friends and introduce my friends to Woody, you know, and because I don't get out much. So this is a great way.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

To spend time with people.

[Dax Shepard]

You gotta. It is. It's embarrassing that we all have to work together. We have to figure out a way to work together to see each other. And it. I'm a little disheartened by it.

[Woody Harrelson]

No, you're right.

[Dax Shepard]

Like, I'll have someone on the show. Someone will come to my podcast, and I'm like, oh, that's right. This is my favorite person to spend two hours with. Why on earth can I figure out how to do that if it's not under the guise of work?

[Ted Danson]

Because you're married. You have 400. You know, you're juggling a lot of stuff, and you have two kids. Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

I guess that is the explanation.

[Woody Harrelson]

Well, but. But there is something.

[Ted Danson]

You're looking to work with a beard. Sorry.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah. You really do.

[Dax Shepard]

Oh, my gosh. Thank you, guys. Please.

[Woody Harrelson]

But, you know, your point is well taken in that, you know, why don't we spend time with, like, there's been so many projects I've done. At the end of it, I'm like, this family.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Woody Harrelson]

I will never let go of. I will see them all. The. And it just happens that you go your way and you're not in the same town or whatever.

[Dax Shepard]

It's particularly brutal when you're young and you have this job. Like, I definitely remember leaving my first movie. We were all in New Zealand for four months together making this movie, and I thought, well, I found my family finally. And then, yeah, you don't ever see any of it again. But it's truly heartbreaking at the beginning of it, before you get kind of accustomed to it, and then you almost feel too, like, was that fraudulent? Like, weren't we all in love?

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

And then just all this time passes.

[Ted Danson]

I made a movie, and the director said, if the movie makes over $60 million, you and I will be having dinner and hanging out a lot. If it's under 60 million, we won't see each other ever again. And it made $60 million.

[Dax Shepard]

On the dot.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, on the dot. So it was a push.

[Dax Shepard]

So what do you got? What have you done?

[Woody Harrelson]

Never saw him again.

[Dax Shepard]

Well, that'll explain probably why I haven't stayed in touch with many of the directors I've worked with, because I've only gotten a few over 60 million in the last 20 years. So that explains a lot.

[Ted Danson]

Hey, so you asked us about this podcast. Who asked you? Did you say, I'm going to do this? Or did somebody ask you? Or how'd that start for You.

[Dax Shepard]

Well, funny is that kind of gets said. But I felt very late. There was already. Marc Maron was already incredibly huge. There are many others that were really successful at the time. What led me to it was I like, you guys had been on late night talk shows. I mean, really probably 75 times, maybe more. So many late night talk shows which are fun. I really like them. We're in the house that a late night talk show built.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

I would go on other people's podcasts and I would go, oh my God, I don't feel like someone shot a starter pistol and I've got to be brilliant in eight minutes and if I'm not, there's no going back. And it's just, it's bit after bid and so fast. And I just, I did a few podcasts and I was like, oh my God, I can like chill and breathe. I can be all of me. Maybe there'll be some bits in there, but maybe there'll be a lot about trauma and sobriety or whatever else. And I would leave these long form podcasts and go like, I love that. Like, that is really enjoyable. And I would like to do that more often and with people I know. And so that was the impetus for it. It's just I had been a guest on many and always really, really loved it. I had never had a bad experience.

[Ted Danson]

But did you go, I've got a garage or a room up above this little shack here and I'm going to just do it and see where it goes? Or did you have.

[Dax Shepard]

That's what happened. Yeah, I just, yeah, we had bought this house that we've been renovating for five years and with it came above a garage, this, this old ATTIC that was 100 years old at that point. And we weren't doing anything to the attic. The house was going to be under construction. So I was like, okay, that's where I'll go record this thing. And Kristen was like, this is so adorable. You're going to have a little radio show in the attic of the new house. She was very supportive, but also very like, isn't this cute? And then through I guess the combined interest of her and I like, I don't think if I had come out with the podcast it would have broken through, but the very first episode was her and I. And also it didn't go well.

[Ted Danson]

Which a little argument or just.

[Dax Shepard]

Absolutely. She's, she's, she wants to be at Michael's buying yarn. Like that's what her day was gonna be about. Was going to Michael's and going, fucking any yarn she saw, she was going to buy. And she was like, when is this thing? And then she sat down and she had it in her mind that I was going to try to trick her into really revealing something. Which, of course, then I sensed that, and then I was annoyed. I was like, well, don't you fucking know I'm your protector. I would never. So now I'm triggered, and it's just a total locking of the antlers for 90 plus minutes. And then we somehow navigate out of it by the end. I heard it and I was like, this is terrible. This can't be released. It'll expose that we often can't stand each other. And I really sat on it for a minute. And then ultimately I was like, no, no, this is. This is great. This is great. You don't see this.

[Woody Harrelson]

That's what you dream of as a listener.

[Dax Shepard]

Mm. And that weirdly set the tone going forward, which was like, I. Well, because I was, to be honest, very embarrassed how I sounded in a bickering match with my wife. I thought I sounded one way, but when the audio evidence was presented to me, I was like, oh, boy, buddy, you're a little controlling and you gotta fucking clean up your act. Like, I was embarrassed by how I was acting. So my own vanity didn't want me to release it, but we did. And people really liked that. In fact, that's what they liked about it. And I thought, that's weird. I guess that's the lane I'll stay in. So most of it was about my failures, and then it became about the guests failures and the guests challenges and hurdles and the times they were defeated. Not the time they held a fucking statue above their head, but the time they were lost.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. And that's why every time you interview me, we talk about my psoriasis.

[Dax Shepard]

We got to get into our. It's not often. What's the saying, a fisherman always sees another fisherman at sea.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

You and I are the only two people I know as psoriatic arthritis, which is the grossest, unsexiest sounding condition. But we're brothers in that, aren't we?

[Ted Danson]

Yes, we are.

[Dax Shepard]

That's a bond. Psoriatic arthritis. I've reached a. Speaking of our condition, I've reached a phase where.

[Ted Danson]

Sit back, Woody.

[Woody Harrelson]

I'm loving this.

[Dax Shepard]

Now, Woody would never have to worry about this, because what I know about Woody is he eats completely air. Perfect. Yeah. He'll put any other thing in his fucking body.

[Ted Danson]

Drugs.

[Woody Harrelson]

Just drugs.

[Dax Shepard]

Yes. But if you Got to chew them, they got to be organic. But my skin started revolting. It used to just be my joints would hurt really bad if I had a flare up. But then it started being, oh, my eyebrows would flake, my skin would turn red. If you had that side of it.

[Ted Danson]

I could have made another Ted with the amount of, the amount of flake I had.

[Woody Harrelson]

I want the flaky Ted.

[Dax Shepard]

You, you.

[Ted Danson]

You work hard for your money. So when it comes, well, you do okay. You have to deal with me on a daily basis.

[Nick Offerman]

I mean, I work for my money, like hard.

[Dax Shepard]

I don't know.

[Ted Danson]

But you're saying that because you enjoy your work so it doesn't seem hard.

[Nick Offerman]

That's what I'm saying. Yes. Let's go with that.

[Ted Danson]

All right. You work hard for your money, Nick. So when it comes to your wireless plan, why would you give away your hard earned money to Big Wireless? It's time to make the switch to Consumer Cellular.

[Nick Offerman]

I feel like you're talking to me, not the listener. Now you're just talking.

[Ted Danson]

You, I'm working you. I tell you you're going to be switching before you even know it. And you'll be grateful. Consumer Cellular offers the same fast, reliable nationwide coverage as Big Wireless at up to half the cost and without the hidden fees or confusing long term contracts. With a flexible data plan, you only pay for the data you use, not the data you don't. Because that's just how it should be.

[Nick Offerman]

I agree.

[Ted Danson]

There's so many things to be proud of and happy to be a spokesperson for this organization.

[Nick Offerman]

I can feel the conviction. I know it's really, it's really coming across the table.

[Ted Danson]

It's genuine. You know, people would have believed it if you hadn't pointed that out. Now it seems like you have to point it out because they don't believe.

[Nick Offerman]

Now it seems fake.

[Ted Danson]

We can redo this for a limited time. You can sign up with Consumer Cellular and save $50 with promo code TED50.

[Nick Offerman]

Visit consumercellular.com TED50 or call 1-888-freedom-fention promo code TED50.

[Ted Danson]

That's consumercellular.com TED50 promo code TED50. Terms and conditions apply.

[Nick Offerman]

Savings based on Consumer cellular single line 1, 5 and 10 gigabyte data plans with unlimited talk and text compared to T Mobile and Verizon's lowest cost single line, postpaid unlimited talk, text and data plans. January 2024.

[Ted Danson]

When you're hiring for your small business, you want to find quality professionals that are right for the role. That's why you have to check out LinkedIn Jobs LinkedIn Jobs has the tools to help find the right professionals for your team faster and for free. LinkedIn isn't just a job board. LinkedIn helps you hire professionals you can't find anywhere else, even those who aren't actively searching. 70% of users don't visit other leading job sites. If you're not looking on LinkedIn, you're looking in the wrong place. LinkedIn knows that small businesses might not have the time or resources, so they're constantly finding ways to make the process easier. 86% of small businesses get a qualified candidate within 24 hours. They even just launched a feature that helps you write job descriptions, making the process even easier and quicker. Post your job for [e-mail] TedAndWoody that's LinkedIn.com TedAndWoody to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply. When you think about businesses that are selling through the roof, like Aloe or Allbirds or Skims or, oh, I don't know, old DVDs of Cheers, you think about a great product, a cool brand and brilliant marketing. But an often overlooked secret is actually the businesses behind the business. That business is Shopify. All right, I'm going to make this sound like I know exactly what I'm saying, even though I may not know exactly what I'm saying. It is the home of the number one checkout on the planet with shop pay that boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning way less carts going abandoned and way more sales. So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell whenever your customers are scrolling or strolling. Businesses that want to grow grow with Shopify. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout we use with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com TedAndWoody all lowercase go to shopify.com TedAndWoodie to upgrade your selling today. Shopify.com TedAndWoody See, here's one of the things I love and admire and am not in this place myself, but you because of your sobriety, you seem to be not seem to be. You're willing to go anywhere and you go with truth and humor and that to me is like so attractive that you will go anywhere and you don't have to worry about hiding some part of yourself. So all of you is available. I hide still. I do hide stuff.

[Dax Shepard]

Well, first of all, thank you so much. And also, no, I still have secrets. I will say that really, I do owe the credit of it from going to AA for 20 years, which is. I entered that situation. A, it's fucking awkward. B, I'm an atheist. C, I hate cults. D, I don't join clubs. Yeah, Every reason I would not be there. But I'm going to die if I don't go there. So it's a good motivator to embrace things you don't believe in.

[Woody Harrelson]

Do you have a certain group that you attend and. Or do you go around a different.

[Dax Shepard]

I don't dance around that much. No, I've been going to like a house meeting for 18 years. I host one.

[Woody Harrelson]

So it's the same people mostly.

[Dax Shepard]

Largely, I like a little sprinkling of variety because we all end up just right. Someone needs.

[Ted Danson]

Now.

[Woody Harrelson]

What about when someone comes in and it's like their first meeting and they're just. They got to be quite.

[Dax Shepard]

That's the best thing that can happen.

[Ted Danson]

To us, really, because it rejuvenates your.

[Dax Shepard]

You're reminded. Yeah, it's been. It's been. Now, look, I've relapsed in the last 19 years, but it has been 19 years since I drank alcohol and did cocaine. And I. All the stories now are funny because I lived and as is everyone in aa. Their stories are funny. But it's really helpful for someone to sit down on day one and look at their face and go, oh, no, no, that's right, you're close to suicide. Or you're close to have just died the night before. Like, you're fucking miserable. You don't wander in an AA meeting because you've had a great day. No. Wants to join AA but was immediately blown away by hearing men tell on themselves about things they've done or that they were wrestling with that would have a. You're not supposed to say that stuff out loud. You're supposed to keep that inside and let that eat away at you. And then you die. And no one knew. And observing the reaction, like, oh, people weren't like, oh, what a scumbag. They were like, oh, fucking hey, do I know that? Right? Like, what just happened? And just over time I thought, oh, this thing we were told is a total lie. If you own all your shit and talk about all your failings and your desires and all these ways, you're a shitty dad. It does not make people judge you. It makes people relate to you.

[Ted Danson]

Yes.

[Dax Shepard]

And I have said some stuff in the last six years that I was certainly scared to say. And there were even moments where I'm like, well, that'll finally be the time I said something too much and it just. To this point, that's never happened. It's always been more. I just hear like, holy shit, thank you. I was in that same spot last week or whatever it is, and the.

[Ted Danson]

Pill that would make it all go away instantly would cut you without sounding saccharine out of a. I will call it a spiritual trip. You call it whatever you want, but of self knowledge that makes you so much stronger and empathetic and with yourself and others around you. And, you know, it's. It's a gift.

[Dax Shepard]

Well, thank you.

[Ted Danson]

My favorite people are people who are sober and still find joy and excitement in life without whatever it was they did.

[Woody Harrelson]

Oh, yeah, the sober people who are Debbie Downers. My God. But, you know, I was thinking about. It just feels like a lot of people are saying, okay, well, you can take mushrooms or you can take lsd, or you can take these things that will liberate you and you will cure your depression. They've been talking a lot about mushrooms.

[Dax Shepard]

And rewire your neural pathways, but it's.

[Woody Harrelson]

Like, yeah, you can take that and it can bring you up to the elevator to the top of the mountain, but you still got to take the elevator back down and walk up, right?

[Dax Shepard]

Yes, yes. Well, what they're seeing, that was good. That's really good. Let's take a moment.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, you're right.

[Dax Shepard]

I was about to blow by that, and that was disrespectful. And I'm on your show.

[Woody Harrelson]

Thank you for.

[Dax Shepard]

That was a whopper.

[Woody Harrelson]

Wow.

[Dax Shepard]

You wouldn't be offended if I had that tattooed on my arm, would you? You won't claim trademark or anything, will you? They're doing a ton of work right now at Johns Hopkins studying the effect of psychedelics on people with ptsd, on addiction. Super promising.

[Ted Danson]

Genuine.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Really good science that really is. Just picking up where they stopped in the 70s once it became Schedule 1.

[Ted Danson]

Which was also about PTSD back in the 70s, it was about dealing with.

[Dax Shepard]

Trauma, Vietnam, all these young guys that were coming back. So, yes, in theory, it will form connections in that state that otherwise you really aren't going to be able to do. So I'm a big proponent of it. I think we're even in a really interesting place for sobriety, people in sobriety, people in aa. Bill Wilson, the founder of aa, famously was doing LSD therapy while sober and writing this book. That's curious. That's in the Michael Pollan documentary Almost God.

[Ted Danson]

Like, that book is like, wait, where did that come From. From one man who was a repeat.

[Dax Shepard]

Failure at everything and insolvent and all these other things. Yeah, it's kind of spooky. AA is fascinating for a trillion reasons, one of them just being there's no organization. It's an organization that has stayed together and grown year over year, and there's no leader. You can't call anyone to complain. No one's got the money. There is no money. All that is worth studying as far as just an organization.

[Woody Harrelson]

There's. There's enough money for the coffee.

[Dax Shepard]

Just enough for the coffee. And clearly not enough for the coffee because it's terrible. There's no Starbucks being brewed in the church basements. At least not the ones I've gone.

[Woody Harrelson]

That is amazing that it's like there's no leader of it. It just like these are like. Like a chapter of it will sprout up. And that's just sustained by the people who attend it, Right?

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

And I can't tell you you're doing it wrong. There's no one has authority. There's no deity. There's no prophet in.

[Ted Danson]

Just keeps showing up.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah. And so it has yet to get corrupted, which is, I think, almost impossible for any organization to exist and not get corrupted.

[Ted Danson]

Any organization, especially the spiritual ones that have a spiritual message, all of a sudden, the survival of that organization becomes more important.

[Dax Shepard]

Yes. In fact, it seems like almost all of them. In fact, I have crazy theories. You look at any of any organization like this that has a leader that is male, very soon after part of the spiritual experience will be fucking the leader of the cult or the religious organization that seems to be. The sacrament always lies within the testicles. Somehow. All roads lead to that.

[Ted Danson]

So just. Mary, my wife, had the best phrase for you. I said, what do you like about Dax? You know, and the sobriety and the honesty and all of that stuff. And then she said, your sense of humor is dazzling.

[Dax Shepard]

Oh, my God, what a wonderful.

[Ted Danson]

Dazzling.

[Dax Shepard]

What a great word.

[Ted Danson]

And he is so fast and dazzling. I find it very sexy. I just want to put that completely out there.

[Woody Harrelson]

She said sexy? That was the word?

[Ted Danson]

Yes.

[Woody Harrelson]

Whoa.

[Dax Shepard]

Peace out, guys. That's it. That's the end of the road for me and everyone.

[Woody Harrelson]

I mentioned that, you know, you were going to be here today. They're all blown away. They all love you. Every single. They're like, dax, are you kidding me? And yet, if my wife said the sexy part, I don't know. I don't know. There's trouble after that. I mean, I should. I respect That I okay about that. I mean, you are a sexy man. I can say it. I just don't want her saying it.

[Dax Shepard]

Listen, I understand that point of view. My wife worked with Ted for six.

[Ted Danson]

Five years, who's dazzlingly sexy herself.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

And I told her right out of the gates, if you don't bag Danzin, I'm fucking. You're. You ain't working hard enough. I'll be disappointed if you don't take the chance if ever presented, to lock lips with Sam alone. You're a coward. And you have my permission. So I think Mary's only meeting me a quarter of the way there, to be honest. But Mary has such an X factor. When you meet her, she is incredibly sexy. There's something very sexy about her. But what I'll say is curious. And this is a peek behind the curtain. We've spent a lot of time socially together, or not as much as I'd like, but enough.

[Ted Danson]

Yes.

[Dax Shepard]

And funny enough, she's the me in my relationship and you're the Kristen. So generally, when we have a double date, you and I pair off. Cause you're like, Kristen, I'm like, Mary, and Mary and Kristen pair off. And of course, I just want approval from all females. And I'm like, I like Mary, but it's a bummer we're the same person because I would like her to get my approval instead of Kristin's, but it's just not what she's in the market for. So you and I, you're stuck with me. Have you felt that?

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

What?

[Ted Danson]

I'm talking about our psoriatic conversations.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah, we can get talking about gluten, guys. Well, let's quickly talk about Cheers for one second.

[Ted Danson]

Your turn, Cheers.

[Dax Shepard]

Okay. I imagine the people you will talk to will have very specific memories of Cheers. Certainly. I was born in 75, so it really, to me, it was something like 60 Minutes. It just existed. This is a sitcom. It's on every day, I think. And it's been on forever, and it'll be on forever. It was like the standard I was born into. I didn't know anything about show business. I since got into it, and I recommend the pilot of Cheers nonstop to creative people and directors because. And I have watched the pilot of cheers probably 15, 20 times. It's the best pilot of all time. There's an efficiency to that pilot that is impossible. Right. You're maybe there first. We're just introducing one character after another into the bar. And by the time everyone's there, we know everybody. We Know exactly what they're gonna do. It's the best setup I've ever seen. It's so worth studying. And I'm sure there's a bunch of people responsible for that, but obviously Burroughs has got to be one of them.

[Woody Harrelson]

Well, Burroughs as the director, but the Charles brothers wrote that.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

I guess they would have designed that.

[Ted Danson]

That way we reshot the last scene, like, two or three times, you know? Cause we had time before it aired, so they'd go back and we'd shoot a show and then reshoot just to get it perfect. Yeah.

[Woody Harrelson]

Really?

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Woody Harrelson]

Know that.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. And Shelley Long was. Let's. Let's toot Shelley's horn. She. She. I don't think the audience had seen that character since Lucille Ball. You know, she was an amazing character, and she did it beautifully, and I think she really. Along with everybody, but she was kind of what put us on the map, I think.

[Dax Shepard]

Well, when you're trying to think about why things work, there's so many aspects. One of them is that, like, she was the engine in a sense. Right. And it allowed Sam Malone to be a counter puncher.

[Ted Danson]

Right. Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

And that's what you, Ted Danza, need to be doing to be perfect at being like. It's. It just lands perfectly into your skill set to be a counterpuncher. So it's like we don't know that Sam works without that.

[Ted Danson]

Yep.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

And when Sam. When Shelley left, I think we all. I don't know if you did, but I think we all wondered, uh. Oh, yeah. You know, my dance partner just left. Is this gonna work?

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah. On a car, like, you can lose one wheel, we can maybe limp at home on three, but when the motor gets lifted out, you start wondering.

[Ted Danson]

Well, that's. I mean, we're in the middle of a writer strike right now, but it's time to toot riders. Because we had Nick Colasanto who played the coach, and he was the heart and soul of Cheers. You know, in the beginning, people adored his character. Nikki died, and along comes Woody Harrelson. And within the end of the first episode he was in, people were madly in love with him. Yes, you're great and a wonderful actor, but the writing. The writing just went, you know, here. Love this person, too.

[Woody Harrelson]

That was Rhea Perlman's sister wrote that.

[Ted Danson]

Heidi.

[Woody Harrelson]

Heidi. Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

No kidding.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Woody Harrelson]

But thank you for saying that.

[Dax Shepard]

What's interesting, too, is that you, I would kind of compare. Not as much. Bear with the analogy.

[Ted Danson]

Yes. Yes.

[Dax Shepard]

But when you meet Henry Winkler.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

He's the sweetest man to ever walk on earth. And you go, how ironic. He played the Fonz, right? He was fucking motorcycles, leather jacket, snapping his fingers, not Henry Winkler. And you're playing like a fucking jock. Alpha male bar owner.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. And I couldn't be further from that.

[Dax Shepard]

But it works. Yeah, it's really incredible. Like, as I got to know you, like, I grew up with you as Sam Malone. You were first Sam Malone, before you were Ted. I told this story when I interviewed him. You'll like this. Ted was one of the first celebrities I ever saw in my life. I was in Beverly Hills. I was a motorcycle messenger in 95 when I moved to LA. I'm at a crosswalk, I look to my right, there's fucking Ted. Ted just standing next to me. And he said, he sees that, I see him and he says, huh, Beverly Hills, everyone's so rich. Wouldn't you think everyone be in a better mood? And I'm like, God, did this guy just deliver? I didn't even engage him. He gave me this thing, the light turned green, you walked on your way. And I thought, that guy's awesome. He just stopped and said that to me. And then I learned who Ted is, and he's just not Sam Malone. It's kind of fascinating. And then I'd say for you, similarly, you're playing a functional. You're barely able to open an envelope. Your character. Right, right. You're playing a dumb motherfucker.

[Ted Danson]

I think, am I theory?

[Woody Harrelson]

Naive.

[Ted Danson]

Naive, in a sense.

[Woody Harrelson]

I always preferred naive.

[Dax Shepard]

Well, sometimes you play naive and it reads as dumb. Sometimes you play in love, at least. No, But I do wonder, as you were moving through the world in that timeframe. Cause I too played a very popular dum dum in this movie, Idiocracy. And it is a peculiar existence when people know you for being a dumb dumb. And they meet you and then what you're hearing most often is like, well, you're not dumb. Yeah, it's a weird way to be.

[Woody Harrelson]

It's like the kindest flatter. You're not dumb. Oh, well, thank you.

[Dax Shepard]

And you realize, oh, everyone thinks I'm dumb. Of course they do. I'm playing a dumb dumb all the time.

[Woody Harrelson]

And, well, it was a thing for quite a while. I noticed myself, you know, when I meet people for the first time and I try to really show them how smart I was. And that was not me either.

[Ted Danson]

So, you know, I have a theory about that. I think that if you're gonna play a. In my case, a Womanizing, bar hopping, da da da. Sam Malone. If you were that in life, I don't think you would get the joke. It's too close. You can't do it justice.

[Dax Shepard]

I think I agree.

[Ted Danson]

And the same with you. If you were a, you know, if you were a Woody and not someone so bright as you are, then I don't think he could play it as well.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah, thank you for saying that, T. I knew that I needed that 30 years ago, but it's fine now.

[Ted Danson]

I owe you so much, buddy. I'll make up for it. I promise.

[Dax Shepard]

Really let that one ripen on the vine before he gave it to you. Is it as sweet as I would think after 30 years?

[Ted Danson]

Do you like podcasts, music and audiobooks? Because when you subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited, you get all three in one app. Imagine listening to your favorite podcasts and music on the go to work, school, the gym, or better yet, vacation. Now imagine being on vacation with your favorite audiobook from Audible and then listening to a new one every month from a huge selection of popular titles. That sounds like a pretty good vacation, right? Audible is now included on Amazon Music Unlimited. Download the Amazon Music app now to start listening. Terms apply for most of you in the country. The weather outside is getting a little bit chilly. Fall's coming. But I live in Southern California, so that's not really true. But I'll tell you something where I do this podcast. The little studio is freezing and I have found the solution. Quince has saved me. They have a cashmere sweater, a zip up cashmere sweater that is warm and cozy, beautiful to look at, and cost like about 50 to 80% less than similar products. I cannot wait to tell you about it. Okay, so Quince offers affordable, high quality essentials for any wardrobe. That's the copy. But once again, I can't tell you how excited I am with my Mongolian cashmere sweater. Zip up. It's from $60. I'm going back for the pants anyway. Quince only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices along with premium fabrics and finishes. And they partner with them directly, cutting out the cost of the middleman. So you can update your look without breaking the bank. Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with quince. Go to quince.com TedAndWoodie for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q U I N C E dot com Ted and Woody to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com TedAndWoody.

[Dax Shepard]

I guess I'm curious, having been on a couple shows that did well, but I, of course, did it in the 2000s.

[Ted Danson]

Parenthood.

[Dax Shepard]

Parenthood was pretty popular. Yeah. And I was on the show Punk. That was really popular.

[Ted Danson]

You made him cry. That's just wrong.

[Dax Shepard]

You gotta do. You gotta do what they tell you to do. Yeah. Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Right.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah. You're not there to make friends. You're there to break out and tell America, you should buy tickets to see me do things. He's got to go down.

[Ted Danson]

That show made me.

[Dax Shepard]

So if it's me or Timberlake, it's gonna be me walking out of there.

[Ted Danson]

I couldn't do that. I could not do that. I get.

[Dax Shepard]

I didn't like it.

[Woody Harrelson]

It's too sweet. Tea?

[Ted Danson]

No, I'm too chicken. I'm too.

[Woody Harrelson]

Really?

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. I lack courage. Guys. Let's. Let's call it for what it is anyway.

[Dax Shepard]

But can I ask what. What.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

That show is, to my knowledge, was the biggest show on television. What was the light switch like? And what were the 80s like?

[Ted Danson]

The light switch do. Do me that. What is it? What is it? What do you mean with the light switch?

[Dax Shepard]

Like, I'd imagine, Woody, you weren't on that show one week, and you went everywhere and you're anonymous. And then I imagine within a couple weeks of being on that show, everywhere you walked, people knew who you were.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah. That was quite a shift.

[Dax Shepard]

Like a dramatic.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah. From poverty and anonymity.

[Dax Shepard]

Turnkey.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah. But it really ultimately felt kind of right.

[Dax Shepard]

Wonderful. Wonderful.

[Ted Danson]

That's great.

[Woody Harrelson]

That thing of I can't get a table at the restaurant. Here's the best table. Just felt like a nice transition.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

I try to explain that to people, and it's a very gross topic to explore, which is like, some people transition into it quite effortlessly, and some people never really. To the man or Braun.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

And I guess for me, I took to it pretty well as well. And then I wondered why. And I think for me. And so I want to know really bad about your high school and junior high. I had a phase in junior high. It was the only time in my life where I was cute as hell. And my brother was five years older than me. He put me in the right clothes, I had the right haircut. And he's like, you're a skateboarder. I'm like, okay, let's do it. Showed up at junior high, and every older girl was like, who is this weirdo? I'm in. So I had three years of my life where I was Brad Pitt in my small town of Milford, Michigan. And it sounds crazy, but it did prep me because when I walked down the hallway, some people were pretty pumped. I just sound so arrogant to admit, but I did. I had a little three year window where I kind of was hot. And so when it happened again 20 years later, I was like, here we go, we're back in junior high. Took me 20 years to get back, but we're here.

[Woody Harrelson]

Get back to what feels right.

[Dax Shepard]

And now I can buy shit. Can I ask what kind of hole it left in both of your lives? Because it went on for what, a decade or so?

[Ted Danson]

It was 11 years. Eight for us together, right?

[Dax Shepard]

Yep.

[Ted Danson]

We were. You were on it for eight.

[Dax Shepard]

You.

[Ted Danson]

I'll tell you, there's. There was no hold for Woody. Woody. You went squirting out the door and did Natural Born Killer, Natural Born Killers, which was huge.

[Woody Harrelson]

Right.

[Ted Danson]

So I don't think you were thinking loss.

[Woody Harrelson]

Well, Natural Born Killers became huge, but it was huge in a bad way at first because, you know, at the time it was used as like a, you know, a model of how much Hollywood has infected the country with violence.

[Ted Danson]

Right.

[Dax Shepard]

And it was NC17 as well. That was a big story point.

[Woody Harrelson]

Was it? Actually, I don't want to disagree with you. I'm not sure.

[Dax Shepard]

I'm not either, but I feel like.

[Woody Harrelson]

But I know that there was a lot of censoring before he could. He had literally 150 cuts that the MPAA. Yeah. You know, our own governing board, our own censoring board that we created so as not to have the government do it was. Might as well have been the government.

[Ted Danson]

Because it felt like a roadmap to doing bad things. Or because it was identifying why. Why do you think?

[Woody Harrelson]

Well, because what it decided seemed sometimes pretty random and also really worked to the detriment of the artist's vision, which is really the main problem with it. But anyway, I just wanted to say when it came out, it was like blasted by the media as an example of. But what was ironic was like really more satirical than it was meant to be satirical about that very thing.

[Dax Shepard]

What they were protesting was also the point of the film.

[Woody Harrelson]

Right.

[Dax Shepard]

That's what was weird about it, was saying exactly what they were saying.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so intentional for. For a long and for years I knew when there'd been a school shooting or something, because I'd be walking through the airport and I'd see on the. On the TV's images of natural Born Killers and I'd be like, okay, someone Something happened, and they always would use it as the example of the most heinous, you know, crime in terms of violence in a movie. So anyway.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah.

[Woody Harrelson]

But then ultimately it's accepted as a really good movie, so.

[Dax Shepard]

But I'm just remembering, you actually did White Man Can't Jump before that. Right? Yeah, that was the. Was that the first off of Cheers? Big shot you got?

[Ted Danson]

Was it during Cheers or Tail?

[Woody Harrelson]

That was during Cheers. Yeah, that's just before that. I did Doc Hollywood with Michael J. Fox.

[Ted Danson]

Hey, you know what? You pretty well you.

[Woody Harrelson]

Sorry, Teddy.

[Ted Danson]

Want to tell that story?

[Woody Harrelson]

What do you mean? Son of a bitch, what's the story? I don't even know.

[Dax Shepard]

Was that your role that he stole.

[Ted Danson]

Off from under you?

[Woody Harrelson]

Oh, you were going to do that?

[Ted Danson]

No, no, no. Oh, you've forgotten. All right, here it is. I'm getting angry just all over again.

[Dax Shepard]

Oh, wonderful.

[Ted Danson]

Okay, so he was very sweet.

[Dax Shepard]

Should I get your Zaljans this Dreskin and create an outburst of.

[Ted Danson]

Sorry. Okay. So Woody comes to me and says, teddy, the show has a premiere, and it would mean so much to me if you came. And I was, like, so touched and so sweet. And the evening, I walk in and he says, right here. I saved seats for you. Right here I go. My God, the kid loves me. He really does. This is astounding, going through the movie, and it's all sweet and wonderful, and towards the end of the movie, Michael and the kind of hickey town that he brings them all, including Woody's character, to Hollywood, and they're sitting in a, you know, like a drugstore fountain area looking at, you know, being excited about the Hollywood figures they're seeing. And the line was, oh, oh, look, there's a movie star. And then what? He says, no, that's Ted Danson. The entire. The entire audience roars with laughing, you know, and so I had to sit there going, ah, yeah, that was a good one.

[Dax Shepard]

Stab.

[Ted Danson]

Stab in the heart.

[Woody Harrelson]

I thought you might think it was funny, but I guess not. No, you left out one word. That's just Ted Dance.

[Dax Shepard]

That was the line.

[Ted Danson]

That's just Ted Dance.

[Dax Shepard]

Even worse.

[Ted Danson]

Oh, see?

[Dax Shepard]

Even worse.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, I did get you back. I don't know if you. If it made the cut, but Seth MacFarlane's film, Ted, they wanted me, Ted Danson, to be interviewed about the Cheers years. And the funny thing was, I was all coked up and whatever, and they're watching it on the tv, and I got to say something like, oh, and Woody Harrelson smallest penis I'VE ever seen on a man.

[Woody Harrelson]

No, I didn't see that, Teddy. Well, wow.

[Ted Danson]

It's in the podcast now, my friend. Yeah. Okay, I'm walking.

[Woody Harrelson]

We can admit that you're just joking about that now that we're, you know, on the same.

[Ted Danson]

I am not. Well, actually, I have, haven't I? Never mind. Moving on.

[Dax Shepard]

But Ted said. I see you're. That's just Ted. Dan's. And I raise you, micro penis. I'm all in. In fact, with this microphone might end everything. But doesn't that go to say, even on your watch, how that would have been a huge burn? It was a huge burn in the 80s. That's not a movie star. That's a TV star. The irony now that no TV is where all this amazing work's being done, everyone recognizes actually how challenging it is to be on something that runs. You do a movie, it's one of 30. You do a show, it's one of 350 pitches they bought that month. It's one of 35 pilots that got made. It's one of four that got picked up, and it's one of a thousand that went season two. And that the triumph of that now is understood. And there isn't that chasm. But then that was a real thing. You were probably actually embarrassed by that.

[Ted Danson]

Did you hear that, Woody? Did you hear that? The whole movie star thing is really, like, blown out of proportion.

[Woody Harrelson]

I'm still not talking to you. Micro penis.

[Ted Danson]

The smallest penis I've ever seen.

[Woody Harrelson]

That is. Now, you know that's not true. Now, granted, I talk about my dosing, I'm a middling, you know, I'm in the middle of the road type of guy.

[Dax Shepard]

But the things you do with it, the things that you do with it are far from mediocre. Thank you. Yeah, it might be middle of the road, but you're on. You're on. You're on a country back road when you.

[Ted Danson]

We get to ask you questions now for our benefit, which is.

[Dax Shepard]

Let me tell you one funny story that is about me that just was. I was reminded of it because of this little snafu. Yeah. That mean joke that your friend Woody made about you.

[Ted Danson]

Very mean.

[Dax Shepard]

Kristen, you. I think you were there, Ted, you were probably there. Either Kristen was nominated for a Golden Globe or Mike Schur was. Or the show was something to do with Good place. We go to the Golden Globes, and part of your monkey brain is like, we did it. We're at the Golden Globes with everybody. You know, we left our small Towns. Here we are at the Golden Globes. We're dressed up, you're feeling pretty good. You're walking around, you're like, oh, wow. Some people know me here. Like, I actually. I belong here.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

And right when you're feeling it, the show starts, and Jim Carrey's up there, and he starts doing a bit about how he's no longer sitting on the floor. Cause he's now on tv. And the TV people sit way in back. And now the camera's following Jim Carrey through the audience. And you realize, I think Jim Carrey's coming to our table to make fun of us sitting up here. Oh, it's never too late to be the freshman.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

Not invited to the party. All these layers within layers, and all of a sudden, we're all just smiling along. But the bit is, here's where the fucking losers.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. The movie star wannabes.

[Dax Shepard]

The thing flipped on a dime. We were just feeling really radical about being here. And now we realize now we're in the nosebleeds.

[Ted Danson]

I always feel like you've. You've got a. You've got a numbers, you know, Scotch tape to your back that you can't see, but it's your ranking, you know, and you walk in the room, but.

[Dax Shepard]

It is over there.

[Woody Harrelson]

All glory is fleeting, that's for sure.

[Ted Danson]

Can we sincerely pick your brain?

[Dax Shepard]

Yes.

[Ted Danson]

What's. What's. A couple of genuine things to remember as we embark on our. On our podcast journey.

[Dax Shepard]

Well, one thing I can at least pass on, and this came from Chris Hardwick, who, again, another pioneer, someone who had really been already doing it six years when I got in and was already hugely successful and sold the company. I interviewed him, and. Very uncharacteristic of me, because I hate availing myself to help or I can't ask for help. I have a very hard time. I said to him, do you have any advice? And he said, go ahead and research. But you really got to throw that away. Because what inevitably happen is you'll have discovered a few stories about the person that you want them to tell, and then when they tell it, all that'll happen was you'll get to check that off your list, because you knew it was coming, you orchestrated it, and it's like, check. He's like, what you really want to do is stumble into a story you didn't know was coming, because your reaction will be that of a new novel story, and you'll be engaged in a way. He's like. And mind you, I have not accomplished what he advised, but it did. I still research like a motherfucker, But I really. In my mind, that thing's just like this safety net that's way below us. It's, like, only there if I need to dig it out and the person's not that engaged. But I think the whole thing is very similar to acting, which is. Right. Like, you learn the lines, but then you somehow have to do this mental trick where you ditch them and you pretend you don't know what you're gonna say for the next four minutes. And it's a little mental trick, but I think with. In doing that, you'll discover way better stuff than you were hoping to pull out. I think that's the best advice he.

[Woody Harrelson]

Gave me, which I wonder also, if you're making that analogy to acting. It's also like, in acting, you never really succeed at what you're doing, if that's even the right word, or do a good job at what you're doing unless you can relax. And so, like, there's all these obstacles in the brain. Like, I don't know how to podcast. I don't know how to interview. I've never done it. I don't know.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Woody Harrelson]

And so all these things that create fear in you. I know Teddy can relate to this, even though he's gonna just be quiet about it. But there's this fear that you somehow have to, you know, just step over. Yeah. Get around that.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah. You want to walk over there, and you're gonna have to step over some things, and one of them's imposter syndrome. Fear. Whatever. But then you have to remember, I've been at many parties with you. I've been on a set with you. You love shooting the shit. You have that curiosity about other human beings, and you are fascinated by other human beings. You study other human beings. So you already have everything you need. I'm not shocked that you said that. For you, relaxing is the number one component, because I put you in a category with Bill Murray.

[Ted Danson]

Wow.

[Dax Shepard]

Try not to fucking collapse from that compliment, because he is the North Star of all things, in my opinion. He and Letterman. Lights out. Those are the guys from when I was born. Till now. Those are the two. Those are my heroes. Right.

[Woody Harrelson]

And Burt Reynolds.

[Dax Shepard]

Love Burt Reynolds. Did a movie with him. Got to be friends with him. Yeah. He's who I wanted to be. I wanted to drive a fucking Trans Am and run from the law and drink Coors and fuck Sally Field.

[Ted Danson]

You did.

[Dax Shepard]

I did marry Sally 2.0. Yeah. Kristen's very much, Sally, in my opinion, but just who I respect. And I was watching Letterman interview Bill Murray, and Letterman said, both guys hate compliments, as we all do. It's funny. He said, you know, you've got to recognize, Bill, that you started a comedic paradigm that is still going on. People are still doing what you invented. How do you explain how you're able to do that? And of course, he's not dying to admit he invented a fucking comedy paradigm, but he goes, I guess the only thing I figured out is if I relax, it'll all happen.

[Ted Danson]

Wow.

[Woody Harrelson]

Wow.

[Dax Shepard]

And I was like, oh, thank you for that. That might be the most powerful thing I've heard about acting or anything really. Podcasting. Anything.

[Woody Harrelson]

Yeah.

[Dax Shepard]

Fucking trust that the fight will come to you and you'll know how to counter punch and it'll all be there. And it's really for me. I'm sure other performers need other things, but for me, that's it. Take a breath. Do your mantra. Chill the fuck out. It's always happened. It'll always happen if you just chill out. So I'm delighted to hear that's your main thing.

[Ted Danson]

We're having trouble with our outros because it feels scripted and we're asking people to rate the show and rate it.

[Woody Harrelson]

And subscribe to Apple, whatever.

[Ted Danson]

How do you do your. Give us a hint on outros.

[Dax Shepard]

Boy, that's a good and a hard question. I mean, do you guys have written outros? Let me. Let me read it.

[Woody Harrelson]

This is great.

[Dax Shepard]

Now we're really finding out how the sausage is made.

[Woody Harrelson]

That's fine. You're written out, Drew.

[Dax Shepard]

Oh, even I have some dialogue. I didn't get these sides you're doing. I wasn't giving. So I'm gonna do. I'm gonna do Woody and then I'm gonna do Ted. Let's see if you can tell the difference. I don't do an impression of either of you. Well, that's it for this week's show. That's Woody again. To Dan Shepard for joining us. We had a great time going deep with him. We'll see you back here next week. If you love the podcast, tell a friend, subscribe on Apple podcasts and give us a five star Ray. This is a terrible, Ted, but here we are rating and review. It'll really help us a bunch. Love you all. Back to Woody. Thanks, Dan, for coming in.

[Ted Danson]

Well, Dax, thank you. I love you. And I love you too, Woody. And thank you for being here. Listeners, please go back and listen to our previous episode with Kristen Bell. You'll get her side of their relationship, including the story of how they met, which is a good one. That's it for this week's show. Special thanks to our friends at Team Coco. You know the drill. Tell a friend if you like the show and give us a great review on Apple podcast if you like. I find that, you know, like when you rate, I don't know, a delivery service or something, it's so much easier just to hit the five stars all at once than to try to figure out if you want to do a one or two or three. So just nail that five and you know, what the heck, why not? Back here with you next week where everybody knows your name.

[Nick Offerman]

You've been listening to where everybody knows your name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson Sometimes. The show is produced by Me Liao. Executive producers are Adam Sacks, Colin Anderson, Jeff Ross and myself. Sara Fedorovich is our supervising producer. Our senior producer is Matt Abadaka. Engineering and mixing by Joanna Samuel with support from Eduardo Perez. Research by Alyssa Gr? Tal Talent booking by Paula Davis and Gina Batista. Our theme music is by Woody Harrelson, Antony Gen, Mary Steenbergen and John Osborne. Special thanks to Willie Maverick. We'll have more for you next time. Where everybody knows you're in.

[Ted Danson]

When work gets crazy, I like to stop by the bar after have a few cold ones. I don't drink at all until 4:00. We limit ourselves to one bottle of wine a night. Excessive drinking has a way of sneaking up on us. A few drinks a few nights a week, it can add up and suddenly we're at greater risk for long term problems like heart disease, cancer and depression. Reason enough to rethink the Drink [e-mail] an OHA initiative.

[Nick Offerman]

I won't let my moderate to severe.

[Ted Danson]

Plaque psoriasis symptoms define me.

[Kristen Bell]

Emerge as you in two clinical studies, Trimphia guselcomab taken by injection provided 90% clear skin at 16 weeks in 7 out of 10 adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. In a study, nearly 7 out of 10 patients with 90% clearer skin at 16 weeks were still clearer at 5 years. At 1 year and thereafter, patients and healthcare providers knew that trimphia was being used. This may have increased results. Results may vary.

[Ted Danson]

Serious allergic reactions may occur. Trimphia may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms of infection, including fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough. Tell your doctor if you had a vaccine or plan to emerge.

[Kristen Bell]

As you learn more about Tremfya, including important safety information, at tremfya.com or call 1-877-578-3527. See our ad in Food and Wine magazine. For patients prescribed Tremfya, cost support may be available.