The Intimate Animal
Justin R. Garcia PhD
Mentioned 5 months ago
Justin Garcia (on the science of sex)
Book Recommendations
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Hi, I’m Dax Shepard, and I love talking to people. I am endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human, and I find people who are vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings to be incredibly sexy. I invite you to join me as I explore other people’s stories. We will celebrate,...
Episodes
846
Books
630
Recently mentioned
Latest Recommendations
Sexual Behavior in the Human Female by Alfred C Kinsey (1998-05-01)
Alfred C. Kinsey
Mentioned 5 months ago
Justin Garcia (on the science of sex)
Sexual Behavior in the Human Female
Alfred C. Kinsey
Mentioned 5 months ago
Justin Garcia (on the science of sex)
The Spider and the Fly
Claudia Rowe
Mentioned 5 months ago
Claudia Rowe (on the foster care system)
Empire of Orgasm
Ellen Huet
Mentioned 5 months ago
Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)
The 4-Hour Body
Timothy Ferriss
Mentioned 5 months ago
Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)
The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Mentioned 5 months ago
Marcello Hernández
Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors
Joseph Lopez
Mentioned 6 months ago
Elizabeth Smart
The Neverending Story
Michael Ende
Mentioned 6 months ago
Elizabeth Smart
Guinness World Records 2026
Guinness World Records
Mentioned 6 months ago
Elizabeth Smart
The Wright Brothers
David McCullough
Mentioned 6 months ago
David McWilliams (on the history of money)
The History of Money
David McWilliams
Mentioned 6 months ago
David McWilliams (on the history of money)
Most Recommended
Maybe Now
A Novel (Maybe Someday)
He also highlighted Someday Now as a warm, reflective book worth checking out.
"
And Someday Now, which everyone says is incredibly warm and reflective.
— Episode: Holiday Dinner 2025
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Episode: Holiday Dinner 2025
He also highlighted Someday Now as a warm, reflective book worth checking out.
"
And Someday Now, which everyone says is incredibly warm and reflective.
Anatomy of a Breakthrough
How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most
They said they had been reading the book after the Golden Globes because they felt stuck, and it helped them think about writing again.
"
I was just reading a book called The Anatomy of a Breakthrough because I just felt stuck. After the Golden Globes, I took a month off and was like how do I even write again? It has re...
— Episode: Rerelease: Nikki Glaser
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Episode: Rerelease: Nikki Glaser
They said they had been reading the book after the Golden Globes because they felt stuck, and it helped them think about writing again.
"
I was just reading a book called The Anatomy of a Breakthrough because I just felt stuck. After the Golden Globes, I took a month off and was like how do I even write again? It has really been helping me. There's this one part about the guy that Ray Solo climbs...
Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking
Over 20 Million Copies Sold
They mentioned the book as a method they read years ago to quit smoking, noting that it worked for them and that everyone loves it.
"
I had 12 years ago and quit drinking. Alan Carr. Alan Carr. The easy way. Everyone loves that. So what happens? Because I'm just curious. I think I heard Ellen on Jay Leno's Tonight Show talk about qu...
— Episode: Rerelease: Nikki Glaser
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Episode: Rerelease: Nikki Glaser
They mentioned the book as a method they read years ago to quit smoking, noting that it worked for them and that everyone loves it.
"
I had 12 years ago and quit drinking. Alan Carr. Alan Carr. The easy way. Everyone loves that. So what happens? Because I'm just curious. I think I heard Ellen on Jay Leno's Tonight Show talk about quitting that way, quitting smoking. I heard maybe Ashton Kutcher. It was a couple of celebrities had talked about it and I was like, oh, I'll just get the book to see what happens. And then I was ready to quit smoking. And I just was like, I'll read it because you get to smoke while you read it. That's the thing that made me go, okay, great. And then by the end of it, he goes, have your last cigarette, but I bet you don't want one. And he's right. You just don't want one.
The Hemingses of Monticello
An American Family
Dax highlighted Annette GordonReed's acclaimed biography of the JeffersonHemings relationship.
"
She wrote The Hemings of Monticello.
— Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & hi...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & historian)
Dax highlighted Annette GordonReed's acclaimed biography of the JeffersonHemings relationship.
"
She wrote The Hemings of Monticello.
The Tyranny of the Meritocracy
Democratizing Higher Education in America
Dax suggested bringing Michael Sandel onto the show to discuss his book critiquing modern meritocracy.
"
Michael Sandel has a good book. You got to get him on the show called The Tyranny of Meritocracy because the meritocracy got a lot wrong.
— Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & hi...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & historian)
Dax suggested bringing Michael Sandel onto the show to discuss his book critiquing modern meritocracy.
"
Michael Sandel has a good book. You got to get him on the show called The Tyranny of Meritocracy because the meritocracy got a lot wrong.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
A novel
A listener mentioned finishing the novel and called it their favorite book of the past decade, noting it made them feel melancholy.
"
I finished a book Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Which is my favorite book I've read in the past decade. And that also made me feel so melancholy.
— Episode: Cher
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Cher
A listener mentioned finishing the novel and called it their favorite book of the past decade, noting it made them feel melancholy.
"
I finished a book Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Which is my favorite book I've read in the past decade. And that also made me feel so melancholy.
The Hemingses of Monticello
An American Family
It was cited as a book written by Annette GordonReed that explores the lives of Thomas Jefferson's enslaved family.
"
She wrote The Hemings of Monticello.
— Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & hi...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & historian)
It was cited as a book written by Annette GordonReed that explores the lives of Thomas Jefferson's enslaved family.
"
She wrote The Hemings of Monticello.
The Tyranny of the Meritocracy
Democratizing Higher Education in America
It was referenced as a book by Michael Sandel that critiques modern meritocratic systems.
"
Michael Sandel has a good book called The Tyranny of the Meritocracy.
— Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & hi...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & historian)
It was referenced as a book by Michael Sandel that critiques modern meritocratic systems.
"
Michael Sandel has a good book called The Tyranny of the Meritocracy.
Heart the Lover
Cher mentioned finishing the book during a break, calling it a sad story that left her feeling melancholy.
"
I finished a book though over the break. It's called Heart the Lover. I finished it. It was really sad and made me feel melancholy.
— Episode: Cher
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Cher
Cher mentioned finishing the book during a break, calling it a sad story that left her feeling melancholy.
"
I finished a book though over the break. It's called Heart the Lover. I finished it. It was really sad and made me feel melancholy.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
A novel
Cher said it was her favorite book of the past decade after finishing it following Heart the Lover.
"
I finished Heart the Lover, then I thought when I finished Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, which is my favorite book I've read in the past decade.
— Episode: Cher
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Cher
Cher said it was her favorite book of the past decade after finishing it following Heart the Lover.
"
I finished Heart the Lover, then I thought when I finished Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, which is my favorite book I've read in the past decade.
The Catcher in the Rye
The hosts noted that a test question included The Catcher in the Rye even though it wasn't part of the material they were discussing.
"
They put in Catcher in the Rye, which wasn't in the book.
— Episode: Rerelease: Walton Goggins
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Episode: Rerelease: Walton Goggins
The hosts noted that a test question included The Catcher in the Rye even though it wasn't part of the material they were discussing.
"
They put in Catcher in the Rye, which wasn't in the book.
The History of Money
A Story of Humanity
The hosts described the book as absolutely fascinating, noting it blends history and economics and moves quickly with many characters and stories. They praised it as a fun ride that teaches the history of money while being entertaining.
"
Alas, David McWilliams' book is called The History of Money, and it's absolutely fascinating.
— Episode: David McWilliams (on the history of mone...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: David McWilliams (on the history of money)
The hosts described the book as absolutely fascinating, noting it blends history and economics and moves quickly with many characters and stories. They praised it as a fun ride that teaches the history of money while being entertaining.
"
Alas, David McWilliams' book is called The History of Money, and it's absolutely fascinating.
I love this book and I'll tell you why it's a great read because it is every bit as much a history book as it is a book about money; you learn so many fascinating details from the beginning until now, it's a very fun ride and it's wonderful The History of Money a story of humanity.
The Neverending Story
The book was mentioned as the childhood movie that scared Elizabeth, and she recalled it being a beautiful story about a boy on an adventure.
"
The movie that scared me most as a kid was The Neverending Story. Oh yeah, sure. Oh, it scared you. Oh, I hated it. You hated a tray with a huge dog or? I mean, honestly, I haven't wa...
— Episode: Elizabeth Smart
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Elizabeth Smart
The book was mentioned as the childhood movie that scared Elizabeth, and she recalled it being a beautiful story about a boy on an adventure.
"
The movie that scared me most as a kid was The Neverending Story. Oh yeah, sure. Oh, it scared you. Oh, I hated it. You hated a tray with a huge dog or? I mean, honestly, I haven't watched it since then. So I couldn't even tell you what it's about. Oh, wow. It's a beautiful story about a little boy on an adventure.
Guinness World Records 2026
The book was referenced when Elizabeth's sister was looking at a page about an extremely muscular woman, illustrating the family's casual reference to the famous records compendium.
"
My sister is looking at the Guinness Book of World Records.
— Episode: Elizabeth Smart
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Elizabeth Smart
The book was referenced when Elizabeth's sister was looking at a page about an extremely muscular woman, illustrating the family's casual reference to the famous records compendium.
"
My sister is looking at the Guinness Book of World Records.
Guinness World Records 2026
She mentioned that her sister was looking at the Guinness Book of World Records and pointed out a muscular woman on a page.
"
She was looking at the Guinness Book of World Records and pointed out a muscular woman on the page.
— Episode: Elizabeth Smart
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Elizabeth Smart
She mentioned that her sister was looking at the Guinness Book of World Records and pointed out a muscular woman on a page.
"
She was looking at the Guinness Book of World Records and pointed out a muscular woman on the page.
The 4-Hour Body
An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman
The conversation noted that Tim Ferriss mentioned OneTaste in his bestselling health book, highlighting its cultural relevance.
"
Tim wrote about One Taste in the four hour body.
— Episode: Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)
The conversation noted that Tim Ferriss mentioned OneTaste in his bestselling health book, highlighting its cultural relevance.
"
Tim wrote about One Taste in the four hour body.
The 4-Hour Body
An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman
The conversation noted that Tim Ferriss mentioned OneTaste in his book The 4-Hour Body, using it as an example of a wellness practice.
"
Tim wrote about One Taste in the four-hour body.
— Episode: Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)
The conversation noted that Tim Ferriss mentioned OneTaste in his book The 4-Hour Body, using it as an example of a wellness practice.
"
Tim wrote about One Taste in the four-hour body.
Why We Dream
The Transformative Power of Our Nightly Journey
Dax mentioned Alice Robb's forthcoming book, noting its title as "Why We Dream, The Transformative Power" while discussing the role of dreams and technology.
"
I asked Alice Robb, author of the forthcoming book, Why We Dream, The Transformive Power.
— Episode: Brian Chesky (co-founder of airbnb)
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Brian Chesky (co-founder of airbnb)
Dax mentioned Alice Robb's forthcoming book, noting its title as "Why We Dream, The Transformative Power" while discussing the role of dreams and technology.
"
I asked Alice Robb, author of the forthcoming book, Why We Dream, The Transformive Power.
Walt Disney
The Triumph of the American Imagination
Brian noted that he had just finished reading a new biography of Walt Disney authored by Neil Gabler, highlighting its relevance to his own design and storytelling interests.
"
I read a biography about Walt Disney by Neil Gabler.
— Episode: Brian Chesky (co-founder of airbnb)
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Brian Chesky (co-founder of airbnb)
Brian noted that he had just finished reading a new biography of Walt Disney authored by Neil Gabler, highlighting its relevance to his own design and storytelling interests.
"
I read a biography about Walt Disney by Neil Gabler.
The Blessing of a B Minus
Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Resilient Teenagers
The hosts listed this title as another of Mogel's bestselling works that parents might find helpful.
"
Her books are wildly popular and wonderful. Voice lessons for parents, The Blessing of a Skin Knee, and The Blessing of a B-.
— Episode: Wendy Mogel
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Wendy Mogel
The hosts listed this title as another of Mogel's bestselling works that parents might find helpful.
"
Her books are wildly popular and wonderful. Voice lessons for parents, The Blessing of a Skin Knee, and The Blessing of a B-.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.