Transcript

Wyna Wink, Elizabeth Smart, Groot Fan Mail | Fact Check for Elizabeth Smart

From Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 55 min · 10,986 words · 343 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Wyna Wink, Elizabeth Smart, Groot Fan Mail | Fact Check for Elizabeth Smart", an episode of Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard published January 21, 2026 (55 min, about 10,986 words). It mentions 9 people, works and ideas, including Elizabeth Smart, Dak Shepard, Armchair Expert, Joseph Lopez, Golden Globe.

What this episode is about

In this discussion, Hermy and Perium share an exciting update about their interaction with the New York Times PR team regarding the "Connections" game, sparked by a previous conversation about Dax Shepard's podcast. They express their enthusiasm for potential swag from the collaboration and explore their curiosity about other interests of Wyna, the creator of "Connections," while deliberating the need for further validation of their assumptions.

Key takeaways

  • When your life blurs into a game of Connections, you know you're onto something special.
  • Even stars need proof—they're not above a little fanfare for their favorite creators.
  • A wink from Wina > a Golden Globe—because validation from a creator feels deeply personal.
  • The glam life isn't all glitz: Behind every photo op is a hidden struggle.
  • Color us surprised: even the glamorous find cold weather tricky without a jacket!

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Armchair Expert, Dak Shepard, Golden Globe
  2. – 15:00: Dak Shepard, Griffith Park
  3. – 20:00: Armchair Expert, Golden Globe
  4. – 30:00: Joseph Lopez, Mave and Charlie Meet the Neighbors
  5. – 35:00: Golden Globe
  6. – 45:00: Elizabeth Smart, Salt Lake
  7. – 50:00: Elizabeth Smart
  8. – 54:55: Monica Lewinsky

Notable quotes from "Wyna Wink, Elizabeth Smart, Groot Fan Mail | Fact Check for Elizabeth Smart"

  • I saw Dax's recent Instagram story about Connections, which inspired me to reach out. were huge fans of Armchair Expert and knowing that Dax is a fan of connections and New York Time New York.
    about Dak Shepard · at
  • Yeah. Anyway, we do love connections. So it's just if you had to pick between a wink from Wina on connections or a Golden Globe, what's your pick?
    about Golden Globe · at
  • On my bed meditating and quite often I start it's dark and then at the end of that 20 minutes I open my eyes and I can see the hillside of Griffith Park is now lit up.
    about Griffith Park · at
  • Joseph Lopez, thank you. This made everyone's day. This is so sweet.
    about Joseph Lopez · at
  • And he's like overhearing me talk about this whole thing and she and he goes cuz he lived in Salt Lake during that time.
    about Salt Lake · at
  • Yeah. He didn't connect the dots Oh, that might be Elizabeth Smart. Cuz then maybe he would feel anyone who Look, any human with a conscience that then learns what happened to her that.
    about Elizabeth Smart · at
  • Talk about it and help people like it's so helpful. And we have a handful of people like that, like Amanda Knox and even like Monica Lewinsky who are just like decide to put…
    about Monica Lewinsky · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Elizabeth Smart — Person · Referenced survivor / subject of discussion · 2 mentions · first at
    Central to the latter part of the fact check: they discuss the twists of her kidnapping case, public sightings, and her resilience and advocacy.
  • Dak Shepard — Person · Host (referenced in fact-check segment) · 2 mentions · first at
    Referenced as the Armchair Expert host whose Instagram story about NYT Connections prompted outreach; also appears in a humorous aside about hair length.
  • Joseph Lopez — Person · Listener/fan (sender of fan mail) · 2 mentions · first at
    Credited for sending a personalized, signed children’s book dedicated to ‘Groot,’ creating a light, celebratory beat in the episode.
  • Monica Lewinsky — Person · Referenced example of trauma-to-advocacy public figure · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as a comparison point—someone who has publicly processed personal trauma and used it to help others, similar to other guests discussed.

Books & papers

  • Mave and Charlie Meet the Neighbors — Book · Fan mail gift · 1 mention · first at
    Received as fan mail for Groot, mentioned in a light-hearted discussion.
    Groot was sent by Joseph Lopez a book. Oh, wow.

Products & tech

  • Armchair Expert — Product · Podcast mentioned · 4 mentions · first at
    Discussed as a podcast that the New York Times PR team are fans of.
    Oh, yeah. Monday we were discussing the armchair expert on connections.

Places & events

  • Golden Globe — Event · Referenced event · 3 mentions · first at
    Mentioned in a hypothetical comparison about receiving recognition.
  • Salt Lake — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in the context of a personal story related to a kidnapping case.
  • Griffith Park — Place · Personal reference · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in a personal anecdote about meditation and the view.

Full transcript with timestamps

Hi there. This is Hermy and Perium. If you like that, you're going to love the fact check with Miss Monica.

Okay, so we heard back from the New York Times. Big deal. Cuz last week we were talking about

Monday. Oh, yeah. Monday we were discussing the armchair expert on connections.

Yes. And I said, you know, we don't know for sure if it's about us or if it's just a phrase. But I took matters into my own hands. I posted and tagged Wina, which is why we're here.

They reached out. Hi, Rob. Hope you're well. I'm on the PR team at the New York Times and work closely with Waloo, the creator of Connections.

Actually, Winnoo. We know that that's actually how her name is pronounced, but we just keep saying it wrong. Yeah.

I saw Dax's recent Instagram story about Connections, which inspired me to reach out. were huge fans of Armchair Expert and knowing that Dax is a fan of connections and New York Time New York Times games more broadly made this feel like a particularly fun and natural overlap. Anyway, they're going to send us some connections New York Times swag, which is exciting. But, um,

I think we can conclude from this that we're right. I don't know. I just don't I need to hear it. I need proof.

I'm a fact checker, so I need to hear it from Yeah. from WA. First of all, when uh um hearted it,

great confirmation number one for me. And then this is like it's a done deal. I think it would for me to feel good, it would need to be armchair expert podcast.

Okay, that's asking for might as well spell out our names. She can only be so blatant about her

fandom. She has ethics. No, she spells out there's there's stars on there. What would be fun? Well, a I want to talk to her. So, we're going to try to talk to her.

We're going to try. Yeah. Second, I wonder how many other things she's a fan of that we're missing. I want to find out her list of her little fun hobbies that she's winking at. Like, how many people is winner winking at?

She winks. But the winner wink, they'll call it from now on. But this Okay, so this is to my broader point. Like sometimes she'll do categories and it'll be like, you know, what what it'll end up being is like movie stars in horror movies or whatever. I don't think that means necessarily that like she's a huge fan of those people.

No, for sure. If she's just trying to do a person and connect through four projects.

Yeah. Yeah. But this isn't that. Maybe she thought we'd win and so that's why she had that set.

Um maybe she when went on money she was like she's like how do we change it to good hang?

Yeah. She thought it was going to be a celebratory wink. Yeah. Anyway, we do love connections. So it's just

if you had to pick between a wink from Wina on connections or a Golden Globe, what's your pick?

Oh, winner 100%. Yeah, a thousand%. Yeah, cuz I like it entered our other life. Like it entered our real life. This is our real life.

It also entered our real life. It entered in a way that was like we engage with this. We like it so much to feel like, oh, maybe she

likes it would be great. So, that was fun. Um, did you have a postshow comedown?

Yeah, I think of my adren I had an adrenaline dump, but also as I keep saying, but I keep cutting. Um, my mouth really hurts

very badly. And when your mouth hurts Uhhuh. And you and you use your mouth to make a living.

Exactly. You're like a prostitute or a flute player or a podcaster. Oh, I can't imagine being a flute player.

What about a prostitute? No, I could just use my hands. No, you have to use your mouth. Your clients really really insist.

Trust me, they would not want me to use my mouth if they saw the inside of my lip right now. It looks gross.

You're overestimating John's in general. And that's kind of you. You're never judgmental.

Yeah, but your your mouth, you know, you used to talk, used to eat. That's when it's really activated

to drink, which is why I'm extremely dehydrated. Uh-huh. And because it gets so much action, it's just not healing. It won't heal.

I keep biting it. It won't heal. But you had a huge output. I just want to acknowledge cuz I was with you yesterday and I was like, I can tell she's had a really busy week. Like you were at you went to six events,

lots of events, different outfits and the and the the stress of the interviews and the picture. Like

I could tell yesterday it was like a oh my god, what have I been through in the last six days and I was doing that with a flu as well.

Yeah. Yeah. It was a mix because it was it was a lot of events over the course of the week which were fun. Like they're fun

but they you know I think people I'm just going to get you know people look at celebrities, movie stars mainly and TV stars and stuff and they're like what do they have to complain about? They just go and get their makeup done and their hair done and they wear cute outfits and they take pictures and like

like annoying for you to complain, which I get. Yeah. But it's not that easy to like it it it takes a long time. These glam routines

take a long time. Unless you're a dude. Yeah, exactly. If you're a woman, you it's it's hours and hours. And if you have a job as I do,

you don't have other things fall by the wayside. So then there's like stress building because you're like, "Oh, I'm behind on this and I'm behind on this and I'm just sitting here getting my makeup done like eek."

Yeah. I don't think being prettier is going to help with the edit. Exactly. And then the main thing for me, and this is this is weird because it's normally not very cold in California. It was cold last week. Very

chilly. It was cold. I was outside in a you can't wear a jacket, right? You're not allowed if you're a if you're a woman.

No. To wear a jacket cuz there are pictures. You got to stand on your tiptoes. Your purse is a [ __ ] joke. I was thinking this cuz I'm always in this sit with Kristen. I'm going places with her and she has this clutch. It's a joke. It's not even a thing. And so I'm holding all of her stuff. Her ego phone won't fit in there. you know, the [ __ ] nicotine spray won't. So, I'm you know, come multiple SW and I'm just like, why is a why is a bigger purse ugly? What the [ __ ] Why can't you have like a normalsized purse on the

like in life like you there are big my purse is enormous and it's very cute. I love it.

Yeah, I have a full pharmacy in there. Your apothecary. But I can't. No, you can't. That would be a big like bad thing to do. Faux paw to bring a big purse. You bring a tiny purse and it's a you can't wear a coat cuz that covers up your outfit and so you're also freezing cold but have to act very very comfortable.

Oh, but I just had a breakthrough idea for you for your first billion dollar um business.

Okay. You need to design a very elegant handbag that has like it's designed to hold your pharmacy.

Oh, like it has individual compartment. You know, it's got like pill packets that come in there and like little uh sleeves like you put a Coke can in, but it's for pillsiz things and it cuz generally it's just slloshing around. But if you The whole inside was lined with like little railings to put all your pills and your bottles

and you somehow do a play on apothecary. I don't know. I don't have it yet, but it's like apothecary. You know, it's a bag of Gary or something. You some bag and apothecary are mixed.

And that's your new billion dollar idea. The problem is I only want 100 million of it.

He just want a little million person. The issue is although I could do a good marketing campaign and stuff.

Yeah. Yeah. But like I'm the only one walking around with a pharmacy in my bag.

It may be as complete as yours, but I'm telling you most women when I say I need something, they have like they have [ __ ] Advil in their purse. Like they have stuff.

They have the basics. All you women have medicine in your purse to varying degrees.

Okay. But people have the basics, but mine is extreme and it it comes I know cuz I'm with other women and people be like h I'm

wish I had a might. Yeah. And then I'm like I have it and they're like I didn't even know they still made those anymore. And it's like I have it or it's old but I have it.

There's a spill and I'm like here's my Tide stain stick. No one else has it. You know, I have it all.

Yes. And so I need to figure out a way to convince the world that they need it all. I can men get on board too. And it's like there's also a man bag.

We don't believe in medicine or carrying medicine until you know that. You know that.

I know. But I've also provided from my pharmacy to men because they're like they're so injured and hurt.

I'm all over the place. Sorry. ADHD now. But this hit me as a theory the other I was reading an article about that sad seasonal affected disorder. Effective

effective disorder. Yes. Which I suffer from. Women suffer from five acts of men. I just read this two days ago and I started thinking, of course it is because y'all were gatherers

and you're gathering when it's sunny and in the winter time there's not much to be picked. Now granted, I understand women were doing a lot of other stuff, but the trips out, the exercise, the walk, the gathering, the chatting that happened in hunting gathering, all that stuff is diminished during these cold and uh nonh harvesty months. And I think there's some connection there. That's my new theory.

Okay, I like that theory. Now, when did daylight savings start? It started I wanna I'm gonna guess Rob, you're gonna look it up, but I'm gonna guess it started in the 50s and it has something to do with farming.

Oh, right. Yeah, it has something to do with farming and some Oh, it has something to do with kids working before school. So, I think when school got mandatory, you needed daylight to get the kids to be able to work a little bit before they went out. What is it, Rob?

All right. It was a wartime measure in 1918 for seven months during World War I. the uh it was added in the interest of adding more daylight hours to conserve energy resources.

Oh wow, I [ __ ] got that way wrong. Why do we both think that thing I just said?

Yeah, I heard that too. Maybe you told me. Urban legend. I think either work. Okay.

No, we're here for facts, Rob. Early7s there was another energy crisis and they passed a bill in Congress to make it permanent.

And then Arizona said, "Fuck that." And Hawaii said, "Fuck that." I know. And I wish California had said [ __ ]

We already said [ __ ] it. I don't know why we can't enact it. It's We looked it up once. I forget.

But you know, I've changed my tune on it a little bit. I know. Do this. And you may too as you age.

Because I now get up earlier. Oh. And I love my favorite thing is I'm on my bed meditating and quite often I start it's dark and then at the end of that 20 minutes I open my eyes and I can see the hillside of Griffith Park is now lit up.

That's nice and I love that. And but right before daylight savings kicks in I'm doing that whole thing in the dark

and I'm like I'm up and it's depressing to be starting my day in the dark. But you sleep a little later. So you're never dealing with when it's dark. It doesn't get light till 7:30. You don't really know. [screaming]

Okay. I've been wanting to bring this up forever. Okay. I wrote it down in my notes of fact check stuff.

Great. About a month and a half ago. Okay. As you know, I cut my hair. Uhhuh. And my bathroom isn't back lit. It's all front lit.

Uhhuh. So when I work out, I get this crazy view of stuff going on behind my head that I normally can't see.

Yeah. And so I have moved a set of scissors into the gym. Right. And so you might know that I I trim my hair while I'm working out pretty often. I'll always trim it in two different spots and then I get the vacuum out and I vacuum where my hair fell.

Okay. But as I'm doing that, I realize I'm seeing your guys's hair everywhere. Oh no.

Yeah. Like you you guys are just dumping [ __ ] hair everywhere and it's long as hell and you guys never think I better vacuum that up. So, I'm seeing in the gym, there's just like long hairs laying everywhere. And then I think,

why can't I just leave my cutings on the ground? But isn't that funny? But if you think about it, there there's more of y'all's long crazy hairs than my little short trimmings. But I would feel insane to leave those short trimmings, which you probably can't even see.

But it's Why isn't it the same? Okay, it's different because our hair isn't falling out in like a big clump on the ground and then there's just a big clump there. It's like one like probably just fell out and then like later over there one will fall out.

And then after a week of that, if I look across my gym floor, there's long hair everywhere. You actually can't see any of my trimmings.

But you can't I'm not going to get a vacuum to vacuum up one hair. Thank you. You're right. I know you won't. And and none of you will, but but it's insane. God,

it's insane that mine's like tinier and I'm like, "Of course I'm going to clean up the hair that I put on the ground."

Okay. But if like when I get my hair cut Uhhuh. I clean up that hair, right? Because it's an enormous pile.

Well, cuz there's it's it's in a pile. It's not like it's scattered around. Well, let's not use hypotheticals. Let's use the one that's happening in my gym. So, there's these little tiny like I'm cutting, you know, probably a quarter of an inch off in places.

But how much? You can't see it. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Like eight hairs,

you know, whatever. I just do a snip. But my my here's my point. We're miss where we've missed the forest for the trees or whatever.

No, that's these are important questions. You can't even see where my hair is on the ground after I trim.

Okay. And yet I know I would feel insane to not get the vacuum out and vacuum where I was standing cuz I know I just cut my hair over the floor. So, are you suggesting women should should carry a a little mini vacuum to just every

Let's see how your bag turns out. If you can figure out how to get a dustbuster in there without a big bulge in it, so it doesn't look like you're carrying around the

Well, the cumulative length is probably similar too. Probably less. The cumulative length of Dax's hair versus long hair

one of your one of your strands. It's like if you mass if you walk through and you see a big clump.

But you don't. That's Listen, I just want to see it for myself to see what the what if I can see the hair.

This is where I'm going with all of it. I'm not asking you to do anything. Okay.

Okay. I'm trying to see if I could just unethically cut my hair in there and just forget about it because there's already [ __ ] hair everywhere and I can see the other hair and no one seems to care about that. So why am I so worried about my little shavings that you can't even see? I'm I'm questioning. I was like having a moral dilemma up there.

Wow. Wondering if I'm free to just cut and run. It's your house. You can do whatever you want.

I know, but I wanted your opinion on it. I mean, look, I guess if you can't see it, you could leave.

And we're living with the other hair that's very visible until the whole space gets vacuumed, right? Like that's that's the thought. You shouldn't probably never vacuum.

Well, no. But I guess then sure I guess you could leave it until the weekly vacuum.

I just was vacuuming. I'm like this is kind of crazy. Why do I even do this? I can't see my hair and I see all this other hair.

I have a question now. If you're cooking Yeah. and little like you know I don't know salt gets on the floor or something. Just a little bit like a one or two.

Do you vacuum it up? Not for two grains of salt. Right. Exactly. So it's kind of like that like when you're cooking it's like sometimes things get on the floor. I don't vacuum after every time I cook.

I know. Which we probably should, I guess. But then, yeah, by the time the end of the week, it's like, yeah, the floor's dirty. It needs

You walk in there barefoot and you've got basically um seasoning like seasoned fries.

So, I think if you're comfortable with it and your family's comfortable with it, you can wait during for the weekly vacuum.

Oh, man. It just felt like a um a pointless endeavor. Yeah. when we were already accepting of all this twoft long hair that's everywhere.

The issue is I think the women probably unless it's like how I imagined it in like a big clump

that's bad, right? But if it's like you're saying you can't see it, I don't think I have a pro. I don't think anyone has a problem with it except you.

You should see what I pull out of our drain. I call it fishing. Sure. And about once a year, I'm in the shower and I'm noticing, huh, this stuff's starting to back up a little bit. Like the water's not flowing the way I should. Time to go fishing. And I have a fishing rod I've created. It's a uh it's a coat hanger unwound. And then I've bent up a little hook at the bottom. I can get it down in the drain. And takes a bunch of And then I twist.

Oh, yeah. And then I get it out. And Lincoln generally will join me because she likes to get cuz it's what gets pulled out of there.

I know. Full possum. No, it's it's a mouse. Like back to your water fear. Yeah,

it's a mouse and it smells so gross and it also turns into like oil. Like somehow it's decomposing. It's always like in a black tar.

I know. I don't get that. But let me tell you something. I think you need to teach the girls in your house about hair walls.

No. Yes. No. Because they're not going to then clean the wall. No. They they have to clean the wall.

They have, but they're not going to. I'm I'm like trying. There's like what they should do and what what's going to happen.

Okay. But would you Okay. So then would you Dax rather have hair on the wall or hair in the drain for you to have to pull out as a rat?

If I have to pick between cleaning the wall every time I shower. No. My resentment would get it's like [ __ ] You put your hair on the wall take it then to the trash. I like it'd be a daily resentment probably.

Oh wow. Versus once a year I go fishing. And there is I must admit it. Well, there's a reward. Like when you pull that rat out of there.

Yeah. You're like, "Oh my god, I'm so glad it's out of there." It's the same thing. I don't understand what's going on. I need to talk to an evolutionary biologist. When you pop a great pimple,

Yeah. the amount I think about the moment it popped for the rest of the day. Oh, I don't have that.

You don't. I just keep going back to back to the moment. Like there's such a wave of relief. You've gotten that out.

Yeah. Yeah. And and I'm talking a pop like a satisfying one where it's like, "Oh, thank god I did that." Usually you regret it. You're like, "I shouldn't do this." But occasionally it goes really well. Just went really well for me at the hotel night before Golden Globes. And I just kept think I was even thinking about it two days later.

Like I just want that moment to keep happening over and pop pop. Don't say that cuz then you don't but you don't you don't want your skin to be bad enough that see I think this is skin privilege personally because because I don't have that because it happens enough like it's not like

if do you not get that huge wave in the moment it's like thank god it's out thank god

yes okay great we get that yeah but it's the recurring thing that I think is skin privilege because like I know that's coming I'm doing the opposite I'm like I just like hope I can get a lot of time in between the next time I have to do that.

Yeah. I don't want more. But I love that moment so much. There's something going on.

Yeah. It's like this isn't supposed to be here and I got rid of it and now I look better.

Stay tuned for more armchair expert if you dare. So, wait, what were we saying before? Skin. Oh, the rat. Yeah. Okay. So, hair walls are great. Um, for the listener, it um

you you wash and like when you condition and it's it's like it's coming out, you know, it's coming out. You feel it in your shedding and you you like grab it in your hands and you stick it on the wall.

And then you do that throughout the shower. It's important. This is important stuff because you're then you're not clogging your drain. And

but do you take it off the wall? Okay. Sometimes I Okay. Sometimes I don't. But I live by myself. I get I That's my privilege.

Did you rub boogers on your headboard? No. Talk about boo. I did not. I hate the hair wall, too.

You hate it. But you put boogers somewhere, Rob. Kleenex. Oh, [ __ ] We didn't have Kleenex. What? You guys were the Rockefellers. I would You know what I would do? Kids, a lot of the kids I knew, they were just rubbing it. They're disgusting. I would lean over and put it on the metal railing under my bed so no one would ever see.

I want to cut this cuz this is so disgusting. And yes, I did that. Okay. You put it under the railing.

I put it like under the bed. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Think I Every kid in America must be doing this. I bet like every kid's bed is just full of boogers.

I just flick it on the carpet. Yeah. Some people do carpet. I never did that. I wonder what age you outgrow the booger under the bed

when you can afford Kleenex. Oh, but I don't have Kleenex. I do have Kleenex by the other side of my bed, but I don't use it. Like I don't What are you doing with your boogers?

I don't get I don't do that anymore. I don't get nearly enough boogers. I miss them so much. When you're a kid, you have boogers all the time. I never have boogers now.

Maybe it's because you're It probably is because we were picking them out and so it was creating like more and more and more

like my throat clearing. Yeah. And now when you don't touch it, it's just like it's fine.

Once in a bloom, I'm digging around cuz God, I inspect all the time. Oh, you I'm constantly in my nose like looking for one. There's never any.

It's often on camera, by [clears throat] the way. Me looking. You do touch your nose a lot.

No, I don't. Yeah. Stop. Well, my [ __ ] nostrils. Like, nobody, you know, I can put two fingers in my nostrils. No problem. Most people can't do that.

Yeah, I can't do that. Well, I can almost I mean, I have the biggest nostrils. You remember my People Teen People magazine shoot when I was Yeah. skydiving? I look like Porky the You told us about it, but we never We couldn't find it and we shouldn't find it.

No, I hope if anyone has it, please burn it. Yeah. Um or tuck it under your booger railing under your bed.

No, don't. Guys, I don't want to talk about boogers. For some reason, of all for some reason of all the things we talk about so much gross stuff and I'm I'm actually I'm fine with

all of it, but there is something about boogers that is disgusting. to me and I and I don't know what where that line is drawn. Like why?

Yeah. Probably because when I was a kid, like boogers are the thing that makes you gross.

Yeah. They're disgusting on other people. But that's just like farts. Reading so many new articles that it's really good to smell your farts. I sent you one and said you're going to die.

No, it didn't. Not to smell them. What did it say? It said the gas is good for your body

to It says it's it holding in farts is bad. I sent you another one. There's some Yeah, there's some chemical compound that they have figured out is good for you to breathe in.

Oh my god. Yeah. And I said you're going to die if you don't start farting and breathing.

I'm not doing it. I'd rather I'd rather die. I guess this is this is where we're at.

I know I've already told this, but it reminds me of the time I went to my brother's field hockey game and I was like six and I was sitting on this log. And in fact, it was a telephone pole laid on its side that was a makeshift bench in a field.

Okay. And uh and I'm sitting on it and I'm watching my brother play field hockey and another little boy sat down next to me. He was my age. We're just he's probably watching his brother.

Yeah. And then out of nowhere, we're both just looking forward and he goes, "You eat your boogers?"

Just that was the icebreaker. You eat your boogers. And I didn't. I'm not judgmental of it, but I didn't eat my boogers.

And I was like, "No." And he's like, "No." And I'm like, "No." He goes, "I do."

Oh. Like he had to get it off his chest or something. [sighs and gasps] Maybe I've always Monica, I'm about to compliment myself. I've always had the skill. Maybe people just want to tell

I've always had the skill bringing out people. People want, but I didn't even do I didn't even do anything. There's just something about my face where people are like, "Look at this piece of [ __ ] I'll tr I'll tell him anything when he's not going to be judgmental.

Maybe it's your nostrils." Ding, ding, ding. Could have. But what a great moment in

I like that boy because you know what? After you said no, he could have said me either. My brother does. That's what I was asking.

Yeah. He was so into it. He was probably like, "Ah, I can't wait to talk about how the the the joy of doing this. I can't wait to find out this guy's doing the same."

Like your joy of pulling out the rat from the drain. It's weird. But anyway, um

I do want to show you a picture of the rat. You don't want to see that. I don't like rats.

I know. No one in my house wanted to see the picture either. I was so bummed cuz I want to I that's like the closest I can get to going and killing a gazelle. Like I want my family to reward me that I was willing to do the gross thing because that's the guy's job is to like handle the that stuff.

So if I do it, I want everyone to go like, "Thank you, Dad. We didn't want to touch that." But you're brave enough to do it.

You know what? What they would do that for, what they would say, "Thank you for what?"

Is if you clean the hair wall every day. Okay. You're still on this hair wall. Yes. The hair wall is is important. And um it it's preserves the drain. Sometimes it's cool like at the end of the at the end of the shower you're like, "Oh my god, like so much hair."

Yeah. And then you're like, "Oh no, I'm in pmenopause." Cuz all this hair is coming out and then you forget about that the next day and then it happens again.

Once you have your period and it's healthy and Well, you still have your period during permenopause.

Um anyway, um hair. Do you think I could Okay, maybe I could have a a product a new product.

Well, I was just gonna say, why don't you have a suction cup with a little bucket on there,

right? That you can just dump the hair in there. Yeah. It's just like more fun with cuz it's not even about efficient. It's efficient cuz you're just like you're doing this and then you just

She's running her hands through her hand cuz my handaches cuz of the water. Um are you going to duck and do this in your new fancy bathroom? Oh my gosh. I'm not going to clog up the drain in my new fancy.

That's true. And the the primary bath has blue tile, so I bet my black hair on that blue tile would be so nice.

Oh, yeah. Really nice. I have a humongous thing I have to pause this. I thought we were doing this tomorrow, so I had prepared for this, but now I'm remembering I have something enormous. Can you give me one second? I'll be right back.

Okay, I'm back. Okay. Um, Groot, what happened? Got fan mail. Oh wow. Hi, Groot.

And Delta is so pumped. Oh my god. She's I came home yesterday and I said, "Where's Delta?" And Kristen said, "She's upstairs because Groot got fan mail." And they were up there going through the fan mail together.

What is it? Groot was sent by Joseph Lopez a book. Oh, wow. Yes. It's called Mave and Charlie Meet the Neighbors. Oh.

It's about a dog and a I guess that's a squirrel or chipmunk or ringtailed lemur.

I'm not good. Animals as you know. Okay. Um but he got his first bit of fan mail.

Was there like a Groot is he's famous. Oh my god. Groot. And he hasn't acted the least bit different. But this book has been dedicated to Groot and signed by the author.

Much love. That is so cute. Joseph Lopez, thank you. This made everyone's day. This is so sweet.

I am I'm a little I'm concerned. I already predicted this in my head. What's your concern?

He's a kid. He's handling it so well. He doesn't acted entitled at all. He's completely humble. Okay.

He's humbled by the gesture. He's more humble post fan mail than pre- fan mail.

Okay. I just, you know, it's like child stars is a tricky thing. It is a tricky thing. But if you've got great parents Yeah.

who have been through this. That's true. That's helpful. You mean greatgrandparents.

Grandparents. I'm his grandpa. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. His grandpa who he lives with though,

right? But you're his grandpa. Okay. I'm his only male in his life. And he really looks up to me cuz he's a boy in a tree. I mean, I guess since you did drugs, maybe you could talk to him.

Yeah. But like I just ones are good. See, that's my worry. No, he's not. As you know, he has a lot of different challenges cuz his cardiovascular system is half tree, half boy. Yeah.

He he breathes carbon dioxide and oxygen. Yeah. So, I don't think he should inhale anything.

Yeah. I want him to do anything. I wouldn't mind that he does mushrooms and expands his mind

as a kid. No, when he's an when he's an adult. I know. So, you need to talk to him about that cuz he's going to have the opportunity young

because he's famous. Yes. And and drugs are going to come to him. But he's not drew verymore. He's not going to nightclubs. He just is here at the house.

I'm just worried he'll start sneaking out, hanging out with other celebrity kids.

Celebrity kids. Who are the hot celebrity kids now? I feel like when we were young, there were so many celebrity kids and I don't feel like there's a lot now.

Yeah. There were the Stranger Things kids, but now they're adults. You're right. Um,

can you say you saw him when he was hot? Yeah, he's hot. [ __ ] Yeah, he's not a kid anymore. He's 33. No, the um adolescent boy. The boy from adolescence.

Yes, he's he's a child star. Kid star. He's won every award they make. Exactly. Yeah. Who else? What happens is a few child stars go awall and then we just think all child but look I was friends with Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo I I'm all the ones I knew have done just fine.

Yeah that's true. Okay this brings up my last point and I'm done with points. Okay.

The more that the film business has eroded which it has so dramatically. Mhm. Yeah.

The Oscars means less and less and less. I was even thinking like what who even comes now? You got like two good movies that are or four good movies.

It's It's really like more and more that show's going to mean nothing. H cuz of the movies that are getting made, they're like big spectacle movies.

Yeah. And then there's a couple movies no one sees. There's not like this huge, you know, treasure trove of 35 to$60 million movies that were made. Your, you know, your Michael Clayton's all these incredible movies that we all love.

They don't exist. There's really tiny independent movies and then there's a couple big movies and just all in all it means less and less and yet that's still somehow got the most cache and it makes less and less sense now. Like are they going to use are they going to incorporate TV or what?

Well, no. I still think it used to it used to still kind of be that like there would be indie there'd be you know critical darlings.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. and then one or two like big movies. And I think that's gonna happen that hap that's gonna happen this year.

But the point is is in 2004 there were 35 movies that all did well that everyone saw that big stars were in.

Yeah. And now there's about five. I mean, it just really has just quantity has shrank by 85%.

And it was a real shootout. It's like right now it's like, you know, it's really between a couple movie. There's only a couple of big great movies. It means less and less.

But it's I guess then it's like getting into that club like being a critical darling.

But at what point do like like certainly viewership like no one's even seen the couple movies that they're going to have up there. You know, back then you like you had a bunch of favorite movies. You saw 10 excellent movies that year. You wanted to see which one was going to win best picture. It's like right now it's like you either want us Mart Marty Supreme or one battle after another like here's your 50/50 shot.

Well, no. I mean Hamnant won the Golden Globe and people really like that but also it's supposed to be so sad.

Yeah. Um and you know Train Dreams people like it. It's just Well, also Train Dreams is on Netflix so it's like that's confusing. Will that be at the Academy Awards? I don't think so.

Of course. Yeah, it was in they released, but again, it's a it's a it's a it's a joke release to get to qualify for that. It's just not it wasn't in 3,000 theaters the way it would have been in in the early 2000s.

It matters necess. Yeah, I haven't seen that. This amount of movies came out in one month [snorts] in 2002,

right? Like from September to December, there was 15 wellfunded, beautifully shot,

podium seeking films. And so are they going to either invite in what people are watching,

which is TV. Oh, sinners will be sinners. Yeah, that's true. That's a good one. Um, you know, will they will they will they widen their net because they're getting less and less relevant. M maybe

people aren't gathering around talking about movies like Hamn's probably amazing. People in Oklahoma are not at the supermarket chatting about it right now. I guarantee it. But people were at the supermarket talking about many of the movies that were coming out in the 2000s. The way they're now at the supermarket talking about Stranger Things,

right, and every other great show that's out. Yeah, maybe. I don't know. I don't know. What's the most popular movie box officewise this past year, 2025? Wicked,

right? [clears throat] Which will probably get an Sinners. Uh, uh, what was in the box office category? They have that now. See, they were smart enough to add that. They're like, "Okay, this thing has changed. So, we got to recognize what's working, right?"

Whereas to me, the Academy Awards is just like, "No, we're this thing. It's very prestigious, but it's meaning less and less and less, and I just wonder if they're going to evolve." Minecraft, Lilo and Stitch, Superman, Jurassic World, and Zootopia 2.

So, all franchises virtually. Superman. Good for our friend James Gun. James Gun, Friend of the Pot.

Yeah, I like James Gun. Yeah, that was a great episode. And the Emmys now people want to know the Emmys. They have 10 favorite shows, right?

The Emmys is what the Academy Awards was. You said 2004 Oscars. Yeah. What do we got?

Let's look. Okay. Best picture nominees. Master and Commander, huge movie. I didn't see it.

And original. Not a franchise, not IP. Master and Commander, the Far Side of the World. I have to sneeze, but it's not coming. Seab Biscuit.

Oh, original. Huge movie stars. Lost in Translation. Oh, Bill Murray, Scarjo. Okay,

what a movie. These are all so low though on the uh box office. See, that's what

No, not the first two. Uh 33 for Master and Commander. Okay. What was the second one?

Seab Biscuit. Seab Biscuit. $200 million movie. Okay. So 17. Seab Biscuit did not make 17 million.

No. No. It made 120. It was 17th. 17th in the box office that year. Still hundreds of millions of dollars globally.

But he's saying on the list like it's not just the best the biggest movies. It's usually not correlated.

You're just saying more people saw it saw movies. It's more than that. The movies were wellunded. They're visually stunning. The the craftsmanship, they have the budget for the quality of the movies has fallen.

I I disagree with you on that. I think the movies that were nominated this year are very high quality and and good. Whether people see them or not,

I don't know. But they are good. What's the budget of Hamnet? See if you can find that. or any of these really other than a one battle got a budget and that's because of Leo.

30 to 35 million for Hamnet. For Hamnet. Yeah, that's not tiny. It's not terrible, but it's not great. I mean, generally these

these high-end dramas were like 40 to 60. It doesn't matter. Okay. Yeah. Anyway, also Lord of the Rings is on there.

Okay. I mean, come on. Lord of the Rings and then Mystic River. Yeah. Sean Penn [ __ ] Clint East. No. Uh yeah. Yeah. Um but they were like Yeah. people went just people went to the movies more.

Yeah. And so people were invested. So like they had fallen in love with that movie

and then they want to see if it's going to win. But I think with Netflix and stuff like

people are still seeing it. They're just seeing them in their house and great. So what I'm saying is instead of doing this like fake we're going to release it in 13 screens for one weekend so we qualify. That's just a loophole. We would acknowledge the real distribution is on Netflix. So just if you're the Academy Awards, even if you don't want to include TV, forget this [ __ ] distribution thing, right?

Include the ones that there's other great movies on other streamers that didn't do the theatrical distribution. Amazon wouldn't put out Roadhouse on five theaters so they could be, you know, there's a lot of these movies, but they're not even playing that game. So it's like Academy Wars, how about you [ __ ] get over this distribution thing. So, just to get more I mean, if they want to save this thing,

right? I guess that's true. I um but I like that they're putting movies into theaters. I I've I saw a I saw a fair amount of movies last year.

Let me be clear. I wish everything was I wish it were 2000. Yeah. But because it's not and it's not what's happening. Who's Why the Academy Awards?

Yeah. They're probably going to need to um That's my whole point. Add in the the streamers.

They're going to have to do something. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I just looked up 2000. This is like now fun. [clears throat]

Okay. Yeah. What's happening in 2000? Okay. Cider house rules. Great. I didn't see that.

45th Toby. But again, Rob, even 45th is 60 times more box office than any movie that's nominated other than

Do we have that? And Marty Supreme is doing well. It is. Because of that kid, right,

Timmy? I admire how much he worked to get that movie to work. He did. He pushed hard. Then we have Green Mile. Great movie. Oh, Tom Hanks,

Sam Rockwell, Friend of the Pie. Yeah, he was great. Crazy. That's a great movie. Six sense.

Oh my god. Great movie. Breakthrough movie. Such a good movie. Um, The Insider. That's Michael Man.

I didn't see it. So good. About uh the Philip Morris 60 Minutes debacle. I'll watch it.

Um, can you guess? Can you Okay, I'll give you a hint. Okay. See if you can guess the last movie. It's all It's This is a This is a tough year. Uh

they were all tough. That's my point. I guess you're right. I guess you're right. Um this movie is scandalous.

Oh, Eyes Wide Shot. No, it has It had someone in it who's now been cancelled. Kevin, whatever his [ __ ] name is.

Spy, the big one. Seven. No. No. Uh Usual Suspects. No. Uh Scandalous. Is this where he got sexually harassed at work by Demi Moore?

No, that's Michael Douglas. There's two women. Oh, sexy women. And well, there's three women.

I think I know what it is. You know what it is? What is it? American Beauty. Yes.

My favorite. Great movie. I love that movie. What about 98? God, did I love American Beauty. That is such a good movie.

Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh god. Okay. We're going to have to cap it at here. I want to do long.

I know. Maybe we'll do We'll do Well, maybe this will be a runner we do. Okay. But can I do one more?

Yeah. Yeah. Do one more. That's why I said here's where we cap it. Okay. Cuz I just did a random year. I didn't even think about it. Go to the hunting.

Oh, I know this. I should know that this is 96. This is 98, which I also thought was too late. [snorts]

God, I thought I I know. It's weird. I'm very confused by that. Okay, hold on. Let me Now I'm nervous. But this is what AI um

No, 98's right. This year. This year is so hard. Good hunting. Titanic. As good as it gets.

Oh, this is a great movie. Yes. The Full Monty. Oh, show it. An LA Confidential.

[ __ ] Man, Russell Crow was on fire. He was really This is an impossible year. I guess God, you are. You're right. All these years we're putting in, all the movies, at least three movies are like nailbiters.

How will we know? I know. Yeah, it's different. It's insanely different. And I just was like, I don't know. Yeah, there's

cuz even if you want like I want it to be sentimental value because I that movie is so beautiful. And there's also a movie called Sorry Baby that I think is incredible. But they're smaller. Like they definitely Yeah,

there things that would have been at the Independent Spirits Awards that year and they would have been in the smaller, you know,

or they might have made it in, but it would have The point is there were studio movies that were phenomenal. Now there's only indie movies that are phenomenal. That's the point I'm trying to make.

We got there. Oh my god. Love you. Let's do some facts. Okay, this was wild. Yeah, it's one of those I we have like five or six a year where after the interview, every single person that bumps into me is going to hear the entire story because I think like most I don't think we were alone in not knowing all the twists and turns of this case.

Yeah. I mean, the fact that she interacted with law enforcement, that he got arrested while she was in captivity, all this stuff is like

if you were watching it in a movie, I I you might call [ __ ] I know. I've also since watched the dock

and you know we talk in depth on the episode which is amazing but there's a lot more in the dock like a lot more little pieces where you're like what the [ __ ]

so like watch it definitely watch it it's it is so you need to see all the visuals like them in the white outfits is so creepy. Oh my god. I was talking to my mother

um because I was very inclined to share her parting message in the dock as my mother is also a survivor.

And uh so she's laying in bed with her boyfriend Dan when I'm facetiming her and he's like overhearing me talk about this whole thing and she and and he goes

cuz he lived in Salt Lake during that time. Oh my god. And he said, "My ex-wife and I saw them."

No. Yeah, we saw the three [sighs] people in the white outfits and we were like, "What is wrong? What's going on?

Stop [snorts] it." Yeah. I wonder if I saw them. If I I mean, no, but like what are you going to do? Call What are you going to do? Call the police every time you see something that looks a little weird? Like, you can't you can't in this city.

Yeah, it's it's um it's a tricky line. I don't know. No, I'm not gonna act like I would have somehow done something, but I I the thing I get yelled at a lot for if there was a girl missing. I saw a girl covered head to toe. I think I would, you know, like I think I would

cuz I don't mind confrontation, right? But you know what's weird in that picture? Rob just showed a picture and like

because she's so covered. Yeah. It's hard to tell that she's a young girl. I don't think it is.

I mean, she's so youthful. That eye that whole eye section forehead without a single wrinkle.

I mean, I bet there's a lot of people insult like that feel bad that they saw them around.

Well, that was about to be my question. Do you think Dan's like, "Oh, fuck." Like, I wish I had done something, but you can't do that because like [sighs and gasps]

Well, I don't think he thought Elizabeth's smart as much as he thought, who are these freaks in our town?

Exactly. That are walking around like it's the 1600s. Exactly. Yeah. He didn't connect the dots like, "Oh, that might be Elizabeth Smart." Cuz then maybe he would feel anyone who Look, any human with a conscience that then learns what happened to her that knows they could have intervened is going to feel guilty. I think some level of guilt.

Yeah. But you'd have to have the inclination that like, oh, do we do I think maybe that's that girl?

Yeah. Okay, I guess I won't think about it again. Then you'd feel bad. But I what I'm saying is in this city for this was happening now and it was this city. Yeah,

I wouldn't I wouldn't There's so many people looking crazy. I mean, just being honest, like I wouldn't know what was what. I wouldn't I don't You know what I mean?

I do know what you mean, but for me, this is different. Uh this is when you cover a woman's face. Oh, you're not Muslim.

But I guess we we might have to assume they like are Well, they don't wear all white.

That's true. Yeah. So, and there be they're white. I know. But people convert. Yeah, people convert. Uh that to me looks pretty distinctly

different. That to me looks like when I went to Colorado City, Arizona to a Warren Jeff's fundamentalist compound.

You know, I went there three times. And drove around that thing and it's it's immediately wrong.

Yeah. The women are dressed as like pioneer people. the the rate of kids that have genetic issues is so

unignorable. Yeah. Uh it is like a movie. Yeah. And it's not my place to go into their community, per se. But yeah, for me, if women are are being subjugated, Yeah. I'm like, it's on. And I think if you're walking around with one dude and he's got four women covered head to toe and they're not Muslim, I'm not cool with that. I'd have to hear the scenario where everything was honky dory there,

right? I've yet to hear the scenario where that was like a good thing. This uh hearkens back to our last fact fact check which is like you have an idea of what's right and wrong for you.

But we can't really put our right and wrongs on other people unless [clears throat] someone's being hurt. That's right.

Which she was. That's right. But Hezbah Yeah. Um wouldn't say she was being hurt.

She wouldn't say she was being hurt, but she was being by our standards. So this is where things get very slippery.

Well, they get into autonomy and liberty. Yeah. Do you have the liberty to be subjugated if you choose? Which is interesting. Like Yeah.

But I mean, yeah. If you can tell this is a kid, but at the same time to pretend we can't delineate the difference between these things I think is also a lie. Like I think when when when when men are abusing people, I'm I don't think that's terribly subjective. I don't think um clitorctomies are subjective.

I don't either. But I think you would say in anthropology in areas like that is a part of their culture and you can't really have a judgment on that.

And this was my pretty big issue by the end of my anthro degree is I was like I think it serves an incredible an imperative tool to walk in without any goal of judging

so that you can actually learn and understand. Mh. But we have learned and understandtood now what the clitorctomy is about.

Yeah. And that is to deny women pleasure so they don't cheat on their husbands.

Yeah. It's horrifying. And you can suck a dick. I I have no You know, I can't I'm not a a moral relativist when it comes to hurting little girls.

Well, you Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I guess it's like at what point is it like once they turn 18, once it's like, you know, again, there's some blurry weird It's hard. It is obviously. Yes. I mean, I think I think that children have to be protected to the fullest extent, but I don't know if you saw that if you're just like, that's I don't know. It's so crazy. It's so horrible. I can't believe she was just walking around

and people were walking around. She was stuck like that and so scared to like, it's horrible. I think a trick you could I could get into is when I look back at myself at these different ages, I think I'm older than I was. And I think that's pretty common for people. You're kind of using your modern mind to think about what you were.

But because I have a 12-year-old, it is just crystal clear to me what that experience would be like for her.

And it's so gruesome. It's so It's just terrible. It's so terrible. Um but she's amazing. No, the fact that Elizabeth is functioning and walking around and not only functioning but thriving and

has a family is productive is like so one in a million for this scenario. It's so aspirational. Yeah.

And admirable and Yeah. Okay. A couple facts. Also, you asked me, you were like, was that part of why you were so scared of kidnapping? But when I was thinking about the timeline, no, because she's my age and that I was in

You were done with that by 14. Yeah. Or I was still scared, but it had started when I was five [snorts] or something. But you know what's also really upsetting is like when I was first scared of kidnapping and it was in my prayer and stuff, robbers and kidnappers. Um I I like poly class that she was one of the first ones that was kidnapped and that I was young for [snorts] that.

I don't recognize that name. Oh, it happened in San Francisco and she was kidnapped and it was I I think like a birthday party or something.

Yeah. Yes. Horrible. A slumber party at 12. Yeah. [sighs] My mom like was like obsessed with the poly class thing.

So she was infected too with the Yeah. She was scared and then it, you know, came trickled down effect.

Sure. Trickled down economics to me. It works. And then we were in San Francisco for my mom's work and like there were signs for her up. Oh boy.

But I was so, you know, you do forget to your point when you're like you think you're older. I didn't know about rape. Looking back, I can only assume that. I just thought like they just take you and keep you and you're their kid now,

right? Maybe they spank you a lot or something. Yeah, but I had no idea what it really meant.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The kidnappings really just the beginning. Yeah. H Okay. Now, okay. Kidnapping statistics 2002 versus now. There are many factor stats involved in this that it's hard to find a simple answer. But from AI, kidnapping statistics, particularly for children, show that while public perception in 2002 was heightened due to high-profile cases, the actual number of abductions by strangers has remained relatively low and stable or even decrease over the past two decades.

I think social media and smartphones has to have an impact on the decline. I don't think you could get away with it for as long.

That's what I said after she left. I was like, I don't think that could happen today. In the same way.

In the same way. Um, okay. So, total missing children reports in 2002, around 725,000 children were reported missing annually to law enforcement. And then in recent years, approximately 2024, missing person files for all ages in the US, in 2024, although this is still under the children thing. Um,

and also missing persons like your your kid didn't come home from a night out and you report it.

Mhm. It says there's over 533,000. The FBI reported a 40% drop in total missing children cases between 97 and 2014. Okay. Also, could you type in what percentage of kidnappings are from a relative or

known person [clears throat] uh friend or a significant ma majority of child kidnappings involve family or acquaintances not strangers with older data from the Department of Justice showing 49% by family members, 27% by acquaintances, and 24% by strangers. That's actually higher than I thought.

Yeah, it is higher than I would have thought, too. So, almost a quarter. Yeah, I bit my lip yesterday really really bad and so now [clears throat] it's like it's like so huge and your upper lower.

Interesting cuz I was looking at your upper lip and I was like did you get a little injection or

Oh no I didn't. Oh wow. Congratulations. That's the goal. Like I saw in a comment some some woman wrote you have to stop wearing eyeliner.

You Yeah. And I wrote I don't wear eyeliner but thank you for the compliment. Exactly. Exactly. Okay. You said alarm systems work in doorways, windows using magnets. Yeah. When the contact of the magnet breaks, it sets off the alarm. That is correct. Well, those are the facts.

Those are the facts, Jax. [snorts] Well, that was an incredible episode. I'm so I'm so grateful she came here and my god. And was able she's just able to talk about it and help people like it's so helpful. And you know, we have a handful of people like that, like Amanda Knox and even like Monica Lewinsky who are just like decide to to put their own trauma kind of aside for in order to help other people. And it's like

it's not easy. No. And it's like we have to just be so grateful for it. Yeah. All right. Love you. Happy thousandth.

Happy thousandth. Ding ding ding ding ding ding.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Wyna Wink, Elizabeth Smart, Groot Fan Mail | Fact Check for Elizabeth Smart"?

Dax Shepard (Host), Rob (Guest), Monica (Guest).

What is "Wyna Wink, Elizabeth Smart, Groot Fan Mail | Fact Check for Elizabeth Smart" about?

In this discussion, Hermy and Perium share an exciting update about their interaction with the New York Times PR team regarding the "Connections" game, sparked by a previous conversation about Dax Shepard's podcast. They express their enthusiasm for potential swag from the collaboration and explore their curiosity about other interests of Wyna, the creator of "Connections," while deliberating…

What is mentioned in this Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard episode?

9 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Elizabeth Smart, Dak Shepard, Armchair Expert, Joseph Lopez, Golden Globe, Monica Lewinsky. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Wyna Wink, Elizabeth Smart, Groot Fan Mail | Fact Check for Elizabeth Smart"?

The episode runs 55 min; the transcript is about 10,986 words in 343 timestamped sections.

More from Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.