Wondery Signs Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard for Exclusive Ad-Sales and Distribution Deal
Deal to include First-Look Agreement between Wondery and Dax Shepard and to Produce Two New Original Podcast Series
CULVER CITY, California – July 11, 2024 – Wondery, Amazon’s leading podcast and entertainment company, announced an exclusive distribution and ad-sales deal for the massively popular podcast, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. As part of the deal, Wondery and Armchair Expert will co-develop and produce two new podcasts for fans, and one livestream per year. Wondery will also have a first-look option for any additional new podcasts created by Dax Shepard.
Starting September 1, the deal includes rights to the Armchair Expert full back catalog of podcast content, distribution rights to RSS feed, launch video episodes for the first time, as well as rights to create translated versions of the podcast for Wondery’s global audience. In addition, new episodes of Armchair Expert will be available one week early and ad-free on Wondery+ exclusively for subscribers, prior to going wide. Wondery will also have exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and sell all Armchair Expert merchandise.
“I could not be more excited about making Wondery our home,” said Dax Shepard. “Jen Sargent and her team have created a brand that imbues quality, daring and creativity. The Wondery logo actually means something. They are the HBO of the podcast space. We are extremely excited to join forces and bring fresh new content to listeners around the world.”
Now in its seventh year, Armchair Expert has featured more than 600 in-depth interviews with celebrities, artists, authors, scientists and global thought leaders. Under the Armchair Umbrella Network Dax Shepard and co-host Monica Padman have three weekly shows, with celebrities on Monday, experts on Thursday, and an interactive call-in show for “Armcherry” listeners and fans each Friday. With an ample dose of irreverence, humor, and vulnerability, Armchair Expert regularly reveals sides of their guests that were previously unknown. It is a celebration of all the messiness that makes us human. The award-winning podcast premiered in 2018 and has since consistently topped the Apple Comedy Podcast chart and has remained one of the most listened to podcasts overall in the US and around the world.
Armchair Expert has featured interviews with a range of guests, including former President Barack Obama, Prince Harry, Hillary Clinton, Trevor Noah, Stacey Abrams, Bill Gates, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Jason Bateman, and frequent guest Kristen Bell. The podcast has been featured in The New Yorker, Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Vulture and more. Armchair Expert and its sister shows are produced by Rob Holysz, Padman and Shepard.
“Armchair Expert consistently delivers relatable, thought-provoking and entertaining social commentary based on shared human experiences and interests from the most recognizable entertainment and cultural figures in the world. This incredible show is a natural fit for the Wondery roster built to entertain, engage and delight podcast fans globally,” said Jen Sargent, CEO of Wondery. “As we embark on a true collaboration with Dax and Monica, we look forward to helping the Armchair Expert brand expand its audience and reach within Amazon’s fandom-flywheel across audio, video, merchandise and beyond.”
WME negotiated the deal on behalf of Armchair Expert and the Armchair Umbrella Network with Wondery; Dax Shepard and Monica Padman are both repped by WME.
About Dax Shepard
Dax Shepard, a UCLA alum where he studied Anthropology, is known for his beloved role as Crosby Braverman on NBC’s “Parenthood.” He has also starred in films like WITHOUT A PADDLE, IDIOCRACY, HIT AND RUN and CHiPs, the latter two of which he also wrote and directed. Shepard got his start on the hit MTV show “Punk’d,” and co-starred in the Netflix “The Ranch,” ABC’s “Bless This Mess” and was one of the recent hosts of “Top Gear America.”
About Monica Padman
Monica Padman is the co-host/producer of the Armchair Expert podcast, producer of the Armchair Umbrella company, actress and a writer. Her acting credits include “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Rutherford Falls,” CHiPs, “The Good Place,” “Bless This Mess” and “Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television.” She has hosted and produced multiple limited series podcasts including Monica and Jess Love Boys, We Are Supported By with Kristen Bell, Flightless Bird and Race to 35. She was a producer on the Emmy-nominated digital series, “Momsplaining” and previous host of “The Tiny Kitchen Cookoff” for Tastemade.
About Wondery
Wondery, an Amazon company, is a podcast studio known for character-driven, binge-worthy stories including Dr. Death, British Scandal, Even the Rich, and Business Wars, and hit partner shows like Morbid, How I Built This, and Ten Percent Happier. Over 55 shows from Wondery have hit No. 1 on Apple Podcasts, including Scamfluencers and Stolen Hearts. Many Wondery podcasts have been adapted for scripted television or streaming series, including Dr. Death and Joe vs Carole on Peacock and The Shrink Next Door and WeCrashed on Apple TV+. Wondery has gained critical acclaim and commercial success for its immersive approach to sonic, emotionally driven storytelling. The Wondery app offers a unique, personalized podcast listening experience, including access to its premium ad-free offering Wondery+. With Wondery+, fans experience early access, exclusive episodes, and ad-free listening. https://wondery.com/
