Kristen Bell and Justine Lupe sat down with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman for a wide-ranging Armchair Expert conversation that covered everything from elaborate on-set pranks to the challenges of owning their sexuality in Hollywood. The actresses, who star together in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, brought their signature chemistry to a discussion that proved just as revealing as it was hilarious.

---

The Infamous Urine Prank: A Masterclass in Long-Game Comedy

The episode opened with discussion of what may be one of the most committed pranks in podcast history. Justine Lupe spent four to five weeks orchestrating an elaborate scheme to convince Kristen Bell that she was drinking her own urine for its supposed “mineral benefits.”

I felt so loved when it occurred to me how long she had been working on this and how many props and how much performance and how many people had been wrangled into this. — Kristen Bell

The prank escalated through multiple stages:

• Justine casually mentioned drinking “first morning urine” on set
• She called base camp to request her “urine container” be brought from her trailer (actually chamomile tea)
• She offered Kristen a mint dipped in her “urine water bottle”
• The grand finale: presenting three mason jars of “gradating color” urine as a gift

I opened it up and I look up at Justine’s face and she’s going—I was very calculated at this point. I was like, ‘Do not hurt this girl’s feelings. You love her so much. How do you get her away from this idea without pooping it?’ — Kristen Bell

The reveal came on April Fool’s Day, with Justine finally exclaiming “April Fools!” after Kristen’s gentle but firm refusal: “Justine, no. I don’t want your pee.”

---

From Succession to Nobody Wants This: Navigating Fame and Sisterhood

Justine reflected on the difference between her experiences on Succession versus Nobody Wants This, noting that while Succession was a “cultural phenomenon,” she felt more like a “fly on the wall” rather than a core cast member.

I was heavily invested in terms of just being there, but I wasn’t like a core member of that show in the same way. So I didn’t have the same feeling around the reaction that it had. — Justine Lupe

The conversation turned to the sisterhood dynamic between their characters Morgan and Joanne, with Dax noting that season 2 is “a love story between you and Justine.”

When someone that you love who’s not in a romantic way goes off and finds their love, like it is a loss. It’s heartbreaking. They start building a combined life with somebody. — Justine Lupe

---

On-set Chemistry and the “Emotional Math” of Acting

The actresses discussed their working relationship, with Kristen praising Justine’s consistency as a scene partner.

From a scene partner perspective, I have never seen you be off your game. Anytime I brushed up against her, she would scream. You were ready to give that piece of the sisters where if Joanne touches Morgan, Morgan will overreact. — Kristen Bell

Dax weighed in on the actor’s dilemma of needing to know character motivations versus the value of ambiguity:

Actors are overly interested in being certain about what they want. What is your motivation in this scene? I need to know what I’m after. But also, life doesn’t really work that way. — Dax Shepard

The trio discussed how Succession writers would mine accidental moments—like Kieran Culkin checking out Jay’s ass on camera—and build entire storylines from spontaneous chemistry.

---

Sexuality, “Cute” Typecasting, and Owning Your Shadow

A particularly vulnerable segment explored how both women have been typecast as “cute” rather than sexy, and the challenges of owning their sexuality.

I think there’s so much more depth and dimension and there is more shadow in there than I think you let out. And I think sex is there. I feel sex appeal in her all the time. — Justine Lupe to Kristen Bell

Kristen admitted to having a “meltdown” after describing her Emmy look as “bombshell”:

I had a full-on meltdown about being like, ‘I was going for a bombshell look.’ Like, ew. There’s something I was ashamed of about owning sexuality a little bit. — Kristen Bell

The conversation traced back to their different upbringings, with Dax sharing his family’s refreshingly direct approach to sex education:

My mom told me, ‘We’re not a Beatles family. They’re talking about holding your hand. We’re a Rolling Stones family talking about getting someone pregnant.’ That was my mom’s vibe. — Dax Shepard

Dax recounted asking his mom in fourth grade about “butt humping,” to which she matter-of-factly replied:

There’s a lot of nerve endings in the anus and some people find it very pleasurable and some do not.

---

Justine’s Journey to Juilliard: A Blizzard, a Dad, and 16 Spots

Justine shared the dramatic story of her Juilliard audition, which required navigating a massive blizzard with her father.

My dad comes to the airport, buys a ticket. We end up getting on a flight from Denver to Chicago that then is going to take a flight from Chicago to DC and then from DC take a train to New York. Everything’s cancelled. He’s like, ‘Okay, we’re going to rent a car and we’re going to drive from Chicago to New York through a blizzard through the night, 16 hours.’ — Justine Lupe

The ordeal culminated in Justine arriving exhausted, wearing another student’s clothes, with no luggage:

We were both so tired that I actually think it really helped because I just didn’t have any nerve to give. Like, it was gone. — Justine Lupe

Only 16 students are accepted into Juilliard’s drama program each year.

---

Philip Seymour Hoffman: The Actor’s Actor

Justine reflected on working with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, describing him as a “force” and “powerhouse.”

When I met him, it was like a force of like something. I felt like a train had hit me or something. He was such a powerful, full person. — Justine Lupe

She recalled Hoffman’s relentless direction:

He would just call out exactly that. He talked about relying on the thing that worked the night before, or your charisma. It was the hardest experience I’ve ever had, completely. And I was utterly in love with him — Justine Lupe

Dax added: “Everyone I know that was friends with him just completely idolized him. He was a force.”

---

The Podcast Within the Show: Financial Realism and Creative Boundaries

Dax raised his long-standing question about the financial logistics of the podcast in Nobody Wants This:

My one big question mark when I watch the show, and it drives me a little bit bonkers, is how much money do you guys make on this podcast? People either make a bazillion dollars in podcasting or they make almost none. — Dax Shepard

The conversation touched on the realities of LA living, with Justine noting:

I think 80% of the people who live in LA are surviving off of their parents’ money. I have been on a show like consistently for years—9 years—and I have a 1,400 square foot house, but I cannot afford to get a three-bedroom house. — Justine Lupe

They also discussed the unwritten rules of what to share on their real-life podcast, Mom’s Car, particularly around relationships and children.

I’m very careful to edit them when they’re talking about each other or the family. There are things that I’ve cut out a ton that I’m sure you don’t even know. I’m just like, ‘I don’t think this feels a little slippery.’ — Dax Shepard

---

Astrology Deep-Dive: Justice, Virgos, and Character Defects

The episode concluded with an astrology segment, with Dax revealing:

• Justine’s moon sign is Virgo (emotional shadow side)
• Dax is a double Virgo (sun and moon both in Virgo)
• Dax’s rising sign is Libra (how he presents to the world)

They discussed whether astrology should focus on virtues or character defects:

Your work isn’t to get even better at your easy virtues. It’s to really be honest about your character defects, have a plan of attack to overcome them. If they’re not giving you the cheat sheet of what you need to be working on, then how are we going to improve? — Dax Shepard

Dax’s Capricorn defects included: condescending, aloof, unforgiving, pessimistic, critical, stubborn, sensitive, melancholy, and suspicious.

Justine’s name, meaning “justice,” took on new significance when Dax revealed that people with ADHD are more likely to be “justice-sensitive,” perceiving injustice more frequently and experiencing stronger reactions to it.

---

Season 2 Teases and What’s Next

The episode wrapped with promotion for Nobody Wants This season 2, premiering October 23rd on Netflix, and Justine hinting at an upcoming acting role she couldn’t yet name.

I have a job coming up. I think I have six episodes or something. I’m really looking forward to it. I think it’s in my realm of dreamy experiences. — Justine Lupe

As for the podcast’s future, Dax and Monica teased their upcoming true-crime-meets-mystery podcast, Beth’s Dead, launching October 30th (Devil’s Night) on Patreon.

---

This recap is based on Kristen Bell’s and Justine Lupe’s appearance on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast. For the full episode, click on the YouTube link at the top or listen wherever you get your podcasts.