In recent years, the conversation surrounding sobriety, addiction, and mental health has become more open and essential than ever before. The popular podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard is one platform with many sober celebrity interviews. Known for his candid and empathic interviewing style, Shepard dives deep into the personal lives of his guests, many of whom are public figures who have bravely shared their journeys with sobriety and mental health challenges publicly.
If you are part of the sober community, a fan of Armchair Expert, or a mental health advocate, this curated list of episodes is for you. We’ve gathered some of the most impactful conversations with this group of sober celebrities. These episodes offer inspiration, hope, and lots of sober LOLs.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: This article was originally published in August 2024. When I saw that Brad Pitt was recently on the show, I took another deep dive into sober celebs who have sat down with Dax; ergo, I have updated the list to now reflect 33. (Also, I really love to work in the word ‘ergo’ anytime I can.
50 Cent
The rapper and entrepreneur discusses his challenges with addiction and how he turned his life around.
Bradley Cooper
The Oscar-nominated actor discusses his struggles with addiction and how getting sober helped him focus on his craft.
Brené Brown
The renowned researcher and author discusses her views on vulnerability, addiction, and the path to sobriety.
David Letterman
The legendary talk show host talks about his experiences with addiction and how sobriety has given him a new lease on life. Check out Review: Miley Cyrus on “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman” « The Sober Curator
Drew Barrymore
The beloved actress and talk show host discusses her early experiences with addiction and the strength it took to stay sober. Check out An Open Invitation to Drew Barrymore to Become a Sober Curator (thesobercurator.com) and Eternally Amy Podcast: Boozeless Book Club (thesobercurator.com)
Glennon Doyle
The author and activist talks about her experiences with addiction and how sobriety has empowered her to live authentically. Check out our reviews of two of her books in The Sober Curator Library: “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle—A Memoir That Feels Like a Heartfelt Conversation and “Love Warrior.”
Jada Pinkett Smith
The actress and producer opens up about her past issues with addiction and her ongoing mental health practices. Check out Red Table Talk Alcohol & Substance Abuse Disorder (thesobercurator.com)
Jack Black
Jack Black was barely in his teens when he became addicted to cocaine at age 14, but the Goosebumps actor says that he found the path to sobriety with special support from a non-judgmental school therapist.
Jake Gyllenhaal
The actor opens up about his mental health struggles and the importance of seeking help and maintaining sobriety.
Jason Bateman
Known for his roles in Arrested Development and Ozark, Bateman shares his experiences with addiction and the road to recovery. SmartLess Podcast Episodes with Sober Celebs (thesobercurator.com)
Jason Ritter
The actor opens up about his battle with addiction and the road to recovery. We loved Jason in Matlock (2024) – A Gripping Legal Drama with a Sobering Mission and his guest appearance on The Non Drinking Buddies podcast.
Jim Gaffigan
The comedian shares his experiences with addiction and how he sustains a healthy, sober lifestyle.
John Stamos
The actor shares his story of addiction and recovery, and how he’s managed to stay sober in Hollywood.
Keith Urban
The country music star discusses his battle with addiction and how sobriety has positively impacted his music and family life.
Kelly Clarkson
The singer and talk show host talks about her mental health challenges and how she maintains a balanced life without substances.
Kelly Osbourne
The television personality and author discusses her tumultuous relationship with drugs and alcohol, along with her ongoing commitment to sobriety.
Macklemore
The Grammy-winning rapper opens up about his struggles with addiction and how sobriety has changed his life and career. If you also love to pop some tags and thrift shop, check out our special section in Seattle. You might also want to read: Macklemore Continues to Recover Out Loud with New Album “Ben”.
Meghan Trainor
The pop singer shares her challenges with mental health and how she manages them while staying sober.
Natalie Portman
The Oscar-winning actress shares her thoughts on mental health and the importance of staying grounded. Sober Curator Fun Fact: If the force is strong with your recovery, we have a Star Wars-themed section worth checking out, maythesoberforcebewithyou.com.
Rob Lowe
The actor shares his long-term sobriety story and how it has influenced his personal and professional life.
Robert Downey Jr.
RDJ’s story is compelling and inspiring, from overcoming addiction to becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Love IRON MAN? Iron Man Tony Stark Mocktail (thesobercurator.com) Not only that, one of our favorite quotes in the hit show Running Point is “And I don’t mean bullshit California sober. I mean no-fooling, Robert Downey Jr. sober!” WE ARE HERE FOR THIS!
Russell Brand
The comedian and actor talks about his years of addiction and his successful recovery.
Tiffany Haddish
The comedian and actress talks about her tough upbringing, battles with addiction, and how sobriety has shaped her career.
Whitney Cummings
The comedian and actress discusses her struggles with addiction, mental health, and the importance of sobriety.
Will Arnett
The actor and comedian talks about his decision to get sober and how it has impacted his work and personal life. Check out Flaked Review: Will Arnett’s Raw Portrayal of Addiction and Recovery – A Psychologist’s Insight « The Sober Curator and SmartLess Podcast Episodes with Sober Celebs (thesobercurator.com)
Zach Braff
The Scrubs star opens up about his mental health struggles and how he copes with them while maintaining sobriety. Check out Recovery Rocks with Special Guest Zach Braff (thesobercurator.com)
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt is an Academy Award-winning actor and producer. He talks with Dax about attending AA meetings during his divorce from Angelina Jolie.
Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell (Bad Guys 2, The White Lotus, Moon) is an Academy Award-winning actor. It gave us heart palpitations watching his character on The White Lotus season 3 relapse.
Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin (From Under the Truck, No Country For Old Men, Dune) is an Academy Award-nominated actor. Josh joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his infiltration of Dax’s algorithm, the fact that Monica has only half-seen The Goonies, and how his hand-me-downs always yielded greater returns than his top dogs.
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry (The Six Triple Eight, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of A Mad Black Woman) is an actor, playwright, producer, and filmmaker. Tyler joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he realized that his journal could be a play, his fear of comfort, and growing up to leave the door open for somebody else.
Morgan Freeman
Sober for over 30 years, Morgan Freeman (Lioness, Shawshank Redemption, Unforgiven) is an Academy Award-winning actor, producer, and narrator.
Jude Law
Sober since 2016, Jude Law (The Order, Skeleton Crew, Sherlock Holmes) is an actor. Jude joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he feels like he cries more than he used to, how he has become an unapologetic enthusiast, and having to tap into different parts of your personality for different roles.
Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges (The Old Man, The Big Lebowski, True Grit) is an Academy Award-winning actor. Jeff joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he broke his mom’s heart as a teenager, learning how to stage fight, and why he travels with his own chair.
These episodes are more than just stories; they are testimonies of resilience, growth, and the power of opening up about one’s journey. By listening to these conversations, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of these celebrities’ challenges and find inspiration to support your own or others’ journeys toward a healthier, sober life.
Ready to be inspired? Tune into these powerful episodes of Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. Join the conversation about sobriety, addiction, and mental health by staying current with The Sober Curator’s weekly newsletter, The Sober Sip. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Disclaimer: Because sobriety is a day-by-day process, we can not confirm that any of these celebrities were still sober when this post was published or when they recorded their episode on Armchair Expert. Although many do, we are not saying that every celebrity on this list talks about their sobriety journey in their Armchair Expert episode.
RECOVERY PODCASTLAND: Dax Shepard Relapse Arm Chair Expert Podcast (thesobercurator.com)
SOBER POP CULTURE: Sober Pop Culture & Sober Celebs « The Sober Curator
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
