Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Marc Brackett (Dealing with Feeling, Permission to Feel, RULER) is a psychologist, professor, and founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Marc joins Armchair Expert to discuss the childhood trauma that shaped his life's work, the fallout from disclosing it on national television at 12, and the inspiring uncle whose simple compassion finally made him feel safe. Marc and Dax talk about turning ideas into a program reaching 10 million children, being called out by his mother-in-law for failing to regulate during lockdown, and discovering Yale students often mistake envy for stress. Marc explains why avoiding emotion is bad, how precisely naming a feeling changes what you can do with it, and why the best emotional allies listen instead of trying to fix.
Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: allstate.com
Take printer ink off your back to school list with HP Smart Tank | hp.com/SmartTank
Watch Armchair Expert episodes: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzPEuwClyOzDdlrAmU-IwKncG87qrF7Vw
Follow Armchair Expert on social:
instagram.com/armchairexppod
facebook.com/ArmchairExpPod
twitter.com/armchairexppod
Connect with Wondery
wondery.com/shows/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard
facebook.com/WonderyMedia
twitter.com/WonderyMedia
instagram.com/WonderyMedia
tiktok.com/@wonderymedia
About the Show:
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, above all, the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment. What qualifies me for such an endeavor? More than a decade of sobriety, a degree in Anthropology and four years of improv training. I will attempt to discover human “truths” without any laboratory work, clinical trials or data collection. I will be, in the great tradition of 16th-century scientists, an Armchair Expert.
Watch Armchair Expert every MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY here on Youtube!
Listen to episodes ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/shows/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard
Chapters:
0:00 - Marc With a C
7:45 - Uncle Marvin
19:42 - Gradschool
25:20 - Emotional Intelligence
32:37 - Recognize Emotions
43:27 - Understanding Emotions
53:11 - Expressing Emotions
1:00:10 - Regulating Emotions
1:11:26 - Other People's Emotions
1:17:58 - Mindset
#armchairexpert #daxshepard #MarcBrackett #EmotionalIntelligence #PermissionToFeel #DealingWithFeeling #RULER #YaleCenterForEmotionalIntelligence #EmotionRegulation #EmotionScience #MarcBrackettInterview #EQ #EmotionalIntelligenceInterview #SocialEmotionalLearning #SEL #MentalHealthInterview #HowToDealWithEmotions #YaleUniversity #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfRegulation #ParentingAndEmotions #WorkplaceEmotionalIntelligence
Marc Brackett (Dealing with Feeling, Permission to Feel, RULER) is a psychologist, professor, and founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Marc joins Armchair Expert to discuss the childhood trauma that shaped his life's work, the fallout from disclosing it on national television at 12, and the inspiring uncle whose simple compassion finally made him feel safe. Marc and Dax talk about turning ideas into a program reaching 10 million children, being called out by his mother-in-law for failing to regulate during lockdown, and discovering Yale students often mistake envy for stress. Marc explains why avoiding emotion is bad, how precisely naming a feeling changes what you can do with it, and why the best emotional allies listen instead of trying to fix.
Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: allstate.com
Take printer ink off your back to school list with HP Smart Tank | hp.com/SmartTank
Watch Armchair Expert episodes: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzPEuwClyOzDdlrAmU-IwKncG87qrF7Vw
Follow Armchair Expert on social:
instagram.com/armchairexppod
facebook.com/ArmchairExpPod
twitter.com/armchairexppod
Connect with Wondery
wondery.com/shows/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard
facebook.com/WonderyMedia
twitter.com/WonderyMedia
instagram.com/WonderyMedia
tiktok.com/@wonderymedia
About the Show:
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, above all, the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment. What qualifies me for such an endeavor? More than a decade of sobriety, a degree in Anthropology and four years of improv training. I will attempt to discover human “truths” without any laboratory work, clinical trials or data collection. I will be, in the great tradition of 16th-century scientists, an Armchair Expert.
Watch Armchair Expert every MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY here on Youtube!
Listen to episodes ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/shows/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard
Chapters:
0:00 - Marc With a C
7:45 - Uncle Marvin
19:42 - Gradschool
25:20 - Emotional Intelligence
32:37 - Recognize Emotions
43:27 - Understanding Emotions
53:11 - Expressing Emotions
1:00:10 - Regulating Emotions
1:11:26 - Other People's Emotions
1:17:58 - Mindset
#armchairexpert #daxshepard #MarcBrackett #EmotionalIntelligence #PermissionToFeel #DealingWithFeeling #RULER #YaleCenterForEmotionalIntelligence #EmotionRegulation #EmotionScience #MarcBrackettInterview #EQ #EmotionalIntelligenceInterview #SocialEmotionalLearning #SEL #MentalHealthInterview #HowToDealWithEmotions #YaleUniversity #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfRegulation #ParentingAndEmotions #WorkplaceEmotionalIntelligence
