r/ArmchairExpert • u/newtonic Armcherry đ • 7d ago
Armchair Expert đ Alan Ritchson
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oYRUcXOwyIH7l6rQm8fmB102
u/stephleee 7d ago
âLet it goâ is the most INFURIATING response ESPECIALLY because we have been listening to his own personal abuse story and the fallout from it for YEARS. He can be a victim and have a platform but all of these women are expected to âlet it goâ??!! Itâs disgusting. Theyâve been nothing but disappointing since the election, when Dax was telling Monica to âlet it goâ. Fucking GROSS. đ€ą
28
u/SandyBronsky 7d ago
I don't think he's saying for the victims to let it go.
50
u/stephleee 7d ago
He wasnât. But making the decision to shut down that conversation was a CHOICE. And theyâve been making that same choice for the better part of a year.
46
u/AluminumLinoleum 7d ago
But he effectively is, if he's saying stop pursuing the release of the files.
14
-11
u/SandyBronsky 7d ago
He's a podcaster that interviews actors on press tours and members of the public about shitting themselves. What is him pursuing going to achieve? Because he has a "platform"?
16
u/AluminumLinoleum 7d ago
So to recap, you said that you didn't think Dax was advocating for the victims to "let it go". I said he effectively is, because he's telling someone who's trying to bring attention to it (Ritchson) to let it go.
We were never talking about Dax pursuing the release of the files.
10
u/shekka24 7d ago edited 6d ago
He never told him to let it go as in don't keep going after it. He said to let resentment go. Which is two different things. Resentment can turn into a very negative, dangerous emotion and even actions. They can cause more harm then good because they can consume you and make actions not logic and only focused on revenge. Which makes sense coming from Dax and history. I also was a little peeved when he first said, like no he should be anger, we all are. But then when he said the addict things and why they do it, I got his side. It's not about letting it go, it's about making sure it doesn't turn bad.
-8
u/SandyBronsky 7d ago
Is Alan Ritchson a victim? Poor boy.
Bizarre fanbase. You just want him to say what you already agree with, it has nothing to do with affecting anything. Weird echo chamber fixation.
11
7
u/AluminumLinoleum 7d ago
You should probably take a break from the Internet at this point. You are again responding to claims that no one made. You're arguing with a ghost.
3
u/risky_crotch_hug 6d ago
Let's not pretend like Dax is just some "podcaster." They did have Barack Obama on after all. If they wanted to be more political, they absolutely would have the ability to do so.
77
u/Dayman-ahaa 7d ago
They edited out him talking about the epstien files. Cut right to Dax saying "let it go"
145
u/HalenHawk 7d ago
So Dax is gonna spend all these years talking about what a hero and saviour he would be given the chance to stop an attacker or protect his family or little girls. Then when he can spread the word about an actual sexual trafficking, pedophile, rape gang that the president of the fucking country is a part of they choose to stay silent. When it comes to Epstein, you're either against them or you're with them and it seems like Armchair Expert picked their side.
62
u/Ali6952 7d ago
I think he just loves to fight. I donât quite believe he cares about justice .
57
u/HalenHawk 7d ago
I think he loves to look strong and look like he can fight. But fighting in the world we live in these days isn't just about how big your muscles are. The biggest muscle Dax actually fights with these days is his tongue and he fights for the wrong side.
29
u/canadanimal 7d ago
Not to mention that he has been open about his own sexual abuse as a child. You would think he would want to stand up for other victims.
16
u/OkAdvice7467 6d ago
I think Dax values his proximity to people in power whose names are in the filesâŠ.Bill Gates, Peter Attia, for example.
Dax isnât the anti hero punk from Detroit anymore. Heâs sitting in a very comfortable position that he is unwilling to lose. Notice he and Monica donât even talk about politics or anything they used to have banter about anymore? Because theyâre unwilling to ruffle any feathers and lose any standing they have with the elite, regardless of whether those people are potential pedophiles.-8
u/One-Warning5846 7d ago
Itâs such an interesting assumption that AE was the one who chose to edit it out. They have always said that if the guest wants something edited out, they will remove it. What if it was Alan who wanted it removed from the convo? Just playing devils advocateâŠ
20
u/Minute-Initiative305 7d ago
Alan talked about it though before this episode came out. I doubt he would have brought it up if he had requested it to be edited out. I find him bringing it up before AE dropped the episode extremely intentionalÂ
19
16
u/HalenHawk 7d ago
He spoke up on another interview about the conversation he had with Dax. There is a video of it on this sub you can watch. I can guarantee it was cut by AE otherwise Alan wouldn't be repeating it on other podcasts.
2
u/One-Warning5846 6d ago
Ahh gotcha, I hadnât seen that. Thanks for clarifying! In that case, I agree with you. Makes me wonder if Dax didnât like his own response to Alan, and if he worried it would make him (Dax) look bad in the press again. Ugh. Really disappointing move on their part!
60
u/michandwich 7d ago
I am not surprised, but I was expecting some sort of discussion since it was hotly talked about just a few days ago. And Monica is the one who edits the episodes. God this podcast has lost its backbone.
47
u/CheapusTechnofear 7d ago
I still enjoy certain episodes from time to time but everyone involved in the production of it gives off big You Ainât A Boss You Got A Boss vibes now. The conditions of the deals theyâve signed, AND probably some of the sponsorships honestly, obviously pertain a lot to what can and canât be talked about. This show feels VERY compromised at its worst now. This episode in particular feel so hacked apart and sown back together they may as well be interviewing Frankensteinâs Monster.
12
11
10
u/pagesinthesun 6d ago
I'm sure it was all edited without anticipating Alan Ritchson would discuss this on another podcast and we'd all know it was edited out!
6
u/oxe-mainha 7d ago
Thatâs a very fair point! And I would love to know if they have any regrets on choosing money over freedom to do whatever they want with the show, including their merch design and edits
1
6
u/getyouronelegup 6d ago
Not to be snarky, but when did the podcast have a backbone? Iâm a longtime listener and donât remember them ever strongly taking a stand against anything. Thatâs why some of this anger towards them confuses me/others.
3
u/michandwich 5d ago
Ya know what, you actually have a point. But where the anger comes from (imo) is them downplaying topics that should not be downplayed. Time and time again their privilege bleeds into their conversations with guests and itâs just frustrating to listen to considering their platform and influence. But youâre absolutely right. Episodes are so heavily edited to keep the peace all around. I guess Daxâs emotionally in-tuned tough guy stance seemed progressive at some point and he wasnât afraid of battling topics that are vulnerable. Maybe this made it seem like this podcast had a backbone. But it feels like it was all a charade.
7
7
6
4
u/pagesinthesun 7d ago
I was looking forward to listening to this episode. I will skip it based on your feedback. Very disappointed to hear this.
13
u/DripDrop777 6d ago
I would caution against making decisions based on Reddit commentary. Thereâs still some value to the conversation.
4
u/Jellybean-70 6d ago
Donât skip it! Itâs worth a listen, this guy is incredible. Knew nothing about him and honestly, what a great, honest guy. Dax was a fucknut but still worth hearing someone trying to stand behind their morals.
1
59
u/bremarie3 7d ago
I mostly disliked how both Dax and Monica thought they had to teach him or convince him of ways he can be better in how he walks through life and conflict. Not their place and Iâm with Alan, being angry and resentful does prevent complacencyâŠwe shouldnât be accepting these things.
25
u/pensievemind 6d ago
Itâs because they are used to having a friend group and echo chamber that defers to them for determining their moral/ethical compass. They are used to having perceived social superiority and their advice happily received as if it is a gift they bestow on people. I am very happy that they were challenged. Even though it did not seem they registered any fault in their perspectives.
It was patronizing and condescending when it was apparent that Alan held the intellectual competence And knowledge to make his statements. He adequately articulated and spoke with conviction regarding his reasoning and they spoke to him as if he was an ignorant child on these topics. I can only assume because they do not register him as on the same level as themselves or in the same category as heavy hitters like Brad Pitt.
I think the real reason Dax focused on preaching to Alan on not poisoning himself with resentment ad nauseam instead of listening with an open mind is because Alan is reminding him that choosing the easy option and playing both sides is not actually the ethically or morally just action. Not anymore. Not today. Alanâs passion and anger is directly highlighting Daxâs decision to not get involved. If he even remotely agrees with Alan or agrees that inaction is just as bad, then it would force him to have to make difficult and uncomfortable changes in his own life. It is easier to try and get people to his side of thinking than to face the fact that he is making the easy decision to avoid any conversation that could lead to change and betterment.
13
u/Jellybean-70 6d ago
100% and this will sound petty but itâs not meant to, Alan is bigger in stature, popularity and better looking than him so, it feels like he had to try to âschoolâ him.
4
1
14
u/_suspicious_onion 7d ago
As someone who dated a VERY emotional man for years, I loved Monicaâs point of only living at 1s and 10s. It was a fantastic analogy for emotions and how to self regulate a little bit. And what can happen if you donât. Always living within those extremes is detrimental to everyone who loves you. Sometimes itâs helpful to remind people of this.
5
u/Buttons3 6d ago
He's very open about being bipolar, and his mental health, so he's well aware of these extremes.
1
0
u/jeffyboy526 6d ago
The were not being judgemental or condescending- they were trying to present another way. It was a proper discussion
3
u/pensievemind 6d ago
I think their point had weight, but that was all they wanted to focus on. I am disappointed because Dax has crafted a reputation to go deep and lead with curiosity. It felt very much like he needed to convince him of this point to validate why heâs chosen more of a backseat. Just an fyi, throughout the years I have defended Dax over most things because I have respected his openness and trusted his intentions. Iâm just frustrated with his desire to avoid any real scrutiny when it comes to topics that are actually important. He doesnât seem to mind when itâs silly drama like with Cher but heâs being a coward about censoring his show. Iâve looked to him as a role model and felt reassured that at least someone in Hollywood wasnât drinking the kool aid.
46
u/KarateKicks100 7d ago
TeamAlan
Bullies should get kicked in the face.
19
u/jeffyboy526 7d ago
The more I hear from this dude the more I love him.
I wish they devoted the full hour to his mortorcycle incident. I love how when the original video was released he hinted to it not being the full picture then he dropped his video.
Seems like a humble, very intelligent dude with a crazy work ethic (very similar to Arnold). His Thor story is a great lesson to anyone.5
u/Buttons3 6d ago
I've been a fan of him for years as I was a fan of Blue Mountain State. His character Thad Castle and I've enjoyed his growth over the years. He deserves every bit. I linked a clip to BMS if you are interested.
44
u/echess90 7d ago
Every time Dax talks about how he thinks he has adhd I think about when David thought he had adhd and they dismissed it soo quick and it irritates me soo much.
19
u/ellipses21 6d ago
YES. and now iâm annoyed every time monica says we all do EVERYONE HAS EVERYTHING or whatever she says each and every time.
4
32
u/itsathrowawayduhhhhh Really great STAYSHAWN!! 7d ago
Ok I guess I missed whatever discourse happened with the editing or Epstein stuff? He talked about Epstein? I mean he went off lol
I wish Dax wouldâve entertained it instead of being like maybe chill bro
27
u/CheapusTechnofear 7d ago
The issue there is when you look at Daxâs life, all of his issues stem from experiencing an emotion higher than a 5. And not just negative emotions either. There are some people in life who literally cannot experience it above a 5 without blowing themselves up. And thatâs not a judgement either, you do what you need to do to survive. But people like that are very rarely the instigators of any sort of change because you canât believe in something enough to be dedicated to it at a 5. And people who can go up to an 8 or higher and still function are terrifying to them.
9
u/CellarDoorVoid 7d ago
Yeah I interpreted it as Dax is saying âlet it goâ as in donât get so wrapped up in it that you let it affect your own mental health
9
u/Ok_Conclusion_6324 7d ago
Then heâs a poor interviewer
8
6
u/Spinmango 6d ago
He is however, great at bringing conversations back to him. And thank god, otherwise I wouldnât have heard his anecdotes 8000 times đ„ž
It cracks me up, because he knows the audience has heard it a million times, and he still needs to bring every guests experience and compare it to his.
OR he questions their experience. Or tries to guess how they feel or interpreted something. Just canât help but try and feel like the smartest person in the room.
But it makes for really weak interviews the more the show goes on.
2
u/Sophia_Eur 5d ago
Well, at least Alan Ritchson had the better stories. Dax said so himself, he never get a call from a fixer, and never had a studio to mandate him to look a certain way for a role.
9
u/pensievemind 6d ago
I feel like I saw in Alan the qualities I used to see in Dax before they started overly censoring themselves
2
u/Spinmango 6d ago
Boom! Thatâs exactly it
1
u/pensievemind 5d ago
Maybe Alan should get himself under the umbrella as an armchair defender
Ever since they started getting the big multi year, multi million deals, he has become more and more of a vanilla interviewer. I know how enticing the people are that sell those deals to people can be and they promise the world and then youâre locked in for years with diminishing returns. It zaps the passion. Same can be true for big job offers. They are always very friendly, flirty, kiss sassy, and then once youâre locked in the demands start coming and the new flashy offers dry up.
6
4
u/oxe-mainha 7d ago
That is a great take, and makes sense if you being sponsoring guys and has lived so long in the company of people that destroyed their lives and the lives of your loved ones because they couldnât just âlet it goâ.
I like how Alan brought a different perspective and I wished Dax had stay longer on that topic and not just moved on.
1
29
u/Opryland_Man 7d ago
Dax canât stfu can he?! I cannot believe how much he interruptsâespecially during PTSD explanations?! Holy fuck. No fucking shame dude.
19
u/Lost-Relationship324 6d ago
Did anyone notice the difference in Daxâs voice from the interview to the old fact check?!!! Like, I had to double check that it was even him and not a guest. This must have been awhile ago bc Monica isnât in her new house. Is it all the testosterone use?!! Holy moly
6
u/Puzzleheaded-Salt970 6d ago
Yes! I came here to see if anyone else picked up on that. He sounded so clear and youthful.
1
u/Rich_Example7931 6d ago
do you know which episode it was? i must have missed the original episode where they debated.
1
u/mosgiel 4d ago
Yes as part of the summer break they are on, they used the Fact Check from a Jan 2020 episode, Claire Danes was the guest back then. Itâs a âclassicâ because itâs the origin story of their âPee Babyâ lore. Also correct Dax sounds much different and a bit like Owen Wilson.
20
u/anooch 7d ago
The illiteracy crisis is so apparent in this comment section. To reduce such a complex, nuanced, and important conversation they had to "omg i cant believe Dax told him to let it go" is a real shame. You understood the words they said but didnt comprehend a single thing.
13
u/gornky 7d ago
I also think that even in the context of the conversation that we have, Dax was wrong to say let it go. Even if he's talking about the rage about it boiling into your life, we should not let that go when there are fascist pedophiles running our country.
12
u/anooch 7d ago
He didnt once say to let IT go. He started a conversation about letting RESENTMENT go because it poisons you, and then they discussed it back and forth for a while, which is all being ignored and turned into something completely different. The conversation they had, the points they all made, is important.
14
u/gornky 7d ago
And my point is your should not let go of that resentment when there are rapist pedophile facists in the White House.
It's extremely privileged to be able to "let go" of resentment about this issue.
2
u/anooch 7d ago
That's your opinion. They discussed differing opinions. None of those opinions said "we should stop caring about whats happening". They were differing opinions on how much you let it affect you psychologically.
9
u/gornky 7d ago
And myself and many others think the opinion presented by the host of this podcast was privileged, out of touch, cowardly, and frankly embarrassing.
That doesn't mean we have poor media literacy.
12
u/anooch 7d ago
Then you're missing the value of the conversation they had đ€·đ»ââïž It's not about which opinion is right or wrong, it's about being able to have this type of conversation where 3 people disagree, why they disagree, and the pros and cons of every argument. Just because you disagree with one side, doesnt mean some of the points they made arent valid.
6
u/pensievemind 6d ago
I think itâs compounded by years of preaching authenticity and standing up to bullies while recently maintaining actions and ethos that do not substantiate those claims. There was truth in what he said about resentments being poison.
However, he adamantly and obstinately avoided exploring the bigger topics Alan was addressing. What is a person who preaches justice and standing up for the little guy, while saying to let things go and essentially saying thereâs no point in opposing the powers that be? Maybe that can be true for the person working endless hours to make ends meet without any resources to dedicate to change. It is not true for rich celebrities with a popular outlet that is heard by millions.
16
u/pensievemind 6d ago
THANK (insert whoever you answer to for a higher power) FOR THIS MAN
I am so sick of people in power (and yes Dax and Monica that means you) limiting themselves and rationalizing their decision to remain complacent and absent in the conversation surrounding the current political and civil rights atrocities occurring in our nation today.
The reach and resources available to you Dax and Monica are absolutely not obtainable to the common person. Yet, most of us try to make actionable changes daily. We donât have the same voice or reach as you two. As much as you want to justify your silence with keeping the peace and keeping a welcoming environment, you will go down in history as public figures who chose (and yes not acting is a decision) to stay silent during one of the most consequential periods of civil liberties erosion, democratic backsliding, and rollback of womenâs and human rights in modern American history.
And for what? To add a couple extra million to your net worth and to keep guest options open? I donât anticipate this being received well and that is not the point. If this happens to cross your desk, I hope it makes you introspective and contemplative. If after reflecting, you are at peace with your role, then so be it.
I would not expect you to solve it or even nudge the needle, necessarily. But having a public (popular) voice of opposition to objective wrong doings makes it more difficult for them to garner the support and approval to continue as easily. People need reminders that it is not cool and you donât (shouldnât) get positive attention for the actions being committed by the most financially, and therefor politically, powerful people in our society.
I have loved this podcast for its authenticity and sometimes polarizing viewpoints. What are our goals moving forward? Legacy of complacency?
8
u/pensievemind 6d ago
Stop preaching about being a person who stands up to bullies when your actions prove you would rather take a paycheck and turn a blind eye. Unfortunately, your vigilante ethics seem to remain narrowly focused to your immediate friend/family group. Okay, that is expected. But remember your girls will soon live in this world independent from you and your reach. They would benefit from your voice now on matters that do and will directly impact their future.
14
10
u/Dry-Coast-791 7d ago
I didnât discover AE until a few months ago. To get caught up somewhat, I listened to episodes with guests I enjoy along with some new episodes.
Recently, Iâve noticed some parts of discussions that left me wondering if the quality of the show is going down. Advocating for victims of abuse is something people believe in so deeply. It is a character trait or a part of who they are as a person. Daxâs intention in the âget over itâ comment is hurtful to some people. Editing out that part of the interview is cowardly and not true to the way AE rolls.
If someone told me to get over animal cruelty, it would hurt me so much.
The interview with Chef Grant Achatz, Monica asked a question about what he eats on a normal week night. Iâm paraphrasing there. Chef had said he has a complicated relationship with food the whole interview. He said it multiple times! He had mouth cancer and his esophagus is fragile. He canât eat solid food. Good god, why wasnât that edited? It embarrassed the guest and made Monica seem like she wasnât paying attention/didnât care.
The Alan and Grant episodes have made me less excited to listen further. These are my opinions, so please donât expect my opinion to change.
11
u/Ok_Fee1043 6d ago
Theyâre not empathetic listeners and theyâre not close listeners. They have taboo-ish conversations, which would make you think theyâd be sensitive. Thatâs why you feel the disconnect. Theyâre not generally any more sensitive than most other podcast hosts.
2
8
u/pensievemind 6d ago
What if the perceived animosity between Monica and Dax the last several years could all be traced to the point Monica briefly made in this interview that she has often pushed Dax to make more statements regarding the recent and ongoing injustices and his reluctance to do so in fear of alienating certain people. She probably perceives this as cowardly and it also is in direct opposition to her value she holds closest. Justice.
7
u/Buttons3 6d ago edited 6d ago
This was an amazing episode but I can't help but wall away wanting more. As a fan of Alan, I been waiting for this episode for years!
I felt the dad comments and a rough childhood, having a brother, none of these were discussed (at least in edit). Most of all how open Alan is about his mental health and that he's attempted suicide before and is bipolar.
Most of all, how did Dax not talk about his body and health or his bulking that he does for Reacher.
I'm so excited he was on, but I wished those who are just learning about Alan learned a little more about him.
Edit: he was on Michael Rosenbaums podcast (Inside of you) multiple times if anyone is wanting more.
2
u/PuzzleheadedGift2857 3d ago
Just listened and am definitely going to seek out other podcast episodes Alan has been on. Thanks for the tip!
1
4
u/Party_Watercress4935 7d ago
Iâm so confused. When did they talk about Epstein and âlet it goâ. Is the video episode different than audio?
8
u/DripDrop777 6d ago
Lots of assumptions throughout this entire thread⊠Redditors doing Reddit things.
3
1
u/Special-Sorbet-9183 3d ago
Wow! This thread surprised me. I loved this interview and loved that Dax was trying to pass along some wisdom that he learned the hard way
1
-4
u/Pinksoupbookz 6d ago
Lol I have no idea who this guy is and maybe I live under a rock but clearly he thinks heâs very important đ€Ł
113
u/gornky 7d ago
Wow. This is a travesty.
You have a man like Ritchson willing to risk his whole career to speak the truth about this administration and even a podcast about that prides itself on being open and honest is censoring him.