Armchair Anonymous: Study Abroad
Summary
In this episode of Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard and Monica Padman share wild study abroad stories with listeners. Blair recounts a terrifying storm on a Semester at Sea cruise that left the ship uncontrollable in the Pacific, while Rachel describes being trapped in a restaurant on Ischia with a local crime family. Additionally, Olivia shares a frightening experience in Stockholm where a friend forced her and her friends into a taxi ride to a dangerous neighborhood.
Topics discussed
Intro, birthday shoutouts, and Quince ad
Quince ad and McDonald's cowbell anecdote
Blair joins: college day and study abroad setup
Cruise study abroad program and itinerary
Crossing the Pacific: seasickness and vomit
Giant storm hits: bed detaches and muster call
Lifeboat leg-sitting and Titanic comparisons
Fear levels and the 12-hour wait
Engine failure, Coast Guard rescue, and Hawaii
Flights to Asia and the boat repair
Aftermath: injuries and cousin's marriage
Gusto and No Bull ads
Helix and BetterHelp ads
Rachel joins: fake name selection
Italy exchange: Ischia island and hot springs
The mysterious restaurant and free wine
Papa Pertutti and the dance party
Locked in the restaurant and calling for help
Escaping Ischia and the aftermath
Olivia joins: Arizona and Rhode Island banter
Barcelona: meeting Sam and the club plan
Squarespace and Walden University ads
Superhuman ad
Sam's eerie behavior and the taxi ride
Locked in the car and the Swedish driver
The drop-off, harassment, and Sam's addiction
Travel logistics and goodbye to Olivia
Noah joins: 1994 Russia exchange program
Living with a neurosurgeon family in poverty
Career day and the woman with half a brain
Ivan: the hammer victim and memory loss
Discotheque party and Sergei's stab wound
Stitching Sergei up in the hospital
Noah's friend becomes a neurosurgeon
Anthony's story: pushed down stairs in Cannes
Anthony's apology and show outro
Allstate ad
Listen ad-free on Castria