This is a transcript of an episode of the "Take Your Shoes Off" podcast, hosted by Rick Glassman, featuring actress Kristen Bell. The conversation centers on promoting Season 2 of Bell's Netflix series, "Nobody Wants This," with the two discussing its unique comedic style, realistic portrayal of relationships, and Glassman's personal experiences as a guest star in the first season. Beyond the show, the dialogue explores Bell's feelings of imposter syndrome, their shared interest in fitness and skincare, and Bell's relationship with her husband, Dax Shepard. The episode is punctuated by several recurring podcast bits and unexpected events, including the off-camera sound of Bell using the restroom, which Glassman humorously frames as a podcasting goal. A significant segment features the return of "Secret," a delivery driver and aspiring actor who previously appeared on the show. This leads to a comedic exchange where Bell performs a mock PSA to help free Secret's politically imprisoned brother, and Secret, in turn, records a promo for Bell's show.
A Conversation with Kristen Bell: "Nobody Wants This," Imposter Syndrome, and a Surprise Guest
0:00:09 Podcast Goals and a Memorable Start: Host Rick Glassman opens by noting the sound of guest Kristen Bell using the restroom, humorously declaring it the fulfillment of a long-held podcasting goal alongside getting on the podcasts of Bill Burr and Sebastian Maniscalco.
6:23 Filming "Nobody Wants This": Glassman discusses his role in Season 1 of Bell's show, recounting his surprisingly excellent basketball performance during filming, which was ultimately edited to make his team look bad for the story's sake.
10:19 Kristen Bell's Arrival and Alvin the Dog: Bell arrives and immediately bonds with Glassman's dog, Alvin. They discuss Alvin's role as Glassman's best friend and joke about audience comments complaining about the dog's frequent presence on the podcast.
16:36 Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt: Bell opens up about her significant imposter syndrome, explaining she often feels she has nothing valuable to say and that her thoughts sound stupid when spoken. Glassman explores this, noting that it doesn't stop her from doing her work.
24:13 On-Set Misunderstanding: Glassman recounts a misunderstanding during the filming of "Nobody Wants This," where a complaint about scheduling was misinterpreted as a demand for more money, leading to Bell kindly offering to pay him from her own salary to resolve the issue.
41:52 Health, Fitness, and Dax Shepard's Influence: The conversation shifts to Bell's fitness journey, which she credits to her husband Dax Shepard's dedication to health. They also share their detailed skincare routines.
52:32 Celebrating a Co-Star's Success: They praise their "Nobody Wants This" co-star Jackie Tohn, celebrating her success on a hit show and reflecting on how inspiring it is to see a long-working actor achieve major recognition later in their career.
1:11:15 A Surprise Guest Appearance: A Postmates driver named Secret, who has appeared on the podcast before, arrives with a delivery. Glassman invites him in to catch up on his acting career and the status of his brother, who is a political prisoner.
1:23:09 The Subway Commercial: Secret reveals he booked a national Subway commercial and hilariously demonstrates how the crew fed him his lines one word at a time because he had trouble memorizing them under pressure.
1:33:31 A Mock PSA for a Political Prisoner: In a comedic exchange, Bell agrees to create a PSA to help free Secret's brother. She delivers a heartfelt plea for his release, set to her own a cappella performance of Sarah McLachlan's "Angel."
1:40:11 An Even Trade: In return for the PSA, Secret records a promo for "Nobody Wants This," reading the lines fed to him by Bell and Glassman in his signature staccato style from his commercial audition.