Armchair Expert: Edward Norton on Clean Air, Acting, and Staying Open

Edward Norton and Dax Shepard turn a wide-ranging Armchair Expert conversation into a thoughtful look at climate solutions, acting, and how to stay emotionally flexible as you get older. In this condensed summary of the full episode, you’ll hear how Norton is backing a cargo-based air-cleaning innovation for ports, why he believes city planning and public health are deeply connected, and how Dax’s memories of a dirtier Los Angeles lead into a discussion of his grandfather James Rouse’s urban-redevelopment legacy. Norton also opens up about his acting process, including A Complete Unknown, working with Olivia Wilde on The Invite, and why empathy matters more than productivity in performance. Along the way, Dax, Monica Padman, and Norton explore mental health, ADHD, lifelong learning, and the value of listening over dominating the room. Listen now to get the key ideas in minutes.