On an episode of his Armchair Expert podcast, Dax Shepard reflected on aggressively pursuing Kate Hudson while she was still married to musician Chris Robinson, stating that he gave her 111% of any charm I have during an encounter at a poker game hosted by the actress’s brother, Oliver Hudson.
The Bottom Line
- Dax Shepard admitted to pursuing Kate Hudson during a poker game while she was married to Chris Robinson, telling his podcast guests, Sara and Erin Foster, that he left feeling it was
a great first showing.
- After Hudson and Robinson separated in 2006, Shepard reconnected with the actress at a Malibu dinner party, leading to a brief romance in 2007.
- The revelation arrived alongside discussions of Shepard’s current marriage to Kristen Bell, who appeared on a separate episode to discuss her husband’s unique flirting style.
Poker Games and Malibu Dinners Shape Past Romances
During the October 28 podcast recording, Shepard detailed his initial meeting with Hudson through his friendship with Oliver Hudson. Despite recognizing that Hudson was married to the Black Crowes frontman, Shepard pursued the encounter directly. Co-host Monica Padman pointed out Shepard’s youthful admiration for the actress, which he confirmed by admitting, I just thought she was so f—— beautiful and I loved Almost Famous. He added, Everything I had in the reserve tank, she got,
noting that he left the poker game feeling he had done as good a job as possible.
Following Hudson and Robinson’s separation in 2006 after nearly seven years of marriage, Shepard secured another opportunity at a mutual friend’s gathering. The pair’s brief 2007 relationship escalated rapidly, with Shepard noting they were together daily before parting ways. The actors previously unpacked their history on a 2019 podcast episode, where they revealed their romance initially sparked from a playful prank involving the paparazzi. During that dinner, they jokingly suggested holding hands to trick photographers, a move Hudson admitted made her want to have s– with him.
While the actress admitted that they were super compatible
and laughed [their] asses off
together, their romance ended because they were in different places in our life.
Shepard later noted that he felt a sense of inadequacy during that period as his film career stalled while Hudson’s was peaking. Hudson acknowledged she was not ready for a serious relationship at the time, noting, I wasn’t giving Dax what he needed.
| Individual | Key Relationship Timeline | Noted Family Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Kate Hudson | Married to Chris Robinson (2000–2007); engaged to Danny Fujikawa (2021–Present) | Mother to Ryder, Bingham, and Rani Rose |
| Dax Shepard | Married to Kristen Bell (2013–Present) | Father to daughters Lincoln and Delta |
Balancing Public Transparency with Personal History
The conversation around past relationships emerged alongside domestic revelations from Shepard’s wife, Kristen Bell. Bell appeared on the October 26 episode of Armchair Expert to explain how her husband flirts by offering elaborate compliments to waitstaff, such as, Wow, you have incredible eyelashes, gorgeous eyes. Great, great job.
While co-hosts suggested this was inappropriate, Bell defended the practice, stating, But that’s flirting with me, because he just made someone else feel good.
These recurring conversational disclosures highlight how the Armchair Expert format functions as both an interview platform and an unvarnished confessional space. By revisiting past flings and marital dynamics on air, public figures actively manage their personal narratives while feeding the ongoing appetite for behind-the-scenes Hollywood history.
