Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Snapshot · Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Armchair Anonymous: Animal Attack III

Explore episode Jul 10, 2026

Where this was said

Darren's Kentucky Horse Life and Thai Monkey War

At 29:13 · chapter starts 22:25

The conversation starts with Darren's fascinating career revelation: top stallions command $250,000 per mating session and can breed 200 mares per season, making a $10.5 million 2-year-old horse potentially a rational purchase. Then Darren tells his Thailand story: on a sunset cruise to Koh Phi Phi approximately 20 years ago, he snorkeled to Monkey Beach despite being unable to swim, nearly drowning before making shore. There, his girlfriend Jill offered a piece of banana to a macaque with a semi-closed fist, and the monkey — interpreting this as withholding — bit deep into her forearm. Its alarm call summoned 30-plus monkeys who charged toward her. Darren jumped in front and attempted to physically fight the mob, throwing punches and kicks without connecting once, but somehow scattering the pack. With no boat available for his return and being unable to swim back, he was forced to beg two giggling women on a banana float for a ride, sitting in the middle while the entire 75-person cruise ship watched from the railing. The trip ended beautifully at Maya Bay, but the vacation's denouement was Jill needing rabies shots every two days at clinics across Thailand — a protocol Darren had never heard of, since Ireland has no rabies.

Society & Culture
Darren Shadowboxes 30 Monkeys in Thailand

Armchair Anonymous: Animal Attack III · Jul 10, 2026 Society & Culture

After his girlfriend Jill was bitten on the forearm at Monkey Beach, one monkey's alarm call brought 30 more charging toward her. Darren jumped in front and started throwing kicks and punches at a gang of macaques — not connecting once, but somehow scattering the entire group.

Society & Culture
The Banana Float Walk of Shame

Armchair Anonymous: Animal Attack III · Jul 10, 2026 Society & Culture

After fighting off 30 monkeys, Darren had to beg two giggling women on a tiny banana float for a ride back to the ship. They demanded he sit in the middle. He did. The whole ship was watching as they slowly paddled back.

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