Celebrity5 min(s) read
Kristen Bell spoke out about moment that made her 'jealous' amid 'three-way relationship' with Dax Shepard and other woman in his life
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have often joked that their marriage includes a third person: Shepard’s Armchair Expert co-host, Monica Padman.
The 38-year-old has become a major part of the couple’s lives over the past decade, both personally and professionally.
But while the trio frequently laugh about their close bond, the 45-year-old Frozen actress once confessed there was a moment that left her feeling a little "jealous".
How Padman Became Part Of The Couple's Life
Padman’s connection to Bell and Shepard dates back more than a decade. Originally from Georgia, she moved to Los Angeles in 2011, hoping to pursue an acting career. To support herself, she worked a variety of jobs, including at the front desk of SoulCycle.
She eventually crossed paths with the couple and began babysitting their daughters, Lincoln, now 12, and Delta, 10, in 2013 and 2014.
When the children started attending school, Padman transitioned into working as the Good Place actress' personal assistant and even served as the actress’s speech writer.
Her role expanded again in 2018 when Shepard launched his podcast Armchair Expert. Padman initially helped him get the project off the ground before he invited her to become his co-host.
The show premiered on February 14, 2018, with Bell as the very first guest. Over time, it grew into one of the most popular podcasts in the world, attracting an estimated 20 million monthly listeners.
In 2024, the podcast signed an exclusive distribution deal with Wondery, reportedly worth $80 million.
The "Three-Way Marriage" Joke
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, host Jimmy Kimmel asked Padman if she was “the third wheel in Dax and Kristen's tricycle of love”.
“Well, we were in a three-way marriage," she replied. Kimmel then asked Shepard whether the arrangement involved anything romantic.
“Unfortunately not,” the 51-year-old filmmaker joked. “It’s all the responsibilities of two wives without the sex!” To which Padman coyly added: “…Yet."
The trio’s closeness was particularly noticeable during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Padman moved into the couple’s home while they worked together on the podcast.
But the living arrangement eventually became too chaotic. "It hit critical mass a month in because Kristen ‘got Covid,'" she joked while using air quotes. "We thought. So, she was in her room quarantining on her own.
"At the same time, Dax broke his hand - couldn't make food, couldn't help with anything," she explained. Shepard added: "I had rods coming out of my fingers."
"And then I was there like, ‘Oh, I have to take care of all of these children while they're [Dax and Kristen] on vacation.' Okay… Bye!" Padman told Kimmel.
“It was abrupt. She just, like, entered the living room and she had all of her belongings,” Shepard recalled.
The Moment Bell Admitted She Was "Jealous"
The Nobody Wants This actress has publicly praised Padman’s role in the success of Armchair Expert.
The mom-of-two explained during an interview with BlogHer that the podcast initially would not have existed without Padman stepping in to figure out how to produce it.
"[Armchair Expert] was not anything until.... Padman overheard that, went out and figured out how to run a podcast… figured out all of the things and said here's a good format I think we should do,’” she said.
"It was really because of her work and putting that seat there and…you call it arrogance, but I wouldn't say it's that at all, it's knowing your value 100 percent," Bell added.
The actress then joked that she felt a little competitive about the situation, admitting that she was “jealous” because she “likes to talk”.
Concerns About The Trio's Closeness
While Bell, Shepard, and Padman frequently joke about their close bond, some insiders claim that not everyone around them finds the situation amusing.
"Monica is not only heavily involved in Dax's podcast, but also sometimes like the third wheel in his marriage to Kristen," an insider said. "She’s made herself invaluable to them, and the kids love her."
According to the source, Padman has different dynamics with each half of the couple. “Monica is closer to Dax than she is to Kristen on a professional level. However, on a personal level, she and Kristen share girl talk. They seem to be much of her life right now,” the insider claimed.
Still, some of Padman’s friends reportedly worry the arrangement may be too intense.
“[Her friends] don't think the relationship between the three of them is a healthy one” because they believe she is “too involved” in the couple's life.