Why Dax Shepard refuses to raise 'respectful' daughters

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell are stepping away from traditional parenting style while raising their daughters, as they encourage them to speak up and "talk back."

Speaking on Monday’s, November 3, 2025, episode of Armchair Expert, the 50-year-old actor shared a recent moment in Nashville when a friend gently pointed out how outspoken his and Kristen’s daughters, 12-year-old Lincoln and 10-year-old Delta have become.

"They’re kind of shook with how our daughters will talk back to us or to anybody because it’s very un-Southern, right?” he remarked. “Down there, everyone’s like, ‘Hi, Ms. Kristen. Hi, Mr. Dax.’”

The Parenthood actor recalled his friend even openly calling him out for how his children talked back to him in public, even at restaurants.

"She’s like, ‘Yeah, your kids will let it rip,’” he explained. “‘They seem to have no kind of respect’ is what she was saying. And feeling a little entitled.”

Even though Dax agreed that manners matter, he highlighted that he is even more proud that his daughters are able to stand up for themselves.

“I said, ‘You’re dead right. They do talk back and they are not respectful,’” he had responded.

"I can understand where that seems completely unruly, but I want you to know what I’m prioritizing, which is when they’re 19 and their boss is a f***ing creep, I want them to talk back. I want them to be disrespectful," the Zathura: A Space Adventure actor explained.

"I want them to always advocate for themselves, whether I think they’re right or wrong,” he added.