Kristen Bell And Dax Shepard’s ‘Three Way Marriage’ Explained

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have long been known for their candid approach to marriage, but their close bond with podcast co-host Monica Padman has sparked curiosity about the unusual dynamic between the three.

What started as a working relationship has evolved into something far more personal, creating a friendship that they even joked was a “three-way marriage.”

Monica Padman did not always occupy such a central place in Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s lives. When she first moved to Los Angeles in 2011, hoping to pursue acting, she took on various jobs to support herself. Eventually, she began working as a babysitter for the couple’s daughters, Lincoln and Delta.

Over time, Padman became far more than a nanny. She transitioned into a trusted assistant and speechwriter for Bell while becoming deeply integrated into the family’s daily routine.

Reflecting on those early years, Padman explained how natural the arrangement felt. “I would come every morning. And it was really all hands on deck, whoever was there,” she said during a 2024 interview.

She described the environment in the household as relaxed and collaborative. “It was a village mentality, which was nice because it didn’t feel stressful. It wasn’t like, ‘You have to do this and then this.’ It was very loose,” Padman said.

Her presence often extended far beyond normal working hours.

She shared, “I would be there all day. And at night, sometimes I would go home, but sometimes I wouldn’t… I just became a part of that family. They let me be a part of that family. It was really special.”

As the years passed, the connection only grew stronger, setting the stage for a professional partnership that would later attract major attention.

The relationship took a new direction when Dax Shepard began developing the idea for a podcast. Padman initially offered to help behind the scenes, but Shepard instead invited her to become his co-host.

Their show, “Armchair Expert,” launched in 2018 with Kristen Bell as the first guest and quickly became a major success. The podcast now reaches millions of listeners every month and even secured a lucrative distribution deal with Wondery in 2024 reportedly worth $80 million.

With the podcast thriving, Padman’s role in Shepard’s professional life became increasingly prominent.

An insider described the closeness between them, explaining how Padman’s presence extends beyond work. “Monica is not only heavily involved in Dax’s podcast, but also sometimes like the third wheel in his marriage to Kristen,” the insider told Daily Mail.

According to the same source, her importance to the household cannot be overstated.

They revealed, “She’s made herself invaluable to them, and the kids love her.”

The professional partnership has also strengthened personal bonds between all three, creating a dynamic that has intrigued fans and friends alike.

Despite the apparent harmony, some people close to Padman have reportedly grown uneasy about how intertwined her life has become with the couple’s.

Sources say that while the trio often jokes about their arrangement being like a “three-way marriage,” certain friends feel the connection may be too intense.

“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 source said.

However, according to the insider, not everyone in Padman’s circle is convinced the arrangement is healthy.

“[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,” the source explained.

Padman herself once joked publicly about the dynamic during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2021, when Shepard teased the unusual closeness between them.

When the host asked if she was essentially a third wheel in the couple’s relationship, Padman laughed and replied, “Well, we were in a three-way marriage.”

Shepard also leaned into the joke, adding, “Unfortunately not. It’s all the responsibilities of two wives without the sex!”

Even as the trio laughs about the unusual bond, the closeness continues to draw curiosity from outsiders.

Bell and Dax Shepard have never hidden the fact that their relationship includes plenty of disagreements. In fact, their openness about those moments has become part of their public image.

According to the insider, Padman sometimes finds herself caught near the center of those disputes. “She tries to stay out of their infamous fights but that’s not as easy as it seems,” they said.

The source added that arguments are practically a defining feature of the couple’s relationship, noting, “They are constantly in arguments and are constantly at each other’s throats, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Rather than weakening their bond, those clashes appear to be part of what keeps the relationship alive.

The source explained, “They both have learned through therapy they are the only ones that will deal with each other’s drivel and disconnect. Always being at odds seems to be what makes them tick and is their lifeblood.”

Even their podcast debut in 2018 revealed flashes of that tension, with the couple openly bickering during the conversation.

Still, despite the frequent friction, their dynamic remains strong after more than a decade together.

Although their relationship can appear chaotic from the outside, insiders say Bell and Shepard have ultimately found a rhythm that works for them.

The constant back-and-forth may actually be part of what keeps their connection alive. “As much disagreement happens in their relationship, it also leads to various moments of extreme bliss,” the insider said.

The source added that the pair often challenge each other in ways that strengthen their bond. They said, “They know how to test each other. They are always trying to prove something to each other, or one-up each other.”

And when the arguments finally fade, affection quickly returns, as the source noted, “When they aren’t at each other’s throats, they will have their moments of deep love for each other.”

Still, the arrangement requires boundaries, especially for Padman, who lives just minutes away from the couple’s home. According to the insider, navigating that closeness can be tricky.

They shared, “Monica doesn’t like to be in the middle of their feuds but sometimes manages to get drawn in. She tries not to take sides.”

At the same time, Bell has made it clear that the couple still values their private time together.

According to the insider, “Kristen has made it perfectly clear to Monica that she and Dax need their alone time and she gets it.”

For now, the unusual trio appears to have settled into a dynamic that works for them, even if it leaves outsiders scratching their heads.