Emily & Matt Hyland (Emily Burger)

In this emotionally rich and multifaceted episode of Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard sits down with Emily and Matt Hyland, the former partners and founders of the acclaimed Emily Loves Pizza and Emmy's Square restaurant chain. The conversation unfolds across three deeply personal and reflective segments, beginning with their journey from college sweethearts to culinary entrepreneurs, navigating the intense pressures of building a business together—both professionally and personally. The couple’s story is marked by creative synergy, profound love, and eventual marital breakdown, culminating in a dramatic arrest that became a turning point for healing and self-discovery. Emily shares her evolution from a struggling yoga instructor and poet to a resilient business leader, while Matt reflects on his growth as a chef and his new life in Austin with his wife Simone. The episode explores the entanglement of identity with brand, the emotional toll of shared ventures, and the transformative power of crisis. In a lighter yet insightful turn, the discussion shifts to Emily’s humorous struggle with motorcycle leathers—balancing aesthetics and comfort for a high-profile event—drawing parallels to broader societal expectations around body image and performance. The conversation then pivots to a heartfelt critique of bureaucratic inefficiency, as Emily expresses outrage over the unpaid status of TSA workers and proposes grassroots solutions like airport donation buckets. The episode closes on a warm, celebratory note, reflecting on milestones like Emily Burger’s LA live show launch in April 2025, Michelin’s Bib Gourmand recognition, and playful trivia revealing Hawaii’s surprising lead in daily soda consumption—offering a full-circle moment of connection and joy after years of anticipation and conversation.