MILKLESS
Searching for that parenthood balance so when our kids are old they look back and say, "yeah, my dad (or mom) was awesome," however we get there. And while we love our kids unconditionally, that doesn't mean we're wimpy pushover dads who have lost every shred of dignity and respect in the home. Let's find that balance together. We are Max Valverde and Matt Naylor. We are MILKLESS.
Episodes
118 episodes
#118 | Max's Oldest Turns 10!
Max and Matt break down one of parenting’s hardest skills, keeping your cool when everything’s falling apart. They talk about why kids always seem to test your patience at the worst times, what those triggers are actually teaching you, and how ...
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Season 4
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Episode 118
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36:02
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#117 | When Mom and Dad Do it Differently
Max and Matt dive into the messy middle ground of parenting as a team, when to be a united front, and when it’s okay (even good) to be different. Sparked by a spicy Instagram post, they unpack what happens when one parent loosens the rules whil...
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Season 4
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Episode 117
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39:36
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#116 | Youth Sports in America pt 2
Max and Matt dive deeper into the chaos of youth sports this time focusing on the scoreboards, standings, and the paradox of winning. They break down why so many leagues avoid keeping score, how that overcorrection misses the point, and what ki...
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Season 4
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Episode 116
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42:14
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#115 | Youth Sports in America pt 1
Max and Matt tackle the wild world of youth sports in America, where rec leagues are disappearing, travel teams dominate, and parents feel trapped in an expensive cycle of tournaments, uniforms, and endless weekends on the road. Max shares his ...
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Season 4
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Episode 115
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39:06
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#114 | How to make fun of your kids (without hurting them)
Max and Matt get into the delicate art of making fun of your kids when it builds connection and when it crosses the line. They unpack why playful teasing, if done right, can actually strengthen relationships and even teach kids emotional intell...
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Season 4
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Episode 114
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39:30
#113 | Overparenting Is Doing More Damage Than You Think Pt. 2
Max and Matt unpack the chaos of raising independent kids in a hyper-scheduled world. As their children grow up, they explore what it looks like to let go of bike rides without parents, drop-in sports, and the lost art of knocking on a friend’s...
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Season 4
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Episode 113
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24:22
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# 112 | Overparenting Is Doing More Damage Than You Think Pt. 1
Max and Matt dive into the surprising science behind overprotective parenting and how it might literally shorten your child’s lifespan. They explore a British longitudinal study that found links between childhood autonomy and living a longer li...
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Season 4
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Episode 112
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25:15
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#111 | Making Violet Archer & Rethinking Kids' TV with Caitlin Murray of Big Time Adulting
We sat down with Caitlin Murray of @BigTimeAdulting to talk about why we made Violet Archer — a mystery story for kids that actually slows down, leans on story, and treats young brains with some respect.We talk about what’s broken in modern...
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Season 4
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Episode 111
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42:17
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#110 | The pursuit of... contentment? With Amanda Brinkman
Max and Matt get together with Amanda Brinkman and get real about what happens when you lose your temper as a parent. They unpack the moments where things boil over the yelling, the guilt, the emotional hangover and how to rebuild connection af...
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Season 4
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Episode 110
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45:43
#109 | How Do You Handle When Your Partner Messes Up? (and Vice Versa)
Max and Matt tackle one of the trickiest parts of parenting: what to do when your partner doesn’t quite nail a moment with the kids—and vice versa. From bedtime blowups to moments when one parent needs a “tap out,” they unpack how to handle the...
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Season 4
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Episode 109
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32:38
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#108 | Hot Takes: Sh*t We Always Say to Our Kids... And Why
Max and Matt dive into the hilarious and humbling world of parenting quirks, especially the ones we're not proud of. From sarcastic “what's” to psychological warfare masked as calm questioning, they unpack the subtle ways dads sometimes offload...
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Season 4
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Episode 108
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33:44
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#107 | Stop Trying to Raise "Successful" Kids
Max and Matt dig into a conversation sparked by an article Matt’s dad (aka Skip) sent their way: “Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids.” What unfolds is a vulnerable, hilarious, and deeply practical look at what we’re actually...
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Season 4
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Episode 107
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31:25
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#106 | Perimenopause (Not to Be Confused with Periwinkle) with Amanda Brinkman
Max and Matt sit down with their longtime friend Amanda Brinkman for an honest, hilarious, and eye-opening conversation about perimenopause—what it is, why it matters, and why so few people are actually talking about it. Amanda shares her perso...
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Season 4
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Episode 106
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46:55
#105 | F*ck Your Feelings… Obviously JK! (No but really…. JK again!)
Max and Matt get deep into what our emotions really are—and what we can do about them. They explore the mind-blowing science of how emotions aren't just reactions but predictions, shaped by past experience and cultural cues. Drawing from the wo...
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Season 4
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Episode 105
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37:16
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#104 | Dad's on Autopilot
Max and Matt get honest about parenting on autopilot—when you're technically doing everything right but feel totally disconnected from your kids. They unpack the invisible exhaustion that builds up from work, stress, and just keeping the family...
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Season 4
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Episode 104
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28:12
#103 | What's the Point of School? w/ Bettina Shultz-Jobe - Pt.2
Max and Matt are back with Bettina Schultz-Jobe to dive deeper into the messy, emotional world of education choices. They unpack the tension between protecting kids and preparing them for the real world, the guilt around nontraditional schoolin...
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Season 4
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Episode 103
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40:43
#102 | What's the Point of School? w/ Bettina Shultz-Jobe - Pt.1
Max and Matt sit down with guest Bettina Schultz-Jobe to explore one of the hottest parenting questions out there: What should school actually look like? They dive into homeschooling, hybrid models, micro-schools, and the wild world of...
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Season 4
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Episode 102
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48:57
#101 | Can Something Scary End Up Being Good for Your Kid?
Max and Matt get raw and real about every parent's worst nightmare — when playtime goes sideways and lands you in urgent care. Matt recounts the heart-wrenching experience of holding down his two-year-old daughter while she got stitches, and th...
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Season 4
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Episode 101
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29:35
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#100 |Are We Getting Dummer as a Species?
Max and Matt dive headfirst into the mental mush that is modern life and ask the big question: are we all getting dumber… or does it just feel that way? They unpack the "reverse Flynn effect" (yes, it’s a thing), why IQ scores might be slipping...
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Season 4
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Episode 100
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42:30
#99 | How Parenting Changes You (Other Than Vaporizing Your Free Time)
Max and Matt open up about the weird limbo of life after college — when you’ve checked all the boxes but still feel totally unmoored. They talk about that creeping feeling of “Is this it?” even when things look fine on paper, the identity crisi...
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Season 4
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Episode 99
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42:22
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#98 | Max Tries Meditating for a Week... No Levitation, But Close Enough
Max and Matt get into the wild world of kids and competition—when it's fun, when it turns toxic, and when parents accidentally make it worse. They talk about the pressure kids feel to be “the best,” whether competition builds resilience or just...
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Season 4
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Episode 98
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32:01
#97 | You’re Perfect Just the Way You Are (But Fix Your Hair)
Max and Matt take on the surprisingly tricky topic of self-image and how much parents shape the way their kids feel about how they look. They unpack the fine line between building confidence and accidentally creating little narcissists, why tel...
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Season 4
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Episode 97
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41:04
#96 | Why are We Still Embarrassed About Our Feelings?
Max and Matt wrestle with the awkward tension of self-care, gratitude practices, and what it really means to put yourself first as a dad. They dive into the discomfort of talking about feelings, why terms like "self-care" and "gratitude practic...
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Season 4
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Episode 96
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27:39
#95 | Yeah, but Seriously... Which kid's your Favorite?
Do parents really have a favorite child? The research says… maybe. This week, Max and Matt discuss a fascinating new study exploring favoritism among siblings, why it happens, who it happens to, and how it affects kids long-term. They break dow...
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Season 4
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Episode 95
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20:36
#94 Sick Kids are Tough, and Other Medical Facts
Max and Matt dive into the wild world of sick kids: the endless fluids, missed days at daycare, and the looming question of how much sickness is too much. They talk about everything from preventing illness to navigating the tricky moments when ...
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Season 4
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Episode 94
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26:59