MILKLESS

Latest Episodes:

#108 | Hot Takes: Sh*t We Always Say to Our Kids... And Why Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

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 their stress onto kids. The guys explore the fine line between gentle correction and straight-up shaming, reflect on the power of reframing discipline, and offer surprisingly touching ways to show unconditional love, like telling your kid you'd choose them if you could. They also get real about sibling dynamics, how to model empathy, and even how small rituals (like walking together or joking about being thirsty) build deeper family connection. It’s part confession, part strategy, and full-on dad therapy.

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#107 | Stop Trying to Raise "Successful" Kids Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

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 teaching our kids through our words, our reactions, and our silence. They explore how achievement culture subtly hijacks parenting, why kindness needs louder applause, and the power of modelling empathy over outcome. Along the way, they unpack wild studies (like why helpful kindergarteners earn more as adults), personal stories of parenting wins and misses, and why standing up to a bully might be more valuable than acing the SATs. It’s about raising good humans, not just high performers. And yeah, there's some goldfish, lost letters, a tip jar moment, and a healthy side of dad-cry goosebumps. Let’s gooo!

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#106 | Perimenopause (Not to Be Confused with Periwinkle) with Amanda Brinkman May 27, 2025

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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 personal experience navigating brain fog, rage surges, sleep disturbances, and the emotional chaos of midlife… all while raising a daughter who's hitting puberty herself. They unpack the medical blind spots, cultural silence, and outdated advice still lingering around women’s health, and how this stage of life can be both deeply disorienting and wildly empowering. With help from some actual science (and a lot of jokes), they explore how to better support your partner, your friends, and yourself through this phase—and why knowing what’s going on might be the most powerful tool of all. Let’s gooo!

You like that Amanda Brinkman lady? So do we! And when she's not talking about perimenopause, she spends much of her time travelling the country talking to big ol' crowds about finding Purpose. She's even got a course on it, y'all. Check out the links below.

Amanda Brinkman: https://amandakbrinkman.com

The Purpose Pursuit Course: amandakbrinkman.com/purposepursuit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandakbrinkman/

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#105 | F*ck Your Feelings… Obviously JK! (No but really…. JK again!) May 20, 2025

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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 work of Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, they unpack why your anxiety, stress, or anger might not mean what you think it means, and how we actually have way more agency than we give ourselves credit for. From parenting triggers to intrusive thoughts, from yelling at your kids to feeling stuck in shame, they talk about how to hit pause, reset your emotional reactions, and stop being a passenger to your own feelings. Oh, and yes, they manage to fit in the Buddha, Gabor Maté, and why a toddler yelling “I tooted” might be the wisdom we all need. Let’s gooo!

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#104 | Dad's on Autopilot May 13, 2025

Show notes

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 machine running—and how easy it is to slip into a mode where you're reacting, not connecting. They talk about how small moments of presence (like a 15-second eye gaze!) can rewire your entire day, why we confuse doing "enough" with actually showing up, and how a toddler’s sheep-scented toot became the emotional reset one dad didn’t know he needed. They also get into parenting guilt, meditation, sibling rivalry, and how sometimes the biggest shift is the smallest gesture. Let’s gooo!

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#103 | What's the Point of School? w/ Bettina Shultz-Jobe - Pt.2 May 06, 2025

Show notes

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 schooling, and why no one path—public, private, homeschool, or micro-school—is a magic bullet. They get into how important it is for kids to build resilience without being bulldozed, why "fit" matters way more than prestige, and how parents have way more power (and responsibility) than they think when it comes to raising curious, lifelong learners. From playground politics to project-based learning to why the right school is like the right bike helmet (you just have to want to wear it), they break down how to make education work for your unique kid. Let’s gooo!

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#102 | What's the Point of School? w/ Bettina Shultz-Jobe - Pt.1 Apr 29, 2025

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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 education alternatives beyond the standard public school path. Bettina shares her journey from therapist to school founder, what she’s learned about how kids learn best, and why some traditional school settings might be killing our kids’ natural love for learning. From balancing structure with freedom to the challenge of building real social-emotional skills, they talk about how different environments shape kids—not just academically, but as full humans. They also tackle hard questions about socialization, bullying, screen time, and the myth that there’s one “right” way to educate your kid. Let’s gooo!

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#101 | Can Something Scary End Up Being Good for Your Kid? Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

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 the emotional aftermath that rocked the whole family. They unpack the guilt, the helplessness, the fear, and the surprisingly powerful role of storytelling in helping kids (and parents) make sense of scary stuff. From traumatic dreams that seem to echo real-life events, to the quiet confidence kids lose and regain after getting hurt, they dive deep into what it means to be present, supportive, and human through it all. And yes, there’s plenty of love, reflection, and even a few laughs along the way (dead dogs in swimming pools? Don’t ask). This episode is about parenting through pain, building resilience, and rewriting hard memories with empathy and connection. Buckle up — this one hits hard and heals a little, too.

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#100 |Are We Getting Dummer as a Species? Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

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, and how tech, social media, and even GPS might be slowly draining our brains. But instead of panicking, they explore what we can actually do about it—especially as parents. From building friction into our kids' lives to rediscovering slow learning as adults (yes, even number theory), they talk about reclaiming our attention, our curiosity, and our time. They also get real about AI, addiction to distraction, and why being intentional might be the only way out of the algorithm trap. Let’s gooo!
The essence of calculus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUvTyaaNkzM&t=5s

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#99 | How Parenting Changes You (Other Than Vaporizing Your Free Time) Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

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 crisis that hits when your career path doesn’t match who you really are, and the invisible pressure to keep pushing forward even when you're not sure where you're going. From chasing purpose to confronting the emotional hangover of growing up, they break down why so many people feel lost after doing everything “right.” They also talk about friendships in adulthood, the struggle to stay curious, and how slowing down might actually be the way forward. Let’s gooo!

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