#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 these situations without throwing each other under the bus. They talk through the awkwardness of siding with your partner vs. comforting your kid, and how to navigate those moments without losing the united front. The guys get honest about apology dynamics, how to course-correct as a team, and why it’s worth talking about the little things before they become big things. From real-time tension to therapy takeaways, this one dives deep into how couples can keep parenting (and marriage) strong—even when things get messy.Buy Violet Archer on Amazon HereMilkless on InstagramMilkless on TikTok
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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 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.Buy Violet Archer on Amazon HereMilkless on InstagramMilkless on TikTok
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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 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!Buy Violet Archer on Amazon HereMilkless on InstagramMilkless on TikTok
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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 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.comThe Purpose Pursuit Course: amandakbrinkman.com/purposepursuitInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandakbrinkman/Buy Violet Archer on Amazon HereMilkless on InstagramMilkless on TikTok
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#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 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!Buy Violet Archer on Amazon HereMilkless on InstagramMilkless on TikTok
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.
Brasil