This is Part Two of a two part episode. If you haven't heard part one, go back and start with Episode #84! Thanks!One of the main reasons Matt and Max started this podcast was to become better parents themselves, and both of them think this might be the most helpful episode they've ever been a part of. Tina Payne Bryson, PhD - the renowned co-author of Best Sellers like Whole Brained Child, No Drama Discipline, The Yes Brain, The Power of Showing up, and the upcoming The Way of Play - joins t...

One of the main reasons Matt and Max started this podcast was to become better parents themselves, and both of them think this might be the most helpful episode they've ever been a part of. Tina Payne Bryson, PhD - the renowned co-author of Best Sellers like Whole Brained Child, No Drama Discipline, The Yes Brain, The Power of Showing up, and the upcoming The Way of Play - joins the pod for a wide-ranging conversation on everything from discipline, to regulation, to the things we broadly misu...

We're diving into the sticky topic of boys today. We tackle the often-overlooked struggles boys face in today’s world, inspired partly by Richard Reeves from the Brookings Institution (youtube link below). While we wholeheartedly celebrate the progress made for girls and women—a movement that is crucial and long overdue—we also need to shine a light on the alarming new statistics regarding boys: declining college graduation rates, slipping school performance, and the fact that 4 out of 5 suic...

In the second episode with Dr. Morgan Cutlip, we dive deeper into the complexities of attachment styles and the mental load that accompanies parenting. Dr. Cutlip shares her insights on the invisible burdens we carry and how they impact our relationships.From balancing emotional well-being to the logistics of daily life, we explore the fine line between nurturing and overextending ourselves. As Max and Matt navigate the challenges of parenting, they discuss the often-unseen pressures that lea...

Dive in with the brilliant Dr. Morgan Cutlip, a psychologist and mother of two. Together, we tackle the often invisible mental load that comes with raising kids - and Max finds out who has been refilling the liquid soap dispensers in his house.Morgan helps us navigate the fine art of sharing the parenting load without turning it into a wrestling match. We discuss the surprising ways the mental load creeps into our daily lives and how it affects everything from dinner plans to bedtime routines...

We're talking about misinformation with a recent study to round us out as we dive in by soon-to-be doctor of Psychology, Evan Orticio. Matt and Max tackle the crucial topic of equipping our kids with the skills to navigate the chaotic seas of falsehoods and dubious claims. Is shielding them from misinformation doing more harm than good? Spoiler alert: it might be time to lean in instead of shielding!Join us as we explore a cool study that shows how engaging with misinformation can actually bo...

Part Deux of a two-parter! In this half of the episode, Matt opens up about the looming threat of losing his cool as the kids grow and their needs evolve, while Max reflects on the challenges of balancing individual attention with collective chaos. Whether it’s mastering the art of co-parenting during the newborn phase or navigating the inevitable sibling rivalry, Matt and Max are once again joined by Sam to explore that wild moment when your family goes from only child to man-on-man defense—...

This episode dives deep into the emotional rollercoaster of expanding one's family. Max and Matt are joined by returning guest, Samuel "Iceman" Stolper, who's days away from welcoming baby number two. Together, they unpack the highs, lows, and unexpected gut punches of bringing a second (or third) child into the mix. From sibling dynamics to parental sanity checks, they explore everything—from how much your first kid might lose in the attention department to the importance of celebrating the ...

Matt and Max unpack the unexpected magic of a one-on-one hotel stay with only one of your kids. During a soccer tournament in Boise, Max finds himself bonding with his son over card games, Coldplay, and a healthy dose of nostalgia. But as they reminisce about their mini-adventure, the boys dive deep into the bittersweet nature of those one-on-one moments that make parenting so rich—while also grappling with the guilt of missing the whole family dynamic. Tune in as they brainstorm ways to carv...

There really is nothing better than those hours that pass with your kids when nobody is trying to get anything done, nobody is multitasking, and everybody is totally present. We spend so much time thinking about how to "parent right," yet some of our best interactions with our families come when nobody is really thinking too hard about anything at all. But man, can that vibe be elusive! Finding a moment when nothing needs to get done and everybody is in the right place to truly sink into...

We've all been there. We're innocently driving the kids to school, and from the backseat you hear: "Daddy, what's that?" You look out the window and calmly respond, "Honey, that's four bloody skeletons hanging from a tree with their skin peeling off." Mysteriously, bedtime is suddenly incredibly hard. Don't get us wrong, Halloween is fun as hell, and it can be a time for kids to dip a healthy toe into the world of fears, and death, and monsters... and all that other stuff we wish we could she...

Max reveals a game-changing parenting strategy: losing it on his kids… in a good way. When his kids do something overly kind, he doesn't just give a pat on the back—he matches the intensity of a negative dad-freak-out, but flips it to pure joy. The result? Kids who get a huge reaction and a ton of attention when they least expect it. Matt chimes in with his own stories of dialing up the energy and why it's important to notice the little victories. Expect plenty of laughs, a shirtless moment, ...

The Boys tackle the struggle of giving kids independence without losing the emotional connection. Matt shares a recent bedtime standoff with his 6-year-old that led to a breakthrough in how he handles her growing need for autonomy (spoiler: there’s a silent ‘f*** you’ involved). Meanwhile, Max reflects on the pressure to always be the "good dad" and how that sometimes leads to over-parenting—even when all the kid really needs is space. Expect hard truths, a lot of laughs, and a reminder that ...

Matt and Max talk about when Matt had to break some news to his daughter about the nonexistence of a magical creature she had believed to be real for as long as she'd been alive. Warning: Matt cries a little bit.Love, MaxBuy Violet Archer on Amazon HereMilkless on InstagramMilkless on TikTok

Matt and Max talk about why they took a random week off. Spoiler Alert: Max's dad was med flighted for an emergency surgery. They talk about aging parents and how they look at their own health.When=Now Episodes are a second bonus episode we drop some weeks. The topic is something that's going on in our life right now. Less research, more gritty, no editing, and more free flowing. Enjoy!Buy Violet Archer on Amazon HereMilkless on InstagramMilkless on TikTok

As parents, we're often told how important it is to guide, nurture, and protect, but what about just being silly? Humor plays a critical role in child development, and in this episode, Max and Matt get rounded out as they dive into a study highlighting the importance of being a parent who embraces humor. Whether it’s being the silly parent, encouraging kids to crack jokes, or just watching funny stuff on TV, The Boys break down the different types of humor kids develop at various stages and h...

This is part 2 of a two parter. So if you haven't listened to episode #67, maybe hit that one first. This is a continuation of a wide-ranging conversation with Caitlin Murray of Big Time Adulting (@bigtimeadulting). We started off talking about how social media sometimes makes us feel like lousy parents, but in part two we wander into everything from the heartache of getting ready for school, to nasty hangovers, to learning to forgive ourselves for our inevitable failures. You don't have to l...

Matt and Max talk about how Max has been tired for the past four days and how his kids have been annoying him to no end.When=Now Episodes are a second bonus episode we drop some weeks. The topic is something that's going on in our life right now. Less research, more gritty, no editing, and more free flowing. Enjoy!Buy Violet Archer on Amazon Here

One of the toughest parts about parenting is all the other examples we see of it around us every day. Whether it's a parenting influencer telling you how to handle tantrums better, or your high school friends posting pictures of the amazing arts & crafts they've done with their kids, it's easy to feel like you're not stacking up. Max and Matt have their good friend Caitlin Murray of Big Time Adulting on to explore why sometimes getting parenting advice from experts makes their blood boil....

Matt and Max talk about how Matt broke his headphones in an angry moment yesterday and how that might have some parallels with parenting.When=Now Episodes are a second bonus episode we drop some weeks. The topic is something that's going on in our life right now. Less research, more gritty, no editing, and more free flowing. Enjoy!Buy Violet Archer on Amazon Here

This is part two of a two-parter (Part 1 is Episode #63). We don't really love the whole concept of "Parenting Hacks," because any trick that promises to make this sh*t-show easy is typically a load of hooey, and one-size-fits-all solutions don't work nearly as often as they claim to. But there are a handful of things Max and Matt have figured out over the years - mostly through trial and a comedy of errors - that have made certain aspects of the grind a little bit easier. On this Hot Takes e...

Matt and Max talk about a very recent moment when Max screamed at his kids.When=Now Episodes are a second bonus episode we drop some weeks. The topic is something that's going on in our life right now. Less research, more gritty, no editing, and more free flowing. Enjoy!Buy Violet Archer on Amazon Here

We don't really love the whole concept of "Parenting Hacks," because any trick that promises to make this sh*t-show easy is typically a load of hooey, and one-size-fits-all solutions don't work nearly as often as they claim to. But there are a handful of things Max and Matt have figured out over the years - mostly through trial and a comedy of errors - that have made certain aspects of the grind a little bit easier. On this Hot Takes episode, The Boys are sharing those hopefully helpful strat...

Matt and Max talk about how friendship is so important in today's world and how sometimes we can get different things from different people in our life.When=Now Episodes are a second bonus episode we drop some weeks. The topic is something that's going on in our life right now. Less research, more gritty, no editing, and more free flowing. Enjoy!Buy Violet Archer on Amazon Here