What kind of parent hates playing with their kids?

Apparently… me.

In this episode, I’m saying the quiet part out loud: I don’t like pretend play. I love my kids deeply, but crawling on the floor doing silly voices while holding a Barbie? It drains me. And if you’ve ever felt that guilt—the kind that creeps in when you say “not right now” or zone out halfway through a game—you’re not alone.

I talk about how my relationship with play and connection has changed over the years, especially as my kids have gotten older and I’ve gotten… tired. We dig into the pressure to be everything for your kids, how social media and shows like Bluey mess with our heads, and what it looks like to connect with your kids in ways that are actually sustainable.

You’ll hear what play looks like for me now—card games, Xbox, lawn mowing, watching Stranger Things, and saying “yes” to the stuff that feels real.

And of course, I wrap it all up with this week’s Caffeine & Coping segment featuring Sleep Token’s new album and—yes—Quaker rice cakes. Don’t judge me.

In this episode:

• The guilt of not wanting to play with your kids

• Why connection doesn’t have to look like pretend play

• The cultural pressure to be the “perfect parent”

• What showing up looks like in real life

• Caffeine & Coping: Sleep Token’s Even In Arcadia + the chaotic utility of rice cakes

This isn’t parenting advice. It’s just real talk from someone trying to stay present without burning out.

This week, I’m calling B.S. on one of adulthood’s biggest myths: work-life balance.

Because if balance means being calm, focused, and fully present at work and at home, I’ve never had it. Not when I was a cop, not when I worked in ministry, and definitely not now juggling remote work, parenting four kids, and trying not to lose my mind in a Walmart parking lot.

In this episode, I share:

• Why “balance” has never worked for me (and maybe never will)

• The emotional toll of always being on even when you’re technically “off”

• The guilt spiral that hits when you try to rest

• How I’m learning to redefine “enough” in a world that keeps moving the finish line

• A story about my wife’s recent car accident that shook everything up

• And why frozen fruit + Good Mythical Morning might just be my emotional support system right now

If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind before your day even starts or wondered why you’re so exhausted when you’re “doing everything right” this one’s for you.

PLUS: I’m testing out a new segment called Caffeine & Coping, where I share the little things keeping me semi-functional each week.

It’s not a self-help guide. It’s not a five-step plan.

It’s just me, trying to make sense of the mess out loud.

What happens when you stop believing the things that used to define you but you’re not sure what comes next?

In this raw conversation with David Hayward, aka NakedPastor, we unpack the messy middle of faith deconstruction: losing certainty, grieving community, rethinking marriage, and learning to be present in your own body again.

Whether you’re deep in the fog of religious doubt or just starting to question your beliefs, this episode is your reminder that you’re not broken. You’re becoming.

We talk about:

• Why growth isn’t a linear process

• Marriage and identity after leaving church

• Letting go of shame, certainty, and spiritual baggage

• How to rebuild rhythms that actually work for you

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