Overview of South Beach Sessions — Max Greenfield
This episode of South Beach Sessions (hosted by Dan Le Batard & Stugotz) features actor Max Greenfield in a wide-ranging conversation about his career, parenthood, creative pivots, and mental health. Topics include his new work with Mike Schur (A Man on the Inside), how pandemic-era Instagram videos with his daughter turned into children’s books, the long slog before his break on New Girl, and how family and fatherhood reshaped his priorities and creative choices.
Key topics covered
- New project: A Man on the Inside (season 2) — Max’s role and working with Mike Schur and Ted Danson.
- Pandemic creativity: making Instagram classroom videos with his daughter that grew into community support and eventually a deal for children’s books.
- Children’s books: origin story of his picture book idea (I Don’t Want to Read This Book) and how it speaks to reading struggles and classroom conversations.
- Educational struggles: Max’s difficulties with formal schooling, his decision to leave college, and how that informed his later life and writing.
- The grind before success: roughly 10–12 years of small roles and odd jobs (delivering pharmaceuticals, teaching spin, radio) before landing New Girl.
- Fatherhood and priorities: how becoming a parent changed his outlook and led him to reassess career ambition vs. family.
- Creative process and collaboration: praise for Mike Schur’s leadership and the playful, creative environment on set; anecdotes about first-day nerves and finding character dynamics.
- Self-kindness and therapy: reflections on being extremely self-critical, working to be kinder to himself, and the role of relationships and grief (he mentions losing his brother) in that growth.
- The value of discovery and gratitude: seeking moments of wonder and being present as a guiding life principle.
Main takeaways
- Small acts of creative vulnerability can grow into meaningful projects and community (Instagram classroom videos → children’s books → educational conversations).
- Success often follows long periods of uncertainty and hustle; Max emphasizes persistence through many low-paid or non-creative jobs before a breakthrough.
- Fatherhood reshaped his priorities — he intentionally reduced the “selfish” career chase in favor of being present and supportive for his family.
- Collaboration with thoughtful, humane showrunners (Mike Schur) creates a safer, more productive creative environment where actors can take risks and grow.
- Self-criticism is common among high achievers, but intentional practices (therapy, perspective from loved ones) can help shift toward self-compassion and gratitude.
- Max trusts “pulls” — instincts and curiosity — more than rigid long-term planning; he follows opportunities that feel right and learns along the way.
Notable quotes and insights
- “I didn’t have a choice. I got yanked in this direction by the nose.” — on following creative impulses.
- “The extent to which you judge others is the extent to which you judge yourself.” — catalyst for trying to be less judgmental.
- “You can walk past joy. You can walk right past it without noticing it.” — on practicing presence and gratitude.
- On parenthood: “I was kind of embarrassed… this felt selfish,” describing how career pursuits felt small compared to family.
- On showrunning: Mike Schur is rare because he’s excellent at both writing and running a show, and also a fundamentally decent human being who inspires people to give their best.
Background/context worth knowing
- Max Greenfield is known for roles on New Girl and The Neighborhood, among others. In this episode he highlights his transition to writing children’s books and his continuing TV work.
- The children’s book idea (a voice for kids who resist reading) came out of pandemic homeschooling frustration and positive social-media feedback; it was sold to Penguin.
- “A Man on the Inside” (Mike Schur, Ted Danson) — Max describes it as a collaborative, playful set where he found his character rhythm after initial nerves.
Practical recommendations / who should listen
- Parents and educators: Check out Max’s children’s books as conversation-starters about reading resistance and classroom struggles.
- Emerging creatives: The interview provides a realistic picture of career perseverance — expect long stretches of odd jobs and small roles before momentum.
- Anyone struggling with perfectionism or self-criticism: useful reflections on therapy, practicing self-kindness, and leaning on relationships.
- Fans of Mike Schur/Ted Danson/Max Greenfield: behind-the-scenes anecdotes about set dynamics and creative process.
Final note
The episode mixes candid personal stories, career recollections, and warm praise for collaborative creators. It’s an encouraging listen for people navigating creative careers, parenting while pursuing work, or trying to be kinder to themselves.