Podcasts · Kids & Family · Comedy

What Fresh Hell: Parenting, Relationships, and Making Life Better, with Two Funny Moms

Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson

300 episodes

When you're a parent, every day brings a "fresh hell" to deal with. In other words, there's always something. Think of us as your funny mom friends who are here to remind you: you're not alone, and it won't always be this hard. We're Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, both busy moms of three kids, but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is a laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet or an organizational system she didn't like. In each episode of "What Fresh Hell" we offer lots of laughs, but also practical advice, parenting strategies, and tips to empower you in your role as a mom. We explore self-help techniques, as well as ways to prioritize your own needs, combat stress, and despite the invisible workload we all deal with, find joy amidst the chaos of motherhood. If you've ever wondered "why is my kid..." then one of us has probably been there, and we're here to tell you what we've learned along the way. We unpack the behaviors and developmental stages of toddlers, tweens, and teenagers, providing insights into their actions and equipping you with effective parenting strategies. We offer our best parenting tips and skills we've learned. We debate the techniques and studies that are everywhere for parents these days, and get to the bottom of what works best to raise happy, healthy, fairly well-behaved kids, while fostering a positive parent-child relationship. If you're the default parent in your household, whether you're a busy mom juggling multiple pickups and dropoffs, or a first-time parent seeking guidance, this podcast is your trusted resource. Join our community of supportive mom friends laughing in the face of motherhood! whatfreshhellpodcast.com

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Deep Dive: Is It Sometimes Easier When Our Spouses Aren't Around?

    · 39 min

    This Deep Dive series revisits some of our previous episodes about dynamics with our parenting partners. There are lots of reasons why someone might find parenting easier when their spouse is not around, and not all…

  2. Fresh Take: Meg Stone on Campus Sexual Violence and Empowerment Self-Defense

    · 39 min

    This episode includes discussion of rape and sexual assault. As parents, we have been horrified by the reports of sexual violence on Cornell’s campus in 2024, and dismayed that so little seems to have changed since we…

  3. You Might Also Like: Zero Reject from Understood.org

    · 32 min · Bonus

    Beth Gellman-Beer spent her whole career fighting for kids with disabilities — first as a student written off as “lazy,” then as a federal civil rights attorney who found her dream job protecting students like her…

  4. Conflict Resolution: How to Fight Fair and Repair Relationships

    · 47 min · Episode 491

    How do we handle conflict with those closest to us without damaging the relationship or going in circles? We discuss why some people avoid conflict while others escalate quickly, how our family of origin shapes the way…

  5. Deep Dive: When Our Kids Have Different Relationships with Our Parenting Partners

    · 38 min

    This Deep Dive series revisits some of our previous episodes about dynamics with our parenting partners. Do you feel like the odd parent out in your house? Or do your kids want only you to do everything with them all…

  6. Fresh Take: Sam Kelly on Teaching Kids About the Mental Load

    · 31 min

    What if kids didn't need chore charts and constant supervision in order to participate in the lives of their households? What if the "mental load" was seen as a family-wide issue, where everyone could contribute to the…

  7. Episode 1,000! How Doing This Podcast For a Decade Has Changed Our Parenting

    · 47 min · Episode 490

    What have 10 years of doing this podcast taught us about being better parents? In this, our 1,000th episode(!), we look back at the biggest parenting lessons we’ve learned from a decade of conversing with guests,…

  8. Deep Dive: We Caught Our Spouses Being Awesome

    · 47 min

    This Deep Dive series revisits some of our previous episodes about dynamics with our parenting partners. We asked the listeners in our Facebook group about all the times they caught their spouses being awesome, and…

  9. Ectopic Pregnancy and the Increasing Danger to Mothers' Reproductive Health

    · 43 min

    Trigger warning: On today's episode we will be discussing pregnancy loss, abortion, and maternal death. Please be advised if those topics are difficult for you. What happens when pregnancy complications become a…

  10. When Kids Hate Transitions

    · 43 min · Episode 489

    Why do some kids completely fall apart when it’s time to leave the playground, get ready for school, or switch activities? We dive into why transitions are particularly difficult for some kids and what parents can do…

  11. Deep Dive: Is This Battle Worth Fighting?

    · 42 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about reducing the friction between ourselves and our kids when trying to communicate with them, whether it's yelling less, finding real reasons for constant defiance, or picking our…

  12. Fresh Take: Dr. Siggie Cohen on Setting Boundaries Without Dismissing Kids' Feelings

    · 44 min

    We want our kids to feel validated and heard. We also don't want to engage in five-hour negotiations every time they have to do something they don't want to do. Where's the happy middle? Child development specialist…

  13. Which Behaviors Should You Fix and Which Should You ignore?

    · 44 min · Episode 488

    Which kid behaviors need to be addressed in the moment—and which are better ignored? We discuss when to fix behavior and when to let it go, from whining and backtalk to tantrums and other attention-seeking behavior.…

  14. Deep Dive: When One Family Member's Moods Are Running the House

    · 44 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about reducing the friction between ourselves and our kids when trying to communicate with them, whether it's yelling less, finding real reasons for constant defiance, or picking our…

  15. Fresh Take: Fran Hauser on How to Make Time for What Actually Matters

    · 35 min

    How much of your time is actually going toward what matters most to you? Career expert and author Fran Hauser joins us to talk about her new book, 20 MINUTES IS THE NEW HOUR, and how women can rethink their…

  16. Transitions

    · 47 min · Episode 487

    We want our kids to grow and stretch their wings, but that doesn't mean every milestone is easy for parents. We talk about the complicated emotions that come with parenting transitions, from starting school to getting…

  17. DEEP DIVE: What Happened to My Sweet Child?

    · 43 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about reducing the friction between ourselves and our kids when trying to communicate with them, whether it's yelling less, finding real reasons for constant defiance, or picking our…

  18. Fresh Take: Dr. Thomas Phelan on What Parents Should Know About Misophonia

    · 37 min

    Why do ordinary sounds like chewing, slurping, or pen-tapping trigger intense averse reactions in some people? And what does a parent do when it's her own kid screaming at her for having a case of the sniffles?…

  19. Why Our Friendships Stall (and How to Fix It)

    · 42 min · Episode 485

    Why does it feel harder than ever to get together with our friends? Why does every "we should hang out soon!" in a group text feel destined to peter out before it actually happens? In this episode, we explore the…

  20. DEEP DIVE: How to Yell Less

    · 46 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about reducing the friction between ourselves and our kids when trying to communicate with them, whether it's yelling less, finding real reasons for constant defiance, or picking our…

  21. Fresh Take: Sona Movsesian on Being the "World's Worst Mom"

    · 34 min

    What if being a comedian is kind of great for most things, but not so much for parenthood? We talk with Sona Movsesian, co-host of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend and author of the new book THE WORLD'S WORST MOM, about…

  22. Can We Make Youth Sports Fun Again?

    · 42 min · Episode 485

    Youth sports used to mean riding your bike to your friend's house to play Wiffle ball in the backyard, with a tree for second base. Eventually you'd head to the rec center, maybe join the school team. But those days…

  23. DEEP DIVE: When Kids Fight You on Everything

    · 42 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about reducing the friction between ourselves and our kids when trying to communicate with them, whether it's yelling less, finding real reasons for constant defiance, or picking our…

  24. BEST OF: How to Make the Back-to-School Transition a Little Easier

    · 40 min

    Back-to-school season doesn’t have to be a chaotic scramble. In this "Best of" episode, Margaret and Amy share practical tips to help parents make the transition smoother—without getting caught up in the…

  25. Overfunctioning

    · 42 min · Episode 484

    Overfunctioning is usually defined as taking on excess responsibility for other people’s feelings, issues, and tasks. And it's usually presumed to be tied to anxiety. IF someone's overfunctioning, it's either a symptom…

  26. DEEP DIVE: Jennifer Wallace on Achievement Pressure

    · 33 min

    This "Deep Dive" series revisits a few of our past episodes on back-to-school challenges such as the morning rush, school projects which require lots of parental oversight, and how to help our kids navigate…

  27. Fresh Take: Dr. Stuart Slavin on The Pressures Causing Depression, Anxiety, and Burnout in Our Kids

    · 39 min

    What if the proven decline in the mental health of today's adolescents isn't just about phones and screen time? What if academic pressure and "achievement culture" is the real driver of the increase in anxiety and…

  28. How Much Should We Share With Our Kids?

    · 43 min · Episode 483

    When is it useful for our kids to hear about our own life experiences—including situations caused by our own bad decision-making? When does it become oversharing, or get too personal or inappropriate? We discuss how…

  29. DEEP DIVE: Linda Flanagan on Taking Back Kids' Sports

    · 34 min

    This "Deep Dive" series revisits a few of our past episodes on back-to-school challenges such as the morning rush, school projects which require lots of parental oversight, and how to help our kids navigate…

  30. Fresh Take: Dr. Lucy McBride on Advocating for Yourself at the Doctor's Office

    · 36 min

    What does it really mean to become an active participant in the care of your own health? In this episode, Margaret talks with primary care physician Dr. Lucy McBride about her new book, Beyond the Prescription: A…

  31. Outsourcing the Workload: How to Hand Stuff Over

    · 43 min · Episode 482

    Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! Feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done? If you're the person who keeps track of the appointments, school forms, groceries, household repairs, gifts, kids'…

  32. DEEP DIVE: Are Our Kids Overscheduled?

    · 42 min

    This "Deep Dive" series revisits a few of our past episodes on back-to-school challenges such as the morning rush, school projects which require lots of parental oversight, and how to help our kids navigate…

  33. Fresh Take: Dr. Özgür Bolat on the Real Science of Motivating Kids

    · 33 min

    We think of rewarding kids as a surefire way to get the behavior we want. But what if rewards mainly serve to underline our children's intrinsic drive to succeed? Dr. Özgür Bolat, education scientist and author of The…

  34. Helping Our Kids Feel Seen

    · 43 min · Episode 481

    What happens when one child’s needs take up most of a family’s attention? Even when parents are doing their best, it can be easy for another child to quietly become the “easy” one—the independent kid, the high…

  35. DEEP DIVE: When School Projects Become Parents' Projects (and How to Push Back)

    · 49 min

    This "Deep Dive" series revisits a few of our past episodes on back-to-school challenges such as the morning rush, school projects which require lots of parental oversight, and how to help our kids navigate…

  36. Fresh Take: Michael McLeod on ADHD and Executive Function

    · 43 min

    Kids (and adults) with ADHD don't actually have a deficit of attention. Today, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is more properly understood as a deficit of executive function— and as this week's guest Michael…

  37. People Must Be Pretending to Enjoy This

    · 43 min · Episode 480

    Are you certain that people are only pretending to enjoy cilantro? Or mah jongg? We asked our listeners to tell us the things they're convinced no one actually likes. From complicated board games to high school…

  38. DEEP DIVE: Back-to-School Back-to-Ones

    · 43 min

    This "Deep Dive" series revisits a few of our past episodes on back-to-school challenges such as the morning rush, school projects which require lots of parental oversight, and how to help our kids navigate…

  39. Fresh Take: Kristen McNeely on Helping Kids Overcome Anxiety and School Refusal

    · 41 min

    Childhood anxiety is on the rise. Parents are often unsure how to respond, and in their well-intentioned efforts to reassure their kids, can sometimes reinforce the anxious patterns. In this interview Kristen McNeely,…

  40. Everything You've Always Wanted to Ask A Pediatrician, with Dr. Mary Martin

    · 45 min · Episode 479

    All too often, we leave our kids' pediatric appointments only to remember what we really wanted to ask when we're on the drive home. Fear not: Dr. Mary Martin is in, and she's answering all our burning…

  41. DEEP DIVE: Emily Cherkin on Tech-Intentional Parenting

    · 47 min

    This month, our "Deep Dive" is into some of our past episodes about screen time: the effects it has on our kids, how tech companies engineer their devices to be as addictive as possible, and how we can allow our kids…

  42. Fresh Take: Dan Heath on Fulfilling Careers, Better Decision Making, and What Kids Remember Most About Childhood

    · 41 min

    What does it really take to build a fulfilling life—and how do we help our kids do the same? Bestselling author and host of the podcast "What It's Like to Be..." Dan Heath joins Amy for a conversation that challenges…

  43. How Can Siblings Be Such Total Opposites?

    · 38 min · Episode 478

    If you've ever looked at your very different children and wondered how they could possibly share the same DNA, same parents, and same upbringing, you're not alone— and you're not imagining things. Research shows that…

  44. DEEP DIVE: Gaia Bernstein on Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies

    · 33 min

    This month, our "Deep Dive" is into some of our past episodes about screen time: the effects it has on our kids, how tech companies engineer their devices to be as addictive as possible, and how we can allow our kids…

  45. Fresh Take: Dr. Cassidy Freitas on How to Stay Calm When Parenting Feels Overwhelming

    · 39 min

    What if the fact that we sometimes we "lose it" as parents doesn't make us bad parents? What if those times stem from an overwhelmed nervous system, and what happens when we get curious about what's underneath?…

  46. How Should We Support Our Kids' Passions?

    · 43 min · Episode 477

    What are the best ways for us to support our kids' interests? Should we help them become the best gymnasts and singers they can be, as soon as they show glimmers of true interest? Or are they better off exploring many…

  47. DEEP DIVE: Catherine Pearlman on Kids and Phones

    · 34 min

    This month, our "Deep Dive" is into some of our past episodes about screen time: the effects it has on our kids, how tech companies engineer their devices to be as addictive as possible, and how we can allow our kids…

  48. Fresh Take: Laura Clery on Codependency, Co-Parenting, and Starting Over

    · 43 min

    Laura Clery has built a massive digital empire, of over 25 million followers, offering her own blend of silly sketch comedy and unflinchingly vulnerable reality. In this interview, Laura tells Margaret about her new…

  49. What Fresh Hell Is... Being the Only Grownup in the Room?

    · 40 min

    You know how sometimes when you're in charge, in a really hard moment, you keep watching the door for an actual grownup to show up? Because it can't possibly be 42-year-old YOU who's in charge at this moment? In this…

  50. DEEP DIVE: Susan Linn on How “Big Tech” Targets Our Kids

    · 30 min

    This month, our "Deep Dive" is into some of our past episodes about screen time: the effects it has on our kids, how tech companies engineer their devices to be as addictive as possible, and how we can allow our kids…

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