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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 4 of 6

  1. Fresh Take: Dr. Michael Milobsky

    · 33 min

    Parenting today feels harder than ever—information overload, online anxiety, and constant pressure to “get it right.” Dr. Michael Milobsky, a pediatrician with 25 years of experience and host of the podcast "Your Kids…

  2. Holiday Hacks

    · 42 min · Episode 443

    Amy and Margaret share their and their listeners' best tips for making the holidays less stressful and more joyful. They discuss how to reimagine old traditions, simplify family gatherings, and the “law of holiday…

  3. DEEP DIVE: Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld on Maintaining Healthy Connection with Our Kids

    · 31 min

    This week, we're revisiting our interview with Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld. In the revised edition of their book HOLD ONTO YOUR KIDS, Dr. Maté and Dr. Neufeld explain the crucial importance of remaining…

  4. Fresh Take: Kate Baer, HOW ABOUT NOW

    · 33 min

    Amy and Margaret talk with Kate Baer, three-time New York Times bestselling poet, about her new poetry collection How About Now— a book born out of a season of unexpected change. From sudden health crises to the…

  5. Boys Online: What the Latest Data Shows

    · 44 min · Episode 442

    Amy and Margaret discuss two new studies on boys and their lives online—in social media and gaming—and how today's digital culture shapes boys’ mental health, relationships, and ideas about their bodies and about…

  6. DEEP DIVE: Liz Gumbinner on Ditching the Hustle

    · 35 min

    Contrary to what social media would have us believe, not every hobby has to turn into a madly successful side-hustle that takes the world by storm. Margaret talks with Liz Gumbinner, co-host of the podcast "Spawned…

  7. Fresh Take: Jen Hatmaker, AWAKE

    · 37 min

    Amy and Margaret talk with bestselling author and "For the Love" podcaster Jen Hatmaker about her new memoir AWAKE. Jen's book begins with the moment she knew her marriage was over, and goes on to tell the story of…

  8. Caregiving

    · 43 min · Episode 443

    Amy and Margaret honor National Caregiving Month with an honest, compassionate look at the realities of caregiving. From raising kids to caring for aging parents—or both at once—they explore the invisible labor,…

  9. DEEP DIVE: Crazymakers

    · 46 min

    We all know someone who causes chaos—both lawful and otherwise—wherever they go. Those people are sometimes called "crazymakers," a term first coined by Julia Cameron and which perfectly describes the unwelcome…

  10. Fresh Take: Corinne Low, HAVING IT ALL

    · 42 min

    Amy and Margaret talk with Dr. Corinne Low, Wharton economist and author of Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours. Corinne shares her data-driven insights on why…

  11. Why Kids Get Obsessed—And Why It's a Good Thing

    · 39 min · Episode 440

    Amy and Margaret discuss why kids become intensely obsessed with the things they love—whether it’s dinosaurs, Pokémon, sharks, or Spider-Man—and how those fascinations manifest throughout their childhoods. They…

  12. DEEP DIVE: Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius) on Compassionate Time Management

    · 45 min

    We're so glad to be talking to Kendra Adachi again this week. Kendra is the host of the Lazy Genius Podcast and the two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Lazy Genius Way and The Lazy Genius Kitchen. In this…

  13. Fresh Take: Irin Carmon, UNBEARABLE

    · 43 min

    Content note: This episode discusses complications of pregnancy, including pregnancy loss and maternal death. Amy and Margaret sit down with journalist and author Irin Carmon to discuss her new book, UNBEARABLE: Five…

  14. How Kids Spend Their Time (And How They Should)

    · 45 min · Episode 439

    How are our kids actually spending their time — and is it aligned with what we value for our families' lives and for our children's well-being? This week, Amy and Margaret discuss: • How sleep too often loses out to…

  15. Dr. Natasha Bhuyan Introduces Amazon One Medical Pay-Per-Visit

    · 22 min

    This episode is brought to you by Amazon One Medical. Ever notice how kids only seem to get rashes in the middle of the night? Or get pinkeye only while you’re on vacation? It’s what we like to call a typical “mom…

  16. DEEP DIVE: Laura Vanderkam on "Tranquility By Tuesday"

    · 35 min

    Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management books, including the just-out "Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters." She hosts the every-weekday-morning podcast…

  17. Fresh Take: Kate Rope, STRONG AS A GIRL

    · 36 min

    Amy and Margaret speak with Kate Rope, award-winning journalist and author of STRONG AS A GIRL: Your Guide to Raising Girls Who Know, Stand Up For, and Take Care of Themselves. Together, they unpack the unique…

  18. When Stress Becomes Burnout (and How to Tell the Difference)

    · 45 min · Episode 438

    In this episode, Amy and Margaret explore the crucial distinction between stress and burnout—two experiences that often blur together in the chaos of parenting, but which are very different in presentation and the…

  19. DEEP DIVE: 8 Ways to Make Better Decisions

    · 47 min

    There is no magic formula to making the perfect decision every time, but there are philosophical principles, or "razors," you can use to pare down your options and see your problem more clearly. These razors can cut…

  20. Fresh Take: Jean Twenge, 10 RULES FOR RAISING KIDS IN A HIGH-TECH WORLD

    · 39 min

    Amy and Margaret sit down with Dr. Jean Twenge, renowned researcher of generational differences and author of the new book 10 RULES FOR RAISING KIDS IN A HIGH-TECH WORLD. Dr. Twenge shares what her research reveals…

  21. Mom Worsts

    · 45 min · Episode 437

    Mom firsts? We prefer to reminisce about Mom WORSTS. In this episode we relive some of our all-time lousiest experiences as mothers, from family-wide Coxsackie virus to elaborate homework assignments achievable only…

  22. DEEP DIVE: What Can We Add? What Can We Take Away?

    · 43 min

    The human tendency to solve problems by adding something is called "additive solution bias." However, sometimes a problem is more quickly and effectively solved by taking something away. In this episode we talk about…

  23. Fresh Take: Suzanne Warye, THE SOBER SHIFT

    · 43 min

    Margaret sits down with Suzanne Warye—sobriety influencer, host of The Sober Mom Life podcast, and author of the new book THE SOBER SHIFT. Suzanne shares her story of walking away from alcohol, the truth about…

  24. When Does "Typical" Behavior Become Something More?

    · 44 min

    Is your kid extremely resistant to the simplest of requests? Or completely impossible to wake up in the morning? Or sure their peers don't like them, despite pretty clear evidence to the contrary? All of these are…

  25. DEEP DIVE: Why Women Have Less Free Time

    · 44 min

    A recent report found that the division of home responsibilities is still grossly unequal. Mothers—whether they are married or single—do significantly more than fathers. In fact, the “The Free-Time Gender Gap” report…

  26. Fresh Take: Carla Ciccone, NOWHERE GIRL

    · 36 min

    What happens when you finally, as an adult, understand for the first time that your brain has been wired differently all along? Writer and mother Carla Ciccone joins Amy and Margaret to discuss her memoir NOWHERE GIRL:…

  27. The Craziest Things We've Done for Our Kids

    · 44 min · Episode 435

    From road trips to reclaim lost lovies to birthday extravaganzas with six-month planning windows, parents will do just about anything for their kids. Amy and Margaret share listener stories—and their own—about the…

  28. DEEP DIVE: Dr. Amber Thornton on Finding Real Balance

    · 30 min

    We've all felt the guilt that comes with taking time away from our kids to do something we enjoy. But if we're always being told how liberating it is to do things for ourselves, why do we have such complicated feelings…

  29. Fresh Take: Kate Mason, POWERFULLY LIKABLE

    · 41 min

    How do women balance being both effective and likable? It shouldn't be ours to manage, and yet it is. This week Margaret and Amy talk with Dr. Kate Mason, communications coach and author of POWERFULLY LIKABLE: A…

  30. Do Our Friendships Have to Be This Complicated?

    · 42 min · Episode 434

    Have female friendships become more complicated than they need to be? Amy and Margaret dig into the dynamics of their own female-female friendships and what the research says: why some friendships last decades, why…

  31. DEEP DIVE: Natalie Mayslich and Blessing Adesiyan on the Future of Remote Work

    · 31 min

    Natalie Mayslich is the President of Consumer for Care.com, where she is responsible for expanding, building and delivering the Company’s portfolio of Childcare and Senior Care products and services. Blessing Adesiyan…

  32. Fresh Take: Trevor Hanson on Healing Our Attachment Styles

    · 39 min

    Amy sits down with Trevor Hanson, coach and founder of The Art of Healing and the Secure Self Club, to unpack the power of attachment theory and how it shapes our relationships. Trevor explains the differences between…

  33. Even More Husband Crimes (Part 2)

    · 41 min · Episode 433

    It's what you've all been waiting for: Even More Husband Crimes, Part Two. This episode's charges include: • napping on Mother's Day • seasoning food like he's on a cooking show • booking weeklong holidays to the…

  34. DEEP DIVE: Ericka Sóuter on How to Have a Kid and a Life

    · 36 min

    Ericka Sóuter has over 20 years of journalism experience and is a regular contributor on Good Morning America and other national broadcast outlets. Ericka speaks to parents across the country about the issues,…

  35. Fresh Take: Allison Daminger, WHAT'S ON HER MIND- The Mental Workload of Family Life

    · 39 min

    Amy and Margaret sit down with sociologist and author Allison Daminger to unpack the cognitive labor many of us fail to recognize in our families' daily lives— what's come to be known as the "mental load." In her new…

  36. Oops! My Kid Hates Me

    · 45 min · Episode 432

    Right now your kid doesn't like you. At all. What is really going on? And how can we respond without losing our cool, even when our feelings are genuinely hurt? In this episode Amy and Margaret discuss: • Why kids…

  37. BEST OF: How Involved Should We Be With Our Kids' Schools?

    · 47 min

    How do we help our kids succeed in school without becoming the dreaded "snowplow" parents? Here are some parenting tips for advocating for your child at school when necessary, while also empowering our kids to navigate…

  38. BEST OF: What Kind of Monster? Family Vacation Edition

    · 47 min

    Toddler meltdowns, stroller mayhem, ear infections. Doesn't that sound so relaxing? In this listener-sourced episode, moms everywhere unleash frustration over the "monsters" who have made their vacations difficult -…

  39. Radical Acceptance—What It Is, and How It Can Help Our Parenting

    · 41 min · Episode 431

    Amy and Margaret dive deep into the concept of radical acceptance—what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can transform your approach to parenting, relationships, and life’s toughest moments. From the wisdom of the…

  40. BEST OF: What Fresh Hell Is Back to School?

    · 39 min

    It's back-to-school season, and even if that means you have a few more hours to yourself each day, there are still plenty of fresh hells in store, from preseason sports to parent portals to an unholy invention called…

  41. Fresh Take: Jyoti Chand, FITTING INDIAN

    · 39 min

    Margaret talks to author and mental health advocate Jyoti Chand (aka @mamajotes) about her debut graphic novel FITTING INDIAN. Jyoti shares how the novel integrates details from her own childhood, including the weight…

  42. How to Make the Back-to-School Transition a Little Easier

    · 41 min · Episode 430

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

  43. DEEP DIVE: Kelly Corrigan on Letting Big Kids Go

    · 43 min

    What does it mean to parent grown children? How can we embrace those changing relationships? Kelly Corrigan, host of "Kelly Corrigan Wonders", four-time New York Times bestselling author, and the host of PBS’ long-form…

  44. Fresh Take: Mike de la Rocha, SACRED LESSONS

    · 42 min

    Margaret talks with visionary strategist, artist, and activist Mike de la Rocha, author of Sacred Lessons: Teaching My Father How to Love. Together, they dive into masculinity, grief, intergenerational trauma, and how…

  45. More Husband Crimes (Part One)

    · 44 min · Episode 429

    Margaret and Amy return to the courtroom of minor domestic infractions committed by the people we live with—our partners. Listeners shared their biggest household grievances—and the hosts delivered judgment. No offense…

  46. DEEP DIVE: Vanessa Kroll Bennett and Dr. Cara Natterson on Puberty

    · 40 min

    These days, early is normal for puberty onset—and early is REALLY early. That means kids whose brains might not match the way they look, and parents who are freaking out about how to bring these delicate matters up in…

  47. Fresh Take: Amy Larocca, HOW TO BE WELL

    · 40 min

    Margaret and Amy talk with award-winning journalist and author Amy Larocca, whose new book HOW TO BE WELL takes a deeply researched look at the trillion-dollar wellness industry. From supplements to concierge doctors…

  48. Why Kids Lie: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What to Do

    · 48 min · Episode 428

    Margaret and Amy discuss the surprisingly normal reasons kids lie—and why it’s not always a sign of bad behavior. From toddlers covered in cake who swear they didn’t eat it, to teens who “forget” to mention that party…

  49. DEEP DIVE: Your Tween, Explained

    · 46 min

    When our kids reach a certain age—as young as eight, some experts say, and definitely well before thirteen— they suddenly don't think their parents are as great as they once did. Congratulations, you're officially the…

  50. Fresh Take: Rebecca Bloom, WHEN WOMEN GET SICK

    · 34 min

    Amy talks with women's health advocate and author Rebecca Bloom about her new book When Women Get Sick: An Empowering Approach for Getting the Support You Need. Rebecca shares her personal and professional journey from…

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