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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 5 of 6

  1. Is It Normal to Feel Jealous of Other Moms?

    · 44 min · Episode 427

    Margaret and Amy explore the messy truths about jealousy—why moms feel it, how shame adds fuel to the fire, and what we can actually do about it. From parenting pressures to social comparisons, they discuss how…

  2. DEEP DIVE: Best Advice for Dealing with Teenagers

    · 43 min

    How do we raise healthy, loving, polite, and appreciative teens? Is it humanly possible? From remaining "passively available" to taking our adolescents' seemingly trivial problems seriously, our listeners had great…

  3. Fresh Take: Shannon Watts, FIRED UP

    · 41 min

    Amy and Margaret sit down with Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, to discuss her transformative new book: Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age. Shannon shares the personal…

  4. Fresh Take: Genevieve Kingston, DID I EVER TELL YOU?

    · 30 min

    A note from Margaret: My family was visiting Kerrville, TX when the flood occurred. Having seen the devastation to the Hill Country first hand, it is impossible to put into words the scope of the disaster. These losses…

  5. BEST OF: Kids with Big Imaginations

    · 54 min

    Is there such a thing as a too-imaginative kid? Parenting experts say no. Dr. Paul Harris, professor of education at Harvard and author of The Work of the Imagination, says that kids’ active imaginations are…

  6. What to Say to Our Kids When Bad Things Happen

    · 40 min · Episode 426

    In light of the recent floods in Kerrville, Texas, Margaret and Amy discuss how we can talk to kids about scary, sad, or tragic events—especially when we don’t know what to say. Topics include: • 🧠 How children…

  7. When One of Our Kids Takes Up All of Our Bandwidth

    · 37 min · Episode 425

    In this episode, Margaret and Amy tackle a commonplace parenting issue: when one child consumes the majority of your bandwidth—whether that's your time, your energy, or your attention. Some bandwidth-hogging…

  8. BEST OF: Dumb Things We Thought When We Were Kids

    · 42 min

    Amy thought The Love Boat was filmed in real time, at sea. Margaret's grandfather had all the kids convinced his dining room light switch controlled the Tappan Zee Bridge. We asked our listeners for all the silliest…

  9. Fresh Take: Danielle Bettmann on Positive Discipline

    · 40 min

    Amy and Margaret talk with parenting coach Danielle Bettmann, host of the Failing Motherhood podcast. Danielle specializes in helping parents of strong-willed and neurodivergent kids implement positive discipline—a…

  10. 5 Conversations to Have with Your Kids This Summer

    · 42 min · Episode 424

    In this episode, we break down five essential conversations parents should be having with their kids this summer. From online safety and media limits to emotional health and growth mindset, Amy and Margaret offer…

  11. BEST OF: Best Mom Lies Ever

    · 45 min

    Some people say parents should never lie to their kids. We are not those people. We asked our listeners to tell us all the lies that totally worked for their kids– or worked on them when they were kids. Whether it's…

  12. Best of: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on Raising Antiracists

    · 30 min

    Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is the author of many highly acclaimed books including STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. In 2020, Time…

  13. BEST OF: Grudges Held, Grudges Kept

    · 45 min

    Is it rational to still be mad about that time in second grade when the kid right in front of you took the last sprinkles at the ice cream social? Is it reasonable to think just a little less of your childhood friend…

  14. DEEP DIVE: Francesca Royster on "Choosing Family"

    · 36 min

    How do we find support when our family of origin is no longer around or has otherwise rejected us? Francesca Royster, author of the new memoir Choosing Family: A Memoir of Queer Motherhood and Black Resistance,…

  15. Fresh Take: Ramit Sethi, "Money for Couples"

    · 44 min

    How do we start a conversation about finances with our partners, especially when each of our households of origin might have thought about money quite differently? Ramit Sethi, host of Netflix’s hit show, How to Get…

  16. Things Most People Think Are Hard (But Aren't)

    · 46 min · Episode 422

    There are plenty of things that seem intimidating but are actually not that hard to do! From power hedge trimmers to cooking a whole fish, we (and our listeners) are here with the things that most people seem to think…

  17. DEEP DIVE: Ellen Kahn On Supporting Our LGBTQ Kids

    · 37 min

    Ellen Kahn is the Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Human Rights Campaign. In her role, Ellen provides national leadership and expertise in public education and advocacy efforts on behalf of LGBTQ…

  18. Fresh Take: Dr. Morgan Cutlip on Redistributing the Mental Load

    · 40 min

    Amy chats with Dr. Morgan Cutlip about her new book A Better Share, which offers practical, research-based strategies for managing the mental load in relationships. They discuss how default parenting, gender…

  19. Trad Moms and Trad Wives

    · 43 min · Episode 421

    We dive into the world of #tradwives and trad moms—mothers who embrace their traditional gender roles and showcase homemaking all over social media, usually with a heavy dose of curated perfection, aspiring to a bygone…

  20. Fresh Take: Jessica Zucker on Normalizing Miscarriage

    · 41 min

    Why is there still so much shame and silence surrounding women's experiences with miscarriage in the modern age? Jessica Zucker, author of the new book NORMALIZE IT, discusses her personal experience with miscarriage…

  21. Fresh Take: Meagan Francis, THE LAST PARENTING BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ

    · 40 min

    Amy chats with parenting writer and The Mom Hour podcaster Meagan Francis about her new book, The Last Parenting Book You'll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next. Together, they reflect on the…

  22. There's a New Study on Moms' Mental Health...and It's Not Great

    · 44 min · Episode 420

    A study released this month examined the state of mothers' mental health in the U.S. from 2016 to 2023. Using data from 200,000 mothers, the study reveals a "significant decline" in emotional and physical well-being…

  23. DEEP DIVE: Amber Briggle on Supporting Trans Kids

    · 37 min

    This episode was originally recorded in 2022. For more about the Briggle family, watch the 2024 New Yorker short documentary "Love to the Max." Amber Briggle and her family live in Texas. Amber is the mom of two kids,…

  24. Fresh Take: Melinda Wenner Moyer on "Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times"

    · 43 min

    How do we raise compassionate and well-adjusted kids when their anxiety is at an all-time high, and so is ours? Melinda Wenner Moyer, author of the new book HELLO CRUEL WORLD, discusses actionable and easy-to-implement…

  25. Creating Systems That Work

    · 48 min · Episode 419

    Can better systems make running our households easier? There's only so much work a whiteboard can do, but in this episode, Margaret and Amy discuss how they have set up effective systems to manage their kids' lives,…

  26. DEEP DIVE: Can We Be More Inclusive Parents?

    · 38 min

    Can we become more inclusive as parents? Inclusivity has great benefits for everyone involved. We loved this explanation from Bright Horizons: "Too often, inclusiveness is described as something we should do to…

  27. Fresh Take: Loryn Brantz on Finding Joy in Parenting Through Poetry

    · 34 min

    How can we find time to be creative as busy moms of young kids? Loryn Brantz, author of the new poetry collection POEMS OF PARENTING, discusses how her creative practice informs her parenting and vice versa. Loryn is…

  28. Traveling as a Family

    · 46 min · Episode 418

    We asked our listeners what advice they have for harmonious family traveling. Here are our favorite tips they shared, plus a few of our own, from how early to get to the airport to hitting the top kid-friendly site in…

  29. DEEP DIVE: Do We Need to Lower Our Standards?

    · 44 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about why motherhood is so gosh darn hard. Turns out there are sociopolitical forces at play that make motherhood way harder than it needs to be. Listen to the full playlist on Spotify.…

  30. Fresh Take: Gretchen Rubin on Life's Simple Truths

    · 34 min

    If we impart the life lessons we've learned to our children, does that mean they won't make the same mistakes? Gretchen Rubin, author of the new book SECRETS OF ADULTHOOD, discusses how aphorisms provide us with a…

  31. How Parenting Advice Has Changed Over the Last 125 Years

    · 40 min · Episode 417

    Is parenting today genuinely more difficult—or are we just overthinking it? Amy and Margaret explore the evolution of parenting over the last 125 years, tracing shifts from the rigid, hierarchical households of the…

  32. DEEP DIVE: Decision Fatigue—And Why It's Especially Bad For Moms

    · 47 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about why motherhood is so gosh darn hard. Turns out there are sociopolitical forces at play that make motherhood way harder than it needs to be. Listen to the full playlist on Spotify.…

  33. Fresh Take: Anna Fader and Amelia Eigerman

    · 38 min

    How can we get buy-in from our kids when we go on vacation, whether it's a half-hour down the road or the other side of the world? Anna Fader and Amelia Eigerman, the mother-daughter team behind the MOMMY POPPINS…

  34. Moms and Anxiety

    · 45 min · Episode 416

    Moms are usually low-level anxious about their kids at all times. But it's exhausting. How much of this anxiety we feel is normal and how much of it may require medical intervention? Here's how moms specifically feel…

  35. DEEP DIVE: Making the "Invisible Workload" Visible

    · 40 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about why motherhood is so gosh darn hard. Turns out there are sociopolitical forces at play that make motherhood way harder than it needs to be. Listen to the full playlist on Spotify.…

  36. Fresh Take: Susan Dominus

    · 38 min

    What do high-achieving families have in common, and what are some good lessons from them we can replicate in our own parenting? Susan Dominus, author of the new book THE FAMILY DYNAMIC, discusses the forces at play in…

  37. Finding Summer Camps

    · 41 min · Episode 415

    What are we going to do with our kids all summer? Gone are the days when kids can just play outdoors unsupervised from sunup to sundown. Now certain summer camps are sold out within a matter of minutes on January 1st.…

  38. BEST OF: What Fresh Hell Is Mother's Day?

    · 42 min

    Is one morning of runny eggs and burnt toast really fair payback for 364 days of work? Does "Mother's Day" have to mean packing the kids for a two-hour drive to see your mom and/or mother-in-law? Why does Mother's Day…

  39. Fresh Take: Jessica N. Turner on Rising from Grief and Disappointment

    · 37 min

    When we're faced with difficulties, how can we put them into perspective and move forward? Jessica N. Turner, author of the new book I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS, discusses the experiences that led her to…

  40. Maternal Gatekeeping: Is It a Thing?

    · 44 min · Episode 414

    "Maternal gatekeeping" usually shows up in pop culture as an overbearing, overprotective mother preventing everyone else from even touching the baby. But maternal gatekeeping is a multidimensional phenomenon that isn't…

  41. DEEP DIVE: Mom Rage

    · 46 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about why motherhood is so gosh darn hard. Turns out there are sociopolitical forces at play that make motherhood way harder than it needs to be. Listen to the full playlist on Spotify.…

  42. Fresh Take: Tamron Hall

    · 41 min

    How can we show kids that their neighborhoods are wonderful places to explore, learn, and grow? Tamron Hall, author of the NYT-bestselling book HARLEM HONEY, discusses why fostering hometown curiosity in kids is so…

  43. I Wish I'd Done This Sooner

    · 41 min

    What's something in your life that's made such a difference you wish you'd done it earlier? That's what we asked our listeners, and they came up with a range of excellent ideas, from big changes to tiny tweaks. Amy…

  44. DEEP DIVE: Why Do Moms Get All The Blame?

    · 43 min

    This Deep Dive series is all about why motherhood is so gosh darn hard. Turns out there are sociopolitical forces at play that make motherhood way harder than it needs to be. Listen to the full playlist on Spotify.…

  45. Fresh Take: Jessica Slice on Parenting While Disabled

    · 40 min

    How does disability affect parenting, and what can disabled parents teach us all about parenthood? Jessica Slice, author of the new book UNFIT PARENT, discusses her journey as a disabled parent and the incredible joy…

  46. Is Gentle Parenting "Too" Gentle?

    · 41 min

    There's a reason "gentle parenting" has become synonymous in some circles—and on social media—with never ever telling a child "no," even in the most extreme circumstances. But where did "gentle parenting" begin, what…

  47. DEEP DIVE: Things That Should Be Fun... But Aren't

    · 41 min

    This month's Deep Dive series is all about how much fun we are—or aren't—having while raising our kids. Listen to the whole playlist on Spotify. There are some things in life that sound more fun in the planning stage…

  48. Fresh Take: Dr. Rebecca N. Thompson on the Healing Power of Shared Stories

    · 27 min

    In this conversation, Dr. Rebecca N. Thompson, author of the new book HELD TOGETHER, shares her experiences as a family medicine physician specializing in women's and children's health, focusing on her journey through…

  49. Should Your Family Get a Pet?

    · 46 min · Episode 411

    Are your kids steadily wearing you down on the topic of getting a puppy? Are you convinced that a "low-maintenance" pet like a turtle or fish will be a happy compromise for everyone? Here are some important points to…

  50. DEEP DIVE: When Is This Going to Be Fun Again? Lighthearted Parenting

    · 49 min

    This month's Deep Dive series is all about how much fun we are—or aren't—having while raising our kids. Listen to the whole playlist on Spotify. We all fall into the trap of thinking that every day with our kids has…

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