What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face...

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

Parenting
Comedy
Kids & Family
326
Fresh Take: Hari Kondabolu on "Vacation Baby"
What was it like being a first-time parent during the pandemic? How does having a baby change life as a standup comedian? Hari Kondabolu, whose comedy special "Vacation Baby" is available on YouTube, tells us all about it.
38 min
327
BEST OF: Setting Boundaries
Boundaries aren’t just for relationships that have already been damaged. Healthy boundaries with our partners, friends, and extended family are what make long-term relationships possible. Here’s how to set boundaries early and often.
45 min
328
Ask Amy: My Kid Loses Everything!
All kids lose stuff sometimes. Some kids lose stuff all the time. Sometimes it's ADHD or general inattention. Sometimes it's just a slower development of executive function. No matter what, it's frustrating (and expensive). What's a parent to do?
6 min
329
Fresh Take: Alexandra Robbins on the Lives of T...
Teachers are among the most vital, hardworking, and selfless members of the workforce. They are also among the most undervalued. Alexandra Robbins, author of THE TEACHERS, tells us more.
31 min
330
The Best Advice for Dealing with Teenagers
How do we support our teenagers while providing them with firm yet reasonable boundaries? We asked our listeners for their best advice on raising teens, and they had so much great advice!
40 min
331
Ask Margaret: How Can I Stop Repeating Myself?
A listener asks for advice on repeating herself; she knows she's not supposed to tell her toddler things 1,000 times, but isn't sure how to stop.
3 min
332
Fresh Take: Sara Olsher on Talking to Our Kids ...
How can we be honest with kids about the reality of hard seasons in life without "ruining" their childhood? Sara Olsher, founder of Mighty + Bright, discusses how she helped her toddler navigate both her divorce and her cancer diagnosis.
29 min
333
Is This a Midlife Crisis?
"Have I wasted my life? Should I have gotten married so young? Should I have gone to law school?" As we approach "middle age," whatever that is, can we avoid the midlife crisis? If not, how can we can put it all in perspective?
40 min
334
Ask Amy: Everything Is Fine—Except My Mom Guilt
How do we let go of mom guilt that lingers even after everything works out fine? Amy gives a listener tips for getting closure on a stressful situation.
4 min
335
Fresh Take: Rainesford Stauffer on Rethinking A...
What does it mean to be ambitious in today's society, and why are women always told they have too much or too little, but never the right amount? Rainesford Stauffer, author of the new book ALL THE GOLD STARS, explains why we've been getting ambition all wrong.
30 min
336
Are Vacations Worth It?
Are vacations worth the planning, packing, schlepping, and laundry once you get there? We discuss why vacations can be so hard—and how to make summer travels happy for everyone.
41 min
337
Ask Margaret: My Kid Is Reacting Badly to Their...
What do we do when our kids start acting out after their baby status is usurped by a younger sibling? Keep in mind: it's just a phase.
6 min
338
Fresh Take: Jamilah Mapp and Erica Dickerson of...
How do we deal with the societal pressure to perform motherhood perfectly every single day? Jamilah Mapp and Erica Dickerson of the "Good Moms Bad Choices" podcast discuss the power of showing up as our authentic selves..
30 min
339
What Makes You a Great Parent?
Knowing where all the things are? Breaking patterns? Handling gross injuries? We asked our listeners what makes them a great parent, and the answers ranged far and wide.
43 min
340
June Bonus TEASER: Our Hobbies
From decoupage to the OG bullet journal, Amy and Margaret discuss the hobbies they love, the ones they hate, and the ones they only learned for a show they were in.
2 min
341
Ask Amy: When Other People Discipline Your Kids
It can really get under our skin when other adults– relatives or strangers– tell our kids to stop splashing, or sit still, or any other directive we might or may not agree with. But when should we go full Mama Bear, and when should we let it slide?
6 min
342
Fresh Take: Gaia Bernstein on Gaining Control O...
Screens are everywhere today, and both we and our kids are on them too much. Gaia Bernstein, author of "Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies" explains how to start to untangle ourselves from screen addiction.
29 min
343
Uh Oh, It's Summer!
Ah, summer! Time for relaxing. Just as soon as we get through the end-of-year craziness and sign each of our kids up for ten camps.
42 min
344
Ask Margaret: My Kid Is Afraid of Storms
How do we calm our kids' fears about storms, floods, fires, and tornadoes? Here's how to help your kids process scary things in an honest way.
7 min
345
Best Of: Dr. Becky Kennedy on Being "Good Inside"
Dr. Becky Kennedy, host of the "Good Inside with Dr. Becky" podcast and @drbeckyatgoodinside on Instagram, tells us how the “Good Inside” approach can reshape how we view both ourselves as parents and our children.
33 min
346
Things We Should Be Able to Do (But Can't)
Parallel parking? Riding a bike? Estimating how many people are in a stadium? We asked our listeners what lessons they "missed in school" and never caught up on again.
39 min
347
Ask Margaret: When Kids Ask Embarrassing Questions
What do we do when our kids loudly observe other people's differences in public? Curiosity may be normal, but the outcomes can be mortifying.
6 min
348
Fresh Take: Meg Zucker on Empowering Kids with ...
Meg Zucker is the author of the new book BORN EXTRAORDINARY: Empowering Children with Differences and Disabilities. We talk about the work all parents can do to empower all kids.
27 min
349
Ditching Mom Guilt
"Mom guilt" might be universal and inescapable. It's also often misplaced, and can sabotage not just our own happiness, but our ability to parent effectively.
39 min
350
Ask Amy: My Kid Is Learning Sassy Talk at Presc...
Is it a big deal if your child brings salty talk home from preschool? Not necessarily. Is it a teachable moment? Absolutely. This age is the time kids first become aware of others' feelings.
5 min