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
351
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
352
Fresh Take: Laura Cathcart Robbins on Motherhoo...
If we feel like we're constantly performing motherhood rather than living it, how is that sustainable—or desirable? Laura Cathcart Robbins talks about her journey to authenticity in her new memoir STASH.
34 min
353
Our Mom Friendships Are Different Now
Have your mom friendships changed after the upheaval of the last few years? How do we get past our decreased social stamina and get back out there?
40 min
354
Ask Amy: My Kid Just Doesn't Want to Talk About It
Some kids are more expressive than others. And a child’s ability to discuss feelings might be frustrated by their vocabulary or emotional maturity. How can we encourage kids to open up? Is there a point at which we should be concerned if they don’t?
5 min
355
Fresh Take: Virginia Sole-Smith on Parenting in...
The stigmatization of fat people shapes how we think about our health. Virginia Sole-Smith, author of the book FAT TALK: PARENTING IN THE AGE OF DIET CULTURE, invites us to question what it means to be “good" regarding weight, diet, and exercise.
33 min
356
Hear Us Out
A boutique where everything on the rack is exactly your size and is guaranteed to fit correctly and look good on you? An ATM app? Third-day hair shampoo? We asked our listeners what would be AMAZING if it were just a liiiiiitle bit different.
43 min
357
Ask Margaret: My Playroom Is a Disaster
How do we keep endless plastic junk from flowing into our house and gumming up the works? Margaret helps a frustrated listener with some tips for those who are swimming up to their necks in plastic toys.
7 min
358
Fresh Take: Sara Petersen on Mommy Influencer C...
Why do we get sucked into endless golden hour photos of mothers and their beatific children in pumpkin patches on Instagram? Sara Petersen, author of "Momfluenced," explains what it is about these so-called "perfect mothers" that holds us captive.
29 min
359
Body Image: How It Affects Us (and Our Kids)
What do we do when we see our kids disparaging their bodies, especially when we're struggling with our own body images? As Margaret says, "this can't be fixed," but there are definitely things we can try.
39 min
360
Ask Amy: My Kid Is Not Great at Apologizing
Kids sometimes view saying “sorry” as a get-out-of-jail-free card. I said the magic word, Mom, why are you still mad? But sorry is only the first step in a proper apology.
6 min
361
Fresh Take: Dr. Tish Taylor on Fostering Connec...
What do we do when it seems like every interaction with our kids is negative? Dr. Tish Taylor, author of "Fostering Connection," explains some strategies for building connection into our relationships with our kids in an authentic way.
31 min
362
Best of: When Is This Going to Be Fun Again?
There really are ways to make our lives as parents more fun and lighthearted, even on a regular Tuesday. Memories aren’t only made at Disney. But it’s okay not to love every moment. Getting rid of the shame around that is the first step to more fun.
48 min
363
Ask Margaret: My Kid Is Obsessed with Getting "...
What do we do when our kids seem more preoccupied with the next gift, toy, or game than the ones they already own? Here's how to contain kids' material obsessions.
7 min
364
Fresh Take: Dr. Lynn Koegel on the Hidden Brill...
What if we focused on the strengths of kids with autism rather than getting caught up in their perceived shortcomings or differing needs? Dr. Lynn Koegel, author of HIDDEN BRILLIANCE, discusses how to go about it.
33 min
365
Your Tween, Explained
The word “tween” was popularized by marketers, who sold preteens stuff by treating them like they’re a lot older than they are. Which might explain why your kid is full of sass all of a sudden. But tweens’ brains really are different—here’s how.
43 min
366
Ask Amy: How Can I Support My Friend Struggling...
How do we best support our friends dealing with infertility? Pretending we aren't aware that they might be sad isn't usually the best approach.
4 min
367
APRIL BONUS TEASER! Our Humble Showbiz Beginnings
Wig mishaps? Check. Booed off the stage? Check. Trapped in a conference room at an audition for eight hours? Check. In this month's bonus episode, Amy and Margaret regale us with tales of their truly humble early years in show business.
10 min
368
Best Of: Yael Schonbrun on "Work, Parent, Thrive"
Do you feel guilty that you're not at work when you're parenting and not parenting when you're at work? Dr. Yael Schonbrun, author of the new book WORK, PARENT, THRIVE, tells us how we can view work and family as connected rather than in competition.
33 min
369
Please Never Say These Things Again
What are the things you would sincerely ask the entire world never to say again? From "it is what it is" to "these unprecedented times," our listeners had answers.
40 min
370
Ask Margaret: Help! My Boys Won't Stop Roughhou...
Do you feel like you're constantly playing referee for your kids' endless physical play? Margaret explains that less interference is actually more when it comes to (safe) roughhousing amongst our own kids.
8 min
371
Fresh Take: Mara Glatzel on Being "Needy"
What if someone told you that as a parent your own needs matter MORE, not less? That's what Mara Glatzel argues in her new book "NEEDY: How to Advocate for Your Needs and Claim Your Sovereignty."
31 min
372
Do We Rush Kids Too Much?
At every age and stage, what we ask of our kids is often well beyond what should reasonably be expected of them. Sometimes challenge leads to growth; other times it leads to stress and overwhelm, and not just for our kids. So how do we push back?
39 min
373
Ask Amy: My Kid Cries Over Everything
When a kid cries over every bump and scrape, are parents supposed to ignore it? Tough-love them out of it? Or consider whether their child must just be more sensitive?
5 min
374
Fresh Take: Beth Leipholtz on Teaching Inclusion
As the hearing mother of a deaf child, Beth Leipholtz is raising her son in both hearing and Deaf cultures. She tells us about her work as an inclusion and accessibility advocate and about her new children’s book, THE ABCs OF INCLUSION.
27 min
375
Even More Minor But Life-Changing Tips
We received so many minor life-changing tips, we're back with part two! From fixing the tomato stains on Tupperware to strategically placed toothpaste, here are more tiny tips to make life a ton easier.
37 min