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
26
Dr. Natasha Bhuyan Introduces Amazon One Medica...
Things like hand-foot-and-mouth disease always seem to strike when the pediatrician’s office is closed. But fear not! Amazon One Medical Pay-Per-Visit now offers telehealth visits for kids 2-11 with family care providers. Dr. Natasha Bhuyan tells us more.
22 min
27
DEEP DIVE: Laura Vanderkam on "Tranquility By T...
Feel like you work all day and still get nothing done? Time management expert Laura Vanderkam, author of "Tranquility By Tuesday," shares nine simple rules for creating the time we want for the truly important things in our busy lives.
32 min
28
Fresh Take: Kate Rope, STRONG AS A GIRL
Kate Rope, author of STRONG AS A GIRL, joins us to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of being a girl today— and of raising one. Here's how to raise daughters who honor their instincts and their needs in a world filled with mixed messages.
33 min
29
When Stress Becomes Burnout (and How to Tell th...
We use the terms stress and burnout interchangeably, but burnout is far more serious, and moms may be especially at risk. Here's how to spot the signs-and what actually helps you recover.
42 min
30
DEEP DIVE: 8 Ways to Make Better Decisions
In this episode, we’ll explore some age-old principles that can help us make better decisions. These principles, often referred to as “razors,” can cut through the clutter of complexity and help us see the forest for the trees.
44 min
31
Fresh Take: Jean Twenge, 10 RULES FOR RAISING K...
Dr. Jean Twenge joins Amy and Margaret to share research-based strategies for raising kids in a high-tech world—covering smartphones, social media, gaming, and how parents can set boundaries that truly stick.
35 min
32
Mom Worsts
From all-family stomach bugs to jumpy-castle parties for forty first-graders, here are just a few of our "mom worsts."
42 min
33
DEEP DIVE: What Can We Add? What Can We Take Aw...
As parents, we often feel that if we add more to a problem—say, buy the right item—we can solve it. But there may be a simpler way to solve certain problems, and that's by taking something away. Here's how to know when taking something away might be the better answer.
39 min
34
Fresh Take: Suzanne Warye, THE SOBER SHIFT
Sobriety coach Suzanne Warye joins Margaret to discuss her new book THE SOBER SHIFT, gray area drinking, and why life without alcohol isn’t deprivation but abundance.
39 min
35
When Does "Typical" Behavior Become Something M...
Is it normal kid behavior—or something more? Amy and Margaret explore when kids’ behaviors like tantrums, picky eating, or mood swings might signal bigger challenges, and share strategies to support your child with less stress and more confidence.
41 min
36
DEEP DIVE: Why Women Have Less Free Time
October’s "Free-Time Gender Gap Report" found that women spend twice as much time on household labor as men do, even when controlling for marital/parental/socioeconomic status, race, and age. So why are women of all stripes working harder in the home?
41 min
37
Fresh Take: Carla Ciccone, NOWHERE GIRL
Writer Carla Ciccone joins Amy and Margaret to discuss her new memoir NOWHERE GIRL, the rise in late ADHD diagnoses among women, and how self-acceptance and compassion are the antidote to shame.
33 min
38
The Craziest Things We've Done for Our Kids
Parents will do anything for their kids—from dumpster diving to hours-long road trip detours. Amy and Margaret share the funniest and most heartwarming stories of the crazy things moms and dads do for love.
40 min
39
DEEP DIVE: Dr. Amber Thornton on Finding Real B...
How do we find "balance" in our lives as moms– and why does that sound like such hard work? Dr. Amber Thornton, host of the podcast "Balanced Working Mama," tells us where mom guilt really comes from - and how we can counter it.
27 min
40
Fresh Take: Kate Mason, POWERFULLY LIKABLE
Dr. Kate Mason, author of POWERFULLY LIKABLE, joins us to share practical strategies for women to communicate more effectively. Being "likable" can also mean communicating with clarity.
38 min
41
Do Our Friendships Have to Be This Complicated?
Have female friendships become overcomplicated? In this episode we explore why "friendship breakups" have become a thing, and what we really look for in our close friendships—plus how to reconnect after drifting apart.
39 min
42
DEEP DIVE: Natalie Mayslich and Blessing Adesiy...
Remote work is here to stay. So how to we integrate it into our lives in a healthy way? Natalie Mayslich and Blessing Adesiyan, authors of the The Modern Workplace Report, share what they've learned about the effects of remote work on employees, particularly working women.
28 min
43
Fresh Take: Trevor Hanson on Healing Our Attach...
Amy talks with Trevor Hanson, founder of the Secure Self Club, about anxious and avoidant attachment styles, breaking negative patterns, and building security in relationships through self-compassion and daily attachment skills.
36 min
44
Even More Husband Crimes (Part 2)
Our listeners submitted so many "Husband Crimes" we're back with another edition. From refusing driving directions to excessive soy sauce usage, these criminals are all guilty.
38 min
45
DEEP DIVE: Ericka Sóuter on How to Have a Kid a...
33 min
46
Fresh Take: Allison Daminger, WHAT'S ON HER MIN...
Sociologist Allison Daminger joins Amy and Margaret to discuss her new book What’s On Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life. She explains the true cost of the mental load on women and how couples can shift into a more intentional dynamic.
35 min
47
Oops! My Kid Hates Me
Kids can go through rough stretches of being really, really hard on their parents. Here's how to handle hurtful words, maintain boundaries, and keep connection strong through these tough moments.
42 min
48
BEST OF: How Involved Should We Be With Our Kid...
44 min
49
BEST OF: What Kind of Monster? Family Vacation ...
Forgotten luggage. Strollers that won’t fold. The best-laid family vacation plans quickly sour when there's a monster who forgot to pack the bathing suits. Here are some vacation monsters we’ve met. Full disclosure: sometimes the monster is us.
44 min
50
Radical Acceptance—What It Is, and How It Can H...
Learn how radical acceptance can ease parenting struggles, reduce shame, and improve relationships. Amy and Margaret explore what it really means to accept reality, manage emotions, and find peace in what we can’t control.
37 min