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!
76
Fresh Take: Ramit Sethi, "Money for Couples"
Ramit Sethi, author of the book MONEY FOR COUPLES, joins Margaret to talk finances in marriages: why we avoid it, how to reframe it, and how to design a rich life together.
41 min
77
Things Most People Think Are Hard (But Aren't)
Sometimes we never learn things because we think they're too hard. But we (and our listeners) are here to say that some of them aren't hard at all!
43 min
78
DEEP DIVE: Ellen Kahn On Supporting Our LGBTQ Kids
Ellen Kahn is an expert on LGBTQ youth and family life. She tells us how parents can create a home environment that affirms and accepts LGBTQ children, and how we can advocate for LGBTQ kids in the larger world, whether they're our own kids or not.
34 min
79
Fresh Take: Dr. Morgan Cutlip on Redistributing...
Relationship expert Dr. Morgan Cutlip, author of the new book A BETTER SHARE, offers practical tools for reducing the mental load, improving intimacy, and creating a more equitable home—without the resentment.
37 min
80
Trad Moms and Trad Wives
We explore the core messages of the trad mom trend. Why does this aesthetic captivate us, and why does it drive so many of us crazy?
39 min
81
Fresh Take: Jessica Zucker on Normalizing Misca...
Jessica Zucker's new book "Normalize It" is a compassionate exploration of the stories of women's lives, rooted in her own experience with miscarriage and breast cancer, and her work as a psychologist specializing in women's mental health. In this episode she explains how to challenge the stigma and silence through storytelling and advocacy.
37 min
82
Fresh Take: Meagan Francis, THE LAST PARENTING ...
Parenting writer Meagan Francis joins Amy to discuss her new book, THE LAST PARENTING BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ, and how to embrace life after hands-on motherhood. A must-listen for parents facing empty nests, identity shifts, and new beginnings.
37 min
83
There's a New Study on Moms' Mental Health...an...
A new study on maternal mental health reveals "significant declines" in the well-being of mothers. Margaret and Amy discuss the latest data, potential causes, and how to prioritize our own well-being at every stage of motherhood.
41 min
84
DEEP DIVE: Amber Briggle on Supporting Trans Kids
Amber Briggle is an activist, speaker, and proud parent of her transgender son. In this episode, she discusses how to support trans kids in today’s political climate as well as her own journey parenting her son through his transition.
33 min
85
Fresh Take: Melinda Wenner Moyer on "Raising Te...
How can we prepare our children to navigate the ups and downs of adult life? Melinda Wenner Moyer, author of the new book HELLO CRUEL WORLD, discusses how parents can model cultivating skills for emotional intelligence and resilience to their children.
39 min
86
Creating Systems That Work
How can we keep track of the millions of tasks that kids, work, and a household require without letting important things slip through the cracks? Amy and Margaret discuss practical systems to help families manage their daily routines and scheduling challenges.
45 min
87
DEEP DIVE: Can We Be More Inclusive Parents?
Can we become more inclusive as parents? We discuss how to get more intentionally welcoming in our family lives and communities, how to bring our kids into that conversation, and how inclusivity benefits us just as much as the one we’re welcoming.
35 min
88
Fresh Take: Loryn Brantz on Finding Joy in Pare...
How can we maintain a creative practice as busy parents? Loryn Brantz, author of the new collection of poetry POEMS OF PARENTING, discusses balancing motherhood with her creative pursuits.
31 min
89
Traveling as a Family
As summer travel looms large, what can we do to keep the family chaos to a minimum as we hop in a car or on a plane? Here are some useful family travel tips from Amy, Margaret, and our listeners.
43 min
90
DEEP DIVE: Do We Need to Lower Our Standards?
Is it really our "maternal gatekeeping" and too-high standards that are preventing a more equitable distribution of household tasks? We discuss the minimum standard of care and how that can be determined.
41 min
91
Fresh Take: Gretchen Rubin on Life's Simple Tru...
Do we have to learn life's hardest lessons over and over, or is there a way to easily access the important advice we've heard before? Gretchen Rubin, author of the new book SECRETS OF ADULTHOOD, discusses the power of the aphorism.
31 min
92
How Parenting Advice Has Changed Over the Last ...
Is parenting harder today—or just different? We explore 125 years of parenting trends, from strict rules to gentle parenting, and why modern moms feel more pressure than ever.
37 min
93
DEEP DIVE: Decision Fatigue—And Why It's Especi...
The more decisions you have to make, the more difficult it can become to make them. Decision fatigue is cumulative, and when it happens, we get frustrated more easily. Here's how to make fewer, better decisions.
44 min
94
Fresh Take: Anna Fader and Amelia Eigerman
How can we get our grumpy travelers on board with summer vacation? Anna Fader and Amelia Eigerman, authors of the new MOMMY POPPINS TRAVEL JOURNAL AND ACTIVITY BOOK, have practical parenting tips for harmonious summer travel.
35 min
95
Moms and Anxiety
As moms, we worry pretty much nonstop about our kids. But is that normal? Should we be THIS anxious? Here's how anxiety specifically manifests in moms and some practical tips for countering it.
42 min
96
DEEP DIVE: Making the "Invisible Workload" Visible
Many of the things we take on in our family's daily lives go without notice or recognition by the people we live with. That doesn't mean it's not work. Here's how to make the "invisible workload" more visible.
36 min
97
Fresh Take: Susan Dominus
Do siblings have more influence on each other than parents do on children? Susan Dominus, author of the new book THE FAMILY DYNAMIC, discusses the power of parental expectations in shaping kids and what we can learn from highly successful families.
35 min
98
Finding Summer Camps
How are we going to find affordable activities/childcare for our kids all summer long? It's a question we ask every year. Here are some tips on finding summer camps and activities that fulfill both your needs and your kids'.
38 min
99
BEST OF: What Fresh Hell Is Mother's Day?
Why do moms have mixed feelings about Mother's Day? Turns out Anna Jarvis, the holiday's founder, had second thoughts. Perhaps for good reason. We talk the ups and downs of Mother's Day.
39 min
100
Fresh Take: Jessica N. Turner on Rising from Gr...
How do we deal with the hard things in life that will inevitably come our way? Jessica N. Turner, author of the new book I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS, discusses how she processes difficult experiences with a healthy perspective.
34 min