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
1
DEEP DIVE: Better Then? Or Better Now?
Anyone old enough to have enjoyed the Super Bowl halftime show also has strong opinions about what other things were definitely better Back in the Day. In this episode we decide whether some things are better then or better now- for kids AND parents.
41 min
2
Fresh Take: Sophie Lucido Johnson, KIN
Writer and illustrator Sophie Lucido Johnson, author of author of ⁠KIN: THE FUTURE OF FAMILY⁠, discusses building real friendship networks, creating interdependence, embracing community care, and why small, everyday connections matter.
37 min
3
The Parables That Stick With Us
In this episode, Amy and Margaret unpack classic parables — from the empty boat to the two wolves — and explore how these stories can help us handle frustration, anxiety, family dynamics, and everyday parenting bumps with more clarity and compassion.
37 min
4
DEEP DIVE: Why Kids Need More Time To Play
Kids today spend 11 more hours a week on school and homework than we did. That means a lot less time to play. A new study theorizes that this decline is directly related to the decline in kids' mental health.
40 min
5
Fresh Take: Erin Cox on Navigating Family Drama...
There's no place like home for the holidays—but that doesn't mean being with extended family is always easy. In this interview, family counselor Erin Cox offers advice for travel stress, hosting burnout, difficult relatives, and the pressure to “make it magical.”
34 min
6
Saying "No" Is Also Work
Amy and Margaret break down why saying no is real work with real consequences and practical ways to set boundaries without guilt, protecting your time, energy, and sanity.
39 min
7
DEEP DIVE: Are We Helping or Are We Helicopteri...
No one wants to be a helicopter parent. Every parent needs to be helpful. But how much, how often, and how can we find the best overall balance?
38 min
8
Fresh Take: Glen Henry, FATHER YOURSELF FIRST
Amy and Margaret talk with Glen Henry, author of the new book FATHER YOURSELF FIRST, about breaking cycles, parenting with intention, and healing your inner child.
31 min
9
BEST OF: I Love My Family, But They Need To Sto...
Mothers would do anything for their families, but they would also like them to stop saying and doing some things that drive them absolutely bonkers. Here are some of the things our mom friends can't stand.
42 min
10
DEEP DIVE: Lynn Lyons and Robin Hutson of "Flus...
When anxiety is part of family systems, our well-meaning attempts to assuage kids can instead serve to further reinforce it. Psychologist Lynn Lyons and Robin Hutson, co-hosts of the podcast Flusterclux, explain what actually works for anxiety.
39 min
11
Fresh Take: Dr. Michael Milobsky
Dr. Michael Milobsky, host of the podcast "Your Kids Will Be Fine," offers his pediatrician expert advice to our listener questions.
29 min
12
Holiday Hacks
Amy and Margaret share listeners' most practical holiday hacks—and a few of their own—for simplifying meals, traditions, and expectations for a saner, happier holiday season.
39 min
13
DEEP DIVE: Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufel...
Society tells us that it's both unavoidable and appropriate for kids to shift their focus from their parents to their peers as they grow. In their book HOLD ON TO YOUR KIDS, Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld explain why we should push back on "peer orientation."
27 min
14
Fresh Take: Kate Baer, HOW ABOUT NOW
Kate Baer tells us about her new poetry collection HOW ABOUT NOW—written through illness, motherhood, and major life changes—and how poetry helps her make sense of time, the body, marriage, and what it means to keep going.
29 min
15
Boys Online: What the Latest Data Shows
We break down what the latest research on boys' online lives shows. Learn how digital culture shapes boys today and how you can help them navigate their online world successfully.
41 min
16
DEEP DIVE: Liz Gumbinner on Ditching the Hustle
Do we have to monetize, publicize, and optimize all of our hobbies into a legit "side-hustle" that must also fulfill us? Guest Liz Gumbinner, co-host of the podcast "Spawned," talks with Margaret about the pressure to perform in every aspect of our lives.
32 min
17
Fresh Take: Jen Hatmaker, AWAKE
Jen Hatmaker joins Amy and Margaret to discuss her new book AWAKE—a brutally honest, funny, and revealing memoir about the traumatic end of her twenty-six-year-long marriage, and the beginning of a different kind of love story.
33 min
18
Caregiving
Amy and Margaret discuss the real challenges of caregiving—from raising kids to caring for aging parents. They share stories, stats, and strategies for avoiding burnout and finding support during National Caregiving Month.
40 min
19
DEEP DIVE: Crazymakers
We all have people in our lives who are crazymakers— always late, always stirring the pot, always causing chaos. Here's what a crazymaker really is, and how to deal with the ones in your life effectively.
42 min
20
Fresh Take: Corinne Low, HAVING IT ALL
Economist Corinne Low, author of HAVING IT ALL, joins us to unpack why that idea feels impossible for mothers who work outside the home—and how to redefine success by building a life that actually works for you.
39 min
21
Why Kids Get Obsessed—And Why It's a Good Thing
Amy and Margaret unpack kids’ intense obsessions—like Pokémon or trains—explaining why these fixations are developmentally normal, even beneficial. They also offer tips for connecting with kids over these obsessions.
36 min
22
DEEP DIVE: Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius) on C...
Kendra Adachi, better known as "The Lazy Genius," has a plan for time management—one that takes out the part where we feel bad about ourselves. Kendra tells us about her new book, THE PLAN.
42 min
23
Fresh Take: Irin Carmon, UNBEARABLE
Journalist Irin Carmon, author of UNBEARABLE: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America⁠, reveals the complicated reality of going through pregnancy, child loss, and childbirth in our society.
40 min
24
How Kids Spend Their Time (And How They Should)
Do you know how you and your kids actually spend your time? Might it be more screens and less sleeping than is optimal? Here's how to find out.
42 min
25
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