What Fresh Hell: Parenting, Relationships, and Making Life Better, with Two Funny Moms cover art
Podcast · 197 episodes

What Fresh Hell: Parenting, Relationships, and Making Life Better, with Two Funny Moms, page 2

by Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson · English

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

All episodes, page 2

People Must Be Pretending to Enjoy ThisThe hosts and listeners trade examples of things “other people must be pretending to enjoy,” especially in parenting life.5 Aug 2026 · 43 min · 25 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Back-to-School Back-to-OnesBack-to-school transition tips and “what works/what doesn’t” for families, especially when typical advice is one-size-fits-all.3 Aug 2026 · 41 min · 18 chapters
Fresh Take: Kristen McNeely on Helping Kids Overcome Anxiety and School RefusalChildren’s anxiety and school refusal in 2026, focusing on why “accommodating” anxious behavior backfires and how to build skills through gradual, evidence-based return to school.31 Jul 2026 · 41 min · 16 chapters
Everything You've Always Wanted to Ask A Pediatrician, with Dr. Mary MartinQ&A with pediatrician Dr. Mary Martin on major parenting health questions across baby, elementary, and teen years—vaccines, safe sleep, milestones, baby-proofing, reading, picky eating, injuries,…29 Jul 2026 · 45 min · 17 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Emily Cherkin on Tech-Intentional ParentingTech-intentional parenting and screen time, framed as “judgment-free” guidance.27 Jul 2026 · 47 min · 23 chapters
Fresh Take: Dan Heath on Fulfilling Careers, Better Decision Making, and What Kids Remember Most About ChildhoodDan Heath (co-author of Switch, Made to Stick, The Power of Moments) discusses how people find fulfilling careers, why “good jobs” aren’t universal, how to make better decisions (rider/elephant; four…24 Jul 2026 · 41 min · 17 chapters
How Can Siblings Be Such Total Opposites?Why siblings raised in the same house can become “total opposites,” and how parents can respond without over-comparing. Guests: Margaret and Amy (hosts of What Fresh Hell).22 Jul 2026 · 38 min · 18 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Gaia Bernstein on Gaining Control Over Addictive TechnologiesGaia Bernstein discusses her book Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies, arguing screen addiction is engineered by tech design and business models, not personal failure; she highlights…20 Jul 2026 · 33 min · 15 chapters
Fresh Take: Dr. Cassidy Freitas on How to Stay Calm When Parenting Feels OverwhelmingParenting calmness through “margin” (space between trigger and response), regulation, and repairing after reactive moments; reframing “losing it” as a stress/nervous-system response shaped by…17 Jul 2026 · 39 min · 15 chapters
How Should We Support Our Kids' Passions?Supporting kids’ passions without turning childhood into early specialization, professionalization, or an “only one job” happiness narrative.15 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 17 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Catherine Pearlman on Kids and PhonesWhen and how kids should get their first phone, plus digital responsibility, safety, etiquette, and boundaries (especially social media, group chats, misinformation, and nighttime phone use).13 Jul 2026 · 34 min · 15 chapters
Fresh Take: Laura Clery on Codependency, Co-Parenting, and Starting OverLaura Clery’s memoir What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Hotter, about sobriety, codependency, work/social-media addiction, co-parenting after divorce, and leaving an escalating drug relapse that…10 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 17 chapters
What Fresh Hell Is... Being the Only Grownup in the Room?Parenting and “adulting” moments when you’re the only authority figure in the room, and the emotional whiplash of having to handle injuries, emergencies, bureaucracy, and logistics.8 Jul 2026 · 40 min · 16 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Susan Linn on How “Big Tech” Targets Our KidsSusan Linn argues that “Big Tech” and advertisers exploit children through embedded marketing in media, apps, games, social platforms, and “commercial-free” devices, replacing human caregiving with…6 Jul 2026 · 30 min · 16 chapters
BEST OF: What Kind of Monster?“What Kind of Monster?”—a parenting/household comedy discussion about small everyday behaviors that drive the hosts (and listeners) crazy, framed as “monstrous” but usually understandable.3 Jul 2026 · 49 min · 21 chapters
When It's Too Much Change All at OnceHow to cope when multiple life changes hit at once, causing “change saturation” and “change fatigue,” and how to navigate them using the Change vs Transition distinction (William Bridges), plus…1 Jul 2026 · 45 min · 24 chapters
DEEP DIVE: When Mom Leaves TownWhether and how moms should leave town (overnight or longer) and what to do about logistics, safety, guilt, and kids’ separation anxiety.29 Jun 2026 · 44 min · 18 chapters
Fresh Take: Sara Hirsh Bordo on Autoimmunity and the Threat to Women's HealthAutoimmunity and women’s health, arguing that “good girls”/female caretaking and suppressed needs (“permission slips”) create chronic immune dysregulation via stress/trauma (lowercase t), including…26 Jun 2026 · 37 min · 14 chapters
Why Family Vacations Feel Like Work (and How to Enjoy Them Anyway)The episode argues that family vacations often feel like work because parents’ “head goes with you,” expectations are unrealistic, and logistics (kids’ needs, crowds, schedules, food, sensory issues)…24 Jun 2026 · 47 min · 17 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Traveling as a FamilyFamily travel stress management—how to avoid fights, plan logistics (food, packing, boarding, meds), and manage kids’ expectations.22 Jun 2026 · 46 min · 21 chapters
Fresh Take: Why Human Connection Matters in Medicine with Dr. Alan R. CohenPediatric neurosurgery and how human connection, empathy, honesty, and hope should guide care in the “age of technology” (MRI/PET, EHRs, AI), especially when delivering bad news about child brain…19 Jun 2026 · 36 min · 15 chapters
Am I a Patient Mom? Or a Punching Bag?When and why moms become “punching bags” for kids’ emotions; where to draw boundaries between validating feelings and stopping harmful behavior; what to do in-the-moment and afterward.17 Jun 2026 · 45 min · 21 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Are Vacations Worth It?Whether vacations are actually “worth it” for parents—especially moms—when kids need constant care, planning, and household labor.15 Jun 2026 · 44 min · 15 chapters
Fresh Take: Talia Kovacs on How to Teach Kids ResilienceResilience coaching for parents—how kids learn resilience through home “systems,” not by forcing hardship; why modern parenting anxiety and perfectionism can undermine resilience; and how…12 Jun 2026 · 36 min · 17 chapters