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 3

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 3

This One Thing Was a Life-ChangerThe “What Fresh Hell” episode is about “small items, big changes”—one purchase (or a few) that dramatically improved daily life, especially for parenting and household routines.10 Jun 2026 · 45 min · 23 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Tips for Vacationing with Extended FamilyVacationing with extended family (often 20+ people) and how to keep it functional and enjoyable with kids, differing parenting styles, schedules, safety rules, and shared logistics.8 Jun 2026 · 40 min · 17 chapters
Fresh Take: Gillian Goddard on How Hormones Affect Our Health At All AgesFresh Take interviews endocrinologist Dr. Jillian Goddard about how hormones affect health across life stages (puberty, reproductive years, perimenopause, menopause), using her “hormone loop”…5 Jun 2026 · 41 min · 15 chapters
Do You Know Your Gen Z Slang?The “What Fresh Hell? Laughing in the Face of Motherhood” hosts (Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson) decode and debate Gen Z slang, explaining meanings, origins, and how quickly slang changes.3 Jun 2026 · 45 min · 21 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Giving Help That Works– And Asking for the Help We NeedHow to give help that actually works for mom friends in crisis, and how to ask for the help you need without drowning in “I can’t / I can’t” or over-helping (e.g., 20 lasagnas).1 Jun 2026 · 42 min · 19 chapters
Fresh Take: The Custody Queens on What Parents Need to Know About Divorce and SeparationDivorce and separation custody strategy, when to hire an attorney, managing conflict/“amicability,” child support enforcement, relocation/moving with kids, and risks from digital footprints and…29 May 2026 · 46 min · 20 chapters
Why Do We Love Looking Back?A mailbag response on why people (especially midlife parents) feel nostalgia—missing the past while also feeling “stranger in a strange land” as life parameters become fixed.27 May 2026 · 45 min · 15 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Mara Glatzel on Being "Needy"Mara Glatzel discusses “needy” as a stigmatized word and argues that people—especially moms—must name and advocate for their needs to reclaim selfhood and sovereignty, rather than self-abnegating…25 May 2026 · 34 min · 10 chapters
Fresh Take: Dr. Margo Lowy on Living the Full Emotional Truth of MotherhoodFresh Take episode with Dr. Margot Lowy about “maternal ambivalence” as a dynamic mix of conflicting feelings in motherhood that should be acknowledged and integrated (“the and,” not “or”).22 May 2026 · 37 min · 15 chapters
What's the Mom Equivalent of Golf?“What’s the mom equivalent of golf?”—why moms struggle to get long, scheduled, social leisure time, and what to do instead.20 May 2026 · 41 min · 18 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Asking for Big Help (And the Best Ways to Give It)How to ask for “big help” (and how to give it well), including why asking is hard, what makes an ask feel justified, and practical systems for making help easier.18 May 2026 · 44 min · 13 chapters
Fresh Take: Nicholas Epley on Why Talking to Strangers Can Make Us HappierWhy people who benefit from social connection still avoid it, and how “small choices” (talking, asking deeper questions, expressing gratitude/support) can increase happiness, health, and connection.15 May 2026 · 42 min · 12 chapters
What Does "Dating" Look Like For Teens and Tweens These Days?How to talk to kids (starting in early childhood) about “dating”/romantic relationships, consent, boundaries, online flirting, texting, conflict, abusive relationship signs, and what parents should…13 May 2026 · 49 min · 21 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Leslie Forde of Mom's Hierarchy of NeedsLeslie Ford, CEO/founder of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, explains a “mom’s hierarchy” triangle modeled on Maslow: moms’ basic duties (children’s well-being, household/safety, work and other…11 May 2026 · 34 min · 12 chapters
Fresh Take: Rachael Shepard-Ohta and Caitlin Wilder of "You're So Right" PodcastFresh Take episode featuring Rachel Shepard-Ohta and Caitlin Wilder (hosts of “You’re So Right”) discussing motherhood without “expert hats,” social media comparison, postpartum mental health,…8 May 2026 · 46 min · 17 chapters
Is American Parenting the Problem? Or Is It Parenting *in* America?Whether “American parenting” is uniquely bad, or whether “parenting in America” is made uniquely hard by Western/intensive parenting norms, lack of social supports, and high-stakes expectations…6 May 2026 · 44 min · 17 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Olivia Martinez-Hauge on Special Needs ParentingParenting neurodiverse/special-needs children—language (“neurodiverse” vs “special needs”), grief and anxiety, disability models (medical vs social), inclusion, and practical support for families and…4 May 2026 · 35 min · 13 chapters
Fresh Take: Elizabeth Preston on What Animals Have to Teach Us About ParentingElizabeth Preston argues that human parenting is shaped by ancient, shared “caretaking architecture” and by cooperative breeding/alloparenting, not by an isolated “mom alone” model.1 May 2026 · 36 min · 9 chapters
Getting Our Kids to Help Around the HouseHow to motivate kids to help around the house without fear-based control, using structure, empathy, and early inclusion.29 Apr 2026 · 45 min · 16 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Dr. Lynn Koegel on the Hidden Brilliance of AutismDr. Lynn Cagle (Stanford clinical professor) discusses autism as “hidden brilliance,” arguing that many challenging behaviors are motivation/communication problems and that interventions should start…27 Apr 2026 · 36 min · 14 chapters
Fresh Take: Leah Ruppanner on "DRAINED" and What the 'Mental Load' Really MeansLeah Ruppanner, PhD (University of Melbourne sociology; Future of Work Lab founding director) discusses her book Drained: Reduce Your Mental Load to Do Less and Be More—challenging myths about…24 Apr 2026 · 45 min · 18 chapters
Emotional Intelligence: Can It Be Taught?Emotional intelligence (EQ) and whether it can be taught; EQ vs IQ; the four-part model (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness/empathy, social skills); and how EQ can be used morally…22 Apr 2026 · 44 min · 14 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Kate Swenson of "Finding Cooper's Voice" on Parenting AutismKate Swenson, mom of four and autism advocate, discusses parenting autism through her memoir Forever Boy and her platform Finding Cooper’s Voice, including early signs, rigidity, safety-focused…20 Apr 2026 · 32 min · 18 chapters
Fresh Take: Fortesa Latifi on the Truth About Kids in Influencer FamiliesFortesa Latifi discusses her book Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online—how “family content” evolved from early mom blogging to kid-focused vlogging, and the…17 Apr 2026 · 44 min · 15 chapters