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 6

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 6

Best of: How to Be in "High Magic, Low Effort" Mode This Holiday SeasonHoliday “high magic, low effort” parenting—how to reduce the seasonal workload while keeping the fun, especially as kids age and expectations rise.24 Dec 2025 · 48 min · 22 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Why Is This a Thing?This episode of What Fresh Hell? (with hosts Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson) is a “deep dive” into why so many modern parenting/life trends exist—and why they annoy them.22 Dec 2025 · 46 min · 21 chapters
Fresh Take: Sophie Kihm of Nameberry on the Baby Names We'll Be Seeing in 2026Laughing in the Face of Motherhood19 Dec 2025 · 38 min
Why Kids Melt Down During the Holidays—And How to Handle ItWhy kids melt down during holidays, framed as stress from disrupted routines, emotional overload, and unrealistic expectations; how parents can handle it with grace and planning.17 Dec 2025 · 43 min · 21 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Better Then? Or Better Now? “What Fresh Hell? Laughing in the Face of Motherhood” deep-dive throwback/callback episode debating “better then or better now,” using parenting-era comparisons.15 Dec 2025 · 44 min · 18 chapters
Fresh Take: Sophie Lucido Johnson, KINFresh Take episode with Sophie Lucido-Johnson (Chicago-based author/artist; cartoons in The New Yorker; Substack newsletter “You Are Doing a Good Enough Job”).12 Dec 2025 · 40 min · 16 chapters
The Parables That Stick With UsWhat Fresh Hell? (Laughing in the Face of Motherhood) discusses how parables/epilogues help parents interpret “bumps” and stress.10 Dec 2025 · 40 min · 24 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Why Kids Need More Time To PlayIn this episode, hosts Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables discuss the decline of independent play among children over the past several decades and its correlation with increasing mental health issues.8 Dec 2025 · 44 min
Fresh Take: Erin Cox on Navigating Family Drama, Guilt, and Stress at the HolidaysHow to handle holiday “sticky” family dynamics—especially guilt, resentment, boundaries, travel decisions, and role handoffs—without escalating conflict.5 Dec 2025 · 38 min · 14 chapters
Saying "No" Is Also WorkThe episode argues that saying no is its own kind of labor (“naysaying labor”), not just the absence of work.3 Dec 2025 · 42 min · 18 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Are We Helping or Are We Helicoptering? Whether parents are “helping” or “helicoptering,” and how anxiety, social media, and constant information can lead to overprotective, micromanaging parenting that may undermine kids’ independence.1 Dec 2025 · 41 min · 16 chapters
Fresh Take: Glen Henry, FATHER YOURSELF FIRST Interview with Glenn Henry about his book Father Yourself First—positive, present fatherhood; “proof” over polished parenting talk; self-compassion and retraining the inner voice; and the need for…28 Nov 2025 · 35 min · 14 chapters
BEST OF: I Love My Family, But They Need To Stop Doing This“Best of” episode from What Fresh Hell? about the everyday ways parents love their families but feel driven crazy by their habits—especially kitchen/dinner logistics, repeated questions, and “mom…26 Nov 2025 · 46 min · 18 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Lynn Lyons and Robin Hutson of "Flusterclux"The episode argues that the mental health field often mismanages anxiety by pushing calming, reassurance, avoidance, and “accommodating” kids—when the real goal is teaching emotion management,…24 Nov 2025 · 42 min · 17 chapters
Fresh Take: Dr. Michael MilobskyFresh Take with Dr. Michael Malabski, a Denver-based board-certified pediatrician (25 years), father of seven (ages 15–29) and grandfather of three.21 Nov 2025 · 33 min · 15 chapters
Holiday HacksAmy Wilson and Margaret Ables, busy moms with different parenting styles.19 Nov 2025 · 42 min
DEEP DIVE: Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld on Maintaining Healthy Connection with Our KidsThe episode is a deep dive on the updated book Hold On to Your Kids (Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers).17 Nov 2025 · 31 min · 10 chapters
Fresh Take: Kate Baer, HOW ABOUT NOWKate Baer discusses her poetry collection How About Now, shaped by health scares and midlife, motherhood transitions, women’s friendship, body image, and writing techniques like erasure poetry.14 Nov 2025 · 33 min · 14 chapters
Boys Online: What the Latest Data ShowsNew research on how boys experience online culture and gaming—what they’re exposed to, how algorithms shape it, and why it can affect loneliness, self-esteem, emotions, and sleep; plus practical…12 Nov 2025 · 44 min · 22 chapters
DEEP DIVE: Liz Gumbinner on Ditching the HustleDitching hustle culture for mothers—rejecting constant go-go-go productivity and monetization, and replacing it with joy, acceptance, and prioritizing what matters.10 Nov 2025 · 35 min · 11 chapters
Fresh Take: Jen Hatmaker, AWAKEJen Hatmaker discusses her memoir Awake, a middle-age “before/after” story of losing her marriage and identity, then waking up to what she truly believes and wants.7 Nov 2025 · 37 min · 13 chapters
CaregivingCaregiving—especially full-time caregivers for children with disabilities and for aging/sick relatives—its emotional/physical toll, limited control, burnout/compassion fatigue, and practical steps…5 Nov 2025 · 43 min · 18 chapters
DEEP DIVE: CrazymakersThis episode of What Fresh Hell? Laughing in the Face of Motherhood is a deep dive on “crazy makers,” a term coined by Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way) for people who create “storm centers”: often…3 Nov 2025 · 46 min · 19 chapters
Fresh Take: Corinne Low, HAVING IT ALLDr. Corinne Low (Wharton economist) discusses her book Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours, arguing that “having it all” fails when women face…31 Oct 2025 · 42 min · 15 chapters