x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms

Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson

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

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

43:54

DEEP DIVE: Better Then? Or Better Now?

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/12/15

This week we're discussing whether these parts of our lives (then as children, now as parents) are better then or better now: Halloween costumes holidays at school jeans what's for lunch cleaning the house What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables. This episode was originally released on October 30th, 2019. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our

en

40:16

Fresh Take: Sophie Lucido Johnson, KIN

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/12/12

This week, we sit down with writer, illustrator, and community-builder Sophie Lucido Johnson, author of KIN: THE FUTURE OF FAMILY, to explore how adults can create deeper, more fulfilling friendship networks. Sophie shares why modern culture pushes us toward hyper-independence, how to break out of the loneliness cycle, and the simple daily practices that strengthen connection.They discuss the difference between friendships and partnerships, why we need multiple kinds of support people, and how to

en

39:50

The Parables That Stick With Us

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/12/10

In this episode, we discuss some of our favorite parables— and what they can teach us about the meaning we attach to everyday frustrations with modern parenting, stress, and family dynamics.Stories are sticky for our brains, and these are the lessons that have helped us notice our reactions, question our assumptions, and navigate everything from holiday family drama to college applications to sibling squabbles with greater awareness. This a great episode to share with friends who may not be

en

43:39

DEEP DIVE: Why Kids Need More Time To Play

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/12/08

Kids have a less time for unsupervised, unstructured play than they did 40-50 years ago. Kids are also a lot less happy then they were back then. But has one actually caused the other? A new study says it has.Psychologist Dr. Peter Gray and his associates at Boston College recently published the paper ⁠Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in children's mental well-being,⁠ which suggests that the decline in play and the decline in children's well-being are directly

en

37:34

Fresh Take: Erin Cox on Navigating Family Drama,...

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/12/05

The holidays are the time of year we're most likely to spend time with our extended families— visits which can also bring guilt, frustration, and overwhelming expectations. In this episode, Amy and family counselor Erin Cox dive into the challenges of holiday family dynamics: setting boundaries, splitting time between multiple households, managing difficult relatives, and trying to create a joyful season for our own kids without losing ourselves in the process. We explore why returning home makes

en

42:11

Saying "No" Is Also Work

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/12/03

Amy and Margaret tackle one of women's most exhausting challenges: the nonstop onslaught of small asks, random requests, invisible labor, and mental load that quietly drains them. They break down why saying "no” to additional responsibilities is not laziness, and why "just say no to" is actually not a realistic option in many situations. Drawing on real-life examples, Amy and Margaret explore the emotional calculus behind every “yes,” the hidden costs of over-accommodating, and why moms often feel

en

41:12

DEEP DIVE: Are We Helping or Are We Helicoptering?

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/12/01

Is "helicopter parenting" actually a definable thing? Or is it just what we call parents who are being annoying? Overparenting is something that it's easy to be judgey about in other people, and a lot harder to identify in ourselves. Parents have to help. It's what we're there for. So how do we manage without micromanaging?In this episode, we discuss: The conditions that trigger parental anxiety (probably the true cause of overattentive parenting) Allowing struggles and disappointments to

en

34:41

Fresh Take: Glen Henry, FATHER YOURSELF FIRST

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/28

Trigger warning: this episode contains mention of child abuse and suicidal ideation. Amy and Margaret talk with Glen Henry—creator of Beleaf in Fatherhood and author of the new book Father Yourself First—about breaking cycles, reimagining fatherhood, and learning to parent with intention, grace, and community. Glen shares his journey from growing up in a difficult household to becoming a present, emotionally attuned father, and how mentorship, open communication, and self-work helped reshape his

en

45:43

BEST OF: I Love My Family, But They Need To Stop...

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/26

What words, phrases, or annoying habits do you wish your family would just quit once and for all? Here's what our funny mom friends had to say.Amy and Margaret discuss: What rules work in Margaret's house What behaviors cause them to "catch a bit of an attitude" Which tropical islands they would run away to if given the chance ⁠Read the original thread on Facebook here⁠ We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our

en

42:00

DEEP DIVE: Lynn Lyons and Robin Hutson of "Flusterclux"

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/24

Anxiety expert Lynn Lyons and co-host Robin Hutson created the podcast ⁠FLUSTERCLUX⁠ to help anxious kids and anxious families, which are usually one and the same. Lynn Lyons has trained hundreds of teachers, school nurses, counselors and parents about managing anxiety. In this episode, Lynn, Robin, and Amy discuss: Why reassurance doesn't always placate kids' anxieties Why anxiety craves certainty– and how we can unwittingly "do the disorder" in trying to reassure anxious kids How to

en

32:39

Fresh Take: Dr. Michael Milobsky

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/21

Parenting today feels harder than ever—information overload, online anxiety, and constant pressure to “get it right.” Dr. Michael Milobsky, a pediatrician with 25 years of experience and host of the podcast "Your Kids Will Be Fine, " joins Amy and Margaret to talk about how raising kids has changed in today's society, and how parents can feel more confident.Dr. Milobsky tells us how to separate the noise from the signal, and what pediatricians really wish parents understood about their own kids

en

42:29

Holiday Hacks

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/19

Amy and Margaret share their and their listeners' best tips for making the holidays less stressful and more joyful. They discuss how to reimagine old traditions, simplify family gatherings, and the “law of holiday attrition," and how it work in your favor. From tackling family expectations to choosing what to let go of (and what’s worth keeping), this episode helps you create holidays that work for you. You’ll learn: The secret to surviving hosting duties without losing your mind Ways to

en

30:34

DEEP DIVE: Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld on...

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/17

This week, we're revisiting our interview with Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld. In the revised edition of their book ⁠HOLD ONTO YOUR KIDS⁠, Dr. Maté and Dr. Neufeld explain the crucial importance of remaining attached to our children as they grow. Dr. Gordon Neufeld is an internationally renowned psychologist and foremost authority on child development, and founder of the Neufeld Institute. Dr. Gabor Maté is a renowned speaker and bestselling author, highly sought after for his expertise on

en

32:43

Fresh Take: Kate Baer, HOW ABOUT NOW

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/14

Amy and Margaret talk with Kate Baer, three-time New York Times bestselling poet, about her new poetry collection How About Now— a book born out of a season of unexpected change. From sudden health crises to the shifting identity of motherhood, Kate invites us into the raw material of her life — and shows us how poetry can hold what the forms and boxes of everyday life cannot. We talk about how time begins to accelerate in midlife, how our bodies both betray and reveal us, and how friendship,

en

44:27

Boys Online: What the Latest Data Shows

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/12

Amy and Margaret discuss two new studies on boys and their lives online—in social media and gaming—and how today's digital culture shapes boys’ mental health, relationships, and ideas about their bodies and about masculinity. We discuss why gaming fills social and emotional needs for many boys, why the time spent may be of more concern than the content, and how parents can stay involved without over-policing. You’ll learn practical ways to become an “ask-able” parent, set boundaries, and how to

en

35:19

DEEP DIVE: Liz Gumbinner on Ditching the Hustle

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/10

Contrary to what social media would have us believe, not every hobby has to turn into a madly successful side-hustle that takes the world by storm. Margaret talks with Liz Gumbinner, co-host of the podcast ⁠"Spawned with Kristen and Liz⁠," about why it's okay to just make really delicious cookies.⁠Liz Gumbinner⁠ is a writer, award-winning ad agency creative director, and mom of teens. Online she’s better known as the publisher of ⁠coolmompicks.com⁠ and the author of the OG mom blog Mom-101. Her

en

36:42

Fresh Take: Jen Hatmaker, AWAKE

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/07

Amy and Margaret talk with bestselling author and "For the Love" podcaster Jen Hatmaker about her new memoir AWAKE. Jen's book begins with the moment she knew her marriage was over, and goes on to tell the story of the midlife reckoning that followed—and how her life up until that point had left her, in some ways, particularly unprepared. In this interview, Jen shares: How women are taught to ignore their instincts and prioritize belonging Why midlife brings inevitable upheaval — and

en

43:20

Caregiving

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/05

Amy and Margaret honor National Caregiving Month with an honest, compassionate look at the realities of caregiving. From raising kids to caring for aging parents—or both at once—they explore the invisible labor, emotional toll, and financial strain that caregivers face every day.They share personal stories, research-backed insights, and practical advice for managing burnout, compassion fatigue, and family dynamics. Whether you’re part of the “sandwich generation” or just beginning to navigate

en

45:35

DEEP DIVE: Crazymakers

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/11/03

We all know someone who causes chaos—both lawful and otherwise—wherever they go. Those people are sometimes called "crazymakers," a term first coined by Julia Cameron and which perfectly describes the unwelcome disruption they bring to our own peace of mind. Here's how to spot the crazymakers in your life, and how to avoid getting caught up in their mischief.Margaret and Amy discuss: The true definition of a crazymaker and the three top types Why crazymakers use low-power strategies of

en

42:18

Fresh Take: Corinne Low, HAVING IT ALL

What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood |... ·

2025/10/31

Amy and Margaret talk with Dr. Corinne Low, Wharton economist and author of Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours. Corinne shares her data-driven insights on why working mothers feel overextended, how “having it all” became an impossible equation, and how redefining success through your own “utility function” can help you build a more sustainable, meaningful life. The conversation dives into household labor, gender roles, and the systemic forces

en

309 results

Similar Podcasts

Tale Teller Kids™

Sarnia de la Mare

米克馬故事坊

咪萊

Imagination Station

Imagination Station

Die Pferde sind nicht das Problem - und du bist nicht zu blöd. Der Aha-Podcast für Pferdemenschen

Silke Jahn & Maren Diehl

Hanna fragt Papa - Der Podcast für neugierige Kinder und Eltern

Hanna und Thomas Schamberger