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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

47:07

BEST OF: What Kind of Monster? Family Vacation Edition

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

2025/08/29

Toddler meltdowns, stroller mayhem, ear infections. Doesn't that sound so relaxing? In this listener-sourced episode, moms everywhere unleash frustration over the "monsters" who have made their vacations difficult - nay, impossible.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 website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice,

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40:40

Radical Acceptance—What It Is, and How It Can Help...

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

2025/08/27

Amy and Margaret dive deep into the concept of radical acceptance—what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can transform your approach to parenting, relationships, and life’s toughest moments. From the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer to Buddhist teachings about the “second arrow,” the hosts unpack how accepting reality (without judgment or resistance) can help you move forward, even when things are hard.In This Episode: What is radical acceptance? (Hint: It’s not denial or resignation!) The

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38:55

BEST OF: What Fresh Hell Is Back to School?

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

2025/08/25

It's back-to-school season, and even if that means you have a few more hours to yourself each day, there are still plenty of fresh hells in store, from preseason sports to parent portals to an unholy invention called "ready confetti". Amy and Margaret share their own stories of times when back-to-school meant drive-me-mad.Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode: Phyllis Fagell for The Washington Post: ⁠"Five ways parents can help children have a better school year"⁠

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39:28

Fresh Take: Jyoti Chand, FITTING INDIAN

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

2025/08/22

Margaret talks to author and mental health advocate Jyoti Chand (aka @mamajotes) about her debut graphic novel FITTING INDIAN. Jyoti shares how the novel integrates details from her own childhood, including the weight of cultural expectations in Indian families and the power of storytelling in healing generational trauma. Jyoti Chand is an author, speaker, and mental health advocate with a dedicated audience of over 300k across social platforms, where she is known as @mamajotes. Margaret

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40:37

How to Make the Back-to-School Transition a Little...

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

2025/08/20

Back-to-school season doesn’t have to be a chaotic scramble. In this episode, Margaret and Amy share practical tips to help parents make the transition smoother—without getting caught up in the “back-to-school industrial complex.” From resetting sleep schedules to planning meals and snacks, they break down what really matters for your child’s success and well-being this fall. You’ll hear strategies for easing morning stress, tackling "after-school restraint collapse,” and checking in on your

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43:04

DEEP DIVE: Kelly Corrigan on Letting Big Kids Go

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

2025/08/18

What does it mean to parent grown children? How can we embrace those changing relationships? ⁠Kelly Corrigan⁠, host of ⁠"Kelly Corrigan Wonders"⁠, four-time New York Times bestselling author, and the host of PBS’ long-form interview show ⁠Tell Me More⁠, talks with Amy about the process of letting our big kids go.Kelly and Amy discuss: why the thing our older kids might most want to hear from us is, simply, "I know" why mothers and fathers might get different versions of the same stories

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42:04

Fresh Take: Mike de la Rocha, SACRED LESSONS

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

2025/08/15

Margaret talks with visionary strategist, artist, and activist Mike de la Rocha, author of Sacred Lessons: Teaching My Father How to Love. Together, they dive into masculinity, grief, intergenerational trauma, and how breaking cycles of emotional silence can transform families. Mike shares vulnerable insights into his father’s legacy, how ritual and presence shape connection, and the power of healing in community.Whether you're parenting sons, navigating emotional communication in marriage, or

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43:59

More Husband Crimes (Part One)

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

2025/08/13

Margaret and Amy return to the courtroom of minor domestic infractions committed by the people we live with—our partners. Listeners shared their biggest household grievances—and the hosts delivered judgment. No offense is too petty when it comes to the everyday annoyances that drive us all a little bit bonkers.Margaret and Amy discuss: Thermostat wars (Inaccurate) male descriptions of childbirth Incriminating use of the royal "We" Here is the NYT article Amy referenced: Jackie

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40:08

DEEP DIVE: Vanessa Kroll Bennett and Dr. Cara...

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

2025/08/11

These days, early is normal for puberty onset—and early is REALLY early. That means kids whose brains might not match the way they look, and parents who are freaking out about how to bring these delicate matters up in conversation. Help is here! ⁠Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett⁠, co-hosts of ⁠The Puberty Podcast⁠ and co-authors of ⁠This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained⁠, offer clear explanations (for parents and kids both!) and ways to start talking. Margaret, Amy, Vanessa,

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40:13

Fresh Take: Amy Larocca, HOW TO BE WELL

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

2025/08/08

Margaret and Amy talk with award-winning journalist and author Amy Larocca, whose new book HOW TO BE WELL takes a deeply researched look at the trillion-dollar wellness industry. From supplements to concierge doctors to SoulCycle-as-religion, Larocca exposes how much of modern “self-care” is really about chasing youth, thinness, and unattainable perfection under a new label: wellness. We cover: The real reason “wellness” exploded—and how it's really just rebranded beauty, fitness, and weight

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48:27

Why Kids Lie: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What to Do

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

2025/08/06

Margaret and Amy discuss the surprisingly normal reasons kids lie—and why it’s not always a sign of bad behavior.From toddlers covered in cake who swear they didn’t eat it, to teens who “forget” to mention that party in the woods, we unpack how lying is often a developmental milestone, not a moral failure. We discuss: When kids first start lying—and what brain developments make it possible The role of theory of mind and executive function in fibbing How to tell the difference between a

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46:06

DEEP DIVE: Your Tween, Explained

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

2025/08/04

When our kids reach a certain age—as young as eight, some experts say, and definitely well before thirteen— they suddenly don't think their parents are as great as they once did. Congratulations, you're officially the parent of a tween! This week we're talking about what tweens are going through emotionally and psychologically... and how we can give them room to grow while still seizing opportunities to connect with them as (big) children. Margaret and Amy discuss: The cognitive shifts that

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33:51

Fresh Take: Rebecca Bloom, WHEN WOMEN GET SICK

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

2025/08/01

Amy talks with women's health advocate and author Rebecca Bloom about her new book When Women Get Sick: An Empowering Approach for Getting the Support You Need. Rebecca shares her personal and professional journey from caregiver to expert advocate, offering practical advice for navigating a complex healthcare system that often fails women. This conversation explores why women face unique barriers in accessing care, how to build a support team before you need one, and how understanding your rights

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46:32

Is It Normal to Feel Jealous of Other Moms?

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

2025/07/30

Margaret and Amy explore the messy truths about jealousy—why moms feel it, how shame adds fuel to the fire, and what we can actually do about it. From parenting pressures to social comparisons, they discuss how jealousy is normal, but how we respond to feelings of envy can make all the difference. Margaret and Amy discuss: 😬 Why jealousy feels so shameful for moms 🧠 “The Second Arrow” – how feeling guilty about feeling jealous makes things worse 👩‍👧 How our kids’ struggles

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45:58

DEEP DIVE: Best Advice for Dealing with Teenagers

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

2025/07/28

How do we raise healthy, loving, polite, and appreciative teens? Is it humanly possible? From remaining "passively available" to taking our adolescents' seemingly trivial problems seriously, our listeners had great advice for bringing up teenagers.Amy and Margaret discuss: The blessing of nerd-dom How to keep your face in check when talking to your teen Why it's important to let your teen fail sometimes ⁠Here's our Fresh Take with Michelle Icard, author of "Fourteen Talks by Age

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43:38

Fresh Take: Shannon Watts, FIRED UP

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

2025/07/25

Amy and Margaret sit down with Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, to discuss her transformative new book: Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age. Shannon shares the personal story behind her midlife awakening, how she built the largest grassroots movement to fight gun violence in America, and the life-changing formula she developed to help women find purpose, passion, and courage—no matter their life stage. Shannon, Margaret, and Amy discuss: How

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33:08

Fresh Take: Genevieve Kingston, DID I EVER TELL YOU?

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

2025/07/23

A note from Margaret: My family was visiting Kerrville, TX when the flood occurred. Having seen the devastation to the Hill Country first hand, it is impossible to put into words the scope of the disaster. These losses are close to home for my family and I know they have touched so many of you as well. Please join us in donating to the relief efforts by using the following trusted link.This week Amy talks with author and playwright Genevieve Kingston about her acclaimed memoir Did I Ever Tell

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56:40

BEST OF: Kids with Big Imaginations

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

2025/07/21

Is there such a thing as a too-imaginative kid? Parenting experts say no. Dr. Paul Harris, professor of education at Harvard and author of ⁠The Work of the Imagination⁠, says that kids’ active imaginations are “essentially positive” and represent cognitive work, the way that children make sense of the world. But if you’ve got a kid who prefers her imaginary friend to making real ones— or who terrorizes the first grade by explaining how zombies can get into one’s home through the radiator— you

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43:02

What to Say to Our Kids When Bad Things Happen

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

2025/07/18

In light of the recent floods in Kerrville, Texas, Margaret and Amy discuss how we can talk to kids about scary, sad, or tragic events—especially when we don’t know what to say. Topics include: 🧠 How children process grief, tragedy, and fear at different ages 🛡️ The limits of “protecting” kids from the world—and when it's important 💬 Letting kids lead the conversation and avoiding over-explaining 😢 Why it’s okay for kids to see you upset—and how to model healthy emotion

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40:28

When One of Our Kids Takes Up All of Our Bandwidth

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

2025/07/16

A note from Margaret: My family was visiting Kerrville, TX when the flood occurred. She Having seen the devastation to the Hill Country first hand, it is impossible to put into words the scope of the disaster. These losses are close to home for my family and I know they have touched so many of you as well. Please join us in donating to the relief efforts by using the following trusted link: https://cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4201 In this episode, Margaret and

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