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

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

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

By: Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson
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 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.comCopyright © 2016-2023 What Fresh Hell, LLC Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Radical Acceptance—What It Is, and How It Can Help Our Parenting

    Radical Acceptance—What It Is, and How It Can Help Our Parenting
    Aug 27 2025
    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 “second arrow” metaphor: why our reactions often cause more suffering than the original pain How radical acceptance helps parents deal with shame, guilt, and the pressure to “fix” everything Real-life examples: from parenting challenges to personal setbacks Actionable steps: mindfulness, self-compassion, and telling yourself the truth Why acceptance doesn’t mean giving up—it’s the first step to wise action Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode: Arlin Cuncic for VeryWell Mind: How to Embrace Radical Acceptance Tara Brach: The Wise Heart of Radical Acceptance Tara Brach for Counseling Center Group: Embrace Life with Radical Acceptance Dr. Ramani Durvasula on YouTube: 6 Things You NEED to Know About Radical Acceptance BorderLiner Notes on YouTube: How She Learned Radical Acceptance | MARSHA LINEHAN RADICAL ACCEPTANCE by Tara Brach 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, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, radical acceptance, dialectical behavioral therapy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • BEST OF: What Fresh Hell Is Back to School?

    BEST OF: What Fresh Hell Is Back to School?
    Aug 25 2025
    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"⁠ ⁠Ratchetdemic by Christopher Emdin⁠ 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, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, inclusive, inclusivity , school, back to school, education Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • Fresh Take: Jyoti Chand, FITTING INDIAN

    Fresh Take: Jyoti Chand, FITTING INDIAN
    Aug 22 2025
    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 and Jyoti discuss: The stigma of mental health in South Asian culture and how social media portrays parenting realities. Breaking generational cycles and the importance of understanding and managing emotions for children The importance of community in the healing process Here's where you can find Jyoti: @mamajotes on IG and YouTube Buy FITTING INDIAN: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780063237544 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, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, toddler, baby, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, grief, loss, generational trauma, generational healing, trauma, masculinity, toxic masculinity, gender roles, south asian culture, indian culture, cultural upbringing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 mins
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