What Fresh Hell

episodes

Oct. 8, 2025

Mom Worsts

From all-family stomach bugs to jumpy-castle parties for forty first-graders, here are just a few of our "mom worsts."

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 6, 2025

DEEP DIVE: What Can We Add? What Can We Take Away?

As parents, we often feel that if we add more to a problem—say, buy the right item—we can solve it. But there may be a simpler way to solve certain problems, and that's by taking something away. Here's how to know when taking something away might be the better answer.

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 3, 2025

Fresh Take: Suzanne Warye, THE SOBER SHIFT

Sobriety coach Suzanne Warye joins Margaret to discuss her new book THE SOBER SHIFT, gray area drinking, and why life without alcohol isn’t deprivation but abundance.

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 1, 2025

When Does "Typical" Behavior Become Something More?

Is it normal kid behavior—or something more? Amy and Margaret explore when kids’ behaviors like tantrums, picky eating, or mood swings might signal bigger challenges, and share strategies to support your child with less stress and more confidence.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 29, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Why Women Have Less Free Time

October’s "Free-Time Gender Gap Report" found that women spend twice as much time on household labor as men do, even when controlling for marital/parental/socioeconomic status, race, and age. So why are women of all stripes working harder in the home?

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 26, 2025

Fresh Take: Carla Ciccone, NOWHERE GIRL

Writer Carla Ciccone joins Amy and Margaret to discuss her new memoir NOWHERE GIRL, the rise in late ADHD diagnoses among women, and how self-acceptance and compassion are the antidote to shame.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 24, 2025

The Craziest Things We've Done for Our Kids

Parents will do anything for their kids—from dumpster diving to hours-long road trip detours. Amy and Margaret share the funniest and most heartwarming stories of the crazy things moms and dads do for love.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 22, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Dr. Amber Thornton on Finding Real Balance

How do we find "balance" in our lives as moms– and why does that sound like such hard work? Dr. Amber Thornton, host of the podcast "Balanced Working Mama," tells us where mom guilt really comes from - and how we can counter it.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 19, 2025

Fresh Take: Kate Mason, POWERFULLY LIKABLE

Dr. Kate Mason, author of POWERFULLY LIKABLE, joins us to share practical strategies for women to communicate more effectively. Being "likable" can also mean communicating with clarity.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 17, 2025

Do Our Friendships Have to Be This Complicated?

Have female friendships become overcomplicated? In this episode we explore why "friendship breakups" have become a thing, and what we really look for in our close friendships—plus how to reconnect after drifting apart.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 15, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Natalie Mayslich and Blessing Adesiyan on the Future of Re…

Remote work is here to stay. So how to we integrate it into our lives in a healthy way? Natalie Mayslich and Blessing Adesiyan, authors of the The Modern Workplace Report, share what they've learned about the effects of remote work on employees, particularly working women.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 12, 2025

Fresh Take: Trevor Hanson on Healing Our Attachment Styles

Amy talks with Trevor Hanson, founder of the Secure Self Club, about anxious and avoidant attachment styles, breaking negative patterns, and building security in relationships through self-compassion and daily attachment skills.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 10, 2025

Even More Husband Crimes (Part 2)

Our listeners submitted so many "Husband Crimes" we're back with another edition. From refusing driving directions to excessive soy sauce usage, these criminals are all guilty.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 8, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Ericka Sóuter on How to Have a Kid and a Life

Ericka Sóuter has over 20 years of journalism experience and is a regular contributor on Good Morning America and other national broadcast outlets. Ericka speaks to parents across the country about the issues, controversies, ...

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 5, 2025

Fresh Take: Allison Daminger, WHAT'S ON HER MIND- The Mental Workload…

Sociologist Allison Daminger joins Amy and Margaret to discuss her new book What’s On Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life. She explains the true cost of the mental load on women and how couples can shift into a more intentional dynamic.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 3, 2025

Oops! My Kid Hates Me

Kids can go through rough stretches of being really, really hard on their parents. Here's how to handle hurtful words, maintain boundaries, and keep connection strong through these tough moments.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 1, 2025

BEST OF: How Involved Should We Be With Our Kids' Schools?

How do we help our kids succeed in school without becoming the dreaded "snowplow" parents? Here are some parenting tips for advocating for your child at school when necessary, while also empowering our kids to navigate their ...

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 28, 2025

BEST OF: What Kind of Monster? Family Vacation Edition

Forgotten luggage. Strollers that won’t fold. The best-laid family vacation plans quickly sour when there's a monster who forgot to pack the bathing suits. Here are some vacation monsters we’ve met. Full disclosure: sometimes the monster is us.

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 27, 2025

Radical Acceptance—What It Is, and How It Can Help Our Parenting

Learn how radical acceptance can ease parenting struggles, reduce shame, and improve relationships. Amy and Margaret explore what it really means to accept reality, manage emotions, and find peace in what we can’t control.

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 25, 2025

BEST OF: What Fresh Hell Is Back to School?

School supplies. Pre-season sports. Parent portals. Uniform pants that don’t fit the night before the first day. Back to school means the return of so many fun activities for kids, and so many fresh hells for parents. Here are a few of our favorites.

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 22, 2025

Fresh Take: Jyoti Chand, FITTING INDIAN

Margaret speaks with Jyoti Chand, author of FITTING INDIAN, about the South Asian culture she was raised in, how much of her own life informed the experiences of her novel’s protagonist, and why emotional intelligence is so key to child development.

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 20, 2025

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

Make back-to-school season less stressful with these tips on sleep schedules, meal planning, and simple routines. Margaret and Amy share ways to reduce overwhelm, save time, and support kids' mental health this fall.

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 18, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Kelly Corrigan on Letting Big Kids Go

Kelly Corrigan, host of "Kelly Corrigan Wonders", discusses with Amy how she has navigated the emptying nest and her continually changing relationships with her older children.

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 15, 2025

Fresh Take: Mike de la Rocha, SACRED LESSONS

Mike de la Rocha joins Margaret to discuss grief, fatherhood, masculinity, and his new book SACRED LESSONS, a moving look at healing generational wounds, expressing emotion, and parenting boys with presence and compassion.

Listen to the Episode
leave us a voicemail!