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What Fresh Hell

“What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood” is a hilarious podcast exploring the joys and challenges of parenthood and adulting in general. Join hosts Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables as they navigate motherhood, careers, relationships, and the ever-changing landscape of women’s lives with a little research, a big dose of relatable stories, and a whole lot of laughter.

“What Fresh Hell” is a Webby-honored podcast with 12 million downloads and hundreds of episodes. Use the search function in the upper-right corner to find the topics you want to hear more about. From toddlers to teens, from toxic positivity to rejoining the workforce, we’ve talked about it.

Recent episodes

March 14, 2025

Fresh Take: Mary Catherine Starr on Truly Sharing the Mental Load in Marriage

How can couples redistribute the mental load of housework and parenting equally once it's become incredibly one-sided? (Read: Mom-sided.) Mary Catherine Starr, author of the new book MAMA NEEDS A MINUTE, explains how couples can even out the mental load.
March 12, 2025

How to Feel Less Starved for Time

There is a way to get more “time affluence” in your life—and it’s not by being more productive and getting your to-do list done more quickly! Margaret and Amy discuss how to organize your time such that you can do more of what you enjoy, no time turner needed.
March 10, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Dealing With Uncertainty as a Parent

As parents we can feel like uncertainty is something we have to solve, especially where our kids are concerned. We’re supposed to have the answers. But how do we reassure them when we’re not certain either? How do we manage “uncertainty distress”?
March 7, 2025

Fresh Take: Nicole Graev Lipson

In a patriarchal society, how can woman divorce themselves from unreal expectations around motherhood and find satisfaction in themselves as they are? Nicole Graev Lipson, author of the new book MOTHERS AND OTHER FICTIONAL CHARACTERS, shares her insights on how women often find themselves performin…
March 5, 2025

BEST OF: So What Do You Do All Day?

Tired of people assuming stay-at-home moms have nothing to do? Well, there's not a lot we can do about what other people perceive about stay-at-home-moms, but we can change how we think about our labor as SAHMs to validate ourselves and how hard we really do work.
March 3, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Brave Parenting in a Scary World

Brave parenting doesn’t mean acting like what’s happening in our world isn’t scary, or that we must present our kids with perfect solutions. It means meeting our kids where they are, discussing their feelings, then deciding together what to do next.
Feb. 28, 2025

Fresh Take: Melanie Shankle

How can we try to get out from under our family's generational trauma? Melanie Shankle, author of the new book HERE BE DRAGONS, discusses how her upbringing influenced her parenting decisions and how to parent well when you weren't shown how.
Feb. 26, 2025

What We Call "People Pleasing" Might Really Be Something Else

Are “people pleasers” really happy to help, or are they simply resigned to the fact that it won't get done if they don't do it? Here's what may lie behind people pleasing tendencies and how people pleasers can take a much-needed break.
Feb. 25, 2025

HAPPY TO HELP free audiobook preview from libro.fm!

Libro.fm says "MUST READ THIS BOOK!", by which they mean listen. Share this sample chapter of the HAPPY TO HELP audiobook with a book-listener friend!
Feb. 24, 2025

DEEP DIVE: When It's Okay To Be Emotional In Front of Our Kids

Kids shouldn’t have to hold our emotions for us, but is it OK for them to witness our sadness or loneliness? When is shower-crying the better bet, and when are our negative emotions safe for us to express? Can it be a good thing for our kids to see?

Reviews

Y’all are the best!

"I’ve tried many parenting podcasts and yours is hands down the best. You have a great banter and balance. I appreciate the variety of topics and the tempo of each show is a nice constant- it feels li…"

s ren | June 22, 2021

Humor, Advice & Solidarity

"Perfect balance of humor, practical advice and stories that give solidarity in the ups and downs of parenting. Been listening for years and love Amy & Margaret! Highly recommend!"

Fun app for toddlers! | Oct. 21, 2021

Can't say enough good things

"I recommend this podcast to all my mom friends...and random moms I meet. 😂 It's my go-to listen while I do any house work or long drives. I'm always excited when a new episode drops and have gone bac…"

LarissaKelly6 | March 5, 2022

A definite must listen!

"Just this morning I was yet again losing the battle of getting both of my kids out the door to school- when I got in the car for my daily commute I turned on WFH for some comic relief and commiserati…"

WLWmom2two | Oct. 24, 2023

Recommend to Every Mom

"I started listening to WFH about a year ago, and now I don’t miss a show. I’m Actually going back thru the archives so I don’t miss anything, they are so funny, real and provide a good range of paren…"

HeLLa79 | Oct. 19, 2023

WWAMD (What would Amy & Margaret Do?)

"After listening for well over a year now, I often find myself wondering what would Amy & Margaret do when I encounter life’s daily surprises & hiccups. This podcast is one of those rare gems - a true…"

Court C N | Dec. 6, 2023

My favorite parenting podcast!

"This is the perfect parenting podcast—interesting and informative topics, great dynamic between the hosts, and fun to listen to. I always come away feeling like I just hung out with two friends who t…"

amber girl | Dec. 4, 2023

Got me through a lot

"The humor and humanity of this podcast has seen m through a lot. Living far away from family and with no friends with kids around, Margaret and Amy have been my surrogate mom friends through the pand…"

HannahGlennWriter | March 15, 2024

Brilliant!

"Love this podcast. A perfect mix of light hearted and humor, and truly profound and meaningful conversations on parenting."

hpatnaik | June 13, 2024

Love it

"I quote Amy and Margaret often. They have solid advice and an awesome sense of humor. Thanks!"

Dsemenza | June 5, 2024

Keeping it Real 💯

"I consistently listen to this show. The hosts Amy and Margaret have super relevant topics that help me other my very different from each other kids. The suggestions and topics are “real” and things t…"

Used to be happy with it | May 21, 2024

Amazing tips that make my day easier

"Loving this show! Great tips on why we do what we do and how to do better. Super helpful in knowing what to do to raise better humans and model better behavior. Thank you Margaret and Amy!"

Bre Brighter | May 17, 2024

Highlight of My Week

"The moment I hear the music at the beginning of each episode, my blood pressure drops. I hoard episodes to listen to while I do laundry, mundane computer work, etc. This is BY FAR my favorite podcast…"

E. S. Pearson | April 10, 2024

Informational, insightful and fun

"I’ve been listening to this podcast since I had my youngest son almost 6 years ago. I was a mom of 3 under 3, just trying to survive each day and I immediately connected with this show! Time and time…"

jamiehaley | April 10, 2024

Funny AND helpful, understanding and educating

"I love this podcast. Amy and Margaret are hilarious in their delivery of helpful ideas, with their own relatable examples of how they try to do better, making me believe I too can do better in my par…"

EmLew1982 | Aug. 7, 2024

Best Parenting Podcast!

"This is my favorite podcast and the only one I have listened to consistently for YEARS! These two are so funny and down to earth, but still full of practical advice. I don’t really write reviews but…"

kth912 | Aug. 10, 2024

Funny, informative and backed by stats!

"I love that they keep the discussions light and interesting but still stuff plenty of facts and statistics from studies in to the discussions! My favorite podcast about motherhood!"

Donns Leigh | Aug. 8, 2024

I’m a millennial mom of two kids under 4 and I still feel very seen

"Amy and Margaret are Gen X moms with kids who are in their teens and tweens, but no matter what stage of parenting you are in, you can still gain a whole lot of helpful and stress relieving informati…"

Katness11 | Aug. 7, 2024

Global reach

"International listener and fan. No matter where you are in the mom life, from littles to college/workworld-bound, Margaret and Amy have something for everyone. Informative and humorous, I look forwar…"

Tapatia64 | Aug. 9, 2024

The perfect balance of knowledge and fun

"I started listening and at the time believed that just like any other podcast it would run its cycle and become less interesting, after all, there is “only so much” to talk about parenting right?! O …"

jasonari | Aug. 26, 2024

The best!

"Listening to these ladies got me through the pandemic with 2 kids under 2. Four years later, I’m still laughing, still learning, still listening— and the huge one: not feeling alone in the ups and do…"

A.S. In PNW | Nov. 1, 2024

Love it!

"This podcast makes me feel so seen as a mother of two. Great advice, always backed up by research. I have young kids and I feel like you are my mom mentors, thank you for all that you do!"

Snickler04 | Oct. 31, 2024

Funny Hosts With Practical Advice

"I have been listening to this podcast (I would have to guess) 8 years. For me the messaging from this podcast is, “It is all going to be alright” and “Don’t take it too seriously.” This was helpful f…"

Memphis627 | Nov. 4, 2024
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