What Fresh Hell Podcast

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What Fresh Hell Podcast Home of the . Laughs, community, and advice for moms whatfreshhellpodcast.com

Amy and Margaret are both comedians and moms of three — but that’s where the similarities end. In What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood they combine their twenty-year friendship, their comic sensibilities, their usually completely-opposite approaches to parenting, plus research and interviews with the experts. They laugh about their lives as moms, call out each other’s nonsense, and

then come up with concrete solutions. You'll laugh, you'll learn, and you'll come away feeling that maybe your slightly haphazard parenting isn't so bad after all.

Most of us hear “bullying” and picture a sand-kicking, lunch-money-stealing menace. But today’s bullying can take other ...
12/01/2026

Most of us hear “bullying” and picture a sand-kicking, lunch-money-stealing menace. But today’s bullying can take other forms. Research by Dr. Charisse Nixon shows that about 7% of kids report experiencing physical aggression once a week— but that HALF of kids report experiencing relational aggression at least once a month.

On the other hand, as bullying expert Signe Whitson explains, some things get termed “bullying” that are more correctly described as mean or rude. Knowing the difference as parents will help our children navigate these waters more effectively.

In this episode we discuss how to help our children understand what bullying is, plus how to know if our kids are being bullied themselves— since it’s the kids who are truly frightened and struggling who are often the most likely not to tell us.

We also discuss whether, how much, and in what ways parents should intervene— somewhere in the middle ground between “so find new friends!” and beating the bully up yourself. (Spoiler alert: don’t do either of those things.)

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/deep-dive-when-your-kid-is-being-bullied/

What happens when the ambition that once fueled your identity no longer fits your life? Margaret talks with writer and p...
09/01/2026

What happens when the ambition that once fueled your identity no longer fits your life? Margaret talks with writer and producer Amil Niazi about her new book, LIFE AFTER AMBITION, and the complicated relationship between work, motherhood, and meaning.

Amil shares how her understanding of ambition evolved—from a bottomless pursuit shaped by hustle culture, immigrant expectations, and meritocracy myths, to a more honest reckoning with limits, inequality, and the idea of “enough.” They discuss how the gig economy and instability of modern work make traditional success narratives feel hollow, especially for women and parents.

The conversation also explores how ambition intersects with motherhood, including the hidden labor of working moms, the pressure to appear endlessly capable, and the cost of keeping personal struggles invisible at work. Amil reflects on modeling healthier values around work for her children, breaking generational patterns, and finding fulfillment without constant striving.

This episode offers a thoughtful, compassionate look at redefining success—and permission to step off the treadmill without losing purpose.

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/fresh-take-amil-niazi-life-after-ambition/

If you've gotten out of the habit of reading, this episode is for you! We discuss the kinds of books we've loved in the ...
08/01/2026

If you've gotten out of the habit of reading, this episode is for you! We discuss the kinds of books we've loved in the past, the weirdly specific literary scenarios we're hooked on, and how we're getting back into reading after too much time spent down Reddit rabbit holes.

Sign up for What Fresh Hell Plus on Supporting Cast to get all episodes ad-free, plus monthly bonus episodes. Supporting Cast works right where you already listen! Go to whatfreshhell.supportingcast.fm to subscribe in two taps for just $4.99 a month, or $39.99 a year.

Why do kids often act so differently at school than they do at home?In this episode, you'll learn how skills like adapta...
07/01/2026

Why do kids often act so differently at school than they do at home?

In this episode, you'll learn how skills like adaptability and “theory of mind” develop over time, why younger kids struggle more with behavior shifts, and how structure, transitions, and social pressure shape school-day behavior. We explore concepts like afterschool restraint collapse, social battery depletion, and masking—and why post-school meltdowns are usually a good sign, in that your home is a place your kid feels safe.

You'll learn some practical strategies for making things easier, including creating afterschool rituals, using visual schedules, feeding kids early and often, collaborating with teachers, and getting curious instead of reactive when behavior changes.

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/why-kids-act-differently-at-school-than-at-home/

To accompany us on our holiday road trips, here's one of our favorite funny family-friendly episodes: Things We Weirdly ...
05/01/2026

To accompany us on our holiday road trips, here's one of our favorite funny family-friendly episodes: Things We Weirdly Enjoy.

What oddities do you love that others might look askance at?

Is it your magical singing rice cooker?
The silence just before it snows?
Terrible Ikea instructions?

Amy and Margaret share their weird pleasures and chime in on some listener suggestions as well.

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/deep-dive-things-we-weirdly-enjoy/

To wrap up 2025, we’re re-running some of our favorite guest episodes from this year—including this interview with Shann...
02/01/2026

To wrap up 2025, we’re re-running some of our favorite guest episodes from this year—including this interview with Shannon Watts, founder of ⁠⁠Moms Demand Action⁠⁠, discussing her 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 societal “shoulds” can keep women stuck
The “fire triangle” formula: how your values, abilities, and desires can reignite your life
Why “false fires” (like busyness and performative happiness) burn us out
How Shannon knew it was time to pass the torch at Moms Demand Action—and what it taught her about transitions
The importance of building our own communities of firestarters
Why your fire doesn’t have to “earn its keep”

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/best-of-shannon-watts-fired-up

For the holidays, we’re re-running some of our favorite episodes. See you in 2026!Did you grow up thinking everyone's fa...
31/12/2025

For the holidays, we’re re-running some of our favorite episodes. See you in 2026!

Did you grow up thinking everyone's family has a tooth fairy that leaves tin foil behind instead of coins? Said "padiddle" whenever a car with a single headlight drove past? We asked our listeners what they grew up thinking everyone else's families did too... only to find out that nope, it was just them.

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/best-of-wait-didnt-everyones-family-do-this

What's your scariest mom-ster story? Do you leave half-empty cups everywhere like Margaret? Do you leave hairs on the sh...
29/12/2025

What's your scariest mom-ster story? Do you leave half-empty cups everywhere like Margaret? Do you leave hairs on the shower wall like Amy? We asked our listeners when they were the mom-sters, and some of the answers sent chills down our spines!
In this episode, Amy and Margaret discuss:

"Driver's License" (wait, is it not cool anymore?)
The secret to moms' bad moods
Recycling rules (and how we don't respect them)

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/deep-dive-what-kind-of-momster

To wrap up 2025, we’re re-running some of our favorite guest episodes from this year.When we're faced with difficulties,...
26/12/2025

To wrap up 2025, we’re re-running some of our favorite guest episodes from this year.

When we're faced with difficulties, how can we put them into perspective and move forward? Jessica N. Turner, author of the new book I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS, discusses the experiences that led her to look at life differently and how she has learned to make "imperfect choices."

Jessica, Amy, and Margaret discuss:
What led Jessica to write this book What Jessica's large online audience of women taught her about grief Strategies for processing grief and disappointment

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/best-of-jessica-n-turner

For the holidays, we’re re-running some of our very favorite holiday-themed episodes! It's hard not to feel like we've ...
24/12/2025

For the holidays, we’re re-running some of our very favorite holiday-themed episodes! It's hard not to feel like we've got to be doing ALL the things at the holidays, especially when social media tells us we should be. Here are some tips for taking perspective at the holidays and operating in "high magic, low effort" mode.

We discuss:
pre-gaming with your (older) kids about the preferred responses to less-preferred gifts
starting with what family members really do love most about the holidays (their answers will surprise you)
why you don't have to go the Nutcracker, or lights at the zoo, or Aunt Martha's house, this year, let alone every year

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/best-of-holiday-goals

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