What Fresh Hell

What Fresh Hell

“What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood” is a Webby-honored, Top 10 Apple Podcasts parenting podcast with over 8 million lifetime downloads! If you're looking for laughs, advice, and community, you've come to the right place.

We're Amy and Margaret, and we're each moms of three. We deal with the same hassles as any parent, but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet she didn't like.

We offer three episodes each week:
"Question of the Week" on Mondays
Regular weekly episodes on Wednesdays
"Fresh Take" interview with experts on Fridays

Join us as we laugh in the face of motherhood!

Recent episodes

Ask Amy: My Kid Cries Over Everything

March 27, 2023

When a kid cries over every bump and scrape, are parents supposed to ignore it? Tough-love them out of it? Or consider whether their child must just be more sensitive?

Fresh Take: Beth Leipholtz on Teaching Inclusion

March 24, 2023

As the hearing mother of a deaf child, Beth Leipholtz is raising her son in both hearing and Deaf cultures. She tells us about her work as an inclusion and accessibility advocate and about her new children’s book, THE ABCs O…

Even More Minor But Life-Changing Tips

March 22, 2023

We received so many minor life-changing tips, we're back with part two! From fixing the tomato stains on Tupperware to strategically placed toothpaste, here are more tiny tips to make life a ton easier.

Ask Margaret: My Kid Keeps Running Away!

March 20, 2023

Preschoolers love to run. It helps them flex their newfound independence and gives them an exhilarating feeling of freedom. But this behavior can be frustrating – and frightening– for parents. So how do we get our kids to st…

Fresh Take: Katherine May on "Enchantment"

March 17, 2023

How do we find deep meaning in today's world amidst the bad news all around us? Katherine May, author of "Enchantment: Awakening Our Wonder in an Anxious Age," tells us how she gained new perspective and mental energy by red…

It's Not "Nagging"

March 15, 2023

When women ask repeatedly for something to be done– because it wasn’t done the last time they asked– they’re often rewarded by being told they’re “nagging.” How do we push back on the sexism of this word? And are there more …

Ask Amy: We Have a Newborn - and Houseguests

March 13, 2023

What happens when the "help" from family right after a baby is born means constant houseguests (and more work?) Here's how to ask for the postpartum help you actually need.

Fresh Take: Dr. Dana Dorfman on When Worry Works

March 10, 2023

As parents we try to support our children’s current well-being while also setting them up for future success.  But when worry begins to drive our parenting decisions, it’s time for a reset. Dr. Dana Dorfman, author of WHEN W…

Our Quirkiest Personal Rules

March 8, 2023

Peanut butter on both sides of the PB&J? Parking in a certain spot at Trader Joe's? Setting the alarm for odd-numbered times? We asked our listeners about the weird rules they have put into place - and Amy and Margaret give …

Ask Margaret: What Do You Do When Your Kid Ruins His Own Playdate?

March 6, 2023

When our kid throws a fit or storms out of a social gathering, embarrassing themselves AND us, how can we problem-solve in the moment in a way that's not punishing or even more disruptive?

Fresh Take: Francesca Royster on "Choosing Family"

March 3, 2023

Francesca Royster, author of the memoir CHOOSING FAMILY:A Memoir of Queer Motherhood and Black Resistance, explains what it means to build a “chosen family” of friends, and how to parent while yearning for the world that we …

BONUS: [TEASER] Our Jobbiest Jobs

March 2, 2023

What are the worst jobs Amy and Margaret have ever had? Listen to them spill the tea (and ketchup) in this teaser for our March bonus episode.