What Fresh Hell

episodes

Dec. 3, 2025

Saying "No" Is Also Work

Amy and Margaret break down why saying no is real work with real consequences and practical ways to set boundaries without guilt, protecting your time, energy, and sanity.

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Dec. 1, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Are We Helping or Are We Helicoptering?

No one wants to be a helicopter parent. Every parent needs to be helpful. But how much, how often, and how can we find the best overall balance?

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Nov. 28, 2025

Fresh Take: Glen Henry, FATHER YOURSELF FIRST

Amy and Margaret talk with Glen Henry, author of the new book FATHER YOURSELF FIRST, about breaking cycles, parenting with intention, and healing your inner child.

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Nov. 26, 2025

BEST OF: I Love My Family, But They Need To Stop Doing This

Mothers would do anything for their families, but they would also like them to stop saying and doing some things that drive them absolutely bonkers. Here are some of the things our mom friends can't stand.

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Nov. 24, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Lynn Lyons and Robin Hutson of "Flusterclux"

When anxiety is part of family systems, our well-meaning attempts to assuage kids can instead serve to further reinforce it. Psychologist Lynn Lyons and Robin Hutson, co-hosts of the podcast Flusterclux, explain what actually works for anxiety.

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Nov. 21, 2025

Fresh Take: Dr. Michael Milobsky

Dr. Michael Milobsky, host of the podcast "Your Kids Will Be Fine," offers his pediatrician expert advice to our listener questions.

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Nov. 19, 2025

Holiday Hacks

Amy and Margaret share listeners' most practical holiday hacks—and a few of their own—for simplifying meals, traditions, and expectations for a saner, happier holiday season.

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Nov. 17, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld on Maintaining Healt…

Society tells us that it's both unavoidable and appropriate for kids to shift their focus from their parents to their peers as they grow. In their book HOLD ON TO YOUR KIDS, Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld explain why we should push back on "peer orientation."

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Nov. 14, 2025

Fresh Take: Kate Baer, HOW ABOUT NOW

Kate Baer tells us about her new poetry collection HOW ABOUT NOW—written through illness, motherhood, and major life changes—and how poetry helps her make sense of time, the body, marriage, and what it means to keep going.

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Nov. 12, 2025

Boys Online: What the Latest Data Shows

We break down what the latest research on boys' online lives shows. Learn how digital culture shapes boys today and how you can help them navigate their online world successfully.

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Nov. 10, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Liz Gumbinner on Ditching the Hustle

Do we have to monetize, publicize, and optimize all of our hobbies into a legit "side-hustle" that must also fulfill us? Guest Liz Gumbinner, co-host of the podcast "Spawned," talks with Margaret about the pressure to perform in every aspect of our lives.

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Nov. 7, 2025

Fresh Take: Jen Hatmaker, AWAKE

Jen Hatmaker joins Amy and Margaret to discuss her new book AWAKE—a brutally honest, funny, and revealing memoir about the traumatic end of her twenty-six-year-long marriage, and the beginning of a different kind of love story.

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Nov. 5, 2025

Caregiving

Amy and Margaret discuss the real challenges of caregiving—from raising kids to caring for aging parents. They share stories, stats, and strategies for avoiding burnout and finding support during National Caregiving Month.

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Nov. 3, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Crazymakers

We all have people in our lives who are crazymakers— always late, always stirring the pot, always causing chaos. Here's what a crazymaker really is, and how to deal with the ones in your life effectively.

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Oct. 31, 2025

Fresh Take: Corinne Low, HAVING IT ALL

Economist Corinne Low, author of HAVING IT ALL, joins us to unpack why that idea feels impossible for mothers who work outside the home—and how to redefine success by building a life that actually works for you.

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Oct. 29, 2025

Why Kids Get Obsessed—And Why It's a Good Thing

Amy and Margaret unpack kids’ intense obsessions—like Pokémon or trains—explaining why these fixations are developmentally normal, even beneficial. They also offer tips for connecting with kids over these obsessions.

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Oct. 27, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius) on Compassionate Time Mana…

Kendra Adachi, better known as "The Lazy Genius," has a plan for time management—one that takes out the part where we feel bad about ourselves. Kendra tells us about her new book, THE PLAN.

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Oct. 24, 2025

Fresh Take: Irin Carmon, UNBEARABLE

Journalist Irin Carmon, author of UNBEARABLE: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America⁠, reveals the complicated reality of going through pregnancy, child loss, and childbirth in our society.

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Oct. 22, 2025

How Kids Spend Their Time (And How They Should)

Do you know how you and your kids actually spend your time? Might it be more screens and less sleeping than is optimal? Here's how to find out.

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Oct. 21, 2025

Dr. Natasha Bhuyan Introduces Amazon One Medical Pay-Per-Visit

Things like hand-foot-and-mouth disease always seem to strike when the pediatrician’s office is closed. But fear not! Amazon One Medical Pay-Per-Visit now offers telehealth visits for kids 2-11 with family care providers. Dr. Natasha Bhuyan tells us more.

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Oct. 20, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Laura Vanderkam on "Tranquility By Tuesday"

Feel like you work all day and still get nothing done? Time management expert Laura Vanderkam, author of "Tranquility By Tuesday," shares nine simple rules for creating the time we want for the truly important things in our busy lives.

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Oct. 17, 2025

Fresh Take: Kate Rope, STRONG AS A GIRL

Kate Rope, author of STRONG AS A GIRL, joins us to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of being a girl today— and of raising one. Here's how to raise daughters who honor their instincts and their needs in a world filled with mixed messages.

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Oct. 15, 2025

When Stress Becomes Burnout (and How to Tell the Difference)

We use the terms stress and burnout interchangeably, but burnout is far more serious, and moms may be especially at risk. Here's how to spot the signs-and what actually helps you recover.

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Oct. 13, 2025

DEEP DIVE: 8 Ways to Make Better Decisions

In this episode, we’ll explore some age-old principles that can help us make better decisions. These principles, often referred to as “razors,” can cut through the clutter of complexity and help us see the forest for the trees.

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