GET TICKETS FOR OUR LIVE SHOWS
What Fresh Hell

episodes

June 9, 2021

Our Parental Achilles Heels

An "Achilles Heel" is a weakness in spite of overall strength that when exploited by our enemies can lead to our tragic downfalls. From whistling to growth spurts to the constant, constant talking, here are our greatest weaknesses as moms and humans.

Listen to the Episode
June 7, 2021

Ask Amy: How Do I Protect My Newborn in a Post-Pandemic World?

How can a mom feel okay about protecting her newborn in a post-pandemic world? Take advantage of warmer weather to do things outside; keep masks on if that makes you more comfortable; and don't accept the burden of Other People's Feelings About That.

Listen to the Episode
June 4, 2021

Fresh Take: Future Focused Parenting With Kira Dorrian and Deana Thay…

Kira Dorrian and Deana Thayer are the co-founders of Future Focused Parenting, the philosophy that starts with the end in mind. They explain how future-focused parenting can make daily parenting decisions clearer, both for ourselves and for our kids.

Listen to the Episode
June 2, 2021

Reestablishing Friendships After This Weird Time

These days we're both alternating periods of social-butterfly celebration with times we’re still hiding under the covers. Reemergence is a process. Here's how we’re getting more intentional about reestablishing the friendships we’ve missed the most.

Listen to the Episode
May 31, 2021

Ask Margaret: How Do I Talk to My Kids About Consent?

When do we begin difficult conversations with our kids about consent? We can do it early and often, when it’s in an age-appropriate manner. Here’s how to introduce the topic of consent to kids and how to keep those conversations going as they grow.

Listen to the Episode
May 28, 2021

Fresh Take: Radha Agrawal on Creating Community

Feeling disconnected from your community after this hard year? Never had a great support system in the first place? Radha Agrawal explains how to build a joy practice, and the possibilities that exist to get intentional about finding our people.

Listen to the Episode
May 26, 2021

So What Are We Doing This Summer?

Our kids’ summer plans keep evolving, for the better and the more confusing. We’re excited by the possibilities for a real summer this year, but figuring out the new rules seems to be once again kind of up to us. Here’s how we (might) make our plans.

Listen to the Episode
May 24, 2021

Ask Margaret - My Kid Wants All the Things

Whether it's Pokémon cards, LEGOs or LOL Surprise Dolls, kids want stuff. It doesn't help that some collectibles are designed and marketed to make our kids crave more and more. Here’s how to help our kids control their urges to have all the things.

Listen to the Episode
May 21, 2021

Fresh Take: Carla Naumburg Tells Us How To Stop Losing It With Our Ki…

Kids are hardwired to push our buttons. We’re hardwired to freak out when they do. Carla Naumburg, social worker, mother, and author of HOW TO STOP LOSING YOUR SH*T WITH YOUR KIDS, explains how managing our triggers can help us stop the meltdowns.

Listen to the Episode
May 19, 2021

Useless Metrics For Life

Behaviorist James Clear says one should "measure to see if you're actually spending time on the things that are important to you." We agree– as long as we remember that 9,000 steps is great, inbox 1000 is totally fine, and "perfect" is always a lie.

Listen to the Episode
May 18, 2021

BONUS: Toddler Purgatory

On this first episode of our sister podcast, Toddler Purgatory, Blaire and Molly discuss the challenges of life with their tiny, ruthlessly honest, tantrum-having, often stinky carbon copies.Subscribe/follow TODDLER PURGATORY where you listen or at toddlerpurgatory.com.

Listen to the Episode
May 17, 2021

Ask Amy- I Can't Take The Noise!

Some of us are more affected by our environments. We don't habituate to noise exposure like others do. And when our nervous systems are already amped up for other reasons, the noise can just be too much. Here’s how to control what you can control.

Listen to the Episode
May 14, 2021

Fresh Take: Ilyse DiMarco on "Mom Brain"

Dr. Ilyse DiMarco’s new book MOM BRAIN explores the profound cognitive and emotional changes that occur when we become mothers, the anxiety that can often result, and the evidence-based strategies that work best to keep us present-moment-focused.

Listen to the Episode
May 12, 2021

Let It Go? Or No?

Still mad about that thing from that time? This week we're reviewing listener grudges large and small and deciding once and for all if those listeners should let it go or no. Which is not the same question as whether they have a right to be annoyed.

Listen to the Episode
May 10, 2021

Ask Amy- Company's Coming. How Am I Going To Feed Everyone?

Find yourself stuck in the kitchen 24/7 when family comes to visit? You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed and even a little resentful, even if you’re really happy they came. Here’s how to reset expectations so you can truly enjoy your visitors.

Listen to the Episode
May 7, 2021

Fresh Take: Judith Warner on What Grownups Get Wrong About Middle Sch…

Judith Warner’s book AND THEN THEY STOPPED TALKING TO ME: MAKING SENSE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL investigates what can be a truly painful period. Our parenting of tweens can also be affected by our memories of that time, and Warner explains why that matters.

Listen to the Episode
May 5, 2021

When Your Kid Doesn't Fit The Mold

When kids don’t fit the mold, it can be even harder on us than it is on them. While they’re lying down on second base instead of paying attention, we’re up at night worrying about the year 2035. The good news: the world is wider than it used to be.

Listen to the Episode
May 3, 2021

Ask Margaret - My Son Can't Keep His Hands to Himself

Roughhousing and physical play between kids– especially boys– is natural, but that doesn't mean it doesn't drive parents crazy. Here's how to put sane parameters around it.

Listen to the Episode
April 30, 2021

Fresh Take: Michaeleen Doucleff on Raising Happy, Helpful Little Huma…

Michaeleen Doucleff is the author of Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans. Turns out Western parenting isn’t the way things need to be–the key to happy kids is doing less.

Listen to the Episode
April 28, 2021

Wait, We're Not Ready

We thought we were ready. We were in fact quite excited for all of this to be over, white-knuckling it until we could run outside and hug everyone we saw. But as freedom comes nearer, we’re less sure we want things to go back to how they used to be.

Listen to the Episode
April 26, 2021

Ask Amy- My 4-Year-Old Hates Transitions

Returning to non-Covid routines can be really hard for little ones. For a 4-year-old who’s spent a full quarter of her life hanging out at home with Mom, that WAS regular life! Here’s how to smooth the return to transitions, at home and at school.

Listen to the Episode
April 23, 2021

Fresh Take: Christina Martin on How Children Learn Through Play

Christina Martin, head of The Children's School, tells us how children learn through play, and why the concept of play is central to the tenets of progressive education. Christina explains the power of play and how to make it a practice in your home.

Listen to the Episode
April 21, 2021

Are You the 'Good Parent' or the 'Bad Parent' In Your Home?

Are you the “bad parent” in your home? The enforcer of bedtimes, the stern shusher in the church pew? Or are you the “good parent,” more likely to agree that time is a construct and that ice cream not only can, but should, be what’s for dinner?

Listen to the Episode
April 19, 2021

Ask Margaret - My Spouse and I Disagree About Discipline

How should we handle differences of opinion with our spouse? The "number system" is one way to make sure you're choosing your battles.

Listen to the Episode
leave us a voicemail!