What Fresh Hell

episodes

June 20, 2025

Fresh Take: Dr. Morgan Cutlip on Redistributing the Mental Load

Relationship expert Dr. Morgan Cutlip, author of the new book A BETTER SHARE, offers practical tools for reducing the mental load, improving intimacy, and creating a more equitable home—without the resentment.

Listen to the Episode
June 18, 2025

Trad Moms and Trad Wives

We explore the core messages of the trad mom trend. Why does this aesthetic captivate us, and why does it drive so many of us crazy?

Listen to the Episode
June 16, 2025

Fresh Take: Jessica Zucker on Normalizing Miscarriage

Jessica Zucker's new book "Normalize It" is a compassionate exploration of the stories of women's lives, rooted in her own experience with miscarriage and breast cancer, and her work as a psychologist specializing in women's mental health. In this episode she explains how to challenge the stigma an…

Listen to the Episode
June 12, 2025

Fresh Take: Meagan Francis, THE LAST PARENTING BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ

Parenting writer Meagan Francis joins Amy to discuss her new book, THE LAST PARENTING BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ, and how to embrace life after hands-on motherhood. A must-listen for parents facing empty nests, identity shifts, and new beginnings.

Listen to the Episode
June 11, 2025

There's a New Study on Moms' Mental Health...and It's Not Great

A new study on maternal mental health reveals "significant declines" in the well-being of mothers. Margaret and Amy discuss the latest data, potential causes, and how to prioritize our own well-being at every stage of motherhood.

Listen to the Episode
June 9, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Amber Briggle on Supporting Trans Kids

Amber Briggle is an activist, speaker, and proud parent of her transgender son. In this episode, she discusses how to support trans kids in today’s political climate as well as her own journey parenting her son through his transition.

Listen to the Episode
June 6, 2025

Fresh Take: Melinda Wenner Moyer on "Raising Terrific Kids in Terrify…

How can we prepare our children to navigate the ups and downs of adult life? Melinda Wenner Moyer, author of the new book HELLO CRUEL WORLD, discusses how parents can model cultivating skills for emotional intelligence and resilience to their children.

Listen to the Episode
June 4, 2025

Creating Systems That Work

How can we keep track of the millions of tasks that kids, work, and a household require without letting important things slip through the cracks? Amy and Margaret discuss practical systems to help families manage their daily routines and scheduling challenges.

Listen to the Episode
June 2, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Can We Be More Inclusive Parents?

Can we become more inclusive as parents? We discuss how to get more intentionally welcoming in our family lives and communities, how to bring our kids into that conversation, and how inclusivity benefits us just as much as the one we’re welcoming.

Listen to the Episode
May 30, 2025

Fresh Take: Loryn Brantz on Finding Joy in Parenting Through Poetry

How can we maintain a creative practice as busy parents? Loryn Brantz, author of the new collection of poetry POEMS OF PARENTING, discusses balancing motherhood with her creative pursuits.

Listen to the Episode
May 28, 2025

Traveling as a Family

As summer travel looms large, what can we do to keep the family chaos to a minimum as we hop in a car or on a plane? Here are some useful family travel tips from Amy, Margaret, and our listeners.

Listen to the Episode
May 26, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Do We Need to Lower Our Standards?

Is it really our "maternal gatekeeping" and too-high standards that are preventing a more equitable distribution of household tasks? We discuss the minimum standard of care and how that can be determined.

Listen to the Episode
May 23, 2025

Fresh Take: Gretchen Rubin on Life's Simple Truths

Do we have to learn life's hardest lessons over and over, or is there a way to easily access the important advice we've heard before? Gretchen Rubin, author of the new book SECRETS OF ADULTHOOD, discusses the power of the aphorism.

Listen to the Episode
May 21, 2025

How Parenting Advice Has Changed Over the Last 125 Years

Is parenting harder today—or just different? We explore 125 years of parenting trends, from strict rules to gentle parenting, and why modern moms feel more pressure than ever.

Listen to the Episode
May 19, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Decision Fatigue—And Why It's Especially Bad For Moms

The more decisions you have to make, the more difficult it can become to make them. Decision fatigue is cumulative, and when it happens, we get frustrated more easily. Here's how to make fewer, better decisions.

Listen to the Episode
May 16, 2025

Fresh Take: Anna Fader and Amelia Eigerman

How can we get our grumpy travelers on board with summer vacation? Anna Fader and Amelia Eigerman, authors of the new MOMMY POPPINS TRAVEL JOURNAL AND ACTIVITY BOOK, have practical parenting tips for harmonious summer travel.

Listen to the Episode
May 14, 2025

Moms and Anxiety

As moms, we worry pretty much nonstop about our kids. But is that normal? Should we be THIS anxious? Here's how anxiety specifically manifests in moms and some practical tips for countering it.

Listen to the Episode
May 12, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Making the "Invisible Workload" Visible

Many of the things we take on in our family's daily lives go without notice or recognition by the people we live with. That doesn't mean it's not work. Here's how to make the "invisible workload" more visible.

Listen to the Episode
May 9, 2025

Fresh Take: Susan Dominus

Do siblings have more influence on each other than parents do on children? Susan Dominus, author of the new book THE FAMILY DYNAMIC, discusses the power of parental expectations in shaping kids and what we can learn from highly successful families.

Listen to the Episode
May 7, 2025

Finding Summer Camps

How are we going to find affordable activities/childcare for our kids all summer long? It's a question we ask every year. Here are some tips on finding summer camps and activities that fulfill both your needs and your kids'.

Listen to the Episode
May 5, 2025

BEST OF: What Fresh Hell Is Mother's Day?

Why do moms have mixed feelings about Mother's Day? Turns out Anna Jarvis, the holiday's founder, had second thoughts. Perhaps for good reason. We talk the ups and downs of Mother's Day.

Listen to the Episode
May 2, 2025

Fresh Take: Jessica N. Turner on Rising from Grief and Disappointment

How do we deal with the hard things in life that will inevitably come our way? Jessica N. Turner, author of the new book I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS, discusses how she processes difficult experiences with a healthy perspective.

Listen to the Episode
April 30, 2025

Maternal Gatekeeping: Is It a Thing?

Is maternal gatekeeping merely the manifestation of an overly controlling mother who thinks only she knows what her baby needs? Here's what maternal gatekeeping is really about and how we can all work to counter it even before children arrive.

Listen to the Episode
April 28, 2025

DEEP DIVE: Mom Rage

Mom rage engenders debilitating shame. Where did it come from? Are we actually the worst parent who’s ever parented? But mom rage has common triggers and a predictable path along which it builds- which also means there are things we can do about it.

Listen to the Episode