DEEP DIVE: Asking for Big Help (And the Best Ways to Give It)
2026/05/18 | 44 mins.
This Deep Dive series revisits some of our past episodes on discerning what we need as moms, and then asking for it confidently.
We’ve all been in moments when we have to make a Big Ask. As in: it’s 2 a.m. The baby is throwing up and spiking a high fever. Your partner is out of town. Your other kid is asleep upstairs. Who are you going to call in the middle of the night? Making that ask is never easy.
But why? Why is it so hard to ask for big help, especially when we’re usually grateful to be able to assist a friend in need? Anyone who’s been a parent long enough has been on both the giving and receiving side of that Big Help ask. And when we’re on the receiving end of that kind of request, from a friend we know is struggling, we’re usually really happy– even grateful– to be able to help.
So how can we become “askable friends” and better helpers?
And how can we prepare for the big help times in our own lives before they arrive?
In this episode, we discuss
the reasons why asking for help can be so hard, especially for mothers
when asking for big help is “justified” (and making asking for small help okay)
acute needs vs. chronic needs
how to really help a struggling friend, rather than saying “let me know if you need anything”
some useful ways to help a friend grieving a loss
and how we can make that short list of friends, and offer to BE on that short list of friends, before the time comes.
In the end, asking for big help is about showing up for ourselves. Here’s how our listener Jennifer put it:
“I can ask for help, even if I can technically handle it, but I just want, or need a break. I don't need to drive myself to the edge of the cliff before I ask.”
Here are links to some of the writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode:
Mayday: Asking For Help In Times Of Need, by Nora Bouchard
lotsahelpinghands.com (@lotsahelpinghands on Twitter)
Enjoli fragrance commercial
What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Fresh Take: Nicholas Epley on Why Talking to Strangers Can Make Us Happier
2026/05/15 | 42 mins.
Why do we avoid small opportunities for connection with strangers, even when humans are wired for that very connection? Behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley, author of the new book A LITTLE MORE SOCIAL, explains why modern life leaves so many people feeling disconnected—and how small social choices can dramatically improve our well-being.
Nick explains the science behind loneliness, why humans are biologically wired for connection, and how our fear of awkwardness keeps us from reaching out to others. From conversations with strangers on the subway to helping kids build social confidence, this episode explores how meaningful relationships are created through everyday interactions.
The conversation covers:
Why people underestimate how much others want connection too
How smartphones, remote work, and modern convenience reduce social interaction
Why talking to strangers often goes better than we expect
The importance of modeling curiosity and openness for children
Why meaningful conversations matter more than surface-level similarities
How to become “a little more social” through small daily habits
Here's where you can find Nick:
www.nicholasepley.com
Buy A LITTLE MORE SOCIAL: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593319543
What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What Does "Dating" Look Like For Teens and Tweens These Days?
2026/05/13 | 48 mins.
This week we're talking about how modern teen "dating" has changed—starting with the word itself (it's called "talking" or "hanging out" these days), where today's teens are meeting romantic partners, and how they tend to communicate. We also explain how and why conversations about boundaries, consent, self-worth, and emotional safety should begin earlier than you might think.
We also discuss:
Why today’s teens are dating later but navigating more online pressure
How to encourage to kids maintain other friendships while dating
What to do when you dislike your child’s romantic partner
Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:
Emily Baumgaertner Nunn for the NYT: A Predictor of a Good Social Life? Your Parents.
Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU blog: Is your teen ready to date? 6 things to think about
Rachel Ehmke for Child Mind Institute: Teens and Romantic Relationships
Check out our Fresh Take with Ash Brandin, the Gamer Educator, who has great tips on keeping kids safe online!
What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
DEEP DIVE: Leslie Forde of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs
2026/05/11 | 33 mins.
This Deep Dive series revisits some of our past episodes on discerning what we need as moms, and then asking for it confidently.
Most of us know about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the pyramid pattern through which human needs and motivations generally move upward. We can't worry about what's at the upper levels of the pyramid until and unless the more basic needs at the bottom of the pyramid– food, warmth, safety– are met first.
Leslie Forde, founder of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, has rethought that pyramid for the way we live our lives as mothers. There's a reason there's not enough bandwidth in our lives for fun and connection and self-actualization. Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs provides moms with products, research and community to reclaim time from their never-done to-do lists.
In this episode, Leslie explains:
Why mom's hierarchy of needs is a little different than Maslow's
When and why your hierarchy of needs might shift
How to prioritize your career, healthy relationships, and self-care in your own hierarchy
Leslie says that it's important to realize your health and wellbeing is equal in importance to your children's health and wellbeing, and once you internalize that, you can start to make room for your own needs without feeling guilty or frivolous.
Here's where you can find Leslie:
Facebook: @MOMSHIERARCHYOFNEEDS
Twitter: @MOMSHIERARCHY
IG: @MOMSHIERARCHYOF_NEEDS
Leslie's TimeCheck app
https://momshierarchyofneeds.com/
Our episode "Isn't This Supposed to Be More Fun?"
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What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Fresh Take: Rachael Shepard-Ohta and Caitlin Wilder of "You're So Right" Podcast
2026/05/08 | 46 mins.
Is social media a good thing for isolated mothers? Or does it just give us more to worry about? Margaret talks with Rachael Shepard-Ohta and Caitlin Wilder, hosts of the podcast You’re So Right, about parenting in the age of Instagram, postpartum mental health, identity outside motherhood, and why parenting advice can feel both helpful and impossible at the same time.
Rachael, a former special education teacher and infant parent mental health specialist, and Caitlin, a full spectrum doula and former Bravo producer, explain how they built their podcast as a space for moms to feel less alone.
They discuss:
Why modern motherhood feels so performative online
The pressure to either “love every moment” or be a “hot mess mom”
Why nuance in motherhood conversations matters
Here's where you can find Rachael and Caitlin:
Listen to "You're So Right" wherever you get your podcasts
@youresorightpod, @heysleepybaby, and @wilderbeginnings on IG
What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
About What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms
About What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms
About What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms
When you're a parent, every day brings a "fresh hell" to deal with. In other words, there's always something. Think of us as your funny mom friends who are here to remind you: you're not alone, and it won't always be this hard.
We're Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, both busy moms of three kids, but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is a laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet or an organizational system she didn't like.
In each episode of "What Fresh Hell" we offer lots of laughs, but also practical advice, parenting strategies, and tips to empower you in your role as a mom. We explore self-help techniques, as well as ways to prioritize your own needs, combat stress, and despite the invisible workload we all deal with, find joy amidst the chaos of motherhood.
If you've ever wondered "why is my kid..." then one of us has probably been there, and we're here to tell you what we've learned along the way.
We unpack the behaviors and developmental stages of toddlers, tweens, and teenagers, providing insights into their actions and equipping you with effective parenting strategies.
We offer our best parenting tips and skills we've learned. We debate the techniques and studies that are everywhere for parents these days, and get to the bottom of what works best to raise happy, healthy, fairly well-behaved kids, while fostering a positive parent-child relationship.
If you're the default parent in your household, whether you're a busy mom juggling multiple pickups and dropoffs, or a first-time parent seeking guidance, this podcast is your trusted resource. Join our community of supportive mom friends laughing in the face of motherhood!
whatfreshhellpodcast.com
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