Best Fresh Hell Podcasts (2024)

1
E251: MURDER - Elfriede Blauensteiner (part I) 33:26

2h ago33:26

33:26

Born during the Great Depression in 1931 Vienna, Elfriede Blauensteiner's early life was marked by hardship, a cold and distant mother, and the looming shadow of World War II. In this episode, we explore her difficult upbringing, her troubled first marriage, and her eventual meeting with Rudolf Blauensteiner, her second husband. But this is no stor…

1
Fresh Take: Carla Naumburg Tells Kids How to Stop Freaking Out 37:53

1h ago37:53

37:53

Kids sometimes lose their cool, and it can be easy to lose ours while trying to help them. Carla Naumburg, author of the new book HOW TO STOP FREAKING OUT, discusses why kids freak out, how we can help them, and how we as parents can keep our cool. Carla Naumburg is a clinical social worker, and a mother. She’s the author of four non-fiction books,…

1
Are Our Kids Overscheduled? 45:24

2d ago45:24

45:24

So many of us spend hours chauffeuring our kids back and forth to their myriad activities. Why are kids so overloaded with activities these days, and can we get off of this ride? Here are some parenting strategies for navigating this issue. Amy and Margaret discuss: Why kids are so overscheduled these days How overscheduling really affects kids, be…

1
DEEP DIVE: Which Parenting Rules Can We Break? 47:21

4d ago47:21

47:21

This month's Deep Dive series is about flouting parenting rules and advice that don't work for us. Listen to a Spotify playlist of all the episodes in the series here. Who makes the parenting rules? And how bendable are they? From picky eaters to sleep routines to playing outside, we all have to navigate the line between what we supposedly should a…

1
E250: Fresh Hell Pet Hall of Fame - Unusual Friendships 56:32

7d ago56:32

56:32

In this heartwarming episode, we dive into the incredible world of interspecies friendships, where the laws of nature bend in the name of love, loyalty, and companionship. We explore the touching stories of Chito and Pocho, the Costa Rican fisherman and his beloved crocodile; Molly and Peggy, the unlikely duo of a rescued magpie and a playful Staff…

1
Fresh Take: Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein on Raising Resilient Girls 33:39

7d ago33:39

33:39

How do we raise our daughters to feel empowered, rather than helpless, in the face of gender bias? Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein, PhD, author of the new book SEXISM AND SENSIBILITY, offers parenting tips to prepare our girls for the modern world. Dr. Finkelstein, Amy, and Margaret discuss: The limits of the "girl power" line of thinking How to teach girls…

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What Happened to My Sweet Child? 45:58

9d ago45:58

45:58

Why do formerly-sunny kids turn overnight into little tornadoes of defiance and aggression? A listener posted this question in our Facebook group: My four-year-old daughter has recently developed a special, defiant, boundary-testing, aggressive version of herself that she saves only for me. I can’t make sense of it at all. WFH, send help! In this e…

1
BEST OF: Back to School Back-to-Ones 47:51

11d ago47:51

47:51

Sign up for What Fresh Hell Plus on Supporting Cast to get all episodes ad-free, plus monthly bonus episodes. Supporting Cast works right where you already listen! Go to whatfreshhell.supportingcast.fm to subscribe in two taps for just $4.99 a month, or $39.99 a year. Getting-ready playlists? Choosing outfits the night before? Bringing snacks to th…

1
You Might Also Like: In It: Raising Kids who Learn Differently, from Understood.org 30:29

12d ago30:29

30:29

Today we’re sharing an episode from another parenting podcast we think our listeners will really appreciate. It’s called “In It: Raising Kids who Learn Differently.” This podcast offers perspective, stories, and useful takeaways for parents of kids with challenges in reading, math, focus, and other learning differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. This…

1
BEST OF: Esau McCaulley, "How Far To The Promised Land" 37:15

14d ago37:15

37:15

How can we talk about America’s ongoing legacy of racism without sliding into despair? In his new memoir HOW FAR TO THE PROMISED LAND, Esau McCaulley tells his own story—and questions why Black failure is judged collectively, while Black success is perceived as the merit of an individual. Rev. Esau McCaulley, PhD, is an author and associate profess…

1
When Kids Ask Tough Questions 47:04

16d ago47:04

47:04

We've all been there: our kid asks us what heaven is like, and whether dogs can go there too. Or why some people are homeless. Or why that person over there doesn't look like other people. Sometimes we rush to smooth things over, or chastise them for what is probably honest curiosity. Other times we overexplain, answering with a confusing lecture w…

1
DEEP DIVE: Might Seem Crazy. Works for Me. 51:25

18d ago51:25

51:25

This month's Deep Dive series is about flouting parenting rules and advice that don't work for us. Listen to a Spotify playlist of all the episodes in the series here. We asked our listeners to tell us all the things that others might call crazy but which totally work for them. From packing the laundry to eating the same lunch every day for five ye…

1
E249: The Curse of the Iceman (part II) 1:02:34

21d ago1:02:34

1:02:34

In part two we talk about the the mysteries surrounding Ötzi's final days and hours. We explore what his last meal tells about the era, the harrowing details of his violent death, and the eerie curse that some believe haunts those who’ve come into contact with him. From the meticulous preservation of his body in the South Tyrol Museum to the decade…

1
Fresh Take: Jill Castle, "Kids Thrive at Every Size" 44:50

21d ago44:50

44:50

The task of feeding kids "the right foods" can give parents a lot of anxiety. Jill Castle, author of the new book KIDS THRIVE AT EVERY SIZE, explains how we can set our kids up with healthy eating habits they'll maintain for life. Jill Castle is a pediatric dietitian and childhood nutritionist, founder of The Nourished Child®, and the host of the N…

1
Randomest Claims to Fame 49:06

23d ago49:06

49:06

What Fresh Hell Podcast is going on tour across the Northeast US this fall! Join us for a live version of the podcast and bring all your mom friends. We can’t wait to go back on the road! https://bit.ly/whatfreshhelltour We asked our listeners for their randomest, most tenuous claims to fame, and as usual, they delivered. Whether it's first place i…

1
DEEP DIVE: Rule Breaker Or Rule Follower: Which Are You? 47:06

25d ago47:06

47:06

This month's Deep Dive series is about flouting parenting rules and advice that don't work for us. Listen to a Spotify playlist of all the episodes in the series here. Are you a rule breaker or a rule follower? Are you married to your opposite? We're both rule followers, and when one builds a life with someone who sees the "NO DOGS IN THE LAKE" sig…

1
E248: The Curse of the Iceman (part I) 52:24

28d ago52:24

52:24

In this chilly"" episode Johanna tells Anie all about the story of Ötzi the Iceman, the world's most fashionable mummy from the Copper Age. Discovered in the Ötztal Alps, Ötzi’s well-preserved body and unique wardrobe give us a fascinating glimpse into life over 5,000 years ago. Join us as we explore the practical yet innovative clothing Ötzi wore,…

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BEST OF: Judith Warner on What Grownups Get Wrong About Middle School 37:51

29d ago37:51

37:51

Judith Warner’s book AND THEN THEY STOPPED TALKING TO ME: MAKING SENSE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL investigates what can be a truly painful period in any adolescent's life. Warner explains that our "personal fable" is deeply affected by our own experiences during that developmental period, even if our memories may rely on flawed or incomplete information. Tha…

1
Helping Kids Face Their Fears 47:23

1M ago47:23

47:23

Every kid is afraid of something. Sometimes their fears make sense; sometimes their extreme anxiety over every ant that crosses their path can seem a little excessive. But our job isn't to make sure our kids never see ants; our job is to help them learn to navigate those feelings on their own. In this episode, Amy and Margaret discuss: Why kids fac…

1
DEEP DIVE: Advice We Totally Hate 50:15

1M ago50:15

50:15

This month's Deep Dive series is about setting aside the parenting rules and advice that just don't work for us. Listen to a Spotify playlist of all the episodes in the series here. As soon as you become a mother, unsolicited advice-givers are everywhere, telling you to “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Or “it gets easier.” Or “enjoy every moment.” Out…

1
E247: The Fresh Hell Guide to the Olympic Games 1:02:59

1M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

Dive into the fascinating, chaotic, and downright quirky world of the 1900 Paris Olympics in this episode! We'll unravel the strange stories that made these Games unlike any other, from the scandalous tug-of-war showdown to the marathon madness where shortcuts and cyclists played starring roles. Discover how the British Royals set the modern marath…

1
Fresh Take: Amy Betters-Midtvedt on What No One Tells You About Parenting Teens 34:55

1M ago34:55

34:55

You hear that parenting teens is a wild ride. But as Amy Betters-Midtvedt, author of the new book YOU'LL MAKE IT (AND THEY WILL TOO), says, it can also be baffling: “So much weirdness comes when they go back-and-forth between staying their old selves and becoming their new ones. Conflict will suddenly flow out of nowhere over nothing.” But you'll m…

1
Comparing Without Despairing 48:35

1M ago48:35

48:35

It's easy to compare our parenting—often as measured by our kids' achievements—with their peers' achievements. As in, how other parents might be doing it better. This week, we're talking parenting tips for resisting “mompetition”— and how we can use comparison to create healthy perspectives instead of "compare and despair." Amy and Margaret discuss…

1
DEEP DIVE: Admitting Things Aren't Perfect 45:06

1M ago45:06

45:06

This month, we're doing a deep dive series into letting things go—arguments, unattainable standards, you name it! You can find the playlist with all of the episodes in the series here. It's hard to admit things aren't perfect. It's especially hard for moms. Psychologists Paul Hewitt and Gordon Flett described three types of perfectionism in the 199…

1
Fresh Take: Debra Hendrickson on What We Can Do About Climate Change 27:23

1M ago27:23

27:23

We know climate change affects not only our children's health but their future. So what can we as individuals do? Debra Hendrickson is a board-certified pediatrician practicing in Reno, Nevada, and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. She is also the author of the author of the new book THE AIR THEY BRE…

1
Summer Special: Hot Pursuit (part II) 1:48:07

1M ago1:48:07

1:48:07

Welcome to Hot Pursuit, a summer true-crime collaboration, where we dive deep into the world of true crime. We’ve gathered many incredible true-crime podcasters to bring you a multi-part series that’s all about the heat of the chase. We'll explore cases where justice was relentlessly pursued, delve into crimes that occurred during the scorching sum…

1
Sibling Spacing: Close Together or Far Apart? 48:02

1M ago48:02

48:02

What are the best things about having closely spaced siblings? What about farther apart? Siblings' closeness, amount of conflict, and relationships as adults are all affected by the age differences between them. In this episode, the listeners with closely spaced children tell us why that has worked for them (constant playmates) and not (constant bi…

1
DEEP DIVE: How To Stop Having The Same Fight 49:58

2M ago49:58

49:58

This month, we're doing a deep dive series into letting things go—arguments, unattainable standards, you name it! You can find the playlist with all of the episodes in the series here. Having the same fight doesn’t mean your relationship is broken. But it is totally annoying. In this episode we discuss the modes of negativity at play when we repeat…

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