{"podcast":{"title":"What Fresh Hell: Parenting, Relationships, and Making Life Better, with Two Funny Moms","slug":"what-fresh-hell-laughing-in-the-face-of-motherhood-parenting-tips-from-funny-moms-853259","podcast_index_feed_id":853259,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/WFH1568989392","website_url":"https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9fea9dc2-09d5-11e9-9ed5-83a605bddc55/image/062bd7012d95aeb7f1e32ca782c767d4.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood","episode_count":1043,"summary":"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 techni…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-20T12:18:32.951166+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-fresh-hell-laughing-in-the-face-of-motherhood-parenting-tips-from-funny-moms-853259"},"episode":{"title":"Fresh Take: Leah Ruppanner on \"DRAINED\" and What the 'Mental Load' Really Means","slug":"fresh-take-leah-ruppanner-on-drained-and-what-the-mental-load-really-means","published_at":"2026-04-24T09:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-fresh-hell-laughing-in-the-face-of-motherhood-parenting-tips-from-funny-moms-853259/fresh-take-leah-ruppanner-on-drained-and-what-the-mental-load-really-means","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-fresh-hell-laughing-in-the-face-of-motherhood-parenting-tips-from-funny-moms-853259","url":"https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/JhoQDAATtO1l0y8tdKNa/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL5688935270.mp3?updated=1776103545","audio_url":"https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/JhoQDAATtO1l0y8tdKNa/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL5688935270.mp3?updated=1776103545","summary":"Are women really better at all the things we do? Or are we just used to doing more? Amy talks with sociologist and author Leah Ruppanner, author of the new book DRAINED, about her definition of the \"mental load\" and why so many women feel constantly overwhelmed. Leah defines the mental load as much more than keeping track of tasks. It’s deeply emotional work tied to caring for others, anticipating needs, and managing relationships. In this interview Leah breaks down the different types of mental load, from organizing daily life to providing emotional support, maintaining relationships, creating special moments for families, and supporting everyone else’s goals. While many partners contribute in visible ways, much of this broader, invisible work still falls to women. Leah also shares a practical framework for evaluating your mental load: understanding where your energy is going, who you’re carrying, and what you can delegate, drop, or rebalance. When reducing the load isn’t possible, rest and recovery become essential. Think of yourself as the family MVP. This episode is a reminder that the mental load is real, complex, and worth examining—and that making it visible is the first step toward meaningful change. Here's where you can find Leah: @prof.leahruppanner on Instagram, TikTok The Miss Perceived Podcast https://www.leahruppanner.com Buy DRAINED: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593850909 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","meta_description":"Are women really better at all the things we do? Or are we just used to doing more? Amy talks with sociologist and author Leah Ruppanner, author of the ne…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2713,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/what-fresh-hell-laughing-in-the-face-of-motherhood-parenting-tips-from-funny-moms-853259/episodes/fresh-take-leah-ruppanner-on-drained-and-what-the-mental-load-really-means/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-fresh-hell-laughing-in-the-face-of-motherhood-parenting-tips-from-funny-moms-853259/fresh-take-leah-ruppanner-on-drained-and-what-the-mental-load-really-means.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}