Amy talks with women's health advocate and author Rebecca Bloom about her new book When Women Get Sick: An Empowering Approach for Getting the Support You Need. Rebecca shares her personal and professional journey from caregiver to expert advocate, offering practical advice for navigating a complex healthcare system that often fails women.
This conversation explores why women face unique barriers in accessing care, how to build a support team before you need one, and how understanding your rights at work and with insurers can make all the difference.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why the U.S. healthcare system is especially difficult for women to navigate
The critical gaps in women’s health research and diagnosis
How gender bias affects pain recognition and treatment
What real support looks like when women get sick
How to proactively build a “healthcare team” before crisis strikes
The importance of knowing your employee benefits and legal protections
How to overcome guilt or shame when using disability, FMLA, or unemployment insurance
Why “circles of goodness” are key to surviving serious illness—and how to build your own
Here's where you can find Rebecca:
https://www.whenwomengetsick.com/
@whenwomengetsick on IG
Buy WHEN WOMEN GET SICK: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9798889832317
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/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, midlife women, healthcare, healthcare system, women's health
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
36:51
--------
36:51
Is It Normal to Feel Jealous of Other Moms?
Margaret and Amy explore the messy truths about jealousy—why moms feel it, how shame adds fuel to the fire, and what we can actually do about it. From parenting pressures to social comparisons, they discuss how jealousy is normal, but how we respond to feelings of envy can make all the difference.
Margaret and Amy discuss:
😬 Why jealousy feels so shameful for moms
🧠 “The Second Arrow” – how feeling guilty about feeling jealous makes things worse
👩👧 How our kids’ struggles trigger our own insecurities
🔄 Reframing the inner monologue: from “I’m jealous” to “I’m overwhelmed”
📉 Why “I'm sure they're not as happy as they seem ” isn’t always a helpful thought
✅ Practical tools to cope with comparison and find joy again
Whether it’s feeling envious of your husband’s solo lunch breaks or wondering how other families can afford breezy summer vacations, this episode validates it all. Margaret and Amy offer practical advice, a lot of laughs, and a reminder that comparing yourself doesn't mean you're doing motherhood wrong—just that you're human.
Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:
Jenifer Demattia for Scary Mommy: "Why I'm Envious Of These Moms"
Glennon Doyle for Today.com: 'My family hits the lottery every freaking morning:' Blogger gives kitchen a gratitude makeover
ABC news: I Was Jealous of My 'Perfect' Mom Friends
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/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, jealousy, envy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
46:32
--------
46:32
DEEP DIVE: Best Advice for Dealing with Teenagers
How do we raise healthy, loving, polite, and appreciative teens? Is it humanly possible? From remaining "passively available" to taking our adolescents' seemingly trivial problems seriously, our listeners had great advice for bringing up teenagers.
Amy and Margaret discuss:
The blessing of nerd-dom
How to keep your face in check when talking to your teen
Why it's important to let your teen fail sometimes
Here's our Fresh Take with Michelle Icard, author of "Fourteen Talks by Age 14"
Here's the link to the full thread in our Facebook group
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.
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/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly,
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
45:58
--------
45:58
Fresh Take: Shannon Watts, FIRED UP
Amy and Margaret sit down with Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, to discuss her transformative new book: Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age.
Shannon shares the personal story behind her midlife awakening, how she built the largest grassroots movement to fight gun violence in America, and the life-changing formula she developed to help women find purpose, passion, and courage—no matter their life stage.
Shannon, Margaret, and Amy discuss:
How societal “shoulds” can keep women stuck
The “fire triangle” formula: how your values, abilities, and desires can reignite your life
Why “false fires” (like busyness and performative happiness) burn us out
How Shannon knew it was time to pass the torch at Moms Demand Action—and what it taught her about transitions
The importance of building our own communities of firestarters
Why your fire doesn’t have to “earn its keep”
Here's where you can find Shannon:
www.firedupbook.com (enroll in Shannon's course here)
@shannonrwatts on IG and Substack
Buy FIRED UP: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593831939
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/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, midlife women, midlife crisis
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
43:38
--------
43:38
Fresh Take: Genevieve Kingston, DID I EVER TELL YOU?
A note from Margaret: My family was visiting Kerrville, TX when the flood occurred. Having seen the devastation to the Hill Country first hand, it is impossible to put into words the scope of the disaster. These losses are close to home for my family and I know they have touched so many of you as well. Please join us in donating to the relief efforts by using the following trusted link.
This week Amy talks with author and playwright Genevieve Kingston about her acclaimed memoir Did I Ever Tell You?
Genevieve's mother died of cancer ten days before Genevieve's 12th birthday. Her mother prepared Genevieve for a life spent without her by creating a chest of letters and gifts to be opened on each of Genevieve's birthdays, until she turned 30, plus other life milestones like graduation and first love.
DID I EVER TELL YOU? explores how these profound gifts shaped Genevieve's life and unlocked mysteries to explore as well as healing.
Amy and Genevieve discuss how children process grief—and why it often doesn’t look “appropriate”— and why building a community of trusted adults around children facing loss is so crucial.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone parenting through illness, processing loss with children, or simply wondering how to leave a legacy of love. And the book is a must-read for, well, everyone.
Here's where you can find Genevieve:
www.genevievekingston.com
@genevieve__kingston
Buy DID I EVER TELL YOU: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781668006290
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/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, grief, grief and loss, grief support, kids and grief, parent loss, parental loss
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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
Listen to What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms, The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
Canada - english