48 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • MARCH 2019
FAMILY & EDUCATION
LAUNCH FUNNY NEW PARENTING PODCAST
continued from page 47
Wilson and Ables are no strangers to
entertaining. Wilson wrote parenting
blog-turned-bestselling-book When
Did I Get Like This, toured the country
with her solo show, Mother Load, and
was a series regular on several television
sitcoms. Ables began her career
in standup comedy, wrote for PBS Kids
and MTV, and was a senior writer for
Nickelodeon’s Nick Mom. She also
wrote the blog, Short, Fat Dictator.
Both moms are married and have
three children each that range in age
from 7-16. They own very different
personalities and parenting styles.
“Parenting is challenging ... and really kind
of funny,” says Margaret Ables.
Ables is the laid back, “sure it will
all work out” mom and Wilson the
uber-organized, self-professed
“over-thinker.” They share a 20-plus
year friendship and enjoy learning
and laughing together, just like their
listeners, through their podcast.
Podcasts are great for multitasker
moms. Fans can listen to them while
making dinner or while doing errands
and pickups, says Ables.
“It’s a great way to learn stuff and feel
connected,” she says. “Our community
in particular is really active and fun.”
In each 45-minute episode, Wilson and
Ables chat about real-life issues and
situations faced by moms. They tackle
everything from picky eating to sleep
training to how to yell less, reduce
screen time or give the dreaded birds
and bees talk.
“We always say that our goal is to be
funny with a purpose,” says Ables.
“You’re going to laugh but you’re going
to take away really useful info to help
you be a better parent, or maybe more
importantly, realize that you’re already
doing a really good job.”
Ables and Wilson get podcast topics
from their own experiences and from
their audience, often relayed through
enthusiastic Facebook followers. Wilson
takes on initial research and Ables
does most of the post-production work.
Producing a polished, entertaining yet
informative show is priority.
“Moms’ time is valuable,” Wilson says.
“We want it to be useful right out of the
gate.”
With a comedic flair, the moms discuss
their findings and talk about whether
they have found their research useful
and valid in their own experiences.
“We try to highlight the advice that in
the end makes a mother’s life a little
easier,” Wilson explains, citing an episode
on managing a nursing baby and
toddler, which highlighted a previous
suggestion made by a listener. “She
suggested having a basket of snacks and
books when you’re nursing … 15 seconds
to save you from a temper tantrum.”
In some cases, guest experts offer
life-changing advice.
“We had an expert on our podcast that
said when you talk to kids you must
always start with empathy…say things
like ‘Wow, that must be hard,’” recalls
Wilson. With her own children, she
says, “I was always jumping right to
the problem solving.”
Implementing that expert’s strategies
transformed Wilson’s relationship with
her kids.
The podcast title channels a famous
phrase used by the late American writer
Dorothy Parker when she answered
the phone; Ables says her own mother
was a Parker fan.
“It’s the phrase that best summed
up parenting for her,” Ables says. “It
captured the horrible, terribleness of
daily parenting but it has a really funny
sense of humor inherent … and that’s
what we are going for. Yes, parenting
is challenging and sometimes quite
terrible, but ultimately, it’s really kind
of funny.”
To learn more, visit Whatfreshhellpodcast.
com
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