Ep 104: Writing Personal Essays with Amy Wilson
Amy Wilson, the brilliant co-host of the "What Fresh Hell" podcast and author of Happy to Help: Adventures of a People Pleaser (Jan 2025, Zibby Books), joins me for a fabulous conversation about owning your story through writing.
We dive right into the real stuff—like what it’s actually like to share personal essays (and how to spill your truth without accidentally blowing up your family’s group chat). Amy opens up about her journey from writing the hilarious chaotic When Did I Get Like This? on parenting to exploring deeper themes, like people-pleasing, that resonate with an audience far beyond parents.
And for anyone out there staring down an editing deadline or wondering what in the world the publishing gods are up to—Amy shares some hard-earned wisdom. From her writing routines to her secret recipe for mixing humor with “let’s get real” moments, she provides an inside look at what makes her stories connect with so many people.
So, grab your favorite drink (and maybe one of your new notebooks--I know you have one), and get ready for some relatable insights, laughs, and just the right amount of “you’ve got this” inspiration.
ABOUT AMY
Amy Wilson is the author of the parenting book, When Did I Get Like This? The Screamer, The Worrier, The Dinosaur-Chicken-Nugget Buyer, and Other Mothers I Swore I’d Never Be and her new book, Happy to Help: Adventures of a People Pleaser. Since 2016 she has also been the co-host of the Webby-honored podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood. Amy is also an actor who appeared on Broadway, toured the country with her solo show Mother Load, and was a series regular on TV sitcoms.
CONNECT WITH AMY
Website: amywilson.com
Instagram, Threads, TikTok: @amywlsn, @whatfreshhellcast
Facebook: @whatfreshhellcast
What Fresh Hell podcast: bit.ly/whatfreshhellpodcast
Buy Happy to Help
WHAT AMY'S READING
The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
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