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© 2026 The Sparkle Project
Description
(Formerly Worthy Mother Podcast)
The Sparkle Project is a feminist podcast for moms who are done carrying the weight of motherhood alone and are ready to connect with who they truly are - their sparkle, if you will.
So many of us feel overwhelmed not because we’re failing, but because we’re mothering inside a patriarchal system that expects us to give endlessly, stay quiet, and lose ourselves in the process. This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.
Hosted by Emily Rose MacDonald, a divorced mom of two on her own journey to shine a little brighter, each episode explores the realities of modern motherhood through a feminist lens that values equity, autonomy, mental health, and the humanity of moms.
You’ll hear conversations about identity, mental health, self-care, healing, and the many ways we can reclaim ourselves in a world that often overlooks the needs of mothers.
If you’re a mom who believes we deserve more than survival, and that our culture has to evolve for moms to truly thrive, you’re in the right place.
Welcome to The Sparkle Project.
Instagram:
@honestlyemilyrose
@thesparkleprojectpod
TikTok:
@thesparkleprojectpod
258 Episodes
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Why do so many moms with ADHD feel like frauds? In this conversation, ADHD mindset coach Katie Burns shares what it’s like to be diagnosed with ADHD later in life, how masking shows up in motherhood, and why so many high-achieving women secretly struggle with imposter syndrome. The episode covers: • Why so many women with ADHD struggle feel like frauds • The connection between perfectionism and masking • The hidden burnout of high-achieving moms • Why discipline isn’t the answer for ADHD brai...
If you’ve ever found yourself doing things that are supposed to feel joyful but still feeling disconnected, numb, or dissatisfied… you are not alone. In this episode of The Sparkle Project, we’re talking about what’s really blocking your joy in motherhood. Not surface-level advice. Not toxic positivity. The deeper patterns and misalignments that quietly shape your day-to-day experience. Emily is exploring the difference between joy and happiness, how living out of alignment impacts your abili...
Motherhood reshapes everything: Your time, your body, your identity, and often the way you show up in the world. In this episode of The Sparkle Project, Emily sits down with personal stylist and founder of Shop the City, Sahra Brandt, for an honest conversation about personal style as a form of self-care, identity reclamation, and confidence for modern moms. Together, they explore why getting dressed can feel so hard after kids, how the mental load of motherhood impacts style, and why moms de...
Motherhood changes everything, including how we see ourselves. But what happens when the role of “mom” starts to crowd out every other part of who you are? In this episode, Emily sits down with Dr. Nichelle Haynes, a perinatal psychiatrist, podcast host, and mom of two, to explore the connection between identity and mental health in motherhood. Together, they unpack why so many moms feel disconnected from themselves, how biology and society both play a role, and why reclaiming your identity i...
Motherhood can feel especially heavy when the world feels unstable and life demands keep piling up. In this solo episode, Emily opens up about the emotional weight many moms are carrying right now and why self-compassion matters more than ever. Rather than striving for perfection, Emily explores what it looks like to meet yourself with grace when parenting feels hard, when emotions run high, and when you are navigating challenges both personally and globally. She shares honest reflections fro...
Have you ever wondered why motherhood feels heavier than you expected, even when you love your kids deeply? In this powerful conversation, Emily sits down with trauma therapist Leslie Santana to explore inner child healing and how unresolved childhood experiences can quietly impact patience, joy, emotional connection, and self-worth in motherhood. This episode goes beyond coping strategies and productivity advice. It explores why so many mothers feel shame, guilt, and grief, and how reconnect...
Making mom friends can feel surprisingly lonely, awkward, and exhausting - especially when you're already stretched thin by motherhood. In this episode of The Sparkle Project, Emily is joined by Baily Hancock, connection strategist, mom of two, and creator of the Overlap Method, to talk about why building friendships as a mom feels so hard and what actually helps. They explore why perfectionism blocks connection, how vulnerability changes everything, and what it really takes to move from surf...
Motherhood doesn’t have to mean losing yourself. In this first episode of The Sparkle Project, Emily introduces the evolution of the podcast and the deeper conversations ahead about identity, mental health, fulfillment, and what it really takes to protect your sparkle in motherhood. This episode explores why so many moms feel disconnected from who they are, how societal expectations shape our experiences, and why small, intentional changes can make a powerful difference. It’s not about becomi...
The Sparkle Project is a podcast for moms who are done carrying the weight of motherhood alone and are ready to connect with who they truly are - their sparkle, if you will. So many of us feel overwhelmed not because we’re failing, but because we’re mothering inside systems that expect us to give endlessly, stay quiet, and lose ourselves in the process. This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood. ...
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in April 2024. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or revisiting this conversation, this episode will help you give yourself grace when motherhood feels all-consuming. Can women really have it all? And what does that even mean? In this powerful episode, Emily sits down with Dr. Giselle Goodwin—author, researcher, and expert on women’s work and wellbeing—to explore this question and dive in to...
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in November 2022. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or revisiting this conversation, this episode will help you recognize your worth outside of your roles. In this episode, join Emily for a conversation on valuing what we want and creating a life that feels good with Career Coach Ashley Fernandez. This conversation is more than inspiring. In this episode, Ashley and I talk about: •Cr...
This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode Supermom Myth: The True Cost of the Mental Load with Stacy McCann. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content and support, conne...
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in March 2025. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or revisiting this conversation, this episode will help you navigate complex family dynamics this season. Navigating boundaries with family can be one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood — especially when dealing with difficult or toxic dynamics. In this episode, Emily is joined by licensed therapist and mom of two, Lauren Auwood, t...
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in November 2022. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or revisiting this conversation, this episode will help you learn how to navigate trauma and healing in your motherhood journey. In this episode of Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily is joined by Mindi Kessler, PhD, a therapist, coach, and author behind the book Cycle Breaker: A Guide To Transcending Childhood Trauma. We all carry trauma with us...
This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode Less Stuff, More Joy: Holiday Decluttering Without the Pressure of Perfection with Courtney Florey. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more moth...
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in April 2024. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or revisiting this conversation, this episode will help you feel seen in your experience of complex emotions in motherhood. Mom rage is a very real, and often very scary experience that so many mothers face - and yet we aren't talking about it! But knowing why anger can be so prevelent in motherhood can help release a lot of shame and help us...
You’re tuning in to the final episode of Worthy Mother Podcast as we know it... But this is only just the beginning! In January 2026, the podcast will return, but things will be different. In this episode, Emily shares the pull she felt toward evolution after major personal growth, why she couldn’t ignore it any longer, and how this next chapter will honor the mission that has guided the podcast since the beginning: challenging societal expectations on moms and exploring the nuanc...
This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode Compassion Over Compliance: How We're Failing Moms & Teens with Aly Pain. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content and sup...
Becoming a mom can completely change how you see yourself, especially if your identity was built around career achievement. In this episode, Emily talks with Aparna Kumar Boehm, a working mom coach and former tech leader, about redefining success and ambition after motherhood. They discuss what happens when perfectionism collides with parenting, why it’s hard to let go of control, and how to rebuild confidence and clarity when the old version of “success” no longer fits. Aparna also shares re...
Do moms really need to stay calm all the time? In this Worthy Mother Podcast episode, Emily talks with Mackenzie Kinmond, parenthood transformation coach and attachment-focused therapist, about the pressure to regulate emotions perfectly, and why it’s making parenting harder, not easier. Together, they explore: Why emotional regulation isn’t about being calm 24/7How shame fuels dysregulation in motherhoodThe surprising role of joy in moving out of survival modePractical ways to reset your bas...
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