The Sparkle Project
(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 This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.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
Episodes
266 episodes
Your Circle of Control: How to Stop Spiraling and Regain Focus
In a world that feels increasingly unpredictable, it’s easy to spiral into overwhelm - especially when there's additional chaos in your own home. In this episode, Emily opens up about the anxiety that comes with feeling like everything is out o...
Moms and Child-Free Women: Friendship, Tension & Understanding with Emily Maynard
What does it really mean to be a woman in today’s world - and how much of that is tied to motherhood? In this episode, Emily Maynard joins the podcast for a conversation on societal expectations, friendships, and smashing the patriarchy - from ...
How Motherhood Changes Your Career, Identity, and Ambition with Paige Figueroa
Becoming a mom can absolutely change your daily routine, but it also changes how you see yourself, your work, and what success even means. In this episode, Emily is joined by Paige Figueroa, a former teacher turned business alignment coach for ...
You’re Allowed to Change (Even After Becoming a Mom)
Motherhood is often framed like it's the final destination. Once you become a mom, it can feel like the big decisions are already made. The life path is set. The identity is locked in.But what if that isn’t true?In this episode of...
Validation Over Judgment: Showing Up as a "Mom’s Mom" with Dana James
Motherhood isn't supposed to feel lonely. In this episode of The Sparkle Project, Emily sits down with Dana James, nurse, mom of two, and the voice behind Mother Mentality. Dana describes herself as a “mom’s mom” and her missi...
When Good Moms Feel Bad: Mom Rage, Guilt, and the Parts of Us We Hide with Jessica Tomich Sorci
Motherhood can bring out emotions many moms never expected: rage, guilt, resentment, and the overwhelming feeling of not being “good enough.” In this episode, Emily sits down with therapist and author Jessica Tomich Sorci to unpack why even the...
Mom Guilt Explained: The Hidden Pressure Society Puts on Mothers
In this episode of The Sparkle Project, Emily dives into one of the most common and complicated experiences in motherhood: mom guilt.Many mothers feel like they’re constantly falling short. Whether it’s working too much, not wor...
Motherhood & Creative Expression: Finding Yourself After Kids with Kayla Huszar
"I'm not really a creative person." Have you ever said that line, especially since having kids? Most people have a narrow understanding of what it means to be creative, and Expressive Arts Therapist Kayla Huszar is joining the podcast to explai...
Unmasking ADHD & Imposter Syndrome in Motherhood with Katie Burns
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 secretl...
What’s Really Blocking Your Joy in Motherhood
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...
Reclaiming Yourself Through Personal Style as a Mom with Sahra Brandt
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, ...
More Than Mom: The Link Between Identity & Mental Health with Dr. Nichelle Haynes
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, pod...
The Key to Getting Through The Harder Seasons of Motherhood & Life
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....
How to Let Your Inner Child Shine in Motherhood with Leslie Santana
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 ch...
Why Making Mom Friends Feels Impossible & What Actually Works with Baily Hancock
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, mo...
The Glow Up: How I Found My Sparkle (Introducing The Sparkle Project)
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 ...
Welcome to The Sparkle Project!
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 b...
[REPLAY] Can Women Have It All? Exploring Happiness in Motherhood with Dr. Giselle Goodwin
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 mother...
[REPLAY] Why You Need To Stop Equating Your Worth To Your Roles with Ashley Fernandez
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...
[Self-Care Snippet] Make Sure Your Basic Needs Are Being Met with Stacy McCann
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 sa...
[REPLAY] Protecting Your Peace: Setting Boundaries with Difficult Family Members with Lauren Auwood
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 dynamic...
[REPLAY] Breaking Cycles of Trauma Through Inner Child Healing with Mindi Kessler, PhD
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...
[Self-Care Snippet] Choose What You Do For You with Courtney Florey
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 sa...
[REPLAY] Mom Rage: Why Anger Shows Up In Motherhood & What We Can Do About It with Alexis Bonsall
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...
When It’s Time to Evolve: What’s Next For Worthy Mother Podcast
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...