The Sparkle Project
The version of motherhood we're sold looks nothing like the one we're actually living. That's by design.
The Sparkle Project is for the moms who are done pretending otherwise, and ready to reclaim the parts of themselves that got lost along the way. Hosted by Emily MacDonald, a single mom, feminist, and late-diagnosed ADHDer, each episode digs into the identity shifts, invisible labor, and systemic failures that make motherhood so hard. You'll hear from the experts, advocates, and real women who are finding their way back to themselves, so you can feel less alone in the hard parts and more like yourself in all the rest.
Somewhere between the mental load and the mom guilt, your shine is still there. The Sparkle Project is your space to find it.
(Formerly Worthy Mother Podcast)
The Sparkle Project
Why Motherhood Triggers Past Trauma & What To Do About It with Lilly Risch
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Why does motherhood seem to resurface wounds you thought were long buried? In this episode, Emily sits down with trauma therapist Lilly Risch to explore the deep, often surprising ways parenting can trigger unresolved trauma, and how healing is not only possible, but transformational.
Together, they discuss:
- Why becoming a parent often brings up your "stuff"
- The difference between normal parenting stress and trauma-based reactions
- What “mother wounds” really are, and how they show up
- How to identify when your triggers are rooted in past experiences
- Ways to respond more intentionally to your child without shame
- The power of repair, self-awareness, and breaking generational cycles
Whether you’re navigating mom rage, guilt, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm, this conversation is a validating reminder that you are not alone, and healing can happen even in the messiness of motherhood.
🔗 Connect with Lilly:
Instagram: @forward.healing.therapy
Website: www.forwardhealingtherapy.com
✨ Let’s keep the convo going:
Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast
Subscribe + Review:
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