Unpacking the Myth of the Natural Mother with Vanessa Spinarsky Artwork

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 This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.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

All Episodes

The Sparkle Project

Unpacking the Myth of the Natural Mother with Vanessa Spinarsky

August 19, 2025 • Episode 162

Is motherhood supposed to come naturally? Or have we been sold a myth that leaves moms feeling broken and inadequate when reality doesn’t match the script? In this deeply validating episode of The Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily sits down with therapist, writer, and mom Vanessa Spinarsky to unpack the cultural myth of the “natural mother.”

Together, they explore:

Why so many women feel like they’ve “signed an invisible contract” in motherhood
How societal expectations and “corporate motherhood” keep moms stuck in survival mode
The concept of self-forsaking and how it erodes identity over time
Why joy, neutrality, and authentic self-return are acts of resistance
Practical ways moms can reconnect with themselves through markers like movement, music, and emotional honesty

This conversation will leave you feeling less alone, more empowered, and ready to question the unrealistic standards surrounding modern motherhood.

🔗 Connect with Vanessa Spinarsky:

Instagram: @vanessaspinarsky
Website: themamahealinghubinc.squarespace.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast

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