How to Let Your Inner Child Shine in Motherhood with Leslie Santana 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 This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.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.

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@honestlyemilyrose
@thesparkleprojectpod

TikTok:
@thesparkleprojectpod

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The Sparkle Project

How to Let Your Inner Child Shine in Motherhood with Leslie Santana

January 20, 2026 • Emily Rose MacDonald • Episode 179

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 reconnecting with your inner child can help you reclaim joy, emotional safety, and a deeper sense of self.

Leslie and Emily talk about:
• What inner child healing really is and why it matters in motherhood
• How childhood conditioning shows up in parenting triggers
• Why grief over what you did not receive deserves space
• How re-parenting yourself can break generational cycles
• Why joy and play are essential for both mothers and children

This conversation is for any mother who is healing, questioning old patterns, and ready to reconnect with the part of yourself that still knows how to feel alive. This conversation is for you.

🔗 Connect with Leslie:

Instagram: @leslieinsession
Website: www.leslieinsession.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

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

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