The Sparkle Project

Emily Rose MacDonald
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

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 This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.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

  1. 4d ago

    The Motherhood Setup: Why We Always Feel Like We're Failing with Dr. Danielle Dowling

    Motherhood was supposed to feel natural. So why do so many moms secretly feel overwhelmed, exhausted, resentful, anxious, or like they’re failing? In this episode, Emily sits down with therapist-trained life coach and Good Girl, Bad Mom author Dr. Danielle Dowling to unpack her groundbreaking framework: The Motherhood Setup. Danielle explains how modern mothers are caught in the collision of three overwhelming forces: The Motherhood Fantasy that says motherhood should feel natural, effortless, and fulfilling at all timesGood Girl Conditioning that teaches girls and women to stay agreeable and selflessThe Invisible Labor that quietly consumes mothers every single dayTogether, they explore identity loss after becoming a mom, the emotional weight women carry behind closed doors, and why so many mothers internalize overwhelm as personal failure instead of recognizing the impossible expectations placed upon them. This episode is for any mom who has ever questioned whether she is doing enough. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Danielle Dowling: Instagram: @iamdanielledowling Website: www.danielle-dowling.com ✨ Let’s keep the convo going: Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod Subscribe + Review: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review!  Send us Fan Mail

    54 min

  2. May 26

    How Toxic Positivity Is Making Motherhood Harder

    Toxic positivity is rampant in modern society - but the flavor that comes along with motherhood is particularly harmful. In this episode, Emily unpacks the real impact of toxic positivity in motherhood and why messages like “enjoy every moment” or “at least you have healthy kids” can actually leave moms feeling more isolated, guilty, and emotionally burned out. The episode explores how toxic positivity shows up in everyday parenting culture, why suppressing difficult emotions can harm moms’ emotional wellbeing, and how pretending everything is fine affects both mothers and children. This conversation explores the pressure moms feel to appear endlessly grateful, the emotional masking so many women carry, and why emotional honesty matters so much in raising emotionally healthy kids. If you’ve ever felt guilty for struggling, ashamed for needing a break, or like you have to hide how hard motherhood really feels, this episode is for you. ✨ Let’s keep the convo going: Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod Subscribe + Review: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review! Send us Fan Mail

    16 min

  3. May 19

    Why So Many Moms Feel Depleted During Matrescence with Vanessa Leveille

    Why are so many moms feeling completely depleted in modern motherhood? In this episode, therapist and matrescence practitioner Vanessa Leveille joins The Sparkle Project for a powerful conversation about maternal depletion, identity shifts in motherhood, nervous system overwhelm, and the transition into motherhood known as matrescence. This discussion goes beyond postpartum depression to explore the physical, emotional, and systemic realities impacting mothers today, especially women of color navigating unrealistic expectations, burnout, invisible labor, and chronic depletion. Vanessa explains why motherhood is deeply body-led, how maternal depletion can mimic anxiety and depression, and why so many moms feel like they’ve lost themselves after having children. Whether you’re in early motherhood, struggling with burnout, or simply trying to understand why motherhood feels so overwhelming, this conversation offers validation, language, and insight into what so many women experience silently. 🔗 Connect with Vanessa: Instagram: @matrescenceincolor Website: www.matrescenceincolor.com ✨ Let’s keep the convo going: Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod Subscribe + Review: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review!  Send us Fan Mail

    46 min

  4. May 12

    Healing Trauma in Motherhood Through EMDR Therapy with Abbie Ames

    Motherhood has a way of bringing anxiety, overwhelm, and unresolved trauma to the surface. In this episode, EMDR therapist Abbie Ames joins Emily to explore how motherhood can trigger old wounds, why so many moms feel overstimulated and emotionally exhausted, and how healing is possible through approaches that go beyond traditional talk therapy. Abbie shares her own journey through pregnancy loss, fertility struggles, postpartum anxiety, and becoming a mom during COVID, along with the insights that led her to specialize in EMDR therapy for women and mothers. Together, they unpack the nervous system’s role in trauma, the pressure modern moms carry, and why so many women feel like they’re failing when they’re actually overwhelmed and unsupported. This episode covers: Why motherhood can feel so triggeringHow trauma lives in the bodyBirth trauma, fertility struggles, and postpartum anxietyWhy moms can’t always “think” their way out of overwhelmHow EMDR therapy helps heal trauma beyond traditional talk therapyBreaking generational cycles and finding more peace in motherhood This episode is an honest, compassionate conversation about healing trauma in motherhood, breaking generational cycles, and learning how to care for yourself without shame. 🔗 Connect with Abbie: Instagram: @emdr.mom.therapist Website: www.abbieamescounseling.com ✨ Let’s keep the convo going: Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod Subscribe + Review: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review!  Send us Fan Mail

    36 min

  5. May 5

    3 Hard Truths Every Mom Needs to Hear About Mental Health

    May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, and to kick it off, Emily is sharing what she's learned from her personal experience navigating mental health in motherhood and what every mom needs to know for their own wellbeing.  In this episode, you'll hear: Why mental health struggles don’t always look the way we expectThe difference between coping and actually healingWhy “white knuckling” through motherhood isn’t the answerThe impact of societal pressure on maternal mental healthIf you've ever felt like you're just getting by, questioning yourself, or silently struggling, this episode will meet you right where you are. ✨ Let’s keep the convo going: Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod Subscribe + Review: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review! Send us Fan Mail

    21 min

  6. Apr 28

    Motherhood, Advocacy & the Fight for Better Maternal Care with Ciara Lyons

    Motherhood doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and for many moms, that means navigating broken systems while also managing your own internal battles. In this episode, Emily sits down with Ciara Lyons, a nurse, mom, and founder of Her Black Wellness, to talk about the realities of maternal health, identity, and what it actually takes to keep showing up as a mother in today's world. The episode dives into: The maternal health crisis in the United States, and how Black mothers are the most impactedHow systemic issues impact all mothersWhy “doing your best” might look different every single dayWhat it looks like to advocate for yourself inside the healthcare systemThe role of community, boundaries, and capacity in modern motherhoodThis conversation will validate your experiences navigating the challenges of modern motherhood, while also equipping you to fight for a better future.  🔗 Connect with Ciara: Instagram: @herblackwellness Links: https://linktr.ee/herblackwellness ✨ Let’s keep the convo going: Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod Subscribe + Review: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review!  Send us Fan Mail

    54 min

  7. Apr 21

    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 of control, from global uncertainty to the everyday challenges of raising kids. She introduces a powerful mindset tool, the Circle of Control, and explains how it can help you refocus your energy, reduce stress, and show up more intentionally in your life. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why focusing on what’s outside your control increases anxietyHow to identify what you can control in your daily lifeThe difference between control, influence, and concernReal-life examples from motherhood and everyday decision-makingA simple exercise to help you regain clarity and emotional balance If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, mentally exhausted, or unsure where to put your energy, this conversation will help you reconnect with what actually matters. ✨ Let’s keep the convo going: Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod Subscribe + Review: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review! Send us Fan Mail

    23 min

  8. Apr 14

    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 the lens of a woman who is child-free by choice. Together, Emily and Emily explore the expectations placed on women (both those who are mothers and those who aren’t), and how those expectations shape our identities, relationships, and sense of self. They talk about: The societal pressure to become a mother, and what happens when you don’tBeing child-free by choice (and the assumptions that come with it)The overlap between moms and non-moms navigating the same patriarchal systemsFriendship dynamics between women with different life pathsRegret, identity, and the freedom to choose your own lifeWhy motherhood is not the only meaningful way to live a full life At the end of the day, we’re all navigating the same world together! 🔗 Connect with Emily: Instagram: @emilymaynardlmft Website: emilymaynardtherapy.com ✨ Let’s keep the convo going: Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod Subscribe + Review: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review!  Send us Fan Mail

    52 min
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Trailers

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

(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

Information

  • Creator
    Emily Rose MacDonald
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    272
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sparkle Project
  • Show Website
    The Sparkle Project

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