The Sparkle Project

Emily Rose MacDonald
  • 5.0 (18)
  • 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 This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.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. 5D AGO

    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 The Sparkle Project, Emily explores the idea that motherhood isn’t your final form. You’re still growing. You’re still learning who you are. And you’re still allowed to change your mind about the life you want. Emily shares reflections from her own experience becoming a mom at 23, navigating career shifts, leaving teaching, going through a divorce, and doing the internal work of redefining identity beyond motherhood. This episode is an invitation for moms who feel stuck in decisions they made years ago. The truth is that circumstances change, priorities evolve, and the version of you today might want something different than the version of you who made those choices. And that’s okay. ✨ 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

  2. MAR 24

    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 mission is simple but powerful: create spaces where mothers feel seen, supported, and validated instead of judged. Together they explore the healing power of hearing another mom say “me too,” and why community matters so much in modern motherhood. Dana shares her personal postpartum experiences, the realities of navigating mental health as a mother, and how those experiences ultimately led her to pursue a doctorate in psychiatric mental health. This conversation dives into the emotional weight many mothers carry today. From the isolation of early postpartum seasons to the pressure of unrealistic expectations, Emily and Dana unpack why validation can be such a powerful antidote to shame and mom guilt. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough as a mom, this episode is a reminder that you’re not the only one asking that question. 🔗 Connect with Dana: Instagram: @mothermentality TikTok: @mothermentality_ 📌 Resources & Mentions: Mom Friends Collective Dana's Busy Mom Book Club ✨ 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

    43 min

  3. MAR 17

    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 most loving, devoted mothers often feel like they’re failing. Drawing from her work in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and her book When Good Moms Feel Bad, Jessica introduces the concept of “mom parts” and explains what's behing the internal voices that show up in motherhood. Together, they explore why motherhood can activate old wounds, why intense emotions like rage and resentment are more common than we think, and how understanding your inner parts can lead to deeper compassion for yourself. This conversation covers: • Why good moms often feel like they’re failing • The psychology behind mom rage and mom guilt • How motherhood activates old emotional patterns • What “parts work” is and how it can change the way you see yourself • Why tending to yourself is essential for both you and your kids This episode is an invitation to stop judging your reactions and start getting curious about them. 🔗 Connect with Jessica: Instagram: @jessicatomichsorci Website: www.jessicasorci.com and www.momparts.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 a text

    50 min

  4. MAR 10

    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 working enough, losing patience, or simply wanting time for themselves, the feeling of guilt seems to follow moms everywhere. But what if mom guilt isn’t actually about you at all? Emily explores how the pressure mothers feel is deeply tied to societal expectations that are often impossible to meet. She breaks down the difference between guilt and shame, explains why so many moms internalize unrealistic standards, and shares how recognizing these cultural messages can change the way we relate to motherhood and to ourselves. If you’ve ever wondered why motherhood can feel so heavy, this conversation offers a new way to understand those emotions and begin redefining what being a “good mom” really means. ✨ 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

    18 min

  5. MAR 3

    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 explain how creative expression can actually be the path towards healing and reconnecting with ourselves in postpartum and beyond.  In the episode, we discuss: Researched-backed benefits of creativity in wellnessHow metaphors can be used as a tool for healingHow we've been conditioned out of expression from a young ageExpressing yourself to reconnect with who you areThe Four Wave Framework for healing through motherhoodThis episode is for every mother who wants to experience the fulfillment and joy that comes from true self-expression. Creativity is for you. 🔗 Connect with Kayla: Instagram: @kayla.huszar Website: www.kaylahuszar.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

    45 min

  6. FEB 24

    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 secretly struggle with imposter syndrome. The episode covers: • Why so many women with ADHD struggle feel like frauds • The connection between perfectionism and masking • The hidden burnout of high-achieving moms • Why discipline isn’t the answer for ADHD brains • How to start unmasking safely and intentionally This conversation will help you see that you're not lazy or broken, and you're doing better than you think you are.  🔗 Connect with Katie: Instagram: @coachkatieburns Threads: @coachkatieburns TikTok: @coachkatieburns ✨ 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

    45 min

  7. FEB 17

    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 motherhood. Not surface-level advice. Not toxic positivity. The deeper patterns and misalignments that quietly shape your day-to-day experience. Emily is exploring the difference between joy and happiness, how living out of alignment impacts your ability to feel joy, and five factors that may be blocking your own capacity for joy. From disconnection from self and others to guilt around not "enjoying every moment," you'll leave this episode with a clearer understanding of what's keeping you from experiencing real joy in motherhood. You deserve to feel joy, and it is possible. ✨ 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

    19 min

  8. FEB 10

    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, for an honest conversation about personal style as a form of self-care, identity reclamation, and confidence for modern moms. Together, they explore why getting dressed can feel so hard after kids, how the mental load of motherhood impacts style, and why moms deserve permission to dress like themselves not just “like a mom.” In this episode, we explore: Why moms often lose themselves through clothing after kidsHow personal style supports identity shifts in motherhoodThe impact of the pandemic on how moms relate to stylePractical ways to dress with intention, even in busy seasonsWhy self-care through style is not selfish This conversation is for any mom who feels disconnected from her reflection, overwhelmed by her closet, or ready to reconnect with who she is beneath the roles she carries. 🔗 Connect with Sahra: Instagram: @shop_the_city TikTok: @shopthecitybysahra Website: www.shopthe.city ✨ 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

    41 min
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Trailers

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out of 5
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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
    263
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sparkle Project
  • Show Website
    The Sparkle Project