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
The Motherhood Setup: Why We Always Feel Like We're Failing with Dr. Danielle Dowling
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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 times
- Good Girl Conditioning that teaches girls and women to stay agreeable and selfless
- The Invisible Labor that quietly consumes mothers every single day
Together, 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
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