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)
Episodes
277 episodes
The One Shift That Makes Self-Love Finally Feel Possible
If you've ever felt like you need to become a better version of yourself before you deserve self-love, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Emily shares the perspective that transformed how she thinks about self-love and why it has no...
How Community Helps Moms Reclaim Their Identity After Motherhood with Julia Lotin
Motherhood changes everything, including the way we see ourselves. But what happens when the support you expected never arrives? And how do you reconnect with yourself when you're carrying the mental load of caring for everyone else? In this ep...
Motherhood as a Portal: Breaking Intergenerational Trauma Cycles with Danik Bernier
Motherhood has a way of exposing wounds that may otherwise have stayed locked away under the surface. In this powerful conversation, Emily sits down with EMDR therapist, coach, and Healing Mothers Club host Danik Bernier to explore the...
From Good Girl to Authentic Self: My Story of Motherhood, Divorce, and Finding Me
This episode is unlike any other! To celebrate 200 episodes of The Sparkle Project (formerly Worthy Mother Podcast), the microphone is turned around as Emily steps into the guest seat and opens up about the personal journey that has shaped both...
Performative Motherhood & Reintegrating Your Identities as a Mom with Ali Colpack
Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered where you went after becoming a mom? In this episode, Emily sits down with licensed mental health counselor, mom of two, and Road to Mama founder Ali Colpack for a powerful conversation a...
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
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”...
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 sh...
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 emotion...
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 ...
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...
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 o...
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 ...
How Motherhood Changes Your Career, Identity, and Ambition with Paige Figueroa
Becoming a mom can absolutely change your daily routine, but it also changes how you see yourself, your work, and what success even means. In this episode, Emily is joined by Paige Figueroa, a former teacher turned business alignment coach for ...
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...
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 missi...
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...
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 wor...
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 explai...
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 secretl...
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...
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, ...
More Than Mom: The Link Between Identity & Mental Health with Dr. Nichelle Haynes
Motherhood changes everything, including how we see ourselves. But what happens when the role of “mom” starts to crowd out every other part of who you are? In this episode, Emily sits down with Dr. Nichelle Haynes, a perinatal psychiatrist, pod...
The Key to Getting Through The Harder Seasons of Motherhood & Life
Motherhood can feel especially heavy when the world feels unstable and life demands keep piling up. In this solo episode, Emily opens up about the emotional weight many moms are carrying right now and why self-compassion matters more than ever....
How to Let Your Inner Child Shine in Motherhood with Leslie Santana
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 ch...