Shows / The Sparkle Project
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…
Episodes
- The Sparkle Project
Modern Motherhood, Mental Health, and Reproductive Justice with Maria Terneus
Millennial motherhood is asking women to do it all: Build careers, raise emotionally healthy children, break generational cycles, maintain relationships, and…
- The Sparkle Project
The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Aging Parents & Kids with Dr. Anita Chandra & Zara Hanawalt
Many millennials find themselves a part of The Sandwich Generation, raising kids while caring for aging parents. In this episode, Emily is joined by co-hosts…
- The Sparkle Project
Stuck in a Rut? Why Trying New Things Matters for Moms
Feeling stuck in a rut? Between motherhood, work, relationships, and the never-ending to-do list, it's easy to fall into autopilot and forget to make time for…
- The Sparkle Project
Turning Pain Into Purpose: Healing Trauma and Raising Boys with Breanne Smith
Healing from trauma while navigating the challenges of motherhood is no easy task - but it can be an opportunity to break cycles and create generational…
- The Sparkle Project
How to Create a Life That Actually Feels Fulfilling with Zahra Premji
You can love your life and family and feel grateful for what you have - and still want more. In this episode, Emily sits down with life and mindset coach Zahra…
- The Sparkle Project
ADHD Motherhood: 5 Strategies That Help Me Manage the Chaos
If you’re a mom with ADHD, keeping up with work, kids, schedules, household tasks, and your own needs can sometimes feel like pure chaos. In this episode…
- The Sparkle Project
Self-Worth, External Validation & Inner Child Healing in Motherhood with Anuja Khadka
Does your child’s success ever feel like a reflection of whether you’re doing a “good enough” job as a mom? Motherhood can bring our own childhood experiences…
- The Sparkle Project
Normalizing Normal: Taking The Shame Out of Motherhood with Emily Feret
Motherhood can be beautiful, meaningful, exhausting, messy, overwhelming, and funny, sometimes all at once. So why does social media make it look like everyone…
- The Sparkle Project
How Tarot Helped Me Reconnect With Myself After Divorce
In the aftermath of divorce, there is a lot of newness to navigate. What does life look like as a single parent? How do I parent through grief and rebuilding?…
- The Sparkle Project
Starting Over After Divorce: Rebuilding Your Life with Intention with Leah Marie Mazur
Divorce is often framed as a failure or loss. But for many, it can be a profound opportunity to intentionally reset and purposefully decide what's next. In…
- The Sparkle Project
Mom Your Way: Letting Go of the “Shoulds” at Home and at Work with Yasmin Kaderali
Becoming a mom changes more than your daily routine. For many, it changes how you see your relationships, your priorities, your career, and even yourself. In…
- The Sparkle Project
Mean Girl Mom Culture: Why It Happens & How to Break the Cycle with Dr. Noëlle Santorelli
Mean girl culture doesn’t necessarily end when we grow up. For many women, it just follows us into motherhood. As the kids head back to school, Emily sits down…
- The Sparkle Project
Unsupported and Unseen: How a Lack of Postpartum Support Breeds Martyrdom and Disconnection
With the Lindsay Clancy taking center stage in the current cultural conversation, this week's conversation is adding to the discussion about how a systemic…
- The Sparkle Project
The Identity Shift No One Warns High-Performing Moms About with Alexis Adams
You spent your whole life being the woman who worked hard, achieved your goals, and built an identity around being capable. Then motherhood arrived - and…
- The Sparkle Project
Create a Lighter Life: Joy, Gratitude, & Ease in Motherhood with Morgan Jackson
Have you ever wished life felt a little lighter? In this episode, Emily is joined by Morgan Jackson, founder of Light 56, to explore how small, intentional…
- The Sparkle Project
Vacation Mode: The Invisible Labor Behind Summer Fun
Summer is supposed to feel fun and relaxing... so why does it often leave moms feeling completely exhausted? In this episode, Emily is uncovering the invisible…
- The Sparkle Project
Your Body Knows the Way: Reconnecting to Your Innate Power with Sara Putney
Many moms move through life feeling disconnected from themselves, stuck in survival mode, or wondering where their sense of self went after motherhood. In this…
- The Sparkle Project
Why Modern Motherhood Feels So Overwhelming (& How to Trust Yourself Again) with Kaitlyn Dove
Mothers today have more access to resources and information than ever before, but the result isn't necessarily greater confidence in our parenting journey…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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 Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
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…
- The Sparkle Project
Why Making Mom Friends Feels Impossible & What Actually Works with Baily Hancock
Making mom friends can feel surprisingly lonely, awkward, and exhausting - especially when you're already stretched thin by motherhood. In this episode of The…
- The Sparkle Project
The Glow Up: How I Found My Sparkle (Introducing The Sparkle Project)
Motherhood doesn’t have to mean losing yourself. In this first episode of The Sparkle Project, Emily introduces the evolution of the podcast and the deeper…
- The Sparkle Project
Welcome to The Sparkle Project!
The Sparkle Project is a podcast for moms who are done carrying the weight of motherhood alone and are ready to connect with who they truly are - their…
- The Sparkle Project
[REPLAY] Can Women Have It All? Exploring Happiness in Motherhood with Dr. Giselle Goodwin
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in April 2024. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or…
- The Sparkle Project
[REPLAY] Why You Need To Stop Equating Your Worth To Your Roles with Ashley Fernandez
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in November 2022. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or…
- The Sparkle Project
[Self-Care Snippet] Make Sure Your Basic Needs Are Being Met with Stacy McCann
This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how…
- The Sparkle Project
[REPLAY] Protecting Your Peace: Setting Boundaries with Difficult Family Members with Lauren Auwood
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in March 2025. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or…
- The Sparkle Project
[REPLAY] Breaking Cycles of Trauma Through Inner Child Healing with Mindi Kessler, PhD
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in November 2022. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or…
- The Sparkle Project
[Self-Care Snippet] Choose What You Do For You with Courtney Florey
This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how…
- The Sparkle Project
[REPLAY] Mom Rage: Why Anger Shows Up In Motherhood & What We Can Do About It with Alexis Bonsall
This is a replay of one of our most popular and impactful past episodes, and originally aired in April 2024. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or…
- The Sparkle Project
When It’s Time to Evolve: What’s Next For Worthy Mother Podcast
You’re tuning in to the final episode of Worthy Mother Podcast as we know it... But this is only just the beginning! In January 2026, the podcast will return…
- The Sparkle Project
[Self-Care Snippet] Your Kids Are Watching And Learning Aly Pain
This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how…
- The Sparkle Project
Redefining Success and Ambition as a Working Mom with Aparna Kumar Boehm
Becoming a mom can completely change how you see yourself, especially if your identity was built around career achievement. In this episode, Emily talks with…
- The Sparkle Project
Why Calm Isn’t the Goal: Rethinking Emotional Regulation in Motherhood with Mackenzie Kinmond
Do moms really need to stay calm all the time? In this Worthy Mother Podcast episode, Emily talks with Mackenzie Kinmond, parenthood transformation coach and…
- The Sparkle Project
[Self-Care Snippet] Create Rountine With Your Embodiment Practices with Jocelyn Diles
This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how…
- The Sparkle Project
Romanticize Your Life: Small Acts That Inspire Gratitude Every Day
In this episode, Emily opens up about how romanticizing her daily life has helped her rediscover gratitude, self-love, and peace in the middle of motherhood’s…
- The Sparkle Project
How Choosing Yourself Changes Everything in Motherhood with Katie Eberman
What does it really mean to choose yourself as a mom? In this conversation, Emily sits down with single mom and entrepreneur Katie Eberman, to explore how…