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PODCAST

The Sparkle Project

Emily Rose MacDonald

(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 This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

3:46

[Self-Care Snippet] Putting Self-Care Time On The...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/10/10

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 our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode How to Address Shame In Motherhood with Kyira Wackett. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content and support, connect with me o...

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36:22

Matrescence & The Identity Shift of Motherhood with...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/10/07

Becoming a mother is often described as beautiful and life-changing, but what about the profound identity shift that comes with it? In this episode, host Emily talks with Dr. Emily Guarnotta, a perinatal psychologist and mom of two, about matrescence — the emotional, mental, and physical transition into motherhood that’s rarely discussed but universally felt. Together, they explore: What matrescence really means and how it compares to adolescenceHow identity shifts shape relationships, career...

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50:14

Motherhood & Neurodivergence in a World That Hasn’t...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/09/30

Motherhood is already complex, but when neurodivergence, medical needs, and systemic gaps are part of the picture, the challenges (and the growth) can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Emily is joined by Amanda Losch, a complex trauma therapist and neurodivergent mom, to unpack the realities of raising neurodivergent children while navigating your own late diagnosis, overstimulation, rage, shame, and the myths of the “perfect mother.” You’ll hear about: Amanda’s late autism diagnosis alongs...

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4:30

[Self-Care Snippet] Do What Energizes You with Sally...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/09/26

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 our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode Cut the Overwhelm: Habits & Routines to Simplify Mom Life with Sally Bisbee. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content and ...

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16:43

Letting Go Of The Pressure To Be "Productive" All The...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/09/23

Do you ever feel guilty for sitting down, resting, or doing something just for joy? If so, you’re not alone. Our culture glorifies productivity, and for moms, that often means carrying impossible expectations both inside and outside the home. But here’s the truth: rest, joy, and connection are just as important (and just as productive) as crossing tasks off your to-do list. This episode is about breaking free from the unrealistic expectations of “always doing more” and finding freedom in slow...

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55:13

Raising Kids and Rebuilding Yourself After Divorce...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/09/16

What does it look like to raise kids while navigating the emotional rollercoaster of divorce — and to rebuild yourself at the same time? In this deeply personal episode, Julie Sedler joins Emily to talk about the messy, transformative process of mothering through divorce while learning how to prioritize your own healing, identity, and joy. Julie is a chemical engineer turned author and speaker whose memoir Watch Me chronicles her journey from burned-out wife and mother to a fulfilled woman ch...

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1:52

[Self-Care Snippet] Show Your Kids The Importance of...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/09/12

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 our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode Co-Parenting, Identity, and Dating After Divorce with Jess Evans. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content and support, connec...

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42:20

Burnout, Balance, and Joy as a Working Mom with...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/09/09

Working moms carry the weight of careers, parenting, household duties, and the heaviness of today’s world. But what if you could feel lighter, find joy, and release the pressure to “do it all”? In this episode of Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily is joined by Jessica Vickers, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in supporting working moms of color. Together, they unpack the realities of burnout, the guilt of not “measuring up,” and practical ways to reclaim joy in everyday life...

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22:32

Exposing The Mental & Emotional Load of...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/09/02

Back-to-school season is upon us, and with it comes an often heavy invisible load for moms. From the never-ending logistics of drop-offs to the emotional weight of our kids’ feelings (and our own), this season can feel like a lot. In this episode, Emily shines a light on the often unseen mental and emotional labor mothers take on during this transition. She opens up about her own experiences as a newly single mom navigating the school year, shares how societal expectations fall disproportiona...

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1:53

[Self-Care Snippet] Carve Out Time To Be With...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/08/29

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 our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode Overcoming Limiting Beliefs as a High-Achieving Mom with Kamini Wood. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content and support, co...

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51:05

Beyond Coping: What Drives Perfectionism and...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/08/26

What if perfectionism, hyper-independence, and mom rage aren’t character flaws but survival strategies that once served you? In this powerful conversation, trauma therapist Tisheila Justice joins Emily to explore how unhealed wounds resurface in motherhood, why these coping mechanisms feel so hard to let go of, and how we can begin breaking cycles for ourselves and future generations. The conversation gets into: The hidden link between trauma and perfectionism in motherhoodWhy hyper-independe...

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39:43

Unpacking the Myth of the Natural Mother with Vanessa...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/08/19

Is motherhood supposed to come naturally? Or have we been sold a myth that leaves moms feeling broken and inadequate when reality doesn’t match the script? In this deeply validating episode of The Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily sits down with therapist, writer, and mom Vanessa Spinarsky to unpack the cultural myth of the “natural mother.” Together, they explore: Why so many women feel like they’ve “signed an invisible contract” in motherhoodHow societal expectations and “corporate motherh...

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2:02

[Self-Care Snippet] Taking Things Off Of Your Plate...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/08/15

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 our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode How to Transform Your Life With Gratitude with Holly Bertone. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content and support, connect wi...

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21:57

What Having a Village Really Looks Like in Modern...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/08/12

Raising kids isn’t meant to be a one-woman job. In this episode, Emily reflects on her first family vacation as a single mom, and how the experience reshaped her understanding of the age-old phrase: “It takes a village to raise a child.” From airport chaos to beachside lounging, she explores how her support system, AKA her village, stepped up in big and small ways, reminding her (and us) that motherhood isn't meant to be a solo mission. This is a must-listen for any mom craving connection, su...

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50:26

Why Conflicting Emotions Actually Make You A Better...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/08/05

We’re diving into one of the most taboo topics in motherhood: maternal ambivalence. In this validating episode, Emily sits down with psychotherapist and author Dr. Margo Lowy, whose book Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments and Bitter Truths of Motherhood opens the door to honest conversations about the full emotional spectrum of mothering. Dr. Lowy explains why the mix of love, frustration, joy, sorrow, and even resentment is not only normal but essential to understanding ourselves as mo...

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3:43

[Self-Care Snippet] Anything To Help You Feel...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/08/01

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 our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode How Inner Child Healing Can Positively Impact Parenting with Lavinia Brown. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content and suppo...

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37:07

How To Overcome The Identity Crisis of Motherhood...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/07/29

Ever felt like you’ve lost yourself since becoming a mom? You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not broken. In this episode of Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily sits down with Krissy Bold, former teacher turned stay-at-home mom and identity advocate, to unpack the real, raw experience of navigating identity after motherhood. Together, they explore the identity crisis so many moms experience, why it’s actually normal (hello, matrescence!), and how you can begin to reconnect with the woman behind ...

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45:18

ADHD in Motherhood: Shame, Identity, and the Mental...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/07/22

Are you a mom navigating life with ADHD - diagnosed or undiagnosed? In this honest conversation, therapist and late-diagnosed mom Samantha Skvaril joins Emily to explore the emotional rollercoaster of ADHD in motherhood. From unpacking the shame we carry, to redefining what it means to be a “good mom,” we dig deep into how ADHD uniquely affects women and mothers. The episode covers: How ADHD presents in women and the unique factors for moms Shame, school struggles, and late-diagnosis ide...

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4:05

[Self-Care Snippet] Spend Time On What Lights You Up...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/07/18

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 our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same. Tune in to the full episode Redefining Motherhood as a Relationship and Caregiving as a Job with Hannah Olson. Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen. For more motherhood content an...

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20:54

The Case for Doing Less: Why Lowering Your Standards...

The Sparkle Project ·

2025/07/15

Are impossible standards stealing your peace in motherhood? In this solo episode, Emily challenges the “perfect mom” myth and offers a bold reframe: doing less might actually make you a better mother. From the pressure to keep a spotless home to the guilt around saying “no,” Emily dives into why so many moms are chronically burned out, and what you can do about it. Learn how to redefine your own expectations, embrace imperfection, and reclaim your energy, joy, and connection with your kids. T...

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252 results

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