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 childhood experiences can quietly impact patience, joy, emotional connection, and self-worth in motherhood.

This episode goes beyond coping strategies and productivity advice. It explores why so many mothers feel shame, guilt, and grief, and how reconnecting with your inner child can help you reclaim joy, emotional safety, and a deeper sense of self.

Leslie and Emily talk about:
• What inner child healing really is and why it matters in motherhood
• How childhood conditioning shows up in parenting triggers
• Why grief over what you did not receive deserves space
• How re-parenting yourself can break generational cycles
• Why joy and play are essential for both mothers and children

This conversation is for any mother who is healing, questioning old patterns, and ready to reconnect with the part of yourself that still knows how to feel alive. This conversation is for you.

🔗 Connect with Leslie:

Instagram: @leslieinsession
Website: www.leslieinsession.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod

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Making mom friends can feel surprisingly lonely, awkward, and exhausting - especially when you're already stretched thin by motherhood. In this episode of The Sparkle Project, Emily is joined by Baily Hancock, connection strategist, mom of two, and creator of the Overlap Method, to talk about why building friendships as a mom feels so hard and what actually helps.

They explore why perfectionism blocks connection, how vulnerability changes everything, and what it really takes to move from surface-level mom friends to relationships that feel supportive and energizing. And it all starts with connecting inward.

The episode covers:

• Why making mom friends feels so hard
• The difference between surface-level mom friends and real connection
• Why being seen matters more than being put together
• Why aligned friendships leave you energized, not exhausted
• The role of self-connection in building authentic friendships

If you have ever felt alone at school drop-off or exhausted by friendships that do not truly fit, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Baily:

Instagram: @bailyhancock
Website: www.overlapmethod.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bailyhancock

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod

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If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review!

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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 conversations ahead about identity, mental health, fulfillment, and what it really takes to protect your sparkle in motherhood.

This episode explores why so many moms feel disconnected from who they are, how societal expectations shape our experiences, and why small, intentional changes can make a powerful difference. It’s not about becoming someone new, it’s about reconnecting with who you already are beneath it all.

If you’re navigating motherhood, divorce, identity shifts, or simply questioning whether there’s more for you, this episode sets the foundation for what’s to come.

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @thesparkleprojectpod

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If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review!

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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 sparkle, if you will.

So many of us feel overwhelmed not because we’re failing, but because we’re mothering inside systems that expect 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 lens that values equity, autonomy, mental health, and the humanity of moms.

You’ll hear conversations about identity, emotional labor, community care, mental health, 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.

P.S. This podcast was formerly known as Worthy Mother Podcast, but has undergone a glow up!

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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 revisiting this conversation, this episode will help you give yourself grace when motherhood feels all-consuming.

Can women really have it all? And what does that even mean? In this powerful episode, Emily sits down with Dr. Giselle Goodwin—author, researcher, and expert on women’s work and wellbeing—to explore this question and dive in to what it means for moms to achieve true happiness. Dr. Goodwin shares insights from her book "Can Women Really Have It All? A Happiness Handbook for Working Mothers", and opens up about her own journey from feminist ideals to the complex realities of balancing career, motherhood, and personal fulfillment.

Dr. Goodwin and Emily talk about:

• The evolving (and still unrealistic) societal expectations placed on mothers
• Why flexible work, better childcare, and equitable parental leave matter for everyone
• The emotional load of motherhood
• Happiness is a mix of pleasure and purpose
• Practical self-care strategies for busy moms—like bare minimums, micro-joys, and guilt-free delegation

🔗 Connect with Dr. Giselle Goodwin

Instagram: @gisellegoodwinwrites
Website: www.gisellegoodwin.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast

Subscribe + Review:
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review — it helps more mamas find this message.

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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 revisiting this conversation, this episode will help you recognize your worth outside of your roles.

In this episode, join Emily for a conversation on valuing what we want and creating a life that feels good with Career Coach Ashley Fernandez. This conversation is more than inspiring.

In this episode, Ashley and I talk about:
•Creating a vision to guide our decisions
•Work/Life Integration
•The reasons so many women feel somewhat unfulfilled
•Intentionally having fun as mothers
•Finding purpose in what we do

🔗 Connect with Ashley Fernandez:

Instagram: @ashley_marie_coaching
Website: www.ashleymariecoaching.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast

Subscribe + Review:
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review — it helps more mamas find this message.

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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 Supermom Myth: The True Cost of the Mental Load with Stacy McCann.

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 on Instagram @honestlyemilyrose. Follow the podcast on Instagram @worthymotherpodcast.

You are worthy, Mama.

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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 revisiting this conversation, this episode will help you navigate complex family dynamics this season.

Navigating boundaries with family can be one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood — especially when dealing with difficult or toxic dynamics. In this episode, Emily is joined by licensed therapist and mom of two, Lauren Auwood, to unpack the complexities of setting and holding boundaries with family members, from well-meaning in-laws to overbearing parents. If you’ve ever struggled with guilt, confusion, or frustration when trying to protect your peace, this conversation is for you.

In the episode, Lauren and Emily discuss:
• Boundaries in Motherhood: Why they matter and how to set them with confidence
•Generational Dynamics: Understanding why older family members may struggle with boundaries
•Compassionate Communication: How to address boundary-crossing behaviors with curiosity
•When Enough is Enough: Signs it might be time to limit or end contact
•The Follow-Through Factor: Why boundaries only work when you uphold them

🔗 Connect with Lauren Auwood:

Instagram: @laurenatherapist
Website: www.laurenatherapist.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast

Subscribe + Review:
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow mom and leave a 5-star review — it helps more mamas find this message.

Send us a text