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 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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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 This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.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.

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Send us Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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 learn how to navigate trauma and healing in your motherhood journey.

In this episode of Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily is joined by Mindi Kessler, PhD, a therapist, coach, and author behind the book Cycle Breaker: A Guide To Transcending Childhood Trauma. We all carry trauma with us in one way or another, and through this conversation, Mindi discusses how we can use our triggers to learn and heal from that trauma for ourselves and our families. 

In this episode, Mindi and Emily chat about:
•What it means to break generational cycles
•The definition of "trauma"
•Using triggers as invitations
•Healing while parenting 
•The consequences of not healing our own traumas
•The 16 Pillars of Trauma Recovery

🔗 Connect with Mindi Kessler:

Instagram: @mindikessler
Website: www.mindikessler.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 Fan Mail

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 Less Stuff, More Joy: Holiday Decluttering Without the Pressure of Perfection with Courtney Florey.

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.

Send us Fan Mail

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 feel seen in your experience of complex emotions in motherhood.

Mom rage is a very real, and often very scary experience that so many mothers face - and yet we aren't talking about it! But knowing why anger can be so prevelent in motherhood can help release a lot of shame and help us find a way forward. Parent Coach Alexis Bonsall is joining Emily for a conversation on understanding and overcoming mom rage, all with self-compassion front-of- mind!

In this episode, they talk about:

•The pressures and realities of parenting that contribute to mom rage
•Why conversations about mom rage make such a difference
•The reason we need to learn how to identify and regulate emotions in our bodies
•How conversations around parenting can contribute to the pressures on moms
•How to let go of mom rage, and why support is key

🔗 Connect with Alexis Bonsall:

Instagram: @alexis.bonsall
Website: www.thrivingparenthood.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 Fan Mail

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, but things will be different. 

In this episode, Emily shares the pull she felt toward evolution after major personal growth, why she couldn’t ignore it any longer, and how this next chapter will honor the mission that has guided the podcast since the beginning: challenging societal expectations on moms and exploring the nuances of modern motherhood through honest conversations.

You’ll hear about the moment Emily recognized she had outgrown what she created, the internal questions that helped her realign, and the kind of space required to choose intentional growth even in the chaos of motherhood. You’ll also get a glimpse into what’s coming in January 2026: A new name, a new look, and an evolved direction that reflects the shifts happening in Emily’s life and work.

If you’ve ever felt a quiet nudge that something in your life is ready to shift, this episode offers grounding prompts you can use to explore where that pull is leading you, and an example to follow in your own evolutional journey.

✨ 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 Fan Mail