The Sparkle Project

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 nothing to do with being perfect. Instead, it's about the small decisions we make every day that either reinforce self-sacrifice or build genuine se...

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 episode, Emily sits down with Julia Lotin, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, maternal mental health advocate, and founder of Melanin Mass Moms, to explore...

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 connection between motherhood, intergenerational trauma, and the complex process of breaking family patterns. Together, they unpack why becoming a mother can bring...

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 her life and this podcast. Joined by her friend and Mom Friends Collective co-founder Breanne Smith, Emily reflects on becoming a mother at 23, navigating...

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 about identity loss in motherhood and the hidden pressure of performative motherhood. Together, they explore why so many mothers feel disconnected from themselves, ho...

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 author Dr. Danielle Dowling to unpack her groundbreaking framework: The Motherhood Setup. Danielle explains how modern mothers are caught in the collision of three...

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” or “at least you have healthy kids” can actually leave moms feeling more isolated, guilty, and emotionally burned out. The episode explores how toxic posit...

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 shifts in motherhood, nervous system overwhelm, and the transition into motherhood known as matrescence. This discussion goes beyond postpartum depression to explore t...

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 emotionally exhausted, and how healing is possible through approaches that go beyond traditional talk therapy. Abbie shares her own journey through pregnancy loss,...

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 this episode, you'll hear: Why mental health struggles don’t always look the way we expect The difference between coping and actually healing Why “white knuc...

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 talk about the realities of maternal health, identity, and what it actually takes to keep showing up as a mother in today's world. The episode dives i...

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 of control, from global uncertainty to the everyday challenges of raising kids. She introduces a powerful mindset tool, the Circle of Control, and expla...

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 the lens of a woman who is child-free by choice. Together, Emily and Emily explore the expectations placed on women (both those who are mothers and those wh...

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 moms, to talk about the identity shift that happens after becoming a mother, and how it can completely reshape your career path. The conversation explores w...

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 The Sparkle Project , Emily explores the idea that motherhood isn’t your final form. You’re still growing. You’re still learning who you are. And you’re still all...

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 mission is simple but powerful: create spaces where mothers feel seen, supported, and validated instead of judged. Together they explore the healing power of hearing anothe...

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 most loving, devoted mothers often feel like they’re failing. Drawing from her work in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and her book When Good Moms Feel Bad ,...

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 working enough, losing patience, or simply wanting time for themselves, the feeling of guilt seems to follow moms everywhere. But what if mom guilt isn’t actually about you...

"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 explain how creative expression can actually be the path towards healing and reconnecting with ourselves in postpartum and beyond.  In the episode,...

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 secretly struggle with imposter syndrome. The episode covers: • Why so many women with ADHD struggle feel like frauds • The connection between perfectionism and ma...

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 motherhood. Not surface-level advice. Not toxic positivity. The deeper patterns and misalignments that quietly shape your day-to-day experience. Emily is e...

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, for an honest conversation about personal style as a form of self-care, identity reclamation, and confidence for modern moms. Together, they explore why getting dre...

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, podcast host, and mom of two, to explore the connection between identity and mental health in motherhood. Together, they unpack why so many moms feel disconnec...

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. Rather than striving for perfection, Emily explores what it looks like to meet yourself with grace when parenting feels hard, when emotions run high, and w...

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 pro...