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 another mom say “me too,” and why community matters so much in modern motherhood. Dana shares her personal postpartum experiences, the realities of navigating mental health as a mother, and how those experiences ultimately led her to pursue a doctorate in psychiatric mental health.

This conversation dives into the emotional weight many mothers carry today. From the isolation of early postpartum seasons to the pressure of unrealistic expectations, Emily and Dana unpack why validation can be such a powerful antidote to shame and mom guilt.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough as a mom, this episode is a reminder that you’re not the only one asking that question.

🔗 Connect with Dana:

Instagram: @mothermentality
TikTok: @mothermentality_

📌 Resources & Mentions:

Mom Friends Collective
Dana's Busy Mom Book Club

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

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

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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, Jessica introduces the concept of “mom parts” and explains what's behing the internal voices that show up in motherhood.

Together, they explore why motherhood can activate old wounds, why intense emotions like rage and resentment are more common than we think, and how understanding your inner parts can lead to deeper compassion for yourself.

This conversation covers:
• Why good moms often feel like they’re failing
• The psychology behind mom rage and mom guilt
• How motherhood activates old emotional patterns
• What “parts work” is and how it can change the way you see yourself
• Why tending to yourself is essential for both you and your kids

This episode is an invitation to stop judging your reactions and start getting curious about them.

🔗 Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @jessicatomichsorci
Website: www.jessicasorci.com and www.momparts.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

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

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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 at all?

Emily explores how the pressure mothers feel is deeply tied to societal expectations that are often impossible to meet. She breaks down the difference between guilt and shame, explains why so many moms internalize unrealistic standards, and shares how recognizing these cultural messages can change the way we relate to motherhood and to ourselves.

If you’ve ever wondered why motherhood can feel so heavy, this conversation offers a new way to understand those emotions and begin redefining what being a “good mom” really means.

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

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

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"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, we discuss:

• Researched-backed benefits of creativity in wellness
• How metaphors can be used as a tool for healing
• How we've been conditioned out of expression from a young age
• Expressing yourself to reconnect with who you are
• The Four Wave Framework for healing through motherhood

This episode is for every mother who wants to experience the fulfillment and joy that comes from true self-expression. Creativity is for you.

🔗 Connect with Kayla:

Instagram: @kayla.huszar
Website: www.kaylahuszar.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

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

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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 masking
• The hidden burnout of high-achieving moms
• Why discipline isn’t the answer for ADHD brains
• How to start unmasking safely and intentionally

This conversation will help you see that you're not lazy or broken, and you're doing better than you think you are.

🔗 Connect with Katie:

Instagram: @coachkatieburns
Threads: @coachkatieburns
TikTok: @coachkatieburns

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

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

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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 exploring the difference between joy and happiness, how living out of alignment impacts your ability to feel joy, and five factors that may be blocking your own capacity for joy. From disconnection from self and others to guilt around not "enjoying every moment," you'll leave this episode with a clearer understanding of what's keeping you from experiencing real joy in motherhood.

You deserve to feel joy, and it is possible.

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

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

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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 dressed can feel so hard after kids, how the mental load of motherhood impacts style, and why moms deserve permission to dress like themselves not just “like a mom.”

In this episode, we explore:

• Why moms often lose themselves through clothing after kids
• How personal style supports identity shifts in motherhood
• The impact of the pandemic on how moms relate to style
• Practical ways to dress with intention, even in busy seasons
• Why self-care through style is not selfish

This conversation is for any mom who feels disconnected from her reflection, overwhelmed by her closet, or ready to reconnect with who she is beneath the roles she carries.

🔗 Connect with Sahra:

Instagram: @shop_the_city
TikTok: @shopthecitybysahra
Website: www.shopthe.city

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

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

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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 disconnected from themselves, how biology and society both play a role, and why reclaiming your identity is not selfish, but essential.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level self-care. Dr. Haynes explains how values, alignment, and intentional living can reduce guilt, ease anxiety, and help moms feel more grounded in their lives. They also discuss matrescence, the emotional labor of motherhood, and why “doing nothing” is sometimes exactly what your nervous system needs.

The episode explores:

• Why identity shifts are a normal part of motherhood
• The biological link between hormones, identity, and mental health
• How societal expectations contribute to burnout and overwhelm
• Letting go of guilt and redefining what matters to you
• Why supporting yourself supports your children too
• What it really means to be more than a mom

If you have ever felt like you lost yourself after becoming a mom, this episode will help you feel seen and offer a new way to think about who you are becoming.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Nichelle Haynes:

Instagram: @dr.nichellehaynes
Website: www.drnichellehaynes.com
Clinic Website: www.rpcaustin.com

✨ 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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