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

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

Send us a text

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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