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

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

Send a text

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

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

Send us a text