Worthy Mother Podcast

Worthy Mother Podcast

Being a mom is hard — and not because you’re not good enough. If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing or struggling under the weight of guilt and overwhelm, you are not alone. Worthy Mother Podcast is here to validate your experience, challenge the unrealistic expectations placed on moms, and remind you that you are worthy exactly as you are. Hosted by Emily Rose MacDonald, a certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and mom of two, this podcast explores the realities of modern motherhood, mental health, mom guilt, societal pressures, self-care, and the importance of connection. Through honest conversations with real moms and expert guests — along with solo episodes that dig deep into what makes motherhood so complicated — you’ll find validation, support, and the reminder that it’s not just you; it’s the system. If you're ready to release the guilt, embrace self-compassion, and reclaim your identity in motherhood, this podcast is for you. Glad you’re here! Instagram: @honestlyemilyrose @worthymotherpodcast TikTok: @worthymotherpodcast

Episodes

October 21, 2025 32 mins

We all know sleep is important, but actually getting good sleep in motherhood is easier said than done. In this episode, Dr. Daniella Marchetti, a clinical psychologist board-certified in behavioral sleep medicine, joins Emily to explore the critical topic of sleep wellness for mothers. From "mom-somnia" to revenge bedtime procrastination, they discuss many of the sleep issues moms face. Plus, Dr. Marchetti shares advice ...

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Is self-care really selfish? Or could it be one of the best gifts you ever give your kids? In this episode of Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily shares a refreshing and empowering take on what it truly means for moms to take care of themselves.

Emily discusses how self-care helps you show up as the mom you want to be, models emotional wellness for your children, and breaks generational cycles of self-sacrifice. She also unpacks common mis...

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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 How to Address Shame In Motherhood with Kyira Wackett.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever yo...

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Becoming a mother is often described as beautiful and life-changing, but what about the profound identity shift that comes with it? In this episode, host Emily talks with Dr. Emily Guarnotta, a perinatal psychologist and mom of two, about matrescence — the emotional, mental, and physical transition into motherhood that’s rarely discussed but universally felt.

Together, they explore:

  • What matrescence really means and how it compar...
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Motherhood is already complex, but when neurodivergence, medical needs, and systemic gaps are part of the picture, the challenges (and the growth) can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Emily is joined by Amanda Losch, a complex trauma therapist and neurodivergent mom, to unpack the realities of raising neurodivergent children while navigating your own late diagnosis, overstimulation, rage, shame, and the myths of the “perfect mot...

Mark as Played

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 Cut the Overwhelm: Habits & Routines to Simplify Mom Life with Sally Bisbee.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy ...

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Do you ever feel guilty for sitting down, resting, or doing something just for joy? If so, you’re not alone. Our culture glorifies productivity, and for moms, that often means carrying impossible expectations both inside and outside the home. But here’s the truth: rest, joy, and connection are just as important (and just as productive) as crossing tasks off your to-do list.

This episode is about breaking free from the unrealistic ex...

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What does it look like to raise kids while navigating the emotional rollercoaster of divorce — and to rebuild yourself at the same time? In this deeply personal episode, Julie Sedler joins Emily to talk about the messy, transformative process of mothering through divorce while learning how to prioritize your own healing, identity, and joy.

Julie is a chemical engineer turned author and speaker whose memoir Watch Me chronicles her jo...

Mark as Played

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 Co-Parenting, Identity, and Dating After Divorce with Jess Evans.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast ...

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Working moms carry the weight of careers, parenting, household duties, and the heaviness of today’s world. But what if you could feel lighter, find joy, and release the pressure to “do it all”? In this episode of Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily is joined by Jessica Vickers, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in supporting working moms of color. Together, they unpack the realities of burnout, the guilt of not “mea...

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Back-to-school season is upon us, and with it comes an often heavy invisible load for moms. From the never-ending logistics of drop-offs to the emotional weight of our kids’ feelings (and our own), this season can feel like a lot. In this episode, Emily shines a light on the often unseen mental and emotional labor mothers take on during this transition. She opens up about her own experiences as a newly single mom navigating the sch...

Mark as Played

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 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs as a High-Achieving Mom with Kamini Wood.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podc...

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What if perfectionism, hyper-independence, and mom rage aren’t character flaws but survival strategies that once served you? In this powerful conversation, trauma therapist Tisheila Justice joins Emily to explore how unhealed wounds resurface in motherhood, why these coping mechanisms feel so hard to let go of, and how we can begin breaking cycles for ourselves and future generations.

The conversation gets into:

  • The hidden link b...
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Is motherhood supposed to come naturally? Or have we been sold a myth that leaves moms feeling broken and inadequate when reality doesn’t match the script? In this deeply validating episode of The Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily sits down with therapist, writer, and mom Vanessa Spinarsky to unpack the cultural myth of the “natural mother.” 

Together, they explore:

  • Why so many women feel like they’ve “signed an invisible contract” in...
Mark as Played

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 How to Transform Your Life With Gratitude with Holly Bertone.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wher...

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Raising kids isn’t meant to be a one-woman job. In this episode, Emily reflects on her first family vacation as a single mom, and how the experience reshaped her understanding of the age-old phrase: “It takes a village to raise a child.” From airport chaos to beachside lounging, she explores how her support system, AKA her village, stepped up in big and small ways, reminding her (and us) that motherhood isn't meant to be a sol...

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We’re diving into one of the most taboo topics in motherhood: maternal ambivalence. In this validating episode, Emily sits down with psychotherapist and author Dr. Margo Lowy, whose book Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments and Bitter Truths of Motherhood opens the door to honest conversations about the full emotional spectrum of mothering. Dr. Lowy explains why the mix of love, frustration, joy, sorrow, and even resentment is ...

Mark as Played

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 How Inner Child Healing Can Positively Impact Parenting with Lavinia Brown.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mothe...

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Ever felt like you’ve lost yourself since becoming a mom? You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not broken. In this episode of Worthy Mother Podcast, Emily sits down with Krissy Bold, former teacher turned stay-at-home mom and identity advocate, to unpack the real, raw experience of navigating identity after motherhood. Together, they explore the identity crisis so many moms experience, why it’s actually normal (hello, matrescenc...

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Are you a mom navigating life with ADHD - diagnosed or undiagnosed? In this honest conversation, therapist and late-diagnosed mom Samantha Skvaril joins Emily to explore the emotional rollercoaster of ADHD in motherhood. From unpacking the shame we carry, to redefining what it means to be a “good mom,” we dig deep into how ADHD uniquely affects women and mothers.

The episode covers:

  • How ADHD presents in women and the unique facto...
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