Unspoken

In this compelling episode of Unspoken, we present “Dear John,” a raw and unapologetic spoken word poem that delves into the harrowing experiences of emotional manipulation and online stalking. This powerful piece addresses a man who transformed a fleeting encounter into years of digital harassment, employing false vulnerability and emotional blackmail as instruments of control. Key Themes: ​ Emot...

In this powerful spoken word poem, Kate delivers an unflinching message about reclaiming boundaries, surviving sexual trauma, and breaking free from the toxic expectations placed on women and survivors. “Not a Nice Girl” is a raw, emotional piece that confronts the burden of politeness, the dangers of being “nice,” and the way women are often expected to carry emotional labor for men—whether throu...

In this deeply personal episode, we delve into the complexities of self-sacrifice and emotional manipulation within relationships characterized by power imbalances. Through evocative spoken word poetry, “The Sacrament of Silence” examines themes of faith, guilt, and longing, shedding light on how these elements can distort one’s identity and sense of self. Key topics include: • Self-Sacrifice in R...

In this compelling episode, we delve into the calculated tactics predators use to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. Abusers often target individuals whose boundaries have been previously eroded, recognizing those who may flinch but not flee. This discussion sheds light on the insidious nature of coercive control, where resistance is worn down over time, making survival appear as consent. Throu...

In this Season 6 opener of Unspoken, Kate introduces a powerful new collection of spoken word poems exploring coercive sexual assault, misogyny, silence, and survival. These are the stories that don’t always get named as abuse—because there was no fight, no scream, no clear “no.” But there was harm. This season is for anyone who’s ever flinched and been told it was nothing. For anyone who stayed s...

In this raw and quietly devastating poem, Kate gives voice to the grief of self-erasure—the kind that begins in childhood, when silence was survival and disappearing was seen as goodness. “Erasure” explores the heartbreaking calculus of being palatable: swallowing screams, softening pain, and offering absence as a gift mistaken for emotional strength. This episode is for anyone who has ever been p...

In this raw and powerful spoken word poem, Kate Earley challenges the assumption that witnessing trauma is the same as understanding it. Holding Isn’t Feeling explores themes of childhood abuse, therapeutic invalidation, and the quiet violence of clinical detachment. With searing imagery—bodies cataloged on shelves, blood wiped clean from desks, a gallery of grief—the poem demands not professional...

In this raw spoken word poem, Starving the Scream, poet and trauma survivor Kate Earley explores what it means to stay quiet to stay safe. This piece examines the invisible cost of being the “good client,” the “palatable patient,” the one who swallows her pain to preserve the comfort of others—including in therapy. Drawing from personal experiences with complex trauma, dissociation, and emotional...

In this raw and unflinching spoken word poem, Kate explores the rupture that occurs when therapists speak the language of trauma-informed care—but fail to embody it. The Letters Beside Your Name holds space for survivors who have been retraumatized by silence, by absence, and by clinicians who disappear just when attachment becomes real. This episode confronts the gap between theory and presence,...

In this episode, Kate performs her spoken word poem Doorknob Confession, written after a therapy session where she found herself alone in the bathroom, vomiting quietly, afraid to ask for help. This piece captures the embodied tension of trauma survivors—the way the body signals distress long before the mouth speaks it, and how social conditioning teaches us to smile, soften, and disappear rather...

In this episode, Kate shares a hauntingly intimate spoken word piece about trauma, survival, and the terrifying beauty of coming back to life. “The Girl Beneath the Ice” explores the body’s quiet genius in the face of danger, and the disorienting process of unthawing — when the world starts to feel again, and every breath becomes both a risk and a reclamation. This poem is a reflection on dissocia...

In this powerful spoken word poem, Beyond the Frame, Kate explores the impossible expectations placed on trauma survivors to keep their healing tidy, quiet, and contained. This episode dives deep into the messy, raw reality of recovery—the kind that refuses to fit inside the 50-minute therapy hour. Beyond the Frame gives voice to those who have been told they are “too much,” who have starved their...

In this powerful episode, Kate shares her original spoken word poem, Clinically Speaking—a raw, unflinching exploration of trauma, dissociation, and the silences that exist within the clinical world. As a pediatric nurse practitioner and survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Kate weaves her personal experience with professional insight, illuminating the painful intersection between healthcare, PTSD,...

In this powerful spoken word poetry episode, Kate Earley explores the complex, often painful experience of reenacting trauma patterns in therapy. The Red Pen speaks to the struggle of navigating attachment, survival, and silence—especially when reaching out for help feels like breaking an unspoken rule. Through raw, vulnerable storytelling, Kate captures the impossible choice between protecting ot...

“Can You Leave a Light On?” is a spoken word poetry piece about the aching space between therapy sessions—the silence, the uncertainty, and the desperate need for reassurance. It explores the feeling of relying on someone to help navigate the dark, only to be left searching for light in their absence. With raw vulnerability, this piece captures the quiet unraveling that happens in between, when th...

What does it mean to stand outside, looking in? To carry the weight of others’ pain while no one carries yours? In this raw and haunting spoken word poem, I explore the loneliness of trauma, the struggle to be seen, and the deep unfairness of giving so much while receiving so little in return. Inspired by my own experiences as a nurse holding space for dying children, this piece unpacks grief, dis...

“You Hold Me With Gloves On” is a raw reflection on transference—the ache of seeing a therapist as a mother, a caretaker, or a lifeline, only to be met with professional detachment. It captures the struggle of seeking warmth in a space built on boundaries, of feeling like a case study instead of a person, a patient instead of someone to be loved. Through vivid metaphors of sterile fields, rubber g...

In this emotionally charged episode of Unspoken, we present “The Velveteen Rabbit”—a powerful spoken word poem that explores the deep pain of being misunderstood and the struggle to express hidden truths. Using evocative symbolism drawn from the classic tale, this poem captures the silent cry for help when words feel too heavy to speak. Copyright © 2025 Kate Earley Music: One step forward, three s...

In this raw and emotional episode, I share the vulnerable moment I disclosed my childhood trauma to my therapist, only to be met with silence—no tears, no visible emotion. This haunting stillness left me questioning whether my pain was ever “bad enough” to warrant empathy, either from her or from myself. Join me as I explore the complex dynamics of therapy, the struggle to be truly seen and heard,...

In this compelling episode, I delve into the often superficial application of the term “trauma-informed” within institutions and among professionals. While intended to signify a deep understanding of trauma’s pervasive nature and a commitment to fostering healing environments, this label frequently becomes a mere checkbox—discarded when confronted with the raw, inconvenient realities of genuine tr...

Welcome to Season 5 of Unspoken, a spoken word poetry podcast by Kate Earley. This season is called The Space Between Us, and it explores the complex emotional landscape of therapy, transference, and clinical boundaries. In this introduction to Season 5, Kate reflects on what it’s like to be in therapy as a trauma survivor—especially when you’re autistic, and when the systems designed to help ofte...

In this spoken word poem, Kate Earley shares a raw, heartfelt tribute to the internet strangers who showed up when real life didn’t. Through chronic illness, disability, and the quiet ache of being misunderstood, there were people online—sometimes from thousands of miles away—who offered more comfort, more presence, and more care than anyone else. This episode is for them. For the old man in Texas...

In this deeply moving spoken word poetry episode, Fault Lines, the poet reflects on the emotional earthquakes that disrupt our lives, forcing us into transformation. From silence and compliance to embracing authenticity and setting firm boundaries, the poet explores the powerful journey of self-discovery following loss, rejection, and change. This episode beautifully highlights themes of resilienc...

Some friendships feel like forever—until they’re not. Sixteen Kilometers is a raw, emotional spoken word poem about the kind of friendship that feels like home, the quiet ways we show love, and the unbearable ache of losing someone without knowing why. Through vivid memories of late-night conversations, travels across the world, and the unspoken bond of best friends, this poem explores the devasta...

Welcome to Season 4 of Unspoken, a spoken word poetry podcast by Kate Earley. This season is called Love Stories Without Romance, and it explores the deep bonds of friendship—the connections that save us, shape us, and sometimes, leave us behind. Through powerful spoken word poems, Kate shares stories of friendship, grief, heartbreak, and healing. These are love stories without romance: friendship...