In this haunting and lyrical piece, Kate explores the concept of frisson—those chills that once meant beauty, awe, and music—and how trauma can transform them into signals of fear, memory, and survival. Through vivid imagery and somatic truth, Frisson traces the blurred lines between emotional flashbacks and body memory, between what once felt sacred and what now feels sharp. This episode speaks to anyone living with the echoes of trauma stored in the nervous system, and offers a gentle invitation to listen to the body’s language with compassion.

Copyright ©2025 Kate Earley

Music: All is Found composed by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez.

Written: April 14, 2025

In this hauntingly reflective episode of Unspoken, Kate shares her spoken word poem Where the Vines Lead. This piece explores the fractured landscape of childhood trauma, the confusion of partial memory, and the aching weight of what the body remembers when the mind cannot. Through imagery of ivy-covered fences, creaking stairs, and winding vines that lead nowhere—and everywhere—Kate gives voice to the quiet grief of remembering all the wrong things, while searching for meaning in what remains.

This poem holds space for survivors of childhood trauma, those navigating dissociation, and anyone carrying memories that are more feeling than fact. Where the Vines Lead is a meditation on healing, the loneliness of what is unsaid, and the hope that even tangled vines might lead somewhere.

Themes explored in this episode:

• Childhood trauma and fragmented memory

• Dissociation and somatic flashbacks

• The loneliness of implicit memory

• The search for healing and belonging

• The power of poetry as a form of expression and processing

Keywords:

childhood trauma poetry, dissociation, fragmented memory, DID, complex PTSD, healing after abuse, somatic memories, trauma-informed poetry, vines metaphor, Kate Earley poetry podcast, spoken word healing, trauma processing, inner child healing

In Body of Christ, spoken word artist Kate navigates the deeply personal journey of trauma, guilt, and the quest for healing. Through powerful religious imagery and raw emotion, this poem explores the disconnect felt in the body after trauma and the struggle for absolution. Kate uses the metaphor of communion to express how faith, guilt, and forgiveness intertwine. Themes of body autonomy, silence, and resilience are woven throughout, creating an evocative narrative that resonates with those experiencing trauma or seeking healing. This spoken word poem delves into personal pain, the complexity of faith, and the difficult path toward self-acceptance.

Copyright ©2025 Kate Earley

Music: Valzer D'amore by Jason Fervento

Art: Joyce Lee

In this powerful spoken word episode, “The Body Knows” unravels the primal language of trauma. Listen as we explore how seemingly innocuous triggers—a familiar scent, a wall color, or a neighborhood memory—can send our bodies into a state beyond simple freezing. Delving into the survival responses of fight, flight, freeze, and feign death, the poem reveals how our ancient amygdala, forged millions of years ago, can suddenly overpower our modern prefrontal cortex. This abrupt, tonic immobility leaves us completely immobilized, trapped in a body that echoes with ghosts of past abuse.

Join us as we decode this intricate interplay between mind and body, offering insight into trauma healing, dissociation, and the science behind our survival mechanisms. Whether you’re a survivor on a healing journey or a mental health professional seeking deeper understanding, this episode is your gateway to exploring body memory, stress responses, and the role of subtle reminders—like a simple instruction on a wall—to reclaim our power.

Copyright © 2025 Kate Earley

Music: Time Flies by Reinúr Selson

In this evocative episode, we delve into the profound themes of guilt, redemption, and the yearning for absolution within the context of Catholicism. “The Weight of a Rosary” examines the intricate interplay between Catholic guilt and personal trauma, highlighting how doctrines of purity can leave survivors grappling with unwarranted shame.

Through the sensory experiences of prayer—the rhythmic recitation, the aroma of incense, and the soft glow of votive candles—this poem poses a poignant question: Can repetitive rituals cleanse what was never sinful to begin with?

Key Themes:

• Catholic Guilt and Trauma: Exploring how religious teachings can instill deep-seated feelings of guilt, affecting individuals’ mental health and self-perception. 

• The Role of Ritual in Seeking Forgiveness: Analyzing the use of repetitive prayers, like the Rosary, in the pursuit of redemption and their impact on personal healing. 

• Purity Doctrines and Survivor Shame: Discussing how strict religious standards of purity can inadvertently burden trauma survivors with misplaced shame.

We invite you to reflect on this narrative and share your interpretations. What story resonates with you in this poem? Let’s engage in a meaningful conversation.

Content Warning: This episode addresses sensitive topics, including religious-induced guilt and personal trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

Note: This episode includes references to religious practices and personal experiences that may be triggering for some listeners.

Copyright © 2025 Kate Earley

Music: Ballerina by Yeheskel Raz

Discover the lasting impact of childhood trauma in The Past is Still Here, a raw, spoken word poetry podcast that dives deep into developmental trauma, recovery, and trauma treatment. This season unpacks how early-life abuse, neglect, and unresolved trauma continue to shape the body and influence the present. Through powerful storytelling and authentic emotion, we reflect on survival, healing, and the challenging journey of rewriting a narrative that was never truly ours.

If you’re interested in trauma recovery, understanding developmental trauma, and exploring the complexities of healing from childhood abuse, this podcast offers a unique, creative perspective on trauma therapy and resilience.

Content Warning: This season contains themes of childhood abuse and neglect. Please listen with care.

Tune in to explore how the past lives within us and learn pathways toward recovery and renewed hope.

This spoken word poem explores the quiet magic of being read to as a way to reach younger parts holding childhood pain. Using imagery from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, it weaves themes of betrayal, innocence, transformation, and safety. Through the voice of a trauma survivor with DID, the poem reflects on the power of stories to create warmth in the midst of emotional winter—when someone reads not just to the adult, but to the child who waited alone at the table with the balloons.

Copyright ©2025 Kate Earley

Music: Happiness Does Not Wait by Ólafur Arnalds

Written: June 27, 2025

In this raw and haunting spoken word poem, Kate explores the intersection of global health work, mental illness, and the quiet desire to disappear. At twenty-four, she volunteered in war zones—not because she wanted to die, but because she didn’t care if she lived. Through vivid scenes from West Africa to Central America, she unpacks what it means to be praised for bravery while silently battling suicidal ideation and medical burnout.

Now, as Gaza bleeds and the world turns its gaze, she reflects on the cost of survival, the myth of martyrdom, and the courage it takes to stay.

Perfect for listeners navigating trauma recovery, moral injury, or the haunting dissonance between public heroism and private despair.

Copyright ©2025 Kate Earley

Music: When I am with thee by IGRAINE

Written: May 26, 2025

This Is Not a Poem (Apparently) is a spoken word poetry piece about misogyny, gendered silencing, and the gatekeeping of artistic spaces. In this episode, I explore how women’s voices are often dismissed, especially when we express anger, set boundaries, or speak uncomfortable truths. This poem was born from experiences in poetry communities, where I was told to calm down, accused of being difficult, or dismissed with comments like someone needs a nap—comments meant to undermine, belittle, and silence.

I also reflect on how internalized misogyny shows up, and how even other women can participate in policing emotion and tone. This piece responds to those who believe they get to decide what is and isn’t poetry, who confuse survival narratives with personal grievances, and who uphold a status quo that demands women be quieter.

This Is Not a Poem (Apparently) confronts gender dynamics, trauma, and the uncomfortable realities many women and nonbinary people face when they speak their truth—especially in male-dominated spaces.

If you’re interested in feminist spoken word, trauma poetry, and poetry that challenges traditional forms, this episode is for you.

Copyright ©2025 Kate Earley

Music: Another Love (Tom Odell) performed by Riyandi Kusuma

Written March 16, 2025

In this powerful spoken word poem, pediatric nurse practitioner and poet Kate Earley recounts the haunting morning she cared for a five-year-old girl who survived a brutal act of violence at the hands of her father. The Garden, 6:10 A.M. is a raw and intimate reflection on trauma, survival, and the enduring human connection formed in the quiet hours of critical care.

This episode explores themes of child abuse, PTSD, medical trauma, memory, and the long shadows cast by early violence. With clinical precision and poetic tenderness, Kate gives voice to the moments that never leave us—the ones we carry, stitched into silence.

Trigger warning: This piece contains references to graphic violence, including child abuse and attempted filicide. Listener discretion is advised.

Keywords: pediatric ICU poem, spoken word trauma, child abuse survival, medical storytelling podcast, dissociative identity disorder, PTSD poetry, nurse poetry podcast, trauma-informed storytelling

Copyright ©2025 Kate Earley

Music: Happiness Does Not Wait by Ólafur Arnalds

Written: April 14, 2025