Self‑Mutilation as Miracle: A Spoken Word Poem About Faith, Femininity, and Survival

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Unspoken

Kate

82 episodes

5 days ago

There are some experiences that live in the body long after words fail. This podcast is for those stories. Unspoken is a raw, unfiltered exploration of trauma, survival, and the weight of what we carry. Through spoken word poetry, I give voice to the things often left unsaid—childhood wounds, mental illness, the scars of nursing, and the vicarious trauma that lingers long after we leave the bedside. These are not easy stories. But they are real. And if you’ve ever felt like no one understands, I hope you find something here that makes you feel less alone.

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Mental Health

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Self‑Mutilation as Miracle: A Spoken Word Poem About Faith, Femininity, and Survival

Unspoken

2 minutes 4 seconds

2 weeks ago

Self‑Mutilation as Miracle: A Spoken Word Poem About Faith, Femininity, and Survival

When I was sixteen, I wrote in my journal:

“I once heard about a saint. I’ve forgotten her name now. I remember her story. She was about to be raped. The saint poked out her eyes so that she would become so unattractive that the perpetrator would no longer want to rape her. I never did anything like that. Jesus, I barely yelled. I barely fought. I guess that’s why she’s a saint….and I’m not.”

Years later, that entry became the seed of my spoken word poem “Self‑Mutilation as Miracle.”

This piece explores how women’s suffering has been sanctified—how holiness and harm blur in stories of female saints who mutilated themselves to survive.

In this episode, I perform the poem and reflect on the relationship between faith, body, and silence, asking what it really means to call something holy.

Music: Cornfield Chase by Anna Steven’s & Michael Forester

Written: November 4, 2025

Cover art: Joyce Lee