The Unwritten Woman | Self Discovery For Black Women
The Unwritten Woman is a self-discovery podcast for Black women hosted by Crystan Cumberbatch, author of Unlocking Authenticity. It explores reinvention, identity, and breaking free from people-pleasing and old narratives. Through storytelling, reflections, and candid conversations, the show invites listeners to reclaim their power, embrace self-worth, and rewrite their lives on their own terms. The podcast offers a space for soft, bold, and unapologetic personal transformation.
Episodes
Hyper Independence in Black Women | Being Soft and Strong Without Losing Yourself
Have you ever been praised for being strong… but quietly felt alone? This episode is not polished. It is not wrapped up with a bow. It is me thinking out loud about something I am actively unpacking. We talk about hyper independence. About control. About fear that disguises itself as strength. About what happens when protection becomes your identity and you do not even realize it.At some point I l
Choosing From Who I’m Becoming
This episode is different. It wasn’t scripted. It wasn’t planned. It was recorded in real time — in the middle of me feeling something deeply and deciding not to run from it.Therapy taught me to pause, identify what I’m feeling, and choose how I respond. In this episode, you’ll hear me do exactly that.You’ll hear pauses. You’ll hear processing. You’ll hear me sit with my emotions instead of reacti
Becoming Beyond Expectations
Baby girl, for so many of us, identity has been shaped by roles, expectations, and the pressure to keep others comfortable. In this episode, we pause to ask a deeper and more intentional question: Who am I becoming when I’m no longer performing, proving, or seeking approval? This conversation explores self-actualization as a lived and gentle process rather than a final destination. We talk about d
From Healing to Choosing
Baby girl, healing was never meant to be the finish line. Season one of The Unwritten Woman| Self Discovery 4 Black Women helped us understand our stories, our wounds, and the patterns that shaped us. This episode marks the shift into what comes next. In Season 2, Episode 1, we explore the difference between healing and choosing, and why awareness alone is not enough to build the life you desire.
Season 2 Trailer
Season two of The Unwritten Woman is about moving from healing to choosing. In season one, we opened the box—naming our stories, unpacking patterns, and understanding how our past shaped who we became. That work was necessary. It created awareness, compassion, and clarity.Season two builds on that foundation and shifts the focus to self-actualization: defining the life we want, setting goals that
When The Pressure Is Too Much (Season 1 Finale)
This season may be ending, but the journey isn’t over. In this episode, I open up about the pressure of juggling it all—work, projects, launches, and life—and how perfectionism almost got the best of me. I share the truth about how healing and growth really work: it’s not linear, you won’t always get it right, but with the right tools you can pause, reset, and reclaim your peace.Don’t miss the sur
Designing Her
Sis, it’s one thing to talk about who you’re becoming — it’s another to live it out every single day. In this episode of The Unwritten Woman, we’re breaking down what it looks like to align your life with the woman you’re becoming. We’re talking boundaries, standards, and non-negotiables — and how to move beyond just knowing your values to actually living them. I’ll share real-life examples from m
Becoming Her Starts With Permission
Sis, here’s the truth — becoming your authentic self doesn’t start with a strategy. It starts with permission. In this empowering episode of The Unwritten Woman, I’m walking you through what it means to stop waiting for approval, stop asking for someone else’s blessing, and start showing up for your life exactly as you are. I share personal examples from my own journey of learning to give myself p
Boundaries, Values & Becoming Her - Part 2
Baby girl, this episode is layered and full of truth. I’m joined by my younger sister Stephanie — a mom of three, a postpartum depression life coach, and a recovering people pleaser who knows what it’s like to live without boundaries and break because of it. In this powerful conversation, we talk about the emotional weight that comes from trying to hold it all together while silently unraveling. S
Boundaries, Values & Becoming Her (with Special Guest Stephanie) - Part 1
Baby girl, this episode is layered and full of truth. I’m joined by my younger sister Stephanie — a mom of three, a postpartum depression life coach, and a recovering people pleaser who knows what it’s like to live without boundaries and break because of it. In this powerful conversation, we talk about the emotional weight that comes from trying to hold it all together while silently unraveling. S
The Weight We Carry
Have you ever felt like being your full self might cost you the love or connection you’re craving?In this episode of The Unwritten Woman, we’re talking about the emotional weight we carry from living a performative life. When you spend years pretending everything’s fine, smiling through the pain, and keeping quiet to keep the peace, it catches up to you.This weight looks like burnout. It sounds li
The Performative Life
Baby girl… what parts of yourself are you still performing?In this episode of The Unwritten Woman, we’re diving into how people pleasing doesn’t just end when we become adults. It follows us into the boardroom, our friendships and even our most intimate relationships. We’re talking about the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways we shrink, shape-shift, and self-abandon just to feel accepted.Maybe you’re
Getting To The Root
Baby girl… this one is tender.Today, I’m talking about something that used to run my whole life: people pleasing. You know the one—smiling through the discomfort, putting everyone else’s needs first, and shrinking yourself just to feel safe or accepted.In this episode, I share how people pleasing isn’t a personality trait—it’s a trauma response. One we were taught young. One that helped us survive
Reframing The Story
Baby girl, how often do you find yourself reacting from old pain before you even realize what’s happening? In this episode of The Unwritten Woman, we’re talking about how to pause before the spiral. I share a powerful framework to help you recognize emotional triggers, understand where they come from, and choose new responses that are rooted in truth—not trauma. I open up about my own journey, giv
Trauma In Disguise
Baby girl, have you ever reacted to a situation and later thought, “Why did I do that?” In this episode of The Unwritten Woman, we’re unpacking the four trauma responses: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn.Crystan breaks down what each response looks like in real life — not just in theory. Maybe you shut down during conflict. Maybe you feel the need to please everyone to avoid tension. Or maybe you f
Unlocking The Box
Hey baby girl! Have you ever felt unseen, unheard, or like you're moving through life wearing a mask that doesn’t quite fit anymore? Welcome to The Unwritten Woman, a soulful and down-to-earth self discovery podcast for women who are ready to reconnect with who they truly are. I’m not a licensed therapist or psychologist—but I am a woman who’s misunderstood her emotions, people-pleased herself int
Trailer Episode
You’ve played the roles, met the expectations, and followed the script—but what if you were meant for more?Welcome to The Unwritten Woman, a podcast for the woman who knows she’s more than the life she’s been given. Hosted by Crystan, author of Unlocking Authenticity: A Journey from People-Pleasing to Empowerment, this space is all about breaking free from expectations, rediscovering yourself, and
The One Question That Changed Everything For Me
“What if I stopped trying to be who they expect me to be?” That one question changed everything for me. It made me realize how much of my life had been shaped by other people’s expectations—who I was supposed to be, how I was supposed to show up, what I was supposed to want. But what happens when you stop performing and start choosing yourself? In this mini-sode, we’re exploring the power of this
3 Signs You're Ready to Rewrite Your Story
“You already feel it—the restlessness, the quiet knowing that the life you’re living doesn’t quite fit anymore. But how do you know if you’re really ready for change?” In this mini-sode, we’re breaking down three signs that you’re ready to rewrite your story, even if you don’t feel completely sure yet. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your life, outgrowing the version of yourself that once
A Love Letter to the Woman You’re Becoming
In this deeply personal mini-sode, I’m sharing a love letter to the woman you’re becoming—the one who is unlearning, evolving, and daring to step into the fullness of who she is. Because growth isn’t about abandoning who you were—it’s about honoring who you’re meant to be. If this resonates, I want to hear from you. Drop a comment, DM me, or share this episode with a woman who needs this reminder.
The Lie I Had To Unlearn
In this mini-sode, I’m sharing the biggest lie I had to unlearn—and why letting go of it changed everything. What’s a belief that’s kept you stuck? DM me, leave a comment, or share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Your story isn’t finished. It’s still unwritten. ✨ Subscribe now and let’s start rewriting together.
What It Means To Be Unwritten
In this mini-sode, we’re exploring what it truly means to be an unwritten woman—a woman in progress, a woman with the power to turn the page and redefine her story. Because being unwritten doesn’t mean you’re lost—it means you’re still becoming.Take a moment to reflect: What part of your life feels unwritten? I’d love to hear from you—drop a comment, send me a DM, or share this episode with someon
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