What’s in a Name? Unlearning Who We Thought We Had to Be

Who are you beyond the names you’ve been given? Beyond the labels, roles, or masks you’ve carried to keep others comfortable?

In this week’s episode of The Unlearning Room, I explore the many names I’ve worn — from Patricia Ann (for one hour at birth), to Mary Catherine (my legal name), to Cecily May (the name I created as a compass and container for my voice). I share the story of how names shaped my belonging, identity, and even sense of safety, and what it means to step into the version of myself that feels like home.

Together we’ll unpack:

• 🌹 The Shakespeare question: What’s in a name?
• 👶 The weight and history of names we didn’t choose.
• 💌 The affectionate names that root us in love — Mama, Mimi, Mary C.
• 🧠 Why our brains crave categories, and how names can become containers for identity.
• 🌍 The cultural and societal impact of names — from Ellis Island to modern research on names and bias.
• 🌿 Mantras for unlearning the roles that no longer fit.

This is a story about identity, belonging, and the freedom to unlearn who we thought we had to be.

✨ Mantras from this episode:
“Names are vessels, not verdicts.”
“Safety sometimes needs a shield; authenticity sometimes needs a return.”

🎧 Listen & Watch:

🍎 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
📺 YouTube

Follow along:
 📸 Instagram: @theunlearningroompodcast

🌐 Website: cecilymay.com