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PODCAST

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley

Write of Passage is where history, culture, and creativity meet. Hosted by author Vanessa Riley, this weekly essay podcast unpacks the news and moods of today through the long lens of history.From Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime symbolism to the politics of representation, from lessons on writing resilience to meditations on empathy, each episode blends cultural critique with storytelling and a reverence for history.Part personal reflection, part cultural commentary, Write of Passage is written

society & culture books

All Episodes

17:48

Abused, Black, and Beautiful

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/04/21

A pattern is emerging—and it is costing Black women their lives. Not just in the streets, but in their homes, in their relationships, and even in childbirth. In this powerful essay, Vanessa Riley confronts the crisis of intimate partner violence and the maternal health disparities that continue to endanger Black women. Naming the lives lost in April 2026, she calls for accountability, protection, and truth—within our communities and beyond. Blending personal testimony, data from the CDC and leading

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9:04

You, Me, and Pausing the Routine

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/04/14

This week on Write of Passage, I did something unexpected—I stepped away from my work and chose joy.After an event in Detroit, I traded my usual routine for a night out: good food, a movie theater, and a romantic comedy that transported me straight to Tuscany. What I found was more than just a film—it was a reminder of the magic of slowing down, the charm of classic romcoms, and the importance of stepping outside the box we build for ourselves.I share my thoughts on You, Me, and Tuscany, the beauty

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9:57

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire: Whatever Happened to the...

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/04/07

In this thought-provoking essay, Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire, Vanessa Riley explores the rise of misinformation, social media lies, AI-driven illusions, and the erosion of truth in modern culture, asking what happens to integrity, identity, and self-worth when dishonesty becomes normalized—and how we reclaim authenticity in a world built on curated deception.An essay on social media lies, misinformation, and lost integrity—exploring how truth is fading and why honesty still matters in a curated

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13:26

Create. Deliver. Disappear?

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/03/31

Half the workforce is going gig—and writers have been living that reality all along. But with AI reshaping publishing, rising censorship, and a rapidly shifting marketplace, the writing life feels more uncertain than ever. In this episode, we unpack fear, resilience, and what it means to keep creating when the rules keep changing.Writers were the original gig workers. Now AI, censorship, and chaos are changing the game. Can authors survive what comes next?SEO Keywords: gig economy, writers life,

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13:47

Not What They Voted For

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/03/17

In this deeply personal and unflinching episode, author Vanessa Riley reflects on the tension between the creative life and a world that feels increasingly unstable. After a trip to Baltimore filled with bookstores, libraries, and readers, she receives devastating news that brings the realities of war painfully close to home. What follows is a powerful meditation on grief, compartmentalization, and the emotional cost of living through uncertain times.Blending personal loss with sharp cultural and

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14:56

The Vicarious Vicious Keyboard

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/03/10

Why do cruel posts go viral? And why does it feel so good when our own posts do?In this episode of Write of Passage, Vanessa Riley explores the dark psychology of the internet—the thrill of going viral, the temptation of vicarious living, and the rise of the “vicious keyboard.” From a childhood vocabulary word that unlocked the power of storytelling to a viral Instagram moment that revealed the addictive pull of social media, Riley reflects on human nature, online cruelty, and the consequences of

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11:46

Shut Up and Write

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/03/03

When artists speak beyond their craft, they’re told to stay in their lane. From “shut up and dribble” to “just write romance,” this episode examines why Black art is expected to entertain but not challenge power—and why silence has never been an option.Keywords:Black artists, creative resistance, art and politics, LeBron James, Laura Ingraham, shut up and dribble, Black writers, censorship, cultural criticism, race and identity, artistic voice, social justice, political art, Black history, power and

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13:44

Fifteen Seconds and a Slur

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/02/24

The edit is power. In this episode, we explore how writers, journalists, broadcasters, and everyday creators shape truth through what they choose to include—or cut. From manuscript revisions to social media posts to recent media controversies, this conversation examines responsibility, impact, apology, and the moral weight of the delete button. Because editing isn’t neutral. It’s a choice. And that choice reveals who we are.Keywords: editing, media ethics, writing life, author craft, journalism,

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15:38

P&P – Persecution and Paranoid

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/02/17

In this deeply personal episode, I unpack what I call the “P&P-season” — persecution and the paranoia that tries to follow it. When doors slam, integrity is questioned, and you can’t find what you did wrong, how do you stay whole? I share the hard lessons I learned about documentation, discernment, boundaries, holy anger, and knowing when self-preservation — even a graceful exit — is wisdom. If you’re in the storm, this one is for you.When doors slam and paranoia creeps in, how do you stay

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13:02

Hands. Hands. Hands.

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/02/10

A single image from Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show—many hands reaching up in trust—sparks a meditation on hope, heritage, and the fragile idea of an America willing to catch one another again.Keywords:Bad Bunny, Super Bowl LX, Super Bowl halftime show, trust fall, hands reaching up, hope in America, cultural unity, Puerto Rican culture, Latinx representation, American identity, collective trustEpisode Notes & Extras Find my full show notes, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and extras on

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10:51

The Scars We Carry

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/01/20

In this essay, Vanessa Riley reflects on betrayal, trust, and the scars we carry—through lived experience and the journey of Jacquotte Delahaye in Fire Sword and Sea. A meditation on forgiveness, boundaries, and choosing healing without losing yourself.Keywords: betrayal, trust, healing from betrayal, surviving betrayal, forgiveness and anger, trauma recovery, trust after betrayal, emotional healing, marginalized voices, betrayal trauma, Fire Sword and Sea, Jacquotte Delahaye, pirate fiction, women

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10:01

Fire Sword and the Crime of Womanhood

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/01/13

What if piracy wasn’t lawless—but legal?What if the most dangerous thing a woman could do in the 1600s was choose?In this release-week episode of Write of Passage, Vanessa Riley celebrates the launch of her 29th novel, Fire Sword and Sea—a muscular, immersive historical epic about Caribbean women pirates, integrated crews, secret empires, and the global powers history books left out.Meet Jacquotte Delahaye, Bahati, Lizzôa, Sarah Sayon, and a crew of women who resisted forced marriages, brutal labor,

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8:42

Between the Book and Me: Why Reading isn't Elitism

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2026/01/06

Is reading elitism—or survival? Vanessa Riley responds to a viral claim with a lyrical essay on books as refuge, resistance, and inheritance, weaving Black literary classics, history, and cultural power into a defiant meditation on why reading still matters.Key Words:reading is resistance, Black literature, literary activism, banned books, intellectual freedom, cultural inheritance, Write of Passage, Vanessa Riley, Between the Book and Me, Black authors, reading culture, algorithms and control,

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11:39

From Hellscape to Angel Wings – 2026, Come Get Me.

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2025/12/30

From DEI Hellscape to Angel Wings – 2026, Come Get Me, bestselling author Vanessa Riley reflects on a year of contradiction, triumph, and reckoning. From speaking before 800 scholars at the Jane Austen Society Conference to navigating publishing chaos, stolen books, and cultural erasure, 2025 tested both faith and resolve. This essay explores the cost of visibility, the lie of “historical fantasy” when Black presence is undeniable, and the power of choosing ambition, danger, and self-determination

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11:51

When Records Don’t Exist, Storytellers Do

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2025/12/23

In this season two opener of Write of Passage, author Vanessa Riley reflects on finishing her 30th book and what it means to remain a storyteller in a time when truth is contested and history is incomplete. She explores why fiction—especially historical fiction—is essential for marginalized voices whose lives were never fully recorded, and how storytelling preserves memory, resilience, and humanity when official records fall short. From The Truman Show to Caribbean women pirates and the realities of

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12:41

Why I Stayed

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2025/12/16

In this Season One finale of Write of Passage, Vanessa Riley reflects on what it meant to keep showing up with honesty and heart in a less gentle America. From the discipline of writing historical fiction to the vulnerability of weekly personal essays, Vanessa shares how this past year required restraint, courage, and commitment. She talks about why storytelling matters—especially when reclaiming the complexity of Black women’s lives—what it takes to sustain a creative practice, and why community

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12:16

Get Someone Else to Do It

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2025/12/09

In this episode of Write of Passage, Vanessa Riley reflects on the entrepreneurial reality of being a writer, sharing the highs, lows, and relentless grind of book launches, marketing, and storytelling. From chasing hidden histories aboard a pirate frigate for Fire Sword and Sea to balancing release logistics, Vanessa explores the courage, creativity, and persistence required to bring stories to the world—and why, at the end of the day, there’s no “somebody else” to do it for you.Keywords: writing,

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13:39

Lead Like A Pirate

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2025/12/02

A meditation on women’s leadership through the lens of Fire Sword and Sea, this episode explores the moral gray spaces women navigate across centuries—caregiving, ambition, survival, and the cost of doing right in a world that often demands compromise. From a pirate captain rising through the 1600s’ brutal hierarchies to modern women reshaping boardrooms and homes, this essay examines courage, complicity, and the fire required to rebuild. A conversation about leadership, womanhood, history, and the

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11:36

Hospitality Dead?

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2025/11/25

A heartfelt reflection on the fading art of hospitality, the legacy of a mother who mastered Thanksgiving, and the power of gratitude during difficult seasons. In this episode of Write of Passage, Vanessa explores persistence, community, creative courage, and the deep hope that carries us into a new year. A warm Thanksgiving reflection on hospitality, resilience, family legacy, and gratitude. An honest, hopeful message for anyone seeking connection and renewal.The gift of hospitality shouldn’t be

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13:27

Bitter Ground: On Dissatisfaction, Bitterness, and...

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley ·

2025/11/18

In this episode of Write of Passage, Vanessa explores the deeper meaning of dissatisfaction—both on the page and in real life. She reflects on how creative frustration signals that it’s time to examine the bones of a story, from character motives and relationships to the lies they believe. Then she draws a powerful parallel to our lived experiences: how unaddressed dissatisfaction can root itself as bitterness, how bitterness spreads, and how healing requires honesty, boundaries, and letting go of

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40 results

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