Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley

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 in love: a place to wrestle with wrong takes, dig into symbolism, and celebrate the power of words to make sense of the world.🎧 What you’ll find here: Cultural & Historical Commentary — current events examined with historical depth. Encouragement for Writers — reflections on the craft, resilience, and community of writing. Booklists & Recommendations — curated reads that expand each week’s themes. Storytelling with Heart — opinionated, thoughtful essays written to inspire dialogue, not just hot takes. If you’re a writer, reader, or thinker who loves connecting dots between past and present, Write of Passage is your table. Pull up a chair. vanessariley.substack.com VanessaRiley.com

Episodes

Hanging With Writers

September 30, 2025 • 8 mins
At the Women’s Fiction Writers Association West Retreat in Albuquerque, Vanessa Riley shared insights on the Hero and Heroine’s Journey, character arcs, and modern storytelling trends. She emphasizes the importance of writing retreats for finding rhythm, overcoming creative blocks, and experiencing the support of a community of writers. Reflecting on her own journey as an author of twenty-nine books, she discusses how retreats offe...
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Rapture or Not: Are You Ready to Give An Account?

September 23, 2025 • 11 mins
What if the rapture were tomorrow—would you be ready? In this episode, I look at the long history of failed end-times predictions, from the “Great Disappointment” to blood moons and Y2K, and why living faithfully matters more than chasing sensational prophecies. We’ll talk about how God calls us to ordinary, steady faith, the joy of using our gifts with purpose, and the books that can shape how we think about the end times—whether ...
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Wantonly Treacherous

September 16, 2025 • 12 mins
In Wantonly Treacherous, Vanessa Riley reflects on faith, racial violence, and the fragility of democracy. From 9/11 to historical massacres and modern gun violence, this essay explores the consequences of hate, the importance of truth, and the need for empathy in a divided world.

This week’s book recommendations are:White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson – Explains how systemic white backlash perpetua...
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Mad as Heck, Write Anyway

September 9, 2025 • 10 mins
This essay explores what it means to be an artist writing through anger and disappointment. From bruises that don’t fade to the audacity of believing your story matters, it’s about owning pain, releasing it through art, and finding the courage to keep creating while letting God fight the bigger battles.

Keywords:
anger and creativity, writing through pain, artist resilience, turning anger into art, authenticity in writing, Vanessa Ri...
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Who Are You Checking On?

September 2, 2025 • 10 mins
Over the holiday weekend, I reflected on the power of checking in—whether with family, friends, or community. From catching up with loved ones to visiting a favorite bookstore, I was reminded how vital connection is. In a world of chaos, loss, and constant change, sometimes the greatest gift we can give is simply showing up for each other.

Keywords:
checking in on friends, family connection, community support, mental health awareness...
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Tainted Visions: Daddy's Glasses

August 26, 2025 • 11 mins
I bought my daddy’s glasses by accident—but every time I put them on, I see his face staring back at me. This episode is about the lenses we inherit: my father, who came from Trinidad in the 1960s chasing the promise of America; my own optimism in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected; and the sharper, harsher vision I have of the world today.Through these glasses, I look at what America once promised, what it is now, and what it coul...
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Unity with the One Drop Rule

August 19, 2025 • 11 mins
What does it mean to be part of the African diaspora? From the cruel weight of the one-drop rule to the richness of invention, science, and culture, this episode explores the power and resilience of Black identity across generations. Vanessa Riley takes us through the history of Black wealth, music, and innovation while addressing the so-called “diaspora wars” that threaten to divide communities. We look at how artists like Tyla an...
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AI Done Hit the Cousins!

August 12, 2025 • 11 mins
AI Done Hit the Cousins!
As an author, I feel like I’ve been in a never-ending battle with artificial intelligence (AI). It’s everywhere. And somehow, it always manages to pull me in.  
AI’s ability to search crazy things with more context than Google and then check my  mathematics of sextants coordinates used by a pirate captain to sail around Tortuga is unmatched.  Yes, I did this.
That sounds good, but AI and I aren’t always coo...
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A Seat at the Table—Or Not?

August 5, 2025 • 9 mins
In this episode of Write of Passage, bestselling author Vanessa Riley explores the emotional cost of invisibility in publishing—and the deeper longing to belong. Drawing from her own journey and insights from literary voices like Silas House, Nic Stone, and Angie Thomas, she unpacks what it means to be denied space, support, and visibility—and why it’s time to stop asking for permission.Vanessa shares lessons from the Southern Inde...
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Throw Out the Broken Pieces

July 29, 2025 • 10 mins
What’s in your drawer of broken things?
A clasp that can’t be fixed. A lone earring with no mate. A dream you swore you’d get back to someday.In my latest Write of Passage essay, I open the metaphorical drawer we all carry—the one full of broken pieces we’re too sentimental or scared to throw away.Maybe it’s time to let go. Maybe healing begins with clearing space.

 Read (or listen) to Throw Out the Broken Pieces—and ask yourself wha...
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Dead to Words

July 22, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of Write of Passage, Vanessa Riley honors the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner—best known as Theo from The Cosby Show—by celebrating his layered artistry as a poet, musician, and director. She reflects on his impact on Black masculinity, emotional vulnerability, and the cultural memory of a generation that saw themselves in his performances. With tenderness and reverence, she explores the legacy he leaves behind—not just i...
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Color Me Problematic

July 15, 2025 • 11 mins
In this reflective essay, Vanessa Riley explores the ongoing presence of colorism and classism in contemporary life, from reality TV to historical memory. Triggered by tweets and TikToks around Love Island contestants Nic and Olandria—particularly the racialized critiques of Olandria’s poise and beauty—Vanessa dives deep into how dark-skinned women continue to be policed, misunderstood, or erased in the public eye. 

Through a blend ...
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Don’t Believe Your Lying Eyes

July 8, 2025 • 12 mins
Don’t Believe Your Lying Eyes
We’re living in a time when AI can steal a writer’s voice, forge an artist’s work, and clone a person’s face or voice—all with a few clicks. In this episode, I dig into the growing threat of AI-driven scams, from fake books published under real authors' names to deepfakes and phishing that targets everyone—not just your grandma. I share my own experience with AI theft, spotlight high-profile victims lik...
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Lessons from Indoctrination

July 3, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of Write of Passage, Vanessa reflects on an unexpected lesson learned at 30,000 feet. On a turbulent return trip from the Historical Novel Society conference, she witnesses firsthand how indoctrination quietly seeps into our lives—not through shouting, but through repetition, comfort, and curated fear. From her own journey as a historical fiction writer breaking free of industry expectations, to the quiet propaganda...
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When the Plan Falls Apart

June 24, 2025 • 11 mins
It probably won’t surprise you—at least not once you’ve met me—that I’m a planner. My name is Vanessa Riley, and I’m a serial planner. There isn’t an outline I don’t love, nor a spreadsheet that doesn’t call my name. If I could design a map of a map of a map of systems accompanied by a flowchart—I’d consider it bliss. Come to one of my book events and ask what kind of person or writer I am, and I’ll often tell you: I’m a nerd’s ner...
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Sexual Chocolate Please

June 17, 2025 • 8 mins
If you don’t recognize the phrase “Sexual Chocolate,” then you might be too young or too sheltered—or simply overdue for a viewing of Coming to America. The phrase hails from a hilarious moment in this 1988 cult classic when Prince Akeem (played by Eddie Murphy) attends a church service in Queens hoping to find a “good woman.”He does find one—but not before the audience is treated to a cringe-worthy performance by a band called Sex...
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How to Let Go

June 10, 2025 • 10 mins
Whenever I finish writing a manuscript, there’s always this unexpected wave of sadness that hits me. It shouldn’t be unexpected. This is like my 27th or 28th book.But yes. You heard me right—sadness.Because now I’m done with these characters.Characters I’ve lived with for three, sometimes four months. Characters whose voices echoed in my head, who made me laugh, who made me cry, and made me question everything. And once I’ve typed ...
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Fellowship and Flowers: A Weekend That Filled My Soul

June 3, 2025 • 9 mins
Have you ever not known how empty you were—until a weekend of feasting showed you just how hungry you really are?That was me, this weekend. I spent it in the company of 1,500 readers and fellow authors at the Black Romance Book Fest, and I left with my heart and spirit overflowing. Now, you might say, “Vanessa, I get your newsletter. I follow you on Instagram and Threads. I see the pictures. You go to a lot of events.” And yes, tha...
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Nine Minutes, Five Years – Still Breathless

May 27, 2025 • 11 mins
n 2020, America and the world were spiraling. COVID. COVID shutdowns, high COVID deaths, and the divisive uproar over wearing masks frayed nerves and divided communities. Then, in the middle of the chaos, we witnessed the killing of a man.George Floyd, a man who’d run afoul of the law in the past, was approached by police under the false suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill.At 8:20 p.m. on May 25, 2020, outside Cup Foods in Mi...
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Fire, Frolic, and the Fragile Threads of Humanity

May 20, 2025 • 12 mins
This week, I went through a whirlwind of emotions—yes, whirlwind. That’s the word. It captures the highs and lows, the unpredictable moments, the shared grief, reflection, and the surprising grace that shaped these past few days. All these feelings—they live in pictures.Picture this: an artist gifted in creating larger-than-life floral and celebratory installations-roses, sunflowers, and even huge gift boxes with perfect bows. I fo...
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