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

Lead Like A Pirate

December 2, 2025 • 13 mins
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 r...
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Hospitality Dead?

November 25, 2025 • 11 mins
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 s...
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Bitter Ground: On Dissatisfaction, Bitterness, and Breaking Up the Bad Ground:

November 18, 2025 • 13 mins
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 sprea...
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Do The Math

November 11, 2025 • 12 mins
In this episode, Vanessa Riley dives beneath the glitter of Hollywood’s pirate myths to uncover the real stories—of women, of survival, of truth—and connects that search for authenticity to the modern struggles of publishing, timing, and creative perseverance. It’s a call to “do the math,” embrace truth over nostalgia, and keep telling the stories that matter, even when the system isn’t built for you.

 Keywords:
pirates, publishing, ...
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Hang the Pictures

November 4, 2025 • 10 mins
In this reflective episode, Vanessa shares the story of three photographs that sat unhung for nine years—a simple act that became a powerful metaphor for grief, healing, and reclaiming purpose. Through personal loss, creative pauses, and the courage to begin again, she reminds us that it’s never too late to return to our dreams, forgive ourselves for detours, and finish what we started. Hang the picture. Write the book. Pick up you...
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Hold Me, Help the World

October 28, 2025 • 12 mins
In this heartfelt reflection, Vanessa Riley explores the power of a simple hug, from Misty Copeland’s final bow embraced by Debbie Allen to moments of connection at the 21st Cavalcade in Chicago, reminding us that in times of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty, human connection, encouragement, and kindness can heal and inspire.

Comma-delimited keywords:
hugs, human connection, Misty Copeland, Debbie Allen, legacy, kindness, encourageme...
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Robot vs. Robot: When ChatGPT Helps Me Fight Its Cousins

October 21, 2025 • 15 mins
Robot vs. Robot: When ChatGPT Helps Me Fight Its Cousins is a humorous and insightful look at the growing invasion of AI-powered spam bots in the literary world. Author Vanessa Riley recounts the barrage of fake outreach emails posing as book clubs, reviewers, and marketing specialists, and shows how she enlisted ChatGPT to analyze and expose these digital imposters. Through witty anecdotes and practical advice, she explores the ne...
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Finding My Jane: On Writing, Representation, and the Power of Adaptation

October 14, 2025 • 9 mins
In this reflective episode, Vanessa Riley shares her experience speaking at the Jane Austen Society of North America’s 250th anniversary celebration. From standing before 700 devoted Janeites to exploring how Austen’s world intersects with race, history, and adaptation, Vanessa invites listeners to see her Jane—a writer deeply aware of her times. This talk is both a love letter to storytelling and a call for inclusion: reminding us...
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AI Can’t Fake the Funk or the Fire

October 7, 2025 • 12 mins
This episode of Write of Passage dives into the intersection of creativity, AI, and the enduring power of human imagination. Vanessa Riley reflects on her experience at the James River Writers Conference, where she witnessed writers hungry to share their stories and discussed the rise of AI in publishing. While AI promises speed and efficiency, Vanessa shares her frustrations with generic, poorly crafted marketing emails that flood...
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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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