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
America’s reckoning is here—linking civil rights history, racial injustice, and economic struggle. The question i...
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 an...
An essay on social media lies, misinformation, and lost integrity—exploring ...
Writers were the original gig workers. Now AI, censorship, and chaos are changing the game. Can authors...
Keywords:
Black artists, creative resistance, art and politics, LeBron James, Laura Ingraham, shut up and dribble, Black writers, censorship, cultural criticism, race and identity, ar...
Keyword...
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 trust
Episode Notes & Extras
Find ...
Keywords: betrayal, trust, healing from betrayal, surviving betrayal, forgiveness and anger, trauma recovery, trust after betrayal, emotional healing, marginalized voices, betrayal t...
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 Sa...
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...
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