About Rooted in Story - Exploring the stories that ground us
Hosted by Dr. Denise LaRosa, Rooted in Story is a bi-weekly podcast that dives into books that challenge, inspire, and ground us. Each short, thought-provoking episode explores fiction and nonfiction that uncover hidden histories, reshape perspectives, and spark deep conversations.
Join me as we explore the stories that leave a lasting impact—because some books aren’t just meant to be read, they’re meant to be felt and remembered.
The Filling Station: Fiction, Memory, and the Tulsa Race Massacre”
Author Vanessa Miller discusses her historical fiction novel, *The Filling Station*, which humanizes the Tulsa Race Massacre through characters inspired by real people in an interview with LaRosa Reads.
4 Nov 2025
No Ordinary Love: Black Romance, Vulnerability, and Stardom
Author Myah Ariel discusses her novel *No Ordinary Love*, which explores themes of Black romance, vulnerability, and stardom through the characters of Ella Simone and Miles in an interview.
21 Oct 2025
August Lane: Black Love, Black Music, Black Country Roots
Regina Black discusses her novel August Lane, which explores Black love and music against the backdrop of country music's Black roots, revealing generational complexities in an interview.
7 Oct 2025
The Rose That Grew From Concrete: Tupac’s Enduring Voice
This episode of Rooted in Story analyzes Tupac Shakur's poetry collection, *The Rose That Grew from Concrete*, examining themes of resilience, voice, and the ability to create beauty even in difficult environments.
5 May 2025
An Unspeakable Hope: The Leader We All Need Right Now
What happens when pain becomes purpose? In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Denise LaRosa reflects on An Unspeakable Hope by Leon Ford—a powerful memoir that chronicles Ford’s life after a violent act of police brutality left him paralyzed at the age of 19.
As a Black woman, mother, and diversity practitioner, Dr. LaRosa shares how Leon’s story of resilience, radical love, and healing struck a chord on both personal and professional levels. She explores the book’s themes of trauma, transformation, and truth-telling, and highlights how An Unspeakable Hope offers a blueprint for justice, healing, and community change.
💬 Tune in to hear why this is the most important book Dr. LaRosa has read for the times we’re living in—and how Leon Ford’s story continues to shape a more compassionate future.
📚 Grab your copy of An Unspeakable Hope through LaRosa Reads on Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/shop/larosareads) to support indie bookstores.
💛 Support the work of The Hear Foundation, co-founded by Leon Ford.
📲 DM your thoughts @larosareads on Instagram and join the conversation.
#RootedInStory #LeonFord #AnUnspeakableHope #TheHearFoundation #BlackVoicesMatter #Bookstagram #DiverseSpines #Memoir #SocialJusticeReads #PodcastEpisode #LaRosaReads #BlackAuthors #ReadBlack #HealingThroughStory #IndieBookstores #OwnVoices #StorytellingForJustice
20 Apr 2025
Lost Histories, Found Stories: Discovering Roots in Happy Land
What happens when history isn’t passed down, but buried? In this episode of Rooted in Story, Dr. Denise LaRosa explores Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez—a dual-timeline novel that shines a powerful light on the loss of generational wealth and generational memory for Black Americans.
With narratives from Luella and Nikki, this novel is a stunning meditation on land, legacy, and the stories that often go untold. As a Black woman currently journeying through the South to retrace the footsteps of ancestors and civil rights heroes, Dr. LaRosa reflects on how this novel hits home—and how it reminds us that discovering our roots is both personal and political.
✨ Whether you’ve read Happy Land or are adding it to your TBR, this episode will leave you inspired to ask questions, recover truths, and reconnect with your own lineage.
📚 Grab your copy and support local indie bookstores through bookshop.org/shop/larosareads (https://bookshop.org/shop/larosareads)
📩 DM your thoughts on Instagram: @larosareads (https://www.instagram.com/larosareads)
🎧 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the podcast!
#RootedInStory #HappyLand #DolenPerkinsValdez #BlackHistory #Ancestry #BlackLiterature #Bookstagram #PodcastRecommendation #LiteraryPodcast #KnowYourRoots #IndieBookstoreLove #BlackReaders #BookClubPick #GenerationalWealth #BlackAuthorsMatter #BookishReflections
5 Apr 2025
The Swans of Harlem: Dancing in the Shadows of Greatness
What happens when the stories of trailblazing Black ballerinas are left out of history books, dance studios, and our cultural memory? In this episode of Rooted in Story, Dr. Denise LaRosa—a former professional dancer with a deep love for ballet—dives into The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby, a powerful reclamation of five extraordinary women who defied the odds and danced their way into history under the banner of Arthur Mitchell’s Dance Theatre of Harlem.
With heartfelt reflection and informed insight, Dr. LaRosa explores the beauty, brilliance, and heartbreak woven into the lives of these unsung artists—and how their legacy reshapes the story of ballet in America. She also reckons with the complexities of Arthur Mitchell’s leadership and the ways we can hold space for imperfect visionaries while demanding more for future generations of dancers.
Whether you’re a dancer, a reader, or someone passionate about unearthing the stories that shape us, this episode invites you to reflect, learn, and spread the word.
📚 Want to read The Swans of Harlem and support local bookstores at the same time? Purchase your copy through my Bookshop store: bookshop.org/shop/larosareads (https://bookshop.org/shop/larosareads)
🔔 Don’t forget to follow or subscribe to Rooted in Story, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it.
27 Mar 2025
Unraveling the Politics of Black Hair
Black hair is more than just hair—it’s history, identity, and resistance. In this episode of Rooted in Story, we’re diving into Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture by Emma Dabiri. This book unpacks the complex social, political, and cultural forces that have shaped Black hair narratives for centuries.
From Eurocentric beauty standards to the power of natural hair movements, Twisted challenges us to rethink what we’ve been taught about Black hair and its significance. Let’s explore the deep-rooted history, personal connections, and ongoing fight for self-expression woven into every curl and coil.
27 Mar 2025
A Lost Literary Gem: Why You Need to Read Diane Oliver
Diane Oliver’s Neighbors and Other Stories is a brilliant yet overlooked collection that offers a powerful glimpse into Black life in the 1960s. Though her life was tragically cut short, Oliver’s writing remains riveting, deeply rooted in its time, and reflective of the struggles and complexities of race, class, and identity.
In this episode of Rooted in Story, we’re uncovering why Diane Oliver’s work deserves more recognition and how her short stories continue to resonate today. If you love discovering underappreciated literary voices, this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.
27 Mar 2025
Two Sisters, Two Fates: How Homegoing Tells the Story of Black America
Few novels capture the profound, generational impact of enslavement like Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. This sweeping, multi-generational saga follows two sisters—one sold into slavery, the other remaining in Ghana—and traces the ripple effects of their fates across centuries.
In this episode of Rooted in Story, I reflect on how Gyasi’s storytelling is layered, nuanced, and deeply human. As a Black woman, I was both captivated and devastated by the journey of these families and the haunting legacy of history. And that ending? Breathtaking. Let’s unpack this powerful novel and sit with the truths it reveals about Black America.
27 Mar 2025
Black Women’s Words, White Authorship: A Conversation on The Sisterhood
Who gets to tell the stories of Black women writers? In this episode of Rooted in Story, we’re diving into The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture and unpacking the complexities of a book about Black women’s literary impact—written by a white scholar.
While The Sisterhood highlights the brilliance of Black women writers and their cultural influence, it also raises important questions about authorship, representation, and the role of diversity in academia. As a Black woman, mother, educator, and DEI director, I have my own thoughts on this—especially on the book’s critique of diversity offices in universities. Let’s explore the power of these women’s words and the tension of who gets to write our stories.
27 Mar 2025
Harlem Rhapsody: The Woman Who Built a Literary Legacy
Jessie Redmon Fauset was a literary powerhouse of the Harlem Renaissance, yet her name is often overshadowed by the writers she nurtured—Langston Hughes, Nella Larsen, and more. In this episode of Rooted in Story, we’re diving into Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray, a novel that brings Fauset’s story to life.
Join me as we explore how Fauset shaped Black literature, the barriers she faced, and why her influence deserves more recognition. This book left me wondering: How many other brilliant Black women have been written out of history? Let’s give Fauset her flowers and unpack her remarkable, and long-overdue, legacy.
27 Mar 2025
Welcome to Rooted in Story
Stories have the power to challenge, inspire, and ground us. In this first episode of Rooted in Story, I’m introducing you to the heart of this podcast—why I created it, what you can expect, and how we’ll explore the books that leave a lasting impact. Each bi-weekly episode will highlight a book that sparks deep reflection, offering key insights and meaningful takeaways. Whether it’s fiction that uncovers hidden histories or nonfiction that shifts our perspectives, Rooted in Story is a space for book lovers who believe stories shape who we are.
Let’s dive in—because some books aren’t just meant to be read, they’re meant to be felt and remembered.
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Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
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62
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YouTube
85
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