Rooted in Story - Exploring the stories that ground us

The Filling Station: Fiction, Memory, and the Tulsa Race Massacre”

A powerful, human-centered story set during the Tulsa Race Massacre. Vanessa Miller brings this devastating event in American history to life by centering characters inspired by real people. It’s a reminder that behind every historical tragedy are human beings — mothers, fathers, sisters, grandmothers — who lived it. 📚 Grab your copy of The Filling Station through ⁠⁠⁠LaRosa Reads on Bookshop⁠⁠⁠ [https://bookshop.org/shop/larosareads] to support indie bookstores. 📲 DM your thoughts @larosareads on Instagram and join the conversation. #TheFillingStation #VanessaMiller #TulsaRaceMassacre #HistoricalFiction #BlackHistoryMatters #OwnVoices #BookPodcast #HistoricalFictionReads #BlackAuthors #NeverForget #RootedInStory #DiverseSpines

No Ordinary Love: Black Romance, Vulnerability, and Stardom

Black love at its finest. Myah Ariel delivers sensual romance layered with real-life struggles. We talk about Ella Simone, a superstar wrestling with insecurities, and Miles, the gorgeous pro athlete who proves he’s more than just his looks. Plot holes aside, this one is a delightful, vulnerable, and necessary addition to the Black romance canon. 📚 Grab your copy of No Ordinary Love through ⁠⁠LaRosa Reads on Bookshop⁠⁠ [https://bookshop.org/shop/larosareads] to support indie bookstores. 📲 DM your thoughts @larosareads on Instagram and join the conversation. #NoOrdinaryLove #MyahAriel #BlackRomance #RomanceReaders #BookPodcast #RomanceBookstagram #BlackLoveStories #CelebRomance #SportsRomance #BookishLove #RootedInStory #DiverseSpines

August Lane: Black Love, Black Music, Black Country Roots

A swoony, lyrical romance set against the backdrop of country music’s Black roots. We dive into the history of Black musicians in country music, today’s mainstream breakthroughs with Beyoncé, Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, and others, and how Regina Black blends generational complexities, romance, and trauma into a unique love story. 📚 Grab your copy of August Lane through ⁠LaRosa Reads on Bookshop⁠ [https://bookshop.org/shop/larosareads] to support indie bookstores. 📲 DM your thoughts @larosareads on Instagram and join the conversation. #AugustLane #ReginaBlack #BlackRomance #RomanceReaders #CountryMusic #BlackCountryMusic #Beyonce #Shaboozey #TannerAdell #RomanceBookstagram #BookPodcast #RootedInStory #DiverseSpines #BlackLove

The Rose That Grew From Concrete: Tupac’s Enduring Voice

Poetry, pain, and possibility. We explore Tupac’s iconic collection through the lens of resilience, voice, and the power of storytelling. These poems remind us that even in the harshest environments, beauty can grow — and thrive. 📚 Grab your copy of The Rose that Grew from Concrete through ⁠LaRosa Reads on Bookshop⁠ [https://bookshop.org/shop/larosareads] to support indie bookstores. 📲 DM your thoughts @larosareads on Instagram and join the conversation. #TheRoseThatGrewFromConcrete #TupacShakur #PoetryCommunity #BlackPoetry #HipHopCulture #90sHipHop #BookPodcast #PoetryOfInstagram #SpokenWordPoetry #RootedInStory #BlackVoicesMatter #DiverseSpines

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