Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Ivy Rose.
Hi Vanessa Ivy Rose, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story began with my father introducing me to “Moby Dick” as a toddler. My love for literature grew from there, mostly centering upon sports, music and film. I feel as if I’ve lived many lives rolled into one having been a collegiate basketball player, earning a degree in journalism, becoming an educator, spending many years coaching basketball and most recently becoming a podcast host for an ABC series and an author. Being an author fits like a glove, a baseball glove that is because I fell deeper in love with writing when publishing my first book about my Hall of Fame grandfather, Norman “Turkey” Stearnes. It has been a blessing to have my work featured on ABC, GMA3, CNN, NPR, ESPN’s 30 for 30 podcast and more.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Bruce Lee once said, “Be water” because he knew life would be full of times that were fluid but also times where waves would crash and we all would have to adjust in order to continue flowing. His philosophy has been vital to my understanding of how to navigate challenges due to experiencing life as a liberated Black woman, being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and speaking out about injustice. I know my purpose in life is to help bring people together (through sports, music, film, written and spoken word) by providing opportunities for enlightenment and transformation. No matter what entry point is used, the message remains the same. At times, discussing hard truths and historical context en route to transformation can make people feel uncomfortable, but I truly believe that’s where the most growth can occur.
Another challenge has been learning to embrace my full, authentic self when showing up in spaces that were not designed for someone like me to exist. I had a phenomenal mentor named Andy Allo (musician, actress, chef, director, etc.) who bluntly told me out of love to stop shrinking myself. Even though I had been feeling that way for decades, I had never reflected upon how I was unintentionally doing that to survive. Her words challenged me to face something I had buried so that I could be a people pleaser. Stepping into your full self is the only way to free yourself from remaining stuck and I thank Andy for not only being brave enough to tell me this, but for actually having the vision to see me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My primary titles are author, educator and podcast host. All three of those titles combined are used to help people honor the greatness within themselves and to also see each other more deeply as human. I’m proud of the ABC podcast I hosted (“Reclaimed: The Forgotten League”) because it has won awards and had a global audience that received it well. I’m extremely proud that the podcast allowed me to be a voice for 3,000 Negro Leaguers (both men and women) who had their stories silenced during the era of Jim Crow. I’m also equally proud of my book, “Hall of Fame DNA: The Legacy of Norman Turkey Stearnes” because it has helped people from all over learn more about the hidden figures of society, it has inspired people to learn more about their own family tree and it gave me a chance to have a discussion with my grandfather that was long overdue. The book was written to him as a love letter describing the continued growth of his legacy (since he passed away in 1979). I was born four years after Grandpa Turkey passed, so I never had the chance to tell him what he meant to me. This book served as an opportunity to speak with him but also to inform audiences around the world about how he was one of the greatest baseball players of all time (he ranks 6th in both batting average and slugging percentage all-time for MLB and he is 9th all-time in OPS). The book also was dedicated to my grandmother who was a beacon of light in the world. Without her dedication to writing letters for 21 years to preserve the legacy of Grandpa Turkey, he wouldn’t be in five halls of fame and I wouldn’t know his story.
What sets me apart from others is my genuine ability to speak with integrity and to use multiple entry points to convey uplifting messages. Many people have shared how my “words” have touched their heart or have made them think more deeply. My favorite musician has always been Prince. Just like the name of one of his most famous bands, I believe I can help people in “revolutionary” ways.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
With the introduction of artificial intelligence, the worlds of media, literature and sports are going to continue to evolve at a rapid pace. I’m embracing the positives from this “I Robot”/“Terminator” phase we are in but I’m also encouraging people to continue speaking from the heart, to write their own words and to continue cultivating a love of reading because those foundational skills will always be necessary. It’s up to us to create the type of world future generations will be proud to live in and keep elevating the frequency.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hofdna.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hall_of_fame_dna/
