Teacher to Traveling Expert, a Journey Unlike Any Other
By Mitchell Sasser | WeINSPIRE Contributor
GOOCHLAND, VA— Teacher, professor, author, professional speaker, media correspondent, podcast host, and traveling expert — if that job list sounds exhaustive, try living it.
That’s exactly what Dr. Denise Mose from Huntsville, Alabama, has been doing for the past 49 years. Mose is a proud alumna of Alabama A&M University, where she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in elementary and childhood education. Mose said teaching was her “first love,” and taught for 14 years, ranging from kids to adults.
“I loved the range from first grade, all the way to college, and everything in between,” Mose said. “It was a great time, I loved it.”
Photo Courtesy of Denise Mose
Both of Mose’s parents were educators, and Mose described them as two “crazy black parents in the south, and they did not play.” Mose has an identical twin sister Danielle, and an older brother Daniel. Their dad was a principal, and their parents were heavily involved with their education, whether it was getting to know all of the teachers, joining students on field trips, or participating in parent-teacher night.
“We couldn’t escape,” Denise said lovingly.
“I’m so thankful that I had parents who valued education, and said ‘you need to be smart, you need to speak well, you’re earning a degree,’” Mose said.
When Mose made the transition from teaching kids to adults, one of the things she loved was being able to be transparent about her journey and share both her successes and failures with students who wanted a similar career.
“It’s on us when we achieve a level of success to share that with folks who want to go on the same path,” Mose said.
Classroom to Sundance Film Festival
In 2004, Mose was on a panel with Bishop T.D. Jakes about urban communities. Afterward, a man approached her and said, “you don’t know me, I don’t know you, but I saw you speaking, and you belong on television.”
That man was Media Executive of Jericho Broadcast Networks Roy Eavins. Her first assignment was to attend the Kentucky Derby in Louisville and interview people in attendance that included Bobby Flay and Oprah Winfrey.
“It was amazing, I interviewed Smokey Robinson, we interviewed NBA Champion Michael Jordan, we interviewed Actress Gabrielle Union and Chef Bobby Flay, we interviewed Earth, Wind, and Fire — I’m like, you pay people to do this?”, Mose said.
It was after that experience she quit teaching, pursued entertainment media full time and never looked back.
Photo Courtesy of Denise Mose
Her most memorable interview experience was with one of her favorite artists of all time, Prince. Mose was in New York at Madison Square Gardens when she had her 13-second window to ask him a question. She managed to stumble over her words and mutter out an “I love you,” before he was whisked away by his security team.
While most people would be devastated by losing their one shot to interview one of their heroes, Mose took this as a learning opportunity.
“I think failure is a beautiful thing. It’s painful, but it’s necessary for growth. If you want to grow, you’re going to fail,” Mose said.
From covering the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil to interviewing Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes, to a dinner with Paul McCartney, Mose has had the opportunity to meet and interview many celebrities. Mose is also an annual Red Carpet Host for the Academy Awards, Sundance Film Festival, and the Essence Music Festival.
“It’s been the craziest kick that I can do this, just the craziest kick in the head,” Mose said.
Traveling
In the summer of 2014, Mose was “over the whole 9-5 thing,” and looking for something new in life. She found a chance to teach English outside of the United States, and decided to take up the opportunity.
She sold her condo, and by Christmas of 2014, she was in China.
“My biggest takeaway from living in China is to truly, truly go for it. Life is so very short. We’re comfortable in the bubble — because this is where I get my hair done, this is where my parents live, this is where I buy my food, this is my church, this is my kids school — we’re comfortable in the bubble,” Mose said.
But the bubble is not always where we’re supposed to be, according to Mose.
Mose was 8,000 miles away from home on a new continent. She traveled to Bangkok, Bejing, Shanghai, Korea, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Liushi, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Yeoqing, Taiwan, Dubai, and spent some time going “up and down that Great Wall,” where she taught English, Western Culture, Etiquette, and Traveling and Communications.
Her biggest takeaway from her traveling adventure is simply; “To live each day, because tomorrow is not promised,” Mose said.
Podcast
Mose’s podcast is “Self-Discovery on Sundays w/ Dr. D,” which airs Sunday at 4 pm CST. Mose wanted to stay creative and engage an audience during the COVID pandemic, and her 10 minute episodes cover everything from overcoming self-doubt, appreciating diversity, and showcasing the importance of traveling.
“I love my podcast, it’s been so much fun,” Mose said. “If you say it’s going to be a great day, it’s going to be a kick-ass day. If you say, I’m in a bad mood, I hate everybody, then your brain works to make sure those things happen. The mind is powerful.”
Her podcast doesn’t have a million followers (yet!), but Mose said people get lost in the idea of a massive audience. She wants to engage with the audience she has, and it’s great if she gets a million, but that’s not the goal. Her goal is connecting and truly getting to know the audience she has.
Her inspiration
Mose has three inspirations; her friend, John Q. Lennard, her niece Madison Pokey Saylee, and her mother.
Lennard is the Director of Bands at Tuskegee University, and one of Mose’s best friends. He has been battling kidney failure for 20 years, but received his transplant last year. Mose said his ability to hold a prestigious job while dealing with his pain is incredible.
“He inspires me every day,” said Mose.
Mose said there is a myth that exists that says black people don’t travel. As much as she travels and sees the world, she wants her niece, Madison Saylee, to do the same. Mose has taken her to see the Grand Canyon, and they also visit Disney World each year. Saylee is in the Girl Scouts, and is about to start the sixth grade.
“She watches me and I want to be a good example,” Mose said. “Not perfect, but good.”
Photo Courtesy of Denise Mose
Her final inspiration is her mother, Pokey, who passed away fifteen years ago. She grew up poor in Mississippi, and dealt with segregation and being spit on by white people. Mose said she was a perfect example of a “rags to riches” story. Pokey was a former educator, college professor, and world traveler (sound familiar?).
If you would like to contact Mose, she can be reached at mosedym@gmail.com.
“I’ve lived about 4 - 5 different lives at this point, so I’m going to spread this black girl magic all over the world,” Mose said.
