In the season one finale of Red Hen Radio, we’re taking you out of the studio and into the heart of Los Angeles’s indie literary scene. Audio editor Piper hits the streets to visit two extraordinary independent bookstores—Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena and Underdog Bookstore in Monrovia.

Meet Nikki High, founder of Octavia’s Bookshelf, Pasadena’s first indie bookstore dedicated to highlighting books by BIPOC authors. Nikki shares how her lifelong devotion to reading, community care, and representation sparked the creation of her shop, and why cozy, safe spaces matter.

Step inside Underdog Bookstore, led by Kealie Mardell-Carrera, whose mission is to raise up LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, disabled, and neurodiverse authors through intentional curation, community programs, and all with the help from a four-legged “employee” Ninkasi.

Hear why buying local isn’t just a transaction, it’s a community investment that fuels literacy, empowers authors, and keeps cultural spaces alive.

Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!

Did you know you can grab the resources shared on this episode on Substack? For a list of what was talked about, please visit: https://redhenpress.substack.com/

For a readable enjoyment, read the transcript of our website here: https://redhen.org/red-hen-radio/

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Catch up on our books!

• Bookshop.org: Red Hen Press

• Store: https://redhenpress.myshopify.com/

• Website: https://redhen.org/book/

Red Hen Radio is produced by the powerhouse team at Red Hen Press.

In this thoughtful episode, Kate Gale sits down with poets M. Soledad Caballero, Jose Hernandez Diaz, and Jason Schneiderman for a candid conversation about what it means to write, teach, and stay grounded in an increasingly chaotic world.

The episode opens with a conversation about the pressure and promise of releasing creative work during turbulent times. Follow along as the discussion shifts from books shaping these writers’ current reading lives and how early influences evolve as artists mature, to the role of phones, screens, and social media in shifting our attention and how it reshapes the way students encounter art.

This episode is a reminder that poetry is a lifeline.

Listeners also get to hear these poets' poetry in this exclusive episode with Red Hen Press authors.

Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!

Did you know you can grab the resources shared on this episode on Substack? For a list of what was talked about, please visit: https://redhenpress.substack.com/

For a readable enjoyment, read the transcript of our website here: https://redhen.org/red-hen-radio/

Don’t miss out on all things Red Hen!

• Instagram: @redhenpress

• Threads: @redhenpress

• Twitter/X: @redhenpress

• BlueSky: @redhenpress.bsky.social

• TikTok: @redhenpress

• Facebook: Red Hen Press

Catch up on our books!

• Bookshop.org: Red Hen Press

• Store: https://redhenpress.myshopify.com/

• Website: https://redhen.org/book/

Red Hen Radio is produced by the powerhouse team at Red Hen Press.

In this episode of Red Hen Radio, we celebrate Filipino American History Month with two brilliant voices shaping today’s literary landscape. Monica Fernandez, Red Hen’s Media Director, sits down with Jhoanna Belfer, founder and owner of Bel Canto Books in Long Beach, and author E.P. Tuazon, whose short story collection A Professional Lola explores family, identity, and humor in unforgettable ways.

Immerse in the Filipino culture as our guests chat about the thriving literary community hub, Filipino American storytelling and representation in publishing, cultural recognition in pop culture, family traditions and mouthwatering food memories, and books and authors shaping a new era of Filipino American literature.

This conversation is a celebration of heritage, identity, and the joy of seeing yourself reflected in the stories shared to the world.

Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!

Did you know you can grab the resources shared on this episode on Substack? For a list of what was talked about, please visit: https://redhenpress.substack.com/

For a readable enjoyment, read the transcript of our website here: https://redhen.org/red-hen-radio/

Don’t miss out on all things Red Hen!

• Instagram: @redhenpress

• Threads: @redhenpress

• Twitter/X: @redhenpress

• BlueSky: @redhenpress.bsky.social

• TikTok: @redhenpress

• Facebook: Red Hen Press

Catch up on our books!

• Bookshop.org: Red Hen Press

• Store: https://redhenpress.myshopify.com/

• Website: https://redhen.org/book/

Red Hen Radio is produced by the powerhouse team at Red Hen Press.

This episode delves into the magical and mythical with Malia Márquez and Lara Ehrlich.

Malia discusses her love of tarot while Lara discusses the mythology of mermaids and sirens. Both explore deep topics regarding womanhood and feminism and how their stories can offer a feminist subversions of male dominated genres like noir and mythology.

They also dive deep into the personal process of creating emotional stories with complex female relationships through introspection of their own familial relationships. Lara and Malia also talk about their desires for their novels and how they both achieved their writing goals. Excitingly, they also speak on working on future works.

Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!

To learn more about our 31st Annual Benefit Gala, read about the event on the website here.

Did you know you can grab the resources shared on this episode on Substack? For a list of what was talked about, please visit: ⁠https://redhenpress.substack.com/⁠

For a readable enjoyment, read the transcript of our website here: ⁠https://redhen.org/red-hen-radio/⁠

Don’t miss out on all things Red Hen!

• Instagram: ⁠@redhenpress⁠

• Threads: ⁠@redhenpress⁠

• Twitter/X: ⁠@redhenpress⁠

• BlueSky: ⁠@redhenpress.bsky.social ⁠

• TikTok: ⁠@redhenpress⁠

• Facebook: ⁠Red Hen Press⁠

Catch up on our books!

• Bookshop.org: ⁠Red Hen Press⁠

• Store: ⁠https://redhenpress.myshopify.com/⁠

• Website: ⁠https://redhen.org/book/⁠

Red Hen Radio is produced by the powerhouse team at Red Hen Press.

In this episode Kim Dower, Ben Crisp, and Monica Fernandez partake in an insightful and introspective discussion on the evolving landscape of marketing and publicity in book publishing and the dynamic experience of being both a writer and publicist in the industry.

An incredible resource for any aspiring publicists or writers who want an exclusive peak into the behind the scenes process of publicizing a book. This expert panel of 3 industry professionals offer an insightful perspective on expectations, strategies and adaptability on the job.

Kim and Ben also offer some of their own experiences as both a publicist and writer within the industry.

Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!

Did you know you can grab the resources shared on this episode on Substack? For a list of what was talked about, please visit: https://redhenpress.substack.com/

For a readable enjoyment, read the transcript of our website here: https://redhen.org/red-hen-radio/

Don’t miss out on all things Red Hen!

• Instagram: @redhenpress

• Threads: @redhenpress

• Twitter/X: @redhenpress

• BlueSky: @redhenpress.bsky.social

• TikTok: @redhenpress

• Facebook: Red Hen Press

Catch up on our books!

• Bookshop.org: Red Hen Press

• Store: https://redhenpress.myshopify.com/

• Website: https://redhen.org/book/

Red Hen Radio is produced by the powerhouse team at Red Hen Press.

For Pride Month, this episode is a thoughtfully reflective discussion on queer identity, worldbuilding, and writing the fantastical.

In this episode, Molly and Madeleine speak candidly about the reception of their books within queer and disabled communities, and how growing up feeling excluded and included from traditional genre spaces inspired them to write the stories they longed to see.

For aspiring queer writers wondering if there's a place for them in SFF stories, this conversation offers insight, solidarity, and encouragement. And for the readers who’ve embraced The Sea Gives Up the Dead and Angel Eye, Molly Olguin and Madeleine Nakamura offer heartfelt thanks and reflect on the power of being seen through stories.

Tune in for a deeply affirming and imaginative dialogue about the magic of queer storytelling.

For a transcription of the episode, please download the PDF on the podcast website here.

To submit a manuscript with Red Hen Press, follow the guidelines here.

Grab a copy of The Sea Gives Up the Dead here

Grab a copy of Angel Eye here

The Sea Gives Up the Dead is a Libro.FM Bookseller Pick! Listen to the audiobook of The Sea Gives Up the Dead.

Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!

Did you know you can grab the resources shared on this episode on Substack? For a list of what was talked about, please visit: https://redhenpress.substack.com/

For a readable enjoyment, read the transcript of our website here: https://redhen.org/red-hen-radio/

Don’t miss out on all things Red Hen!

• Instagram: @redhenpress

• Threads: @redhenpress

• Twitter/X: @redhenpress

• BlueSky: @redhenpress.bsky.social

• TikTok: @redhenpress

• Facebook: Red Hen Press

Catch up on our books!

• Bookshop.org: Red Hen Press

• Store: https://redhenpress.myshopify.com/

• Website: https://redhen.org/book/

Red Hen Radio is produced by the powerhouse team at Red Hen Press.

In this special episode honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we bring together three remarkable literary voices. Join the discussion with Pete Hsu, Andrew Lam, and Monica Fernandez, moderated by the insightful Audrey Fong,

Together, they share personal stories, reflect on their creative journeys, and explore the richness of AAPI identity in literature. From navigating cultural experiences to amplifying underrepresented voices, this conversation is a celebration of resilience, inspiration, and storytelling.

Tune in as we honor the achievements and contributions of the AAPI community this month and beyond.

Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!

Did you know you can grab the resources shared on this episode on Substack? For a list of what was talked about, please visit: https://redhenpress.substack.com/

Interested in submitting to Red Hen Press? Read through our submission guidelines here, https://redhen.org/submission-guidelines/

For a readable enjoyment, read the transcript of our website here: https://redhen.org/red-hen-radio/

Don’t miss out on all things Red Hen!

• Instagram: @redhenpress

• Threads: @redhenpress

• Twitter/X: @redhenpress

• BlueSky: @redhenpress.bsky.social

• TikTok: @redhenpress

• Facebook: Red Hen Press

Catch up on our books!

• Bookshop.org: Red Hen Press

• Store: https://redhenpress.myshopify.com/

• Website: https://redhen.org/book/

Red Hen Radio is produced by the powerhouse team at Red Hen Press.

How do books get to readers? The all-star Marketing and Media Directors of Red Hen Press break it down. Tobi Harper Petrie and Monica Fernandez share the ins-and-outs of publicity, metadata, social media, and getting a step in the publishing world. Hear about the two sides of the same coin with the M&M team and what they recommend for writers and authors.

Interested in learning more about Marketing? Reach out to Tobi at marketing@redhen.org

Interested in learning more about Media? Reach out to to Monica at media@redhen.org

Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!

Did you know you can grab the resources shared on this episode on Substack? For a list of what was talked about, please visit: https://redhenpress.substack.com/

For a readable enjoyment, read the transcript of our website here: https://redhen.org/red-hen-radio/

Don’t miss out on all things Red Hen!

• Instagram: @redhenpress

• Threads: @redhenpress

• Twitter/X: @redhenpress

• BlueSky: @redhenpress.bsky.social

• TikTok: @redhenpress

• Facebook: Red Hen Press

Catch up on our books!

• Bookshop.org: Red Hen Press

• Store: https://redhenpress.myshopify.com/

• Website: https://redhen.org/book/

Red Hen Radio is produced by the powerhouse team at Red Hen Press.