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