Red Hen Radio

Kate Gale talks with Brian Sonia-Wallace, Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, about how poetry can help fight the literacy crisis. Brian shares his work with Get Lit, the youth nonprofit where students memorize a classic poem, teach it to their peers, and write their own poems in response. He explains why young people bring wisdom to the page, how memorizing a poem changes your relationship to it, and w...

Pre-Order Desire Lines, releasing Oct 6, 2026! - https://bit.ly/4xPjPNh Kristen Millares Young, writer and journalist, shows us her writing process behind her first memoir, Desire Lines. Desire Lines is a forensic investigation into the emotional topography of being a woman, a writer and a mother. She traced her matrilineage from Cuba to Spain, and uncovered the remnants of a pagan cult whose moth...

Pre-Order The KITCHEN ACTIVIST - https://bit.ly/4y9WTJN Red Hen Radio is BACK! We have relaunched your favorite, weekly literary podcast, and it’s better than ever! This week we have Florencia Ramirez on the show. Her new book, The Kitchen Activist, releases on Dec 1st, 2026! It’s up for pre-order now! Today, Florencia sits down with us to discuss how we can do our part to help save the planet by...

The Red Hen Radio Podcast is back! We'll be bringing you in depth interviews with some of the world's most talented authors and exciting conversations about the future of the publishing industry! Subscribe so you never miss an episode. And check out the Red Hen Press Substack for extra conversations with our guests! - https://redhenpress.substack.com/

In this heartfelt episode of Red Hen Radio, publisher Kate Gale sits down with poet, educator, and longtime Writing in the Schools (WITS) instructor Bonnie S. Kaplan to discuss the transformative power of literary arts in schools. Whether you're an educator, writer, parent, or simply someone who believes stories can change lives, this conversation is a moving reminder that literature begins wi...

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Red Hen Press publisher Kate Gale sits down with singer-songwriter and poet Amy Speace & screenwriter and novelist Luke Goebel to discuss their new books and dive into a conversation of creativity, recovery, music, literature, and artistic purpose. Amy Speace reflects on the relationship between songwriting and poetry, describing them as &...

Our very own Tobi Harper Petrie sits down with Red Hen Press authors Laura Kasischke ( The Lifeguard ) and Khanh Ha ( The Afterlife of a Threadbare Jester ) for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about the realities of publishing with an independent press. Laura and Khanh share insights into their latest novels, their unique creative processes, and why independent presses continue to be essentia...

Kate Gale chats with Molly Fisk and Brendan Constantine about their dedication and creation to their latest collections for poetry. Molly shares her poetry and the idea of peace with writing. Brendan honors his students in this episode and mentions how incredible it is to teach poetry while still honing in on the craft. These authors delve into how an initial idea or concept can transform into som...

Season two of Red Hen Radio launches with a deep dive into the art of fiction. Listen in on the conversation with three Red Hen Press authors whose work on literary, experimental, and multi-genre styles are discussed. Aimee Liu, Pete Hsu, and Lily Hoang join host Monica Fernandez to explore how they define their work, navigate genre, and hone in on their creativity through the challenges of the wr...

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 bo...

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 fr...

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....

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...

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 public...

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 as...

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 navigatin...

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 Mar...

Kate Gale chats with special guest Francisco Aragón, author of After Rubén on this episode. Francisco Aragón is the author of three books of poetry. His poems and translations have appeared in numerous literary journals. He is on the faculty of the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies, where he teaches courses in Latinx poetry and creative writing, and directs Letras Latinas, th...

Kate Gale discusses common themes between her debut book Under a Neon Sun and DC Frost’s debut novel A Punishing Breed . Beyond the pages, these west coast women writers explore the evolving landscape of diversity and how real-world issues shape storytelling; especially within California. Tune in for an engaging conversation about publishing, representation, and the West Coast’s rich literary cult...

Get an inside look of the dark and twisted world in Aliah Wright’s debut thriller Now You Owe Me . Listeners will unravel the terrifying mystery of a missing woman, the sinister minds of serial killer twins, and the thought-provoking perspective of navigating America as a Black person. Aliah shares the inspiration behind her chilling story, how she crafts suspense, and the powerful themes of resil...

Celebrate with Red Hen Press on 30 years of publishing! Hear the history from the heart of the press, Kate Gale and Tobi Harper Petrie, as they share intimate details filled with heartfelt sentiment to the people behind the scenes and the authors who've shared their stories with us. Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!  Did you know you can...

Red Hen Press has taken over the radio waves as Red Hen Radio! Follow along as we share to a community of readers and writers who are actively engaged in the essential human practice known as literature.  Catch a new episode of Red Hen Radio every month for an in depth conversation into publishing!  Did you know you can read the transcript of our podcast on Substack? For a readable enjoyment, plea...