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In this episode, I chat with Baker Rogers and Mattilyn Kortney, co-owners of Queer Have Books in Colombia, South Carolina.

Nestled in Columbia's historic Arcade Mall, this cozy 680-square-foot sanctuary defines queer not just as gender and sexual identity but as active resistance against all forms of discrimination. The shelves hold carefully curated collections addressing LGBTQ+ experiences alongside works on anti-racism, feminism, and social justice, creating a space where intersectionality isn't just acknowledged but celebrated.

What makes Queer Haven remarkable is how it thrives despite challenging political circumstances. While South Carolina faces potential legislation that could lead to widespread book bans, the shop has leaned into controversy by prominently featuring banned titles. "We have people come in here every day saying 'I've got to get this before it's sold out,'" Baker shares, noting the irony that censorship attempts have actually boosted interest in these books.

Beyond retail, Queer Haven functions as a vibrant community center. In its first year as a brick-and-mortar location, it hosted an impressive 160 events, ranging from book clubs and writing workshops to drag story hours and queer comedy nights.

In a world increasingly dominated by algorithm-driven recommendations and instant delivery, Queer Haven Books represents something profoundly different: human connection, thoughtful curation, and a physical space where marginalized voices are centered rather than silenced. It's not just about selling books—it's about creating community one page at a time.

This episode is brought to you by Saturn Press. Indie Bookshop owners, click here to receive 10% off your first order: www.saturnpress.us

Queer Haven Books

TJ Klune Books

Farrel Covington and the Limits of Style, Paul Rudnick

TJ Klune episode on The Bookshop Podcast

TJ Klune episode on The Bookshop Podcast

Paul Rudnick episode on The Bookshop Podcast

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore, Evan Friss

Pen America Book Bans

The Life Impossible, Matt Haig

The Night Watchman, Louise Erdrich

Stone Butch Blues, Leslie Feinberg

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Mandy Jackson-Beverly
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In this episode, I chat with historian Peniel E. Joseph about his latest book, Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America's Civil Rights Revolution.

Joseph's storytelling prowess brings James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jn., President Kennedy, and Bobbie Kennedy to vibrant life, not as static icons but as complex humans navigating treacherous terrain.

Particularly fascinating is Joseph's exploration of the forgotten women who shaped the movement—Gloria Richardson, Lorraine Hansberry, Diane Nash—who confronted both racial oppression and patriarchal limitations within activist circles. Their stories provide crucial context for understanding today's intersectional movements.

What resonates most powerfully throughout our conversation is how the struggles of 1963 remain eerily familiar six decades later. As we witness contemporary battles over voting rights and historical memory, Joseph reminds us that reconciliation can only emerge through confronting difficult truths about our past, a lesson America is still struggling to learn.

Peniel E. Joseph

Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution, Peniel E. Joseph

Every Living Thing, Jason Roberts

The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday

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Mandy Jackson-Beverly
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This episode is sponsored by Saturn Press!

Hey indie bookshops!

Did you know that greeting cards are a fantastic way for bookshops to boost sales? Saturn Press creates beautiful, handcrafted letterpress cards that customers love to purchase alongside books, helping bookshops grow and thrive.

As a thank you for tuning in to The Bookshop Podcast, Saturn Press is offering indie bookshops 10% off your first order! Just use the code BOOKSHOP10 at checkout and discover how adding cards to your bookshop can make a big difference to your bottom line.

Here's to supporting local bookshops, one card at a time.

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In this episode, I chat with Pascale Beale, who shares her culinary journey from a French-English upbringing to becoming a California cookbook author and cooking instructor. Her philosophy on food has evolved significantly over the decades, shifting from traditional French cuisine to a Mediterranean-style approach that emphasizes seasonal vegetables and fish.

The transformation in Pascale's cooking philosophy mirrors broader cultural shifts. Where once her cooking classes featured red meat prominently, today she finds students gravitating toward vegetable-centric, lighter fare. This evolution reflects both the natural influence of California's climate and changing attitudes toward health and sustainability. Her deep commitment to seasonal eating, instilled by her grandmother in the French Alps, remains the foundation of everything she creates.

What makes Pascale's story particularly fascinating is her unconventional path. After fifteen years in property development and financial management, she returned to her first love – cooking – establishing Pascale's Kitchen cooking school in Santa Barbara. Her business background provided unexpected preparation for entrepreneurship, though she notes the challenges of wearing "all the hats" in a small business. The pandemic pushed her creativity further, developing food photography skills that allowed her to shoot her entire "Flavour" cookbook using just her smartphone.

Now embarking on a new multimedia cookbook project that combines text, audio, and music, Pascale continues to reinvent how we experience food through media.

Subscribe to hear more conversations with culinary innovators and storytellers who, like Pascale, remind us that food is far more than ingredients – it's about connection, tradition, and the joy of sharing.

Pascale’s Kitchen

Flavour, Pascale Beale

Edible, Santa Barbara

Saturn Press Cards

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Mandy Jackson-Beverly
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