A year ago, Kate Wieners quit her corporate job to open a cozy, plant-filled bookstore, Monstera's Books. And while it sounds like the pitch for a movie we'd all love, today Kate talks with us about the real-life, fleshed-out story. What stars had to align for her to leave the "good enough" setup she already had for the risk of a dream? What has it been like to be a partner and a parent as she makes this great leap? What is it like to create a third-space community around books and storytelling right now? And does the nervous-scary of a big risky dream ever go away?

Tune in to hear us talk about:

☎️ The story of the old 70s phone they use in the store and all the ways it sets the tone for the shop.

💫 What Kate's husband Justin said when he heard her name her bookstore dream out loud at a party.

％ The strategies Kate and Justin have developed to navigate living, parenting, and working together.

🔧 The big and unexpected monkey wrench in their plans and how that became the scary ideal way to actually launch their plans.

🔔 The epiphany Kate had while waiting for someone else to tell her she had a brilliant plan.

🌿 Why Kate thinks Monstera's Books is a worthy competitor to Amazon.

🫟 Just making the next decision and getting comfortable with chaos.

📚 The conversation Kate overheard in the bookstore that highlighted the unique power of third spaces (especially ones that center storytelling).

💓 The tremendous value/power of little risks. (Or how something as simple as a romance bookclub could save someone's life.)

✨ How paying attention to the sparkle dream in ourselves can meet a much larger need in our communities.

⚡️ What Kate hopes her daughters take away from growing up in this bookstore.

Mentioned In Today's Episode:

Two books recommended by Monstera's Books patrons – The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Two of Kate's top book recommendations – I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O'Farrell and Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

As Always:

Check out Caitlin and Rebekah's Book Shop! Here you can find every book mentioned in our episodes, as well as a few additional faves.

Use this link to get a 25% discount on a PokPok subcription! And if you haven't listened yet, check out our interview with PokPok creators, Esther and Melissa.

We would love to hear from you! Shout out your favorite local bookstore! Tell us about your favorite third space! Share a little or big dream that's been tugging at your chest! We're here for all of it💛

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Find Rebekah on Substack & Caitlin on Instagram ✨