Cup of Ambition Podcast S2[6]: Leah Koch of The Ripped Bodice

Leah Koch and her sister Bea raised $91k on Kickstarter to open the nation's only exclusively romance bookstore, The Ripped Bodice. Four years later, it's more successful than ever (even during a pandemic), and Leah is sharing their story on our podcast.

It turns out, owning a bookstore isn't really like "You've Got Mail," but Leah and Bea still have a lot of fun. They throw regular book readings, book clubs, and comedy shows at their storefront in LA, and are dedicated to highlighting authors of different races, backgrounds, and gender identities.

Each year, they put out their "State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing Report" to showcase the state of the industry when it comes to racial diversity of romance authors. Leah tells us why they've developed this report, what they've learned over the years, and why they continue to hold their industry accountable for diversity and inclusion.

Leah and Bea also have a development deal with Sony Pictures, where they consult on interesting stories that would make great television shows.

00:08:40: What is Leah's job and where does she work? What common questions does she get when people find out about her job?

00:11:03: What's the story of The Ripped Bodice - how did they go from Kickstarter campaign to four years and counting of a successful business?

00:18:01: What lessons about retail and event planning has Leah learned in her job? What's it like being an owner of an independent book store?

00:29:26: What are some of her favorite titles? Which ones does she recommend to people new to the genre?

00:36:22: What kind of events does The Ripped Bodice host?

00:56:29: What are the rewards and challenges of Leah's job?

01:00:00: What is the "State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing Report" and why does The Ripped Bodice put it out every year?

01:10:30: Leah talks about their work with Sony Pictures and the type of projects they're developing for television.

01:17:34: Back to the Future: What advice would Leah give to her younger self? What's the biggest business mistake she's made (it involves accidentally locking people into the store)?

01:24:10: Listener questions: advice for aspiring booksellers? Are there any good romance novels with transgender protagonists? and our Lightning Round.