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Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️
NYT Bestselling Author! Allison Pataki, FINDING MARGARET FULLER
New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki joins Zibby (for the fourth time!!) to discuss FINDING MARGARET FULLER, a skillfully rendered and soul-stirring novel about the trailblazing 19th-century transcendentalist writer Margaret Fuller. Allison describes how Fuller remains relatively unknown today, despite her accomplishments: being the first woman to study at Harvard; writing foundational documents for the women’s rights movement; and being a central figure among renowned thinkers like Hawthorne and Thoreau. She also delves into Fuller’s complex relationships, radical ideas on marriage and women’s education, untimely death, and enduring influence on feminist history.
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47. Clare Leslie Hall, BROKEN COUNTRY
27:48||Season 23, Ep. 47Reese’s Book Club Pick! Zibby chats with Clare Leslie Hall about BROKEN COUNTRY, a completely immersive and unforgettable love story that is simmering with passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences. Clare shares the inspiration behind her book, which blends a love triangle, a murder trial, and a deep sense of place in the English countryside. They discuss Clare’s journey from journalist to novelist, the challenges of weaving suspense into love stories, the novel's themes of grief and loss, and how she immersed herself in farm life to bring authenticity to her setting.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3XufFvbShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!46. Nanda Reddy, A GIRL WITHIN A GIRL WITHIN A GIRL: A Novel
23:07||Season 23, Ep. 46Zibby Publishing author alert! Zibby chats with debut author Nanda Reddy about A GIRL WITHIN A GIRL WITHIN A GIRL, a riveting and redemptive story of a young Guyanese trafficking victim and her journey to build and protect her life in the United States. Nanda shares how her personal experiences as an immigrant shaped this narrative, and then talks about her protagonist, who has hidden her past from her family for decades—until her sister’s reappearance forces her to confront the truth. She also talks about the novel’s portrayal of a deaf sibling and then delves into its themes of immigration, code-switching, identity, trauma, and resilience.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4blR80ZShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!45. Matt Gutman on the LA fires, his news coverage, and his book
26:49||Season 23, Ep. 45Zibby welcomes back award-winning reporter and author Matt Gutman to discuss his firsthand experience covering the devastating California wildfires. Matt, who previously opened up about his struggles with anxiety in NO TIME TO PANIC, shares how high-stakes reporting in crisis zones—from Gaza to LA—puts him in a rare state of clarity. He explains why, in moments of real danger, his anxiety dissipates, replaced by hyperfocus and adrenaline. Matt recounts the harrowing days spent on the ground as entire communities burned, including his own family's home, and the lasting imprint these traumatic events leave behind.Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!44. Tova Mirvis, WE WOULD NEVER: A Novel
27:19||Season 23, Ep. 44Bestselling author Tova Mirvis joins Zibby to discuss WE WOULD NEVER, a thrillingly plotted, provocative, fever dream of a novel about a close-knit Florida family whose all-consuming love for each other turns sinister. Tova shares how her own divorce and Orthodox Jewish upbringing influenced this story—though she emphasizes that the plot is fictional! She also delves into complex family dynamics (from overbearing mothers to custody disputes to fears of empty-nesting) and the lengths parents will go to protect their children.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4bn20MgShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!43. Maggie Smith, DEAR WRITER: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life
30:40||Season 23, Ep. 43New York Times bestselling author and poet Maggie Smith returns to the podcast to discuss DEAR WRITER: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life. Maggie shares the long journey of writing this book (she drew from twenty years of teaching experience and her popular Substack newsletter!), her love of craft books, and her desire to demystify the creative process for writers and readers alike. She also talks about how delicate ideas are, the importance of staying open and receptive to creativity, the power of silencing your inner critic, and, ultimately, how we are all, at our core, poets.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/41zuleZShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!42. Marie Benedict, THE QUEENS OF CRIME: A Novel
21:07||Season 23, Ep. 42New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict returns to the podcast to discuss THE QUEENS OF CRIME, a smart, biting, page-turning delight about the lengths to which five talented women writers (including Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sawyers) will go to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of letters—and how they solve a mystery torn from the pages of their own novels. Marie explains how these real-life literary icons banded together to solve an actual murder, delving into the masks women must wear to survive… Then, she teases her next book, which explores ancient Egypt, archaeology, and a forgotten female pharaoh.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/41lJcsaShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!41. Chelsea Handler, I'LL HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING
24:22||Season 23, Ep. 41Writer, comedian, producer, TV host, activist, and author of six consecutive New York Times bestsellers, Chelsea Handler, chats with Zibby about her latest book, I’LL HAVE WHAT SHE’S HAVING, a surprisingly vulnerable, utterly hilarious, and always outrageous essay collection that captures her exhilarating, antic-filled, and joyful life. Chelsea delves into her unique takes on relationships, independence and solitude, and handling criticism. She also shares unforgettable life moments, from a transformative encounter with Jane Fond to skiing in Whistler to an unexpected visit to Kennebunkport, where three edibles helped her keep her cool!Chelsea’s book, I’ll Have What She’s Having is available now at chelseahandler.com/bookShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!40. Charmaine Wilkerson, GOOD DIRT: A Novel
23:34||Season 23, Ep. 40Bestselling author Charmaine Wilkerson returns to the podcast to discuss her engrossing, beautifully imagined new family saga, GOOD DIRT. Charmaine delves into the story of Ebby Freeman, a woman seeking solace in France after a personal tragedy, only to find that her past is inescapable. Charmaine reveals how history, heirlooms, and identity shape Ebby’s journey and how the novel intertwines multiple perspectives—including those of ancestors, neighbors, and unexpected voices. She and Zibby also explore themes of trauma and resilience while reflecting on the deeply emotional and thought-provoking one-liners that punctuate the novel.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4ici6KRShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!39. Rebecca Minkoff, FEARLESS: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success
28:21||Season 23, Ep. 39Luxury fashion mogul and social activist Rebecca Minkoff joins Zibby to celebrate the paperback release of her USA Today bestseller, FEARLESS: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Rebecca shares her journey as an entrepreneur, from near business failures to unexpected triumphs, and the constant evolution required to stay afloat. She reflects on her resilience, risk-taking, and adaptability—not just in business but in relationships, parenting, and life, touching on her unconventional upbringing, her journey to finding love, and the delicate balance between motherhood and career.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3EJqbYKShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!