Share

Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️
Anna Qu, MADE IN CHINA: A Memoir of Love and Labor
Season 10, Ep. 15
•
Zibby is joined by debut memoirist Anna Qu to discuss Made in China: A Memoir of Love and Labor, which is out today. The two discuss the trauma endured during Qu's childhood, how she managed to reconcile her memory with government documents that didn't tell her full story, and why she remains incredibly grateful for those who saw her value when her family did not.
Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kE6N3e
Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3xPr89E
More episodes
View all episodes
76. Carson Meyer, GROWING TOGETHER: Doula Wisdom & Holistic Practices for Pregnancy, Birth & Early Motherhood
25:11||Season 24, Ep. 76Renowned Hollywood doula and author Carson Meyer chats with Zibby about her groundbreaking and empowering pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood guide, GROWING TOGETHER. Carson shares the inspiration behind her work, the importance of unpacking birth stories and fears, and the value of building supportive, judgment-free communities for mothers. She also explains the role of a doula, offers guidance for expectant parents and grandparents, and reflects on the boundaries and practices that can make early parenthood more peaceful.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4lxHMmmShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!75. Jennifer Trevelyan, A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY: A Novel
21:17||Season 24, Ep. 75Zibby interviews debut novelist Jennifer Trevelyan about A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, a tense, gripping, exquisitely written coming-of-age mystery set on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand in 1985. They discuss sisterhood, the awkward threshold between childhood and adolescence, the lingering weight of grief, and the unsettling presence of a stranger next door. Jennifer also talks about her decade-long journey to publication, the discipline that kept her writing before dawn, and why some mysteries are best left a little bit unsolved...Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4lC18XCShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!74. Jess Johnston, PERFECT IS BORING (AND IT TASTES LIKE KALE): Finding Belonging and Purpose Without Changing Who You Are
19:02||Season 24, Ep. 74Zibby chats with bestselling author Jess Johnston about PERFECT IS BORING (AND IT TASTES LIKE KALE), a hilariously candid, refreshingly self-aware, and deeply heartfelt exploration of letting go of perfectionism and finding connection through honesty. Jess and Zibby discuss motherhood’s messiness, resisting the comparison trap, the power of supportive friendships, and the freedom that comes from showing up as you are.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4ozhummShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!73. Alyson Stoner, SEMI-WELL-ADJUSTED DESPITE LITERALLY EVERYTHING: A Memoir
28:50||Season 24, Ep. 73Actor-dancer Alyson Stoner chats with Zibby about their bold, incisive, and revelatory new memoir, SEMI-WELL-ADJUSTED DESPITE LITERALLY EVERYTHING, which weaves together stories from their life as a former child star with a sharp cultural critique of the entertainment industry. Alyson opens up about surviving exploitation, eating disorders, financial loss, and assault—and how those experiences fueled their work as a mental health advocate and industry reformer. Ultimately, Alyson shares practical tools for protecting young performers and explains why safeguarding children in a digital age should matter to everyone.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45cci03Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!72. Kate Price, THIS HAPPENED TO ME: A Reckoning
26:41||Season 24, Ep. 72Zibby interviews author and researcher Kate Price about THIS HAPPENED TO ME, an exquisitely rendered, haunting, and transformative memoir about how she broke free of the horror that defined her childhood and created a purpose-driven life and family, on her own terms. Kate shares how she survived years of sexual abuse and trafficking by her father, her journey through PTSD, and the extraordinary healing work she’s done with trauma specialist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. She also reflects on the solace she found in books, her decade-long investigation, and how she’s turned trauma into a groundbreaking career fighting child trafficking.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4mu1xvLShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!71. Mallary Tenore Tarpley, SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery
29:06||Season 24, Ep. 71Journalist and professor at UT Austin Mallary Tenore Tarpley joins Zibby to discuss her groundbreaking new book, SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery. Mallary describes her messy, nonlinear path to recovery from anorexia, sharing what it’s like to live in the “middle place” between sickness and full recovery. She reveals how she combined personal stories with research, immersive reporting, and cutting-edge science, touching on the emotional toll of revisiting her childhood journals and treatment records. Finally, they discuss identity, grief, motherhood, healing, and how Mallary is raising her own children with compassion and awareness.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4m8yrm5Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!70. Brian Buckbee and Carol Ann Fitzgerald, WE SHOULD ALL BE BIRDS: A Memoir
25:38||Season 24, Ep. 70Zibby chats with co-authors Brian Buckbee and Carol Ann Fitzgerald about their debut memoir, WE SHOULD ALL BE BIRDS, a charming and poignant story about chronic illness, unlikely friendship, and a pigeon named Two Step. Brian shares how his debilitating condition led to a transformative bond with a bird who literally landed in his hands, while Carol explains how a series of Facebook posts turned into a full-length book that is equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Together, they reflect on pain, connection, humor, and finding meaning in the smallest creatures.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4m2LComShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!69. Sarah Spain and Deland McCullough, RUNS IN THE FAMILY: Runs in the Family An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging
33:06||Season 24, Ep. 69Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist Sarah Spain and celebrated football figure Deland McCullough join Zibby to discuss their remarkable new memoir, RUNS IN THE FAMILY: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging. Deland, now a Super Bowl–winning coach, opens up about his journey from a difficult childhood in Youngstown, Ohio, through college football, fatherhood, and ultimately, the life-changing discovery he unearthed when unsealing his adoption records. Sarah, his co-author, shares how she brought nuance, research, empathy, and emotional insight to Deland’s story. Together, they discuss adoption, identity, chosen family, and the book’s broader message: that our past doesn’t define us, and healing and growth are always possible.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4mxwPSIShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!68. Amber Rae, LOVEABLE: A Memoir: One Woman’s Path from Good to Free
24:56||Season 24, Ep. 68Zibby chats with bestselling author and speaker Amber Rae about her deeply intimate, raw, and courageous memoir, LOVEABLE: One Woman’s Path from Good to Free. Amber shares the emotional journey behind her decision to leave a “good on paper” marriage in pursuit of true connection and joy. (While building a home with her husband in Mexico, she met the man she knew she was meant to spend the rest of her life with.) She and Zibby unpack generational patterns, the difference between selfishness and self-honoring, navigating sexual insecurity, and how synchronicity and spirituality guided her toward a new life.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/451lgx5Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!