Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️

Jill Santopolo returns to the podcast to discuss THE LOVE WE FOUND, the long-awaited follow-up to the Reese’s Book Club pick, and New York Times bestselling global phenomenon, THE LIGHT WE LOST. Jill shares the inspiration behind revisiting Lucy’s story, the emotional themes of love, loss, and second chances, and how her own experiences with grief and motherhood influenced the novel. They also talk about the novel’s evocative settings, including Italy’s Lampedusa, the challenges of writing romance and passion within the complexities of adulthood, and how Jill balances her dual roles as a publisher and an author.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Fxj3iFShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Award-winning author Samina Ali joins Zibby to discuss her harrowing and redemptive memoir, PIECES YOU’LL NEVER GET BACK. Samina describes her near-fatal childbirth complications: unchecked eclampsia led to a major brain injury and coma as she gave birth. She delves into the long and painful recovery, her struggles with memory loss, and what it was like to write this book—structuring it in short, fragmented chapters to mirror how her brain now processes information. Samina also touches on the systemic medical bias that led to her concerns being ignored, the importance of self-advocacy, and how she has reclaimed her life and her relationship with her now-adult son.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3R0IlIqShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby is joined by Best American Essayist Nicole Graev Lipson to discuss her searingly intelligent, revealing, and nourishing memoir-in-essays, MOTHERS AND OTHER FICTIONAL CHARACTERS. She explores the ways in which women are often reduced to societal archetypes and how they, at times, internalize and perform these roles. She also shares insights on beauty standards, motherhood, marriage, authenticity, and self-acceptance, weaving together personal experience with cultural critique.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4kEJfYCShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK! Zibby interviews her friend, accomplished investor and talented writer, Amy Griffin, about THE TELL, an astonishing and courageous memoir that explores how far we’ll go to protect ourselves, and the healing made possible when we finally face our past. Amy reflects on her buried childhood trauma and what it was like to finally confront her secrets. She delves into the process of healing through writing, the misconception of seemingly perfect lives, the power of vulnerability and connection, and the unexpected ways sharing her truth has deepened her relationships.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3XJnUU2Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Bestselling author Rochelle B. Weinstein returns to the podcast to discuss her intricate, suspenseful, and completely redemptive new book, WE ARE MADE OF STARS. Rochelle shares the grueling but rewarding process of writing this book (she calls it her "bad boyfriend book"), as it features six points of view and interwoven character arcs. She dives into the novel’s premise—eight strangers spend a transformative week at an idyllic North Carolina inn—and explores the themes of connection, reinvention, and self-discovery. Rochelle also reflects on her participation in ON BEING JEWISH NOW, the challenges of being a Jewish author in today’s climate, and how her writing process has evolved over time.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3FeCdtpShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Award-winning Korean American eco-entrepreneur and author Michelle Jungmin Bang joins Zibby to discuss her charming, life-changing new guide, SUN & SSUKGAT: The Korean Art of Self-Care, Wellness & Longevity—which also includes Michelle’s gorgeous, hand-drawn illustrations. Michelle describes the severe burnout she experienced while launching a startup that led her to explore traditional East Asian health practices. She reflects on the urgency of preserving cultural health traditions—touching on gut health, the wisdom of ancestral diets, and the simple lifestyle changes (like mindful eating and walking) that can dramatically improve well-being.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/43wLmHRShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Gen X icon Ione Skye joins Zibby to discuss SAY EVERYTHING, her achingly vulnerable memoir about chasing fame, desire, and true love in the shadow of her famous, absent father. Ione opens up about coming of age in the 80s and 90s, her high-profile romances with the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis and Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz, her struggles with identity and fidelity, and how she ultimately found love and stability. She and Zibby also talk about fame, parenting, aging, and personal growth, with Ione sharing candid reflections on the moments that shaped her.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/43rfh48Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

New York Times bestselling author Ada Calhoun joins Zibby to discuss CRUSH, a visceral, intelligent, revolutionary romance about the dissolution of a marriage and a new midlife romance—inspired by the author’s personal experiences. Ada talks about her novel’s exploration of love, desire, and (open) marriage. She and Zibby delve into the unruliness of love, how people try (and often fail) to control it, and the myths surrounding relationships—especially the idea that they can be managed with rules and structures. Ultimately, Ada reflects on the freedom of writing fiction after years of nonfiction.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Xyna4iShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby interviews author Angelica Baker about WHEN WE GROW UP, an electrifying novel about six longtime friends whose tropical vacation is interrupted by an unexpected crisis, forcing them to ask how strong their bonds really are. Angelica describes the false missile alert she experienced in Hawaii, a harrowing moment that sparked this book’s premise and shaped its themes of fear, self-discovery, and the messy dynamics of adult friendships. Angelica also reflects on how writing this book made her think profoundly about loyalty, regret, the passage of time, the weight of our decisions, and what it truly means to “grow up.”Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3QJdP5AShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!