Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️

Zibby Books author alert!! Zibby speaks to debut author Joselyn Takacs about PEARCE OYSTERS, a gripping, transportive, and beautifully layered novel about a fractured family, a devastated community, and the disaster that brings them together. Joselyn delves into her novel’s premise—a Louisiana family struggles to maintain their oyster farm after the catastrophic BP oil spill. She talks about her personal connection to the environmental disaster—she lived in New Orleans when it happened—and her extensive research process, which involved interviewing dozens of affected oyster farmers. She also shares her love of complex family stories, her writing process, her best tips for aspiring writers, and her favorite way to eat oysters!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4cCbWkkShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

New York Times bestselling author Chris Whitaker joins Zibby to discuss ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, a haunting and unforgettable missing person mystery, serial killer thriller, and sweeping love story, all in one (and the Read With Jenna Book Club pick!). Chris explains the premise of his novel: two abducted teenagers fall in love in a pitch-black basement… and when the boy escapes, he spends the next 27 years looking for the girl. Chris delves into the personal traumas that shaped his life and inspired this story—including experiences with childhood abuse—and how important it has been for him to take control of his own narrative. Then, he hints at his next project!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3xyDwQtShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby is joined by Georgia Hunter, the author of the extraordinary, propulsive novel WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES, and Thomas Kail, the television director who produced its Hulu adaptation. Georgia shares what it was like to interview her grandmother for an English project and discover that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. This led her on a nine-year quest spanning four continents to retrace her family’s steps. Then, the conversation turns to Thomas, who touches on his commitment to authenticity and the emotional impact of the series (especially during the early screenings attended by extended family members).Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45zqtuBShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Journalist and bestselling author Johann Hari chats with Zibby about MAGIC PILL, a fascinating and timely examination of the new drugs transforming weight loss—from his personal experience on Ozempic to our society’s dysfunctional relationship with food. Johann, who has a family history of heart disease linked to obesity, provides a comprehensive and nuanced explanation of the risks and benefits of weight-loss drugs. He and Zibby share their firsthand experiences with them, and then Johann delves into the broader societal factors contributing to the obesity epidemic.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Vx8MHoShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Actor and producer Griffin Dunne joins Zibby to discuss THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB, a searing and powerful portrait of his unconventional Hollywood family and a reckoning with the tragedies that exploded within it. Griffin delves into his family's painful past, including his sister Dominique’s murder and his brother’s struggles with mental illness, while reflecting on the emotional, cathartic writing process. He also touches on his friendship with Carrie Fisher and his complex relationship with his father, renowned journalist Dominick Dunne. Finally, he shares his best advice for aspiring writers.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45zdSHRShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Lawyer, CNN commentator, and New York Times bestselling author Bakari Sellers joins Zibby to discuss THE MOMENT, an urgent, astute synthesis of the modern political landscape and policies impacting Black families and communities. Bakari, whose book blends personal family history with a broader narrative of Black experience in America, recounts the traumatic birth of his twins and his wife’s near-fatal complications, which revealed systemic inequalities in the healthcare system. He also reflects on his upbringing in South Carolina, his family’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, the generational trauma Black Americans face, and the necessity of empathy, activism, and continued progress towards equality.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4bb3veqShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby is joined for a second time by Laura Hankin, the author of ONE-STAR ROMANCE, a wickedly smart rom-com about a struggling writer who has to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating—which, by the way, happened to Laura! Laura delves into the novel’s deeper themes of evolving friendships and the challenges of creative pursuits and then talks about the highs and lows of her own career. She and Zibby also discuss anxiety-inducing Goodreads reviews, Laura’s writing journey during pregnancy (and morning sickness), and the viral TikTok video that inspired this novel.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4cpHpGoShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby speaks with New York Times bestselling author Ruth Reichl about THE PARIS A NOVEL, a sumptuous, evocative, mouthwatering adventure through the food, art, and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris as told by Stella, a woman who stumbles across a vintage store, tries on a fabulous Dior dress, and is changed forever. Ruth reveals how her own transformative experience in a couture dress inspired this novel and then delves into the themes of hope, joy, and fairytale-like transformation. Then, she describes her unexpected career in food writing and the evolution of food culture and then shares her best advice for aspiring writers.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3RtNV6SShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt joins Zibby to discuss THE ANXIOUS GENERATION, a must-read investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood. Jonathan attributes increasing rates of anxiety and depression among children, particularly girls, to two main factors: the overprotection of children and the rise of social media. He shares his recommendations, including delaying exposure to smartphones, phone-free schools, and encouraging independent, unstructured play.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3yVEIhmShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!