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Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️
Dr. Zelana Montminy, FINDING FOCUS: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction
Zibby interviews leading behavioral scientist and author Dr. Zelana Montminy about FINDING FOCUS: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction, a wake-up call to take back your mind—and your life! They dive into the modern epidemic of distraction, how our attention is constantly hijacked by devices and cultural noise, and why focus—not time—is our most valuable resource. Dr. Montminy shares practical ways to reclaim clarity, rebuild mental fitness, and reconnect with what matters most—without shame or overwhelm.
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(Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.)
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60. Abigail Pogrebin, IT TAKES TWO TO TORAH: An Orthodox Rabbi and Reform Journalist Discuss and Debate Their Way Through the Five Books of Moses
29:23||Season 25, Ep. 60Zibby welcomes journalist and award-winning author Abigail Pogrebin to discuss her celebrated body of work, from MY JEWISH YEAR and STARS OF DAVID to her memoir on twinhood, ONE AND THE SAME. Abigail reflects on her path from Emmy-nominated TV producer to writer, moderator, and thoughtful chronicler of Jewish life. She and Zibby dive into Jewish rituals, identity, modern observance, the meaning of tradition in an asynchronous world, and the intimacy and complexity of being an identical twin.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4q0RJLDShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
61. Mandana Dayani: ON BEING JEWISH NOW: Two Years After 10/7
32:44||Season 25, Ep. 61Guest host Stacy Igel interviews business leader, activist, and I Am a Voter co-founder Mandana Dayani in front of a live audience at the Whitby Hotel. Mandana opens up about her family’s escape from Iran, the resilience that shaped her leadership, her work combating misinformation, and the creation of the Calanet Foundation. She also discusses empowering student activists, navigating advocacy in a polarized world, and the many forms courage and community can take.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3MpEOV6Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
59. Rachel Caplin, THE SPOON AND THE SEA: A Novel
27:24||Season 25, Ep. 59Zibby interviews author Rachel Caplin about THE SPOON AND THE SEA, a gorgeous, richly woven historical novel about memory, identity, motherhood, and the tangled threads of family across continents and generations. Rachel shares the extraordinary true family story that inspired the book and how writing helped her navigate profound grief after losing her grandmother. She also talks about her unlikely path to authorship from Australia to Israel, her experience navigating the publishing world as an Israeli debut author, and the community that rallied around her. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
58. Aria Mia Loberti, I AM INGRID: The Adventures of the World’s Greatest Guide Dog
37:39||Season 25, Ep. 58Recorded live at Zibby’s Bookshop in NYC, Zibby interviews actress, UNICEF Ambassador, and debut author Aria Mia Loberti about I AM INGRID, an adorable and inspiring new picture book based on her real guide dog, Ingrid. Aria discusses her unexpected path from academia to starring in Netflix’s acclaimed All the Light We Cannot See, the emotional evolution of her vision, the profound bond between guide dogs and their handlers, and how storytelling (on the page and on-screen) continues to shape her life.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/48DwLvhShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
57. Emma Gannon, TABLE FOR ONE: A Modern Love Story
33:17||Season 25, Ep. 57Recorded live at the CORE Club, Zibby interviews Sunday Times bestselling author Emma Gannon about her novel TABLE FOR ONE, a warm and witty story about what it means to be happily alone, not lonely. The two discuss Emma’s winding career path, from early blogging days to a hit Substack and bestselling books. Emma opens up about the joy and necessity of creative solitude, the real-life sparks behind her characters, and how burnout led her to rethink her life, work, and writing. She also shares an inside look at her upcoming memoir, A YEAR OF NOTHING, and her decision to publish it independently.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4iJ4B6KShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
56. Erin O. White, LIKE FAMILY: A Novel
25:37||Season 25, Ep. 56Debut novelist Erin O. White joins Zibby to discuss her tender and beautifully crafted book, LIKE FAMILY (a Barnes & Noble Book Club and Sarah Selects pick!). The two discuss the novel’s intertwined families in upstate New York, its exploration of queer domestic life, desire in middle age, teenage turmoil, female friendship, and the quiet truths of long-term relationships. Erin also reflects on her writing process, the challenges of parenting teens, and her evolution from memoirist to novelist.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4axtBM4Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
54. Richard Michelson, FANNY'S BIG IDEA: How Jewish Book Week Was Born
25:15||Season 25, Ep. 54Zibby chats with award-winning author and poet Richard Michelson about his timely and beautifully illustrated new book, FANNY’S BIG IDEA: How Jewish Book Week Was Born. Richard shares the remarkable story of Fanny Goldstein, the pioneering librarian who founded Jewish Book Week and championed cultural understanding through books. He also shares research behind the project, the whirlwind process of bringing the book to publication in time for the 100th anniversary, and why Fanny’s message of empathy and representation matters now more than ever.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3YgkmZfShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
55. Nim Shapira, TORN: The Israel–Palestine Poster War on New York City Streets
25:32||Season 25, Ep. 55Recorded live at the Whitby Hotel, guest host Alix Strauss leads a moving conversation with filmmaker Nim Shapira following a screening of his new feature documentary, TORN. Shapira discusses the origins of the film, the shock and grief that followed October 7th, and his desire to bridge divides in an increasingly polarized landscape. He shares personal stories from volunteering with families of hostages, the unraveling of social connections, and the deeper questions that guided the project—about empathy, dehumanization, and the complexity of truth. This intimate talkback offers a rare look into the making of Torn and the emotional and societal fractures it captures.Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
53. Julie Doar, THE GALLAGHER PLACE: A Novel
26:39||Season 25, Ep. 53Zibby Publishing alert! Recorded live at Zibby’s Bookshop in NYC, Zibby interviews debut novelist Julie Doar about THE GALLAGHER PLACE, an atmospheric, expertly paced, and utterly chilling murder mystery set in New York’s Hudson Valley. Julie shares the inspiration behind the novel’s haunting disappearance, its exploration of family secrets, and the power of girlhood friendship. She also talks about her journey from Starbucks barista to middle school English teacher to published author, along with the years of quiet drafting and perseverance that brought her story to life.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4oErh9IShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!