Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️

Zibby Publishing author alert! Zibby chats with Audrey Ingram about THE SUMMER WE RAN, a mesmerizing, smart, emotionally rich, and perfectly nostalgic story of first love, devastating secrets, shocking sabotage, political rivalry, and second chances. Audrey shares the inspiration behind Tess and Grant’s love story, the lush Virginia setting, and how her personal experiences with gardening, law, and even a serious health scare shaped her writing. From the intensity of teenage romance to the high stakes of a gubernatorial race, Zibby and Audrey dive into themes of class, resilience, and the power of storytelling to build empathy and connection.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4dEzIO8Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

New York Times bestselling author Chasten Buttigieg returns to the podcast, this time to discuss his charming, delightfully illustrated new picture book, PAPA’S COMING HOME. Chasten shares the sweet inspiration behind the story—a joyful, everyday celebration of family that reflects his own with his husband, Pete, and their two children. He talks about writing the book mid-flight, the hidden Easter eggs in the illustrations, and the emotional power of homecomings and hugs. The conversation weaves through parenting moments, the challenges and beauty of bedtime routines, and the power of unconditional love. Chasten also reflects on the impact of his YA memoir and the meaningful conversations it sparked across the country. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/43vHd5lShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

New York Times bestselling author Chris Pavone returns to the podcast to discuss THE DOORMAN, a pulse-pounding, perceptive, sensationally good novel that explores class, privilege, race, sex, and murder through the eyes of a doorman in a luxury New York building. Chris shares the moving real-life inspiration behind the story—a beloved doorman named Johnny—and opens up about his writing process (including writing flap copy before even starting the novel). The two dive into questions of grief, humanity, and what makes a novel truly compelling.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3SXU77iShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with journalist, content creator, and bestselling author Carrie Berk about MINDFIRE: Diary of an Anxious Twentysomething. Carrie opens up about her mental health journey, from experiencing intrusive thoughts as a child to managing panic attacks during COVID. She shares personal stories, practical coping strategies, and the importance of reframing anxiety, not to “cure” it, but to coexist with it. The two explore the healing power of writing, the realities behind curated content, and how storytelling can help others feel less alone.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4km6576Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Bestselling author Annabel Monaghan returns to the podcast to discuss her latest novel, IT’S A LOVE STORY, an adorable, poignant rom-com about a former teen star-turned-Hollywood producer navigating second chances, big lies, and a complicated love with a charming (and quiet) man. Annabel reveals how the story evolved over twelve drafts, why she’s drawn to messy characters, and what she’s learned from nearly 30 years of marriage about real love (“Love actually happens over breakfast…during our morning dog walk… in line at the DMV and in hospital rooms…”). The two also bond over big families, awkward Substack lives, and The Notebook.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jnc5LoShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby welcomes editor Michele Filgate and contributors Joanna Rakoff and Kelly McMasters to discuss their moving and deeply relatable new essay collection, WHAT MY FATHER AND I DON’T TALK ABOUT. Michele shares how her viral essay inspired the original mother-themed anthology, and why a companion book about fathers felt essential. Joanna opens up about uncovering long-held family secrets and the mythologies we inherit, while Kelly reflects on intergenerational parenting, memory, and the unspoken ways love is shown.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jn1U9EShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with critically acclaimed author, MacArthur genius, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and Tony Award-nominated playwright, Sarah Ruhl, about her tender and thoughtful essay collection, LESSONS FROM MY TEACHERS. Sarah reveals the figures—inside and outside the classroom—who shaped her life and work, from her eccentric actress mother to her legendary mentor Paula Vogel. She also talks about memory, grief, her writing process, unexpected health journeys, the healing power of literature, and the impact of honoring teachers while they're still with us.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3HbVuNgShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with poet and New York Times bestselling author Jill Bialosky about her lyrical, profoundly moving new book, THE END IS THE BEGINNING. Told in reverse chronology, it traces the remarkable life of her mother, from her death during COVID back to her Depression-era childhood, exploring memory, identity, loss, and resilience. Jill opens up about losing her mother to Alzheimer’s, the pain of her sister’s suicide, the impact of an abusive stepfather, and the inherited strength passed through generations of women. With raw honesty, she shares how writing became a refuge—and a way to bring her mother back to life on the page.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4k3HrrzShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

In this very special episode (and live event at the Streicker Center), Zibby interviews a literary icon: the extraordinary Judy Blume. Judy shares deeply personal stories—including how she coped with anxiety as a young girl, her childhood secrets, her complex relationship with religion, her journey into writing, and her evolution from children’s literature to adult fiction. The discussion touches on love, marriage, motherhood, aging, tap dancing, the joys of running a bookstore, and what it means to live a creative, meaningful, and enduringly curious life. Finally, she reflects on her legacy, gratitude for her readers, and the seriousness of today’s book-banning climate.Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!