Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️

Zibby is joined by beloved British author and National Book Award winner Nina Stibbe to discuss WENT TO LONDON, TOOK THE DOG, an endlessly funny, blissfully gossipy, and enviably well-observed memoir of a woman changing her life at 60. Nina shares the story behind her sabbatical in London (prompted by an empty nest and the need for creative renewal!), and explains how her private diary turned into this funny and vulnerable book about midlife, marriage, motherhood, and reinvention. The two also discuss the emotional risk of writing a memoir and the often-dismissed importance of women’s inner lives. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3TkRvAyShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby chats with writer Anna Mitchael about her lushly written and emotionally resonant collection of vignettes, THEY WILL TELL YOU THE WORLD IS YOURS, which traces a woman’s life from birth through midlife, capturing the subtle and seismic ways the world shapes her—and how she eventually pushes back. Anna reflects on the origins of her vignettes, many of which were inspired by personal memories or images, like a childhood Easter photo, and then delves into themes of motherhood, relationships, and the tension between creativity and productivity in a content-hungry world. She also talks about her years as a columnist and editor in Texas, and shares how embracing her “weirdness” ultimately led to her most authentic work yet. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3ZtBV9xShare, 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 National Book Award-winning author Susan Choi about FLASHLIGHT, a gorgeous, ferociously smart, and impossibly heartbreaking novel that traces a father’s disappearance across time, nations, and memory. Susan discusses the emotional and structural complexity of the book—how it was written out of order and quilted together with research and imagination. She delves into themes of family, grief, and cultural identity, and shares why she champions complex, even unlikeable characters. Finally, she reflects on her writing journey, from childhood stories and struggling through grad school to eventually working at The New Yorker and writing her first novel.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4dV88wcShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby interviews Yale scientist, Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, about THE CREATIVITY CHOICE, a groundbreaking guide for harnessing creativity and transforming ideas into impactful action. Dr. Zorana dispels the misconceptions surrounding creativity (it’s not just for artists!) and then explains why people often hesitate to act on their ideas. She emphasizes the importance of starting small, making creativity a repeated choice, and building confidence through action, not perfection.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4e2uHzhShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Supermodel and New York Times bestselling author Christie Brinkley joins Zibby to discuss her bighearted, jaw-dropping, and beautifully crafted memoir of resilience and self-discovery, UPTOWN GIRL. Christie reflects on the dazzling highs and devastating lows of her life—from her iconic modeling career and moments of glamour to battles with grief, trauma, stalkers, heartbreak, and motherhood in the public eye. With remarkable humility and humor, she opens up about aging in the spotlight, raising children under scrutiny, divorcing a narcissist, and why she waited until 70 to share her story.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4kuquXwShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK! #1 New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb returns to the podcast to discuss THE RIVER IS WAITING, an epic, heart-wrenching tale of a young father who, after an unbearable tragedy, reckons with the possibility of atonement for the unforgivable. Wally shares the haunting inspiration behind the story—a blend of the Mexican legend of La Llorona and the heartbreaking reality of backover accidents—and how his own experiences with addiction, parenting, and teaching writing to incarcerated women shaped the emotional core of the book. Together, they explore themes of grief, resilience, self-forgiveness, and redemption. Wally also shares a sneak peek of his next novel and then offers writing advice: the magic is in revision.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jBY6l1Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby chats with bestselling author Tiffany Jenkins about her raw and unflinchingly honest new memoir, A CLEAN MESS: A Memoir of Sobriety After a Lifetime of Being Numb. Tiffany delves into the challenges of early sobriety, reentering society after incarceration, navigating a volatile marriage, and confronting postpartum depression. She thanks the woman who first hired her after she was released from jail, emphasizing how vital second chances are to those in recovery—her dad’s unwavering support saved her life! Finally, they touch on Tiffany’s rapid rise to internet fame and discuss her plans to pivot toward helping others in recovery.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3HqWbSOShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby interviews Elaine Goldsmith Thomas, longtime film and TV producer and agent to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, about her debut novel, CLIMBING IN HEELS, a smart, sexy, and entertaining story about the rise of three secretaries at the hottest agency in 1980s Hollywood. Elaine reflects on her own experience navigating the cutthroat world of Hollywood, her transition from agent to writer, and the wild stories—both real and imagined—that shaped her fiercely ambitious protagonist, Beanie Rosen. They discuss personal reinvention, women’s friendships, the background players in fame, the influence of mothers, and the long journey to owning one's creative voice.  Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3HszLAIShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby welcomes viral TikTok poet Josie Balka to discuss I HOPE YOU REMEMBER, a breathtaking poetry collection about love, loss, envy, hope, relationships, body image, nostalgia, and the universal longings that live deep in our souls. Josie shares how a therapist’s advice to open her heart completely changed her perspective on life. She also reflects on her creative process (it’s mostly spontaneous and done in her iPhone Notes app!) and emphasizes the power of simple, conversational writing.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4kK9agNShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!