Share

Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books
Rachel Barenbaum, ATOMIC ANNA
Season 12, Ep. 73
•
"I love strong women, so that's what I write." Author and host of the Debut Spotlight podcast Rachel Barenbaum returns to talk about her latest novel, Atomic Anna, an intergenerational time-travel story. Rachel shares why the 1986 Chernobyl disaster has long been a source of inspiration for her, how she manages to write so visually, and what moral questions she believes more people should ponder especially after the past two years of Covid.
Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xmpZJx
Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3x2HspV
Subscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.
More episodes
View all episodes
54. Andrew Ridker, HOPE
27:57Zibby interviews author Andrew Ridker about Hope, a hilarious, heartfelt, and impeccably written novel about a year of crisis for a seemingly perfect, affluent Jewish family of four. Andrew talks about his book's relatable family dynamics and humor; the inspiration behind the story; the college poetry class that started his writing career; and the topic of his next novel. He also shares his best advice for aspiring writers (it involves having a little bit of delusional faith in yourself!). Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/48vM5ckShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!53. Damien Cave, PARENTING LIKE AN AUSTRALIAN: One Family's Quest to Fight Fear and Dive Into a Better, Braver Life
22:16American journalist Damien Cave joins Zibby to discuss his impactful and gripping new parenting book, Parenting Like an Australian: One Family’s Quest to Fight Fear and Dive into a Better, Braver Life. Damien discusses the parts of Australian parenting he has adopted–from letting his kids take risks to trusting his community to help. He also describes his international career in journalism, his complicated relationship with his mom, and his best advice for aspiring writers. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3PrHiA4Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!52. Steph Catudal, EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE: A Memoir
25:39Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Steph Catudal about Everything All at Once, a heart-wrenching, sincere, and lyrical memoir about her experience with grief. Steph describes what it was like to lose her father to lung cancer at fourteen and then endure her husband’s battle with the same disease during COVID. She also talks about how writing has always helped her process her emotions and explains how her vulnerable social media posts evolved into this beautiful memoir. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/461GSY6Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!51. Elise Loehnen, ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good
28:19Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author Elise Loehnen to discuss On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good, a groundbreaking, stunning exploration of the ancient rules women unwittingly follow in order to be considered “good.” Elise explores how the deadly sins continue to circumscribe women’s behavior, including her own (for example: a fear of gluttony drives women to ignore their appetites). She also talks about her fascinating research, her podcast, and her hopes for this book. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/48r2y1xShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!Elizabeth Castellano, SAVE WHAT'S LEFT
25:14GMA Book Club Pick alert! Zibby speaks to debut author Elizabeth Castellano about Save What’s Left, an irreverent, hilarious, and unexpectedly tender novel about a sixty-year-old woman who moves to a small beach town looking for peace, only to find herself in an all-out war with her neighbors. Elizabeth describes her upbringing in a tiny Long Island beach town (her elementary school had nine students!) and her path to writing, starting with the humor column in the high school newspaper. She also shares her favorite books and authors and her best advice for aspiring writers.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3PvdAtQShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!49. J. Vanessa Lyon, LUSH LIVES
25:15Zibby interviews art historian and author J. Vanessa Lyon about Lush Lives, a deliciously queer novel about bold women unafraid to fight for what they love, set in the high-stakes world of art and auction in New York City. J. Vanessa describes her lifelong love of art as the daughter of an artist and antiques dealer. She also shares what it was like to work at an auction house right after college and how she brought that subculture to life in this story. Finally, she describes her publishing journey (with Roxane Gay as her editor and publisher!) and the book she is working on next. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/46g9ooLShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!48. Aparna Nancherla, UNRELIABLE NARRATOR: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome
22:11Superstar comedian Aparna Nancherla joins Zibby to discuss her hilarious and strikingly astute memoir in essays, Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Impostor Syndrome. Aparna describes her writing process (as a “procrastinating perfectionist”), her relationship with her body, her history with anxiety and depression, and her unexpected, unplanned career as a stand-up comedian.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3EHYIDAShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!47. Douglas Brunt, THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I
27:33Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt about his fascinating new book, The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. Douglas shares what inspired him to investigate the century-old mystery of Rudolf Diesel, the famous inventor who disappeared from a ship at sea, and the extensive research that brought him to his final theory. He also talks about his journey from burnt-out tech startup CEO to author, the challenges of switching to nonfiction for this book, and his podcast “Dedicated with Doug Brunt,” where he interviews top authors!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3PjDeSxShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!46. Alice Carrière, EVERYTHING NOTHING SOMEONE: A Memoir
27:39Zibby speaks to debut author Alice Carrière about Everything, Nothing, Someone, a mesmerizing, intense, and breathtakingly honest coming-of-age story about identity, family, trauma, survival, mental illness, and psychiatric malpractice. Alice describes her life as the daughter of two self-destructive artists in the bohemian 90s and how that led to a dissociative disorder and ten years of gross overmedication. She also describes how writing has saved her life countless times and how this memoir has turned her anger into compassion and made “little Alice” very proud. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3PK7NSRShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!