Share

cover art for Ryan Rae Harbuck, WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A CHAIR: A Memoir

Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️

Ryan Rae Harbuck, WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A CHAIR: A Memoir

Season 16, Ep. 11

Zibby speaks to teacher, swim coach, and writer Ryan Rae Harbuck about When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair, a raw, humorous, and profound new memoir about her paralyzing car accident in her teens and the decision to live a life of courage, ambition, and adventure after it. Ryan shares the gut-wrenching details of her accident–the school dance and midnight bowling, the crash on the highway, the spinal cord injuries and broken bones, the loss of her boyfriend, the disintegration of her family, and a new life in a wheelchair. Finally, she explains how swimming, teaching, coaching, and paralympic competitions changed her life. 


Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3R5Dnt9


Subscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.

Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 82. Live from the Bookshop! Dr. Mary Claire Haver, THE NEW MENOPAUSE: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts

    23:19
    Pioneering women’s health advocate and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Mary Claire Haver chats with Zibby about THE NEW MENOPAUSE, an enlightening guide with everything a woman needs to know to thrive during her hormonal transition and beyond. Dr. Haver shares her journey to becoming a leading advocate for women’s health during menopause and then touches on her own struggles with it, including weight gain, night sweats, and joint pain. She also discusses hormone therapy, which she endorses, and then delves into the importance of better medical education and personalized healthcare for women.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3yxFJfeShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
  • 81. Award-Winning YouTubers! ADHD IS AWESOME: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD

    38:26
    Award-winning content creators and New York Times bestselling authors Kim and Penn Holderness join Zibby to discuss ADHD IS AWESOME, an engaging, hilarious, and uplifting guide to rocking life with an ADHD brain (which Penn has and Kim does not!). The two describe how Penn’s ADHD has impacted their lives and the steps they’ve taken to protect their relationship. They discuss the importance of a proper diagnosis and share practical tips for managing ADHD—for individuals and whole families. They also talk about the viral Christmas video that launched their popular online presence and how they've built a successful business from it.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3wEzcimShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
  • 80. #1 NYT Bestseller! Carley Fortune, THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT

    22:06
    Zibby welcomes back #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune, this time to discuss her dreamy, entirely fresh, deeply layered, and beautifully written new romance, THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT. Carley delves into the plot of her novel, which centers on Lucy, a Toronto native who embarks on annual trips to Prince Edward Island with her best friend, Bridget, and repeatedly finds herself entangled with Bridget’s younger brother, Felix. She also discusses her creative process (including building romantic tension, vivid settings, and complex characters), the difficulties of writing amidst family health issues and parenthood, and her ideas for future projects!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3yDwqdvShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
  • 79. Vogue Contributing Editor!! Plum Sykes, WIVES LIKE US

    30:18
    Bestselling author Plum Sykes chats with Zibby (in person!) about WIVES LIKE US, a wickedly smart and impossibly funny novel about a grand English country house, a heartbroken American divorcee, three rich wives, two tycoons, a pair of miniature sausage dogs, and a bereaved butler. Plum describes her novel as a social satire that exposes the vulnerabilities and insecurities of rich women and their seemingly perfect lives. She also describes her writing process, her career evolution from Vogue It Girl to novelist, and the potential for a screen adaptation!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3wGDs0LShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
  • 78. Zibby Books Author Alert!! Swan Huntley, I WANT YOU MORE: A Novel

    28:07
    Zibby Books author alert!! Zibby speaks to author and illustrator Swan Huntley about I WANT YOU MORE, a sexy, atmospheric, and deliciously tense novel about a ghostwriting gig in the Hamptons that becomes far more than a job. Swan reveals her connections to her novel’s plot and then delves into her pragmatic creative process and journey to becoming a novelist. She also talks about her popular illustrations (some of which have gone viral on social media!) and her next project: a memoir published by Zibby Books in 2025!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4as6kYfShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
  • 77. Emmy-nominated journalist Poppy Harlow and Saturday TODAY's Laura Jarrett, THE COLOR OF LOVE

    25:47
    Former CNN news anchor and Emmy-nominated journalist Poppy Harlow and Saturday TODAY’s Laura Jarrett join Zibby to discuss the warmhearted children’s book they co-authored, THE COLOR OF LOVE. Poppy and Laura describe the deep friendship and collaboration that went into this project, which they embarked on as a meaningful way to address the themes of love, inclusion, and race with their young children, particularly after George Floyd’s murder. They share personal anecdotes about their own children, and then Poppy discusses her recent departure from CNN after 20 years with the network.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3yqW0mcShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
  • 76. Zibby's Book Club Pick!! Genevieve Kingston, DID I EVER TELL YOU?: A Memoir

    25:39
    Zibby’s Book Club Pick alert! Playwright, actor, teacher, and debut author Genevieve Kingston joins Zibby to discuss DID I EVER TELL YOU?, a wrenching and heartfelt memoir about the gifts her late mother left behind in anticipation of birthdays and other milestones. Genevieve describes what it was like to lose her mother at 11—and to continue to connect with her through a chest of gifts and letters. Then, she reflects on the themes of memory, grief, and love; her writing process; and the impact of her mother's legacy on her life. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3K7gLWoShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
  • 75. Debut Novel! Rowan Beaird, THE DIVORCÉES

    25:21
    Zibby welcomes debut author Rowan Beaird to discuss THE DIVORCÉES, a delicious page-turner set at a “divorce ranch” in glamorous, dizzying 1950s Reno, where Lois Saunders becomes obsessed with a fellow guest named Greer. Rowan delves into the intriguing historical backdrop of this novel, touching on the phenomenon of divorce ranches and the limited options available to women seeking separation in the 1950s. Then, she reflects on her writing journey, her experiences with grief after two miscarriages, and the book she is working on now. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3QL6KC2Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!
  • 74. NYT Bestseller!! Charles Duhigg, SUPERCOMMUNICATORS: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection

    29:16
    Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and one of the very first authors on the podcast, Charles Duhigg, rejoins Zibby to discuss the New York Times bestseller SUPER COMMUNICATORS, a fascinating exploration of what makes conversations work, with stories, studies, and guidance that will transform the worst communicators into the very best. Charles explains what a super communicator is, emphasizing that it is not about charm or extroversion but rather a set of learnable skills—like asking deep questions. He also delves into the different conversation types, the challenges that can arise, the impact of digital communication, and the importance of authenticity.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3UFYVifShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!