Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️

Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby interviews #1 New York Times bestselling author James Frey about his darkly funny and razor-sharp new novel, NEXT TO HEAVEN. James opens up about writing a book that’s bold, dirty, and wildly entertaining—a murder mystery set in an insulated world of obscene wealth, swingers, and secrets. He discusses the real-life inspiration for his book (his town!) and reveals how people's reactions have ranged from admiration to offense, precisely the kind of impact he aims for. He also delves into his singular style (no quotation marks, no apologies), his views on truth versus fact, and his refusal to play by literary rules. Finally, he reflects on living the life he has always dreamed of—chaotic, creative, and unapologetically his.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3FZjLFVShare, 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 interviews award-winning journalist Leslie Gray Streeter about her vibrant and heartfelt new novel, FAMILY AND OTHER CALAMITIES. They reflect on Leslie’s memoir, BLACK WIDOW, which candidly captures the raw, messy early days of widowhood, and then dive into the new novel, touching on themes of loss, regret, second chances, humor, and the way decisions made in youth can reverberate throughout life. Leslie also shares personal stories of grief and how she has embraced her late husband’s Jewish traditions, finding unexpected community and belonging.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3HH8eM0Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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!