Totally Booked with Zibby

Co-authors Christine Pride and Jo Piazza join Zibby Owens to discuss their new book I Never Knew You At All, the story of Simone and the investigation into her husband’s grandfather that exposes secrets, traumas, and moral dilemmas around her interracial marriage. Christine and Jo talk about the secrets we keep from not only others but from ourselves, how family can serve as a mirror for self-realization, and the throughline of friendship in their stories. They also share their exploration of ‘what if’ in this story, writing about dementia, and why they add gray areas to their characters. Learn more about Christine Pride here https://www.christinepride.com and Jo Piazza here https://www.jopiazza.com, and follow them both on Instagram @cpride and @jopiazzaauthor. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special double episode, Zibby Owens talks to author Kate Hash and podcaster Kara Infante about book clubs, the power of community, and how reading can change lives. First up, Kate Hash tells Zibby about her new book The Mother-In-Law Book Club, a story of friendship, unexpected chances, and found family. Kate talks about exploring empathy in this book, how she collects real stories to use in her novels, and the way homes shape both lives and stories. She also shares the power of women getting together for a book club, the reinvention required when starting a new chapter, and what she is working on next. Then, Zibby talks to Kara Infante about her literary podcast Bookish Flights which features reading recommendations, author interviews, and genre-sorted episodes. Kara shares how she went from physical therapist and military wife to podcaster, the rediscovery of her childhood love of reading, and how audiobooks saved her. She also discusses the steps she took to launch the podcast, the show’s most common and most surprising genres, and her advice to anyone wanting to start something similar. Learn more about Kate here https://www.kate-hash.com and Kara here https://www.bookishflights.com/about, and follow both on Instagram @katehashwrites and @bookishflights. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonnie Garmus joins Zibby Owens to talk about her new novel Peck & Peck, the story of recent graduate Batter Gray who struggles with what to do with his arts degree after college, only to find himself at a prestigious poetry quarterly in the midst of a secret war between two editors. Bonnie discusses why poetry continues to evade extinction, the themes of theft and dishonesty explored in this book, the plagiarism of AI in writing, the importance of reading, and why she doesn't outline her stories. She also talks about dealing with the weight of expectation after the phenomenal success of Lessons in Chemistry, the question of ownership in literature, her dream to complete an Arctic swim, and how she accepts “killing her darlings” during rewrites. Learn more about Bonnie here https://www.bonniegarmus.com and follow her on Instagram @bonnie_garmus_author. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julie Orringer sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel Luna, Phoenix, Queen, a multiple narrative story about a husband who steals his wife’s novel while she suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s and the people in the orbit of this betrayal. Julie talks about the reason for showing readers a sympathetic version of a character before revealing their moral faults, how writing fiction has given her the control that real life often denies, and the positivity her husband brings in light of his own early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis. She also shares how the seed of this book started as a short story that didn’t make it into the final novel, her transition from playwright and short story writer to novelist, and the importance of a writing practice for aspiring writers. Learn more about Julie here https://julieorringer.com and follow her on Instagram @jorringer. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maria Shriver and Zibby Owens speak in-person at Zibby’s Bookshop about their life and work inspired by Zibby’s new book Between Chapters and Maria’s poetry collection I Am Maria. Zibby talks about how starting a podcast was a turning point in her life, the fear of unfulfilled dreams at any age, the shame surrounding changing your identity, and her hope that this book helps start the conversation for people going through similar struggles. Maria shares her post-First Lady identity struggles, her commitment to her friends and family, and how faith gets her through. Learn more about Maria Shriver here https://mariashriver.com and follow Maria and Zibby on Instagram @mariashriver and @zibbyowens. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Endocrinologist and longevity expert Dr. Florence Comite joins Zibby Owens to discuss Invincible, her new book that dives deep into genetics, aging, longevity, and reclaiming your health. Dr. Florence Comite talks about how having an identical twin made her realize that genetics wasn’t the only answer, learning about disease in medical school instead of health, how a person’s life tells the story of how their genes will react, and the importance of health security over even financial security. She also shares the experience of testing a GLP-1 on herself twenty years ago, how food noise is actually a survival technique, the importance of quality sleep, why protein is vital before any meal, and the magic of books. Learn more about Dr. Florence Comite here https://florencecomite.com and follow her on Instagram @drflorencecomite. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audrey Niffenegger sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her new novel Life Out of Order, a follow-up to her bestselling book The Time Traveler’s Wife. Audrey discusses how she ended up returning to this story years later, her artistic childhood, the themes of loss and love in her work, and the novel’s exploration of people trying to teach each other. She also shares the biological mechanism to her characters’ time traveling, writing’s attempt to create a tunnel between the mind of the author and reader, and how composition is largely deciding what to leave in versus what to leave out. Learn more about Audrey here https://www.audreyniffenegger.com and follow her on Instagram @aaniffenegger. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Releasing today in honor of the third anniversary of the October 7th attacks, Shai Davidai joins Zibby Owens to discuss his book American Intellectual Antisemitism, the story of how he went from Columbia business professor to accidental activist. Shai shares the shock he experienced regarding Columbia’s reaction to the attacks, what led to his remarks going viral, how hatred starts in the syllabus, and how regaining agency has driven his activism. He also talks about his attempt to separate his public image from the message, how the first version of this book was a letter to his son, and what gives him hope for the future. We are holding everyone in our hearts today. Learn more about Shai here https://www.shaidavidai.com and follow him on Instagram @shaidavidai. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Lewis sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss his new book Blockers, a deep dive into the early days of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency through the lens of six targeted public servants. Michael discusses how the title was inspired by an Elon Musk quote, the fascinating work into fire research that the government made difficult, and why narrative matters. He also shares what actions readers can take, how government and politics are related but not the same, the process of “casting” this book out of the thousands of workers he could have focused on, and the experience of having three of his books turned into movies. Learn more about Michael here https://www.michaellewiswrites.com. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erin Schlozman joins Zibby Owens to discuss her book The Myth of the Perfect Mom, a guide to new motherhood and postpartum that rejects the idea of the perfect mother in place of authenticity, self-compassion, and joy. Erin talks about debunking the aspiration to be perfect, how her experience as a licensed therapist working on an addiction medicine team led her to opening her own private practice, her daughter being born eight weeks early, and launching 4th Trimester Wellness on Instagram. She also shares working through imposter syndrome while writing this book, the importance of transparency, embracing ambition as mothers, what surprised her about the publishing industry, mom guilt, and her hope that readers feel less alone through this book. Learn more about Erin here https://www.erinschlozman.com and follow her on Instagram @erin.schlozman. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hank Phillippi Ryan sits down with Zibby Owens to chat about her new novel Mother Daughter Sister Stranger, a twisty thriller about Eliza’s search for her sister Bea who goes missing on the eleventh anniversary of the plane crash they survived but killed their parents.   Hank talks about how stories shape our lives, family lore, the experience of writing a young character on the cusp of growing up, and why reading the end of a book first teaches her about story construction.  She also recounts growing up as the oldest of five children in rural Indiana, how her books benefit from her long career as a TV crime journalist, the question of ‘what happens after a story’s happy ending?’, and the touching reason she and her husband celebrate the day before their anniversary. Learn more about Hank at https://hankphillippiryan.com and follow her on Instagram @hankpryan.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebekah Lowin sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss A Year of Jewish Joy, her new cookbook full of meaningful recipes, homemade crafts, and table guides for the Jewish holidays. Rebekah talks about being inspired by her grandmother, the joy of the Jewish people, her experience working for Martha Stewart in New York City years ago, and how the blog she started in 2019 led to this book. She also shares her experience growing up in Connecticut without a Jewish community, reverence for tradition while making things new, how pressure is part of the joy of hosting, and her dream of opening a brick-and-mortar shop one day. Learn more about Rebekah here https://rebekahlowin.com and follow her on Instagram @rebekahlowin. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Wellington Rollins joins Zibby Owens to discuss her debut novel and Book of the Month Club Pick The Three Graces of Pearl Street, the story of an Italian American grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter who must all live together again after years apart and what that collision stirs up.   Elizabeth talks about the little threads of home she wove into this story, her inspiration from the Roman myth of the three graces, the story’s intentional conversation with The Godfather, and distilling the big energy of her grandmother and great-aunts into her character Graziella.  Elizabeth also shares about growing up in Westchester, her career journey from tech copywriter and travel writer to fiction writing, the impact of having gestational diabetes while pregnant with her daughter, and how living in a small Vermont town gives her the mental space to write.  Follow Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethwellingtonrollins.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newly minted Reese's Book Club pick Meg Mason joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel (and Zibby’s October Book Club pick!) Sophie, Standing There, the story of book lover Sophie Pattison who finds herself living alone and isolated, and how her favorite author provides solace when she needs it most. Meg talks about the surreal success of her first novel, her struggles while trying to write another book, depression after touring, and the moderating mess while interviewing Ann Patchett that inspired Sophie’s story. She also shares how the literary landscape had changed between publishing her first and second books, the temporary but daunting feeling of loneliness, and the authors who have inspired her most. Join Meg and Zibby virtually for Zibby’s October Book Club on October 4, 2026 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zibbys-book-club-meg-mason-tickets-1994577848036 Learn more about Meg here https://www.megmason.com. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Coll sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel Word Salad, a bookish comedy about former economics major Matilda who finds herself working at her hometown bookstore where she must navigate the business of publishing and the people in it. Susan talks about teaching herself to write, structuring each chapter as a scene, the remarkable literary community in Washington, DC, and her endless fascination with the publishing industry. She also shares her own background as a bookseller, the determination that kept her writing after her first novel died on submission, and using different parts of her brain at work versus while writing. Learn more about Susan here https://susancoll.com and follow her on Instagram @susan_keselenko_coll. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fran Hauser joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new book Twenty Minutes is the New Hour, a guide to help women embrace the twenty-minute mindset, reclaim their time, and take small steps towards better productivity.  Fran talks about the techniques she used to launch her bookstore Bedford Books in just eight weeks, how time becomes the enemy of the good, and adding more kairos over chronos in women's lives.  She also dives deeper into setting boundaries around notifications, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, the fear connected to procrastination, email management, and what she feels guilty about.  Learn more about Fran here https://www.franhauser.com/about and follow her on Instagram @fran_hauser. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allison Sweet Grant joins Zibby Owens to talk about her new poetic memoir Lump, an unconventional, moving collection of essays and verse about her experience with breast cancer.  Allison discusses how the book started out as a journal to process the difficult moments of her cancer journey, being diagnosed at the beginning of Covid at forty years old, what kept her from going to the doctor right away, and the psychological weight of this horrible disease.  She also shares her initial attraction to poetry in elementary school, how intimidating it is to publish a book while married to a bestselling author, the barometer cancer becomes for daily life challenges, and sharing the book with her daughters. Follow Allison on Instagram @allisonsweetgrant.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabel Allende joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new memoir Story Telling, a heartfelt love letter to life and writing that recounts the past forty-five years of her career, the philosophy and emotion behind craft, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.  Inspired by the masterclass she did with the BBC, Isabel writes about the quiet happiness of aging, how the inner critic never goes away, the loss of her daughter, and the bad aspects of life that make great literature.  She also shares the challenges of irony and humor in translation, her soul’s need to write, her belief that her stories exist in another dimension, how to overcome feeling stuck while writing, and the benefits of writing a bad novel.  Learn more about Isabel here https://isabelallende.com/en/home. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from Matchmaker Bookshop in Highland Park, IL! Bestselling author Renée Rosen interviews Zibby Owens about her new book Between Chapters, a heartfelt and candid collection of essays centered around her decade of extreme change and where it all led. Zibby discusses overcoming intense social anxiety as a young girl, the impact of her first published piece in Seventeen Magazine after her parent’s divorce, her editing process, and launching a Between Chapters essay platform on Substack featuring stories from her community. She also talks about the overwhelming aspects of motherhood, the rocky journey with weight loss and food noise that ended with Mounjaro, the pain and devastation of the Palisades wildfires, the start of her podcast, and navigating the online hate after speaking about October 7th. Order Between Chapters here https://zibbymedia.com/products/between-chapters or follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Moriarty sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel and August 2026 Read With Jenna Pick Sunlight Finds You, a deeply felt love story set in 1949 that ends in heartbreak and shame, and changes the course of seventeen-year-old Nora’s life forever.  Laura talks about the book’s look into dealing with uncertainty, her extensive research into the time period, and the conversations with her mother that shed light on both the joys and challenges of being a woman during that time.  She also shares the hardship of being diagnosed with oral cancer while writing this book, letting go of writing expectations to free the story, and her gratitude for the perspective into life that reading gives us.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NYT Bestseller! Harlan Coben sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss his new book Plot Twist, a memoir that blends personal narrative and writing advice, acknowledging that both are inevitably connected. Harlan talks about the importance of critical thinking in fiction, incremental ambition, accepting adaptations as a different perspective, and how insecurity makes good writers. He also shares personal experiences, from loving and losing his parents, his time at Amherst College, navigating the blurry line between memoir and fiction, and the magic behind creating from a blank page. Learn more about Harlan here https://www.harlancoben.com and follow Harlan on Instagram @harlancoben ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Instant New York Times bestseller! Dara Horn joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new book The Final Solution to the Jewish Question, an exploration into the lies of antisemitism throughout history and her vision for the future.   Dara discusses how Holocaust education fails to do its job, her surprise at finding so much more ignorance than malice, how the hate movement has taken over AI, and the big lie of antisemitism.  She also shares her own personal experiences, from serving on Harvard’s Antisemitism Advisory Group to wrestling with how to help herself, and the struggles her son has already faced. But Dara also leaves us with an important, hopeful reminder: “the opposite of hate isn’t love, it’s curiosity”. Learn more about Dara at https://www.darahorn.com. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

USA Today bestseller Sona Movsesian sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new book The World’s Worst Mom, a funny and relatable look into motherhood. Sona discusses her experience with IVF and the conversations that it demands, her obsession with mortality after having kids, the trauma of losing her home in the 2025 Southern California wildfires, and betraying her preconceptions about motherhood.  She also shares the need for laughter, her experience working with Conan O’Brien for over seventeen years, and how she hopes her sons will see her in twenty years.  Follow Sona on Instagram @sonamov.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Castellano joins Zibby Owens to talk about her new novel Proof of Progress, the humorous story of B-list actress and comedian Maria Astorini whose second book is thirty-seven years overdue.  Elizabeth shares how this book was inspired by her own difficulties while writing her second novel under contract, the impact of pressure on her writing, and the pieces of real life that made it into the story. She also discusses unconventional friendship, debunking the myth that book deals are impossible, and imparting little truths through humor.  Learn more about Elizabeth here https://www.elizabethcastellano.com. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from the Children’s Museum of the East End, Amy Chozick sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her new psychological thriller With Friends Like You. In the novel Emily, a struggling new mom in Manhattan, embarks on the search for her long-lost friend Daisy who disappeared years ago. But when Emily finally finds her, the question becomes: Is Daisy saving her life or destroying everything? Amy discusses how her own experiences have influenced her characters, the resentment in postpartum that has nowhere to go, female friendship, and the unique challenges of raising kids in New York City. She also recounts her career as a journalist, the piece she wrote on Stormy Daniels three weeks postpartum, the fascinating collision of new motherhood and sex work, and her current work as a TV writer. Follow Amy on Instagram @amychozick. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lea Vale joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel Blue Sky Black, the second-chance romance told across two timelines that she wrote as a love letter to the friend she lost on 9/11. Lea shares her own experience in New York City that day 25 years ago, the trauma of having to cope with a loved one simply disappearing, and the importance of talking about tragedy. She also recounts how the romance genre finally allowed her to write this story, infusing hope and light into such a difficult subject.  Learn more about Lea Vale at https://leavale.com and follow her on Instagram @leavaleauthor ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby was one of the countless people who lost a loved one on 9/11. Stacey Sanders, Zibby’s college roommate, worked in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. To process the loss, Zibby wrote an essay for her business school newspaper, The Harbus, two weeks after it happened. She reads it here to pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the attacks.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kara Kavensky sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her memoir Tell Me About Joy, inspired by WWII veteran Bob who shared with her his greatest regret: “I missed out on marrying the love of my life. Her name is Joy.” Interwoven with her own personal story, Kara writes about her journey to find Bob’s long-lost love and how it changed her life. She touches on her own healing after being married to a narcissist, the human face of war, sharing stories of resilience, the heaviness of losing a child, and ultimately, finding joy again. Learn more about Kara here https://www.karakavensky.com/home and follow her on Instagram @karakavensky. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Santlofer joins Zibby Owens for a deep dive into his new novel Ten Perfect Guests, an immersive, fun, “whodunit” thriller following the aftermath of a beloved art figure’s death and the people summoned to a remote island under threat of losing their inheritance. Jonathan discusses the challenges of juggling ten different points of views, the joy of playing with familiar tropes like greed, lust, and betrayal, and the beauty of finding empathy for his most villainous characters. He also recounts the discovery of his mild dyslexia in art school, how losing ten years of his artwork to a building fire eventually led him to writing, and the grief of unexpectedly losing his wife. Learn more about Jonathan at https://jonathansantlofer.com and follow him on Instagram at @jonathansantlofer. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eriq La Salle joins Zibby Owens to discuss his new thriller Laws of Solomon, the fourth book in his Martyr Maker series, which takes a previous side character who was inspired by The Godfather’s Luca Brasi and lifts him up to the lead. Eriq discusses the ever-present question of ‘can our most villainous, vile characters find redemption?’, the journey of a character’s soul, how his favorite films have inspired his work, and the coming of age story of a man. He also touches on his transition from actor to author, the duality of his thrillers, and the blessings that come from failure. Learn more about Eriq here https://www.iameriqlasalle.com and follow him on Instagram @eriqlasalle. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda Peters sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel (and Zibby’s November Book Club pick!) The Birthing Tree, the story of a young girl growing up in a family with secrets, her withdrawal from the grandmother who raised her among the generational traditions of Mi’kmaq women, and what eventually draws her back home as an adult.  Rooted in community and feeling, The Birthing Tree weaves together the chase for identity, connection to home, repairing wounds from the past, and revering not only nature and the land, but the extraordinary feats of the human body.  Amanda touches on how she drew inspiration for this book from a conversation with her own Nan, the importance of tradition within an always advancing modern world, and the terror of writing another book after a bestselling debut.  Join Zibby and Amanda at Zibby’s Book Club on November 11 at 7pm for a virtual Q&A as they dive deeper into The Birthing Tree. Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zibbys-book-club-amanda-peters-tickets-1994014022619  Learn more about Amanda at https://amandapetersauthor.com and follow her @amandapetersauthor ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Addison Allen’s book Paper Ghosts was, quite fittingly, haunting. We discussed grief, loss, fiction, writing, and more. I left feeling like I had a new friend.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonah Platt and I both have TV shows on the JBS network which is how we connected for this episode. I’d been dying to interview Jonah about his Jewish advocacy and what he’d learned from interviewing so many leaders in the field. What he answered surprised me. I also learned about how he’s raising his children and more.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beth Ricanati, MD, and I made challah together in my kitchen in L.A. eight years ago — and filmed it. Since then, our lives continue to intersect from the podcast to the bookstore to her being part of the On Being Jewish Now anthology. In this conversation recorded at Zibby’s Bookshop, we covered health benefits to baking, her suggestions as a physician for how to live more healthfully, and the windy path to her second book. (If you want to watch our original film, click here!)  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laurie Notaro makes me laugh. A bestselling humorist, Laurie writes about whatever life stage she’s in with wit and bluntness. We talked about her hilarious parents and how her dad often says he’s glad Laurie didn’t have a twin, how we regress as soon as we go “home,” the indignities of aging, and the free cosmetic procedure she tried and had her skin burned off.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode features female founders of two communities: Jennifer Shoop, Magpie, and Aly Wente and Niki Wente, The Wine Sisters Book Club. Both groups have prioritized books — in addition to birds, wine, and more interests and avenues. Jennifer Shoop’s book, Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life’s Quiet Joys, was absolutely beautiful.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pain psychologist Dr. Rachel Zoffness sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal. Prompted by one parent’s powerful question and the transformative experience of working with teenagers, Rachel reflects on her personal and professional experiences with pain and her goal of sharing the true science with the world.  They dive deep into overcoming imposter syndrome, how to identify the ingredients of a bad pain day, the genetics of highly sensitive people, and Rachel’s own struggles with chronic pain.  Learn more about Dr. Rachel Zoffness here: https://www.zoffness.com/ or follow her on Instagram @therealdoczoff.  Hosted by Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Goodman Confino’s high school journalism teacher was the first person who told her “you can do better than this.” And she did.  Sara joins Zibby Owens for an intimate talk about her new novel Off The Record, a fun, thrilling, and mysterious romantic comedy set in 1962 about 22-year-old Judy Greenberg looking to be the next big reporter as a young Jewish woman in a male-dominated field.  Sara opens up about the challenges she faced as a female teacher with male administrators, the long road from writing to becoming a published author, and how a single mentor can change the trajectory of a life.  Visit Sara’s website here: https://saraconfino.com/ or follow her on Instagram @saraconfino.  Hosted by Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Midlife desperately needs a rebrand. Dr. Margie Lachman is doing just that with her research at the Lifespan Lab at Brandeis University where she teaches psychology. She has pioneered the lifespan psychology approach to midlife. We talked about the joys midlife can bring and why her academic approach is so essential.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tokyo-born Lisa Katayama took her parenting techniques with her to Northern California and found that what Japanese culture had to offer was quite useful when it came to raising kids. We discussed the pain points of parenting, how she puts her ideas into practice, and how she pulled off writing a book in the midst of all of it.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ann Tashi Slater and I spoke about life, meaning, the role of literature, travel, family, and more, inspired by her book Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World. (Special thanks to past podcast guest Lauren Grodstein for the introduction!) ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jackie Friedland, a contributor to my anthology On Being Jewish Now and past podcast guest, returns with her latest novel, Breathing Under Water! A poignant story about life around the pool, an unfair accusation, an autistic main character, and a community shaken, this book will make you think and feel. Jackie and I discussed parenting, coaching, writing, and more.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eva Zu Beck seems like an unlikely solo pioneer in the wilds of Pakistan, but her fearlessness has taken her around the world with just a van, a dog, and a camera. What does it take to live like that? To call off an engagement and a way of life and, instead, bring millions of others on international adventures with her? She shares her self-destructive behaviors, her doubts, and her inner monologue as she becomes a global adventurer.   ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m insanely impressed by Stephanie Wittels Wachs, not just because she’s the co-founder and CEO of Lemonada Media, an award-winning podcast network with a mission to "make life suck less,” but because of her ability to use humor and wit to get through loss. She lost her brother, writer-producer-comedian Harris Wittels, to the opioid crisis and has now written multiple books on the topic. This raw exploration of grief is also a manual for anyone else struggling with how to help an addicted loved one. Our conversation ranged from entrepreneurship and what it takes to start something new to her profound struggles in the aftermath of sibling loss.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I first met Alyssa Rosenheck at a coffee shop in Nashville, TN, with my husband, Kyle. She was a notable architectural photographer whose book was being sold at the Draper James boutique, which I’d just visited, and she offered to show us the town. I didn’t know then that she was also Jewish, which, in the pre-October 7th days, wasn’t necessarily something that would come up in conversation. And yet, after October 7th, Alyssa became a vocal proponent of the Jewish people, leading political and societal change efforts in her community. She contributed to my anthology On Being Jewish Now. Her next book, White. Blonde. Jew., is coming out and has been met with controversy in her community; her launch event was canceled. I’ll be hosting Alyssa at Totally Booked: Live in New York on Sunday, October 25th. Listen to our candid conversation (recorded before the cancellation).  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anyone else a bit obsessed with the royal family? (I have a girl crush on Princess Catherine.) Caroline Hallemann, digital director of Town & Country magazine, delves deep into the overlapping histories of the British Royal Family and our own U.S. royals: the Kennedys. We discussed fandom, coincidence, leadership, and more.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ashley Kahn was sitting on a terrace in Italy as we talked about his love letter to Paul Simon and the album Graceland, Days of Miracle and Wonder. I couldn’t help getting distracted by the fabulous view (an inner sigh as I sat inside at my desk on a beautiful day) but then I realized that his view — his perspective — was something I could internalize and share. Ashley’s deep dive into the history of the hit album Graceland — one of my favorites! — made me rethink music history. Our talk was as interesting to me as the beats of the songs and lingered long after the mic turned off, just like Paul Simon’s music.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cinelle Barnes was nervous. This was her first interview about her book after her brain injury which, having read the book, I completely understood. Cinelle shared openly about what her life has been like in the before and after, the accommodations she needs to function at 100%, her new lease on life, and how she pivoted an existing book project (this!) into what became a powerful, memorable story of overcoming and persevering.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Young was beyond impressive! I loved talking to him about his experience in prison, how he turned to books and philosophy, his views on overcoming obstacles, resilience, and fate, and how he sees the world. Chris is incredibly inspiring. Prediction: he’ll hold office later in life. Just saying. Listen to us discuss his powerful story and how it can inspire everyone to lead more authentic, meaningful lives. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I feel like Dr. Lucy McBride and I could’ve grown up as friends. She’s so relatable despite her brilliance that taking her advice feels like a no-brainer. Hear from her as she shares the medical “stuff” you need to know and feel inspired to get the care you need. Lucy will be part of Totally Booked: Live on October 25th. Get your tickets now! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dara Levan is a contributor to my anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates, who is the first person to show up for friends and colleagues alike. In her latest novel Shaken to the Core, she portrays a loss in vivid detail, family dynamics, loss, and more.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David K. Israel, one of the contributors to my anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates, has a quirky, dry sense of humor that permeates his latest release, The Lost Mozart. A composer, David shared fun details about his entry into the world of symphonies and sounds, how it felt to lose his home in the Palisades where we were neighbors, and the creativity involved in music versus writing. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I loved this book! Couldn’t put it down. Join me in September (9/15 at 7 pm ET) to discuss When Lemons Give You Life by Australian author Anna Johnston, whose prior novel, The Secret Life of Frederick Fife, is being adapted by Netflix. It’s about a retired Michelin-star chef who ends up at a nursing home, wondering if life is still worth living, who finds a new sense of purpose and connection through cooking again. It sounds depressing, but it isn’t. It’s light and entertaining but has heart and soul, plus many twists and turns. I won’t give anything away. It will make you look at life differently. Isn’t that part of why we read? ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don’t know what Jaclyn Moriarty’s parents did so right to raise a slew of brilliant women writers, but Jaclyn has a few ideas. Hear from her about the games her family played including sister Liane Moriarty, Big Little Lies, how she got the idea for the book on a bus ride, the lives not lived, and fate itself. The book is so fun; Jaclyn’s prose is so witty I continually chuckled as I read it. Her observational prowess knows no bounds. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author Chris Bohjalian has written 26 books, including mega-bestsellers Oprah’s Book Club pick Midwives and The Flight Attendant, adapted into an Emmy-winning TV series — and yet he still worries that his next book won’t be any good. Isn’t it funny that even the greats of the field still worry?! But not to fear: Chris is no amateur and his latest book is thought-provoking, different, gripping, and memorable. When a bright young woman, about to head to Yale, swings a golf club at the range of her club, her life changes in an instant. The ball blasts through a hole in the netting and instantly kills a caddy, a classmate of hers. What follows is an examination of a neighborhood percolating with infidelity, blame, and gossip, a look at how easy it is to end up with the wrong people, and an attempt to right a life thrown off track.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I reread (and listened to) one of my favorite books, When Breath Becomes Air, before speaking to late author Dr. Paul Kalanithi’s widow, Lucy. The book was as moving, thought-provoking, and immersive now as it was when I first inhaled it. It’s no surprise that the book spent 68 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction list and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Dr. Paul Kalinithi was obsessed with life and death, philosophy, literature, and science, delving deep into the why of it all, before falling terminally ill with cancer himself, dying at age 37. He left his book, for which Lucy wrote the epilogue and Abraham Verghese wrote the foreword, but he also left his family. I spoke to Lucy about life after Paul, how she toured on his behalf, her relationships and career post-loss, and her daughter. The world lost such a brilliant, special soul. This book is a must-read. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The newly minted New York Times bestseller The Renoir Girls by Brit Catherine Ostler tells a hidden story of what really happened to the young girls in Renoir’s famous portraits. As it turns out, they were victims of the Holocaust. How could these high-society children have ended up suffering, one even at Auschwitz? The story digs into government, politics, hatred, antisemitism, art, family, wealth, and class. I adored speaking to Catherine, one of the brightest people I’ve interviewed, and had the pleasure of meeting her in person afterward on the day her book hit “the list.” Huge thanks to Plum Sykes for the introduction.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can’t all completely start our lives over again. But Cece Downing, down on her luck, tries to do just that. An intriguing neighbor catches her attention. Antics ensue. Soon Wiley captures the interior life of a woman’s mind with brilliance (how does he do it?!) and depicts a turning point with literary prowess. We spoke about his upcoming move, his stage of life, the inspiration for the book, and more.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I spoke to Sarah Vaughan about her riveting new novel, Based on a True Story (think: cliffside manor, a matriarch at her 70th birthday party, a secret, a threat). Her prior novel Anatomy of a Scandal was made into a Netflix show in 2022. But Sarah opened up about far more than the book. For the real true story, listen in.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Elisa Port, chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai and one of the nation's leading breast cancer specialists, joins Zibby to discuss her compassionate new guide, The Breast Advice. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the stories of real patients, Dr. Port shares the latest advances in breast cancer screening and treatment, dispels common myths, offers practical advice for reducing risk, and explains how friends and loved ones can provide meaningful support. Tune in! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Doerge is a FORCE. When her daughter Penny passed away, Kate channeled her overwhelming grief into community building, giving back, and even her much-needed workouts. She opened up her home, even when Penny was dying, for all her teenage friends and family friends, to be a part of it. And that's when they saw the angel light in the driveway. Written in collaboration with past podcast guest Sara Bliss, Reimagining Grief is the guide book, clarion call, and bible to living with pain and forging ahead. Kate founded Penny's Flight in honor of Penny to help others. We were honored to host Kate at Zibby's Bookshop in conversation with Jennifer Levi, who launched the Live Like Braun Foundation, in honor of her late son, just before the book hit the USA Today bestseller list. You can watch that conversation on our Substack here. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Jannuzzi and I spoke about her journey from being a high-functioning alcoholic who managed to hide her addiction from her family to a "sober mom." Liz shares her most shameful moments, the affair that almost blew up her marriage, and how she turned her life around. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve been a fan of Justin Halpern’s for years and have read all his hilarious, heartbreaking, original stories. His debut novel Get Lost is a new take on some themes he’s been writing about all along. And it’s funny! We talked about his screenwriting and how an encounter with Quinta Brunson on a studio lot changed everything. You can also watch his hilarious event at Zibby's Bookshop here!! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, he said it. Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham opens up about his formative relationships as he teaches the reader what great writing looks like. I read his unforgettable novel The Hours for a now-defunct book club years ago. I couldn’t wait to discuss! A professor, Michael shares in the book and on the podcast, what his secrets are. By including sample paragraphs throughout, we pick up his vast knowledge. He then intersperses his own story including a chapter that . . . you never would have guessed. Loved this conversation!  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August Book Club Pick!! You might know bestselling author Matthew Quick from his blockbuster hit Silver Linings Playbook, which became an Academy Award-winning film. Now we not only get a behind-the-scenes look at his personal life, but also his professional struggles, something most accomplished authors don’t open up about. Matthew shares what happened after Hollywood lost interest and how he dealt with it. He faced many demons in his attempts to cope with his difficult childhood, particularly his volatile relationship with his father, from alcohol to excessive exercise. The writing is exceptional. The honesty? Next level. It's midlife reinvention at its finest. Join us for a virtual Q&A book club on August 13th at 7:00 pm. Register here! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Obsessed. Super obsessed. Can’t stop talking about this book and recommending it. I have to admit, my mother is the one who finally got me to read it. Apparently, Oprah selecting it last year paled in comparison to my mom! Culpability raises all sorts of questions about ethics, secrets, AI, family loyalties, success, and love. Bruce Holsinger and I discussed all of it, including how he completely rewrote this novel based on one car ride.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I can’t stop thinking about my interview with #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva. Not only did we discuss the themes in his latest book Ransom (and his wife!), but we covered how he feels about the fact that men aren’t reading anymore. He discusses how women are all over the bestseller list right now and his concern going forward. Curious what you all think!  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jean Kwok ventured into writing fantasy after her own divorce, which we discuss, in addition to how she grew up working in sweatshops in Chinatown and ended up at Harvard. Jean, a Read with Jenna pick, is one of the most effusive, lovely authors who is constantly lifting others up.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know who was probably excited when masked robbers invaded the Louvre? Just kidding. But Jo Piazza’s novel The Parisian Heist couldn’t be more timely! Hear from mega-bestselling author and host of Under the Influence Jo Piazza as we discuss the other Jo—Jo van Gogh, art, her own love of art history, forgotten women, and twisty reads.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the third book I’ve interviewed Rachel Beanland about; I just love her writing. Did you know she won the National Jewish Book Award for debut fiction for Florence Adler Swims Forever? In The Half Life, she takes us to Sardinia into the military world where one young woman finds her way. We spoke about Rachel’s late father, her own experience growing up on military bases, how to really figure out who you are, and more. Rachel will be at our Naples Book Lovers Retreat January 22-24, 2027. Learn more about that here. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Giffin is a legend in women’s fiction (and we discussed whether we like calling it women’s fiction). Love You More is yet another fabulous read. Emily and I went deep and spoke about her own divorce, the lifestage she’s in now that her kids are all off to college, and how essential a role writing plays in her life.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Searles was an editor at Cosmopolitan back in the Helen Gurley Brown days. That’s why he’s the perfect person to have written Single Girls, this juicy, page-turning read. John and I spoke about his own personal history of loss and how it related to Helen’s past, the evolution of magazines, why he was in the mood to deviate from his typical darker fiction, and how important coworkers really are. Plus, of course, Helen Gurley Brown! After our interview, I was invited to a very swanky launch party at Love Shack Fancy. They even gave me a dress which made me the coolest mom to my daughters who are rarely impressed these days! So an extra special thank you to John!  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York Times bestselling author Jessica Knoll joined me live at the Whitby Hotel to discuss Helpless, her gripping new psychological thriller (her "slimmest, tightest novel yet") about a Hollywood power player forced to confront a toxic relationship from her past. Jessica shares how her own experiences informed her writing, reflects on the lasting impact of trauma (trigger warning: we discussed sexual assault), and dives into the novel's complex themes of power, desire, violence, and memory. She also talks about Hollywood, adapting her work for the screen, and the unforgettable ending that will leave readers desperate to discuss the final page. I literally had to DM her when it ended! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby chats with Ben Reeves about EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT, an imaginative and deeply moving novel about finding beauty in the brevity of life, as narrated by the one who knows it best: Death. Zibby and Ben explore how a story about mortality ultimately becomes a celebration of life, love, family, and the fleeting moments that make our time meaningful. Ben shares the inspiration behind his unforgettable protagonist, reflects on how parenthood transformed his perspective on time and loss, and explains why thinking about death can help us live more fully. New York Times bestselling author Ariel Sullivan returns to the podcast to discuss BENEATH, a gripping dystopian novel that explores grief, survival, rage, and the resilience of the human spirit. She opens up about how her own journey through postpartum depression and therapy shaped the novel's emotional core, why she wanted to write an unapologetically angry female protagonist, and the healing power of confronting shame rather than running from it. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby welcomes back Robinne Lee to discuss CRASH INTO ME, a stunning, emotionally layered novel about identity, desire, beauty, race, and motherhood. Robinne shares how she moved beyond the success of THE IDEA OF YOU to write a fearlessly intimate story inspired by her own experiences living in Los Angeles and Paris, reflecting on beauty standards, interracial marriage, aging, privilege, and the power of embracing every facet of womanhood. Bestselling author Beatriz Williams returns to discuss WHEN YOU LOVED ME, a sweeping novel that intertwines a colonial-era pirate mystery, a second-chance love story, and the high-stakes world of professional football. She and Zibby talk about the real-life inspiration behind the novel's unforgettable opening, Beatriz's unexpected path from Stanford football manager to bestselling novelist, and the novel’s themes of family, violence, resilience, and redemption. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby welcomes New York Times bestselling author Amanda Eyre Ward back on the podcast to discuss ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES, a transporting novel that reunites readers with the beloved family from THE JETSETTERS. Amanda shares the real-life inspiration behind the story—from interviewing romance scammers and drawing on her own experiences being scammed to writing about complicated family dynamics, mental illness, addiction, sibling relationships, and travel. Zibby also sits down with debut novelist and screenwriter Laura Lekkos to discuss ALL THE LITTLE WAYS, a heartfelt novel about two expectant mothers whose unlikely friendship is tested by a shocking twist. Laura reflects on the inspiration she found in motherhood, mommy groups, and female friendship, shares her journey from screenwriting to fiction, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at adapting bestselling books for film while balancing a busy career and family life. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kalina Silverman, founder of the global Big Talk movement, joins Zibby to discuss her inspiring new book, BIG TALK: How to Skip the Small Talk, Make Meaningful Connections, and Enrich Your Life. She shares how her own loneliness sparked a decade-long mission to help people forge deeper connections through meaningful conversations and offers practical tips for becoming more approachable, asking better questions, and building community in an increasingly disconnected world. Zibby also chats with Lu Chekowsky about her whip-smart, deeply personal, and wildly entertaining memoir, DON'T BUY WHAT I'M SELLING: On Breaking Up with Advertising and Finally Learning to Love My Whole Fat Self. Lu reflects on a career at the highest levels of the advertising industry, the burnout that nearly cost her her life, and the complicated relationship between media, body image, grief, and self-worth. Together, they explore the power of using your own voice, redefining success, and finding healing by finally listening to your body. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK! New York Times bestselling author Jenny Jackson returns to the podcast to discuss THE SHAMPOO EFFECT, a witty, drama-fueled, laugh-out-loud funny novel about love, friendship, ambition, and the complicated realities of modern marriage. She and Zibby chat about writing flawed but deeply human characters, the dynamics of lifelong friendships, balancing her career as an author and editor, and why becoming a parent is the ultimate coming-of-age story. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby chats with Sabrina Rudin, founder of Spring Café and author of HEALTHY WITH A SIDE OF HAPPY, about her lifelong dream of writing a book, how a vegetarian restaurant idea that "would never work in Aspen" became a thriving brand, and why she believes food has the power to completely transform how we feel. Sabrina shares the philosophy her mother instilled in her — that food is medicine — and how it drove her to open Spring Café, build an engaged online community, and eventually write the cookbook she always knew she had in her.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Photographer Marnie Salsky joins Zibby to discuss A Peoplehood, Amiut Yehudit, her visually stunning exploration of contemporary Jewish identity. Drawing on over a decade of documentary work in Toronto's Jewish community, Marnie shares how archival images, candid interviews, and present-day photography come together to examine belonging, cultural trauma, and the rising tide of antisemitism. Zibby also sits down with three prominent American rabbis — Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, Rabbi Yoshi Zweibach, and Rabbi Josh Franklin — for a wide-ranging conversation about Jewish identity, books, and what it means to be Jewish today. Together, they explore the unexpected resurgence of Jewish engagement following October 7th, the challenge of rising antisemitism, and what the Jewish community is ultimately fighting for.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby chats with Eliza Reid about her unexpected journey from Canadian farm girl to First Lady of Iceland. Eliza shares how her history-professor husband was persuaded by strangers to run for president, and how she navigated eight years in an unofficial role with no rulebook, four young kids, and a determination not to lose herself in the process. SPECIAL OFFER: Eliza co-founded the acclaimed Iceland Writers' Retreat. As a special offer for Totally Booked listeners, you can save 40,000 ISK (about $320 USD) off the retreat, taking place April 14–18, 2027, by registering at this link: https://hosted-checkout.straumur.is/paymentLink/uxumoc098m7aokw2clwq. For more information, visit www.icelandwritersretreat.com or reach out to general manager Sue Erbeck at [email protected]. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Lucy Hone joins Zibby to discuss HOW WILL I EVER GET THROUGH THIS?, her compassionate guide to navigating grief and hardship. Drawing from her research in resilience psychology and her own experience of profound loss, Dr. Lucy shares evidence-based tools for coping with trauma, rebuilding identity, finding hope, and fostering post-traumatic growth. Together, she and Zibby explore resilience, fear, healing, and the universal question at the heart of every difficult season: How do we move forward when life changes forever? Then, Zibby chats with Oona Metz about UNHITCHED: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women. Drawing on 30 years as a therapist and 15 years leading divorce support groups, Oona shares practical advice for navigating the emotional upheaval of divorce, managing guilt, supporting children through family transitions, and finding community during difficult times. Together, she and Zibby explore the evolving journey of divorce, the rise of “gray divorce,” and how women can emerge from the experience stronger, more empowered, and hopeful about the future. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby interviews fertility specialist Dr. Jaime Knopman and co-author Rebecca Raphael about their book, OWN YOUR FERTILITY. They discuss the realities of modern family planning, the rise in infertility, egg freezing, fertility preservation, and the importance of educating women earlier about their reproductive health. Drawing from both medical expertise and personal experience, Jaime and Rebecca share practical advice and empowering information to help women make informed decisions about their futures. Zibby also interviews Lindsay Bartels about IMOGEN IN WAITING: A Memoir of Modern Reproduction, a powerful and deeply personal exploration of genetic inheritance, fertility, and reproductive choice. Lindsay shares her experience navigating breast cancer, carrying the BRCA1 mutation, IVF, and the difficult ethical questions surrounding embryo testing. Together, they discuss motherhood, resilience, medical advances, and the complex decisions that arise when science offers unprecedented control over the future. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Douglas Brunt returns to Totally Booked to discuss THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL, the fascinating true story of the Nobel family’s rise in imperial Russia, their pivotal role in the global oil industry, and the revolutionary forces that reshaped the twentieth century. From the origins of the Nobel Prize to the rise of Stalin and the fall of the Romanovs, Brunt shares how he uncovered this forgotten family saga—and why its lessons about power, energy, and history still resonate today. Bestselling author Ben Mezrich discusses CHECKMATE, his gripping deep dive into the biggest cheating scandal in chess history. From a shocking showdown between world champion Magnus Carlsen and controversial young challenger Hans Niemann to questions about AI, truth, and the future of competition, Mezrich unpacks the real-life drama behind a story that reads like a thriller. He also shares his unique approach to turning headline-making nonfiction into blockbuster books and films. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Loop in your teens! Get some life advice from Meredith Walker who founded Smart Girls with Amy Poehler in Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice and then laugh along with Adam Mansbach whose unorthodox parenting “advice” has gotten me through a lot. Now he’s back with Go the F*** to College. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NYT bestselling author Judy Batalion shares a compelling pre-WWII story of a family in a changing city, in The Last Woman of Warsaw. (The more things change…) ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This double episode tackles love in all its forms with Katherine Center’s The Shippers and Lila Raicek’s The Plunge. Hear from NYT bestselling author Katherine Center about her writing process and why she likes to give away the (happy) ending from the start. Cry with playwright Lila Raicek as she shares the friend she lost and the dark times that inspired her debut novel. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your story makes a difference. How did you get through that last painful chapter? Why are you loving your current chapter? Which chapter are you leaving and which are you entering? Karson Brown shares her story of going from full-time motherhood to depression to writing and now publishing her first memoir, 48 Days to Barbados in "The Chapter I Never Saw Coming." Now you can share yours. Click here to be inspired, connect, commiserate, laugh, feel, and think. All stories welcome. Inspired by Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot (9/22/26) by Zibby Owens. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Loved Selfish! Co-founder of Faherty, Kerry Docherty, was a college athlete and superstar with a natural healer’s energy before helping her husband and his twin brother launch the clothing company. In the midst of start-up life, Kerry started losing herself and became entangled in an emotional affair with a famous musician. Her story explores what it means for a woman to put her needs first and how business and family mix. Arkansas-based humorist Jess H. Gutierrez turns on the funny in her second collection of essays, Adulting for Amateurs. If you’ve ever made a mix tape, this book is for you. Nothing is off the table from her dog-sitting gone wrong to being married to a woman firefighter. I laughed out loud many times. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caitlin Shetterly wrote about a mom with breast cancer in The Gulf of Lions, a follow-up to Pete and Alice in Maine. Then, in a strange plot twist, she got breast cancer herself. It’s hard to believe Caitlin’s diagnosis came after the fact because the emotions are so visceral and descriptive in the story. It’s like it had already happened. The plot centers on a mom taking her two teen/tween daughters to France for the summer after her husband cheated on her — and the unexpected twists and turns of the trip. Themes include family, secrets, trust, lust, and the joy of travel. Lauren and I spoke about her novel, Very Slowly All at Once, about a couple who starts getting mysterious checks in the mail. The husband is an out-of-work professor who finds out something odd when visiting his mother in her post-stroke home. The wife is desperate to find excitement. What happens next? Read and find out. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, this is about a group of moms and daughters, a story told in many alternating viewpoints during a fun getaway in Europe and beyond. But at its core, it’s about the ripple effects of an accident: misunderstandings, long-held resentments, and the impact of the unexpected on even the closest friends and loved ones. James and Sue Patterson spoke to me about their collaborations and more. Can you guess who James Patterson is writing a book with next?! Listen and find out. Clue: his last name rhymes with feast. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I loved hosting my annual Summer Reading List celebration in New York! I invite all authors on my list (see here) to meet each other, share about their books, and connect. Here are the photos so you can feel like you're in the room where it happened! Where else can you get 30 authors in one room pitching books to each other? Enjoy. And share my list! By the way, if you're someone (like me) who enjoys recommending books and sharing links to all types of products, you should join ShopMy as a creator! Use my referral code to get started and see proof that your recommendations matter. Click here! #shopmycreator ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this double episode of the podcast, Zibby talks with bestselling author and productivity expert Amy Landino about building intentional mornings, managing energy instead of time, and creating habits that support the life you want. Then, Bruce Feiler joins the show to discuss his new book A Time to Gather, sharing why rituals and community are essential to human connection, healing, and belonging in an increasingly isolated world. By the way, if you're someone (like me) who enjoys recommending books and sharing links to all types of products, you should join ShopMy as a creator! Use my referral code to get started and see proof that your recommendations matter. Click here! #shopmycreator ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Double episode from interviews recorded live at The Whitby Hotel! Bestselling author Camille Pagán joins Zibby to discuss her moving new novel, Dog Person, a witty story narrated by an aging rescue dog determined to help his grieving owner find love again, inspired by Camille Pagán’s own experience with loss, grief, and the extraordinary emotional intelligence of her beloved dog. Camille opens up about the personal tragedy that shaped the book, the research behind how dogs perceive human emotions, and the healing power of writing through grief. She and Zibby also dive into publishing culture, pseudonyms, romance novels, difficult characters, and the vulnerability of being a writer. Plus, Camille shares the surprising story of how she became a “dog person” herself — thanks to one unforgettable rescue dog. Novelist Kerry Clare discusses her witty and deeply thoughtful new novel, Definitely Thriving. Inspired in part by the work of Barbara Pym, the novel follows Clemence, a woman rebuilding her life after blowing up her marriage and deciding — finally! — to prioritize her own desires over everyone else’s expectations. Kerry and Zibby talk about writing funny, complicated women, the joy of eccentric side characters, and the role bookstores, friendships, and neighborhoods play in shaping identity and community. They also dive into the pressures women face around “having it all,” the idea of thriving versus optimizing, and why following your appetite — emotional, creative, intellectual — can be its own act of rebellion. By the way, if you're someone (like me) who enjoys recommending books and sharing links to all types of products, you should join ShopMy as a creator! Use my referral code to get started and see proof that your recommendations matter. Click here! #shopmycreator ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby’s Book Club Pick! I ugly-cried on the plane reading Sarah Damoff’s THE BURNING SIDE. It was like listening to a symphony — beautiful throughout but with piercing violin moments that made me clutch my chest. I love these characters so much. The writing is pure, not overdone or self-important, but elegant and poignant. Multiple perspectives. Emotions. Love. Loss. Home. Family. Memory. Time. Motherhood. All of it. One of my all-time favorites. Sobbed. In the best way. Thank you, Sarah Damoff. THE BURNING SIDE is just perfection. I feel more connected to all of humanity after connecting so deeply to this family — and feel honored to have spent time with these fictional souls. Join my book club Q&A with Sarah on June 9th at 7 pm ET here. By the way, if you're someone (like me) who enjoys recommending books and sharing links to all types of products, you should join ShopMy as a creator! Use my referral code to get started and see proof that your recommendations matter. Click here! #shopmycreator ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Brodie’s Into the Blue: A Reese’s Book Club Pick! Emma Brodie said she cried every day writing this book which became a Reese’s Book Club pick. (Maybe that’s the secret?!) We connected at Totally Booked: Live about the film/TV world, young love, the what ifs of life, the process of writing, and more! NBC’s Morgan Radford, Now Then NBC News Daily co-anchor Morgan Radford is one of the most articulate guests I’ve had on my show with that type of infectious energy and soulful spirit that draws people to her. We discussed her fabulous debut novel about family, relationships, Cuba, and Harvard, at Totally Booked: Live. She’s so impressive! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosie Walsh, The One Day You Were My Husband Loss, love, expectations and mystery abound in Rosie Walsh’s latest novel about a woman whose husband vanishes on their wedding night. We spoke about how past traumas inform narratives, the importance of a good first chapter, and more!  Aging Reversal?! Kelly Yang on The Take (and Front Desk!!) My son and I read Front Desk together two summers ago. When I found out blockbuster author Kelly Yang had written a novel for adults, I couldn’t wait to read it! It’s an immersive story about aging, ambition, loyalty, family, and friendship with a unique angle: what if there was a way to reverse aging but in so doing, you sped up someone else’s?! Hear how Kelly ended up graduating college at an absurdly young age, her own family’s origin story, and why writing matters. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m obsessed with this novel. Perhaps because I also wrote a book called Forty Love but even though my agent sent it out as the start of the pandemic, it didn’t sell. Which is probably for the best. Jane Costello’s novel is so much better! It’s smart, funny, inspiring, a bit steamy at parts, and page-turning. It centers around a 40-something British woman, a widow, whose only child has just “flown the nest.” She decides to join the local tennis league, where she promptly runs into an old flame. The book is about what happens to her, yes, but it’s really a battle cry on behalf of women, moms in particular, which gives us permission to find joy, find love, and find ourselves again. We also published it! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donna Hay is the ubiquitous cookbook author and lifestyle brand. Her latest cookbook, Sunshine, Lemons, and Sea Salt, will join the others on my shelf. Hear from Donna in Australia as she discusses her home, her approach to life, her family, and more. Don’t miss her new Disney+ show Coastal Celebrations. Adeena Sussman moved to Israel with her husband (hear how they met) and fell in love with the cuisine. Learn about her latest book which just hit the NYT bestseller list, Zariz, and how even you can cook with less than 10 ingredients. Plus we discuss what it’s like to be a Jewish author now.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Deepika Chopra teaches us the difference between optimism and positivity, shares her own child’s medical struggles and how she gets through, discusses pregnancy issues, and helps us find the strength we need. If you’ve ever asked, “Why is this happening to us,” then listen in. Dr. Chopra’s book, The Power of Real Optimism, is incredibly helpful.  Journalist Stacey Lindsay tackles what it’s like being in our forties (I only have a few months left - gah!) by asking many women, “How are you feeling about this age?” She parses through expectations versus reality, thoughts on aging and beauty, and shares her own feelings about her family and how that shaped her own experience in Being 40: The Decade of Letting Go — and Embracing Who We Are. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristy Woodson Harvey spotlights NICU nurses, sports coaches, and a small town in her annual summer novel, this time Summer State of Mind. If you’ve ever wondered “how something like this could happen in a town like theirs,” Kristy will pull back the curtain. But don’t worry: as Kristy says, “There are some secrets that come to light through the course of (the book), but you know, it's me, and I love a happy ending.” Hear how Kristy learned everything she needed to on the tennis court, how decisions aren’t black and white, and how this book stretched her talent.  Mikki Brammer’s novel Good Joy, Bad Joy is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick — and it’s clear why. By delving into the lives of two elderly women, Joy and Hazel— who truly don’t see themselves that way — Mikki paints a delicate portrait of female friendship, the secrets we keep, and how we cope when a loved one falls ill. Plus it’s a little devious. The real question, according to Mikki? “What is a life well lived and have I lived it fully?” Dive in. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pam Sherman took her superpower of inspiring others in acting, speaking, and work to write a helpful handbook to put your best foot forward. As Pam says, "You want to be who you are, wherever you are, in order to ignite your audience.” As a board member of Jewish Women International, Pam supports women, inspires leadership and shows what it takes.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your grandmother got pregnant? That’s the premise behind Laurie Frankel’s witty, escapist narrative about an older woman who takes up with her retirement community next-door neighbor and unexpectedly gets more than she bargained for — much to the dismay of her adult children. We spoke about her complete rewrite of the book ("I do not believe a single sentence remains . . . I opened a new document and wrote it completely from scratch . . .”), aging, family, life, and more. As Laurie says, "You don’t have to give up at a certain age.” ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I remember reading The Help in 2009 when it came out and absolutely loving it! Back then I was a stay-at-home mom of twins under age two. To think that by the time they graduated high school I’d be interviewing the author is insane; I wouldn’t have believed it. The Calamity Club is set in Mississippi in 1933 and spins an immersive tale about strong women who have to get through the Great Depression. It’s about a wealthy family’s fall from grace, a child’s never-ending resilience, loss, betrayal, family, hard work, and, ultimately, love. Kathryn and I spoke about it all including her own daughter’s influence on the characters. At the end of our interview, she said, "You are probably the best reader I've ever talked to.” Wow!  Key quotes: "How do we get through our darkest times without humor?”"As a writer, it is our job to truly imagine what it feels like to stand in someone else’s shoes." ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Tara Narula gives us a specific recipe in The Healing Power of Resilience: A New Prescription for Health and Well-Being, while editor Jenny Bartoy collects stories of others, like her, who have cut off contact with toxic people, sometimes even parents, in No Contact: Writing on Estrangement. Taken together, these two conversations arm us with the tools to get through challenges that might just be out of our control. How we respond to them isn’t. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica George takes on female friendship in her sophomore novel Love by the Book, which follows her hit Maame, which we also talked about on the podcast, as does Geneen Roth in her latest book Love, Finally: Untangling the Knot Between Mothers, Daughters, and Food. One woman made a huge difference in Geneen’s healing. (This book is for anyone who has ever been on a diet.) ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marisa Renee Lee shares her battle with long Covid on top of her other excruciating losses in Waiting for Dawn: Living with Uncertainty. We spoke at Totally Booked: Live at the Whitby Hotel, where she delighted the crowd with her big laughs, delightful personality, and optimism in the face of devastating circumstances. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I had the immense honor of interviewing Rachel Goldberg-Polin about her book When We See You Again. Rachel, USA Today's Woman of the Year and one of the TIME 100, is the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin who was kidnapped on October 7th and later executed by Hamas. Her book is raw, beautiful, and important. A meditation on grief, love, and how to get through. Please listen. We spoke in front of 1,200 people thanks to the generosity of UJA-NYC. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, Sally Hepworth and I spoke about her new novel, Mad Mabel, which features an older, quirky protagonist whose neighbor dies in the opening, and the young friend who comes along. But we also spoke about Sally’s recent divorce and how she has been getting through that. Sally is such a good storyteller that anything out of her mouth is captivating. No wonder her latest book is a Book of the Month Club pick. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve been a fan of actress and bestselling author Annabelle Gurwitch since I first read You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up. I’ve interviewed her on my podcast about her last book You’re Leaving When? and then got lucky enough to publish her new book, The End of My Life is Killing Me through Zibby Publishing — which has now been on the USA Today bestseller list for two weeks! You might have seen Annabelle lately because she has been all over the media with shout-outs from and interviews with Bill Maher, Drew Barrymore, Terry Gross at NPR, and Jenna Fischer. The book is hilarious and heartbreaking, fast-paced, thought-provoking, and a must-read. Hear from Annabelle and me at Totally Booked: Live in New York.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear from two amazing women authors who have survived loss and learned to live with it by finding humor in the darkest times. Screenwriter Angela Nissel writes about the loss of her mother — who had been caught up in a deceptive relationship — in Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom is Dead. Content creator Leslie Harter-Berg shares how she survived the sudden loss of her 30-year-old husband while on vacation post-Disneyland with their family and small children in You’re So Strong. The two of them are funny, sensitive souls who should really be friends. Taken together, these two conversations highlight how writing is healing, how humor is necessary, and how we can get through the hardest things life throws our way.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actress Gina Gershon takes us through the unexpected, entertaining steps to becoming a star and the attitude it takes to do so in her memoir Alphapussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I touched base with Little Free Library CEO Daniel Gumnit about how to promote literacy, why stories are best when shared, and exactly how to bring a Little Free Library to your “neck of the woods.” Learn more here. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling memoirist Wade Rouse shares about his first novel, That’s What Friends Are For, inspired by “The Golden Girls.” In crafting humorous story lines about four gay friends in later life, Wade explores complex issues ranging from prejudice and discrimination to loyalty and love. We spoke about the book live at Zibby’s Bookshop. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder of Nowhere Bookshop is anywhere but nowhere. She’s a guru. Jenny Lawson has written book after book about her mental health, obstacles, tips and tricks, using her sense of humor and relatable voice. How to Be Okay When Nothing is Okay is my favorite of all her books to date. I dog-earred so many pages with actual, actionable advice. Plus I love following her on social (thebloggess). Let me know if this book makes you feel better. I know I did. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christina Geist, bestselling children’s book author and brand guru, wrote Before You Fly Away: Life Lessons from Home, a beautifully illustrated gift book. It’s chockfull of short thoughts and sayings that Christina put together to help her kids out in the world. But really, it’s going to help all our kids. And, perhaps, us, too. Stay tuned on my Instagram for a giveaway this week!  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australian author Emma Grey’s The Last Love Note kicked off Emma’s journey with our publishing house. I read the PDF on a flight when her agent pitched it for my podcast — and fell in love. We acquired the U.S. rights and published it to much acclaim including as picks of Book of the Month Club and Target Book Club. Then came Pictures of You, an intense story about coercive control, which was also a breakout hit. Emma’s third U.S. novel Start at the End comes out today! It’s about love, loyalty, second chances, artistic ambition, family and what ifs. Join Emma on tour and learn more here! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield is truly hard to put down. Three friends go in the woods where two of them plot against the third in a love triangle that shape shifts. Kat and I spoke about the book and then moved on to how she finds personal essays performative. (I mentioned that I write them!) Thoughts on our discussion? If you like the idea of hiking (even without moving from the couch), this is for you. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Blair Glaser as she journeys into herself and goes from NYC and LA to a special yoga retreat in This Incredible Longing: How I Found My Self in a Near-Cult Experience. (Shout out to Isabelle Fisher Krishana, her cousin.) If you’ve ever felt lost, start here. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Literary ingenue J.R. Thornton takes us into the posh world of Harvard College from dorm rooms and classrooms to parties and more when an outsider gets pulled into the ultra-elite establishment by his roommate Lucien and has to decide whether to live by his moral code or go along with the plot.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First, get the context for today’s political climate with Yardena Schwartz, Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Then hear from Jonathan Harounoff in Unveiled: Inside Iran’s #WomenLifeFreedom Revolt. I guarantee you’ll feel more educated on current events after doing so.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I loved interviewing Allegra Goodman several times on my show for her novels Sam and Isola. Her latest book This is Not About Us was a Zibby’s Book Club pick in March! Instead of a new interview between us, I’m releasing a fabulous conversation we hosted at Zibby’s Bookshop between her and bestselling author Nikki Erlick, The Measure. Enjoy! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who doesn’t know legendary actress Tovah Feldshuh?! (If you don’t, now you will!) Tovah, the subject of an upcoming documentary which just premiered at the Temple Emanuel Streicker Center, is an all-time Broadway and screen great. She’s currently starring at Adam Brody’s mother Bina in Nobody Wants This. I interviewed Tovah for the second time as part of Totally Booked: Live in New York where she received a standing ovation. Last night in Los Angeles, Tovah joined my mother, Kyle, and me for dinner and opening night of the stage performance of my book On Being Jewish Now and she will star in my brother Teddy’s upcoming film Tuner. She calls herself our family’s babysitter. We just adore her. Hear our conversation and learn more about her memoir Lilyville: Mother, Daughter, and Other Roles I’ve Played. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I spoke to Matti Friedman right before the war with Iran began. He remarked that he and his family couldn’t make any plans as they waited to see what would happen. I’ve been thinking of him as Israelis rush to shelters as Iran retaliates. In his book, Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe, we go back to an earlier war.  Matti, through extensive research, recreates the mission of select airmen and women who fight for freedom, explaining how and why certain streets in Israel are named after these heroes. In writing about them, he has become a hero in his own right.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve gone through a multi-year slime phase in our house, much to the dismay of our kitchen table. When we discovered there was basically an amusement park for slime called Sloomoo Institute, the kids were hooked! It’s an immersive experience, birthday party venue, and sensory sensation with make-your-own-slime, get slimed walls, walk barefoot in smooth sand, and other tactile experiences.  Now bestselling author Melissa De La Cruz and Mike Johnston have turned founders Karen Robinovitz and Sara Schiller’s destination into a graphic novel Sloomoo: Making Friends. (Karen and Sara united after both of them had been felled by unspeakable losses and found joy through playing with slime.) They’ll be at Zibby’s Bookshop this Sunday (me too!) from 10 am - 11 am and will be hosting a kids’ experience. Listen to the episode and come by!  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I like to think of Marie Benedict as my midlife history professor; every novel she writes teaches me more about periods of time I thought I understood. In Daughter of Egypt, Marie transports us to post-WWI England and Egypt through the eyes of a young woman who is more interested in archeology than cotillion. I interviewed Marie as part of Totally Booked: Live in Palm Beach. Prepare to be transported.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you remember The Book Thief? It came out twenty years ago and was a massive bestseller. It was just re-released as a 20th anniversary edition and oh my gosh, it’s gorgeous. I re-read the book to prepare for my interview with Markus and highly encourage you to do so, too — or read it for the first time if you missed it. Spectacular.  It’s a story about a young, book-loving, non-Jewish girl in Nazi Germany, her family’s relationship with the man they hid, her own family’s struggle, and a town reeling from the war. I’m not doing it justice. It’s so good, a coming-of-age in wartime. Also? Incredibly creative. Hear from Markus Zusak about how he wrote the book only he could write.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author Allison Pataki introduces us to yet another powerful woman forgotten in history in her latest historical novel, It Girl. Evelyn Talbot shot onto the scene in the early 20th century and rose to prominence (think: Kardashian). But her relationships with men destroyed her career and her life. Read Allison’s reimagined ending for this star.  ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Platzer’s novel The Optimists was just reviewed in the New York Times Book Review. I interviewed him live at the Whitby about his beloved teacher, who fell victim to a stroke and whom he visited for years afterwards, how Sarah Jessica Parker interviewed him at a recent event, and the power of loyalty. It also features a love story gone wrong about teens and a star student’s descent.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to travel to the Southwest? I Am Agatha by debut author Nancy Foley takes us there. Inspired by her grandmother’s past, Nancy wrote a story about two elderly ladies and their antics. It’s as much about the land as the people. Here’s to pursuing writing dreams until they come true.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Table 4 at The River Cafe, restaurant owner Ruthie Rogers shares conversations with her high-profile podcast guests including Paul McCartney, David Beckham, and Martha Stewart. Learn more about them through the relationships to food.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered what a fictitious book club would look like in Anna Quindlen’s mind? Enter More Than Enough, her latest powerhouse of a novel which centers on what happens to the members of a book club including DNA-based identity disruptions, illness, infertility, and more — with a dose of alpaca. Read to find out. We recorded our episode live at The Whitby Hotel. Watch it on my TV show “Totally Booked” on the JBS network when it comes out.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We published this “Thelma and Louise” meets “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” tale about a midlife recently catfished and humiliated woman and the young journalist determined to get revenge on her behalf. Travel all over Europe with them as they track down the con man who did this. Alexandra Potter is a massive bestselling author in the U.K. whose last novel was adapted into the TV show, “Not Dead Yet” on ABC. Check out So, I Met This Guy. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re in the mood to commiserate with a couple of close friends about the indignities of aging, love in midlife, life at Princeton in the 90s, how to get in shape for running, and more, this is the book for you. Hear from the leading Black and Jewish co-author team Alli Frank and Asha Youmans who call themselves “the Will and Grace of race” in Run for Your Life, Callie Kingman. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Mark Oppenheimer’s new biography about Judy Blume, he reveals a number of surprising things, so much that I kept leaning over to my kids as I read going, “Did you know…” What the former “Unorthodox” podcast host really did was paint a portrait of one of the consummate literary leading ladies of our time. A must devour.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aren’t teachers the best? When I found out that Ani Katz (“Miss Katz”), my kids’ former teacher, wrote another novel, Haven, I had to invite her on the podcast and to our Totally Booked: Live show. Hear from her about the teaching life, the pitfalls of writing fiction, and so much more.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might know Deborah Goodrich Royce for the amazing summer author series she hosts at the hotel she co-owns with her husband the Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I. (If you haven’t been, you must.) Or maybe it’s for her previous novels, Finding Mrs. Ford, Ruby Falls, or Reef Road. Perhaps it’s for her soap opera days, or from co-chairing the New York Public Library’s annual spring luncheon, or maybe just from listening to her on my podcast the last few years. We discussed her new book Best Boy, the authors-supporting-authors life and more.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I interviewed the one and only Joan Lunden live in front of an audience for this very special discussion about her career as a longtime GMA anchor, her women’s health advocacy, the loss of her father at a young age, her marriage and second marriage, and so much more. What a thrill! Check out her latest memoir Joan: Life Beyond the Script. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trying something new here! I interviewed three women authors on the same day whose novels took me through the full spectrum of motherhood — so I wanted you all to have the same experience. We start with Angela Brown’s Ways to Find Yourself in which Grace Whittaker meets younger versions of herself as she mourns her mother’s loss while attempting to get pregnant. We then move on to British “it girl” Saba Sams’s Gunk which really throws you into the birth and baby experience. And then we fast forward to empty nesting in Lindsey Goldstein’s Gap Year in which a middle-aged mom takes off on an adventure after being left by her husband. Would love your input on this new episode format. I had fun doing it!  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Focus Features was kind enough to offer me the chance to host a screening of the new film “Midwinter Break,” which many of you in my community attended! Based on the novel Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty, which was edited by podcast guest and author Jill Bialosky, the film “Midwinter Break” paints an intimate portrait of a marriage in its later years. Director Polly Findlay and I discussed the adaptation, how to depict intimate relationships, and the power of stories in all mediums. Watch the movie trailer here. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I loved these poems by Jessica Urlichs so much that I ended up reading some to my son. Somehow, they take the unwieldy, much-discussed experience of motherhood and reframe it, distill it, and make it relatable in a new way. Isn’t it wild how effective great poetry can be? We discussed all of it and made each other cry. Check out her collection We Bloom Because of You. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mimi Nichter was an American teenager returning from a summer in Israel on September 6th, 1970 when the plane she was on was hijacked. She was then taken hostage. Until recently, she’d never shared what happened. With the release of her memoir, Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience, she sets the stage for how what happened to her has echoes in the news literally today. I’m embarrassed to say I’d never heard about this flight hijacking. Now I can’t forget it.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congratulations to author Zeeva Bukai for winning a National Jewish Book Award from the Jewish Book Council for her novel The Anatomy of Exile. On our episode, we spoke about her new book, The World Between, which is a slim, powerful narrative about a woman who travels to Tel Aviv to the home where she first started her marriage and revisits later in her life. It’s about mental health, the after-effects of World War II, recovery, mistakes, lost love, shame, survival, and healing. It’s really short and definitely worth reading: immersive, thought-provoking, soulful. I can’t stop thinking about it — and was thrilled to hear she won the award!  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m hooked. Somehow, I’d never read Elizabeth Day’s books until her latest, One of Us, a smart look at relationships, cancel culture, and more. I enjoyed her writing so much that I ordered her backlist. Elizabeth hosts the popular podcast “How to Fail.” In this book, she absolutely hasn’t. We connected as writers named Elizabeth who started podcasts on a whim post-divorce and grew a following. It was a really fun conversation.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who knew?!! Well, apparently, senior correspondent for CBS News Norah O’Donnell did. In her book, We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America, the stories of many unknown — and some well-known — are brought to the surface. The story of the U.S. is reshaped through what she uncovered. Written with Kate Andersen Brower, who joined us for the episode, Norah and WE THE WOMEN will change the way you think about the past — and the future. P.S. Norah is good friends with my college fave, Sarah (Ogilvie) Saint-Amand. Hi Sarah! Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Charleen Hurtubise paints a picture of a woman reinvented. We meet Saoirse on an airplane, faking her identity with a friend’s passport, on her way to start over entirely overseas. Why? You’ll find out. Art plays a central role in Saoirse’s new life — and in her unraveling. Does her husband know? You’ll find out. (Note: We had some technical issues during this episode, but we’ve edited them so you’ll never know. It is a bit shorter than usual as a result.) Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes you just click with someone. By the end of my in-person interview with Israeli poet Rachel Tzvia Back, we were hugging — having laughed, cried, and truly connected in just 30 minutes. Why? Because she’s awesome, yes, but also because her memoir, The Dark-Robed Mother, is so intimate, vulnerable, and beautiful that it would endear her to anyone. It’s funny and hopeful, dark and poignant. It also portrays what happens to those who love you when you go through something no one can fix. This is why I do my podcast. For moments like this. I hope you’ll listen. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am obsessed with the TV show “The Middle” starring Patricia Heaton, Eden Sher, and an all-star cast. It ran for nine years starting in 2009, but I only discovered it recently thanks to the clips my kids saw on TikTok. I wrote a Substack for my Z.I.P. members called “Here in the Middle” about how much I love this smart show about a family in Indiana who mirrors my own in ways that make me laugh out loud. Jordan Roter, an author friend, sent it to the creators of “The Middle” and connected me with them! Turns out, they lived near me in the Palisades and shopped at my bookstore. They’d even read my essays about the fire. Last week, we did a podcast about their show and I gushed. Gushed. Hear the three of us talk about the show, family, kids growing up, humor, and life. One of my favorite episodes — although I ran five minutes over. Sorry! Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Book Made Me Think of You, an instant USA Today Bestseller by top UK author Libby Page, is an ode to bookstores, an ode to love, and an ode to the power of books to get us through anything. Libby came to my home and stayed for lunch when she was in town from the U.K. We could’ve talked about books forever. I don’t know what was cuter — the book or the purse she brought with her, shaped like the front of an old-fashioned bookstore. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer Reid, MD, author of Guilt Free, has the answers. For those of us who feel guilty about almost everything having to do with parenting, psychiatrist Dr. Reid hears us — and has solutions. I recorded this live at my children’s school, where I peppered her with questions that were, perhaps, too personal?! Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wall Street Journal journalist Francesca Fontana shares her surprising journey of researching her own father’s jail time, crimes, and friendships in this fast-paced story. Ultimately, she not only finds the truth, but herself. Dive into The Family Snitch. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I interviewed Gillian Deacon in person at Totally Booked: Live about her book A Love Affair with the Unknown. Both the guests and I were riveted by her story. Gill’s medical mystery unfolds slowly in her book. Instead of coping in solitude, Gill turns to research and learns everything about uncertainty. Now we can, too, thanks to her.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you listened to Dan Senor’s podcast Call Me Back? If you have, you’ll know how incredibly bright he is and how informed he is on all things Israel. In his book,The Genius of Israel, co-written with Saul Singer, Dan writes vignettes and stories about Israelis who make a difference and how societal norms created such a unique and often rated as “happy” country despite it all. We recorded this live as part of Totally Booked: Live at the Whitby Hotel in New York. Check out zibbymedia.com/events so you don’t miss the next event!  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suzy Ultman is a gifted artist who has turned her gifts into a series of children’s board books designed to elevate the Jewish experience in a fun, whimsical way. Think: gifts for a bris and beyond. How Do You Jew is the latest in the series. Hear how she turned to this format, her own experiences as a mother and artist, and where she finds hope. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Fogelson shares his thoughts and feelings about becoming a new dad having lost his own father in Restrung: Fatherhood in a Different Key. He retraces the relationship, describes coping with his dad’s diagnosis and subsequent loss, and makes sense of the senseless in time to parent his own son. All of this is set to music as Matt navigates his life through the tunes that matter. (For those who know Phyllis Fogelson, this is her son.)  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author and Reese’s Book Club pick for The House of Eve, Sadeqa Johnson has been on this podcast several times and is now back to discuss her latest historical novel, Keeper of the Lost Children. We discussed writing itself, her new book, and more. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I loved this book so much that it’s my April Zibby’s Book Club pick. (You can get a signed copy delivered right to your door through my Allstora Zibby’s Book Club subscription offering!) Sign up for the Zoom meeting — open to all! — with Q&A with Emma here on April 15th at 7 pm ET. Emma’s book, NO ONE YOU KNOW, about what happens to a mother and daughter when grief hits home, is poignant, moving, and evocative. It shows the allure of joining something to escape your own pain, the dangers of polite society, and really the desire to protect children even though we can’t.  Purchase NO ONE YOU KNOW here: https://go.shopmy.us/p-42239362 Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Never mind the fact that I accidentally deleted my first podcast interview recording with Susan Lucci. She’s just that gracious that we re-recorded in person in New York the next day. You may know her from “All My Children.” But while Susan’s latest memoir, La Lucci, does focus on that, it focuses more on the behind-the-scenese: how she parented while acting for decades, what came before and after, how she felt. It also delves deep into the now and the aftermath of Susan’s loss of her husband. In our first recording, she cried. In this one, recorded in a closet audio-booth at her publisher’s office, we laughed. I now absolutely adore her. Give this book to someone. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This book isn’t just about running. It’s about perseverance, focus, choices, mastery, drive, and fatherhood. Nicholas Thompson has had many swoon-worthy literary jobs, including being an editor at The New Yorker, editor-in-chief at Wired magazine, and now running The Atlantic. His personal story includes his career trajectory and how he became one of the top runners in his age group worldwide. The Running Ground is instructive, inspirational, and truly interesting. We spoke about all of it.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just Watch Me has such a creative concept behind it. Each chapter starts with how many fictitious streaming followers the main character has on her feed. She livestreams her life including eating hot peppers and more funny antics to survive but also to help her sister who is ill. It’s subversive and quirky and really funny. Plus the author shares her ties to Israel which I loved.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m obsessed with this book. Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven is one of those can’t-put-down stories about a family, a woman coming into her own, coping with the unexpected, all set in the 1950s and 1960s as women came into their own — with the backdrop of a TV sitcom. Just trust me. It’s so good. Jennifer Niven and I did an event together at the Minnie Rose x Zibby’s Bookshop pop-up and she couldn’t have been more delightful. Listen in. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning, bestselling author Jewell Parker Rhodes and I have become good friends. She has been on my podcast several times, we’ve done events together, and she even contributed to one of my first anthologies. Sometimes in life, you just click with someone — across generations, across backgrounds — united by words and souls. Jewell is like that for me. We were crying by the end of the podcast. Yes, it was about her latest, utterly compelling graphic novel Ghost Boys, but it was also about her entire career, how books saved her life, and how it feels to look back on it all. This was one of my favorite episodes.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! xf520SMNCcuEsIoqo7RA ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast guru and bestselling author Krista Williams joined me to discuss her book ALMOST 30 (which would be ALMOST 50 in my book). We really discussed life transitions, creating something from nothing, resilience, pivoting, and how we need to go to lunch together.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you heard of the Algemeiner? I must admit, I hadn’t until they made me one of their Jewish 100 in 2024. (I was blown away to be selected as one of the top 100 people in the world who positively affected Jewish life.) Well, anyway, this media organization is amazing in large part thanks to the deft leadership of Rabbi Cohen. Their big gala is coming up. You should check it out.  Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No, her name isn’t Carolyn. Hear what other comments and indignities Carol had to put up with on her rise to become one of the most accomplished Asian American woman on-air reporters. No, she isn’t Connie Chung. Plus, read about the devastating loss of her husband. Gutted. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4rbKlha Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turns out, it’s pretty simple: you can make someone feel good with just a sentence. Start with, “If it weren’t for you…” You can also orient your life and actions to give a new sense of meaning to everything you do, and change your life—easily. NYT bestselling author (and my friend) Jennie Wallace shows you how. (And btw, all of YOU matter to me! If it weren’t for you, I’d have no show!) Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/49AEsEj Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poet, bestselling author, and TikTok star Josie Balka’s second collection, LOVES OF OUR LIVES, connects mothers and daughters by love, heartbreak, and the ones who got away. It shifts perspectives. It warns. It empathizes. And it entertains. Josie has a rare talent to craft zingers on every page. Perfect Valentine’s gift, FYI.  Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3LQMlw2 Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s the secret to longevity? Is it really okay to eat ice cream? What do you mean I shouldn’t retire? These two experts weigh in from our event at the CORE Club last week. Purchase on Bookshop: Eat Your Ice Cream: https://bit.ly/4r63VLF The New Rules of Women's Health: https://bit.ly/4bHLgkQ Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lew Frankfort wasn’t into fashion before he took the helm at Coach, so it’s quite improbable that he turned it into a billion-dollar business. But he did. How? By wielding exceptional managerial gifts, fine-tuned instinct, and creativity. Learn his secrets to success in our episode discussing his memoir, BAG MAN. And I still need to get the number of his bodywork guy! Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3YQHqhH Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-founder of A Mighty Blaze Jenna Blum discusses the inspiration for her latest novel, Murder Your Darlings. Think: creepy book event guests, big-deal authors with shameful secrets, and more. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3NuWm2z Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyssa Sheinmel, author of Such Sheltered Lives, shares a fictitious but all-too-real-sounding ultra-lux treatment facility on Shelter Island, part of the Hamptons (sort of). From royals to pop stars with drug, eating, and other issues, the motley cast in treatment in Such Sheltered Lives paints quite a picture of the pitfalls of fame.  Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/49OAM0t Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder of the Next Big Idea Book Club, Panio Gianopoulos, discusses his career in publishing and what led him to lead a non-fiction book subscription business, including the failures along the way. Plus, find out what SNL’s Kate McKinnon has to do with his trajectory. (Bonus points: Can you guess who Panio’s wife is? I had no idea!)  Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3ZiYDQV Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street in partnership with the Child Mind Institute, Zibby interviews co-authors Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill about ALL THE COOL GIRLS GET FIRED: How to Let Go of Being Let Go and Come Back on Top. Drawing from their high-profile careers in media (and their very public firings!), Laura and Kristina destigmatize job loss with humor and hard-earned wisdom. The conversation explores shame, resilience, reinvention, and why being fired is often the beginning of something better, featuring insights from the book and stories from women like Oprah and Lisa Kudrow. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jPkNUE Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at Zibby’s Bookshop x Minnie Rose, Zibby chats with longtime friends and co-authors Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman about 10,000 LIGHT YEARS FROM OKAY. They explore grief, coincidence, superstition, and resilience through the story of a widowed writer who begins to fear her fiction is coming true. Tracy and Wendy also share their unique collaborative writing process, the real-life experiences that shaped their work, and the challenges and surprises of publishing. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/49UCaje Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby talks with co-editors Camille Seigle and Ali Mann Stevens about their powerful new anthology, MATERNAL HOPE: Stories of Unseen Struggles, Unexpected Resilience, and the Untold Ways Families Are Made. Camille and Ali share their own raw, vulnerable stories—from postpartum despair to devastating pregnancy and infant loss—and discuss how connection, storytelling, and honesty can transform isolation into hope. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Z8VCma Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby chats with debut author Belle Burden about STRANGERS: A Memoir of Marriage, an unforgettable, aching, transcendent exploration of love, betrayal, and rebuilding after the sudden end of a marriage (and Zibby's Book Club pick!). Belle describes the shock of her husband leaving during COVID, the disorienting aftermath, and how she pieced together meaning without answers. She and Zibby talk candidly about family legacies, grief, parenting through trauma, community, and the power of writing to make sense of the unimaginable. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Lmhojj Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby interviews #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo and World Fantasy Award winner John Picacio about THE INVISIBLE PARADE, a stunningly original and lushly illustrated picture book about grief, memory, and finding connection through loss, set on the night of Día de Muertos. The two talk about their long-standing friendship, the chance meeting at a convention that led to this creative collaboration, and how the book blends myth, color, culture, and imagination to help process death in an honest, hopeful way. They also explore storytelling as a tool for remembrance, the influence of Día de Muertos, and why this book is as much for grown-ups as it is for kids. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jvTrCP Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Drew Daywalt joins Zibby to discuss GOODNIGHT, CRAYONS, the hilarious new picture book in his beloved series. Drew describes how he went from a stalled Hollywood career to writing children's books. He shares the origins of THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT, the childhood box of crayons that changed his life, and why giving voice to the voiceless resonates so powerfully with young readers. The conversation also touches on creativity, failure, fate, literacy, and why making kids laugh—and love books—matters more than ever. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4aVRmxP Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby chats with entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author Betsy Fore about her powerful new guidebook, BUILT ON PURPOSE: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams. Betsy shares how a life-altering car accident reshaped her outlook, the role manifestation and abundance mindset have played in her career, and how she built mission-driven companies while staying rooted in her values and Native heritage. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3YqEDf5 Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author Alyson Richman joins Zibby to discuss THE MISSING PAGES, a haunting and soulful story inspired by the legend of Harry Widener, a passionate book collector who died on the Titanic. Alyson shares the real history behind the Widener Library, the book’s dual-timeline structure, and how themes of grief, love, art, and our enduring connection to those we’ve lost shaped the novel. She also reflects on her feelings of being an outsider and her lifelong love of books. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Lu4YG2 Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby welcomes #1 New York Times bestselling author Laura Dave back to the podcast to discuss THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM, the highly anticipated sequel to THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, continuing Hannah Hall’s pulse-pounding journey. The two chat about the origins of the story, why Laura never expected to write a sequel, and the creative process behind its intricate plotting and emotional themes. Laura also shares insights about adapting her work for television, collaborating with Jennifer Garner on the hit Apple TV+ series, and the deep connection she feels with readers who have embraced these characters. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4qe3XBg Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at Zibby’s Bookshop x Minnie Rose, award-winning author Donna Freitas joins Zibby to discuss HER ONE REGRET, a riveting feminist thriller about a missing mother, the baby she left behind, and a community consumed by questions of whether she was taken… or chose to leave. Donna reflects on themes of motherhood, regret, judgment, and identity. Drawing on her own life, academic research, and years of observing women’s lived experiences, she talks candidly about societal expectations placed on mothers, the loneliness and emotional complexity of early parenthood, and the courage it takes to tell difficult stories. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4ptYCo5 Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #1: Zibby’s interview with Lily King. Enjoy! Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Lily King about HEART THE LOVER, her magnificent and intimate new novel about literature, forgiveness, and the transformative bonds that shape our lives. Lily opens up about the long, winding path that led to the book, from a shelved murder mystery draft to a spark of inspiration after reading a friend’s manuscript. She shares how themes of love, loss, friendship, and time weave through the story, and how her personal history and family experiences shaped her sensitivity to life’s smallest details. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/46KSQal Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #2: Zibby’s interview with Virginia Evans. Enjoy! Bestselling debut author Virginia Evans joins Zibby to discuss THE CORRESPONDENT, a charming, intriguing, and witty novel in the form of letters and emails exchanged by a divorced and retired woman with her friends, family, and foes. Virginia shares the long journey to publication—nearly 20 years and nine novels in the making! She also discusses the power of the epistolary form, the influence of 84, Charing Cross Road, the real-life loss that informed the story’s emotional depth, and the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4l8aSIW Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #3: Zibby’s interview with Jen Hatmaker. Enjoy! Zibby interviews beloved New York Times bestselling author and host of the For the Love podcast, Jen Hatmaker, about her brutally honest, funny, and revealing new memoir, AWAKE. Jen opens up about the heartbreak of her 26-year marriage ending, the grief and disorientation that followed, and the slow, painful climb back toward wholeness. She and Zibby explore themes of love, loss, faith, resilience, healing, and the profound support of family and friends. Jen also shares why she chose to tell her story through raw, unpolished vignettes and how writing the book became both an act of truth-telling and a tribute to the people who loved her back to life. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/469Q8uD Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #4: Zibby’s interview with Amy Griffin. Enjoy! OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK! Zibby interviews her friend, accomplished investor and talented writer, Amy Griffin, about THE TELL, an astonishing and courageous memoir that explores how far we’ll go to protect ourselves, and the healing made possible when we finally face our past. Amy reflects on her buried childhood trauma and what it was like to finally confront her secrets. She delves into the process of healing through writing, the misconception of seemingly perfect lives, the power of vulnerability and connection, and the unexpected ways sharing her truth has deepened her relationships. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3XJnUU2 Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #5: Zibby’s interview with Christie Brinkley. Enjoy! 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/4kuquXw Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #6: Zibby’s interview with Wally Lamb. Enjoy! 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/4jBY6l1 Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #7: Zibby’s interview with Elyce Arons. Enjoy! Zibby interviews Elyce Arons, the cofounder of Kate Spade and CEO and cofounder of Frances Valentine, about WE JUST MIGHT MAKE IT AFTER ALL, a moving portrait of her decades-long best friendship and business journey with Kate Spade. Elyce describes their early days as broke college students, the scrappy beginnings of their brand, and how they turned a simple handbag idea into a cultural phenomenon and multi-billion-dollar fashion company. She shares how she is honoring Kate’s legacy with Frances Valentine, with vintage-inspired, colorful designs. Finally, she reflects on her resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges, the importance of community and friendship, and how writing this book was a fulfilling and emotional experience. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4nknEX0 Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #8: Zibby’s interview with Loretta Rothschild. Enjoy! Zibby interviews author Loretta Rothschild about her strikingly original and deeply moving debut, FINDING GRACE. The two discuss the book’s intoxicating blend of sweeping love story and emotional thriller, its nuanced exploration of grief, motherhood, secrets, and identity, and the unforgettable narrator, Anna. Loretta opens up about her creative process, the long road to finishing the novel, and how day-to-day details and quiet observations shaped her storytelling. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4lO7G5W Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #9: Zibby’s interview with Adriana Trigiani. Enjoy! New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani returns to the podcast to discuss her effervescent and big-hearted new book, THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO. The two dive into the novel’s surprising New Jersey setting (yes, that Lake Como) and the emotional journey of protagonist Jess Capodimonte Baratta, an Italian-American woman rebuilding her life and identity after divorce, family loss, and unearthed secrets. They explore themes of self-love, legacy, and the delicate strength of women—likened to marble that can endure anything but shatter with one wrong tap (Adriana even shares some insights on the Italian marble trade). Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4eEOMfm Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special re-release! To close out the year, we’re counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #10: Zibby’s interview with James Frey. Enjoy! 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. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3FZjLFV Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at Zibby’s Bookshop x Minnie Rose, grief expert Meghan Riordan Jarvis, founder of the Grieftastic Book Fair and author of END OF THE HOUR and CAN YOU TELL ME?, joins Zibby for a compassionate conversation about navigating grief, loss, and collective trauma, especially during the holidays. Meghan shares practical, science-backed tools for processing overwhelming news, managing stress in the body, and understanding how writing, movement, and creativity can support healing. Together, they also explore how grief shows up even when loss isn’t personal, how to care for ourselves without minimizing our pain, and how to truly show up for others who are grieving. ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the podcast, Zibby interviews acclaimed producer/director Paul Feig at a press junket for THE HOUSEMAID, the highly acclaimed film adaptation of Frieda McFadden’s bestselling novel. The two dive deep into what makes a great book-to-screen adaptation, the art of misdirecting an audience, and the power of music, production design, and point of view. Paul also shares behind-the-scenes insights into shaping THE HOUSEMAID as a “Nancy Meyers movie that goes horribly wrong,” his love of twists, his admiration for McFadden’s writing, and his thoughts on creativity, movie theaters, and finding your own voice as an artist. NOW PLAYING ONLY IN THEATERS! Get tickets. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45647BY Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from the Miami Book Fair, Zibby hosts a special panel celebrating three Read With Jenna authors: Emma Knight (THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS), Ariel Sullivan (CONFORM), and Jessica Soffer (THIS IS A LOVE STORY). In front of a live audience, the writers discuss craft, love and relationships, beauty and art, motherhood, ambition, and the personal stories behind their novels—from dystopian romance to lifelong love stories and literary coming-of-age tales. A warm, candid, and inspiring conversation about what drives writers to create—and why stories still matter. Purchase on Bookshop: Emma Knight / The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus: https://bit.ly/4qfKfoi Ariel Sullivan / Conform: https://bit.ly/4qczdzX Jessica Soffer / This Is a Love Story: https://bit.ly/4s3EgEK Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special, year-end episode of the podcast, Zibby chats with Sarah Gelman, Editorial Director for Books at Amazon, about Amazon’s Best Books of the Year! Together, they dive into the thinking behind the list, highlight standout fiction and nonfiction picks, and discuss buzzy discoveries, sleeper hits, and genre-spanning favorites. With behind-the-scenes insights into how the list is curated (before sales even begin) and a peek at Sarah’s most anticipated upcoming reads… this one’s a must-listen! Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at Zibby’s Bookshop in NYC, Zibby interviews fourth-generation Russ & Daughters co-owners and cousins Niki Russ Federman and Josh Tupper Russ about their gorgeous new cookbook, RUSS & DAUGHTERS: 100 Years of Appetizing. The two discuss the beautifully curated book, the meaning and history of the “appetizing” tradition, and their personal journeys back to a family business rooted in Jewish food, culture, and community. They also explore legacy, identity, immigration, and the delicate balance between preserving tradition while thoughtfully evolving a beloved New York institution. Signed copies are available at Zibby's Bookshop x Minnie Rose (1019 Lexington Ave, on the corner of 73rd). Hurry before they sell out! Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/454mwix Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby chats with author Iva-Marie Palmer about her adult debut, CHRISTMAS PEOPLE, an entertaining, witty, and sexy holiday rom com. Iva-Marie delves into holiday nostalgia, the chaos behind picture-perfect traditions, and the inspiration behind Jill, the delightfully reluctant “Lady Scrooge” heroine who finds herself trapped in a Hallmark-esque alternate reality. Iva-Marie also opens up about family, loss, writing across age groups, and the magic of unexpected creative breakthroughs. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/48PQYOm Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the podcast, recorded live at Zibby’s Bookshop in LA, three extraordinary guests celebrate the acclaimed new film Train Dreams: writer-director Clint Bentley, actor Joel Edgerton, and Black Bear CEO (and Zibby’s brother!) Teddy Schwarzman. The conversation dives into the art of adaptation, the creative journey behind Train Dreams, and the deeply human themes at the heart of Denis Johnson’s beloved novella. From the challenges of translating a 116-page, time-jumping story for the screen to the emotional resonance of portraying an ordinary life with extraordinary dignity, this insightful discussion offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at filmmaking, storytelling, and collaboration. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4q7EJnz Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! ********* A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now! Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Apple here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.