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Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books

1,871 episodes - English - Latest episode: 27 days ago - ★★★★★ - 422 ratings

Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books is the award-winning, daily, author interview podcast hosted by author, bookstore owner, publishing house CEO and "NYC's Most Powerful Book-fluencer" (Vulture) Zibby Owens. Zibby's recent novel Blank is a USA Today bestseller.


Zibby has interviewed 1,700+ of today's bestselling and debut authors, plus celebrities like actors, chefs, athletes, politicians, business leaders, and more. With her trademark wit, disarming style, warm demeanor, and that certain something that gets everyone to open up to her, Zibby really learns about her guests. And so will you! Looking for a past episode? Head to Zibby Media for transcripts and links!


Be a part of "The Zibby-verse Tour" (coined by the L.A. Times) by booking a spot here.


Subscribe to Zibby's Substack "Zibby's Highlights" with weekly essays and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, GoodReads, and TikTok.


Please rate and review the podcast if you love it!!


***


Music by Morning Moon Music.

Sound editing by TexturesSound.

Transcription by Bold Transcription.

Hosting by Acast.

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Episodes

Aparna Nancherla, UNRELIABLE NARRATOR: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome

September 20, 2023 04:00 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MB

Superstar comedian Aparna Nancherla joins Zibby to discuss her hilarious and strikingly astute memoir in essays, Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Impostor Syndrome. Aparna describes her writing process (as a “procrastinating perfectionist”), her relationship with her body, her history with anxiety and depression, and her unexpected, unplanned career as a stand-up comedian. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3EHYIDA Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zib...

Douglas Brunt, THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I

September 19, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MB

Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt about his fascinating new book, The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. Douglas shares what inspired him to investigate the century-old mystery of Rudolf Diesel, the famous inventor who disappeared from a ship at sea, and the extensive research that brought him to his final theory. He also talks about his journey from burnt-out tech startup CEO to author, the challenges of s...

Alice Carrière, EVERYTHING NOTHING SOMEONE: A Memoir

September 18, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 38 MB

Zibby speaks to debut author Alice Carrière about Everything, Nothing, Someone, a mesmerizing, intense, and breathtakingly honest coming-of-age story about identity, family, trauma, survival, mental illness, and psychiatric malpractice. Alice describes her life as the daughter of two self-destructive artists in the bohemian 90s and how that led to a dissociative disorder and ten years of gross overmedication. She also describes how writing has saved her life countless times and how this memo...

Shastri Akella, THE SEA ELEPHANTS

September 17, 2023 04:00 - 23 minutes - 33 MB

Zibby interviews debut author Shastri Akella about The Sea Elephants, an utterly immersive and spellbinding queer coming-of-age novel set in 1990s India, about a young man who joins a traveling street theater troupe as he tries to outrun the dark secrets of his past. Shastri shares how this novel suddenly became a queer love story (thanks to his professor!) and helped him come out in real life. He also shares his challenges with unsupportive family members and his decision not to return to I...

Jancee Dunn, HOT AND BOTHERED: What No One Tells You about Menopause and How to Feel Like Yourself Again

September 16, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 39.3 MB

Zibby speaks to health journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jancee Dunn about her empowering, informative, and entertaining new book, Hot and Bothered: What No One Tells You About Menopause and How to Feel Like Yourself Again. Jancee talks about her experience with perimenopause and expresses how important it is for women to speak about this inevitable part of life. She and Zibby also chat about weed gummies, sweat, dryness, and brain fog, and living some of their best years now ...

Christine Yu, UP TO SPEED: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes

September 15, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 38 MB

Zibby interviews award-winning sports and health journalist Christine Yu about her important new book, Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes. Christine describes how athletics are finally changing for women after decades of oversight and lack of research. She also discusses diet culture, body image, youth sports, sports bras, and menopause! Finally, she shares her best advice for aspiring authors. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3RtOJJw Share, rate, & review the po...

Ann Garvin, THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS

September 14, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 48.2 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez is joined by bestselling author Ann Garvin to discuss her witty and emotional new novel, There’s No Coming Back From This. Ann explains how she went from being a nurse to getting a Ph.D. in exercise physiology to teaching to writing funny-and-sad books. She also talks about the incredible research she conducted at Universal and Sony (her protagonist, Poppy, works a costume job on a Hollywood film set!) and the fabulous writing group she founded, the Tall Poppy Writers...

Jennifer Breheny Wallace, NEVER ENOUGH: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-And What We Can Do about It

September 13, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MB

Zibby interviews award-winning reporter and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Breheny Wallace about Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What We Can Do About It, an incisive and eye-opening book that every parent should read. Jennifer describes her fascinating research on families nationwide and shares what she learned about achievement, hyper-competition, pressure, and overwhelm. She then reveals the key to raising healthy achievers: “mattering.”  Purchase on B...

Matthew McConaughey, JUST BECAUSE

September 12, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 37.1 MB

Zibby interviews Academy Award-winning actor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Matthew McConaughey about his soulful, humorous, and irreverent debut picture book, Just Because. Matthew shares the inspiration behind this book (he dreamed it!) and the lessons it imparts about leadership, courage, and trying new things. He also shares some anecdotes from his memoir Greenlights, his thoughts on philanthropy, the topic of his next book, and his best advice for aspiring authors.  Watch on ...

Sarah Ezrin, THE YOGA OF PARENTING: Ten Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself

September 11, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 40.8 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez is joined by world-renowned yoga educator and author Sarah Ezrin to discuss her debut book, The Yoga of Parenting: Ten Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself. Sarah describes her tumultuous and exciting writing and publishing journey, starting with getting her book deal the same week she got pregnant. She also talks about her childhood, her need to control everything after growing up with alcoholics and addicts ...

Ruta Sepetys, YOU: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory

September 10, 2023 04:00 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews #1 New York Times bestselling author Ruta Sepetys about her nonfiction debut, a powerful how-to book for aspiring writers, You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory. Ruta reveals what inspired her to write this guide (and why she felt so vulnerable recording her own audiobook). The two then talk about stories: how everybody has them and what it takes to put them on paper–revisiting memories, reframing perspectives and regret, finding our auth...

Jamie Day, THE BLOCK PARTY

September 09, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews author Jamie Day about The Block Party, a delicious, nail-biting, ingeniously plotted whodunnit about an affluent, seemingly peaceful cul-de-sac and the murder that happens at their block party. Jamie reveals the magic in his shifting POVs and the brilliant author he tried to emulate in his writing. He also shares the childhood neighborhood memories that inspired this novel and explains how he combined relatable characters, conflict, rom-com, suspense, and ...

Ashley Audrain, THE WHISPERS

September 08, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MB

Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Ashley Audrain about The Whispers, an electrifying, razor-sharp page-turner about four neighboring women who don’t realize how connected they are until an unthinkable tragedy happens on their street. Ashley talks about motherhood, parenting, women’s friendships, pregnancy loss, grief, and anger as they relate to her fascinating characters. She also reveals that she is working on her next book and shares her best advice for aspiring writers. ...

Steven Rowley, THE CELEBRANTS

September 07, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 45 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews New York Times bestselling author Steven Rowley about The Celebrants, a funny, tender, and incredibly moving tale about a group of college friends who lose one of their own to suicide and make a pact to throw each other living “funerals” – celebrations to remind themselves that life is worth living. Steven shares how he weaves grief and humor into his writing; what life is like with an author for a husband; his experience narrating his audiobook; and just h...

Katherine Center, HELLO STRANGER

September 06, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 42.3 MB

Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center to discuss Hello Stranger, a hopelessly romantic and irresistibly fun story about a talented portrait artist who gets a neurological condition called face blindness just as she is getting a big career break (and falling in love with two men at once!). Katherine talks about her path to writing, her fascinating research on prosopagnosia, and the themes she loved exploring in this novel: resilience, loss, and love. She also e...

Ann Beattie, ONLOOKERS: Stories

September 05, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 29.1 MB

Zibby speaks to award-winning short story writer Ann Beattie about Onlookers, a brilliant collection of stories set in Charlottesville, Virginia, all linked by contentious monuments in a moment of unrest. Ann shares the inspiration behind this collection, her nontraditional path into this career, her fascinating writing process, the best books she’s read recently, and how her stunning cover came to be.  Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45RHWxq Share, rate, & review the podcast, and fol...

Harrison Scott Key, HOW TO STAY MARRIED: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told

September 04, 2023 04:00 - 31 minutes - 43.7 MB

Zibby interviews Thurber Prize-winning author Harrison Scott Key about How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told, a hilarious and heartbreaking memoir about the hellscape of marriage and the mysteries of mercy. Harrison describes the moment his marriage exploded (when his wife revealed she was in love with his friend!) and the difficult path their relationship took thereafter. He also shares his views on marriage (we all marry the wrong people!), stories from his childhood in...

Sally Jenkins, THE RIGHT CALL: What Sports Teach Us about Work and Life

September 03, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 41.8 MB

Zibby is joined by Washington Post sportswriter and New York Times bestselling author Sally Jenkins to discuss The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life, a love letter to the extraordinary coaches and athletes she has interviewed and the actionable principles of excellence they embody. Sally discusses what it takes to be a star athlete (it’s a combination of talent, discipline, preparation, resources, and lots of self-care!) and reveals the qualities of the best coaches. She a...

Tina Wells, THE ELEVATION APPROACH: Harness the Power of Work-Life Harmony to Unlock Your Creativity, Cultivate Joy, and Reach Your Biggest Goals

September 02, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 30.2 MB

Zibby interviews accomplished entrepreneur, business strategist, author, Zibby Retreat headliner, and repeat MDHTTRB guest Tina Wells about The Elevation Approach, a powerful and innovative guide for achieving work-life harmony. Tina describes the tools she designed to help her friends (and now the world) integrate their personal and professional goals and values–from holding yourself accountable to resting to knowing which friends to keep around. She also shares what she is focusing on now:...

Hadley Vlahos, THE IN-BETWEEN: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments

September 01, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MB

Zibby speaks to hospice nurse, passionate end-of-life care advocate, TikTok star, and New York Times bestselling author Hadley Vlahos about her extraordinary, heartrending memoir, The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments. Hadley talks about her unexpected rise to fame on TikTok and her decision to put her experiences on paper. She also shares her views on death and some of her favorite hospice memories. Finally, she describes the trajectory of her own life, from u...

Mark Schiff, WHY NOT?: Lessons on Comedy, Courage, and Chutzpah

August 31, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MB

Zibby interviews master comedian and long-time touring partner of Jerry Seinfeld, Mark Schiff, about his hilarious and brilliantly honest collection of essays, Why Not?: Lessons on Comedy, Courage, and Chutzpah. Mark shares the details of his life story, including his weight loss journey, the trauma he survived as a child, and finding a home in the Jewish community. He also talks about his career in comedy (from bombing his first show at 18 to touring internationally with Jerry Seinfeld) and...

Kate Flannery, STRIP TEES: A Memoir of Millennial Los Angeles

August 30, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MB

Debut author Kate Flannery joins Zibby to discuss Strip Tees: A Memoir of Millenial Los Angeles, a brave, racy, and devourable memoir about her time working for American Apparel as a recent college grad in the mid-2000s and toeing the line between sexual empowerment and sexual exploitation. Kate talks about the cult-y environment of the provocative, controversial company; the inappropriate behavior of its CEO; and her decision to write a book at the end of it all. She also describes her curr...

Patty Lin, END CREDITS: How I Broke Up with Hollywood

August 29, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MB

Zibby Books author alert!!! Zibby interviews debut author Patty Lin about End Credits: How I Broke Up with Hollywood, a funny, fresh, and eye-opening memoir about her ten-year TV writing career–which was not what she had dreamed it to be. Patty shares what it was like to endure such a crushing work culture, manage her immigrant parents’ expectations, date a workaholic, and ultimately, walk away from the industry. She also shares what life has been like since breaking up with Hollywood (it in...

Lara Love Hardin, THE MANY LIVES OF MAMA LOVE: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing

August 28, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 42 MB

Zibby interviews literary agent and New York Times bestselling author Lara Love Hardin about her heartbreaking, tender, and hilarious memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love. Lara shares her jaw-dropping story–from suburban soccer mom to heroin addict to prisoner to successful literary agent and ghostwriter. She explains how her Vicodin addiction started, what it was like to lose everything (including her children) and go to jail, and how she rebuilt her life after hitting rock bottom. Purchase...

Helen Ellis, KISS ME IN THE CORAL LOUNGE: Intimate Confessions from a Happy Marriage

August 27, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MB

Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author (and poker player!) Helen Ellis to discuss her surprising, sexy, and hilariously frank collection of essays, Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge: Intimate Confessions from a Happy Marriage. Helen talks about the real-life coral lounge – a joyful room in her New York City apartment that Zibby has been to! The two discuss happy marriages, viagra, snoring husbands, plants, back-alley Botox, sexy books from the 80s, and last first kisses. Helen also d...

Suzanne Falter, FREE SPIRITED: How My Daughter Healed Me From the Afterlife

August 26, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 47 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews podcaster, keynote speaker, and author Suzanne Falter about her profound and heart-opening memoir, Free Spirited: How My Daughter Healed Me from the Afterlife. Suzanne shares beautiful stories of her daughter, Teal, who died unexpectedly at twenty-two from an unexplainable cardiac arrest. She also shares what it took to heal (years of self-care and connecting with her daughter, particularly through dreams) and what life has been like since.  Purchase on Bo...

Laura Belgray, TOUGH TITTIES: On Living Your Best Life When You're the F-Ing Worst

August 25, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MB

Zibby interviews award-winning TV writer Laura Belgray about her hilarious and wise collection of stories, Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You’re the F-ing Worst. Laura shares parts of her life story, from eating disorders, all-girls school, and hookups with bartenders to finally finding her passion (and her husband!). She also describes her career in writing (from TV promos to marketing emails) and shares her best advice for aspiring writers.  Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit...

Breanne Mc Ivor, THE GOD OF GOOD LOOKS

August 24, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 36 MB

Zibby chats with debut author Breanne Mc Ivor about The God of Good Looks, a riveting, sharp-witted, and transportive summer read about a young Trinidadian woman who has been publicly disgraced and has to work for the only person who will hire her–a brilliant but temperamental makeup artist. Breanne reveals the inspiration behind this story and why the alternating perspectives are so important. She also shares her thoughts on beauty standards, anecdotes from her first career as a makeup arti...

Patti Callahan Henry, THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA

August 23, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 44.3 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez chats with New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry about The Secret Book of Flora Lea, an enchanting and refreshingly original novel about a woman who discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, including long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during WWII. Patti talks about her spectacular audiobook (narrated by actress Cynthia Erivo!) and then reveals how this story came to be. She al...

Drew Gilpin Faust, NECESSARY TROUBLE: Growing Up at Midcentury

August 22, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MB

Zibby speaks to professor, historian, and author Drew Gilpin Faust about Necessary Trouble: Growing Up at Midcentury, a brave and poignant memoir about Drew's privileged childhood in the segregated South and the birth of her questioning spirit. Drew describes instances of the “necessary trouble” she created growing up (like writing a strongly worded letter to Eisenhower in support of school integration at age 9). She also talks about her career in higher education, particularly what she achi...

Adam Gopnik, THE REAL WORK: On the Mystery of Mastery

August 21, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 39.3 MB

Zibby interviews bestselling author Adam Gopnik about The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery, a spirited and profound collection of self-help essays that investigate how we learn and master a new skill–from boxing to drawing nude bodies. Adam discusses the bliss of accomplishment: pursuing a new hobby without needing to do it perfectly. He also reveals what he’d like to master next and his best advice for aspiring authors.  Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3YGkqRI Share, rate, & revi...

Cecilia Rabess, EVERYTHING'S FINE

August 20, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MB

Zibby interviews debut author Cecilia Rabess about Everything’s Fine, a sharp and intimate novel about two young people–a liberal Black woman and a conservative white man–who fall reluctantly, complicatedly, and deeply in love with each other during the Obama and Trump administrations. Cecilia shares the origins of this story, her long journey to getting an agent (and very short journey to selling the manuscript), and her pub day jitters. She also reveals she is working on her next book and ...

Kristin Harmel, THE PARIS DAUGHTER

August 19, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 44.1 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez is joined by New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel to discuss The Paris Daughter, a gripping and gut-wrenching historical novel about two mothers who must make unthinkable choices in the face of Nazi occupation. Kristin talks about the power of WWII books (and the lessons that still resonate today); the themes of motherhood, fear, and sacrifice in her novel; balancing writing, motherhood, and Friends & Fiction; and her recent breast cancer diagnosis.  Purc...

Elysha Chang, A QUITTER'S PARADISE

August 18, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews debut author Elysha Chang about A Quitter’s Paradise, a darkly humorous and compulsively readable book (and the first one from Sarah Jessica Parker’s SJP Lit!) about a young woman who tries to ignore her mother’s death even as unearthed family secrets become increasingly inextricable from her own. Elysha talks about her job teaching creative writing to university students, her frustrations with her own protagonist and book (it took her six years to write!),...

Amy Newmark, CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: Plus 30 Bonus Stories

August 17, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 41.2 MB

Amy Newmark, publisher and editor-in-chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul, joins Zibby to discuss the Chicken Soup series and the thirtieth-anniversary edition that Zibby wrote a bonus essay for! Amy describes how some of her favorite Chicken Soup stories–those on forgiveness, gratitude, and grief–have helped her navigate challenges in her own life, including her journey with cancer. She also talks about fear, letting go of toxic friends, and what it really means to forgive.  Purchase on Book...

Katie Bishop, THE GIRLS OF SUMMER

August 16, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MB

Zibby speaks to journalist and debut author Katie Bishop about The Girls of Summer, a mesmerizing, unsettling, and gripping dual-timeline story about a woman who, in her mid-thirties, cannot stop thinking about the summer she spent in Greece as a teenager and the affair she had with a much older man. Katie explains how the MeToo movement inspired this story and how she makes places, relationships, and feelings come to life in her writing. She also shares her writing and publishing journey, h...

Byron Lane, BIG GAY WEDDING

August 15, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MB

Zibby interviews playwright, screenwriter, Emmy Award-winning journalist, and author Byron Lane about Big Gay Wedding, a hilarious, quirky, and unashamedly proud novel about a conservative mom (who runs a small-town rescue ranch for misfit animals) and her gay son (who wants to get married at the farm). Byron shares his coming out story (and how it inspired bits of this novel); his journey with testicular cancer; his experience working as actress Carrie Fischer’s assistant; and the perks of ...

Sara Shepard, PENNY DRAWS A BEST FRIEND

August 14, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MB

Sara Shepard, the New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series, speaks to guest host Julie Chavez about Penny Draws a Best Friend, a humorous and heartfelt middle-grade series about Penny, a fifth grader who is navigating friendships, finding her people, and lots of worries. Sara reveals she was just like Penny growing up and shares stories of her anxiety, then and now. She also talks about her lifelong love of doodling, which her Pretty Little Liars editors noticed an...

Anna Quindlen, NANAVILLE: Adventures in Grandparenting

August 12, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MB

In this special weekend re-release, Zibby speaks to Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and #1 New York Times bestselling author Anna Quindlen about Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting, a bighearted book of wisdom, wit, and insight, celebrating the love and joy of being a grandmother. Anna Quindlen talks to Zibby about all the wonderful things grandmothers have time to do and shares the parts of grandmotherhood that often go unspoken. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3QB4heq Share, ra...

Julia Cook, HERMAN JIGGLE, JUST BE YOU!

August 11, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MB

Award-winning children’s book author Julia Cook joins Zibby to discuss Herman Jiggle, Just Be You, a heartwarming tale about overcoming insecurities and learning to accept and love oneself. Julia shares how she came to publish 140 books–it all started when she couldn’t quite figure out how to teach children! She also discusses her most memorable books; the mistakes she’s made in a couple of them; recent trends in anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation for children and adolescents; and her...

Emi Nietfeld, ACCEPTANCE: A Memoir

August 10, 2023 04:00 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MB

Zibby speaks to debut author Emi Nietfeld about Acceptance, a gripping, page-turning, and darkly humorous memoir about a life that took her from homelessness and foster care to Harvard and Google. Emi describes the chaos that ensued after her parents’ divorce–from her mother’s compulsive hoarding to her own mental health crisis and hospitalization. She also shares what it was like when her father came out as trans in the early 2000s in a very religious family (Emi was a state bible champion!...

Alli Frank and Asha Youmans, THE BETTER HALF

August 09, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews comedy writing duo Alli Frank and Asha Youmans about The Better Half, a charming, laugh-out-loud funny book about a woman who has reached her personal and professional pinnacle and then… gets pregnant! Alli and Asha share their mission of exploring challenging subjects through a lens of humor and joy. They also talk about their partnership with Mindy’s Book Studio (Mindy Kaling’s new publishing house!) and their lovely writing support group, the Tall Poppy ...

Stephanie Clifford, THE FAREWELL TOUR

August 08, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 40.1 MB

Zibby speaks to award-winning investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Clifford about The Farewell Tour, a shimmering and heartbreakingly authentic country-music saga about one woman achieving stardom in a world dominated by men. Stephanie describes her unforgettable protagonist (who was inspired by her grandmother!) and the fascinating research she conducted to get it all right – from studying a farmer’s journal from 1910 to speaking to several doctors about ...

Courtney Sender, IN OTHER LIFETIMES ALL I'VE LOST COMES BACK TO ME: Stories

August 07, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews debut author Courtney Sender about In Other Lifetimes, All I’ve Lost Comes Back to Me, a wise, fierce, and lyrical collection of stories about the longings and loneliness of love. Courtney reveals how her own experiences with heartbreak have inspired her writing and how they infiltrate her characters in this book. She also describes her path to writing (it’s tied to Divinity School, a longing for love, and her grandmother) and then shares which story in thi...

Christine Pride and Jo Piazza, YOU WERE ALWAYS MINE

August 04, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 50 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews bestselling co-authors Jo Piazza and Christine Pride about You Were Always Mine, a tender, provocative, and thoughtful novel about a Black woman who finds an abandoned white baby. The three discuss the themes of motherhood, adoption, and intimate interracial relationships, as they relate to the book and to their real lives. Jo and Christine also talk about their fascinating co-writing process, their friendship, and the books they are reading and loving.  P...

Avery Carpenter Forrey, SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT: A Novel

August 03, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MB

Zibby interviews debut author Avery Carpenter Forrey about Social Engagement, a bitingly sharp and wickedly funny novel about a bride whose marriage implodes on her wedding night. It is an unputdownable critique of millennial wedding culture… and the lies we tell on social media. Avery describes the neverending wedding season that inspired this novel and admits she is part of the culture she makes fun of. She also talks about her path to writing, her thoughts on social media, how she is bala...

Natalie MacLean, WINE WITCH ON FIRE: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much

August 02, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 45.2 MB

Guest host Julie Chavez speaks to accomplished Canadian wine expert and New York Times bestselling author Natalie MacLean about Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much, her powerful coming-of-middle-age memoir about how she resurrected her life and career in the cutthroat wine industry. Natalie reveals why she decided to share her story and then describes her experiences with overdrinking, depression, shyness, perfectionism, and therapy. (Go to...

Michelle Wildgen, WINE PEOPLE: A Novel

August 01, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MB

Zibby Books author alert!!! Zibby interviews author Michelle Wildgen about Wine People, an intoxicating escape into the cutthroat world of wine and the complicated terrain of women’s friendship. Michelle describes her journey to food writing (she started as a back waiter!) and shares the secrets to doing it well! She also discusses her two fascinating female protagonists (and the real-life women who inspired them), her food writing role models, her previous novels, her love of The Bear on Hu...

Julia Bartz, THE WRITING RETREAT

July 31, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 34.1 MB

Zibby speaks to therapist, creative coach, and New York Times bestselling author Julia Bartz about The Writing Retreat, a pulse-pounding, claustrophobic, unputdownable thriller about a young author who attends an exclusive writer’s retreat that soon descends into a nightmare. Julia talks about the first iterations of this story and the changes it went through since 2014 NaNoWriMo, and then shares how her own frustrations as a writer (and dreams of attending a writing retreat!) inspired this ...

Adrienne Brodeur, LITTLE MONSTERS

July 28, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 33.1 MB

Bestselling author Adrienne Brodeur joins Zibby to discuss Little Monsters, a kaleidoscopic and riveting novel about Cape Cod, complicated families, and corrosive, long-buried secrets. Adrienne delves into her fascinating characters and then reveals how her own complex relationships and experience with family secrets influenced this novel. (You can read all about that in her incredible memoir Wild Game.) She also talks about her job as the director of Aspen Words, a literary nonprofit; the b...

Guests

Caroline Maguire
1 Episode
Gretchen Rubin
1 Episode
Jessica Turner
1 Episode
Lori Gottlieb
1 Episode
Neil Pasricha
1 Episode
Sheri Salata
1 Episode
Tiffany Shlain
1 Episode
Tonya Dalton
1 Episode

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