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Totally Booked with Zibby
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Totally Booked with Zibby

Author: Zibby Owens

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Hi! I'm Zibby Owens, host of Totally Booked! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here!


In my daily show, I interview today’s latest, bestselling, buzziest, or underrated authors and story creators whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author and (obviously) podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that’s coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don’t have to. Stay in the know, get insider insights, and connect with guests like I do. Every single day.


FYI, my show has won many awards! It was one of Oprah's top literary podcasts - twice! - and has been downloaded 15 million+ times. With 2,000+ episodes to choose from, you'll never run out of book talk. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow me on Instagram at @zibbyowens. If you love the show, please rate and review it. And go buy the books!


(Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.)


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2240 Episodes
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Zibby interviews debut novelist Esther Chehebar about SISTERS OF FORTUNE, a warm, perceptive, witty, and utterly enjoyable novel about three Syrian Jewish sisters navigating family, tradition, body image, and love in Brooklyn. Esther shares the inspiration behind the story, the unique dynamics of the Syrian Jewish community, and her own path from blogging and essays to fiction. She also opens up about the challenges of sisterhood, the humor and contradictions around food and body image, and the joy she hopes readers take away from the book.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3JFs4bnShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby chats with Rebecca Gardner, founder and creative director of the online shop Houses & Parties, about her dazzling new book, A SCREAMING BLAST: Exceptional Entertaining, a vibrant journey through twenty of her most fabulous parties. Rebecca shares stories from her South Texas upbringing and her path into event and interior design. She also talks about working with inspiring figures like Sofia Coppola, the influence of her grandmother’s hospitality, and her philosophy that “celebrating is really, really important in life.”Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/46bcxc4Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Acclaimed author, actor, and singer-songwriter David Duchovny returns to the podcast to discuss ABOUT TIME, a deeply personal, existential, and insightful debut poetry collection. They dive into the paradox of poetry as both “useless” and deeply essential, exploring its power to connect, surprise, and give voice to grief, memory, and love. David shares moving poems about his late father and beloved dog, reflecting on loss, the beauty of language, and why poetry still matters in a world obsessed with utility.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45u0ir2Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Raegan Revord, debut author and star of the CBS hit series Young Sheldon, chats with Zibby about her charming YA rom-com, RULES FOR FAKE GIRLFRIENDS. They discuss how the novel blends grief, love, friendship, and self-discovery through Avery’s journey to England on a scavenger hunt left by her late mother. Raegan shares how her acting background informs her ability to capture emotion on the page and how she built a thriving book club community with Read with Raegan. She also opens up about growing up on Young Sheldon, the importance of found family both on screen and in her writing, and why storytelling has always been at the core of who she is.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45Msog7Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby welcomes author Rebecca Wolf to discuss her debut novel, ALIVE AND BEATING. Inspired by the true story of Rebecca’s close friend, who was killed in a 1995 suicide bombing in Israel, the novel imagines the lives of the six people who will receive organ transplants from the victim. Rebecca shares how she wove together multiple perspectives to honor her friend’s legacy, the diversity of Jerusalem, and our shared humanity. She also reflects on the challenges of writing such a personal story, the research that went into capturing medical and cultural details, and how the book became both a tribute and a cathartic process. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4fTn137Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby chats with author Rachel Cockerell about her dazzling, eclectic, genre-bending new book, MELTING POINT: Family, Memory, and the Search for a Promised Land. Blending family memoir with forgotten chapters of Jewish history, Rachel uncovers the extraordinary life of her great-grandfather, the early debates within Zionism, and the little-known Galveston Plan to resettle Jewish immigrants in Texas. She explains her innovative method of weaving together primary sources to create a vivid, novel-like narrative, and reflects on themes of assimilation, identity, and historical memory.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4lAp4ubShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Novelist and short story writer Marian Thurm joins Zibby to discuss I DON’T KNOW HOW TO TELL YOU THIS, a touching and quirkily humorous book about a family court judge navigating complex cases in the courtroom and the heartbreaking decline of her brilliant husband. Marian shares the deeply personal inspiration for the book, including her parents’ struggles with dementia, and opens up about the two decades it took to bring this novel to life. She also reflects on her early career, her first publication in The New Yorker, and the surprising role persistence, luck, and motherhood have played in shaping her journey.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45AXw1KShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby chats with renowned orthopedic surgeon and longevity specialist, Dr. Vonda Wright, about her groundbreaking new book, UNBREAKABLE: A Woman’s Guide to Aging with Power. Dr. Wright shares her journey from working in sports medicine to becoming a leading advocate for women’s health, challenging the myth that aging means inevitable decline. She explains why women’s bodies age differently, how simple daily habits like walking and lifting can transform long-term health, and why mindset and self-worth are key to lasting change. Together, they discuss the empowering message behind Unbreakable: that women can remain strong, joyful, and resilient at every age.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4fGXo5uShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby interviews award-winning author Ilana Kurshan about her luminous, heartfelt new book, CHILDREN OF THE BOOK: A Memoir of Reading Together. Ilana shares how reading aloud to her five children—from GOODNIGHT MOON to CHARLOTTE’S WEB—became deeply intertwined with her lifelong practice of reading from the Torah. She reflects on how books create a common family language, forge intimacy, and shift in meaning as we revisit them through different stages of life. She also opens up about raising her children in Jerusalem, the role of literature in calming fears, and how parenthood itself can feel like a sacred journey mirrored in biblical stories.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4oS9KfxShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author Lauren Grodstein returns to the podcast to discuss her heartwarming, emotionally attuned, and intricately crafted new novel, A DOG IN GEORGIA. What begins as the story of a middle-aged woman impulsively traveling to the country of Georgia to help find a lost dog turns into a deeper exploration of marriage, midlife, identity, and the search for meaning. Lauren shares her love of animals, how her time in Georgia shaped the novel, and the ways humor, food, and even politics weave through the book. She and Zibby also dive into big questions about purpose, freedom, and what it means to live a meaningful life—while laughing about midlife chaos, martinis, and the irresistible pull of dog videos.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4mQna9VShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby is joined by Valerie Gilpeer and Emily Grodin, co-authors of I HAVE BEEN BURIED UNDER YEARS OF DUST, an evocative and affecting memoir by a mother and her autistic daughter who’d long been unable to communicate—until a miraculous breakthrough revealed a young woman with a rich and creative interior life. Valerie shares the extraordinary moment with Emily, after 25 years of struggling to communicate, typed her first words—unlocking a lifetime of thoughts and poetry. Together, they discuss the power of alternative communication technologies and the impact of finally finding Emily’s voice.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3UFwTntShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Artist Kimberly Brooks joins Zibby to discuss 10 THINGS EVERY JEW SHOULD KNOW BEFORE THEY GO TO COLLEGE, a book she illustrated alongside co-authors Emily Schrader and Blake Flayton. Kimberly shares what inspired her to create a clear, accessible guide for students navigating antisemitism and distorted narratives on campus. She and Zibby discuss the importance of arming the next generation with facts, the role of Jewish education, and why this book feels like both a shield and a toolkit at such a critical time.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Uz5OlSShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby speaks with playwright and author Sasha Salzmann about GLORIOUS PEOPLE, a remarkable, astute, and deeply empathic novel exploring the disintegration of the Soviet Union, told through mothers and daughters. Sasha shares how dinner table conversations with their mother’s friends inspired the book, what they discovered about motherhood, birth stories, and hidden family histories, and why they believe mothers are the unsung protagonists of political and cultural history. They also touch on their experience living as a Jewish writer in Germany, the role of friendship across communities, and how they choose between writing plays, novels, and essays.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45AfMscShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby interviews “the best tennis writer in America,” Giri Nathan, about THE CHANGEOVER, a gripping, scintillating account of the pivotal generational shift happening in men’s tennis. Giri shares his experience following rising stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner during the season that saw them split the four major titles, offering fans a rare inside look at their growth, challenges, and personalities. He also discusses the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era and the pressures of fame on young athletes, and then shares how he balances reporting with new parenthood and what it’s like to cover the game he loves.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4fDPJoCShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bestselling writing duo Ali Brady (a.k.a Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey) joins Zibby to celebrate their new pitch-perfect rom-com, BATTLE OF THE BOOKSTORES. They share the inspiration behind their rivals-to-lovers story set in dueling indie bookstores, the joys and challenges of co-writing, and how real booksellers helped shape the authentic behind-the-scenes details. The conversation also touches on the importance of independent bookstores, Jewish representation in fiction, and the balance of joy and creativity even in difficult times.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4mHK5UGShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Renowned Hollywood doula and author Carson Meyer chats with Zibby about her groundbreaking and empowering pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood guide, GROWING TOGETHER. Carson shares the inspiration behind her work, the importance of unpacking birth stories and fears, and the value of building supportive, judgment-free communities for mothers. She also explains the role of a doula, offers guidance for expectant parents and grandparents, and reflects on the boundaries and practices that can make early parenthood more peaceful.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4lxHMmmShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby interviews debut novelist Jennifer Trevelyan about A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, a tense, gripping, exquisitely written coming-of-age mystery set on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand in 1985. They discuss sisterhood, the awkward threshold between childhood and adolescence, the lingering weight of grief, and the unsettling presence of a stranger next door. Jennifer also talks about her decade-long journey to publication, the discipline that kept her writing before dawn, and why some mysteries are best left a little bit unsolved...Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4lC18XCShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby chats with bestselling author Jess Johnston about PERFECT IS BORING (AND IT TASTES LIKE KALE), a hilariously candid, refreshingly self-aware, and deeply heartfelt exploration of letting go of perfectionism and finding connection through honesty. Jess and Zibby discuss motherhood’s messiness, resisting the comparison trap, the power of supportive friendships, and the freedom that comes from showing up as you are.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4ozhummShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Actor-dancer Alyson Stoner chats with Zibby about their bold, incisive, and revelatory new memoir, SEMI-WELL-ADJUSTED DESPITE LITERALLY EVERYTHING, which weaves together stories from their life as a former child star with a sharp cultural critique of the entertainment industry. Alyson opens up about surviving exploitation, eating disorders, financial loss, and assault—and how those experiences fueled their work as a mental health advocate and industry reformer. Ultimately, Alyson shares practical tools for protecting young performers and explains why safeguarding children in a digital age should matter to everyone.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45cci03Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zibby interviews author and researcher Kate Price about THIS HAPPENED TO ME, an exquisitely rendered, haunting, and transformative memoir about how she broke free of the horror that defined her childhood and created a purpose-driven life and family, on her own terms. Kate shares how she survived years of sexual abuse and trafficking by her father, her journey through PTSD, and the extraordinary healing work she’s done with trauma specialist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. She also reflects on the solace she found in books, her decade-long investigation, and how she’s turned trauma into a groundbreaking career fighting child trafficking.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4mu1xvLShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!JOIN ME! I'm hosting four events on September 19, 25th and 30th in NYC and on October 4th in Greenwich, CT. Get your tickets here! (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Comments (3)

Hamid Ghanbari

hello I m Hamid from Iran I always follow up channel ty for good channel

Dec 24th
Reply

Suzanne Junered

"Since when do authors actually have to be like the characters they portray in fiction?" To this point, I have written books about women who have committed murder, and I assure you, I have never murdered anyone! I enjoy all of your content, Zibby. Thank you for creating this space for readers, writers, moms and all the rest.

Apr 1st
Reply

Ramon Diaz

no entiendo inglés

Apr 27th
Reply