Totally Booked with Zibby
Zibby Owens
Hi! I'm Zibby Owens, host of Totally Booked with Zibby (formerly Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books). 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 14, 2025 • 21min
Jennifer Trevelyan, A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY: A Novel
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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 13, 2025 • 19min
Jess Johnston, PERFECT IS BORING (AND IT TASTES LIKE KALE): Finding Belonging and Purpose Without Changing Who You Are
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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 12, 2025 • 29min
Alyson Stoner, SEMI-WELL-ADJUSTED DESPITE LITERALLY EVERYTHING: A Memoir
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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 11, 2025 • 27min
Kate Price, THIS HAPPENED TO ME: A Reckoning
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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 8, 2025 • 29min
Mallary Tenore Tarpley, SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery
Journalist and professor at UT Austin Mallary Tenore Tarpley joins Zibby to discuss her groundbreaking new book, SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery. Mallary describes her messy, nonlinear path to recovery from anorexia, sharing what it’s like to live in the “middle place” between sickness and full recovery. She reveals how she combined personal stories with research, immersive reporting, and cutting-edge science, touching on the emotional toll of revisiting her childhood journals and treatment records. Finally, they discuss identity, grief, motherhood, healing, and how Mallary is raising her own children with compassion and awareness.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4m8yrm5Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 7, 2025 • 26min
Brian Buckbee and Carol Ann Fitzgerald, WE SHOULD ALL BE BIRDS: A Memoir
Zibby chats with co-authors Brian Buckbee and Carol Ann Fitzgerald about their debut memoir, WE SHOULD ALL BE BIRDS, a charming and poignant story about chronic illness, unlikely friendship, and a pigeon named Two Step. Brian shares how his debilitating condition led to a transformative bond with a bird who literally landed in his hands, while Carol explains how a series of Facebook posts turned into a full-length book that is equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Together, they reflect on pain, connection, humor, and finding meaning in the smallest creatures.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4m2LComShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 6, 2025 • 33min
Sarah Spain and Deland McCullough, RUNS IN THE FAMILY: Runs in the Family An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging
Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist Sarah Spain and celebrated football figure Deland McCullough join Zibby to discuss their remarkable new memoir, RUNS IN THE FAMILY: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging. Deland, now a Super Bowl–winning coach, opens up about his journey from a difficult childhood in Youngstown, Ohio, through college football, fatherhood, and ultimately, the life-changing discovery he unearthed when unsealing his adoption records. Sarah, his co-author, shares how she brought nuance, research, empathy, and emotional insight to Deland’s story. Together, they discuss adoption, identity, chosen family, and the book’s broader message: that our past doesn’t define us, and healing and growth are always possible.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4mxwPSIShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 5, 2025 • 25min
Amber Rae, LOVEABLE: A Memoir: One Woman’s Path from Good to Free
Zibby chats with bestselling author and speaker Amber Rae about her deeply intimate, raw, and courageous memoir, LOVEABLE: One Woman’s Path from Good to Free. Amber shares the emotional journey behind her decision to leave a “good on paper” marriage in pursuit of true connection and joy. (While building a home with her husband in Mexico, she met the man she knew she was meant to spend the rest of her life with.) She and Zibby unpack generational patterns, the difference between selfishness and self-honoring, navigating sexual insecurity, and how synchronicity and spirituality guided her toward a new life.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/451lgx5Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 4, 2025 • 27min
Emma Rosenblum, MEAN MOMS: A Novel
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby interviews bestselling author Emma Rosenblum about her delicious, addictive, and slyly observed new novel, MEAN MOMS. Known for her sharp wit and insider takes on elite social circles, Emma dives into the world of competitive moms at a NYC private school, where one mysterious new arrival shakes everything up. She and Zibby talk about writing satire with heart, the insanity of mom groups, and why sometimes entertainment is the message. Plus, Emma shares the scoop on her next novel—based on an idea Zibby gave her!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3HePSlBShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 1, 2025 • 29min
Lee Kofman and Tamar Paluch, RUPTURED: Jewish Women in Australia Reflect on Life Post-October 7
Zibby interviews anthology co-editors Lee Kofman and Tamar Paluch about RUPTURED, a powerful collection from thirty-six Australian Jewish women responding to the October 7 attacks and the surge of antisemitism that followed. Tamar shares the grassroots origins of the project, born from women-led activism, while Lee discusses her personal experience with doxing and the painful silencing of Jewish voices in creative and academic circles. Together, they reflect on intergenerational trauma, fear, resilience, and the urgent need to document Jewish experiences in their rawest, most authentic form.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3HcgxQ0Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
