Totally Booked with Zibby

Zibby interviews NBC News correspondent and anchor Vicky Nguyen about her funny, nostalgic, and poignant new memoir, BOAT BABY. Vicky describes her family’s daring escape from communist Vietnam and her unlikely journey from refugee to reporter, sharing personal stories of resilience, identity, and family. She recounts unbelievable moments—like recognizing her uncle’s murderer while dining in a San Jose restaurant—and reflects on how she has navigated marriage, career, and motherhood. The conversation also touches on fate, trauma, and triumph, including a quiet Me Too moment.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/42CD8wYShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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.

New York Times bestselling Irish author Colum McCann joins Zibby to discuss TWIST, an urgent and utterly compelling novel about a journalist reporting on the underwater cables that carry the world’s information—tiny fiber-optic tubes that carry words, images, memes, voices… Colum unpacks the mind-bending reality that 95% of our global communications travel through fragile cables at the bottom of the ocean. He shares the real-life inspiration behind his maritime thriller, blending geopolitics, underwater espionage, and the deeply personal story of a man in recovery. The two explore themes of repair—both technological and emotional—and the fragile threads that connect us all.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4clSR6SShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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 content creator, speaker, and bestselling author Jessica N. Turner about I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS, a manifesto of hope that will empower you to transform your circumstances and move forward with intention and purpose. Jessica shares the inspiration behind this book—navigating the unexpected end of her 16-year marriage after her husband came out as gay and learning to grieve, heal, and rediscover herself. She and Zibby reflect on friendship, resilience, body image, and the power of self-love, and Jessica offers practical, compassionate advice for anyone navigating an unexpected turn.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jk6l5gShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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.

Disability advocate, eating disorder recovery coach, and debut author Jayne Mattingly chats with Zibby about THIS IS BODY GRIEF, a groundbreaking guide to mourning and accepting one’s ever-changing body. Jayne shares her experience of becoming disabled after a rare neurological diagnosis, navigating 19 brain and spine surgeries and a total hysterectomy, and grappling with the emotional toll of losing the body she once knew. Together, they explore the concept of “body grief”—a universal experience that touches those facing illness, aging, disability, eating disorders, and more. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3RGs23HShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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 back author Jacqueline Friedland to discuss COUNTING BACKWARDS, a bold, gripping, and timely dual-timeline novel about how women’s bodies have been used against them in American society, both past and present. The book follows a young attorney who takes on a pro bono immigration case, only to uncover a shocking pattern of medical abuse at a detention center. Jaqueline shares the real-life inspirations behind the story, including her background as a lawyer and her deep fascination with the history of eugenics. The conversation also dives into the novel’s exploration of marriage, infertility, trauma, and personal resilience.Purchase on Bookshop: bit.ly/3G47YWsShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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.

Debut novelist Meredith Turits joins Zibby to discuss JUST WANT YOU HERE, a riveting, honest, and incisive novel about love, lust, self-discovery, and the complications of youth. Meredith reveals the inspiration behind her protagonist, Ari, who navigates heartbreak, an impulsive move to Boston, and a complicated entanglement with her boss and his wife. She also reflects on her unexpected career path (she was the founding editor of Bustle!), her ten-year journey to publication, and the novel that almost was.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3RCjT09Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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 former casting executive Tess Sanchez (who is married to actor and past podcast guest Max Greenfield!) about WE’VE DECIDED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, a moving and witty essay collection about career upheaval, identity, and resilience. Tess reflects on a pivotal two-year period in her life that was filled with unexpected setbacks. She opens up about the shock of losing a career that had defined her for two decades, the struggle to reframe her sense of self beyond work, and the unexpected humor that emerged from this moment of crisis. She also touches on her experience navigating her father’s aphasia and Alzheimer’s diagnosis—and how grief and humor often exist side by side.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3FQRSiVShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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 Publishing author alert! Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling and Thurber Prize-winning author John Kenney to discuss his razor-sharp, darkly comedic, and emotionally piercing new novel, I SEE YOU’VE CALLED IN DEAD. John delves into the story, which follows an obituary writer who accidentally publishes his own death notice, sparking chaos and unexpected self-discovery. John shares the deeply personal inspiration behind this book, touching on loss, the complexities of grief, and how humor helps us navigate life’s toughest moments. The conversation also delves into male friendship, office culture, and the impact of writing. With wit and warmth, John and Zibby explore what it means to truly live while grappling with loss.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/41UiCYzShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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.

Journalist turned novelist Sarah Harman joins Zibby to discuss her biting, twisty, utterly delightful thriller, ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS HATE ME, which follows a washed-up girl band star turned reluctant mom detective at the center of a missing child investigation. Sarah talks about her unconventional writing process, the challenges of creating an unlikable yet relatable protagonist, and balancing creative ambition and motherhood. She also talks about the pressures of “Plan B” careers, her experience adapting her book for FX, and the eternal question of what it really means to be a “good mom.”Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4cdEUImShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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 Jenny Fielding, one of the most active global pre-seed investors, about her new book, VENTURE EVERYWHERE. Jenny shares her experiences traveling to over 100 countries to profile global entrepreneurs who are starting innovative companies far from Silicon Valley’s spotlight. She explores the entrepreneurial archetypes, from bold risk-takers to resilient thinkers, and then shares her unconventional path—from JP Morgan to launching her first startup inspired by the high cost of international calls. She offers practical advice on pursuing big ideas incrementally, making space for innovation even while juggling a day job. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/42j9T24Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (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.