Totally Booked with Zibby

Zibby welcomes Emma Heming Willis to discuss her deeply personal and compassionate new book, THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path. Emma opens up about her role as caregiver to her husband, Bruce Willis, following his diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia, and the challenges of navigating ambiguous loss, parenting young children, and living in the public eye. She shares how she’s learned to prioritize self-care, build community, and advocate for others facing a similar journey. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3IjJgTwShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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 and celebrated White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz returns to the podcast to discuss AS A JEW: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us. Sarah shares her personal journey of rediscovering Jewish tradition, explores the history and persistence of antisemitism, and explains why reclaiming Jewish identity on Jewish terms is essential today. Their conversation touches on resilience, nuance, and hope for the future, offering wisdom not just for Jews but for anyone seeking deeper understanding.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4gpMWQxShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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 million-copy bestselling author Joanne Harris, who has returned to the world of CHOCOLAT with the long-awaited story of VIANNE, which begins six years before she opens her scandalous chocolaterie in the small French village of Lansquenet. Joanne discusses her novel’s themes of grief, identity, motherhood, and transformation, and then touches on the healing power of food, the folklore and history of chocolate, memory as a way to keep loved ones alive, and her journey as a writer with synesthesia.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3JGPtJHShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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 debut novelist Laura Dickerman about HOT DESK, a rollicking, sparkling, and utterly funny publishing-world satire with a romantic twist. Laura shares how a one-sentence idea from her brother sparked the story of two rival editors forced to share a desk, leading to unexpected competition, secrets, and… love. She also talks about her memories of interning at The Paris Review, her thoughts on humor in fiction, the surprising inner workings of the publishing industry, and what it feels like to debut with a novel after years of teaching, parenting, and writing in the margins.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4gdpA0kShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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 Kitty Zeldis, a pseudonym drawn from her maiden name and college nickname, joins Zibby to discuss her new historical novel ONE OF THEM. Set at Vassar in the late 1940s, the book explores the complexities of identity, friendship, prejudice, and assimilation through the story of two young Jewish women navigating very different choices about how openly to live their Jewishness. Kitty shares how her own experiences shaped the novel, reflects on changing perceptions of Jewish identity on college campuses and beyond, and opens up about her writing process, career journey, and earlier works.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/467iwO6Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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.

Instant New York Times bestseller! Psychotherapist and social media star Meg Josephson joins Zibby to discuss ARE YOU MAD AT ME?, a groundbreaking, relatable, and binge-worthy guide to understanding chronic people-pleasing (or “fawning”). Meg shares how growing up in a volatile household shaped her instinct to people-please, how this unconscious coping strategy can be both protective and exhausting, and why so many women struggle with it. She and Zibby talk about generational patterns, social media’s impact on anxiety and validation-seeking, and the importance of repairing relationships rather than striving for perfection.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4p2B3DNShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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 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!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(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.