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
May 20, 2025 • 30min
Gretchen Rubin, SECRETS OF ADULTHOOD: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), happiness expert and New York Times bestselling author, Gretchen Rubin, joins Zibby on stage to discuss her new book, SECRETS OF ADULTHOOD: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives. Gretchen shares the personal stories and hard-earned wisdom behind her original aphorisms—short, punchy truths that reflect the everyday dilemmas of adult life. From perfectionism and procrastination to clutter, desire, and decision-making, Zibby and Gretchen explore what it really means to grow wiser with age. Their energizing, idea-filled conversation will leave you rethinking your habits—and maybe even labeling your next email "Confidential."Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3H4ocPXShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 19, 2025 • 24min
Brian Kelly, HOW TO WIN AT TRAVEL
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with Brian Kelly, better known as The Points Guy, about HOW TO WIN AT TRAVEL. Brian shares his journey from tech-savvy teen booking family vacations to building a travel empire that helps millions maximize their points and miles. Whether you're a frequent flyer or a credit card newbie, Brian’s insights—from choosing the right cards to turning miles into five-star travel—are packed with practical tips, fascinating anecdotes, and the infectious thrill of gaming the system.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3StwQKxShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 16, 2025 • 25min
Jeanine Cummins, SPEAK TO ME OF HOME: A Novel
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), #1 New York Times bestselling author Jeanine Cummins joins Zibby on stage to discuss SPEAK TO ME OF HOME, a striking multigenerational story inspired by her own family’s complex Puerto Rican heritage. The conversation explores identity, belonging, intergenerational trauma, and the aftermath of the controversy surrounding AMERICAN DIRT. Jeanine opens up about the emotional journey that led to this novel, her grandmother's legacy, the pain of losing a language, and the nuances of being both white and Latina. Together, she and Zibby discuss the power of fiction to spark empathy and difficult conversations, the dangers of censorship, and how stories connect us all.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Hc9HtiShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 15, 2025 • 18min
Keeonna Harris, MAINLINE MAMA: A Memoir
Zibby is joined by writer, activist, prison abolitionist, and mother of five, Keeonna Harris, to discuss her tender and triumphant new memoir, MAINLINE MAMA, which chronicles her journey as a young Black teen mom with a partner behind bars—from learning to navigate the exhausting American carceral system to transforming herself into an advocate for women like her. In fact, she describes her memoir as “a love letter to women, specifically Black girls and women who’ve been forced into relationships with the carceral system.” With raw honesty, she discusses the impact of sexual violence, finding strength through community and therapy, the importance of checking in with our kids’ hearts (not just their homework), and her ongoing work connecting incarceration to health disparities.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3SzOJqLShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 14, 2025 • 33min
Samantha Bee, HOW TO SURVIVE MENOPAUSE
Emmy-winning comedian Samantha Bee chats with Zibby about her hilarious self-penned one-woman show and Audible original, HOW TO SURVIVE MENOPAUSE. The two talk all things menopause, aging, and the daily indignities that accompany both. They bond over frozen shoulders, impossible bras, night sweats, and the absurd lack of public conversation and research around women’s health in midlife—and applaud the Gen X women who are finally breaking the silence. Samantha also reflects on her unexpected path to comedy and television.Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 13, 2025 • 27min
Evan Friss, THE BOOKSHOP: A History of the American Bookstore
Zibby chats with author and historian Evan Friss about his New York Times bestseller, THE BOOKSHOP, an affectionate and immersive history of the American bookstore and an absolute delight for all bibliophiles. Evan, who was inspired to write this book by his wife’s job at Three Lives & Company, talks about evolution of the bookshop in the United States, the stories behind the most beloved indie stores, like RJ Julia, the passionate people who bring these spaces to life, and the critical importance of the bookstore as a sacred community space. He also compares bookstores to endangered species and urges us to find ways to ensure their legacy and survival.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/455ioj2Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 12, 2025 • 28min
Michael D. Eisner, CAMP: Life, Leadership, and Why You Never Stop Paddling
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), former Disney CEO Michael Eisner joins Zibby to discuss and celebrate the 20th anniversary edition of CAMP: Life, Leadership, and Why You Never Stop Paddling. Michael reflects on his life-shaping experiences as a camper and counselor at Keewadyn, a Vermont camp that four generations of his family have attended for 100 years. He delves into the lessons of teamwork, resilience, leadership, and creativity learned in the wilderness that echoed throughout his remarkable career at ABC, Paramount, Disney, and beyond. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Ze29fRShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 9, 2025 • 29min
Jennifer Blecher, CAMP FAMOUS and SUDDENLY FAMOUS
Zibby and a special guest host (her younger daughter!) welcome beloved middle grade author Jennifer Blecher to discuss her books CAMP FAMOUS and its sequel SUDDENLY FAMOUS. They talk about the magic of summer camp and creative ways to bring books to life beyond the page, brainstorming everything from filming DIY YouTube shorts to launching grassroots marketing at sleepaway camps. Jennifer also shares behind-the-scenes stories of her own camp days, how her daughters inspire her writing, her journey into self-publishing, and the joys and challenges of writing for kids.Purchase on Bookshop:Camp Famous: https://bit.ly/3EZF5usShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 8, 2025 • 28min
Iheoma Nwachukwu, JAPA AND OTHER STORIES
Zibby chats with poet, essayist, fiction writer, and assistant professor of English, Iheoma Nwachukwu, about his brilliant, ravishing, ruthless short story collection, JAPA AND OTHER STORIES, a finalist for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection! Iheoma explains the meaning of “japa,” a Yoruba word central to the book, as it follows young Nigerian immigrants yearning for a new life in strange new territories and struggling to anchor themselves in their new homes, much like Iheoma’s experience in the United States. He reflects on his extraordinary journey, from his early life in Nigeria (studying biochemistry with dreams of becoming a doctor), to discovering his true passion for writing and moving to the US to pursue an MFA.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/44nnsPDShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 7, 2025 • 28min
Jordan Roter, MOMS LIKE US
TV writer turned novelist Jordan Roter joins Zibby to discuss MOMS LIKE US, a sharp, funny murder mystery set in the cutthroat (and neck-lifted) world of elite Los Angeles private school moms. Jordan shares how a frustrating back-to-school night and real-life glamping trip inspired this story; why she wrote it as a novel instead of a TV show; and the complicated, messy truths behind modern motherhood, competition, and community. She and Zibby dive into the book’s Big Little Lies-meets-Glass Onion vibes, the challenges of writing multiple points of view, and what it’s like to fictionalize familiar spaces without offending the carpool line…Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Z5dNcRShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
