Totally Booked with Zibby

Bestselling French author Anne Berest returns to the podcast to discuss GABRIËLE, an atmospheric and exuberant novel about love, sex, art, revolution, and the life of her great-grandmother Gabriële Buffet-Picabia—muse and revolutionary partner to artist Francis Picabia. Anne discusses the legacy of creativity and pain in her lineage, the invisible labor of women who shape art behind the scenes, the fun she had co-writing with her sister, and the impact of being embraced by American readers. She also touches on her other book, THE POSTCARD, which began with an anonymous postcard listing the names of her Jewish relatives murdered during WWII, sparking an investigation into her family’s history and inherited trauma. You can listen to that episode, too! Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Elq1HnShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby interviews bestselling Israeli author, photojournalist, columnist, and activist Lihi Lapid about her latest novel, ON HER OWN (a tense and immersive psychological read about two families in crisis), and her earlier book, WOMAN OF VALOR, which will soon be published for the first time in the U.S. by our company, Zibby Publishing, with a new title, I WANTED TO BE WONDERFUL! This powerful memoir about motherhood, identity, sacrifice, and raising a daughter with severe autism left a lingering effect on Zibby, leading her to acquire it for her publishing house. Lihi talks about her journey from news photographer to writer, her experience as a mother in the public eye (she is married to the former Prime Minister of Israel), and the courage it took to publish such a vulnerable and honest book. The idea to acquire it came up in this episode and now it's coming out October 21st!!! Purchase on Bookshop:Woman of Valor: https://bit.ly/3EbtOqMOn Her Own: https://bit.ly/4jfeuZaShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jackie Goldschneider, star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, chats with Zibby about THE WEIGHT OF BEAUTIFUL, the courageously candid memoir about her decades-long battle with anorexia and public journey to recovery. Jackie shares the origins of her disordered eating—from generational food trauma to cultural diet obsessions—and the emotional toll it took on her family, body, and joy. She and Zibby both reflect on their experiences with food, body image, and painful pressures of perfection. Finally, Jackie reveals what she’s working on next!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jfPEbSShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby chats with Vanity Fair and New York Times contributor E. A. Hanks about her sparkling, heartfelt, poetic new memoir, THE 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, which follows her solo, cross-country journey across the American southwest. E. A. Hanks shares the inspiration behind the road trip and then delves into her complex relationship with her mother, whose journals and poetry become part of the emotional terrain of the book. She also talks about grief, identity, navigating trauma, and the ongoing effects of her unconventional childhood.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/42xPNjvShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beloved parenting expert, clinical psychologist, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Becky Kennedy chats with Zibby about her highly anticipated debut picture book, THAT’S MY TRUCK!, which tackles one of the most common parenting challenges: hitting. Dr. Becky shares the inspiration behind the book, the psychology of hitting, and the power of addressing kids’ behavior with empathy rather than punishment. She also shares her shift away from traditional parenting methods and the Good Inside philosophy she developed, which focuses on skills over punishment and has become a popular parenting movement.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jbHr8vShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Acclaimed actress, screenwriter, and director Lake Bell joins Zibby to discuss her debut picture book, ALL ABOUT BRAINS, a joyfully whimsical exploration of all the ways people and their brains are different. Inspired by her own children, Nova and Ozzy, and their experiences with neurodivergence (including epilepsy, ADHD, and dyslexia), Lake shares the emotional journey that led her to write this empowering book. She and Zibby connect over shared parenting challenges and the importance of reframing diagnoses as superpowers. Lake also dives into her own struggles with dyslexia and how it shaped her creative process as a filmmaker and writer.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4j3w02BShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and poet Judith Viorst, who is now in her nineties, joins Zibby to discuss MAKING THE BEST OF WHAT’S LEFT: When You’re Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered, a funny and poignant reflection on aging, widowhood, and the lessons she’s learned since losing her husband of over sixty years. With her trademark wit, wisdom, and unflinching eye for the agonies and absurdities of ordinary family life, Judith talks about life’s later chapter (the “Final Fifth”), touching on grief, community, and rediscovering identity beyond being a wife. She also reads from her devastatingly tender poem, “Stop Being Dead.”Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Ej0z5eShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dara Horn, winner of three National Jewish Book Awards and Kirkus Prize finalist, joins Zibby to discuss her irreverent, moving, and hilariously deadpan graphic novel for young readers, ONE LITTLE GOAT. Dara explains how she uses a talking scapegoat and a never-ending Seder to bring ancient stories to life for readers of all ages. She shares her childhood obsession with the passage of time and her deep connection to the Jewish tradition, and then dives into her acclaimed book, PEOPLE LOVE DEAD JEWS, touching on the shared themes between the two books: memory, Jewish identity, and how history lives on in us.Purchase on Bookshop:One Little Goat: https://bit.ly/4lrcajoPeople Love Dead Jews: https://bit.ly/42st4WkShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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