Totally Booked with Zibby

Épisodes

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  Sona Movsesian on Betraying Her Preconceptions of Motherhood 16.09.2026 27min

  USA Today bestseller Sona Movsesian sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new book The World’s Worst Mom, a funny and relatable look into motherhood.Sona discusses her experience with IVF and the conversations that it demands, her obsession with mortality after having kids, the trauma of losing her home in the 2025 Southern California wildfires, and betraying her preconceptions about motherhood. She also shares the need for laughter, her experience working with Conan O’Brien for over seventeen years, and how she hopes her sons will see her in twenty years. Follow Sona on Instagram @sonamov.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Elizabeth Castellano on the Pressure of a Two-Book Deal 15.09.2026 21min

  Elizabeth Castellano joins Zibby Owens to talk about her new novel Proof of Progress, the humorous story of B-list actress and comedian Maria Astorini whose second book is thirty-seven years overdue. Elizabeth shares how this book was inspired by her own difficulties while writing her second novel under contract, the impact of pressure on her writing, and the pieces of real life that made it into the story. She also discusses unconventional friendship, debunking the myth that book deals are impossible, and imparting little truths through humor. Learn more about Elizabeth here https://www.elizabethcastellano.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Amy Chozick on Sex Work and Motherhood 14.09.2026 25min

  Live from the Children’s Museum of the East End, Amy Chozick sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her new psychological thriller With Friends Like You. In the novel Emily, a struggling new mom in Manhattan, embarks on the search for her long-lost friend Daisy who disappeared years ago after becoming a stripper. But when Emily finally finds her, the question becomes: Is Daisy saving her life or destroying everything?Amy discusses how her own experiences have influenced her characters, the resentment in postpartum that has nowhere to go, female friendship, and the unique challenges of raising kids in New York City. She also recounts her career as a journalist, the piece she wrote on Stormy Daniels three weeks postpartum, the fascinating collision of new motherhood and sex work, and her current work as a TV writer. Follow Amy on Instagram @amychozick.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Lea Vale on Her Ode to 9/11 11.09.2026 24min

  Lea Vale joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel Blue Sky Black, the second-chance romance told across two timelines that she wrote as a love letter to the friend she lost on 9/11.Lea shares her own experience in New York City that day 25 years ago, the trauma of having to cope with a loved one simply disappearing, and the importance of talking about tragedy. She also recounts how the romance genre finally allowed her to write this story, infusing hope and light into such a difficult subject. Learn more about Lea Vale at https://leavale.com and follow her on Instagram @leavaleauthor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Zibby’s 9/11 Essay 11.09.2026 4min

  Zibby was one of the countless people who lost a loved one on 9/11. Stacey Sanders, Zibby’s college roommate, worked in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. To process the loss, Zibby wrote an essay for her business school newspaper, The Harbus, two weeks after it happened. She reads it here to pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the attacks.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Kara Kavensky on Finding Joy 10.09.2026 28min

  Kara Kavensky sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her memoir Tell Me About Joy, inspired by WWII veteran Bob who shared with her his greatest regret: “I missed out on marrying the love of my life. Her name is Joy.”Interwoven with her own personal story, Kara writes about her journey to find Bob’s long-lost love and how it changed her life. She touches on her own healing after being married to a narcissist, the human face of war, sharing stories of resilience, the heaviness of losing a child, and ultimately, finding joy again.  Learn more about Kara here https://www.karakavensky.com/home and follow her on Instagram @karakavensky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Jonathan Santlofer on Finding Empathy for His Villainous Characters 09.09.2026 27min

  Jonathan Santlofer joins Zibby Owens for a deep dive into his new novel Ten Perfect Guests, an immersive, fun, “whodunit” thriller following the aftermath of a beloved art figure’s death and the people summoned to a remote island under threat of losing their inheritance. Jonathan discusses the challenges of juggling ten different points of views, the joy of playing with familiar tropes like greed, lust, and betrayal, and the beauty of finding empathy for his most villainous characters. He also recounts the discovery of his mild dyslexia in art school, how losing ten years of his artwork to a building fire eventually led him to writing, and the grief of unexpectedly losing his wife. Learn more about Jonathan at https://jonathansantlofer.com and follow him on Instagram at @jonathansantlofer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Eriq La Salle on the Journey of a Character’s Soul 08.09.2026 28min

  Eriq La Salle joins Zibby Owens to discuss his new thriller Laws of Solomon, the fourth book in his Martyr Maker series, which takes a previous side character who was inspired by The Godfather’s Luca Brasi and lifts him up to the lead. Eriq discusses the ever-present question of ‘can our most villainous, vile characters find redemption?’, the journey of a character’s soul, how his favorite films have inspired his work, and the coming of age story of a man. He also touches on his transition from actor to author, the duality of his thrillers, and the blessings that come from failure. Learn more about Eriq here https://www.iameriqlasalle.com and follow him on Instagram @eriqlasalle  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Amanda Peters on the Importance of Tradition 07.09.2026 20min

  Amanda Peters sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel (and Zibby’s November Book Club pick!) The Birthing Tree, the story of a young girl growing up in a family with secrets, her withdrawal from the grandmother who raised her among the generational traditions of Mi’kmaq women, and what eventually draws her back home as an adult. Rooted in community and feeling, The Birthing Tree weaves together the chase for identity, connection to home, repairing wounds from the past, and revering not only nature and the land, but the extraordinary feats of the human body. Amanda touches on how she drew inspiration for this book from a conversation with her own Nan, the importance of tradition within an always advancing modern world, and the terror of writing another book after a bestselling debut. Join Zibby and Amanda at Zibby’s Book Club on November 11 at 7pm for a virtual Q&A as they dive deeper into The Birthing Tree. Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zibbys-book-club-amanda-peters-tickets-1994014022619 Learn more about Amanda at https://amandapetersauthor.com and follow her @amandapetersauthor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Sarah Addison Allen, PAPER GHOSTS, on Grief 04.09.2026 23min

  Sarah Addison Allen’s book Paper Ghosts was, quite fittingly, haunting. We discussed grief, loss, fiction, writing, and more. I left feeling like I had a new friend.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Jonah Platt, Being Jewish with Jonah Platt 03.09.2026 31min

  Jonah Platt and I both have TV shows on the JBS network which is how we connected for this episode. I’d been dying to interview Jonah about his Jewish advocacy and what he’d learned from interviewing so many leaders in the field. What he answered surprised me. I also learned about how he’s raising his children and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Beth Ricanati, MD, THE BRAIDED PRESCRIPTION: Seven Practices for Living Well from the Ancient Ritual of Making Challah 02.09.2026 18min

  Beth Ricanati, MD, and I made challah together in my kitchen in L.A. eight years ago — and filmed it. Since then, our lives continue to intersect from the podcast to the bookstore to her being part of the On Being Jewish Now anthology. In this conversation recorded at Zibby’s Bookshop, we covered health benefits to baking, her suggestions as a physician for how to live more healthfully, and the windy path to her second book. (If you want to watch our original film, click here!)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Laurie Notaro, I'VE GOT A NEW COMPLAINT: Essays on Aging Disgracefully and Other Small Disasters 01.09.2026 25min

  Laurie Notaro makes me laugh. A bestselling humorist, Laurie writes about whatever life stage she’s in with wit and bluntness. We talked about her hilarious parents and how her dad often says he’s glad Laurie didn’t have a twin, how we regress as soon as we go “home,” the indignities of aging, and the free cosmetic procedure she tried and had her skin burned off.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Community Builders' Spotlight: Jennifer Shoop, Magpie, and the Wine Sisters Book Club 31.08.2026 51min

  Today’s episode features female founders of two communities: Jennifer Shoop, Magpie, and Aly Wente and Niki Wente, The Wine Sisters Book Club. Both groups have prioritized books — in addition to birds, wine, and more interests and avenues. Jennifer Shoop’s book, Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life’s Quiet Joys, was absolutely beautiful.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Dr. Rachel Zoffness on The Truth About Pain 28.08.2026 26min

  Pain psychologist Dr. Rachel Zoffness sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal. Prompted by one parent’s powerful question and the transformative experience of working with teenagers, Rachel reflects on her personal and professional experiences with pain and her goal of sharing the true science with the world. They dive deep into overcoming imposter syndrome, how to identify the ingredients of a bad pain day, the genetics of highly sensitive people, and Rachel’s own struggles with chronic pain. Learn more about Dr. Rachel Zoffness here: https://www.zoffness.com/ or follow her on Instagram @therealdoczoff. Hosted by Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Sara Goodman Confino on Women in Journalism and The Power of a Strong Mentor 27.08.2026 16min

  Sara Goodman Confino’s high school journalism teacher was the first person who told her “you can do better than this.” And she did. Sara joins Zibby Owens for an intimate talk about her new novel Off The Record, a fun, thrilling, and mysterious romantic comedy set in 1962 about 22-year-old Judy Greenberg looking to be the next big reporter as a young Jewish woman in a male-dominated field. Sara opens up about the challenges she faced as a female teacher with male administrators, the long road from writing to becoming a published author, and how a single mentor can change the trajectory of a life. Visit Sara’s website here: https://saraconfino.com/ or follow her on Instagram @saraconfino. Hosted by Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Margie Lachman, PhD, PRIMETIME: A New Vision for Midlife 26.08.2026 19min

  Midlife desperately needs a rebrand. Dr. Margie Lachman is doing just that with her research at the Lifespan Lab at Brandeis University where she teaches psychology. She has pioneered the lifespan psychology approach to midlife. We talked about the joys midlife can bring and why her academic approach is so essential.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Lisa Katayama, THE JAPANESE WAY OF PARENTING: And What It Taught Me About Raising (Mostly) Calm, Caring, Capable Kids 25.08.2026 22min

  Tokyo-born Lisa Katayama took her parenting techniques with her to Northern California and found that what Japanese culture had to offer was quite useful when it came to raising kids. We discussed the pain points of parenting, how she puts her ideas into practice, and how she pulled off writing a book in the midst of all of it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Ann Tashi Slater on Life’s Impermanence 24.08.2026 23min

  Ann Tashi Slater and I spoke about life, meaning, the role of literature, travel, family, and more, inspired by her book Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World. (Special thanks to past podcast guest Lauren Grodstein for the introduction!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Jacqueline Friedland, BREATHING UNDER WATER: A Novel 21.08.2026 20min

  Jackie Friedland, a contributor to my anthology On Being Jewish Now and past podcast guest, returns with her latest novel, Breathing Under Water! A poignant story about life around the pool, an unfair accusation, an autistic main character, and a community shaken, this book will make you think and feel. Jackie and I discussed parenting, coaching, writing, and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.