Totally Booked with Zibby

Live from the Streicker Center! Zibby interviews political writer and podcaster Molly Jong-Fast about HOW TO LOSE YOUR MOTHER, a mesmerizing, intimate, wise, heartbreaking, instant  New York Times  bestselling memoir about an intense mother–daughter relationship, a sometimes chaotic upbringing with a fame-hungry parent, and the upheavals that challenge our hard-won adulthood. T...

New York Times  bestselling author and journalist Beth Macy chats with Zibby about PAPER GIRL: A Memoir of Hope and Family in a Fractured America, an essential, searingly poignant reckoning with the changes that have rocked her beloved small Ohio hometown. Beth describes her mother’s final days after the 2020 election and her journey back home to understand how division, disinformation, and e...

Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby interviews two-time Oprah’s Book Club pick and  New York Times  bestselling author Jane Hamilton about her first novel in nearly a decade, THE PHOEBE VARIATIONS (which is published by Zibby Publishing!). Jane shares the inspiration behind Phoebe’s story, an exploratio...

Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby interviews America’s favorite storyteller, Mitch Albom, about his new novel, TWICE, a magical and deeply moving story about regret, love, and second chances. Mitch shares how the idea came to him (in the shower!), the themes that drive his work, and how his own experiences with...

Today, on the anniversary of the attacks of October 7th, I'm releasing my conversation with Eli Sharabi who I interviewed yesterday about his new book HOSTAGE. If you only read one book all year, read this one. HOSTAGE is a story detailing everything that happened to Eli from his being abducted from his home on October 7th to after his release at a time when he hit bottom and vowed to really live....

Rabbi Wendy I. Zierler joins Zibby to discuss her memoir GOING OUT WITH KNOTS: My Two Kaddish Years with Hebrew Poetry, a profound exploration of grief, faith, and resilience. Rabbi Wendy describes losing both parents within eleven months, navigating the demanding ritual of daily Kaddish, and finding solace through poetry, prayer, and teaching during the pandemic. She also reflects on her path to...

Zibby chats with award-winning Brazilian illustrator Gus Morais about TAYLOR SWIFT: Unofficial Search and Find Biographies, a visual exploration of the star’s groundbreaking music career, celebrating every album era and iconic outfit. Gus shares how he went from knowing little about Taylor Swift to immersing himself in her music, lyrics, and imagery to create a vibrant, detail-packed book that’s l...

In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby interviews bestselling author Alisha Fernandez Miranda about her fun, witty new novel, SOMEONE’S GOTTA GIVE. Alisha shares the inspirations behind her story of Lucia, a Venezuelan American fundraiser-turned-expat navigating motherhood, marriage, and the high-stakes world of philanthropy in London. S...

Zibby interviews  New York Times  bestselling author Lily King about HEART THE LOVER, her magnificent and intimate new novel about literature, forgiveness, and the transformative bonds that shape our lives. Lily opens up about the long, winding path that led to the book, from a shelved murder mystery draft to a spark of inspiration after reading a friend’s manuscript. She shares how them...

Chef and New York Times bestselling author Jake Cohen joins Zibby to discuss his fun, unfussy, and inventive new cookbook, DINNER PARTY ANIMAL: Recipes to Make Every Day a Celebration. Jake describes his shy childhood in Queens, how hosting early dinner parties helped him build confidence and community, and his journey from restaurant kitchens to cookbook success. He also discusses the joy and int...

Zibby chats with journalist and author Nicole Madigan about her harrowing, compelling, and utterly enlightening book, TORN: Four Women’s Stories of Why They Left – or Why They Stayed, which explores the painful, confusing period of indecision after betrayal in a long-term relationship—when you’re caught between staying and leaving. Nicole shares her own experiences of love, loss, and resilience, a...

Clea Shearer, cofounder of The Home Edit and New York Times bestselling author, joins Zibby to discuss her comforting, empowering, and beautifully written guide to living with breast cancer, CANCER IS COMPLICATED: And Other Unexpected Lessons I’ve Learned. Clea shares her journey from the shock of diagnosis to navigating surgeries, treatments, and the emotional aftermath, all while finding purpose...

Zibby welcomes legendary restaurateur Drew Nieporent to discuss his compelling, rollicking new memoir, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches. Drew reflects on his decades-long career shaping New York dining culture—from iconic spots like Tribeca Grill and Nobu to feeding workers after 9/11 and navigating the challenges of the pandemic. He also shares candid stories o...

Zibby interviews beloved  New York Times  bestselling author and host of the For the Love podcast, Jen Hatmaker, about her brutally honest, funny, and revealing new memoir, AWAKE. Jen opens up about the heartbreak of her 26-year marriage ending, the grief and disorientation that followed, and the slow, painful climb back toward wholeness. She and Zibby explore themes of love, loss, faith...

Beauty mogul and New York Times bestselling author Bobbi Brown joins Zibby to discuss her brilliant, raw, unfiltered new memoir, STILL BOBBI: A Master Class in Leading an Authentic Life. Bobbi describes her journey from creating her first lipstick shade in a kitchen experiment to building a global beauty empire, the challenges of corporate expansion, and her decision to walk away and start fresh w...

Zibby chats with author Jennifer Oko about JUST EMILIA, an imaginative, compassionate, quick-witted time-traveling tale of a woman who encounters three versions of herself—teen, midlife, and older—in a Washington, DC Metro elevator. Jennifer shares how the spark for the book came from being briefly stuck in an elevator, and how the story grew into a moving exploration of memory, identity, and the...

Zibby chats with #1  New York Times  bestselling author, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, about his groundbreaking new book, THE BEAUTY MOLECULE: Introducing Neuroceuticals, the Breakthrough for Ageless Beauty. Dr. Perricone shares insights from decades of research on the anti-inflammatory diet, the science behind the “beauty molecule,” and practical ways to extend health, beauty, and cognitive f...

How do you raise kids who can handle our topsy-turvy world? Not by coddling them, that’s for sure. No, you want to cultivate grit in your children—the kind of resilience they’ll need to absorb whatever shocks may come their way. To help with that, we’ve got some insights from science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer, who’s written a new book called Hello, Cruel World!: Science-Based Strategies for...

Acclaimed photographer Stacy Bass joins Zibby to discuss her deeply personal new book, LIGHTKEEPER: A Memoir Through the Lens of Love and Loss. Stacy shares the story of losing her father in a tragic seaplane accident that also claimed the lives of her cousins, and the complicated family grief that followed. She reflects on how writing—and later sharing memories of her parents and loved ones—helpe...

Zibby interviews leading behavioral scientist and author Dr. Zelana Montminy about FINDING FOCUS: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction, a wake-up call to take back your mind—and your life! They dive into the modern epidemic of distraction, how our attention is constantly hijacked by devices and cultural noise, and why focus—not time—is our most valuable resource. Dr. Montminy shares practic...

Debut author Sam Sussman joins Zibby to discuss BOY FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY, a searingly tender mother-son story, and Zibby’s Book Club pick for October. Inspired by the author’s own uncertain celebrity paternity, the book follows Evan, a young man grappling with love, loss, and the mystery of his father’s identity—rumored to be Bob Dylan—while caring for his mother during her final months. Sa...

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 pub...

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 to...

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 folkl...

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 th...