Zibby speaks to author, screenwriter, and repeat MDHTTRB guest Laura Hankin about The Daydreams, a deliciously entertaining novel about the stars of an early 2000s TV show who implode spectacularly on live TV–and the reunion special, thirteen years later, that could destroy or redeem them. Laura shares her sources of inspiration: nostalgia for early 2000s pop culture, the rise of the #FreeBritney movement, and an interest in how damaging fame can be for child stars and young women. She also talk...
Jun 08, 2023•27 min•Season 17Ep. 44
Zibby interviews Nora Roberts, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 230 novels, about her chilling new thriller Identity . Nora discusses different components of her book: identity theft, murder, family, bartending, and suspense. She also reveals how writing came into her life, why she publishes certain books under a pseudonym, her trick for writing several books a year, and the secret to a happy marriage (it involves marrying a carpenter!). Finally, she shares the books she’s r...
Jun 07, 2023•24 min•Season 17Ep. 43
Zibby Books author alert!!! Zibby interviews Jane Delury about Hedge, an emotionally charged, richly observed novel about a devoted mom and talented garden historian balancing the demands of motherhood and marriage with her own needs. Jane describes the period she lived in France (where she started writing and met her first husband), her twenty-year teaching career, and finding refuge in writing and gardening after her divorce. She also talks about finding love again (at a writer's conference!) ...
Jun 06, 2023•30 min•Season 17Ep. 42
Zibby is joined by debut author and Bustle Digital Group chief content officer Emma Rosenblum to discuss Bad Summer People, a whip-smart, stylish, propulsive, and darkly comedic beach community satire that brings infidelity, backstabbing, and murderous intrigue to Fire Island. Emma talks about her fascinating cast of characters and Signal, the perfect app for cheaters! She describes how much she loved writing fiction–an escape from her career in magazine writing–and explains how she went from ro...
Jun 05, 2023•30 min•Season 17Ep. 41
In this special weekend re-release, Zibby interviews award-winning actress and New York Times bestselling author Jamie Lee Curtis about her audiobook Letters from Camp, a heartfelt comedy told through letters written by a young camper who is investigating a girl's disappearance while confronting the budding anxieties of tweendom! Subscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here . Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 04, 2023•31 min•Season 17Ep. 40
In this special weekend re-release, Zibby interviews New York Times bestseller and Newberry Award-winner Kwame Alexander! Zibby: "I have the privilege of interviewing Kwame Alexander. Kwame Alexander is a poet, an educator, and the bestselling author of twenty-five books, including Rebound , The Crossover , and Booked . In addition to writing, Kwame has given back to communities around the world, including his literacy program LEAP, which trains teachers and has helped build libraries and health...
Jun 03, 2023•29 min•Season 17Ep. 39
Guest host Julie Chavez interviews debut author Neely Tubati-Alexander about Love Buzz, a sparkling and serendipitous rom-com about a chance romantic encounter at a Mardi Gras bachelorette party and the chaos it unleashes in the protagonist's life. Neely talks about love at first sight, grief, mom guilt, writing as a "pantser", finding her creative flow during COVID, and making time to write with toddlers. She also shares how she gave heart and depth to her “rom-com” and where she’s at with book...
Jun 02, 2023•30 min•Season 17Ep. 38
GMA Book Club Pick alert! Zibby speaks to debut author Disha Bose about Dirty Laundry, a wonderfully dark and twisty novel about a group of young mothers and what ensues when the popular one is found dead. Disha reveals she put a bit of herself in all of her characters, particularly Mishti – the Indian woman living in Ireland and suffering from culture shock. She also talks about social media, motherhood, ironically-worn jeans, her lovely grandfather, and what it was like to finally find her voi...
Jun 01, 2023•27 min•Season 17Ep. 37
Guest host Julie Chavez interviews award-winning author and repeat MDHTTRB guest Corie Adjmi about The Marriage Box, a fascinating coming-of-age novel about a young Jewish Syrian girl whose family moves back to the Orthodox community, forcing her to reckon with new customs–like getting married at 18! After revealing the story was inspired by her own life experiences, Corie describes the baby steps she took over twenty years to get this book out into the world. The two also discuss the “marriage ...
May 31, 2023•32 min•Season 17Ep. 36
Zibby speaks to flight attendant turned New York Times bestselling author T.J. Newman about Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421, a gripping new thriller about a plane that sinks with passengers trapped inside and the extraordinary rescue that ensues. TJ gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the world of flight attendants, from the rigorous training to the professional people-watching (both of which were rich sources of inspiration for this novel). She also talks about her incredible screen adapta...
May 30, 2023•32 min•Season 17Ep. 35
Zibby interviews Emmy Award-winning co-host of The View and repeat MDHTTRB guest Sunny Hostin about Summer on Sag Harbor, a delicious summer read (and instant NYT bestseller!) about family, friendship, love, and the secrets that threaten to unravel it all for an exclusive community of African American elites vacationing in Sag Harbor. Sunny reveals that her books are love letters to the historically-Black towns she loves and wants to share with the world. She also talks about the importance of t...
May 29, 2023•25 min•Season 17Ep. 34
Far more than a superb memoir about the highest levels of professional tennis, Open is the engrossing story of a remarkable life. Zibby: "I am beyond excited to be talking to Andre Agassi today. Andre Agassi really needs no introduction. As a refresher, Andre used to be ranked number one in the world in tennis and won eight Grand Slam singles championships. Now married to Steffi Graf, Andre has two children and is involved in launching charter schools with the Turner-Agassi Foundation. Andre Aga...
May 28, 2023•36 min•Season 17Ep. 33
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and author Louise Penny joined Zibby for an event with the Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center to discuss their New York Times bestselling political thriller, State of Terror , which centers around one of Secretary Clinton's greatest fears: the possibility that terrorists could get ahold of nuclear weapons. Secretary Clinton and Penny share how they met through Clinton's late best friend and bonded through Penny's grief after losing her husband. The duo als...
May 27, 2023•42 min•Season 17Ep. 32
Zibby speaks to author Karin Lin-Greenberg about You Are Here , a charming and poignant novel about five characters whose stories entwine when a shopping mall shuts down. Karin details her inspiration for the book, which came during a haircut, and then explains how a standalone short story quickly grew into an entire world. Karin also discusses her path to teaching, the impact of the pandemic on young people, and the distinctions between writing fiction and nonfiction. Finally, Zibby and Karin c...
May 26, 2023•25 min•Season 17Ep. 31
Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author and repeat MDHTTRB guest Carley Fortune to discuss Meet Me at the Lake (instant #1 NYT bestseller!!!), a stunning summer read about love and loss. Zibby reads a passage that brims with a distinctive sense of voice. Then, Carley discusses the difficulty of writing and revising during her emotional postpartum months, her struggles with self-doubt, her previous career in journalism, and what life outside of writing looks like for her! Purchase on...
May 25, 2023•28 min•Season 17Ep. 30
Zibby interviews actress, producer, and author Alexandra Auder about Don’t Call Me Home, a gutwrenching, darkly humorous, feminist memoir about growing up with her mother—a Warhol superstar—in the vibrant, avant-garde New York City art scene of the 80s. Alex reveals the truth behind her childhood of “glamour.” She also talks about her later career as a yoga instructor, her book’s transformation (from fiction to memoir), and her experience portraying others truthfully in her writing. Purchase o...
May 24, 2023•27 min•Season 17Ep. 29
Zibby is joined by author Susie Luo to discuss her highly-praised debut novel Paper Names , which tells the sharp and propulsive story of two families who are brought together by an unexpected act of violence. One is a Chinese family of immigrants, and the other is a wealthy white family with a secret. Luo talks about identity in connection to her complex characters and herself. She also shares her journey to publishing this book, from college to corporate work to writing full-time. The episode ...
May 23, 2023•20 min•Season 17Ep. 28
In this special bonus episode (which was recorded in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Acast Creative), Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and book club host Jen Hatmaker to discuss “Make Me Care About,” a podcast that will explore topics that, sometimes surprisingly, have profound importance and impact in the world – like iodized salt, garbanzo beans, maternal mortality, syringes, and poop! In addition to explaining how her incredible partner...
May 22, 2023•28 min•Season 17Ep. 27
Special weekend re-release: 2020 podcast interview with Alicia Keys, author of MORE MYSELF! Zibby: For those of you who might not know who she is, which is impossible but just in case, Alicia Keys is a modern-day renaissance woman, a fifteen-time Grammy Award-winner, songwriter, musician, producer, actress, and New York Times best-selling author. She is an entrepreneur and an activist. Since the release of her monumental 2001 debut album, Songs in A Minor, Alicia Keys has sold over sixty-five m...
May 21, 2023•31 min
Special weekend re-release: podcast interview with First Lady Dr. Biden, author of WHERE THE LIGHT ENTERS! Where the Light Enters is a candid, heartwarming glimpse into the creation of a beloved American family and the life of a woman at its center. Publishers Weekly: ”This generous and inspiring portrait of the Biden family is sure to be widely welcomed and enjoyed." Kirkus Reviews: ”Biden's tone is conversational and partially confessional, an endearing quality. Through this personal dis...
May 20, 2023•26 min•Season 17Ep. 25
Guest host Julie Chavez interviews leading political historian, fitness instructor, and author Natalia Mehlman Petrzela about Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession , a well-researched history of exercise in America that traces how the definition of health has changed over time. The two discuss activism, fitness as a product, and the destructive dynamics around women and exercise, as well as the role of exercise in their own lives. Finally, Natalia shares her vision for ...
May 19, 2023•32 min•Season 17Ep. 24
Zibby interviews award-winning author Hanna Halperin about I Could Live Here Forever , a poignant and brutal novel about an intense, all-consuming relationship between an MFA student and a recovering addict. Hanna shares how her writing is informed by life experiences: her own MFA program and past relationships with the cyclical complexities explored in the novel—intoxicating attraction, low lows, and the struggle for balance. Hanna also details her whirlwind writing process during the early pan...
May 18, 2023•21 min•Season 17Ep. 23
Zibby speaks to New York Times bestselling author and travel influencer Anna Kloots about her new memoir My Own Magic: A Reappearing Act , the inspiring and resilient story of how she built a dream life out of a seemingly hopeless situation. Anna lost herself in her ex-husband’s world as a magician, molding her own identity around his. She discusses the joy and hopefulness in feeling “lost” but free, as well as the importance of an uplifting community, which she’s found both in real life and on ...
May 17, 2023•28 min•Season 17Ep. 22
Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author Chasten Buttigieg to discuss I Have Something to Tell You–For Young Adults: A Memoir, a poignant, charming, and joyful adaptation of his bestselling memoir about growing up gay in a small, conservative Midwestern town and slowly learning to embrace his identity. Chasten reveals he wrote the book he wishes he’d had growing up and then shares some of his difficult childhood memories. He also shares his first coming-out story, his experiences con...
May 16, 2023•25 min•Season 17Ep. 21
Zibby interviews Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern and her mom, Hollywood legend Diane Ladd, about Honey, Baby, Mine , an utterly beautiful memoir of the conversations they had after Diane was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and was prescribed long walks to expand her lung capacity. Thinking she was dying, she opened up and shared intimate stories with her daughter. The two ended up discussing the most personal of topics: love, marriage, secrets, grief, resentment, and ambition....
May 15, 2023•35 min•Season 17Ep. 20
Zibby speaks to award-winning author Emmanuel Iduma about I Am Still With You: A Reckoning with Silence, Inheritance, and History, a powerful, transcendent, and lyrical memoir about his journey through Nigeria as he searches for the truth about his missing uncle. Emmanuel describes the culture shock he experienced when he moved to New York City for his art criticism degree and reveals why he ultimately returned to Nigeria. He also talks about his love of photography, the role that homesickness h...
May 12, 2023•22 min•Season 17Ep. 19
Zibby is joined by author, craft beer bar owner, and LGBTQ+ advocate Jillian Abby to discuss her humorous and heartwarming new memoir Perfectly Queer: Facing Big Fears, Living Hard Truths, and Loving Myself Fully Out of the Closet. Jillian reveals what it was like to come out as a lesbian at 38 years old after building a life with her husband and two children. Then, she talks about her “twisty turny career” (from CPA to massage therapist to executive storyteller), her perfectionism (and how she ...
May 11, 2023•30 min•Season 17Ep. 18
Zibby speaks to author Eliza Minot about In the Orchard, a profoundly personal and masterfully crafted novel about motherhood, modern family, and love, as seen through the life of a young wife and mother on a single day. Eliza reveals what inspired her to write this story–it involves a toilet and the fear of debt. She also describes her journey to writing and publishing this book, which began in 2009 and continued to evolve while she raised four children, taught at a university, enrolled in an M...
May 10, 2023•22 min•Season 17Ep. 17
Zibby interviews actor, award-winning travel writer, and New York Times bestselling author Andrew McCarthy about his intimate, poignant, and funny new memoir Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain. Andrew reveals why he walked across the endless Camino de Santiago with his 19-year-old son: he wanted to have a meaningful relationship with him. He shares all the details of this life-changing experience with Zibby and then discusses his transition from acting to writ...
May 09, 2023•29 min•Season 17Ep. 16
In this business meeting-turned-podcast episode, Zibby interviews media executive Michelle D. Hord about The Other Side of Yet: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness, an earth-shattering but hope-filled memoir about confronting grief with grace and resilience, even after the most devastating of losses–for Michelle, this was the murder of her daughter at the hands of her ex-husband. Michelle shares the details of this incomprehensible tragedy–from finally finalizing a horrible divorce to getting...
May 08, 2023•32 min•Season 17Ep. 15
