Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Etaf Rum about Evil Eye, a striking exploration of the expectations of a Palestinian-American woman, inter-generational trauma, and the ways our unresolved pasts affect our presents. Etaf shares how a lack of Palestinian-American representation on bookshelves inspired her to write fiction that pulls from her own experiences. She also talks about juggling writing, teaching, and motherhood; her experiences with impostor syndrome and depression dur...
Oct 06, 2023•27 min•Season 18Ep. 64
National Book Award finalist Adele Griffin joins Zibby to discuss The Favor, a wise and warmhearted story of two very different women who make an unexpected connection when one carries a baby for the other. Adele describes how her own fertility struggles and surrogacy journey inspired this story and then discusses the topics she enjoyed exploring, from unconventional female friendships to vintage clothing. She also talks about her background in children’s books, shares her best advice for aspiri...
Oct 05, 2023•26 min•Season 18Ep. 63
Zibby interviews Michael Lewis — his second time on the podcast — about his latest masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon . This time, he followed crypto CEO Sam Bankman-Fried who, while still under age 30, became worth more than $20 billion, only to lose it all and stand trial — which started yesterday! Michael Lewis says the story was like a Shakespearean saga laid at his feet, and he just had to not mess it up. During the conversation, he shows ...
Oct 04, 2023•31 min•Season 18Ep. 62
Zibby Books author alert! Zibby interviews debut author Brittany Means about Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways, a breathtaking, harrowing, soulful memoir about the homelessness, abuse, and instability that enveloped her childhood and the inspiring resilience that got her through it. Brittany describes her writing journey, from elementary school poems to Iowa MFA, and then explains how writing this memoir involved a cathartic weaving of painful memories and present-day reflections. She also talks ...
Oct 03, 2023•25 min•Season 18Ep. 61
Zibby is joined by boxing coach, stand-up comedian, and debut author Harold Rogers to discuss Tropicália, a sizzling and fearless story of a Rio de Janeiro family and the chaos that ensues in the days before a New Year’s Eve party in Copacabana Beach. Harold describes his childhood living between Ohio and Rio, the theme of loss and coping with absence in his novel, how much of his own life is portrayed in his story, and what his MFA and publishing journeys were like. He also shares what he enjoy...
Oct 02, 2023•22 min•Season 18Ep. 60
Zibby speaks to creative writing professor and author Jane Wong about Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City, an incandescent, blazing memoir that she describes as a lovesong to her mother and to growing up in a low income, working-class Chinese American immigrant family. Jane talks about her family’s immigration story and fractured American Dream; her father’s gambling addiction; her beautiful, lyrical writing style (she’s a poet!); and her recent trip to Atlantic City–a powerful, emotional return. S...
Oct 01, 2023•28 min•Season 18Ep. 59
Zibby (and Zibby Books author Alisha Fernandez Miranda) interview New York Times bestselling author and beloved Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby about XOXO, Cody: An Opinionated Homosexual’s Guide to Self-Love, Relationships, and Tactful Pettiness , an inspiring memoir that chronicles his journey from a childhood of poverty in the South to fitness stardom in New York City. Cody talks about being his mother’s caregiver at a young age, losing his best friend to addiction, practicing self-love and ho...
Sep 30, 2023•29 min•Season 18Ep. 58
Zibby interviews author Beth Nguyen about Owner of a Lonely Heart, a powerful memoir of a mother-daughter relationship fragmented by the Vietnam War and resettlement. Beth shares her immigration and refugee story, revealing that her mother did not flee to the United States with the rest of their family and has, since then, spent less than 24 hours with her. Beth also talks about motherhood, baking, writing to make sense of her feelings, teaching MFA students at the University of Wisconsin, the t...
Sep 29, 2023•21 min•Season 18Ep. 57
Zibby is joined by author and journalist Dina Gachman to discuss her compassionate and compelling new essay collection, So Sorry for Your Loss: How I Learned to Live with Grief, and Other Grave Concerns. Dina describes the grief she felt after losing her mother and sister only two years apart and what it was like to put her experience on paper. She also talks about her sister’s alcoholism, her go-to grief books, and her writing journey (from blogging for a lamp store to ghostwriting celebrity bo...
Sep 28, 2023•27 min•Season 18Ep. 56
Brandon J. Wolf, a passionate LGBTQ+ activist and survivor of the Pulse nightclub shooting, speaks to Zibby about his raw, daring, and breathtakingly honest debut, A Place for Us: A Memoir. Brandon shares his story, from being a queer, mixed-race kid in a conservative town and losing his mother to finding community in Florida and experiencing the 2016 tragedy that killed his friends. He also shares what community and safe space means to him, the difficulty of revisiting his worst memories, his f...
Sep 27, 2023•31 min•Season 18Ep. 55
Zibby interviews author Andrew Ridker about Hope, a hilarious, heartfelt, and impeccably written novel about a year of crisis for a seemingly perfect, affluent Jewish family of four. Andrew talks about his book's relatable family dynamics and humor; the inspiration behind the story; the college poetry class that started his writing career; and the topic of his next novel. He also shares his best advice for aspiring writers (it involves having a little bit of delusional faith in yourself!). Purch...
Sep 26, 2023•28 min•Season 18Ep. 54
American journalist Damien Cave joins Zibby to discuss his impactful and gripping new parenting book, Parenting Like an Australian: One Family’s Quest to Fight Fear and Dive into a Better, Braver Life. Damien discusses the parts of Australian parenting he has adopted–from letting his kids take risks to trusting his community to help. He also describes his international career in journalism, his complicated relationship with his mom, and his best advice for aspiring writers. Purchase on Bookshop:...
Sep 25, 2023•22 min•Season 18Ep. 53
Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Steph Catudal about Everything All at Once, a heart-wrenching, sincere, and lyrical memoir about her experience with grief. Steph describes what it was like to lose her father to lung cancer at fourteen and then endure her husband’s battle with the same disease during COVID. She also talks about how writing has always helped her process her emotions and explains how her vulnerable social media posts evolved into this beautiful memoir. Purchase o...
Sep 24, 2023•26 min•Season 18Ep. 52
Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author Elise Loehnen to discuss On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good, a groundbreaking, stunning exploration of the ancient rules women unwittingly follow in order to be considered “good.” Elise explores how the deadly sins continue to circumscribe women’s behavior, including her own (for example: a fear of gluttony drives women to ignore their appetites). She also talks about her fascinating research, her po...
Sep 23, 2023•28 min•Season 18Ep. 51
GMA Book Club Pick alert! Zibby speaks to debut author Elizabeth Castellano about Save What’s Left, an irreverent, hilarious, and unexpectedly tender novel about a sixty-year-old woman who moves to a small beach town looking for peace, only to find herself in an all-out war with her neighbors. Elizabeth describes her upbringing in a tiny Long Island beach town (her elementary school had nine students!) and her path to writing, starting with the humor column in the high school newspaper. She also...
Sep 22, 2023•25 min
Zibby interviews art historian and author J. Vanessa Lyon about Lush Lives, a deliciously queer novel about bold women unafraid to fight for what they love, set in the high-stakes world of art and auction in New York City. J. Vanessa describes her lifelong love of art as the daughter of an artist and antiques dealer. She also shares what it was like to work at an auction house right after college and how she brought that subculture to life in this story. Finally, she describes her publishing jou...
Sep 21, 2023•25 min•Season 18Ep. 49
Superstar comedian Aparna Nancherla joins Zibby to discuss her hilarious and strikingly astute memoir in essays, Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Impostor Syndrome. Aparna describes her writing process (as a “procrastinating perfectionist”), her relationship with her body, her history with anxiety and depression, and her unexpected, unplanned career as a stand-up comedian. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3EHYIDA Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibby...
Sep 20, 2023•22 min•Season 18Ep. 48
Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt about his fascinating new book, The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I . Douglas shares what inspired him to investigate the century-old mystery of Rudolf Diesel, the famous inventor who disappeared from a ship at sea, and the extensive research that brought him to his final theory. He also talks about his journey from burnt-out tech startup CEO to author, the challenges of swit...
Sep 19, 2023•28 min•Season 18Ep. 47
Zibby speaks to debut author Alice Carrière about Everything, Nothing, Someone, a mesmerizing, intense, and breathtakingly honest coming-of-age story about identity, family, trauma, survival, mental illness, and psychiatric malpractice. Alice describes her life as the daughter of two self-destructive artists in the bohemian 90s and how that led to a dissociative disorder and ten years of gross overmedication. She also describes how writing has saved her life countless times and how this memoir h...
Sep 18, 2023•28 min•Season 18Ep. 46
Zibby interviews debut author Shastri Akella about The Sea Elephants, an utterly immersive and spellbinding queer coming-of-age novel set in 1990s India, about a young man who joins a traveling street theater troupe as he tries to outrun the dark secrets of his past. Shastri shares how this novel suddenly became a queer love story (thanks to his professor!) and helped him come out in real life. He also shares his challenges with unsupportive family members and his decision not to return to India...
Sep 17, 2023•24 min•Season 18Ep. 45
Zibby speaks to health journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jancee Dunn about her empowering, informative, and entertaining new book, Hot and Bothered: What No One Tells You About Menopause and How to Feel Like Yourself Again . Jancee talks about her experience with perimenopause and expresses how important it is for women to speak about this inevitable part of life. She and Zibby also chat about weed gummies, sweat, dryness, and brain fog, and living some of their best years now in ...
Sep 16, 2023•29 min•Season 18Ep. 44
Zibby interviews award-winning sports and health journalist Christine Yu about her important new book, Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes . Christine describes how athletics are finally changing for women after decades of oversight and lack of research. She also discusses diet culture, body image, youth sports, sports bras, and menopause! Finally, she shares her best advice for aspiring authors. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3RtOJJw Share, rate, & review the pod...
Sep 15, 2023•28 min•Season 18Ep. 43
Guest host Julie Chavez is joined by bestselling author Ann Garvin to discuss her witty and emotional new novel, There’s No Coming Back From This. Ann explains how she went from being a nurse to getting a Ph.D. in exercise physiology to teaching to writing funny-and-sad books. She also talks about the incredible research she conducted at Universal and Sony (her protagonist, Poppy, works a costume job on a Hollywood film set!) and the fabulous writing group she founded, the Tall Poppy Writers. Pu...
Sep 14, 2023•35 min•Season 18Ep. 42
Zibby interviews award-winning reporter and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Breheny Wallace about Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What We Can Do About It, an incisive and eye-opening book that every parent should read. Jennifer describes her fascinating research on families nationwide and shares what she learned about achievement, hyper-competition, pressure, and overwhelm. She then reveals the key to raising healthy achievers: “mattering.” Purchase on Booksho...
Sep 13, 2023•29 min•Season 18Ep. 41
Zibby interviews Academy Award-winning actor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Matthew McConaughey about his soulful, humorous, and irreverent debut picture book, Just Because. Matthew shares the inspiration behind this book (he dreamed it!) and the lessons it imparts about leadership, courage, and trying new things. He also shares some anecdotes from his memoir Greenlights, his thoughts on philanthropy, the topic of his next book, and his best advice for aspiring authors. Watch on YouTub...
Sep 12, 2023•27 min•Season 18Ep. 40
Guest host Julie Chavez is joined by world-renowned yoga educator and author Sarah Ezrin to discuss her debut book, The Yoga of Parenting: Ten Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself. Sarah describes her tumultuous and exciting writing and publishing journey, starting with getting her book deal the same week she got pregnant. She also talks about her childhood, her need to control everything after growing up with alcoholics and addicts in h...
Sep 11, 2023•30 min•Season 18Ep. 39
Guest host Julie Chavez interviews #1 New York Times bestselling author Ruta Sepetys about her nonfiction debut, a powerful how-to book for aspiring writers, You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory. Ruta reveals what inspired her to write this guide (and why she felt so vulnerable recording her own audiobook). The two then talk about stories: how everybody has them and what it takes to put them on paper–revisiting memories, reframing perspectives and regret, finding our authenti...
Sep 10, 2023•39 min•Season 18Ep. 38
Guest host Julie Chavez interviews author Jamie Day about The Block Party, a delicious, nail-biting, ingeniously plotted whodunnit about an affluent, seemingly peaceful cul-de-sac and the murder that happens at their block party. Jamie reveals the magic in his shifting POVs and the brilliant author he tried to emulate in his writing. He also shares the childhood neighborhood memories that inspired this novel and explains how he combined relatable characters, conflict, rom-com, suspense, and juic...
Sep 09, 2023•34 min•Season 18Ep. 37
Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Ashley Audrain about The Whispers, an electrifying, razor-sharp page-turner about four neighboring women who don’t realize how connected they are until an unthinkable tragedy happens on their street. Ashley talks about motherhood, parenting, women’s friendships, pregnancy loss, grief, and anger as they relate to her fascinating characters. She also reveals that she is working on her next book and shares her best advice for aspiring writers. Purc...
Sep 08, 2023•28 min•Season 18Ep. 36
Guest host Julie Chavez interviews New York Times bestselling author Steven Rowley about The Celebrants, a funny, tender, and incredibly moving tale about a group of college friends who lose one of their own to suicide and make a pact to throw each other living “funerals” – celebrations to remind themselves that life is worth living. Steven shares how he weaves grief and humor into his writing; what life is like with an author for a husband; his experience narrating his audiobook; and just how b...
Sep 07, 2023•33 min
