Supermodel and New York Times bestselling author Christie Brinkley joins Zibby to discuss her bighearted, jaw-dropping, and beautifully crafted memoir of resilience and self-discovery, UPTOWN GIRL. Christie reflects on the dazzling highs and devastating lows of her life—from her iconic modeling career and moments of glamour to battles with grief, trauma, stalkers, heartbreak, and motherhood in the public eye. With remarkable humility and humor, she opens up about aging in the spotlight, raising ...
Jun 11, 2025•24 min•Season 24Ep. 23
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK! #1 New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb returns to the podcast to discuss THE RIVER IS WAITING, an epic, heart-wrenching tale of a young father who, after an unbearable tragedy, reckons with the possibility of atonement for the unforgivable. Wally shares the haunting inspiration behind the story—a blend of the Mexican legend of La Llorona and the heartbreaking reality of backover accidents—and how his own experiences with addiction, parenting, and teaching writing...
Jun 10, 2025•25 min•Season 24Ep. 22
Zibby chats with bestselling author Tiffany Jenkins about her raw and unflinchingly honest new memoir, A CLEAN MESS: A Memoir of Sobriety After a Lifetime of Being Numb. Tiffany delves into the challenges of early sobriety, reentering society after incarceration, navigating a volatile marriage, and confronting postpartum depression. She thanks the woman who first hired her after she was released from jail, emphasizing how vital second chances are to those in recovery—her dad’s unwavering support...
Jun 09, 2025•27 min•Season 20Ep. 21
Zibby interviews Elaine Goldsmith Thomas, longtime film and TV producer and agent to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, about her debut novel, CLIMBING IN HEELS, a smart, sexy, and entertaining story about the rise of three secretaries at the hottest agency in 1980s Hollywood. Elaine reflects on her own experience navigating the cutthroat world of Hollywood, her transition from agent to writer, and the wild stories—both real and imagined—that shaped her fiercely ambitious protagonist, Beanie Ros...
Jun 08, 2025•27 min•Season 24Ep. 20
Zibby welcomes viral TikTok poet Josie Balka to discuss I HOPE YOU REMEMBER, a breathtaking poetry collection about love, loss, envy, hope, relationships, body image, nostalgia, and the universal longings that live deep in our souls. Josie shares how a therapist’s advice to open her heart completely changed her perspective on life. She also reflects on her creative process (it’s mostly spontaneous and done in her iPhone Notes app!) and emphasizes the power of simple, conversational writing. Purc...
Jun 07, 2025•24 min•Season 24Ep. 19
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, and PBS host, Kelly Corrigan, about MARIANNE THE MAKER, a delightful picture book about a determined young inventor. Kelly delves into how creative expression activates a "neurochemical bubble bath" in our brains, offering mental health benefits and facilitating deeper human connection. She also reflects on the love and...
Jun 06, 2025•27 min•Season 24Ep. 18
New York Times bestselling author and global phenomenon Anna Todd joins Zibby to discuss her new book, THE LAST SUNRISE, an unforgettable romance about a young woman’s summer with a mysterious local in Majorca. Anna reveals how her son’s rare genetic disorder, tuberous sclerosis, inspired this story, and then shares her journey, from getting married at 18 and becoming a mom at 21, to navigating military life, her son’s diagnosis, and the beginnings of her writing on Wattpad. She reflects on auth...
Jun 05, 2025•30 min•Season 24Ep. 17
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with New York Times bestselling author Suzy Welch about BECOMING YOU, an inspiring and highly practical guide for identifying the career that is meant for you. Suzy shares how she developed her unique methodology, from her career in journalism to the loss of her husband and rediscovery of purpose as a professor at NYU Stern. She emphasizes how not everyone is meant to b...
Jun 04, 2025•23 min•Season 24Ep. 16
Zibby Publishing author alert! Zibby chats with Audrey Ingram about THE SUMMER WE RAN, a mesmerizing, smart, emotionally rich, and perfectly nostalgic story of first love, devastating secrets, shocking sabotage, political rivalry, and second chances. Audrey shares the inspiration behind Tess and Grant’s love story, the lush Virginia setting, and how her personal experiences with gardening, law, and even a serious health scare shaped her writing. From the intensity of teenage romance to the high ...
Jun 03, 2025•26 min•Season 24Ep. 15
New York Times bestselling author Chasten Buttigieg returns to the podcast, this time to discuss his charming, delightfully illustrated new picture book, PAPA’S COMING HOME. Chasten shares the sweet inspiration behind the story—a joyful, everyday celebration of family that reflects his own with his husband, Pete, and their two children. He talks about writing the book mid-flight, the hidden Easter eggs in the illustrations, and the emotional power of homecomings and hugs. The conversation weaves...
Jun 02, 2025•21 min•Season 24Ep. 14
New York Times bestselling author Chris Pavone returns to the podcast to discuss THE DOORMAN, a pulse-pounding, perceptive, sensationally good novel that explores class, privilege, race, sex, and murder through the eyes of a doorman in a luxury New York building. Chris shares the moving real-life inspiration behind the story—a beloved doorman named Johnny—and opens up about his writing process (including writing flap copy before even starting the novel). The two dive into questions of grief, hum...
Jun 01, 2025•29 min•Season 24Ep. 13
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with journalist, content creator, and bestselling author Carrie Berk about MINDFIRE: Diary of an Anxious Twentysomething. Carrie opens up about her mental health journey, from experiencing intrusive thoughts as a child to managing panic attacks during COVID. She shares personal stories, practical coping strategies, and the importance of reframing anxiety, not to “cure” ...
May 31, 2025•28 min•Season 24Ep. 12
Bestselling author Annabel Monaghan returns to the podcast to discuss her latest novel, IT’S A LOVE STORY, an adorable, poignant rom-com about a former teen star-turned-Hollywood producer navigating second chances, big lies, and a complicated love with a charming (and quiet) man. Annabel reveals how the story evolved over twelve drafts, why she’s drawn to messy characters, and what she’s learned from nearly 30 years of marriage about real love (“Love actually happens over breakfast…during our mo...
May 30, 2025•24 min•Season 24Ep. 11
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby welcomes editor Michele Filgate and contributors Joanna Rakoff and Kelly McMasters to discuss their moving and deeply relatable new essay collection, WHAT MY FATHER AND I DON’T TALK ABOUT. Michele shares how her viral essay inspired the original mother-themed anthology, and why a companion book about fathers felt essential. Joanna opens up about uncovering long-held family se...
May 29, 2025•29 min•Season 24Ep. 10
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with critically acclaimed author, MacArthur genius, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and Tony Award-nominated playwright, Sarah Ruhl, about her tender and thoughtful essay collection, LESSONS FROM MY TEACHERS. Sarah reveals the figures—inside and outside the classroom—who shaped her life and work, from her eccentric actress mother to her legendary mentor Paula Vogel. S...
May 28, 2025•23 min•Season 24Ep. 9
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with poet and New York Times bestselling author Jill Bialosky about her lyrical, profoundly moving new book, THE END IS THE BEGINNING. Told in reverse chronology, it traces the remarkable life of her mother, from her death during COVID back to her Depression-era childhood, exploring memory, identity, loss, and resilience. Jill opens up about losing her mother to Alzheim...
May 27, 2025•26 min•Season 24Ep. 8
In this very special episode (and live event at the Streicker Center), Zibby interviews a literary icon: the extraordinary Judy Blume. Judy shares deeply personal stories—including how she coped with anxiety as a young girl, her childhood secrets, her complex relationship with religion, her journey into writing, and her evolution from children’s literature to adult fiction. The discussion touches on love, marriage, motherhood, aging, tap dancing, the joys of running a bookstore, and what it mean...
May 26, 2025•41 min•Season 24Ep. 7
Zibby interviews Lori Gold about ROMANTIC FRICTION, an irreverent, hilarious, raucous romp through the publishing world. They dive into the behind-the-scenes realities of publishing, the anxiety and ambition that fuel the writing life, and the looming impact of AI on creativity. Lori shares the inspiration behind this story, which traces a bestselling romance author’s battle against an AI-generated rival, and opens up about her unexpected path from journalist to novelist. Finally, she shares wha...
May 25, 2025•28 min•Season 24Ep. 6
Award-winning actor and debut author Lili Taylor chats with Zibby about TURNING TO BIRDS, a collection of beautifully crafted, inquisitive, eye-opening essays about the search for peace in a cacophony of birds and discovering a world of meaning in small moments. The two dive into Lili’s deep love of birding—how it began well before the pandemic and became a way of seeing and being in the world. They explore the emotional and neurological power of paying attention, the art of listening, and the b...
May 24, 2025•24 min•Season 24Ep. 5
Zibby interviews #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicola Kraus about THE BEST WE COULD HOPE FOR, a sweeping novel spanning from 1943 to 2014 about a broken family and the women who knit together the remains. Nicola explains how her book traces the ripple effects of choices, trauma, privilege, and parenting through several generations of one family, and then touches on themes of race, motherhood, sibling bonds, healing, and even the transformative power of EMDR therapy. Finally, she shares he...
May 23, 2025•27 min•Season 24Ep. 4
Award-winning business leader, investor, and speaker Daria Burke joins Zibby to discuss OF MY OWN MAKING, a lyrical, fearless memoir about facing the stark reality of your past and reclaiming the life you deserve. Daria opens up about her childhood with an absent father and a mother battling addiction, and then shares what it was like to discover a decades-old news photo of the car crash that killed her grandmother, reopening wounds she didn’t know were still raw. She also talks about her career...
May 22, 2025•22 min•Season 24Ep. 3
Zibby chats with bestselling author Bonnie Tsui about ON MUSCLE, a remarkable, mind-expanding exploration of the body, movement, and connection that will change how you think about muscle and how we move through the world. Bonnie shares how her relationship with her martial artist father inspired her to write this book, and then delves into how muscles shape our identity, our connections, and our shared humanity. She also recalls an intimate moment with her father-in-law, who has ALS, and shares...
May 21, 2025•24 min•Season 24Ep. 2
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), happiness expert and New York Times bestselling author, Gretchen Rubin, joins Zibby on stage to discuss her new book, SECRETS OF ADULTHOOD: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives. Gretchen shares the personal stories and hard-earned wisdom behind her original aphorisms—short, punchy truths that reflect the everyday dilemmas of adult life. From perfectionism and procrastination to clut...
May 20, 2025•30 min•Season 24Ep. 1
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with Brian Kelly, better known as The Points Guy, about HOW TO WIN AT TRAVEL. Brian shares his journey from tech-savvy teen booking family vacations to building a travel empire that helps millions maximize their points and miles. Whether you're a frequent flyer or a credit card newbie, Brian’s insights—from choosing the right cards to turning miles into five-star travel...
May 19, 2025•24 min•Season 23Ep. 100
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), #1 New York Times bestselling author Jeanine Cummins joins Zibby on stage to discuss SPEAK TO ME OF HOME, a striking multigenerational story inspired by her own family’s complex Puerto Rican heritage. The conversation explores identity, belonging, intergenerational trauma, and the aftermath of the controversy surrounding AMERICAN DIRT. Jeanine opens up about the emotional journey t...
May 16, 2025•25 min•Season 23Ep. 99
Zibby is joined by writer, activist, prison abolitionist, and mother of five, Keeonna Harris, to discuss her tender and triumphant new memoir, MAINLINE MAMA, which chronicles her journey as a young Black teen mom with a partner behind bars—from learning to navigate the exhausting American carceral system to transforming herself into an advocate for women like her. In fact, she describes her memoir as “a love letter to women, specifically Black girls and women who’ve been forced into relationship...
May 15, 2025•18 min•Season 23Ep. 98
Emmy-winning comedian Samantha Bee chats with Zibby about her hilarious self-penned one-woman show and Audible original, HOW TO SURVIVE MENOPAUSE. The two talk all things menopause, aging, and the daily indignities that accompany both. They bond over frozen shoulders, impossible bras, night sweats, and the absurd lack of public conversation and research around women’s health in midlife—and applaud the Gen X women who are finally breaking the silence. Samantha also reflects on her unexpected path...
May 14, 2025•33 min•Season 23Ep. 97
Zibby chats with author and historian Evan Friss about his New York Times bestseller, THE BOOKSHOP, an affectionate and immersive history of the American bookstore and an absolute delight for all bibliophiles. Evan, who was inspired to write this book by his wife’s job at Three Lives & Company, talks about evolution of the bookshop in the United States, the stories behind the most beloved indie stores, like RJ Julia, the passionate people who bring these spaces to life, and the critical impo...
May 13, 2025•27 min•Season 23Ep. 96
Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), former Disney CEO Michael Eisner joins Zibby to discuss and celebrate the 20th anniversary edition of CAMP: Life, Leadership, and Why You Never Stop Paddling. Michael reflects on his life-shaping experiences as a camper and counselor at Keewadyn, a Vermont camp that four generations of his family have attended for 100 years. He delves into the lessons of teamwork, resilience, leade...
May 12, 2025•28 min•Season 23Ep. 95
Zibby and a special guest host (her younger daughter!) welcome beloved middle grade author Jennifer Blecher to discuss her books CAMP FAMOUS and its sequel SUDDENLY FAMOUS. They talk about the magic of summer camp and creative ways to bring books to life beyond the page, brainstorming everything from filming DIY YouTube shorts to launching grassroots marketing at sleepaway camps. Jennifer also shares behind-the-scenes stories of her own camp days, how her daughters inspire her writing, her journ...
May 09, 2025•29 min•Season 23Ep. 94
