Episodes
Read With Jenna Book Club Pick! New York Times bestselling author Lauren Grodstein chats with Zibby about WE MUST NOT THINK OF OURSELVES, a gripping story of love and sacrifice inspired by the real-life efforts of the Oneg Shabbat group, a clandestine archive project in the Warsaw Ghetto in WWII. Lauren recounts the harrowing history of the ghetto, Emanuel Ringelblum’s leadership in documenting Jewish life under Nazi oppression, and her inspiration to write this deeply personal and historical...
Published 11/22/24
Zibby is joined by leading grief expert and psychotherapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis, whose poignant and vulnerable memoir, END OF THE HOUR, was published by Zibby Books last year! This time, she discusses CAN ANYONE TELL ME?: Essential Questions about Grief and Loss, her essential and empowering guide for grievers and their support networks. The conversation delves into Meghan’s mission to demystify grief and provide actionable strategies to navigate it, from creating rituals to finding...
Published 11/21/24
Read With Jenna Book Club Pick! Award-winning author Nikki May returns to the podcast to discuss THIS MOTHERLESS LAND, a stunning reimagining of Jane Austen’s MANSFIELD PARK (and a masterful exploration of race, identity, privilege, and love) where two extraordinary cousins split between England and Nigeria come to terms with their shared family history. Nikki delves into the inspiration behind this novel, the challenges of writing a second book, and how the grief of losing her brother has...
Published 11/20/24
Sharing an episode of the podcast “What It’s Like to Be…” from New York Times bestselling business book author Dan Heath. In every episode, Dan interviews someone from a different profession: A cattle rancher, a FBI special agent, a professional Santa Claus. He asks what it’s like to do what they do. What does a couples therapist think when a friend asks for relationship advice? Is a Secret Service Agent supposed to pretend like they’re not there when they’re around the president? What does a...
Published 11/19/24
Zibby’s December Book Club Pick! New York Times bestselling author Sophie Cousens returns to the podcast to discuss IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM?, an enchanting, witty, laugh-out-loud funny enemies-to-lovers romance about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker—all of which she will write about in her column at work. Sophie delves into her protagonist’s hilarious misadventures as a 38-year-old single mom in the dating scene. She and Zibby discuss the...
Published 11/19/24
#1 New York Times bestselling author Ana Huang chats with Zibby about THE STRIKER, a steamy, unputdownable romance between the world’s best soccer player and a primadonna ballerina he can’t have. Ana shares the excitement of hosting a midnight release party with 800 fans! Then, she delves into her novel’s themes of rivalry, personal growth, and forbidden love. She also reflects on her immigrant upbringing and how writing stories helped her learn English, her pivot back to writing during the...
Published 11/18/24
Author Sarah LaBrie joins Zibby to discuss her spellbinding, harrowing new memoir, NO ONE GETS TO FALL APART. Sarah shares how a period of profound pain and self-discovery led her to come to terms with her mother’s schizophrenia, find therapeutic resources, and start crafting this book. She reflects on her childhood, which was marked by an all-consuming closeness to her mom, and then touches on her complicated feelings about her white partner. She and Zibby discuss the importance of openness...
Published 11/15/24
Zibby chats with debut author Julie Fingersh about her warm, witty, and beautifully written memoir, STAY: A Story of Family, Love, and Other Traumas. Julie and Zibby discuss the book's themes, from parenting adult children and the challenges of middle age to women’s ambitions and self-perception and confronting the lingering effects of past trauma. Julie also opens up about her brother’s struggle with mental illness, her daughter’s health challenges, and the disorienting feeling of envy as...
Published 11/14/24
Author Susan Rieger joins Zibby to discuss LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER, an enthralling novel about three generations of strong-willed women unknowingly shaped by the secrets buried in their family’s past. Susan describes how her own family secrets and complex relationship with her mother inspired this story and its central character, Lila, a brilliant, career-focused executive editor at a major newspaper who feels inherently unsuited for motherhood. Susan also talks about her journey through...
Published 11/13/24
Zibby Books author alert! Zibby welcomes back bestselling Australian author Emma Grey to discuss PICTURES OF YOU, a stunning, urgent, profoundly affecting novel about a woman who wakes up in a hospital bed after an accident with the mind of her 16-year-old self… and must confront the life and choices she doesn’t recognize now, at 29. Emma and Zibby dive into the novel’s themes of toxic relationships and personal reinvention. Emma also touches on her love of photography, a healing tool for her...
Published 11/12/24
Zibby chats with beloved actress Judy Greer about THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, the new Christmas comedy-drama film based on the classic 1972 children’s book by Barbara Robinson. Judy delves into her role (the mom!), describing how her own mother’s work ethic, resilience, and community involvement have shaped her personally and on set. She and Zibby also talk about her career—particularly her shift from character actor (often playing “the friend”) to leading roles. Finally, Judy talks...
Published 11/11/24
Zibby chats with author Nikkya Hargrove about MAMA, a searing, heart-filled memoir about a young Black queer woman fresh out of college who adopts her baby brother after their incarcerated mother dies, determined to create the kind of family she never had. Nikkya shares what it was like to raise her half-brother, Jonathan, delving into the challenges of balancing her own aspirations with the serious responsibility of caring for him. She and Zibby also discuss the memoir's themes of...
Published 11/08/24
Writer and playwright Cherry Lou Sy chats with Zibby about LOVE CAN’T FEED YOU, a beautiful, tender, searing debut novel that follows a young woman who immigrates to the United States from the Philippines to reunite with her mother and finds herself adrift between familial expectations and her own burning desires. While discussing the themes of identity, sacrifice, and the disillusionment of the American dream, Cherry delves into her own immigration story. She also reflects emotionally on her...
Published 11/07/24
Zibby is joined by Meredith Seacrest Leach to discuss THE MAKE-BELIEVERS, the delightful picture book she co-wrote with her brother, America’s favorite host and media personality, Ryan Seacrest. Meredith reveals that her daughter, Flora, inspired the story, which explores the surprising strengths of a child’s wild, wonderful imagination. She also touches on the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which provides creative outlets for hospitalized children, helping them escape and express...
Published 11/06/24
Zibby interviews venture capitalist, political strategist, philanthropist, and founder of the Mobile Voting Project, Bradley Tusk, about his deeply informative and timely analysis of the American voting system, VOTE WITH YOUR PHONE. Bradley shares his passion for improving democracy and making voting more accessible through mobile voting, revealing he has invested $20 million to create secure voting technology. He also discusses his advocacy for other issues, from regulating social media to...
Published 11/05/24
Author Lotte Bowser joins Zibby to discuss BITTERSWEET, a raw, brave, and deeply moving memoir about true love, the darkness of grief, and finding your way back into the light. Lotte shares the story of her relationship with Ben—a profound love (and happy, adventurous life) that was cut short by his battle with cancer amid the COVID pandemic. She delves into their whirlwind romance, Ben’s diagnosis, the struggle of being his caregiver, and the grief, isolation, and healing that followed his...
Published 11/04/24
Zibby chats with Nikki Schreiber, the editor and founder of the popular social media brand @humansofjudaism, about her new book, HUMANS OF JUDAISM—a heartwarming collection of stories filled with joy, bravery, community, perseverance, and unyielding hope. Nikki shares how her Instagram page began as a tribute to her father and evolved over ten years into a community that celebrates Jewish identity. She shares how the book expands on this with stories from familiar and unknown Jewish figures,...
Published 11/01/24
Zibby is joined by #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron to discuss his charming and heartfelt new novel, MY THREE DOGS—his 36th published book! Bruce reveals how a car ride conversation with his now-wife Cathryn Michon (who was just on the podcast!) inspired A DOG’S PURPOSE, the first novel that launched him into the “dog book” niche and transformed his life. He describes how all his stories highlight the deep, emotional bonds humans share with their pets—and...
Published 10/31/24
TODAY Show cohost and America’s favorite weatherman, Al Roker, and his daughter, Courtney Roker Laga, join Zibby to discuss AL ROKER’S RECIPES TO LIVE BY: Easy, Memory-Making Family Dishes for Every Occasion. The father-daughter duo discuss the joys (and challenges) of working together on this project and then delve into the sentimental value behind the recipes and the nostalgia tied to their favorite foods—like apple butter! Courtney highlights her experiences as a chef, recipe developer,...
Published 10/30/24
Zibby is joined by the renowned founder of Well-Read Black Girl, Glory Edim, to discuss her inspiring memoir of family, community, resilience, and literature, GATHER ME: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me. Glory reflects on the books that were a refuge and guiding force throughout her life, especially in her childhood when her mother struggled with depression. She also highlights the authors that shaped her development, influencing how she approaches relationships, love, and...
Published 10/29/24
Actress and film producer Jennifer Love Hewitt chats with Zibby about INHERITING MAGIC, a heartfelt, candid chronicle of her grief and discovering she inherited her late mother’s “magic”—with family photos, recipes, holiday traditions, and foolproof strategies for adding magic to our everyday lives. Jennifer delves into the pain and surrealness of losing her mother while traveling and not being able to say goodbye. Then, she reveals how she makes everyday moments extraordinary for her...
Published 10/28/24
Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author Charles Bock to discuss I WILL DO BETTER, a tender and searingly honest memoir about parenting his infant daughter in the wake of his wife’s untimely death. Charles shares the heartbreaking story of losing his wife Diana to leukemia just days before their daughter Lily’s third birthday. He reflects on becoming a single father, navigating his grief while raising his toddler, and deciding to write this memoir, capturing both the humor and the...
Published 10/25/24
Zibby chats with author Marian Schembari about her warm, astutely observed, incandescently written, and unexpectedly hilarious memoir, A LITTLE LESS BROKEN: How an Autism Diagnosis Finally Made Me Whole. Marian shares how an autism diagnosis at age 34 changed her life and then talks about the concept of “masking,” how common neurodivergence is in our society, and how important it is to offer neurodivergent individuals support without judgment. She and Zibby bond over how drained they feel...
Published 10/24/24
Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge about ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW, a riveting, emotionally gripping novel about a woman who runs away from her abusive husband and reinvents herself in a peaceful California town—a tenuous sanctuary that brings her new friendships and romance. Eileen shares her own experience of being in an emotionally abusive relationship and the difficult transition of moving across the country with limited resources—all of which inspired this...
Published 10/23/24