

Totally Booked with Zibby
Zibby Owens
In my daily show, I interview today’s latest, bestselling, buzziest, or underrated authors whose work I think is worth your time -- in 30 minutes or less. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author and (obviously) podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that’s coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don’t have to. Stay in the know, get insider insights, and connect with guests like I do. Every single day. With 2,000+ episodes to choose from, you'll never run out of book talk. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow the show on Instagram at @totallybookedwithzibby. Please rate and review the show. And go buy the books! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 10, 2026 • 19min
Sadeqa Johnson on the Writing Process
Bestselling author and Reese’s Book Club pick for The House of Eve, Sadeqa Johnson has been on this podcast several times and is now back to discuss her latest historical novel, Keeper of the Lost Children. We discussed writing itself, her new book, and more.Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 9, 2026 • 19min
Finding Yourself in Motherhood with Emma Tourtelot
I loved this book so much that it’s my April Zibby’s Book Club pick. (You can get a signed copy delivered right to your door through my Allstora Zibby’s Book Club subscription offering!) Sign up for the Zoom meeting — open to all! — with Q&A with Emma here on April 15th at 7 pm ET. Emma’s book, NO ONE YOU KNOW, about what happens to a mother and daughter when grief hits home, is poignant, moving, and evocative. It shows the allure of joining something to escape your own pain, the dangers of polite society, and really the desire to protect children even though we can’t. Purchase NO ONE YOU KNOW here: https://go.shopmy.us/p-42239362Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 6, 2026 • 22min
Susan Lucci — From Soap Opera Star to Widow and Everything in Between
Never mind the fact that I accidentally deleted my first podcast interview recording with Susan Lucci. She’s just that gracious that we re-recorded in person in New York the next day. You may know her from “All My Children.” But while Susan’s latest memoir, La Lucci, does focus on that, it focuses more on the behind-the-scenese: how she parented while acting for decades, what came before and after, how she felt. It also delves deep into the now and the aftermath of Susan’s loss of her husband. In our first recording, she cried. In this one, recorded in a closet audio-booth at her publisher’s office, we laughed. I now absolutely adore her. Give this book to someone.Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 5, 2026 • 23min
Nicholas Thompson Runs Publications, Runs Competitively, and Never Runs Out of Insights
This book isn’t just about running. It’s about perseverance, focus, choices, mastery, drive, and fatherhood. Nicholas Thompson has had many swoon-worthy literary jobs, including being an editor at The New Yorker, editor-in-chief at Wired magazine, and now running The Atlantic. His personal story includes his career trajectory and how he became one of the top runners in his age group worldwide. The Running Ground is instructive, inspirational, and truly interesting. We spoke about all of it. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 4, 2026 • 22min
Why We’re Just Watching Lior Torenberg
Just Watch Me has such a creative concept behind it. Each chapter starts with how many fictitious streaming followers the main character has on her feed. She livestreams her life including eating hot peppers and more funny antics to survive but also to help her sister who is ill. It’s subversive and quirky and really funny. Plus the author shares her ties to Israel which I loved. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 3, 2026 • 30min
Jennifer Niven on her amazing new novel Meet the Newmans
I’m obsessed with this book. Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven is one of those can’t-put-down stories about a family, a woman coming into her own, coping with the unexpected, all set in the 1950s and 1960s as women came into their own — with the backdrop of a TV sitcom. Just trust me. It’s so good. Jennifer Niven and I did an event together at the Minnie Rose x Zibby’s Bookshop pop-up and she couldn’t have been more delightful. Listen in.Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 2, 2026 • 33min
Jewell Parker Rhodes on Finding Yourself Through Storytelling
Award-winning, bestselling author Jewell Parker Rhodes and I have become good friends. She has been on my podcast several times, we’ve done events together, and she even contributed to one of my first anthologies. Sometimes in life, you just click with someone — across generations, across backgrounds — united by words and souls. Jewell is like that for me. We were crying by the end of the podcast. Yes, it was about her latest, utterly compelling graphic novel Ghost Boys, but it was also about her entire career, how books saved her life, and how it feels to look back on it all. This was one of my favorite episodes. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!xf520SMNCcuEsIoqo7RA** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 30, 2026 • 24min
Transitioning to the Next Stage with Krista Williams
Podcast guru and bestselling author Krista Williams joined me to discuss her book ALMOST 30 (which would be ALMOST 50 in my book). We really discussed life transitions, creating something from nothing, resilience, pivoting, and how we need to go to lunch together. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 29, 2026 • 28min
Running a Jewish Media Company with Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen
Have you heard of the Algemeiner? I must admit, I hadn’t until they made me one of their Jewish 100 in 2024. (I was blown away to be selected as one of the top 100 people in the world who positively affected Jewish life.) Well, anyway, this media organization is amazing in large part thanks to the deft leadership of Rabbi Cohen. Their big gala is coming up. You should check it out. Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 28, 2026 • 27min
Love, Loss, and the News with Carol Lin
No, her name isn’t Carolyn. Hear what other comments and indignities Carol had to put up with on her rise to become one of the most accomplished Asian American woman on-air reporters. No, she isn’t Connie Chung. Plus, read about the devastating loss of her husband. Gutted.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4rbKlhaShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


