Totally Booked with Zibby

Latest Episodes:

Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, Creators of “The Middle” Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

I am obsessed with the TV show “The Middle” starring Patricia Heaton, Eden Sher, and an all-star cast. It ran for nine years starting in 2009, but I only discovered it recently thanks to the clips my kids saw on TikTok. I wrote a Substack for my Z.I.P. members called “Here in the Middle” about how much I love this smart show about a family in Indiana who mirrors my own in ways that make me laugh out loud. Jordan Roter, an author friend, sent it to the creators of “The Middle” and connected me with them! Turns out, they lived near me in the Palisades and shopped at my bookstore. They’d even read my essays about the fire. Last week, we did a podcast about their show and I gushed. Gushed. Hear the three of us talk about the show, family, kids growing up, humor, and life. One of my favorite episodes — although I ran five minutes over. Sorry!

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Libby Page and Overcoming Grief with Books Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

This Book Made Me Think of You, an instant USA Today Bestseller by top UK author Libby Page, is an ode to bookstores, an ode to love, and an ode to the power of books to get us through anything. Libby came to my home and stayed for lunch when she was in town from the U.K. We could’ve talked about books forever. I don’t know what was cuter — the book or the purse she brought with her, shaped like the front of an old-fashioned bookstore.

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Losing the Guilt with Dr. Jennifer Reid Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Jennifer Reid, MD, author of Guilt Free, has the answers. For those of us who feel guilty about almost everything having to do with parenting, psychiatrist Dr. Reid hears us — and has solutions. I recorded this live at my children’s school, where I peppered her with questions that were, perhaps, too personal?!

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Family Secrets Unearthed in The Family Snitch Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Wall Street Journal journalist Francesca Fontana shares her surprising journey of researching her own father’s jail time, crimes, and friendships in this fast-paced story. Ultimately, she not only finds the truth, but herself. Dive into The Family Snitch.

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Navigating Uncertainty and Medical Mystery with Gillian Deacon Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

I interviewed Gillian Deacon in person at Totally Booked: Live about her book A Love Affair with the Unknown. Both the guests and I were riveted by her story. Gill’s medical mystery unfolds slowly in her book. Instead of coping in solitude, Gill turns to research and learns everything about uncertainty. Now we can, too, thanks to her.

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

*********

A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Systems and Customs in Israel Create Unity with Dan Senor Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Have you listened to Dan Senor’s podcast Call Me Back? If you have, you’ll know how incredibly bright he is and how informed he is on all things Israel. In his book,The Genius of Israel, co-written with Saul Singer, Dan writes vignettes and stories about Israelis who make a difference and how societal norms created such a unique and often rated as “happy” country despite it all. We recorded this live as part of Totally Booked: Live at the Whitby Hotel in New York. Check out zibbymedia.com/events so you don’t miss the next event!

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do You Jew? Suzy Ultman Paints a Picture Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

Suzy Ultman is a gifted artist who has turned her gifts into a series of children’s board books designed to elevate the Jewish experience in a fun, whimsical way. Think: gifts for a bris and beyond. How Do You Jew is the latest in the series. Hear how she turned to this format, her own experiences as a mother and artist, and where she finds hope.

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

*********

A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Truth About Fatherhood: Becoming One and Coping with the Loss of Another with Matt Fogelson Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Matt Fogelson shares his thoughts and feelings about becoming a new dad having lost his own father in Restrung: Fatherhood in a Different Key. He retraces the relationship, describes coping with his dad’s diagnosis and subsequent loss, and makes sense of the senseless in time to parent his own son. All of this is set to music as Matt navigates his life through the tunes that matter. (For those who know Phyllis Fogelson, this is her son.)

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

*********

A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sadeqa Johnson on the Writing Process Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

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!

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Yourself in Motherhood with Emma Tourtelot Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

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-42239362

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

*********

A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.