Totally Booked with Zibby

Latest Episodes:

Ben Rein, PhD, WHY BRAINS NEED FRIENDS: The Neuroscience of Social Connection Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

Zibby interviews neuroscientist Ben Rein about his exquisite and insightful new book, WHY BRAINS NEED FRIENDS: The Neuroscience of Social Connection. Ben explains complex neuroscience in an accessible, engaging way, sharing insights about how even small, everyday interactions boost mental health, creativity, and a sense of belonging. The two discuss everything from the neuroscience of empathy and “Zoom fatigue” to why dogs make us happier and how emojis can improve digital communication.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3KWxyiS

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.

Cas Holman, PLAYFUL: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

World-famous designer, educator, and play advocate Cas Holman joins Zibby to discuss her radiant, provocative, and essential new book, PLAYFUL: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity. Cas—best known for her Netflix Abstract episode and her imaginative creations like Rigamajig—shares how decades of designing for children led her to explore why adults need play just as much. She and Zibby discuss the “three conditions” for rediscovering play, how play fosters creativity and connection, and why letting go of rules and expectations can help us live more authentically.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3JhkXWX

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.

Peter H. Reynolds, THE DOT Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

New York Times bestselling author and bookstore owner Peter H. Reynolds joins Zibby to discuss his simple, witty, and marvelously illustrated new children’s book, THE DOT. Peter delves into his creative journey, from illustrating JUDY MOODY to founding International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity and confidence now honored in 190 countries. He also shares the moving story that inspired this book, the importance of encouraging imagination in children (and adults!), and his mission to make the world a kinder, more creative place through books, art, and community.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3ITzQyE

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.

Tiffany Graham Charkosky, LIVING PROOF: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Zibby chats with Tiffany Graham Charkosky about her honest and unflinching new memoir, LIVING PROOF: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy. Tiffany shares the difficult journey that began when she discovered she might carry Lynch syndrome, a genetic mutation linked to early-onset cancers—the same condition that likely caused her mother’s death when Tiffany was just 11. Tiffany opens up about grief, motherhood, and resilience, as well as what it means to live in a body that feels suddenly unfamiliar. She and Zibby also discuss writing through trauma, finding empathy for our younger selves, and learning to accept help—both medically and emotionally.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/43o4Rl3

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.

Molly Burke, UNSEEN: How I Lost My Vision But Found My Voice Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Social media star, author, and activist Molly Burke joins Zibby to discuss her vulnerable, honest, and darkly humorous new memoir, UNSEEN: How I Lost My Vision but Found My Voice. Molly opens up about losing her vision at 14, facing depression and bullying, and ultimately rebuilding her life. She shares the shocking story of being exploited by a manipulative speaking organization, the emotional toll of disability and societal bias, and how she turned pain into purpose—building a global platform of over 5 million followers.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/46X6EzV

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.

Rebecca Stead, THE EXPERIMENT Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

Zibby is joined by Newbery Medalist and beloved, bestselling middle-grade author Rebecca Stead to discuss THE EXPERIMENT, an extraterrestrial coming-of-age novel about identity and change. Rebecca discusses her unexpected path from public defender to acclaimed writer, how she captures the emotional truth of childhood, and why she believes in letting kids read (and reread) whatever they love. She and Zibby also talk about friendship, family, creativity, and the quiet bravery it takes to write.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4n4dsAp

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.

Karen Palmer, SHE'S UNDER HERE: A Memoir Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Zibby interviews Pushcart Prize-winning author Karen Palmer about her searingly honest, heart-pounding, illuminating new memoir, SHE’S UNDER HERE. Karen opens up about escaping an abusive marriage by changing her identity and disappearing overnight with her children and new husband, then grappling with the lifelong consequences of that decision. She and Zibby also discuss the many forms of domestic violence, the loss and rediscovery of self, and the healing power of storytelling.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4n2bsIT

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.

Matt Eicheldinger, HOLES IN MY UNDERWEAR: Over 100 Poems That Will Knock Your Socks Off & STICKY NOTES: Memorable Lessons from Ordinary Moments Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

Zibby chats with New York Times bestselling author and middle school teacher Matt Eicheldinger about HOLES IN MY UNDERWEAR, his wildly entertaining new collection of 100+ funny and thoughtful poems and illustrations, and STICKY NOTES, a collection of short, moving stories from his years in the classroom. Matt shares how his journey from sixth-grade teacher to New York Times bestselling author began with printing stories on the school copier, his belief in the power of small moments, the joys and challenges of teaching, and the lessons he’s learned from his students about kindness, resilience, and listening.

Purchase on Bookshop:

Holes in My Underwear: https://bit.ly/47wEISD

Sticky Notes: https://bit.ly/4hhUKUS

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.

Eli Rallo, DOES ANYONE ELSE FEEL THIS WAY?: Essays on Conquering the Quarter-Life Crisis Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

Zibby chats with TikTok sensation Eli Rallo about her candid, funny, and deeply relatable new collection, DOES ANYONE ELSE FEEL THIS WAY?: Essays on Conquering the Quarter Life Crisis. Eli opens up about finding her voice online, navigating the isolation and uncertainty of post-grad life, and turning her popular podcast and Substack into a meaningful writing career. She and Zibby also discuss the pressures young women face on social media, the realities of growing up, and why your twenties are not your peak. Finally, Eli offers advice for aspiring writers: don’t stop, stay delusional, and keep creating.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3KLDb3a

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.

Molly Jong-Fast, HOW TO LOSE YOUR MOTHER: A Daughter's Memoir Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Live from the Streicker Center! Zibby interviews political writer and podcaster Molly Jong-Fast about HOW TO LOSE YOUR MOTHER, a mesmerizing, intimate, wise, heartbreaking, instant New York Times bestselling memoir about an intense mother–daughter relationship, a sometimes chaotic upbringing with a fame-hungry parent, and the upheavals that challenge our hard-won adulthood. Together, they explore the complexities of caring for aging parents while raising children, the legacy of her mother Erica Jong’s fame, and finding humor—even joy—in life’s most difficult moments.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4q5OH9L

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.