Kimberly Shannon Murphy, GLIMMER: A Story of Survival, Hope, and Healing
Zibby interviews Kimberly Shannon Murphy, one of the most successful stuntwomen in Hollywood, about GLIMMER: A STORY OF SURVIVAL, HOPE, AND HEALING, a raw and honest memoir about surviving her traumatic childhood, marked by sexual abuse at the hands of her grandfather. Kimberly reflects on how her professional choices have been influenced by her past experiences. She also discusses the healing process, the importance of acknowledging pain, and the impact of family dynamics on her trauma. Despite the challenges, Kimberly's story is one of resilience, emphasizing self-worth, love, and hope. She plans to adapt her memoir into a film and continues to find peace and gratitude in life.
Alli Webb, THE MESSY TRUTH: How I Sold My Business for Millions But Almost Lost Myself
Zibby interviews Alli Webb, founder of the world-famous blowout salon chain, Drybar, about her empowering and insightful memoir, THE MESSY TRUTH: HOW I SOLD MY BUSINESS FOR MILLIONS BUT ALMOST LOST MYSELF. Alli shares what it was like to start a business that took off seemingly overnight. She also discusses the struggles she faced in her marriage and with her teenage son, who had to enter rehab, and how she eventually spiraled into a deep depression. She emphasizes the importance of transparency and the impact of sharing her story with others, especially other women who might be going through similar experiences. Finally, she describes her current projects, which include a new massage concept (Squeeze) and a humidifier company (Canopy).
Jane Ferguson, NO ORDINARY ASSIGNMENT: A Memoir
Zibby interviews Jane Ferguson about NO ORDINARY ASSIGNMENT, a fascinating memoir that chronicles her career as a Middle East and South Asia war correspondent spanning thirteen years. Jane writes candidly about her industry and her motivations for choosing such a perilous career, linking her unpredictable home life, childhood anxiety, and constant sense of displacement to her ability to handle fear and chaos in conflict zones. Jane also details her transition from fashion and lifestyle stories to frontline reporting in war-torn countries. She reflects on the emotional toll of her work, particularly her experience in Syria, and the lingering effects of trauma. Tune in if you're interested in journalism, the complexities of conflict coverage, and personal resilience.
Hannah Stowe, MOVE LIKE WATER: MY STORY OF THE SEA
Zibby chats with writer, sailor, and scientist Hannah Stowe about her exquisite, luminous memoir, MOVE LIKE WATER: MY STORY OF THE SEA. Hannah describes her unique upbringing in Pembrokeshire, Wales, surrounded by the sea and abundant marine life, which sparked her passion for marine biology and sailing. She recounts her experiences working on research boats and studying marine life. She also discusses a significant spinal injury sustained while surfing, highlighting the dismissive attitudes of healthcare professionals and her struggle with the physical and mental aspects of healing. Zibby and Hannah also touch on Hannah's family background, her future plans, including a book about the history of women in seafaring, and her approach to life and creativity.
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Hannah Pittard, WE ARE TOO MANY: A Memoir [Kind Of]
Zibby interviews author Hannah Pittard, delving into her deeply personal journey as a writer. Hannah candidly discusses her struggle with credit card debt during grad school, a theme she later incorporated into her second novel, REUNION, as a form of confession and self-accountability. She also opens up about a painful personal betrayal involving her ex and close friend, explored in her sensational, genre-busting new memoir WE ARE TOO MANY. This betrayal led her to therapy, where she sought to understand her desires and relationship dynamics. The interview highlights Hannah's journey from overcoming financial and emotional challenges to finding her unique voice in the literary world.
Stephanie Land, CLASS: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education
Stephanie Land discusses her memoir CLASS: A MEMOIR OF MOTHERHOOD, HUNGER, AND HIGHER EDUCATION, which continues her journey from MAID, focusing on her senior year of college and her daughter's start in kindergarten. She shares her evolution as a writer under the guidance of her MFA teacher Debra, emphasizing the power of storytelling and exploring themes of resilience amidst poverty. Stephanie also touches on personal challenges, including her husband's late autism diagnosis, her experiences with miscarriage, and the importance of friendship. Reflecting on her career and public perception post-MAID, she advises aspiring authors to view writing as a business and hints at the possibility of completing a trilogy, while expressing gratitude for the positive reception of her latest book.
Sarah Cooper, FOOLISH: Tales of Assimilation, Determination, and Humiliation
Zibby interviews comedian Sarah Cooper about her hilariously revealing debut memoir, FOOLISH: TALES OF ASSIMILATION, DETERMINATION, AND HUMILIATION. Sarah reflects on her viral internet fame, her identity, race, and Jamaican heritage, and the power of finding humor in everyday situations. She also shares her desire to bring joy to people's lives and her journey to finding power from within herself rather than through external validation.
Meghan Riordan Jarvis, END OF THE HOUR: A Therapist's Memoir
Zibby Books author alert! Zibby interviews esteemed trauma therapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis about her poignant and vulnerable new memoir, END OF THE HOUR. The two discuss their shared experiences with loss and the supportive community they found through a book club. Meghan's book stems from her own profound grief after losing her father to cancer and her mother unexpectedly two years later. The conversation also touches on Meghan's professional perspective on grief, and she reveals how writing this memoir became a therapeutic process for her.
Lisa Niver, BRAVE-ISH: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
Zibby hosts Lisa Niver to discuss Lisa's book, BRAVE-ISH: ONE BREAKUP, SIX CONTINENTS, AND FEELING FEARLESS AFTER FIFTY. The conversation delves into Lisa's transformative journey post-divorce, including her adventures across continents, overcoming physical challenges, and gaining a deeper self-understanding. They also touch on the importance of a supportive community, embracing change, and Lisa's insights for aspiring writers. Towards the end, they share light-hearted exchanges about their personal mottos and how they keep themselves motivated to embrace new experiences.
Lindsey Jacobellis, UNFORGIVING: Lessons from the Fall
Zibby Owens hosts Lindsey Jacobellis to discuss her deeply personal new memoir, UNFORGIVING: LESSONS FROM THE FALL. They talk about the pressure athletes face and the relentless scrutiny their performance undergoes. Lindsey also describes the resilience, personal growth, and love for the sport that kept her going despite facing numerous injuries and public scrutiny, especially concerning a small stumble during the Olympics which cost her the gold medal. They also touch on the supportive role her family played and her life post-book, which still involves training and cherishing the joy snowboarding brings her. Through a tone of celebration, Lindsey expresses her continued passion for snowboarding and the unique experiences her career has provided.
Davon Loeb, THE IN-BETWEENS: A Lyrical Memoir
Zibby and Davon Loeb discuss his memoir, which tells the story of a biracial boy becoming a man while trying to find himself, trying to come to terms with his white Jewish family, and trying to find his place in American society. The two discuss Davon's lyrical prose and his various life stages and identities. Their conversation also touches on writing techniques, the significance of authentic character portrayal, and Loeb's hopes for his work to inspire discussions in classrooms. Through engaging storytelling and reflective insights, the dialogue delves into the transformative journey of self-discovery and the poetic expression of nuanced life experiences.
Anne Berest, THE POSTCARD
Guest host Julie Chavez engages in a heartfelt conversation with author Anne Berest about her intimate and engrossing new book, THE POSTCARD. Anne shares the emotional story of her Jewish family's past, which she slowly uncovered after receiving an anonymous postcard from WWII. She describes what it was like to unwind a mystery leading back to the Holocaust with the help of her mother, her friends, detectives, and graphologists! Her insights reveal the profound impact of exploring one's heritage while dancing delicately between past horrors and a hopeful path forward.
Alexis Jones, JOY HUNTER: Messy Faceplants, Radical Love, and the Journey That Changed Everything
Zibby speaks to internationally recognized speaker, activist, and author Alexis Jones about Joy Hunter, a captivating and cinematic memoir about her journey to rediscover her own power and happiness. She discusses the themes of vulnerability, enduring hardships like infertility, unearthing family secrets, and navigating the complexities of identity and self-worth. Alexis also touches on the transformative power of sharing stories. She and @zibbyowens traverse the book's heartfelt depiction of finding joy in small moments and the cathartic journey of airing one's internal battles.
Shane McCrae, PULLING THE CHARIOT OF THE SUN: A Memoir of a Kidnapping
Zibby and award-winning poet Shane McCrae discuss his unforgettable memoir Pulling the Chariot of the Sun, which details the harrowing experience of being kidnapped at the age of four from his Black father and raised by his white supremacist grandparents. McCrae delves into the long-term emotional impact of this event and his journey to understand and write about it. McCrae's narrative is noted to have a poetic quality, which he harnessed to express the often painful memories of his past. Lastly, he shares his best advice for aspiring authors and poets.
Kyo Maclear, UNEARTHING: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets
Zibby talks with Kyo Maclear about her deeply personal memoir, Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets. The narrative hinges on Maclear's surprising DNA test results, prompting a journey of family discovery and introspection. Beyond the personal anecdotes, her writing draws parallels with nature and Japanese cultural nuances. Kyo also shares insights into her writing process and stresses the importance of diverse inspirations for aspiring writers!
Michaele Weissman, THE RYE BREAD MARRIAGE: How I Found Happiness with a Partner I'll Never Understand
Michaele Weissman joins Zibby to discuss her intriguing memoir, The Rye Bread Marriage: How I Found Happiness With A Partner I'll Never Understand. With wit and candor, Michaele navigates the waters of a marriage filled with cultural, personal, and professional differences. She delves into the significance of rye bread in Eastern Europe, her husband's unique story as an exile, and the complexities of their contrasting worlds.
Gary Gulman, MISFIT: Growing Up Awkward in the '80s
Beloved stand-up comedian Gary Gulman joins Zibby to discuss his witty and poignant memoir, Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the ‘80s. Gary reveals the inspiration behind this book: a major depressive episode at age 46 and a move back to his childhood home. He describes his turbulent mental health journey, his awkward moments from kindergarten to twelfth grade, and his love of laughter and comedy (which turned out to be the best antidepressant!). Finally, he shares his best advice for aspiring writers.
Safiya Sinclair, HOW TO SAY BABYLON: A Memoir
Zibby speaks to Jamaican poet and memoirist Safiya Sinclair about How to Say Babylon, a dazzling and powerful book about the author’s struggle to break free of her father’s oppression as part of her rigid Rastafarian upbringing. Safiya describes how her mother and her profound love of books and learning got her through a brutal childhood. She also talks about the mentor who betrayed her; her journey of healing and forgiveness; the novel she is working on; and the Jamaican books she is reading and loving.
Brittany Means, HELL IF WE DON'T CHANGE OUR WAYS: A Memoir
Zibby Books author alert! Zibby interviews debut author Brittany Means about Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways, a breathtaking, harrowing, soulful memoir about the homelessness, abuse, and instability that enveloped her childhood and the inspiring resilience that got her through it. Brittany describes her writing journey, from elementary school poems to Iowa MFA, and then explains how writing this memoir involved a cathartic weaving of painful memories and present-day reflections. She also talks about her beloved chickens, her literary mentors, her relationship with her mother, and her next project!
Jane Wong, MEET ME TONIGHT IN ATLANTIC CITY: A Memoir
Zibby speaks to creative writing professor and author Jane Wong about Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City, an incandescent, blazing memoir that she describes as a lovesong to her mother and to growing up in a low income, working-class Chinese American immigrant family. Jane talks about her family’s immigration story and fractured American Dream; her father’s gambling addiction; her beautiful, lyrical writing style (she’s a poet!); and her recent trip to Atlantic City–a powerful, emotional return. She also describes her writing process and her recent book tour, from Seattle to New York City’s Chinatown, with her mother by her side.