Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books

Katherine Wintsch, SLAY LIKE A MOTHER

Katherine Wintsch is the CEO of The Mom Complex and a nationally recognized expert on the topic of modern motherhood. She's also the author of Slay Like a Mother: How to Destroy What's Holding You Back So You Can Live the Life You Want. Her work has been featured on major media outlets, she has spoken at TEDx and was recently named a Woman of the Decade by the Women’s Economic Forum. Her research about women across the globe inspired her to write about the "dragon" of self-doubt - and her book is about how we can all slay it. 

Alex Berenson, TELL YOUR CHILDREN

Alex Berenson is an award-winning novelist, a #1 New York Times best-selling author, and a former New York Times reporter. His latest book, Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence, is his second nonfiction book. It is an intense work of brilliant research. Alex balances the intricate science with some of the extremely practical insights about how to talk to kids about tricky topics and makes a compelling case about the dangers of cannabis. 

Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, THE NINE

Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, author of the award-winning novel Eden and her latest work, The Nine, shares her thoughts on ambitious parenting, boarding school, writing, secrets and more!

Susan Orlean, THE LIBRARY BOOK

The legendary Susan Orlean is a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine and the author of eight books including Rin Tin Tin, Saturday Night, and The Orchid Thief, which was made into the Academy Award-winning film Adaptation. Her latest book, The Library Book, was nominated for the Andrew Carnegie nonfiction prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, which is no surprise to anyone who has read her work! This latest work of nonfiction is about a fire that ravaged the LA Public Library in the 1980s, but it's really an investigation into human behavior. Susan and I talked about everything from the loss of her mother, who used to take her to libraries, to how she hides out from her son to write! Plus she discusses some very exciting new projects. 

Tonya Dalton, THE JOY OF MISSING OUT

I'm thrilled that I got to sit down in person with Tonya Dalton, the author of The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less. Just reading that title makes me feel like relaxation could be possible. Tonya is the founder and CEO of inkWELL Press Productivity Co., a business focused on helping women create fulfilling lives around their priorities. Talk about something we could all use! She also has a very successful podcast, “Productivity Paradox." This is Tonya's first book, but it's also a system and a movement to help women stop feeling that heavy burden of busy. You'll feel empowered after listening to her explain her philosophy behind letting go of the feeling that you're failing if you're not busy 24/7!

Erica Cerulo & Claire Mazur, WORK WIFE

Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur are the coauthors of Work Wife: The Power of Female Friendship to Drive Successful Businesses. They met at the University of Chicago in 2002 and founded Of a Kind in 2010. They have become known for discovering the next big things and launched a wildly popular weekly newsletter, 10 Things, and “A Few Things,” the podcast. Their book is yet another collaboration in their already rich history of being a team of "work wives," exploring the power of female friendship to build and power successful businesses not just from their own (super interesting!) lens but from the perspective of other profitable female partnerships. 

Vanessa Lillie, LITTLE VOICES

Vanessa Lillie is the debut author of thriller Little Voices, a story of an investigation by a woman who is both struggling as a new mom and whose her friend was murdered on the night she went into labor. It's not just a riveting murder mystery. It's also a story about new motherhood, the doubts we all have, and the pressure to be perfect parents. Vanessa's astute ability to craft characters with relatable experiences adds a world of depth to the novel and intrigue around her writing process. 

Alain de Botton, THE SCHOOL OF LIFE

In this episode, I get the honor of speaking to the brilliant Alain de Botton, the international philosopher and best-selling author of fourteen books, essay collections, and novels. His most recent book is The School of Life, the same name as the international school he founded dedicated to improving our emotional, interior lives. The book is an amazing guide to exploring your past and present to master emotional maturity ... which we could all use a dose of! Listen to us discuss how to live a better life. 

Tiffany Shlain, 24/6: THE POWER OF UNPLUGGING ONE DAY A WEEK

Tiffany Shlain is the author of 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week. An Emmy-nominated filmmaker and creator of the Webby Awards, Tiffany has won more than eighty awards and distinctions herself. We talked about her family's practice of unplugging (no phones!!) one day a week, her modern-day interpretation of the sabbath, and how helpful it is to her overall sanity. If this super accomplished tech diva can do it, can't we?!

Tui Sutherland, THE HIDDEN KINGDOM

Tui Sutherland is a young adult/fantasy writer who my guest interviewer (my 12-year-old son) is obsessed with! Getting him an advance copy of this graphic novel, which comes out today, was the coolest thing he thinks I've ever done. Tui has written 40 books for children and teens... and she's a two-day Jeopardy champion! Listen to the three of us talk about writing, plot twists, graphic novels, storytelling and more! 

Adrienne Brodeur, WILD GAME

Adrienne Brodeur's memoir, Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me is absolutely outstanding and will surely be a best-seller. (The film rights have already been sold to Chernin Entertainment with the director attached!) Adrienne's life changed at age 14 when her mother confided something in her. The repercussions from that conversation affected the trajectory of the rest of her life, all her relationships and her sense of self. Listen to Adrienne talk about living through that period of time, her relationship with her mother, writing, parenting her own kids, and what loyalty really means.

Also, this episode I announced my partnership with Book of the Month Club! Enter code ZIBBY to get your first book for just $5 -- an exclusive offer!!!   

Waylynn Lucas, SUNNY-SIDE UP

Waylynn Lucas is the author of Sunny-Side Up: More Than 100 Breakfast & Brunch Recipes from the Essential Egg to the Perfect Pastry. An award-winning former pastry chef at famed restaurants like Patina and Bazaar, Waylynn has also been a judge on the Food Network’s TV hit show Cake Wars, and is now giving us a firsthand look at this friendly-for-all cookbook that's going to be a kitchen staple! Hear what inspired Waylynn to be on TV and how her dream came true!! 

Matt Hall, ODDS ON

Matt Hall is the author of Odds On: The Making of an Evidence-Based Investor. He is the co-founder and president of Hill Investment Group and the host of the podcast “Take the Long View.” The subtitle of Matt’s book sounds very business-y, but this is really a personal story that was transformational for him to write and a book you won't want to miss!!

Rachel Brathen, TO LOVE AND LET GO

I’m thrilled to share this conversation I had with Rachel Brathen. I interviewed her on Instagram Live at the Simon & Schuster offices on her publication day! (For the video, click here.) Rachel is the founder and CEO of Yoga Girl and the author of the New York Times best-selling book also called Yoga Girl. I absolutely loved her new memoir, To Love and Let Go: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Gratitude, about a year in her life in which she "had the most amazing things happen and the most terrible things happen at the same time." For anyone who has ever gone through a loss or who wants inspiration (from someone who has overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to dedicate herself to helping millions of others around the world in a spiritual, soulful way), this book is for you. As she quotes in the book, "I believe in the good things coming, coming, coming....."  

Carla Naumburg, HOW TO STOP LOSING YOUR SH*T WITH YOUR KIDS

Carla Naumburg, PhD, is a writer, speaker, and clinical social worker and the author of How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids: A Practical Guide to Becoming a Calmer, Happier Parent. She's also the author of two other mindfulness books. Even with a PhD in clinical social work, she found herself unable to keep her cool with her kids, so she set out on a journey that delivered this book that explores how we can be more patient and present and not explode at our children *quite* so often. It's full of practical ideas and strategies - listen in!

Will Schwalbe, THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB

Will Schwalbe is the New York Times best-selling author of The End of Your Life Book Club and Books for Living: Some Thoughts on Reading, Reflecting, and Embracing Life. He is also the host of Macmillan Publisher's podcast, "But That's Another Story with Will Schwalbe." Will and I share an intense love of books! Hear how certain books have helped him through emotional challenges like loss and why Will says "I'm not the same reader when I finish a book as I am when I started." Hear about his crusade to rebrand reading, how one influential book recommender can save your life, and why he loves naps.

Deborah Copaken & Daniel Jones, MODERN LOVE

This is a very special episode with the New York Times "Modern Love" column editor Daniel Jones, the "Modern Love" contributor and author, Deborah Copaken, and the two subjects of Deb's essay, Justin and Kate McLeod. The essay is featured in the new book, MODERN LOVE: TRUE STORIES OF LOVE, LOSS AND REDEMPTION, and will be episode 2 of the Amazon TV series debuting on October 18th! 

Eve Rodsky, FAIR PLAY

Eve Rodsky is going to help your marriage!!! The author of Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live), Eve has taken her Harvard law degree, her consulting work with hundreds of families over a decade, and her interviews with 500+ couples to devise an ingenious system for couples seeking balance, efficiency, and peace in their home. This book has already completely changed my life!! Eve, a Hello Sunshine pick, is trying to change the mental load that woman carry and make the home life not equal but fair. She is a badass. Watch her go!!!  

Amanda Salzhauer, THE KINDNESS ADVANTAGE

Amanda Salzhauer, MSW, is the coauthor, along with Dale Atkins, PhD, of The Kindness Advantage: Cultivating Compassionate and Connected Children, Everyday Ideas for Raising Kids Who Care. Amanda is a social worker who has worked in both clinics and private practice. Her book is amazing because it highlights the theory and philosophy behind everything they've researched and observed, and then goes on to include hands-on skills and tools to use to garner the fundamentals of kindness for your family - and yourself! I interviewed Amanda in a live podcast from Berry & Co bookstore in Sag Harbor! 

Katharine McGee, AMERICAN ROYALS

Katharine McGee is the author of the New York Times best-selling series The Thousandth Floor and her latest best-selling book, American Royals! Self-proclaimed historical fiction addict and British royalty fan, American Royals is a evocative of Crazy Rich Asians and The Crown. It’s a what-if scenario you won’t put down: imagine if George Washington had been our first king and present-day America is still a monarchy, and then dive into the love lives and adventures of the children who are the current heirs to the throne. Listen to us discuss royal weddings, friendship, writing and more!! 

Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington, GROWN & FLOWN

Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington are the coauthors of Grown & Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults. They are also the co-creators of Grown & Flown, the number one community site for parents with teens and college students, reaching millions of parents every month. They started their community when they saw how few resources there were for parents of no-longer-little-kids. Their book continues this tradition by addressing some of the most challenging, exciting, heartbreaking, and consequential years of parenting with essays and input from experts and parents alike. Our talk was super helpful to me as it came right before my oldest son went off to boarding school. Best tips: make the bed first, write a goodbye letter, plan some bonding activities in the aftermath of drop-off. 

Deborah Burns, SATURDAY'S CHILD

Today I'm talking with Deborah Burns who’s the author of memoir Saturday’s Child: A Daughter’s Memoir. A former media chief innovation officer and brand leader for top publications, Deborah has helped many brands and execs reinvent themselves. She also founded Skirting the Rules, a firm that helps other women find meaningful futures.  Her memoir is a very moving mother-daughter story through a reflection on her relationship with her unconventional, beautiful, larger-than-life mother. 

Leslie Anne Bruce, You Are A F*cking Awesome Mom

Leslie Anne Bruce, a five-time New York Times best-selling coauthor and an award-winning entertainment journalist formally of US Weekly and The Hollywood Reporter, is AMAZING. She's the founder of Unpacified, an online community for modern women to discuss motherhood through an unfiltered, judgment-free lens of honesty and humor. Her latest book, You Are A F*cking Awesome Mom, puts a different lens on parenting - so much of preparing for becoming a mom is baby-centric, and this shifts the focus to support women in their transition into the journey of motherhood. And it reminds moms like me that I'm not alone!!! 

Stephen A. Schwarzman, WHAT IT TAKES

I am very, very excited to be interviewing Steve Schwarzman today who is..... my dad!!! He's also the chairman, CEO, and cofounder of Blackstone, one of the world’s leading investment firms, and the founder of the Schwarzman Scholars program in China. He's an active philanthropist with a focus on education, culture, and the arts. My dad wrote What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence, to pass on what he has learned to people working in organizations, who start organizations, and run organizations so that they can do a better job, so they can be more successful, so that they can have fuller lives, and so the world can be a better place. Plus his book is full of life advice of all kinds!! Please listen to our special conversation, which even includes his tips on parenting!! 

Danielle Ganek, THE SUMMER WE READ GATSBY

I'm here today with Danielle Ganek, who is a self-proclaimed book-a-holic, former magazine editor, and the author of two novels, Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him and The Summer We Read Gatsby. She talks about her ideas for her novels, how her personal experiences inform her writing, and artistic expression. Listen in!  

Zibby's Essay, 10 LESSONS I LEARNED FROM MY FRIEND'S 9/11 DEATH

I lost my college roommate and best friend, Stacey Sanders, on 9/11. I didn’t just lose her. We all did. We all lost someone or something. I’ve written often about Stace and how her loss affected my life and continues to do so now, 18 years later. I'm releasing a dedicated podcast episode today of me reading three essays I’ve written about Stacey, starting with one I wrote just two weeks after she died for my business school newspaper, the Harbus, one from Redbook magazine in 2013, and one that Modern Loss published today. 

Rex Ogle, FREE LUNCH

I am so excited about my conversation with Rex Ogle, a former children's book editor in New York City and author of Free Lunch. Free Lunch is essentially a typical middle-grade story - it has to do with wanting to be on the football team, and trying to figure out where to sit, and the transferring-to-a-new-school jitters, but it also has to do with his experience of poverty and domestic violence and how that affected his life. His writing and advice about hope is incredibly powerful. 

Claire Dederer, LOVE & TROUBLE

Claire Dederer is the author of two critically acclaimed memoirs, Love and Trouble: A Midlife Reckoning and Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses, which was a New York Times best seller and has been optioned for TV and adapted for the stage. We talked about her books and inspiration, the relationship between reader and writer, the importance of memoir from and for women and how to be a good interviewer!

Jennifer Blecher, OUT OF PLACE

Jennifer Blecher is the author of OUT OF PLACE, the story of a twelve-year-old girl named Cove who lives on Martha’s Vineyard with her mom. She has never left the island once in her entire life...which was fine with her until the day that her best friend Nina comes and tells Cove that she's moving to New York City with her two fathers. In that moment, Cove’s entire life feels like it is falling apart and she has no idea how to make it better. Her solution is creative, fashionable and highly entertaining! OUT OF PLACE is a story about friendship and mistakes and big acts of courage. Listen to Jennifer talk about her experience with #meangirls, writing, middle school, parenting and so much more! 

Michele Filgate, WHAT MY MOTHER & I DON'T TALK ABOUT

Today I'm interviewing Michele Filgate, the editor of the anthology What My Mother and I Don't Talk About: Fifteen Writers Break the Silence. The collection is based on her essay published by Longreads in October 2017, right after the Harvey Weinstein story broke and the  #MeToo movement took off. She started writing this essay when she was an undergraduate. What started as her trying to work through her stepfather's abuse culminated in this impactful piece she says is a really an essay about a daughter longing for a stronger and better relationship with her mother. She then recruited many others to tell their own stories. The collection is amazing. I loved talking to Michele about her own experiences, how she structured this book, her time in the literary world and how she made peace with her past. 

Lisa Perry, LISA PERRY: FASHION - HOMES - DESIGN

Lisa Perry is an internationally renowned fashion designer. Assouline recently released her new book Lisa Perry: Fashion - Homes - Design. The forward was written by Hillary Clinton and the text and photography are by Robyn Lea. Lisa always wanted to have a book. She says that to have twenty years of design projects under one cover was a dream. Her story, success, and advice is so colorful, just like her clothes and placemats!! Listen in. 

Jack Fairweather, THE VOLUNTEER

Jack Fairweather is a former award-winning war reporter who has covered Iraq, Afghanistan, and more. He is the author of A War of Choice and The Good War. His most recent book is The Volunteer: One Man, an Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz. The Volunteer is an extraordinary story about a Polish underground operative who took on a mission to infiltrate Auschwitz in 1940, raised a resistance cell inside the camp, and started reporting on Nazi crimes - successfully. This true story is riveting and a must-read! Jack and I discussed everything from parenting to research to war to writing! 

Lauren Gershell, THAT'S WHAT FRENEMIES ARE FOR

Lauren Gershell is the coauthor, along with Sophie Littlefield, of That's What Frenemies Are For: A Novel. It centers around a New York City woman who 'has it all' but feels her star fading and goes about trying to regain her social capital. This is Lauren's first book - she had an idea and reached out to a childhood friend who was a literary agent. Her friend liked the idea! Lauren said as a new author that she'd like to write it with somebody, and she got set up on what she calls a blind date that was "love at first sight." Her process is as delightful to hear about as her book is to read. We talked about spinning, friendship, motherhood in NYC and more!!

Holly Peterson, IT'S HOT IN THE HAMPTONS

Best-selling author and award-winning journalist Holly Peterson released a new book this summer. In her amazing beach read, It’s Hot in the Hamptons, Holly doesn't skim the surface of the Hamptons summer community. She delves into more than the juicy details and takes a look at inequality, class, and differences in today's world. She also shines a light on the #metoo movement, as Holly explains in our interview, yet has women take back the power. I interviewed Holly live at the Children's Museum of the East End ("CMEE") this summer! Listen to us talk motherhood, Hamptons, books, writing, infidelity and more! 

Jane Green, THE FRIENDS WE KEEP

Jane Green is the author of many best-selling novels. Her latest book, The Friends We Keep, debuted early this summer, and is set at university in the UK in the 1980s. Three students become best friends and promise to stay close forever - but of course, life has other plans. The story follows them throughout the course of their lives until their thirtieth reunion - they're all swept right back into their circle of friendship, and start making plans. But there's a secret (how could there not be!?). Jane's inspiration and writing process is as fascinating as her novel. Listen in!

Ben Michaelis, YOUR NEXT BIG THING

Ben Michaelis, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, elite performance coach, and the author of Your Next Big Thing: Ten Small Steps to Get Moving and Get Happy. The inspiration for his recent book was really one client - a difficult client originally - and the mutual impact they had on each other's lives. It's a powerful and inspiring exploration - listen for more! 

Ricardo Cortés, PARTY and GO THE F*CK TO SLEEP

Ricardo Cortés is an artist, writer, publisher, and the #1 New York Times best-selling illustrator of GO THE F*CK TO SLEEP. His most recent project has been taking a small New Yorker magazine "Talk of the Town" piece by legendary author Jamaica Kincaid and turning it into a children's book called PARTY: A MYSTERY. Ricardo illustrated this book but also visualized the entire thing and worked with Jamaica to turn it into a Nancy Drew-like tale from the New York Public Library. Listen to us talk about how he thought of this exciting project, what it was like to have GO THE F*CK TO SLEEP become a blockbuster hit, illustrating for kids vs. adults, and collaborating with a legend. 

Jamaica Kincaid, PARTY

I'm beyond honored to release my podcast conversation with the legendary writer, novelist, and professor, Jamaica Kincaid. Jamaica is most recently the author of her first children’s book Party: A Mystery, with captivating illustrations by Ricardo Cortés. The acclaimed author doesn't see Party (or any book!) as a "children's book," but rather an imaginative story born from a fascinating series of events. Listen for Jamaica's process and perspective that spans far past her latest publication... and hear what she's never told anyone else!!! 

Heather Hansen, THE ELEGANT WARRIOR

Heather Hanson is the author of The Elegant Warrior: How To Win Life’s Trials Without Losing Yourself. A trial lawyer for over twenty years defending medical malpractice suits, Heather is an advocacy and credibility consultant, keynote speaker, and host of “The Elegant Warrior Podcast.” In her book, Heather explores how she was able to maintain and be true to her identity through emotional and challenging conflicts inside and outside of the courtroom - and has taken the tools of being a trial lawyer and applied them across the board so that people can learn to become their own biggest advocates. 

Karen Dukess, THE LAST BOOK PARTY

Karen Dukess is the author of The Last Book Party, a fantastic coming-of-age novel set in the literary world and in Cape Cod. Karen's debut novel is absolutely lovely and takes the reader from the shores of the Cape to the literary event of the season. It's evocative, transformative, and very well-written. Listen to Karen and me discuss the background of her book, how it took her until now in her life to publish it, and what the Cape means to her. 

Madeleine Henry, BREATHE IN, CASH OUT

Madeleine Henry is the author of Breathe In, Cash Out. Her debut novel Breathe In, Cash Out, is about an investment banker, Allegra, who wants to be a yogi. The book explores reality, escapism, and dreams in the age of social media - and how to reconcile career and passion.

Elissa Altman, MOTHERLAND: A MEMOIR OF LOVE, LOATHING, AND LONGING

Elissa Altman's new memoir, MOTHERLAND, is absolutely beautiful! An intimate tale about her relationship with her mother, both the early stages when she felt "less than" given her mother's beauty and acting background, and in the late stages dealing with her mother's fall as her only caregiver. A tale of narcissistic personality disorder in the flesh, Elissa's story will rivet anyone who has struggled with a relationship. Our conversation was personal, open and filled with writing and daughter-ing insights. 

Fiona Davis, THE CHELSEA GIRLS

Fiona Davis is the best-selling author of The Dollhouse, The Address, and The Masterpiece. Her latest book, The Chelsea Girls, is in her signature historical fiction style situated around a specific place. This time, she picked The Chelsea Hotel in NYC. Set in the 1950s McCarthy-era, this book is about female friendship and the theater with some major twists thrown in. Listen to us discuss her writing process, acting, friendship, and more! 

Candace Bushnell, IS THERE STILL SEX IN THE CITY?

I am beyond excited to be interviewing Candace Bushnell who is the internationally best-selling author of nine books, the latest of which is a memoir: Is There Still Sex in the City?Listen for a deeply insightful and personal journey about womanhood, midlife, female bonds, dating, and self-exploration. 

 

 

 

Abigail Maslin, LOVE YOU HARD

Abby Maslin is the author of The Washington Post best seller Love You Hard: A Memoir of Marriage, Brain Injury, and Reinventing Love. Abby started blogging about caring for her husband’s traumatic brain injury weeks after his brutal attack. This book is so beautifully written - an open, honest exploration of putting the pieces back together after significant trauma.

Liz Astrof, DON'T WAIT UP: CONFESSIONS OF A STAY-AT-WORK MOM

Liz Astrof is the author of the hilarious collection of essays Don't Wait Up: Confessions of a Stay-at-Work Mom. An award-winning executive producer and successful sitcom writer, Liz has worked on shows like 2 Broke Girls, The King of Queens, Raising Hope, and many others. She calls herself a writer, producer, and mother-ish.

Joanne Ramos, THE FARM

Joanne Ramos, a debut author whose journey from the Philippines to Princeton informed her story, wrote an AMAZING first novel. THE FARM is not only an inside look at a surrogacy facility but it's also an inside look at the world of nannies, baby nurses and more. We spoke about the lottery of life, how caregivers are able to compartmentalize their own private lives, what "make yourself at home" really means, the windy path of writing and so much more. 

Richard Kirshenbaum, ROUGE

Richard Kirshenbaum is an ad man, author, and entrepreneur. His latest book, Rouge: A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry, has already been optioned by Sony Pictures. Rouge is an incredible story about the women who created the cosmetic industry, the first multibillion-dollar category founded primarily by women. Richard's experience as an ad man having run accounts from Avon to Revlon and having worked with so many well-known female entrepreneurs, enabled him to create an homage to all the amazing female entrepreneurs who founded this incredible category.

Mary Laura Philpott, I MISS YOU WHEN I BLINK

Mary Laura Philpott is the author of I Miss You When I Blink, her debut memoir written as a collection of essays. She asks: what happens after you check off all the boxes on your to-do list and realize you might need to reinvent the list—and yourself? Follow her journey from a young age as a child perfectionist and how those tendencies to want to be "the best" manifested in adulthood. 

William Dameron, THE LIE

William Dameron is the author of The Lie: A Memoir of Two Marriages, Catfishing & Coming Out, which was chosen as the Amazon First Reads Book Pick for June 2019.He is an award-winning blogger and essayist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and HuffPost, among others. William's riveting memoir explores what we do when we put on false identifies and become someone we're not - and what happens when we finally uncover our lies.