Totally Booked with Zibby

Dr. Deepika Chopra teaches us the difference between optimism and positivity, shares her own child’s medical struggles and how she gets through, discusses pregnancy issues, and helps us find the strength we need. If you’ve ever asked, “Why is this happening to us,” then listen in. Dr. Chopra’s book, The Power of Real Optimism, is incredibly helpful.

Journalist Stacey Lindsay tackles what it’s like being in our forties (I only have a few months left - gah!) by asking many women, “How are you feeling about this age?” She parses through expectations versus reality, thoughts on aging and beauty, and shares her own feelings about her family and how that shaped her own experience in Being 40: The Decade of Letting Go — and Embracing Who We Are.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristy Woodson Harvey spotlights NICU nurses, sports coaches, and a small town in her annual summer novel, this time Summer State of Mind. If you’ve ever wondered “how something like this could happen in a town like theirs,” Kristy will pull back the curtain. But don’t worry: as Kristy says, “There are some secrets that come to light through the course of (the book), but you know, it's me, and I love a happy ending.” Hear how Kristy learned everything she needed to on the tennis court, how decisions aren’t black and white, and how this book stretched her talent.

Mikki Brammer’s novel Good Joy, Bad Joy is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick — and it’s clear why. By delving into the lives of two elderly women, Joy and Hazel— who truly don’t see themselves that way — Mikki paints a delicate portrait of female friendship, the secrets we keep, and how we cope when a loved one falls ill. Plus it’s a little devious. The real question, according to Mikki? “What is a life well lived and have I lived it fully?” Dive in.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pam Sherman took her superpower of inspiring others in acting, speaking, and work to write a helpful handbook to put your best foot forward. As Pam says, "You want to be who you are, wherever you are, in order to ignite your audience.” As a board member of Jewish Women International, Pam supports women, inspires leadership and shows what it takes.

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

What if your grandmother got pregnant? That’s the premise behind Laurie Frankel’s witty, escapist narrative about an older woman who takes up with her retirement community next-door neighbor and unexpectedly gets more than she bargained for — much to the dismay of her adult children. We spoke about her complete rewrite of the book ("I do not believe a single sentence remains . . . I opened a new document and wrote it completely from scratch . . .”), aging, family, life, and more. As Laurie says, "You don’t have to give up at a certain age.”

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

I remember reading The Help in 2009 when it came out and absolutely loving it! Back then I was a stay-at-home mom of twins under age two. To think that by the time they graduated high school I’d be interviewing the author is insane; I wouldn’t have believed it. The Calamity Club is set in Mississippi in 1933 and spins an immersive tale about strong women who have to get through the Great Depression. It’s about a wealthy family’s fall from grace, a child’s never-ending resilience, loss, betrayal, family, hard work, and, ultimately, love. Kathryn and I spoke about it all including her own daughter’s influence on the characters. At the end of our interview, she said, "You are probably the best reader I've ever talked to.” Wow!

Key quotes:
"How do we get through our darkest times without humor?”
"As a writer, it is our job to truly imagine what it feels like to stand in someone else’s shoes."

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