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Ask the Expert: Finding Time to Read More

by | May 14, 2020 | Interviews

Zibby Owens 

host of podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books

Zibby Owens is a writer and mother of four in New York City. She is the creator and host of award-winning literary podcast, “Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books” and, before COVID-19, ran a literary salon with author events and book fairs from her home. Now she has launched many initiatives to help during the quarantine including an online book club, daily podcasts, a new essay site with original, exclusive essays from podcast authors called “We Found Time,” two Instagram live shows “ZTV” and “KZ Time,” and an online book shop.

Zibby published her first article, a personal essay for Seventeen magazine, when she was in high school and has been writing ever since. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, Parents, Real Simple, Redbook, Marie Claire, Shape,  SELF, Modern Bride, TODAY Parents, Huff Post, Scary Mommy, What’s Up Moms, Kveller, Mommy Nearest and many others. She is represented by Joe Veltre at Gersh.

She has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “Good Day LA,” “Good Day DC,” “ABC-7 Eyewitness News,” and “NY1.”

A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, Zibby has a marketing and branding background. She currently lives in the New York area with her four children ages 5-12 and her husband, Kyle Owens, of Morning Moon Productions.

Me: As a mother, podcaster, and entrepreneur, clearly you have some serious time management skills. How do you manage to meet your responsibilities and still read books? What tips do you have for finding more time to read?

Zibby: I have to say, I am divorced and remarried so on weekends when I don’t have custody of the kids, I read a LOT. I read 550 pages just yesterday. When I do have the kids, which is most of the time, I always read as I get them to bed, waiting in the hall for the little guys to fall asleep, and then again before I go to sleep. I also try to grab times like waiting at pick-up or on my way somewhere else. In quarantine, I’ve been trying to have times when we ALL read but, truth be told, the kids haven’t really jumped on that bandwagon. Sometimes I have to shut the door to my office, but them all on screens, and read at my desk to prepare for an interview. At least I have the excuse that this is “work” for me!

 

Me: How did you get started podcasting?

 

Zibby: I was actually considering selling a book of essays about parenting called, “Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books.” A friend of mine, bestselling middle-grade author Sarah Mlynowski, advised me that I “should really start a podcast.” I’d never even heard of podcasts. But figured I could look into it! 

 

Me: What is your favorite thing about being a podcaster?

 

Zibby:  Getting to have such intimate conversations with authors. Uninterrupted.

 

Me: What is your favorite podcast episode and why?

 

Zibby: One of my favorites was with Andre Agassi about his autobiography Open. It was one of my first interviews and I was drenched in sweat over the phone as I interviewed him. I didn’t know what I was doing but I just winged it. And it worked! It’s not my “best,” but to me, it’s very meaningful.

 

Me: Can you give us three book recommendations?

 

Zibby: For time management tips, I always defer to Dr. Julie Morgenstern. Her book, Time to Parent, is fantastic and beyond helpful. I’m reading Valentine now by Elizabeth Wetmore which is beautifully written and really keeping my interest. I’d also recommend Betsey: A Memoir by Betsey Johnson. I just finished that book, too, and her life story was so interesting that I didn’t put the book down for almost two straight hours. 

Check out Zibby’s wonderful podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books.

Also read this previous post 11 Entertaining Bookish Podcasts which features this podcast along with 1o others. 

How do you find time to read? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

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