How Zibby Owens Turned Rejection Into a Literary Empire

If you’ve ever felt like life veered off course and left you scrambling to find your voice, Zibby Owens’ story will resonate deeply. In this episode, Zibby, a celebrated author, podcaster, publisher, and entrepreneur, opens up about how personal loss, career setbacks, and a chaotic reading journey helped her carve out a powerful space in the literary world. With raw honesty and infectious energy, Zibby shares how she transformed grief into an unstoppable mission: to champion authors, connect readers, and revolutionize how we experience books.

Zibby’s story is not a highlight reel, it’s a raw and inspiring portrait of a woman who reinvented herself again and again. From feeling like she was “dying inside” in business school to finding herself sobbing in a parking lot, Zibby doesn’t shy away from the lows. But it’s precisely those vulnerable moments that make her story so powerful.

Whether you’re a book lover, an aspiring writer, or someone navigating reinvention, Zibby’s story is packed with inspiration, lessons, and laughter. Let’s dive into the incredible journey of a woman who went from a burned-out business school dropout to the founder of Zibby Media—a thriving ecosystem that celebrates storytelling in all its forms.

The Unexpected Start of a Literary Powerhouse

Zibby Owens didn’t set out to become a literary force. In fact, her journey into the world of books and storytelling was born not from a lifelong plan, but from a deeply personal moment of heartbreak and emotional upheaval. She had just gone through a tough breakup, one that left her in a vulnerable state, questioning everything. In the aftermath, she found herself clinging to books as a form of emotional support. Reading wasn’t a hobby; it was a coping mechanism. She devoured books across every format—physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks—reading them on her Kindle, her iPhone, and even listening to them when she didn’t have the energy to focus. “I was not okay,” she openly admits.

What she was really doing, though she didn’t realize it at the time, was processing her pain through the voices of other writers. She wasn’t looking for escapism; she was looking for connection. Books, in their own way, were helping her make sense of her grief, her relationships, and her identity.

This intense return to reading became a turning point. She wasn’t just reading for entertainment; she was reading to survive. And then came the idea. As a mother of four, Zibby often heard—and felt—the refrain that “moms don’t have time to read books.” She knew firsthand how busy, overwhelming, and fragmented life could be. But she also knew how life-saving reading could feel during those moments of overwhelm.

It started with a blog, where she would write about the books she was reading and how they connected to her life. But that quickly morphed into something bigger: a podcast. She called it Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, both as a nod to the reality of motherhood and a slightly ironic challenge to the idea that moms couldn’t find time for what mattered to them.

With no formal experience in podcasting, she began recording interviews from her bedroom closet. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real—and it worked. Zibby reached out to authors she admired and asked them questions that weren’t just about plot or publishing. She wanted to know who they were, what they felt, and why they wrote. Her interviews were intimate, curious, and refreshingly human. It didn’t take long for word to spread.

That humble closet became the launching pad for what would become a literary movement.

Creating a Community of Connection

What began as a personal project soon blossomed into a thriving community. Her podcast, Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, wasn’t just about discussing literature; it was about building genuine relationships; with authors, with listeners, and with herself. Zibby’s charm, curiosity, and empathy struck a chord—not just with listeners but with the authors themselves. She didn’t just ask about the book; she asked about them. And in doing so, she built a bridge between writers and readers that hadn’t quite existed before.

Listeners weren’t just tuning in for book recommendations; they were tuning in because Zibby was giving them something rare—a feeling of belonging. She understood the chaos of daily life, the exhaustion of motherhood, the hunger for meaning, and the need to feel seen. By acknowledging how hard it can be to carve out time for ourselves, let alone a good book, she validated an entire audience of people who felt forgotten by the literary world.

But Zibby didn’t stop there. “Once I realized I could do a podcast, I thought, ‘Why not write a book, start a publishing company, and create a magazine?’” she jokes, but she wasn’t kidding. What followed was an explosion of creativity and entrepreneurship. She founded Zibby Books, Zibby Mag, a retreat, and even a bookstore. Each platform was another step in her mission: to make reading more accessible, fun, and emotionally enriching.

The Grief That Fueled Her Growth

Behind Zibby’s bright smile and unstoppable drive lies a deep well of personal grief. She lost her best friend, Stacey Sanders, in the 9/11 attacks, a tragedy that shook her to the core. “Stacey’s death changed everything,” she says. The pain of that loss never fully left her—it became a shadow, a presence, a motivator.

Rather than letting grief consume her, Zibby allowed it to fuel her. She wrote openly about loss, heartbreak, and healing. Her book Bookends is not just a memoir, it’s a tribute to survival and transformation. She describes how writing helped her process trauma, reconnect with herself, and ultimately discover what she was truly meant to do.

Her openness about grief has become one of her greatest strengths. Readers and listeners are drawn to her vulnerability. “It’s okay to not be okay,” she often reminds people, and in saying that, she gives others permission to heal too.

Reinvention at Every Turn

Zibby’s path was anything but linear. She attended Harvard, earned an MBA from Columbia, and tried her hand at corporate jobs, marketing, and even business school—all of which left her feeling unfulfilled. “I felt like I was dying inside,” she recalls of her business school years.

Motherhood further shifted her perspective. Juggling kids, identity, and ambition was overwhelming. At one point, she remembers crying in a parking lot, feeling lost. And yet, every twist and turn became part of her story.

“You can be multi-passionate,” she says, a statement that’s not just a personal truth but a permission slip for others. Zibby’s journey shows us that reinvention doesn’t require starting over, it requires staying open. Whether she was dabbling in writing, hosting a podcast, or building an entire literary brand, Zibby followed her instincts, trusting that each step, even the missteps, were part of a greater unfolding.

She didn’t wait for everything to align before making a move. Instead, she used every phase, every corporate job she left, every book she read, every emotional moment she lived through—as fuel for what came next. Her story is a reminder that fulfillment isn’t found by sticking to a perfect plan. It’s found in the courage to admit when something isn’t working and the bravery to try something new.

Building Zibby Media: More Than Just a Brand

Today, Zibby Media is a sprawling enterprise that includes a publishing house, podcast network, magazine, retreats, and more. But it’s not about empire-building for herit’s about impact. Every decision she makes is rooted in a desire to uplift stories, voices, and hearts.

Zibby Books, her publishing company, is especially personal. “I want to publish books that make people feel less alone,” she explains. Her approach is deeply human. She works closely with authors, helping them shape their stories and navigate the emotional landscape of publishing.

She also hosts writing retreats that are more about healing than craft. “We cry, we laugh, we connect,” she says. These aren’t just workshops; they’re sanctuaries for people craving authenticity, self-expression, and community.

Even her bookstore is intentionally different. It’s not just a place to buy books, it’s a living, breathing space where people can gather, think, and feel. “I want it to feel like home,” Zibby shares.

Facing Rejection, Again and Again

Despite her many accomplishments, Zibby’s journey hasn’t been easy. She’s faced countless rejections, from agents, editors, and critics. Her memoir was rejected 20 times. At one point, she thought maybe she just wasn’t meant to be an author. But she didn’t give up.

That persistence paid off. Her memoir, Bookends, finally found a home and struck a deep chord with readers. It became a bestseller and was even optioned for TV. “It felt surreal,” she says, recalling the moment it all came together.

But Zibby doesn’t let success go to her head. She remains grounded, grateful, and incredibly generous. She uses her platform to spotlight debut authors, underrepresented voices, and books that might otherwise fly under the radar.

Her Secret Sauce: Empathy, Hustle, and Heart

What makes Zibby Owens so compelling isn’t just her achievements—it’s who she is. She’s warm, funny, unfiltered, and deeply empathetic. She listens with her whole heart, asks thoughtful questions, and makes everyone feel seen.

She also works relentlessly. Between running multiple businesses, raising four kids, writing, podcasting, and hosting events, her schedule is intense. And yet, she shows up—fully present, always engaged.

Her authenticity is her superpower. She’s not afraid to say, “I’m struggling.” She talks about therapy, motherhood, imposter syndrome, and the messiness of it all. And in doing so, she creates a space where others can do the same.

Final Thoughts

In a world obsessed with perfection and polished success stories, Zibby Owens offers something rare: truth. Her journey is messy, beautiful, nonlinear, and real. It’s about turning pain into purpose, rejection into resilience, and books into bridges that connect us all.

She proves that you don’t need to have it all figured out to make a difference—you just need heart, hustle, and the courage to keep going.

Zibby Owens didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t follow a script. She followed her heart, embraced her voice, and created a space where stories matter. Whether you’re a writer, reader, or someone looking for a fresh start, Zibby’s journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent your life—and that sometimes, the messiest chapters lead to the most powerful endings.

If you’re ready to fall back in love with reading—or with life itself—start by listening to Zibby. Because when stories are told with heart, they don’t just entertain us. They heal us.

Watch the full episode here: