Why Stories Still Matter: Zibby Owens on Books, Belonging, and Jewish Life

What does it mean to live—and write—with urgency?

Author, podcaster, founder of Zibby Media, and literary community-builder Zibby Owens joins J100 host David M. Cohen for a conversation about loss, Jewish identity, and the slow, intentional work of creating spaces where people feel seen. From her childhood in New York and early dreams of becoming a writer, to losing her best friend on 9/11 and building one of today’s most vibrant literary communities, Owens reflects on how tragedy reshapes meaning, why storytelling still matters, and what it takes to hold people together in an increasingly fragmented world. The episode also touches on antisemitism on college campuses, the emotional impact of October 7, and the promise—and limits—of AI in creative life.

00:00 — Identity, belonging, and the “blister” moment
00:28 — Why stories build community
03:56 — Campuses, safety, and Jewish life after Oct. 7
11:27 — Faith, calling, and becoming a rabbi
13:23 — Becoming a writer: books, ambition, and influence
19:18 — 9/11, loss, and the urgency of time
31:47 — AI, creativity, and the human voice
37:51 — Building community, one room at a time

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/why-stories-still-matter-zibby-owens?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.