Mega-bestselling author of The Help is back! Kathryn Stockett on The Calamity Club

Mega-bestselling author of The Help is back! Kathryn Stockett on The Calamity Club

From Totally Booked with Zibby by Zibby Owens

May 5, 2026 · 30 min · Season 26 · Episode 60

About this episode

Zibby Owens interviews Kathryn Stockett about her new book, The Calamity Club, exploring themes of resilience and family during the Great Depression.

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.

People in this episode

Host: Zibby Owens

Guest: Kathryn Stockett

Topics covered

  • literature
  • interview
  • women's stories
  • historical fiction
  • resilience
  • family dynamics

Keywords

  • Kathryn Stockett
  • The Calamity Club
  • The Help
  • Great Depression
  • women's stories
  • literature
  • interview

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Help, The Calamity Club

Places: Mississippi

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