Totally Booked with Zibby

Episode: Amy Griffin, THE TELL: A Memoir
Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Amy Griffin

Overview

In this deeply honest and inspiring episode, Zibby Owens sits down with Amy Griffin to explore THE TELL: A Memoir. Amy discusses her journey from secrecy to openness, detailing how telling her story of childhood trauma and sexual abuse has transformed her life and relationships. The conversation highlights themes of vulnerability, liberation, the power of sharing personal truths, and how these experiences have shaped both Amy’s personal life and her impressive professional career.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Motivation Behind the Memoir

• Amy initially wrote her book just for herself, with no intent of publishing. Over time, she discovered that sharing her story brought freedom and connection, both for herself and others.
  • “When I wrote it, I wrote it for me…putting those words down on the page…it was the first time that I'd been truly honest about my life.” — Amy (04:33)
• She emphasizes that secrets keep people closed off, and telling the truth leads to richer relationships.

2. The Transformative Power of Sharing

• Amy describes the loneliness of carrying secrets: She believed she was the only one suffering until sharing connected her with others.
  • “I felt like I was the only one in the entire world…And so, you know, to then go out and share my story and realize, oh, my gosh, I’m not alone.” — Amy (05:35)
• Vulnerability is central to her healing: As Amy opened up to her children and friends, her relationships deepened profoundly.
  • “Having our closest relationships improved by sharing is…it sounds simple, but it is not simple.” — Zibby (07:33)

3. Transformation In Family Relationships

• Amy explores the word “permission” in relation to closeness. She believed she was close to her children, but confesses that true connection only came with honesty.
• The transformative impact of writing:
  • “In my case, writing this book…it saved my life…writing this book is everything. It was able to put my words down and really understand who I was.” — Amy (08:27)
• Amy uses a vivid metaphor to describe her growth:
  • “Sometimes it's only when you cross over to the other side of the street and you look back…you can understand the full picture. And the book is sort of me crossing the street for the first time…” — Amy (10:01)

4. Dispelling the Myth of the “Perfect Life”

• Zibby brings up how Amy appears to have it all, yet that’s rarely the real story.
• Amy discusses the danger of assumptions: Many think she’s “blessed and perfect,” but she’s endured significant trauma.
  • “I literally would look over my shoulder, like, who are they talking to? I’m just doing the best I can. Isn't that what every woman is doing? We're all holding all these balls in the air at any given time.” — Amy (12:11)
• On finally naming her trauma:
  • “It was only in saying I experienced severe childhood trauma and sexual abuse…and just saying those words is really hard…Sometimes I think, am I the one saying this, sitting in this body?” — Amy (15:00)

5. Fear and Courage in Publication

• Amy likens sharing her story to standing on a high dive, knowing she must leap despite fear.
  • “This is the story I've been told by someone not to tell…It's fear of being told that it's not important. It's fear of not being believed…it’s fear, come up with one, and I will agree with it.” — Amy (22:41)

6. Professional Journey and Roots

• Amy attributes her business acumen and determination to her family, especially her grandmother, a businesswoman in Texas.
• “I just started by showing up.”
• She draws a connection between brand-building and storytelling:
  • “Brand building is storytelling…now I’m stepping into my story, right?…With this book, it is far more powerful than any business thing I’ve done.” — Amy (20:42)

7. The Publishing Process & “Pushing Send”

• Amy recounts how she pivoted from writing a memoir privately to sharing it with the publishing world:
  • “Pushing send on that computer was the next step in telling. That was telling again. That was me stepping on the high dive and putting my toes on the end to say, I matter, my story matters.” — Amy (25:20)
• The writing process was all-consuming, at times a frantic necessity for survival and understanding.

8. Hopes for the Book’s Impact

• Amy desires her memoir to exist independently and ripple outward, giving others permission and encouragement to speak their truths.
  • “Freedom is exactly the right word and freedom and connection…when someone tells me they…passed the book to someone else because I think they need it…that's the nicest thing I think someone could say to me.” — Amy (28:32)
• Caution on sharing: While telling is powerful, Amy notes it's essential to choose confidantes who can truly listen and “hold” someone’s story.

Memorable Quotes

• Amy Griffin:

  • “Secrets are not for anyone to keep…they keep people closed off from the relationships and the lives they could be having and living.” (04:33)
  • “When I first told my story… it was so lonely. I realized at that moment, I felt like I was the only one who’d been through something like this.” (05:30)
  • “Being vulnerable is like the greatest strength I feel that I can say that I’ve had in the last few years. It’s not perfect. It’s not pretty. It’s scary. It’s ugly sometimes, but there’s almost this incredible joy in being vulnerable.” (16:10)
  • “I just started by showing up.” (18:31)

• Zibby Owens:

  • “Having our closest relationships improved by sharing is…it sounds simple, but it is not simple.” (07:33)
  • “I feel really proud of you because it’s a really, really amazing thing to do.” (30:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:06] Introduction of Amy Griffin and her memoir; initial thoughts on sharing her story
• [04:33] Amy on why she decided to write and publish her story
• [08:27] Talking about the cathartic and transformative power of writing
• [12:11] On the false image of perfection and coming to terms with trauma
• [15:00] Amy names and describes her trauma and the importance of vulnerability
• [18:31] How Amy built her professional life and the influence of her grandmother
• [20:42] The connections between building consumer brands and telling one’s own story
• [22:41] Fears, anxieties, and metaphor of standing on the high dive
• [25:20] The leap of faith in sharing her writing with a publisher
• [28:32] Hopes for the memoir’s impact and advice on sharing trauma safely

Tone & Atmosphere

The discussion is open, compassionate, and courageous. Both Zibby and Amy foster an environment of empathy and encouragement, balancing seriousness with moments of humor and warmth. Listeners can sense the personal stakes and the generational ripple that Amy’s openness could have.

Conclusion

This episode is a raw, thoughtful look at how truth-telling in memoir can be transformative—not only for the author but also for readers and the wider community. Amy Griffin’s THE TELL emerges as a courageous call for openness that stands to empower others to shed secrets and seek connection, healing, and freedom.

Listen to the full episode for an honest, heartfelt journey about embracing vulnerability, the complexities behind “perfect lives,” and how authentic storytelling heals.