Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby

Episode: Alisha Fernandez Miranda, SOMEONE'S GOTTA GIVE: A Novel
Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Alisha Fernandez Miranda

Overview

In this engaging episode of Totally Booked, Zibby Owens talks with author Alisha Fernandez Miranda about her new novel, Someone’s Gotta Give. The conversation delves into Alisha’s journey from philanthropy advisor and memoirist to novelist, explores the wild and sometimes contradictory world of philanthropy, and examines the complexities of balancing ambition, motherhood, and personal values. The episode also highlights the unique challenges and insights of expat life and creative reinvention.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to Alisha and Her New Novel

• Zibby welcomes Alisha, highlighting her as both a guest and one of the first authors published by Zibby Books.
• Alisha expresses excitement about being referred to as the author of a "latest book," underscoring her transition from memoirist to novelist.

“I'm thrilled to hear you say latest book, which means I wrote more than one book, which is pretty amazing still to me.” — Alisha (01:55)

About Someone’s Gotta Give (02:14)

• The novel follows Lucia, a Venezuelan-American and lifelong fundraiser who, after moving to London and becoming a new mother, seeks to rediscover her sense of purpose.
• Lucia takes a position at a prestigious private bank, advising the rich on giving, and navigates a world of glamorous yet morally ambiguous philanthropy while trying not to lose herself.

“…she becomes an advisor to the rich and powerful on how to give away their money and do good in the world. And she's trying very hard not to lose herself in the process…” — Alisha (02:28)

Alisha’s Journey to Fiction (03:10, 05:08)

• Alisha describes her real-life background: originally a philanthropy advisor, she took time off in 2019 for various unpaid internships (documented in her memoir My What If Year) that ultimately led her to writing.
• The novel took shape while waiting for her memoir to be published; writing became her “fifth secret internship.”
• She addresses her creative process:
  • Self-identifies as a plotter (“type A, organized, Excel spreadsheet kind of woman”).
  • Drew inspiration from “fish out of water” stories (i.e., Devil Wears Prada, Crazy Rich Asians), British romcoms, and the real-world absurdities of philanthropy.
  • The first draft received blunt negative feedback from her former agent but she persisted for “eleven drafts.”

“I had this idea. I knew there was something I wanted to say, even if I hadn't yet figured out how to say it. So I went back to it. Eleven drafts later, here it is.” — Alisha (06:53)

The Original Title & Double Meaning (07:04)

• The original title, Unrestricted Giving, refers to a common philanthropic term and was a metaphor for motherhood and self-sacrifice.
• It was changed for broader appeal, but the double meaning—between philanthropy and the all-giving nature of parenting—remains deeply rooted in the book’s themes.

“By the time Lucia meets her husband and has her daughter, she's 38. So she's lived a life, and she now has to become this person who has all of these ties to other people and figure out how to be that person in the world.” — Alisha (07:45)

Demystifying the World of Philanthropy (08:28)

• Philanthropy, as depicted in the novel, is full of contrasts:
  • Genuine generosity vs. luxury excess.
  • Grassroots activists alongside celebrities and royalty.
  • Paradoxes, e.g., private jets to climate conferences or lavish events for poverty fundraising.
• It’s a complex arena that tests personal values and motivations.

“Philanthropy brings together a huge swath of people…all trying to do good, but they have very, very different ways of approaching that.” — Alisha (10:00)

Motivation Behind Giving & Ethical Gray Areas (12:41)

• Motivations for philanthropy are varied: altruism, guilt, religious obligation, social status, business interests, or legacy.
• Alisha emphasizes that as a fundraiser, she cares less about the “why” if the impact is positive, but acknowledges the growing scrutiny over the origins and intent of donations.

“Some people give because they want access to whatever the world of giving is going to give them... I really don't care why people are giving as long as they're giving personally.” — Alisha (13:10)

Navigating Ethical Tensions in the Book

• Lucia’s journey is marked by internal and external conflicts:
  • Moving from hands-on fundraising to facilitating wealthy donors challenges her core beliefs.
  • Exposure to different approaches to “doing good,” and constantly encountering dilemmas about red lines and compromises.

“She's really out of her comfort zone and she's out of her depth in every possible way.” — Alisha (14:30)

Expat Life and Its Gifts (16:30)

• Zibby and Alisha discuss the realities of living abroad:
  • Alisha appreciates how living in the UK has exposed her to different parenting styles and cultural norms.
  • She enjoys the continued sense of unfamiliarity and personal growth that comes from being in a new environment.

“I love that feeling of not always knowing exactly what's gonna happen next.” — Alisha (17:53)

The “Juggle” — Motherhood, Ambition, and Identity (18:30)

• Alisha describes how her personal experiences of early motherhood and perpetual balancing influenced Lucia’s character.
  • Writing about a character with an 18-month-old while having teens offered both perspective and nostalgia.
  • The theme of “balance” is ever-present—sometimes elusive and always evolving.
• Zibby shares theories about integrating various “selves,” while Alisha quotes advice: “you can have it all, but not all at the same time.”

“Balance is really just the second before you fall in either direction.” — (Advice Alisha quotes, 20:48)

Reader Reactions/Themes Resonating Most (21:37)

• Audience questions often focus on:
  • Whether characters are based on real people (they aren’t).
  • Dream casting for a movie adaptation.
  • The struggle between motherhood and ambition.
  • Navigating the gap between intentions and outcomes in philanthropy.
  • Where to draw the line between personal values and real-world compromises.
• Stories of readers laughing, staying up late, and connecting deeply with the characters are highlights for Alisha.

“And the nicest things people have said have been that they've, like, stayed up late reading it, woke up their spouse laughing, like, those are my favorites. I love people reading it in bed, on beaches, in bathtubs.” — Alisha (23:40)

What’s Next for Alisha? (23:48)

• She dreams of a Disney theme park internship—“manifesting” it aloud.
• Is working on improving her tennis (despite setbacks).
• Learning scriptwriting and aspires to adapt Someone’s Gotta Give for the screen.
• Supporting her husband’s new food podcast in Edinburgh.

“I keep having to put this out there because one day it will happen. I'm so desperate to do an internship for Disney.” — Alisha (23:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On writing fiction after memoir:
  “I had this idea. I knew there was something I wanted to say, even if I hadn't yet figured out how to say it. So I went back to it. Eleven drafts later, here it is.” (06:53)

• On the paradoxes of philanthropy:
  “I've been to conferences about climate change, where people have flown in on private jets to get there… There are all these paradoxes that exist in this world.” (09:50)

• On the challenge of “balance”:
  “Balance is really just the second before you fall in either direction.” (20:48, quoting a parenting expert)

• On living abroad:
  “You get to understand that the world is vast and wide and that people are so different in how they approach things.” (17:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:31] Introduction and welcome
• [02:14] Alisha describes Someone’s Gotta Give
• [03:10] Her memoir background and starting fiction
• [05:08] Writing process and influences
• [06:53] Eleven drafts and resilience after rejection
• [07:04] Book title origin and double meaning
• [08:28] Behind the scenes of philanthropy
• [12:41] Motivation in giving and ethical complexities
• [14:30] How crossing into the world of the wealthy challenges Lucia
• [16:30] Expat life and parenting abroad
• [18:30] Work/life balance, influence on the novel
• [21:37] What’s resonating with readers
• [23:48] Alisha’s “what if” dreams and upcoming goals

Tone

• Conversational, honest, and witty
• Deeply personal yet relatable
• Balances humor with thoughtful insights

Conclusion

This episode gives listeners an insider’s look at the making of Someone’s Gotta Give, why the philanthropic world is such fertile ground for fiction, and the universal struggles of ambition, motherhood, and personal integrity. Alisha Fernandez Miranda’s candid, self-deprecating humor and Zibby Owens’ warm curiosity make for a vibrant conversation full of wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration for creatives and book lovers alike.