Totally Booked with Zibby: Aria Mia Loberti – "I AM INGRID: The Adventures of the World’s Greatest Guide Dog"

Episode Overview

In this rich, moving live episode, host Zibby Owens sits down with Aria Mia Loberti—actor, writer, activist, and now children’s book author—to discuss her debut work "I AM INGRID: The Adventures of the World’s Greatest Guide Dog." Recorded at Zibby’s bookshop pop-up, the conversation explores Aria's remarkable journey from a challenging childhood as a visually impaired student, to academic acclaim, acting stardom in Netflix’s adaptation of "All the Light We Cannot See," and finally to writing a children’s book inspired by her guide dog, Ingrid. With honesty, vulnerability, and humor, Aria reflects on themes of identity, resilience, authentic representation, accessibility, and the power of dreams.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origin of "I AM INGRID"

• Unplanned Beginnings:
  • Aria reveals that writing a picture book was not on her immediate radar, but Scholastic approached her serendipitously.
    • "Like a lot of things in my life was very unplanned… It was this remarkable opportunity." (04:49)
  • Ingrid, her guide dog, was present at the meeting and became the organic inspiration for the story.
• Book Themes:
  • The story follows Ingrid from puppyhood through rigorous training, ultimately earning her harness and finding her person—Aria.
  • Emphasizes growth, perseverance, and building confidence, mirroring both Ingrid's and Aria’s journeys.
    • "It's all about this little dog who has these big dreams… she grows into her confidence." (06:08)
• Importance of Sharing:
  • Writing and presenting this story has gained new meaning as Aria now experiences life as a sighted person following a medical breakthrough.
    • "Now to be able to sit and physically read the book to children has been extraordinary." (07:04)

2. Aria’s Visual Journey & Medical Transformation

• Diagnosis & Experience:
  • Aria was born with achromatopsia, a genetic condition causing extreme light sensitivity and color blindness.
    • "I was born with a condition called achromatopsia… it means that you are very light sensitive." (08:37)
• Transition to Sightedness:
  • After experimenting with contact lenses "by chance," her vision improved dramatically, forcing a reevaluation of her identity.
  • Discusses the sense of grief for losing her unique outlook, but stresses embracing change and celebrating every way of seeing the world.
    • "I've experienced a little bit of grief because the way I saw the world before was so unique…" (09:33)
    • "Just be open to what life throws at you…" (09:59)

3. Guide Dogs for the Blind – Advocacy & Impact

• Becoming a Puppy Host:
  • Aria and Zibby discuss how families can support guide dog training organizations by fostering puppies. There's a constant need, especially post-COVID.
• Why Support Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB):
  • The organization focuses on empowerment for people and animals, rather than charity.
  • Entirely donor-run and provides lifelong care for their service animals.
    • "They don’t approach this from like, ‘oh, we’re going to help people who are less fortunate.’ It’s just—we’re going to give people... tools to be better people.” (11:14)
  • Aria credits GDB with enabling her independence, confidence, and success.

4. Acting Breakthrough – "All the Light We Cannot See"

• Unexpected Path:
  • While unhappy during her PhD program, Aria auditioned for the lead in "All the Light We Cannot See" without acting experience.
    • "I had an existential breakdown… and then I auditioned for this, not thinking about a career change at all..." (14:33)
  • Describes a rapid transition into acting, learning on the job, and the importance of being willing to look foolish and learn.
    • "Be okay with not knowing anything and be okay with showing people that you don't know, but you're willing to learn…" (42:57)
• Preparation & Set Life:
  • Mentions intensive crash courses from a director and acting coach, moving from academic overthinking to emotional storytelling.
    • “I was very lucky... I got to shadow everybody on set... basically a month of four years of film school.” (16:56)

5. Beauty from Trauma – Surviving School Exclusion

• Facing Discrimination:
  • Aria shares being denied an education due to her disability in public school and eventual homeschooling.
    • “I was in a situation in which I was legally denied the education that every kid is entitled to.” (31:04)
  • Ballet and books became her refuge, building discipline and resilience for her later achievements.
• Redemption in College:
  • Contrasts her traumatic schooling with the supportive, validating environment of college.

6. UNICEF Ambassadorship and Activism

• Championing Literacy and Climate Justice:
  • Aria works with UNICEF, focusing on educational access and the intersection of education, gender, and climate vulnerability.
    • "It took two years… but I was able to help… with reauthorizing the READ act..." (34:07)
• Global Perspective:
  • First aspiration post-acting success was to become a UNICEF ambassador.

7. Fashion as Self-Expression

• Finding Confidence:
  • After years of hiding, acting imbued her with confidence to embrace bold, expressive fashion under the guidance of her stylist.
    • “I want to shout out my stylist. Her name is Sarah Tooley… sort of like a fairy godmother.” (36:49)

8. Looking Forward: Writing, Producing, Representation

• Book Plans:
  • Aria hopes "I AM INGRID" will help launch her writing career, especially in middle grade and YA fiction with diverse protagonists.
    • “I'm really hopeful that that will be my next book… a low vision protagonist, which I haven’t really seen much.” (39:28)
• Production Company:
  • She and her best friend have started a company focused on adapting underrepresented stories for the screen, particularly to empower young women.

9. Creative Advice

• Aria’s Message to Aspiring Creatives:
  • “Just be willing to make a fool out of yourself. All the biggest opportunities in my life came when I was willing to put myself out there…” (42:57)
  • Encourages leaning into learning and vulnerability; "Everything is a messy first draft."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On embracing change and loss:
  • "I have to realize that like, I don’t need this take on my life, this perception, to make me worthy. I can still have a unique perception as it is right now, and that's okay." – Aria (23:27)
• On guide dogs as partnership, not charity:
  • "This wasn’t necessarily, you know, they don’t approach this from like, ‘oh, we’re going to help people who are less fortunate.’ It’s just—we’re going to give people in our communities tools to be better people.” – Aria (11:14)
• On surviving exclusion and crediting her parents:
  • "My parents… didn’t know anything about disability law, but we researched it all together... and we made sure that I knew how to go into school and quote the laws that protected me." – Aria (31:04)
• On creativity and risk:
  • “Just be willing to make a fool out of yourself. Everything is a messy first draft.” – Aria (42:57)
• On representation in art and media:
  • "Now, obviously, as an advocate for authentic representation, I cannot portray a blind or low-vision character anymore... But I think I can lend a perspective to them in my writing." – Aria (19:56)
• On gratitude and perseverance:
  • “I'm very grateful to everyone who started me on that path because I don’t know really what I would have done with my life…” – Aria (18:37)

Key Timestamps

• Intro & Bookshop Event Details – 02:58
• How "I AM INGRID" Came to Be – 04:49
• Vision, Achromatopsia & Surprising Change – 08:29
• Guide Dog Community & Advocacy – 10:35, 11:14
• Acting Career Break & "All the Light We Cannot See" – 13:54, 14:33
• Living with and Overcoming Trauma in School – 31:04
• UNICEF Ambassador Role & Activism – 34:06
• Fashion & Self-Expression – 36:39, 36:49
• Aspirations in Writing & Production – 39:28, 41:27
• Artistic, Life, & Career Advice – 42:45, 42:57

Summary Tone & Final Thoughts

The dialogue is intimate, uplifting, and insightful, balancing humor and hope with deep honesty about adversity and transformation. Aria’s voice is candid, articulate, often self-effacing, and always passionate—both celebrating her own unexpected journey and advocating for greater representation, access, and support for others.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in disability advocacy, children's literature, representation in media, and the courage it takes to step—and leap—into the unknown.