Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby

Episode: Rachel Caplin, THE SPOON AND THE SEA

Release Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Rachel Caplin, author of “The Spoon and the Sea”

Episode Overview

In this episode, Zibby Owens welcomes Rachel Caplin, an Australian-Israeli author of The Spoon and the Sea, a bestselling historical novel and Vogel Literary Award finalist. The conversation delves into the novel's emotional roots, the influence of family history, grief and resilience, and the unique journey to publication amid global and personal turmoil. They also discuss the reality of being a Jewish author today, living as an immigrant in Israel, and how politics and war affect personal and literary life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Rachel Caplin and “The Spoon and the Sea”

[02:57–05:55]

Rachel shares the plot: The story centers on Ashe, a man raised on Zanzibar by his Arab father, after his Jewish mother, Rose, leaves him to return to England. The narrative unfolds in Jerusalem, as an aging Rose and Ashe attempt to bridge the emotional “sea” between them.
The novel is inspired by real family history—a cross-cultural romance, migration, separation, and attempts at reconciliation.
Rachel’s writing journey began as a response to grief after her grandmother’s death, channeling emotion into creating Rose, a character layered with aspects of her grandmother’s spirit.

Quote:

"I started thinking, what if I take my grandma and her character and every—the way she dressed, the way she spoke—and I almost layered it on top of this true story from this family archive... And I was overcome by the creativity of the project."
— Rachel Caplin [05:16]

2. Navigating Grief Through Writing

[05:58–06:39]

Rachel describes how writing helped her let go of her grandmother, realizing Rose became her own character, diverging from the real woman as the novel’s arc demanded.

Quote:

“It helped me to let her go and to accept that writing this character wasn’t going to keep her alive in some weird way. So it helped me... and it was my tribute to her.”
— Rachel Caplin [06:10]

3. The Creative Process: Fact, Fiction, & Family

[06:43–08:01]

Rachel talks about the creative license in “inspired by” fiction, drawing lines between real stories and imaginative completion.
She and Zibby reflect on “autofiction,” the process of fictionalizing real family lore or history for narrative depth.

4. Rachel’s Personal Journey: From Australia to Israel and to Authorship

[08:01–09:55]

Growing up in Perth, in an isolated Jewish community, Rachel felt a strong connection to Israel after her first visit at 15.
After finishing her Master’s in political economics, she moved to Israel, started a tech career, and only discovered her talent for writing with this novel.
She expresses the contrasting reactions of her two “worlds”—her Israeli friends are surprised by her literary debut while her Australian friends expected it.

Quote:

"...everyone in Israel who's known me... says, 'wow, you can write.' And everyone in Australia who knew me growing up says, 'finally you put out a book.'"
— Rachel Caplin [09:37]

5. The Path to Publication: Determination Amidst Challenges

[10:04–13:01]

Rachel submitted her finished manuscript to the Vogel, Australia’s most prestigious book award, without realizing its significance—and became a finalist, stirring media coverage and eventually leading to agency representation.
The timing was fraught: her book began to be shopped right as the Israel-Hamas war and later the Iran-Israel conflict dominated headlines.
She experienced obstacles to publication—uncertain responses and, post-October 7, outright reluctance from publishers tied to her Israeli identity.

Quote:

“Let me ask you point blank, if today I submitted the same manuscript to the same award, would I be published in the newspaper? And [my agent] said, absolutely not.”
— Rachel Caplin [12:31]

6. Going Independent & Finding Community

[13:01–14:08]

Rachel chose to self-publish on Amazon, finding unexpected support and solidarity with Jewish authors in the U.S., appreciating those who publicly support Israeli writers.

Quote:

“For anyone to put their name on an Israeli author, I know what that means, and it’s been truly heartwarming.”
— Rachel Caplin [14:01]

7. Reception and the Power of Story

[14:36–16:10]

The book’s U.S. reach is especially satisfying—reviews from readers beyond friends and family mean the most.
Rachel emphasizes the need for more books about Israel, in English, that reflect the country’s diversity and humanity, believing literature changes hearts and minds more lastingly than politics.

8. Writing the Second Novel—Processing October 7

[16:10–17:05]

Rachel’s next book was inspired by trauma after October 7. She’s motivated to challenge the notion of the “unprecedented,” aiming to show cycles of history through another dual-timeline narrative.

Quote:

“People kept referring to it as an unprecedented event. And I kept saying this is the most precedented event in history. This has happened again and again...”
— Rachel Caplin [16:31]

9. Motherhood and Resilience in Wartime Israel

[17:05–19:50]

Rachel describes navigating missile sirens and conflict with three young kids—turning traumatic realities into games (e.g., daughter thinks sirens are 'elephants').
She discusses the cost of always having to appear resilient, the whiplash afterward, and the need for Israel to address mental health while balancing public narratives of strength.

Quote:

“Children, in many ways, help to deal with it because you have to be fine for them... But then the whiplash you feel afterwards, that’s what I experienced the most.”
— Rachel Caplin [18:35]

10. Israel’s Global Image and the Challenges of Advocacy

[24:49–27:47]

Zibby and Rachel reflect on the global nosedive in Israel’s PR and the difficulty for diaspora Jews defending Israel amidst misinformation and silence from Israeli officials.
Rachel explains the internal contradictions: Israel must be strong regionally but yearns for international sympathy—two mutually exclusive images.
She points to systemic weakness in public diplomacy and the urgent need for infrastructure to reshape global perceptions.

Quote:

“We have been forced to be both very fearsome to our neighbors and our enemies... and at the same time, trying to garner the sympathy of the world. And... those are diametrically opposed... it’s going to take years to recover."
— Rachel Caplin [25:49]

11. Editorial Pressures and Avoiding “Conflict Fiction”

[28:09–29:15]

Rachel recounts pressure from her agency after October 7 to distance her from Israel or dilute references to “Palestine,” “Zionism,” or Arab characters.
She insists the novel is about transcending difference through love, not the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and refuses to lapse into propaganda.

12. Looking Forward: Writing, Unity, and Jewish Continuity

[29:15–33:19]

Rachel sees herself always writing moving forward, balancing tech and creative life. She expresses a desire to bridge divides, especially regarding the meaning of October 7 between Jews in Israel and those outside.
Both Zibby and Rachel voice concern about infighting among Jews and the need for unity without uniformity—emphasizing that the survival and cohesion of global Jewry depends on this.

Quote:

“There’s a confusion between unity and uniformity. They’re so not the same thing. And Israel is... a melting pot of everyone and everything.”
— Rachel Caplin [33:19]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On family and grief:
"I was honestly, in an almost unhealthy way, trying to keep her alive." [05:18]
On writing to process trauma:
“I only wrote this one because I was so sad, so I hope to never write another book. And then October 7th happened and I had the same feeling like I needed to write to process my feelings.” [16:14]
On resilience and children during war:
"We have a bomb shelter in our apartment... my second daughter loves elephants. The sound on the app when a missile is coming sounds like an elephant. So she loves the sirens because she thinks there are elephants outside." [17:48]
On Israeli and Diaspora Jewish unity:
"We can't afford it in Israel, we can't afford it outside, and we can't afford also to have a fragmentation between Israel and Jewish people outside Israel. We are so outnumbered." [33:03]
On advocacy and public diplomacy:
"The infrastructure for this needs to take place over years, and it needs to also happen when we're not in war... it’s a constant effort." [27:12]
On dual-identity as a writer:
"...almost the return to the roots that I feel like I had so many years ago has brought me in many ways to think about, okay, how does this in any way adjust how I spend my time?" [29:38]

Timestamps for Key Segments

[02:57] – Rachel introduces “The Spoon and the Sea”
[05:16] – Family inspiration and grief
[08:26] – Moving from Perth to Israel
[10:04] – Sharing the manuscript and award path
[11:56] – First awareness of bias in the publishing process
[13:01] – Decision to self-publish and U.S. Jewish community support
[14:36] – Reception of the book in Israel/U.S.
[16:10] – Writing about October 7
[17:32] – Mother's experience during conflict
[24:49] – Israel’s global PR and diaspora experience
[28:09] – Editorial adjustments and content policing
[29:54] – Future writing and bridging narratives
[32:11] – Unity, infighting, and Jewish peoplehood

Tone and Language

The conversation is personal, warm, and candid, with moments of humor, emotion, and gravity. Rachel’s voice is reflective, pragmatic, and hopeful—even as she describes adversity. Zibby’s questions are empathetic and encouraging, with an undercurrent of shared cultural concern and solidarity.

Conclusion

This episode is rich with insight into the deeply personal roots of historical fiction, the navigation of identity in fraught times, and the resilience required to tell one’s truth. Rachel Caplin exemplifies finding light through grief, strength through adversity, and the enduring power of literature to create connection and understanding across divides.

For more, follow Zibby at @totallybookedwithzibby and consider picking up The Spoon and the Sea.

Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby

Episode: Rachel Caplin, THE SPOON AND THE SEA

Release Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Rachel Caplin, author of “The Spoon and the Sea”

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Rachel Caplin and “The Spoon and the Sea”

[02:57–05:55]

Rachel shares the plot: The story centers on Ashe, a man raised on Zanzibar by his Arab father, after his Jewish mother, Rose, leaves him to return to England. The narrative unfolds in Jerusalem, as an aging Rose and Ashe attempt to bridge the emotional “sea” between them.
The novel is inspired by real family history—a cross-cultural romance, migration, separation, and attempts at reconciliation.
Rachel’s writing journey began as a response to grief after her grandmother’s death, channeling emotion into creating Rose, a character layered with aspects of her grandmother’s spirit.

Quote:

"I started thinking, what if I take my grandma and her character and every—the way she dressed, the way she spoke—and I almost layered it on top of this true story from this family archive... And I was overcome by the creativity of the project."
— Rachel Caplin [05:16]

2. Navigating Grief Through Writing

[05:58–06:39]

Rachel describes how writing helped her let go of her grandmother, realizing Rose became her own character, diverging from the real woman as the novel’s arc demanded.

Quote:

“It helped me to let her go and to accept that writing this character wasn’t going to keep her alive in some weird way. So it helped me... and it was my tribute to her.”
— Rachel Caplin [06:10]

3. The Creative Process: Fact, Fiction, & Family

[06:43–08:01]

Rachel talks about the creative license in “inspired by” fiction, drawing lines between real stories and imaginative completion.
She and Zibby reflect on “autofiction,” the process of fictionalizing real family lore or history for narrative depth.

4. Rachel’s Personal Journey: From Australia to Israel and to Authorship

[08:01–09:55]

Growing up in Perth, in an isolated Jewish community, Rachel felt a strong connection to Israel after her first visit at 15.
After finishing her Master’s in political economics, she moved to Israel, started a tech career, and only discovered her talent for writing with this novel.
She expresses the contrasting reactions of her two “worlds”—her Israeli friends are surprised by her literary debut while her Australian friends expected it.

Quote:

"...everyone in Israel who's known me... says, 'wow, you can write.' And everyone in Australia who knew me growing up says, 'finally you put out a book.'"
— Rachel Caplin [09:37]

5. The Path to Publication: Determination Amidst Challenges

[10:04–13:01]

Rachel submitted her finished manuscript to the Vogel, Australia’s most prestigious book award, without realizing its significance—and became a finalist, stirring media coverage and eventually leading to agency representation.
The timing was fraught: her book began to be shopped right as the Israel-Hamas war and later the Iran-Israel conflict dominated headlines.
She experienced obstacles to publication—uncertain responses and, post-October 7, outright reluctance from publishers tied to her Israeli identity.

Quote:

“Let me ask you point blank, if today I submitted the same manuscript to the same award, would I be published in the newspaper? And [my agent] said, absolutely not.”
— Rachel Caplin [12:31]

6. Going Independent & Finding Community

[13:01–14:08]

Rachel chose to self-publish on Amazon, finding unexpected support and solidarity with Jewish authors in the U.S., appreciating those who publicly support Israeli writers.

Quote:

“For anyone to put their name on an Israeli author, I know what that means, and it’s been truly heartwarming.”
— Rachel Caplin [14:01]

7. Reception and the Power of Story

[14:36–16:10]

The book’s U.S. reach is especially satisfying—reviews from readers beyond friends and family mean the most.
Rachel emphasizes the need for more books about Israel, in English, that reflect the country’s diversity and humanity, believing literature changes hearts and minds more lastingly than politics.

8. Writing the Second Novel—Processing October 7

[16:10–17:05]

Rachel’s next book was inspired by trauma after October 7. She’s motivated to challenge the notion of the “unprecedented,” aiming to show cycles of history through another dual-timeline narrative.

Quote:

“People kept referring to it as an unprecedented event. And I kept saying this is the most precedented event in history. This has happened again and again...”
— Rachel Caplin [16:31]

9. Motherhood and Resilience in Wartime Israel

[17:05–19:50]

Rachel describes navigating missile sirens and conflict with three young kids—turning traumatic realities into games (e.g., daughter thinks sirens are 'elephants').
She discusses the cost of always having to appear resilient, the whiplash afterward, and the need for Israel to address mental health while balancing public narratives of strength.

Quote:

“Children, in many ways, help to deal with it because you have to be fine for them... But then the whiplash you feel afterwards, that’s what I experienced the most.”
— Rachel Caplin [18:35]

10. Israel’s Global Image and the Challenges of Advocacy

[24:49–27:47]

Zibby and Rachel reflect on the global nosedive in Israel’s PR and the difficulty for diaspora Jews defending Israel amidst misinformation and silence from Israeli officials.
Rachel explains the internal contradictions: Israel must be strong regionally but yearns for international sympathy—two mutually exclusive images.
She points to systemic weakness in public diplomacy and the urgent need for infrastructure to reshape global perceptions.

Quote:

“We have been forced to be both very fearsome to our neighbors and our enemies... and at the same time, trying to garner the sympathy of the world. And... those are diametrically opposed... it’s going to take years to recover."
— Rachel Caplin [25:49]

11. Editorial Pressures and Avoiding “Conflict Fiction”

[28:09–29:15]

Rachel recounts pressure from her agency after October 7 to distance her from Israel or dilute references to “Palestine,” “Zionism,” or Arab characters.
She insists the novel is about transcending difference through love, not the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and refuses to lapse into propaganda.

12. Looking Forward: Writing, Unity, and Jewish Continuity

[29:15–33:19]

Rachel sees herself always writing moving forward, balancing tech and creative life. She expresses a desire to bridge divides, especially regarding the meaning of October 7 between Jews in Israel and those outside.
Both Zibby and Rachel voice concern about infighting among Jews and the need for unity without uniformity—emphasizing that the survival and cohesion of global Jewry depends on this.

Quote:

“There’s a confusion between unity and uniformity. They’re so not the same thing. And Israel is... a melting pot of everyone and everything.”
— Rachel Caplin [33:19]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On family and grief:
"I was honestly, in an almost unhealthy way, trying to keep her alive." [05:18]
On writing to process trauma:
“I only wrote this one because I was so sad, so I hope to never write another book. And then October 7th happened and I had the same feeling like I needed to write to process my feelings.” [16:14]
On resilience and children during war:
"We have a bomb shelter in our apartment... my second daughter loves elephants. The sound on the app when a missile is coming sounds like an elephant. So she loves the sirens because she thinks there are elephants outside." [17:48]
On Israeli and Diaspora Jewish unity:
"We can't afford it in Israel, we can't afford it outside, and we can't afford also to have a fragmentation between Israel and Jewish people outside Israel. We are so outnumbered." [33:03]
On advocacy and public diplomacy:
"The infrastructure for this needs to take place over years, and it needs to also happen when we're not in war... it’s a constant effort." [27:12]
On dual-identity as a writer:
"...almost the return to the roots that I feel like I had so many years ago has brought me in many ways to think about, okay, how does this in any way adjust how I spend my time?" [29:38]

Timestamps for Key Segments

[02:57] – Rachel introduces “The Spoon and the Sea”
[05:16] – Family inspiration and grief
[08:26] – Moving from Perth to Israel
[10:04] – Sharing the manuscript and award path
[11:56] – First awareness of bias in the publishing process
[13:01] – Decision to self-publish and U.S. Jewish community support
[14:36] – Reception of the book in Israel/U.S.
[16:10] – Writing about October 7
[17:32] – Mother's experience during conflict
[24:49] – Israel’s global PR and diaspora experience
[28:09] – Editorial adjustments and content policing
[29:54] – Future writing and bridging narratives
[32:11] – Unity, infighting, and Jewish peoplehood

Tone and Language

Conclusion

For more, follow Zibby at @totallybookedwithzibby and consider picking up The Spoon and the Sea.

Rachel Caplin, THE SPOON AND THE SEA: A Novel

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Summary

Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby

Episode: Rachel Caplin, THE SPOON AND THE SEA

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Rachel Caplin and “The Spoon and the Sea”

2. Navigating Grief Through Writing

3. The Creative Process: Fact, Fiction, & Family

4. Rachel’s Personal Journey: From Australia to Israel and to Authorship

5. The Path to Publication: Determination Amidst Challenges

6. Going Independent & Finding Community

7. Reception and the Power of Story

8. Writing the Second Novel—Processing October 7

9. Motherhood and Resilience in Wartime Israel

10. Israel’s Global Image and the Challenges of Advocacy

11. Editorial Pressures and Avoiding “Conflict Fiction”

12. Looking Forward: Writing, Unity, and Jewish Continuity

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone and Language

Conclusion

Summary

Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby

Episode: Rachel Caplin, THE SPOON AND THE SEA

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Rachel Caplin and “The Spoon and the Sea”

2. Navigating Grief Through Writing

3. The Creative Process: Fact, Fiction, & Family

4. Rachel’s Personal Journey: From Australia to Israel and to Authorship

5. The Path to Publication: Determination Amidst Challenges

6. Going Independent & Finding Community

7. Reception and the Power of Story

8. Writing the Second Novel—Processing October 7

9. Motherhood and Resilience in Wartime Israel

10. Israel’s Global Image and the Challenges of Advocacy

11. Editorial Pressures and Avoiding “Conflict Fiction”

12. Looking Forward: Writing, Unity, and Jewish Continuity

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone and Language

Conclusion