When I first dreamed up doing live Q+As with authors, Amira Barger was the person I put on my guest vision board. Truly. The universe delivered and I’m so glad it did. I think you will be, too.
Amira is the author of the upcoming book The Price of Nice: Why Comfort Keeps Us Stuck—And 4 Actions for Real Change (Penguin, Oct 2025), and in this conversation, she offered everything I vision-boarded for and more: candid, generous, wise, and (of course) nerve-y.
We talked about the cost of being “nice,” how to find your chosen self (especially in the workplace), and what it actually takes to get a book deal and keep your voice intact. Amira shared her full story: from growing up as a missionary kid on Guam to cold-pitching her book proposal (and getting a deal the same day)!!
A few of my favourite moments:
The distinction between “nice” and “nerve” and why discomfort isn’t the same as disrespect
The idea of being your most uninterrupted self
What Amira would write on her mirror to remind herself to speak the truth
Amira’s bold and unconventional path to getting a heck of a publishing deal
How her daughter (and a plum tree) helped shape her writing practice
If you’ve ever worried that being honest will cost you belonging, or wondered whether your idea is “big enough” to become a book, this one’s for you.
Watch the full replay above.
And if you want to learn how to channel more nerve in your life (don’t we all?) preorder a copy here and post a photo when it arrives. Every early show of support makes a huge difference for debut authors.
Let me know in the comments: What part of the conversation stayed with you the most?
