Amra 's Armchair Anecdotes

Amra Pajalic

Welcome to Amra’s Armchair Anecdotes! I’m Amra Pajalić— writer, teacher, and storyteller. Pull up a chair, and let’s dive into  stories about writing, life, and lessons learned—sharing wisdom  from my armchair to yours.

  1. FEB 1

    21-Breaking The Cycle: Trauma, Truth, And Creative Courage With Ruth Clare

    Ruth Clare's conversation with Amra Pajalic delves into the impact of trauma on the nervous system, the intersection of lived experience and research, and the advocacy for families affected by war and domestic violence. Ruth shares her creative journey, career path, and the inspiration behind her book 'Enemy,' shedding light on the impact of war on families and the advocacy for defense forces. The conversation also explores nervous system trauma and healing, providing insights into the body's reaction to trauma and the importance of grounding practices. The conversation covers the impact of body feedback on the nervous system, transforming fear into action, embracing discomfort and feelings, and the transition from traditional to indie author journey. The discussion delves into the ways in which body feedback affects the nervous system, the process of transforming fear into action, the importance of embracing discomfort and feelings, and the author's journey from traditional publishing to self-publishing as an indie author. Takeaways Trauma and its impact on the nervous systemThe intersection of lived experience and research Body feedback affects nervous systemTransforming fear into actionEmbracing discomfort and feelingsTransition from traditional to indie author journey Chapters 00:00 Nervous System Trauma and Healing33:31 Body Feedback and Nervous System43:26 Embracing Discomfort and Feelings53:23 Transition from Traditional to Indie Author Journey

    57 min
  2. 20-Early Menopause, Real Talk: A conversation with Antoinette about POI

    12/07/2025

    20-Early Menopause, Real Talk: A conversation with Antoinette about POI

    Send us a text We share Antoinette’s story of premature ovarian insufficiency at 41, the harm of being dismissed, and the relief and clarity that came with HRT. We open up about rage, insomnia, brain fog, grief over lost choice, and how to advocate for better care at home, work, and in the clinic.• early signs ignored and misattributed to stress• navigating GP knowledge gaps and delayed referrals• emotional crash, rage, intrusive thoughts, loss of empathy• cognitive fog, sleep loss, night sweats, skin changes• POI realities, fertility grief, and identity repair• evidence‑based HRT as mechanism‑level treatment• cardiometabolic and bone health risks and screening• boundaries, relationships, and clearing energy drains• workplace adjustments and policy awareness• how to find menopause‑literate clinicians and resourcesIf you enjoyed today’s episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow for more insights, stories, and inspiration Welcome to Amra’s Armchair Anecdotes! I’m Amra Pajalić—writer, teacher, and storyteller. Pull up a chair, and let’s dive into stories about writing, life, and lessons learned—sharing wisdom from my armchair to yours.Episodes are posted every second Monday. You can subscribe on your favourite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastIndex, YouTube, or RSS, all directories Episode show notes are transcripts at https://www.amrapajalic.com/podcast.html

    59 min
  3. 18-Three Minutes To Matter: A conversation with Dr Katherine Firth

    11/10/2025

    18-Three Minutes To Matter: A conversation with Dr Katherine Firth

    Send us a text Amra sits down with Dr Katherine Firth to unpack how the Three Minute Thesis turns complex research into a clear, human story and why that skill changes academic careers. Amra shares the path from department heat to university win to Asia–Pacific submission, including the full 3MT performance.• what 3MT is and why it matters• how to build a strong opening, middle and closing• cutting jargon and choosing clean language• using one slide as a memory anchor• rehearsing in the real venue and managing nerves• when to memorise versus use cue cards• applying feedback between heats to improve• career value for academia, industry and media• building community, confidence and momentum• ethical storytelling for sensitive research topicsThank you for listening to my interview with Dr. Katherine Firth about the three-minute thesis competition. I will now be including my three-minute thesis application, and so you'll be able to listen to it. This is the one that went to the Asia Pacific heat, and I will also include a link to the initial La Trobe heat, which is the one that I won. Welcome to Amra’s Armchair Anecdotes! I’m Amra Pajalić—writer, teacher, and storyteller. Pull up a chair, and let’s dive into stories about writing, life, and lessons learned—sharing wisdom from my armchair to yours.Episodes are posted every second Monday. You can subscribe on your favourite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastIndex, YouTube, or RSS, all directories Episode show notes are transcripts at https://www.amrapajalic.com/podcast.html

    52 min
  4. 17-Building an indie literary life: A conversation with Koraly Dimitriadis

    10/27/2025

    17-Building an indie literary life: A conversation with Koraly Dimitriadis

    Send us a text We sit with poet and filmmaker Koraly Dimitriades to unpack gatekeeping, creative autonomy, and how to build a writing life that answers to the work, not the establishment. From founding a press to touring internationally, we share tactics, hard truths, and why protecting your voice matters.• founding an indie press to keep creative control• questioning “literary merit” through a colonial lens• using zines, bookshops and data to secure distribution• choosing offset vs print on demand for touring• negotiating rights and asking about real marketing budgets• moving from mainstream op-eds to social media for voice• speaking truth, blacklisting and mental health boundaries• targeting prizes and festivals that suit your style• nontraditional sales channels and grassroots marketing• redefining success and separating money from art• community, nuance and sustaining a long careerSubscribe and follow for more insights, stories, and inspiration Welcome to Amra’s Armchair Anecdotes! I’m Amra Pajalić—writer, teacher, and storyteller. Pull up a chair, and let’s dive into stories about writing, life, and lessons learned—sharing wisdom from my armchair to yours.Episodes are posted every second Monday. You can subscribe on your favourite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastIndex, YouTube, or RSS, all directories Episode show notes are transcripts at https://www.amrapajalic.com/podcast.html

    55 min
  5. 16-From Booth to Business: A conversation with Nina Nikolic

    10/13/2025

    16-From Booth to Business: A conversation with Nina Nikolic

    Send us a text I sit down with actor and narrator Nina Nikolic to unpack the craft and business of voice work, from emotional performance and character choices to contracts, rates, and protecting your voice in an AI world. Along the way we swap practical systems for finding clients, tracking jobs, and turning creative energy into a sustainable career.• balancing creative craft with small business habits• social media as proof of life and connection• lead sources, referrals, and asking how clients found us• audiobook workflow, samples, pacing, and pickups• pronunciation research and consistency across long texts• performance choices that separate characters without caricature• human narration versus AI, ethics, and accessibility• adding voice protection language to audiobook back matter• contracts, rights windows, and negotiating clauses• owning IP and avoiding perpetual, all‑media traps• input‑based goals versus outcome‑based goals• pricing to a livable per‑finished‑hour rate• reflection routines, tracking wins, and sustainable marketingYou can find the episode show notes, your free episode handouts, and my how‑to guides at amrapajalic.com/podcast Welcome to Amra’s Armchair Anecdotes! I’m Amra Pajalić—writer, teacher, and storyteller. Pull up a chair, and let’s dive into stories about writing, life, and lessons learned—sharing wisdom from my armchair to yours.Episodes are posted every second Monday. You can subscribe on your favourite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastIndex, YouTube, or RSS, all directories Episode show notes are transcripts at https://www.amrapajalic.com/podcast.html

    1h 1m

About

Welcome to Amra’s Armchair Anecdotes! I’m Amra Pajalić— writer, teacher, and storyteller. Pull up a chair, and let’s dive into  stories about writing, life, and lessons learned—sharing wisdom  from my armchair to yours.