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The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara

Brendan O'Meara
Narrative Journalism
Writing
Journalism
Storytelling
Creative Nonfiction
Creativity
The Atavist
The New Yorker
Writing Process
Memoir Writing
Hakeem Olajuwon
Sports Journalism
Burnout
Bleak Man
Narrative Nonfiction
Memoir
Freelance Journalism
Cartooning
Creative Writing
Publishing

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara is a weekly podcast that showcases leaders in narrative journalism, essay, memoir, documentary film, radio and podcasts about the art and craft of telling true stories. Follow the show @creativenonfictionpodcast on Instagram and visit patreon.com/cnfpod to support!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes554Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Latest Episodes

"You don't have to go to the far ends of the earth, but I'm willing to do that for you, and tell you what I found," says Susan Orlean, bestselling author of several books, including her latest, Joyride: A Memoir.

Look who’s back! It’s Susan Orlean, ... more

YouTube

"You never know what insight or information you're going to glean from someone, and so I want to be open to surprises. And not have any preconceived notions of what, who this person is, what they're going to tell me, imposing my own values, beliefs, ... more

YouTube

"I always think, 'Jesus, this person could be reading War and Peace, and they picked up this dopey little book.' You know what I mean? So the best thing I could do is be interesting or helpful. I can't be boring, and I've got to try to be helpful," s... more

YouTube

"Maybe your first images are some bulked up organism, or whatever. Then there's that kind of like sinewy strength that you see in like middleweight fighters. Roberto Duran comes to mind as the epiphany, like a super powerful, sinewy guy, right? And s... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Austin Kleon
Author and artist, author of Don't Call It Art, 10 Ways to Create Like a Kid Again
Author, Austin Kleon—Artist & Writer
Episode: Episode 531: Austin Kleon Goes Beast Mode in 'Don't Call It Art'
Sayward Darby
Lead editor of the revived Atavist piece
Atavist
Episode: Episode 530: Finding that 'Sinewy Strength' in the Prose with Maccabee Montandon
Maccabee Montandon
Journalist, writer, and filmmaker; subject of the revived Gawker piece
Atavist (revived piece); formerly Gawker
Episode: Episode 530: Finding that 'Sinewy Strength' in the Prose with Maccabee Montandon
Dan John
Strength coach, author, and educator discussed as a guest expert on writing and fitness
Coach Dan John / danjohnuniversity.com
Episode: Episode 529: Dan John says, 'Inspiration is for Amateurs' … and He's Correct
Ramona Ausubel
Author of Unstuck, A Writer's Guide
Author, Tin House; Professor at Colorado State University
Episode: Episode 528: Stuck? Ramona Ausubel Will 'Unstuck' You!
Isaac Fitzgerald
Author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts and American Rambler; writer and walker
Knopf; author
Episode: Episode 527: Isaac Fitzgerald says the Truth is a Block of Wood
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Author of The Disordered Cosmos; associate professor of physics and a core faculty member in women's and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
Episode: Episode 526: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein's Literary Reading of the Universe
Mary Cain
Running prodigy, author, and advocate
Atalanta NYC, Army of Survivors, Stanford-Medical training
Episode: Episode 525: Mary Cain Started with Pure Anger in 'This Is Not About Running'
Nick Davidson
Writer/Investigative journalist featured in Atavist Magazine
Atavist Magazine
Episode: Episode 524: Nick Davidson Was Writing an Atavist Story All Along

Host

Brendan O'Meara
Host of the podcast focused on narrative nonfiction craft, interviewing writers, editors, and industry professionals.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 214 ratings
  • A Riffing Good Time

    I drive back and forth between Maine and Massachusetts an hour and ten minutes which is exactly the length of an average CNF podcast. This tells you the first thing you need to know about our boy Brendan O’Meara. He doesn’t just play to our culture’s bite-sized attention span like so many other pods. He conducts hour-long in-depth interviews with his authors, skillfully pulling out stories, emotion, and advice, bracketed on either side by our host’s own insightful and entertaining takes on liter... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Doc CRB
    United States9 days ago
  • Could it be better? No.

    I’m so angry I only discovered this wonderful podcast last month! I’m a part time author with dreams of making every sentence a joy, and what I find here is everything I want: great advice, wisdom, and talented authors, all shepherded by O’Meara’s wit and skill. You will love this podcast and with hundreds of episodes in the can, you WILL find what you need.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jay from Knoxville
    United States22 days ago
  • Indispensable

    The CNF pod is great fun. Crucial insights into writing nonfiction from a pool of excellent writers who know their stuff. Must-listen not only for aspiring nonfiction writers but working, successful ones, too. This is the community you’re looking for.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ndyestermorrow
    United States5 months ago
  • Reader, Writer, Listener

    As a reader and writer I appreciate Brendan’s knowledge and preparedness with his interview subjects. As a lister, I love the candid conversations that unfold.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ali257
    United States5 months ago
  • Great 500

    I’ve listened to Brendan’s earliest episodes, the later ones and most of his latest episodes and I’ve learned much and been entertained by all of them. He encourages his guests to be relevant and to the point, while at the same time allowing for a free flowing conversation. Congrats for the 500.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pab429
    Spain7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host is well-prepared and asks insightful questions that keep conversations grounded in craft.
Listeners appreciate candid discussions about the editing process and publishing realities.
Guests are often top-tier writers with practical takeaways for aspiring authors.
Some listeners feel intros and pacing can be too long or interruptive at times.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#228
Hong Kong/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 528: Stuck? Ramona Ausubel Will 'Unstuck' You!
Q: What advice do you have about finding and maintaining one's voice?
Voice is a lifelong, evolving relationship with your influences and your own curiosity; you should nurture authenticity by balancing inner impulses with external ideas.
Episode 528: Stuck? Ramona Ausubel Will 'Unstuck' You!
Q: How do you handle rejection and keep going?
She emphasizes that rejection is unavoidable, normalizes the feeling, and suggests using it to reassess and pivot rather than letting it stop you.
Episode 528: Stuck? Ramona Ausubel Will 'Unstuck' You!
Q: Why are people so attracted to the idea of being a writer in the first place?
Ramona explains there are two pulls: the need to communicate intimately and the appeal of a solitary, reflective process that happens before sharing work with others.
Episode 526: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein's Literary Reading of the Universe
Q: Can you define general relativity, special relativity, and quantum mechanics for a general audience?
They are best thought of as physical models: special relativity modifies our understanding of time and space due to the finite speed of light, general relativity adds gravity and shows space-time curvature, and quantum mechanics describes microscopic phenomena where particles exhibit wave-like and particle-like properties, leading to concepts like spin and probabilistic behavior.
Episode 523: Lidia Yuknavitch Troubles the Edges
Q: First question came from someone in the audience, and they said, is there such a thing as sharing too much information and worrying about family reaction?
The guest suggests patterns and rhythms to give readers a break, weaving in humor and big metaphors to rest the heart while telling a difficult truth, and to avoid harming or overwhelming the reader.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Creative Nonfiction Podcast

What is The Creative Nonfiction Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, craft-focused show that centers on narrative nonfiction across writing, publishing, journalism, memoir, and related media. Episodes consistently explore the mechanics of writing, reporting, and storytelling—balancing practical craft, editing, and personal narratives with industry context. Listeners are likely aspiring and established writers, editors, and journalists who want concrete guidance, honest discussions about obstacles, and strategies for sustaining long-form work. Notable strengths include deep craft conversations with a rotating roster of acclaimed authors, editors, and journalists, along with a willingness to address the emotional and logistical realities of long-form storytelling. For potential listeners, the mix... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Creative Nonfiction Podcast:

1. Mixed Signals from Semafor Media
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. The Interview
4. Otherppl with Brad Listi
5. Scene on Radio

How many episodes of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast are there?

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast launched 14 years ago and published 554 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

Recent guests on The Creative Nonfiction Podcast include:

1. Austin Kleon
2. Sayward Darby
3. Maccabee Montandon
4. Dan John
5. Ramona Ausubel
6. Isaac Fitzgerald
7. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
8. Mary Cain

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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