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The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara

Brendan O'Meara
Narrative Journalism
Writing
Journalism
Storytelling
Creativity
Creative Nonfiction
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!

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Latest Episodes

"They want the secret, and the secret is little and often over the long haul," says Dan John, author of several books on strength and fitness, most recently The Fitness Forge: Master Coaching Tools that Build Real Strength.

Today we’ve got a bit of ... more

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"It all has to come from within. So we each have to be in conversation with ourselves and with the work. It's really a relationship, not a project," says Ramona Ausubel, author of Unstuck: A Writer's Guide.

Today we have Ramona Ausubel, author of Un... more

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"I say this all the time, and I'll say it again: the truth is a block of wood, and I know the sculpture I carve out of that block of wood looks different than the sculpture my mother carves out of that block of wood, right? But the truth — the block ... more

YouTube

"This is also me saying here's a literary reading of the universe through physics. There's a way you can read The Edge of Space-Time as me doing close-reading for a few 100 pages. I'm close-reading equations. I'm close-reading Dirac. I'm close-readi... more

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Recent Guests

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'
Lidia Yuknavitch
Author of eight books; memoirist and essayist; founder of Corporeal Writing
Corporeal Writing; author
Episode: Episode 523: Lidia Yuknavitch Troubles the Edges
Giri Nathan
Staff writer, co-founder of Defector, author of Changeover
Defector, Changeover
Episode: Episode 521: Giri Nathan Takes the Insider-Outsider Perspective
Renee Hess
Founder of Black Girl Hockey Club (BGHC); author of Blackness is a Gift I Can Give Her
Black Girl Hockey Club
Episode: Episode 520: R. Renee Hess on the Work that Inspires her and the Founding of Black Girl Hockey Club
Stephen Wood
Journalist, author of The Buffalo Raiders/Atavist story
Atavist/American journalism outlets
Episode: Episode 519: Stephen Wood's 'Ocean's 11' Anti-Government Caper
Laura LeBleu
Co-founder of Geezer Magazine, writer/producer
Geezer Magazine
Episode: Episode 518: All Hail Gen-X with Geezer Magazine!

Host

Brendan O'Meara
Host of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 212 ratings
  • 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 States4 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 States4 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
    Spain6 months ago
  • Too Much

    All the interjections in this show destroy the flow of the interviews, as well as any illusion of intimacy.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ManInProgress
    United States9 months ago
  • I love this podcast so much

    As an aspiring author myself, having access to a constant stream and massive archive of talented writers, talking through how they made their sausage, and all the ups and downs in the process is extremely valuable. And inspiring. Brendan is doing great work here.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dfctfdsgjhf
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Voices strong on craft, with guests who are clearly seasoned writers and editors.
Shows are consistently insightful for writers, with practical takeaways for craft and publishing.
Listeners praise the host's preparedness and thoughtful questions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#108
Ireland/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?

The show centers on conversations with writers, editors, and journalists who shape narrative nonfiction, memoir, and investigative storytelling. Guests range from authors and editors to freelance journalists and publishing professionals, exploring craft, reporting methods, and the realities of building a long-form career. Listeners often gain practical insights into reporting, structure, and the emotional elements of storytelling, making it valuable for both aspiring and established writers. A notable strength is its ability to pull back the curtain on the craft through candid discussions with industry practitioners across publishing, editing, and journalism.

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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. Fresh Air
2. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
3. KQED's Forum
4. On Being with Krista Tippett
5. 10% Happier with Dan Harris

How many episodes of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast are there?

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast launched 14 years ago and published 550 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. Ramona Ausubel
2. Isaac Fitzgerald
3. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
4. Mary Cain
5. Lidia Yuknavitch
6. Giri Nathan
7. Renee Hess
8. Stephen Wood

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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