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The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara

Brendan O'Meara
Bleak Man
Larry Scully
Levi Axtell
Child Sexual Abuse
Vigilante Justice
Climate Change
The Quickening
Murder Farm Massacre
Young Woman and the Sea
The Atavist
Narrative Journalism
Antarctica
Motherhood
Thwaites Glacier
Polar Exploration
Oregon
Peonage
Memoir Writing
Women's Sports
Daddy's Little Stranger

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!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes539Founded14 years ago
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Latest Episodes

"You can't go and find all of our stories. You can't just click a button and and be served up. You really have to appreciate them in person by holding the magazine in your hands, and that, to me, makes it more special," says Laura LeBleu, co-founder ... more

YouTube

"Those people who shaped the people are often more important than the subject, because they have insight into this young person that they were working with. It's crucial," says Keith O'Brien, bestselling author of Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Imp... more

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"A book is not a long magazine article, and it took me a long, long time to understand that, to even understand what it means. It's something that you can say, but you have to live it to understand it," says Tom Junod, author of the memoir In the Day... more

YouTube

"The worst thing you can do is pitch a topic, not a story. You start with a topic. I like to talk to a few people before I write a pitch, which can be difficult because people you're asking to talk to don't know where it's going. I just look for topi... more

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Recent Guests

Tom Junod
Writer for GQ, Esquire and ESPN; author of The Memoir
Independent/Various magazines
Episode: Episode 516: Tom Junod Wrote One of the Best Memoirs You'll Ever Read
Peter Ward
Writer for The Atavist; author of The Consequential Frontier and The Price of Immortality
The Atavist
Episode: Episode 515: Pitching Stories and Not Topics with Atavist Writer Peter Ward
Tony Rehagen
Freelance journalist known for narrative nonfiction and features in various outlets
Freelance journalist
Episode: Episode 514: Tony Rehagen is Never and Always on the Clock
Melanie D.G. Kaplan
Journalist and author of 'Lab Dog,' an exploration of animal research through the lens of her beagle, Hammy.
Hachette
Episode: Episode 513: Cutting the Toothbrush in Half with Melanie D.G. Kaplan
Mary Margaret Alvarado
Multifaceted writer known for her poetry and nonfiction; author of the poetry collection Hey Folly
Episode: Episode 512: Mary Margaret Alvarado Likes Her Drafts Ice Cold
Seyward Darby
Editor-in-Chief at The Atavist Magazine
The Atavist Magazine
Episode: Episode 512: Mary Margaret Alvarado Likes Her Drafts Ice Cold
Jane Marie Chen
Author of 'Like a Wave We Break' and former CEO of Embrace Global
Harmony Publishing
Episode: Episode 511: Writing to Leave the Past in the Past with Jane Marie Chen
Daniel Pollack-Pelzner
Author of Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Education of an Artist
Simon & Schuster
Episode: Episode 510: Daniel Pollack-Pelzner's Doesn't Waste His Shot in Lin-Manuel Miranda Biography
Howard Bryant
Best-selling author and sports journalist
Episode: Episode 509: Howard Bryant Masterfully Braids History in 'Kings and Pawns'

Host

Brendan O'Meara
Host of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 206 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 States2 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 States2 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
    Spain4 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 States7 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 States10 months 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
#56
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#140
Ireland/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 516: Tom Junod Wrote One of the Best Memoirs You'll Ever Read
Q: When did the shape of the memoir start to reveal its true form?
The memoir began to crystallize when Tom wrote the waking-up section about his father's ankles, shifting from a broad family history to a personal exploration of his relationship with his father and the secrets surrounding him.
Episode 516: Tom Junod Wrote One of the Best Memoirs You'll Ever Read
Q: What's your typical approach to interviewing people?
Tom describes entering interviews with a sense of curiosity rather than a fixed list, aiming for a conversational exchange that reveals what he is curious about, and allowing voices to emerge naturally rather than scripting every detail.
Episode 511: Writing to Leave the Past in the Past with Jane Marie Chen
Q: How did you reach the go from the anger and the resentment to finding that compassion?
Understanding their histories and seeing how violence trickles into societies helped me find compassion for my parents.
Episode 511: Writing to Leave the Past in the Past with Jane Marie Chen
Q: What was it like for you having to revisit so much of the sort of the original trauma of your childhood?
It was hard, especially the childhood stuff. To be a good writer, you have to get into the visceral parts of the experience.
Episode 509: Howard Bryant Masterfully Braids History in 'Kings and Pawns'
Q: When do you know it's a book?
You know it's a book when you have a compelling idea, the right character connections, and enough material to build a narrative around those characters.

Audience Metrics

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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. Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry
2. 99% Invisible
3. On Being with Krista Tippett
4. The Moth
5. Death, Sex & Money

How many episodes of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast are there?

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast launched 14 years ago and published 539 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. Tom Junod
2. Peter Ward
3. Tony Rehagen
4. Melanie D.G. Kaplan
5. Mary Margaret Alvarado
6. Seyward Darby
7. Jane Marie Chen
8. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner

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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