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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
Atavist
Memoir
Freelance Journalism
Cartooning
Creative Writing

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!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes556Founded14 years ago
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Latest Episodes

"One of the things that Patrick Radden Keefe told me was, when I'm doing interviews, I'm always thinking about the anecdote that I will tell someone later at a bar, this is the thing I talk about. That's helpful because there's so much to work with e... more

YouTube

"The mission of a nonfiction writer is to get the damn thing done," says Wil Haygood, author of several books, including his latest The War Within A War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home.

I’m so thrilled to welcome back Wil Haygood to the s... more

YouTube

"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

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Recent Guests

Wil Haygood
Award-winning journalist and author; author of The War Within A War
Knopf (publisher)
Episode: Episode 534: Shoeleather Reporting and Exploring the Riddles of America with Wil Haygood
Susan Orlean
Author and journalist, noted for The Orchid Thief, Rin Tin Tin, Library Book, Joyride
Episode: Episode 533: Susan Orlean on Her 'Best' Rejection, Coming Up with Ideas, and Letting the Reporting Meander
Barry Meier
Award-winning investigative journalist; author of Pain Killer, Spooked, Missing Man
The Atavist; The New York Times (previous)
Episode: Episode 532: Barry Meier Likes to be Open to Surprises
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'
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

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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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 States6 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
    Spain8 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
#152
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#182
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#244
Singapore/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 533: Susan Orlean on Her 'Best' Rejection, Coming Up with Ideas, and Letting the Reporting Meander
Q: How do you balance discovering meaning in material versus shaping it toward a preconceived meaning?
Meaning should emerge from the material, though you start with a sense of why the story is meaningful; you must stay loose and allow the material to unfold its own sense of meaning rather than forcing a fixed interpretation.
Episode 533: Susan Orlean on Her 'Best' Rejection, Coming Up with Ideas, and Letting the Reporting Meander
Q: When you're working with material that spans decades and multiple voices, how do you decide what to leave out so the story doesn't lose its center?
You guide the reader by staying aware of where they are in the narrative, manage timeframes and characters carefully, and curate the material so the core meaning remains clear without overwhelming the reader; being willing to kill 'darlings' and trim extraneous detail is essential to preserve center.
Episode 532: Barry Meier Likes to be Open to Surprises
Q: What initially drew you to investigative journalism and reporting over writing?
Barry explains a lifelong curiosity about uncovering facts and the process of reporting as the driving force, with writing often being the more challenging but essential stage.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
2. Writers on Writing
3. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
4. The Book Review
5. Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry

How many episodes of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast are there?

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast launched 14 years ago and published 556 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. Wil Haygood
2. Susan Orlean
3. Barry Meier
4. Austin Kleon
5. Maccabee Montandon
6. Dan John
7. Ramona Ausubel
8. Isaac Fitzgerald

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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