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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
The Quickening
Climate Change
Murder Farm Massacre
Young Woman and the Sea
The Atavist
Narrative Journalism
Motherhood
Thwaites Glacier
Antarctica
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!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes536Founded14 years ago
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Latest Episodes

"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

YouTube

"Come to editors with solutions, not with problems. A lot of young freelance writers will be like, 'Hey, hook me up with this editor. Do this and do that.' And I'm like, 'I can connect you, but you better have pitches. If you don't come with the idea... more

YouTube

"I wanted to keep reporting, and I'm like, it's not ready yet. And [a friend] reminded me over and over that this is a sales pitch. It's a proposal. The agents and publishers just want to know you can put a story together and tell a story that's long... more

YouTube

"A certain sort of dogged obsessiveness seems to help. I remember hearing Tobias Wolfe speak once that talent is wonderful and widely distributed on Earth, but sitting down and putting in the hours is where it's at," says Mary Margaret Alvarado, who... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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'
Alison Lyn Miller
Freelance journalist and author
Norton
Episode: Episode 508: Motivated by Slights and Play Fighting in Our Underwear with Alison Lyn Miller

Host

Brendan O'Meara
Host and creator, known for his engaging interviews that explore the craft of writing and storytelling, connecting with a diverse range of authors and journalists.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 204 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 Statesa month 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 States6 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 States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There are mixed feelings about the host's style; while many admire his sincerity and preparation, some find the delivery occasionally overly energetic, particularly in introductions.
Listeners appreciate the deep dives into the craft of writing and storytelling, with many highlighting Brendan's ability to foster engaging conversations with guests who offer valuable insights into their creative processes.
Overall, listeners find the content to be enriching and informative, especially for anyone interested in creative nonfiction, with a consistent emphasis on practical advice for writers.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#225
Philippines/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Episode 510: Daniel Pollack-Pelzner's Doesn't Waste His Shot in Lin-Manuel Miranda Biography
Q: How do you earn scenes that you don't want to see on the cutting room floor?
You need to determine what Lin-Manuel is learning from any particular story to decide if it deserves a place in the book.
Episode 510: Daniel Pollack-Pelzner's Doesn't Waste His Shot in Lin-Manuel Miranda Biography
Q: What did that pitch look like to get him on board to let you write about him?
It was a total cold call email that captivated Lin-Manuel's interest by focusing on the theme of education in his life.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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 weekly exploration into the art of storytelling, this podcast features conversations with prominent figures in narrative journalism, memoir, and creative nonfiction. Through insightful interviews, listeners gain access to the experiences and techniques of an array of writers and creators, exploring themes such as identity, ambition, and the emotional challenges inherent in the writing process. The discussions often reveal personal anecdotes and craft advice, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in nonfiction storytelling. Each episode serves not only as a platform for guests to share their work but also provides aspiring writers with practical insights and inspiration.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Creative Nonfiction Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Creative Nonfiction Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Creative Nonfiction Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Creative Nonfiction Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Creative Nonfiction Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

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

1. The Book Review
2. The New Yorker Radio Hour
3. Fresh Air
4. Radio Atlantic
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast are there?

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast launched 14 years ago and published 536 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Creative Nonfiction Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Creative Nonfiction Podcast?

Recent guests on The Creative Nonfiction Podcast include:

1. Peter Ward
2. Tony Rehagen
3. Melanie D.G. Kaplan
4. Mary Margaret Alvarado
5. Seyward Darby
6. Jane Marie Chen
7. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner
8. Howard Bryant

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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