Memoir Nation

Brooke Warner and Grant Faulkner

Memoir Writing

Memoir

Writing

Publishing Industry

Identity

Aging

Writing Retreats

Trauma

Mental Health

Creative Writing

Writing Process

Grief

Nanowrimo

Rejection

New Year's Resolutions

Storytelling

Poetry

Memoir Nation

Memory

Parenting

Memoir Nation: Weekly Inspiration for Writers is an extension of the Memoir Nation community hosted by Brooke Warner and Grant Faulkner, two friends and colleagues who bring a community-minded sensibility to the writing journey. Originally launched as Write-minded in 2018, this is a weekly writing podcast that focuses on memoir and personal writing, as well as industry trends and tips and resource... more

602 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	259	Founded	8 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	ArtsBooks

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Latest Episodes

Beronda Montgomery on Memoir as Testimony

This week’s show is a nuanced exploration of the various and creative ways memoir can be an exploration of identity, culture, and history, and how in unearthing our own stories, we can discover so much about the world around us. Guest Beronda Montgom... more

Yesterday • 39 min

Ronit Plank on Memoir Advocacy

This week’s episode will be a fast favorite because guest Ronit Plank is speaking the language of a memoir advocate. We get right to the heart of so many things that make memoir special and important. Ronit speaks about coming to memoir kicking and s... more

15 Jun 2026 • 59 min • Most popular

YouTube

Eleni Sikelianos on How Subject Shapes Story

Form, form, form. We can’t stop circling it on Memoir Nation because everyone has a different approach to it. Mostly we’re taught that once you know your form, you can pour your content into it. And yet, we keep hearing from authors whose process is ... more

8 Jun 2026 • 45 min • Popular

YouTube

Beth Ann Fennelly on The Micro Memoir

If you’re a regular listener of Memoir Nation, you know we love to cover memoir in all its changing and emerging forms. The micro memoir is a form all its own—different from the fragmented style that’s been so popular of late. In this week’s show, we... more

1 Jun 2026 • 44 min

YouTube

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Number of Listeners

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Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Let’s Talk MemoirRonit Plank

Writers on WritingBarbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & PoetryDavid Naimon, Milkweed Editions

The Shit No One Tells You About WritingBianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

Writer's RoutineDan Simpson

Recent Guests

Beth Ann Fennelly

Poet Laureate of Mississippi (2016–2021); author of Heating & Cooling; The Irish Goodbye, Micro-Memoirs

University of Mississippi; Poet; Author

Episode: Beth Ann Fennelly on The Micro Memoir

Brandon Deyette

Writer, co-author and award-winning filmmaker

Independent filmmaker and author

Episode: Brandon Deyette on Writing in Another Voice

Ruth Reichl

Food writer, former NYT restaurant critic, Gourmet editor-in-chief

Author and journalist

Episode: Ruth Reichl on Writing You Can Taste (and it’s our 400th episode!)

Gail Butensky

Photographer and collaborator on the book

Photographer / Collaborator

Episode: Gail Butensky and Grant Faulkner on Telling Stories to Photos

Courtney Kocak

Writer, podcaster, comedian; author of Girl Gone Wild

Independent author

Episode: Courtney Kocak on Writing Openly About Sex

Danielle Bainbridge

Assistant Professor of Theatre, Black Studies, and Performance Studies

Northwestern University

Episode: Danielle Bainbridge on Defying the Formula to Find Your Form

Rich Benjamin

Author of Talk to Me, memoirist and cultural critic

Author

Episode: Rich Benjamin on Writing a Memoir Centering Events That Transpired Before You Were Born

Alicia Jo Rabins

Writer, musician, performer, feminist Torah teacher

Schocken Books (publisher)

Episode: Alicia Jo Rabins on the Spiritual Memoir

Rachel Eliza Griffiths

Writer, poet, visual artist, memoirist; author of The Flower Bearers

Author/Artist

Episode: Rachel Eliza Griffiths on Finding the Poetry in Grief

Hosts

Brooke Warner

Host of Memoir Nation, involved in publishing and author-focused community work.

Grant Faulkner

Co-host of Memoir Nation; director of NaNoWriMo, involved in editing and promoting memoir writing.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 602 ratings

i was really hoping you were going to have amanda knox and lidia yuknavitch talk to each other.
i was really hoping you were going to have amanda knox and lidia yuknavitch talk to each other. it would’ve been a fascinating conversation
Apple Podcasts
3
taymsilveira
United States4 days ago
Beautiful work
This podcast is changing my life as a writer. Thank you Brooke and Grant!
Apple Podcasts
5
carol22elaine
United States24 days ago
Grateful!!!
Loving the learning journey deep into the oceans of memoir that Brooke and Grant are leading with this great podcast.
Apple Podcasts
5
thethe1927
United States3 months ago
Invaluable
Memoir and fiction writer here. Great podcast. Not a bullseye every time, but I have learned so much from these interviews. A treasure trove.
Apple Podcasts
5
Annals of Obscurity
United States9 months ago
My favourite podcast
As a Canadian writer, speaker, financial planner, estate and legacy planner I want to share that I Love this podcast! I find the pre guest discussion with Brooke and Grant enlightening, thought provoking and makes me want to be their friend 🥰! I also thoroughly enjoy hearing from their guests as they have such a range of interesting writers, comedians, memoirists and all round great outside the box thinkers, movers and shakers!
So glad you’ve launched Memoir Nation and I look forward to your w... more
Apple Podcasts
5
Athena Planning Group
Canadaa year ago

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Listeners Say

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

Community-focused with practical writing prompts and resources.

Insightful interviews that sharpen writing craft and publishing instincts.

Strong host-partner dynamic; thoughtful, sharp questioning.

Listeners value actionable tips for submissions, structure, and audience engagement.

Guests are diverse and consistently high-caliber, keeping topics fresh.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#132	United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#202	Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#78	Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#120	Israel/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#207	Finland/Arts
Apple Podcasts	#245	Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Beth Ann Fennelly on The Micro Memoir

Q: You grew up Irish Catholic and you said that your upbringing was all shame and secrets for everybody. And you simply did not talk about anything ugly. How has age influenced your willingness to delve into shame and vulnerability?

Beth Ann reflects on moving from a culture of hiding to a writer's openness, arguing that aging brings less fear of vulnerability and a larger aim to understand humanity through difficult emotions, which informs her writing.

Beth Ann Fennelly on The Micro Memoir

Q: And I was wondering if you could just tell us more about that piece, and more about your editor's request, and just what this piece also says about what a writer might owe a reader, and how you realized that.

Beth Ann describes the editorial push, the ethical balance of truth-telling, and the decision to use concrete details from the autopsy to be direct about the death, which reframes reader expectations and responsibility in memoir practice.

Beth Ann Fennelly on The Micro Memoir

Q: Well, Beth Ann, there's one piece in the book I really have been dying to talk to you about because I think it's really a classic essay that everyone should read. And the piece where your editor asks you to reveal how your sister died, how did that tension shape the piece?

Beth Ann discusses how the editor Jill Bialoski urged her to reveal her sister's death, the choice to include autopsy details, and how withholding information earlier created curiosity; she ultimately uses direct truth to honor the emotional stakes while acknowledging the complexity of the story.

Beth Ann Fennelly on The Micro Memoir

Q: Cool. Well, sorry, for the sake of the thoroughness of it, if somebody sat down to write Micro-Memoir and they didn't have experience with poetry, where do you think that, like, what would be something you would say, well, it's different from a chapter that you're writing because of this?

Beth Ann explains that micro-memoir is a hybrid form with multiple literary parents and emphasizes that you should study poetry and narrative possibility, but also recognize it as a fusion that relies on compression, truth, and the right idea size to yield impact per word.

Ruth Reichl on Writing You Can Taste (and it’s our 400th episode!)

Q: how do you approach writing scenes and sensory details to make memoirs feel vivid and lived-in, especially when you're balancing truth with memory?

She explains that she uses all senses, emphasizes the role of aroma and memory, and treats memory as the driver of storytelling, sometimes using composites to protect privacy while maintaining emotional truth.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Memoir Nation

What is Memoir Nation about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Memoir Nation offers weekly conversations with a focus on memoir craft, personal writing, and industry trends. Episodes typically feature in-depth author interviews, discussions on memoir form, publishing paths from indie presses to university presses, and practical advice for writers—often closing with a Book Alley segment that highlights recent memoirs. The show stands out for its collaborative hosts, a strong emphasis on ethical storytelling, and a culture that nurtures experimentation in memoir (hybrid forms, visual memoirs, and write-prompts). This blend makes it a valuable resource for writers seeking craft guidance, publishing insights, and inspiration from a diverse roster of guests.

Listeners are likely drawn to thoughtful, craft-... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Memoir Nation?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Memoir Nation:

1. Let’s Talk Memoir
2. Writers on Writing
3. Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry
4. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
5. Writer's Routine

How many episodes of Memoir Nation are there?

Memoir Nation launched 8 years ago and published 259 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 Memoir Nation?

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What guests have appeared on Memoir Nation?

Recent guests on Memoir Nation include:

1. Beth Ann Fennelly
2. Brandon Deyette
3. Ruth Reichl
4. Gail Butensky
5. Courtney Kocak
6. Danielle Bainbridge
7. Rich Benjamin
8. Alicia Jo Rabins

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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