The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara - podcast cover

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara

Brendan O'Mearabrendanomeara.com

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 Threads and visit patreon.com/cnfpod to support!

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Episodes

Episode 252: 60 Songs that Explain the 90s ... and The Ringer's Rob Harvilla

There's a stealth memoir quality to The Ringer's Rob Harvilla on his incredible podcast "60 Songs that Explain the 90s." Yes, they are songs that define the decade, but they are also songs that define him. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and subscribe wherever you podcast. Consider becoming a member at patreon.com/cnfpod to get exclusive access to the audio magazine and other goodies. Shop around!

Apr 09, 20211 hr 1 min

Episode 250: Lindsay Jones and Her Atavist Story 'The Lives of Others'

Canadian writer and journalist Lindsay Jones stops by HQ to talk about her Atavist story The Milk Box Babies about the cottage hospital industry of rural Canada and the secret that upended two families. I also speak with editor-in-chief Seyward Darby. Subscribe to The Atavist and the podcast. Keep the conversation going @CNFPod on Twitter and IG and consider supporting the show at patreon.com/cnfpod.

Mar 31, 202145 minEp. 250

Episode 248: Humble and Important Gifts with Bronwen Dickey

"My mind is a very bad neighborhood and I should not go there alone," says Bronwen Dickey. She is the author of Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon, a Best American Sports Writing notable pick, and the journalist behind many pieces that have appeared in Esquire and Outside Magazine. She's my best friend and I'm so happy to have her back for her fourth trip to the podcast. In this episode we riff about: The arrow going out Humble and important gifts Journalism as an act of service Social m...

Mar 19, 20211 hr 8 minEp. 248

Episode 247: Jason Naylor, In Living Color

"How do you find your style? How do you find your voice? And the truth is, I think that you don't find it until you stop trying to find it, you just make work," says Jason Naylor, @jasonnaylor , author and illustrator of Live Life Colorfully: 99 Ideas to Add Joy, Positivity, and Creativity to Your Life. It is published by Chronicle Prism. Newsletter: brendanomeara.com Patreon for audio mag and other goodies: patreon.com/cnfpod...

Mar 12, 202154 min

Episode 245: Phil Hoad and his Atavist Story 'Cat and Mouse'

The journalist Phil Hoad comes by to talk about this Atavist story "Cat and Mouse" about a rash of pet murders in London. We're also joined by lead editor Jonah Ogles, who unpacks Phil's pitch and what made the story irresistible. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and sign up for the monthly CNFin' newsletter at brendanomeara.com .

Mar 01, 202147 minEp. 245

Episode 244: Jackie MacMullan on the Fear of Failure, Writing that Teaches You, and the Final Chapter of 'Best American Sports Writing'

Jackie MacMullan, columnist for ESPN and a long-time writer for The Boston Globe, stops by the show to talk about being the final guest editor for The Best American Sports Writing. Show notes are at brendanomeara.com . Care to support the show a little more? Become a member at patreon.com/cnfpod where you'll get exclusive access to the audio magazine, transcripts, and more!

Feb 26, 202159 minEp. 244

Episode 242: 'How Are You Going to Change the World?' asks Damon Brown

Damon Brown ( @browndamon ) returns to talk about his new book Build From Now: Know Your Power, Know Your Abundance and Nourish the World. Social media: @CNFPod Patreon.com/cnfpod Show notes and newsletter at brendanomeara.com This show is brought to you by Vol. III of Casualty of Words , a writing podcast for people in a hurry....

Feb 12, 20211 hr 8 minEp. 242

Episode 241: Carolyn Holbrook and the Indispensable Nature of Writing and Teaching

Carolyn Holbrook is the author of T ell Me Your Names and I Will Testify: Essays (University of Minnesota Press). We talk about how teaching and writing keeps her sane, not giving a rip about winning awards (and winning one anyway!), and how she arrived at linked essays as a way to write what is, in effect, a memoir. Show notes are at brendanomeara.com and if you want to break out some cash, we've got some amazing goodies at patreon.com/cnfpod. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod...

Feb 05, 202156 min

Episode 240: Scott Eden Pans for, Finds Gold in his Atavist Story 'The Gilded Age'

Investigative journalist Scott Eden returns to the podcast to talk about his Atavist story " The Gilded Age ." This is a new and exciting partnership with The Atavist Magazine where we at CNF Pod HQ will feature The Atavist's featured writer and featured story for that month. Check out this story and others at magazine.atavist.com and subscribe to read blockbuster journalism, beautifully told, beautifully designed. Follow @atavist , @CNFPod and @BrendanOMeara . Show notes are at brendanomeara.co...

Jan 31, 202144 min

Episode 239: Alexandra DiPalma Leads the Podcast Workshop

Alexandra DiPalma, the boss behind Domino Sound and the leader of the Podcast Workshop, is back to talk all things podcasting! Check out akimbo.com/thepodcastworkshop to learn more and if you use the link in the show notes at brendanomeara.com , you could take advantage of a killer discount on the seventh iteration of the workshop. We talk about her winning the golden ticket by working with Seth Godin, launching her own company, and much, much more. Keep the conversation going on social media @C...

Jan 29, 202150 min

Episode 238: Ashkan Soltani Stone and Natale Zappia Rock Out with 'Rez Metal'

Ashkan Soltani Stone and Natale Zappia co-write the book Rez Metal: Inside the Navajo Nation Heavy Metal Scene (University of Nebraska Press). They riff about getting out of the way of the story and the collaborative process. Show notes are at brendanomeara.com and consider becoming a CNFin' member over at Patreon, patreon.com/cnfpod . Keep the conversation going @ CNFPod and let us know what's on your mind....

Jan 22, 20211 hr 7 min

Episode 237: A Fiction/Non/Fiction Festival with V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell

Podcasters and writers V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell come by CNF Pod HQ to talk about their writing nonfiction, writing novels, and producing their wonderful podcast Fiction/Non/Fiction. It is part of the Lithub Radio Network. Follow the show @CNFPod and if you dig this CNFin' enterprise, consider the killer options at Patreon page, patreon.com/cnfpod.

Jan 15, 202155 min

Episode 236: Michael Leviton on Quantity Over Quality, Play and His New Book 'To Be Honest'

"Writing a book could potentially be very tedious, but I'm writing to make myself laugh or cry. If I'm not crying or laughing, I'm like, so bored," says Michael Leviton (@michaelleviton). He's the author of the memoir To Be Honest. It is published by Abrams Press. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and consider being a member of the Patreon community, patreon.com/cnfpod .

Jan 08, 20211 hr 9 min

Episode 235: Athletic Brewing's Mason Gravely says 'Make It Easy to Say Yes'

Athletic Brewing's Mason Gravely (@alive_adventures on IG) is here to talk about his experience on the Without Compromise podcast he produces for Athletic, as well as the Adventure Sports Podcast, biking across the country, nearly DYING, and lots more. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and consider joining our Patreon community to support the audio magazine and the continued production of this here show. Patreon.com/cnfpod.

Jan 01, 20211 hr 27 min

Episode 234: Lamorna Ash Goes Out to Sea in 'Dark, Salt, Clear'

Lamorna Ash (@LamornaAsh) is the author of Dark, Salt, Clear: The Life of a Fishing Town (Bloombury). Her background in anthropology served her well as she immersed herself in the fishing town of Newlyn. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and consider being a CNFin' member on patreon.com/cnfpod . Support for this show goes to Wudan Yan and Jenni Gritters of The Writers' Co-op Podcast . Show notes can be found at brendanomeara.com ....

Dec 25, 20201 hr 13 min

Episode 233: Lee Gutkind on Magical Moments, the Rope Test, and 'My Last Eight Thousand Days'

Lee Gutkind, author of several books and, most recently, the memoir My Last Eight Thousand Days: An American Male in His Seventies (University of Georgia Press), returns to the show to talk about voice, starting his day, the eternal "rope test," magical moments, and the optimistic days ahead. Promotional support is provided by The Writers' Co-op Podcast . Consider becoming a member over at patreon.com/cnfpod for exclusive access to the magazine, transcripts, and much, much more. Show notes to th...

Dec 18, 20201 hr 9 min

Episode 232: Change is the Only Constant with Glenn Stout

Glenn Stout returns to the podcast to talk about the 30th and final edition of Best American Sports writing. His new book, Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid, is available for pre-order. Promotional support for the podcast is shared with The Writers' Co-op , a business podcast for writers. It is hosted by Wudan Yan and Jenni Gritters. Consider supporting the podcast by becoming a member at patreon.com/cnfpod ....

Dec 11, 202042 min

Episode 231: Pete Croatto on Listening, Showing His Work, 'From Hang Time to Prime Time,' and Adding that Ding

So thrilled to have Pete Croatto (@petecroatto) back on the podcast after a 202-episode drought. His new book, From Hang Time to Prime Time (Atria Books), is out now. In more than 300 interviews, Pete tells the story of how NBA became the behemoth it is today. But it all started in the late 1970s to the late 1980s. You can now become a CNFin' Member by hitting up patreon.com/cnfpod and keep the conversation going on social media, @CNFPod . Show notes, get your show notes! at brendanomeara.com. P...

Dec 04, 20201 hr 29 min

Isolation

The first Creative Nonfiction Podcast Audio Magazine is on the theme of ISOLATION: Essays about feeling alone . We bring you essays from Damon Brown, Magin LaSov Gregg, Gina Cardarelli, Kristina Gaddy, and April Nance. You'll want to share this with your fellow CNFers because we're going to want to showcase the beautiful work done by these five authors, and we want to open up the possibilities to others. This issue will be free and available for all time on the CNF Pod feed, but in order to acce...

Dec 01, 202044 min

Episode 230: Meichi Ng, the Barely Functional Adult behind 'Barely Functional Adult'

Meichi Ng (@barelyfunctionaladult) came by the show to talk about her incredible illustrated memoir Barely Functional Adult: It'll All Make Sense Eventually (Harper Perennial). To support the show, you can now become a member at patreon.com/cnfpod . Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and check out the show notes at brendanomeara.com . In this episode, we talk about the scary nature of publishing, how she developed her character for the comic, quitting, and holding onto positive ...

Nov 27, 202054 min

Episode 229: A License to be Curious with 'Fossil Men' author Kermit Pattison

Being a journalist gave Kermit Pattison the license to be curious. He is the author of Fossil Men: The Quest for the Oldest Skeleton and the Origins of Humankind. It is published by William Morrow. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and be sure to head over to brendanomeara.com for show notes and to sign up for the monthly newsletter.

Nov 20, 20201 hr 6 min

Episode 228: Annie Duke Tells You How to Decide

Annie Duke is the author of How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices. You can follow her @annieduke on Twitter and visit her website annieduke.com. Keep the conversation going by linking up to @CNFPod on social media and sign up for the monthly newsletters at brendanomeara.com. Reading recommendations, podcast news, and a CNFin' Happy Hour for subscribers only!

Nov 13, 202048 min

Episode 227: The Futility of Reassurance and Being on the Hook with Seth Godin

"That's what the practice is. It's for people who have read enough blog posts or books to know the method, but for whatever reason look straight at the method and blink," says Seth Godin. His 20th book is The Practice: Shipping Creative Work and it's a book for our troubled times. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and head over to brendanomeara.com for show notes and to sign up for my monthly newsletter.

Nov 06, 202049 min

Episode 226: Edward Parnell's In Search of a Haunted Country in 'Ghostland'

Edward Parnell (@edward_parnell) comes by the show to talk Kurt Vonnegut, birds, grief, and his book "Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country." It is published by William Collins. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod across the Big 3. Be sure you head over to brendanomeara.com for show notes and to sign up for my monthly newsletter. First of the month. No spam. Can't beat it.

Oct 30, 202055 min

Episode 225: Amalia Andrade Dances with Her Fears

"When you are being controlled by a fear, then you are not being yourself," says Amalia Andrade, @amaliaandrade_ on Twitter. Amalia is the author and illustrator behind What You Think About When You Bite Your Nails: A Fear and Anxiety Workbook (Penguin Life, 2020). Subscribe to the podcast wherever you download them and keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod. Consider leaving a kind review on Apple Podcasts and if you do, I'll read it on the air!...

Oct 23, 202051 min
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