424 episodes

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 @CNFPod and visit patreon.com/cnfpod to support!

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara Brendan O'Meara

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 140 Ratings

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 @CNFPod and visit patreon.com/cnfpod to support!

    Episode 403: Elizabeth Rush Moves Toward Exactitude

    Episode 403: Elizabeth Rush Moves Toward Exactitude

    Elizabeth Rush is the author of The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth (Milkweed).

    Liz talks about writing toward exactitude, lyricing her way through sticking points, being a character in her own work, and voice.

    For a couple weeks, visit combeyond.bu.edu [https://flight.beehiiv.net/v2/clicks/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vY29tYmV5b25kLmJ1LmVkdT91dG1fc291cmNlPXJhZ2VhZ2FpbnN0dGhlYWxnb3JpdGhtLmJlZWhpaXYuY29tJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09cmVmZXJyYWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW1pc3Rha2VzLWFzLW1lbnRvcnMiLCJwb3N0X2lkIjoiYjg4MTlmNTMtYmE4MC00MjFiLThhYjctMDNhZDQwZTFiOWI5IiwicHVibGljYXRpb25faWQiOiJjYjc1YjEyMS0zZDVlLTQ3ZDMtODYwYS05ODIzYmQwNzRjZWQiLCJ2aXNpdF90b2tlbiI6IjYyZDgzY2E4LTI5ZTMtNDY1OS1iNGJhLTQxNmNiNDhiOWQ1NiIsImlhdCI6MTcwOTMyMzY4NiwiaXNzIjoib3JjaGlkIn0.3nMReij851otD4eDRm4fTFAqA1mdlcnTDd_WB1No-8I], use the promo code NARRATIVE25 at checkout and get 25% your tuition for the two-day Power of Narrative Conference. And, no, I don't get any dough.

    Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm [https://rageagainstthealgorithm.beehiiv.com/]

    Show notes: brendanomeara.com [http://brendanomeara.com/]

    Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads

    Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod [http://patreon.com/cnfpod]

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Episode 402: The Stentorian-Voiced Dudely Bro-ness of Rob Harvilla

    Episode 402: The Stentorian-Voiced Dudely Bro-ness of Rob Harvilla

    Rob Harvilla (@harvilla on X) is a staff writer for The Ringer and the host and creator of the long-running 60 Songs that Explain the 90s. His first book is 60 Songs that Explain the 90s.

    We talk about the end of the podcast, the evolution of voice, and the maze he purposefully escapes each episode.

    For a couple weeks, visit combeyond.bu.edu [https://flight.beehiiv.net/v2/clicks/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vY29tYmV5b25kLmJ1LmVkdT91dG1fc291cmNlPXJhZ2VhZ2FpbnN0dGhlYWxnb3JpdGhtLmJlZWhpaXYuY29tJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09cmVmZXJyYWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW1pc3Rha2VzLWFzLW1lbnRvcnMiLCJwb3N0X2lkIjoiYjg4MTlmNTMtYmE4MC00MjFiLThhYjctMDNhZDQwZTFiOWI5IiwicHVibGljYXRpb25faWQiOiJjYjc1YjEyMS0zZDVlLTQ3ZDMtODYwYS05ODIzYmQwNzRjZWQiLCJ2aXNpdF90b2tlbiI6IjYyZDgzY2E4LTI5ZTMtNDY1OS1iNGJhLTQxNmNiNDhiOWQ1NiIsImlhdCI6MTcwOTMyMzY4NiwiaXNzIjoib3JjaGlkIn0.3nMReij851otD4eDRm4fTFAqA1mdlcnTDd_WB1No-8I], use the promo code NARRATIVE25 at checkout and get 25% your tuition for the two-day Power of Narrative Conference. And, no, I don't get any dough.

    Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm [https://rageagainstthealgorithm.beehiiv.com/]

    Show notes: brendanomeara.com [http://brendanomeara.com/]

    Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads

    Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod [http://patreon.com/cnfpod]

    • 1 hr 9 min
    Episode 401: Jessica Camille Aguirre on Racking Up Rejections, Online Nothing Burgers, and The Atavist's "Watch It Burn"

    Episode 401: Jessica Camille Aguirre on Racking Up Rejections, Online Nothing Burgers, and The Atavist's "Watch It Burn"

    Jessica Camille Aguirre (@jessicacaguirre) is a freelance journalist and wrote "Watch it Burn" for The Atavist Magazine.

    In this episode we talk about racking up rejections, voice, and what makes climate stories drag.

    For a couple weeks, visit combeyond.bu.edu [https://flight.beehiiv.net/v2/clicks/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vY29tYmV5b25kLmJ1LmVkdT91dG1fc291cmNlPXJhZ2VhZ2FpbnN0dGhlYWxnb3JpdGhtLmJlZWhpaXYuY29tJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09cmVmZXJyYWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW1pc3Rha2VzLWFzLW1lbnRvcnMiLCJwb3N0X2lkIjoiYjg4MTlmNTMtYmE4MC00MjFiLThhYjctMDNhZDQwZTFiOWI5IiwicHVibGljYXRpb25faWQiOiJjYjc1YjEyMS0zZDVlLTQ3ZDMtODYwYS05ODIzYmQwNzRjZWQiLCJ2aXNpdF90b2tlbiI6IjYyZDgzY2E4LTI5ZTMtNDY1OS1iNGJhLTQxNmNiNDhiOWQ1NiIsImlhdCI6MTcwOTMyMzY4NiwiaXNzIjoib3JjaGlkIn0.3nMReij851otD4eDRm4fTFAqA1mdlcnTDd_WB1No-8I], use the promo code NARRATIVE25 at checkout and get 25% your tuition for the two-day Power of Narrative Conference. And, no, I don't get any dough.

    Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm [https://rageagainstthealgorithm.beehiiv.com/]

    Show notes: brendanomeara.com [http://brendanomeara.com/]

    Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads

    Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod [http://patreon.com/cnfpod]

    • 1 hr 15 min
    Episode 400: Richard Blanco on Fever Writing and Finding the Poem within the Poem

    Episode 400: Richard Blanco on Fever Writing and Finding the Poem within the Poem

    Richard Blanco was the Presidential Inaugural poet at Pres. Obama's second inauguration, a winner of the National Humanities Award medal, and the author of Homeland of My Body (Beacon Press).

    Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm [https://rageagainstthealgorithm.beehiiv.com/]

    Show notes: brendanomeara.com [http://brendanomeara.com/]

    Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads

    Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod [http://patreon.com/cnfpod]

    • 1 hr 15 min
    Now in Paperback: 'Simple is the Way to Go' with Mirin Fader

    Now in Paperback: 'Simple is the Way to Go' with Mirin Fader

    This originally aired on December 10, 2021 as Episode 291.

    Mirin Fader is the author of Giannis: The Improbably Rise of an MVP and a staff writer writing features for The Ringer. She is @mirinfader on social media.

    Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm [https://rageagainstthealgorithm.beehiiv.com/]

    Show notes: brendanomeara.com [http://brendanomeara.com/]

    Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads

    Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod [http://patreon.com/cnfpod]

    • 1 hr 9 min
    Now in Paperback: Leslie Jamison — Make It Scream, Make It Burn, and the Bounded Infinity of Nonfiction

    Now in Paperback: Leslie Jamison — Make It Scream, Make It Burn, and the Bounded Infinity of Nonfiction

    This originally aired on September 27, 2019 as Episode 170.

    Leslie Jamison is the best selling author of several books including Make it Scream, Make it Burn. She has a new book out (not talked about in this paperback edition) called Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story.

    Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm [https://rageagainstthealgorithm.beehiiv.com/]

    Show notes: brendanomeara.com [http://brendanomeara.com/]

    Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads

    Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod [http://patreon.com/cnfpod]

    • 50 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
140 Ratings

140 Ratings

Curious Chimp ,

Sublime Sustenance

I’ve just recently followed this podcast and what a joy. Brendan does an exceptional job keeping the conversations real. It’s clear his subjects trust and respect Brendan’s intentions and curiosities about writing in general and their writing life specifically. Listening to this podcast often feels like listening in on two writing friends connecting after a while apart excited to share their discoveries and passions with each other. Honest and generous insights into the wide variety of creative lives. Good stuff.

LeviJustinRogers ,

The most metal podcast on creative nonfiction

The best/most metal podcast for those interested in writing CNF or hearing from some of their favorite CNF authors. I love Brendan’s style. I love his rages against the algorithms and authenticity about the writing life. I always learn about new and interesting books/authors while listening. He also has a great newsletter.

NHCWIK ,

Love this Podcast

One of the best writing/interviewing podcasts out there on creative non-fiction writing and its authors. Brendan has a wonderful voice and personality to listen to and his questions are thoughtful and relevant. He conducts his interviews in a manner that make them sound more like easy going conversations. Brendan is funny and real and so are his guests. Conversations range from writing lifestyles and tactical advice to general discussions about the genre. Great listens all the time. Thanks Brendan.

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