The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara

Jesse Springer (@springertoons) is a graphic designer and Oregon-based political cartoonist. His latest book, "Only in Oregon," is a greatest hits collection of his cartoons over the span of 26 years. You can buy the book at springerdesign.biz/books. Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Social Media: @CNFPod Show notes and newsletter: brendanomeara.com

For this month's Atavist bonus episode, I speak with Annelise Jolley and Zahara Gomez about their collaboration titled "A Feast for Lost Souls." Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: patreon.com/cnfpod Social media: @CNFPod

Issue 2 of the audio magazine "Summer" is now available on the public feed! Essays from Jake Gronsky, Matthew Denis, Carrie Hagen, and Krystina Wales, as well as three original poems by Jorah LaFleur. 

Ricky Tucker is a writer, teacher, and voguer. He's the author of And the Category Is ... New York's Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community (Beacon Press). Sponsor love: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing Social Media: @CNFPod Newsletter: brendanomeara.com Patreon.com/cnfpod

Achy Obejas is an author and poet whose latest collection is Boomerang/Bumeran, poems in English and Spanish that aim to be gender-free (tough in Spanish) while addressing immigration, displacment, love, and activism. Social media: @CNFPod, @creativenonfictionpodcast Up to 11 Newsletter: brendanomeara.com Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Sponsor love: West Virg. Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing

Jen Winston is the author behind Greedy: Notes from a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much (Atria). She's @jenerous on the socials, and you can keep the conversation going @creativenonfictionpodcast on IG and @CNFPod on Twitter. Sponsor love: West Virg. Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing Patreon love: patreon.com/cnfpod Up-to-11 Newsletter and show notes: brendanomeara.com

Tony Perrottet is a journalist and historian whose latest piece is "The Butcher of Havana" for The Atavist Magazine. patreon.com/cnfpod @CNFPod Up to 11 Newsletter

Kim H. Cross (@kimhcross) is the author of The Stahl House: Case Study House #22: The Making of a Modernist Icon (Chronicle Chroma). She is a best selling author and her work has been featured in The Years' Best Sports Writing and Best American Sports Writing, among many other places. Sponsor: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Social Media: @CNFPod (twitter) and @creativenonfictionpodcast (IG) Up to 11 Newsletter: brendanomeara.com

Jen A. Miller returns after a near-five-year absence from the show to talk about her new e-book about supercharging your freelance career. She's @byJenAMiller on Twitter. Sponsor love: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing and Casualty of Words, a writing podcast for people in a hurry. Social: @CNFPod Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Newsletter and show notes: brendanomeara.com

Jeannine Ouellette is the author of the memoir The Part That Burns (Split/Lip Press). She can be reached @msjeannineouellette on Instagram and @_elephantrock on Twitter. Show notes and the monthly newsletter are at brendanomeara.com. Social media: @CNFPod on Twitter, @creativenonfictionpodcast on IG Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod

Susan Orlean is the best selling author of The Library Book, Rin Tin Tin, and The Orchid Thief. She's a staff writer for The New Yorker and her latest collection is On Animals. Show notes and newsletter at brendanomeara.com Social Media: @CNFPod on Twitter and @creativenonfictionpodcast on Instagram.

Laura Todd Carns (@LauraToddCarns) comes by the show to talk about her Atavist feature "Searching for Mr. X." We also hear from the lead editor of the piece Seyward Darby. Visit magazine.atavist.com to read the piece and subscribe to The Atavist. Keep the conversation going @creativenonfictionpodcast on IG and @CNFPod on Twitter. Show notes and to sign up for the Up to 11 Newsletter, visit brendanomeara.com.

Athena Dixon (@AthenaDDixon) is the author of the essay collection "The Incredible Shrinking Woman."  We talk about day jobs, finding the time to write, and stringing together essays for a collection. Sponsors: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing and the Empathy Prize. Social Media: @creativenonfictionpodcast on IG and @CNFPod on Twitter. Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod

Jess Phoenix (@JessPhoenix2018) is a volcanologist and the author of Ms. Adventure: My Wild Explorations in Science, Lava, and Life (Timber Press, 2021). Lots of great stuff here. Social Media: @creativenonfictionpodcast on IG and @CNFPod on Twitter. Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Sponsor help: mfa.wvwc.edu and thefacingprojectpress.submittable.com

Allison K. Williams returns to talk about her new book Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book (Woodhall Press, 2021). She's @GuerillaMemoir on social media. Thanks to West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing for the support. Social Media: @CNFPod Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Show notes/newsletter: brendanomeara.com

Earl Swift, author of Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings, returns to talk about his latest book. Sponsor help: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing Membership: patreon.com/cnfpod Social Media: @CNFPod

Nile Capello (@liketheriver) is the writer and reporter behind The Atavist Magazine story 'The Girl in the Picture.' We talk about true crime as self-preservation and how she vets out her stories. We also talk to editor-in-chief Seyward Darby. To read the piece, visit magazine.atavist.com.

Ruby McConnell is the author of Ground Truth: A Geological Survey of a Life and A Woman's Guide to the Wild. She is @rubygonewild on Twitter and Instagram. Show notes are at brendanomeara.com and you can support the show by heading to patreon.com/cnfpod.  Thanks to West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing for the support.

Behold! My #Hippocamp21 talk: In Their Words — Lessons from the Best of the Creative Nonfiction Podcast. Sponsor: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod Social: @CNFPod

Shanna B. Tiayon comes by to talk about her Pipe Wrench Magazine piece "If We Can Soar," as well as her work in Longreads, and is she training for a Half Ironman? You can her @shannbtiayon on Twitter and @black_suburban_homestead on Instagram. Support: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing and Hippocamp 2021. Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @CNFPod Be a member: patreon.com/cnfpod

Brin-Jonathan Butler's "Giving Up the Ghost" for Hazlitt is part memoir, part criticism, part mediation on suicide, part travelogue, but it's all Brin. An incredible piece of writing. Settle in, CNFers. @CNFPod patreon.com/cnfpod brendanomeara.com  

Daniel Kolitz is a freelance writer whose latest piece for The Atavist Magazine is about Enthusiastic Sobriety and its founder Bob Meehan.  

Cecilia Brown (@cecilbrownn on IG) is a filmmaker based out of Portland, Oregon.  She produced a beautiful piece for This American Life, so we talk about that and her life making pictures. Social media: @CNFPod Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Show notes: brendanomeara.com

Alison Herman (@aherman2006) is a critic for The Ringer. Her piece on David Gelb, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and the Chef's Table industrial complex prompted this great conversation. Social media: @CNFPod Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod Show notes/links: brendanomeara.com

Suzanne Roberts (@suzanneroberts28) is the author of Bad Tourist: Misadventures in Love and Travel (University of Nebraska Press, 2020).  Suzanne talks about: Big wins Writing in community The Wordy Girls Rejection clubs And how not to sound like a douchebag when talking about travel Support for the show: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing HippoCamp21 Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Social Media: @CNFPod Show notes: brendanomeara.com

Kristen Radtke (@kristenradtke on Twitter, @kristenradtke_ on IG) is the author of Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness. Social media: @CNFPod on Twitter. Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod Thanks to sponsors West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing and HippoCamp 2021. Show notes: brendanomeara.com

Ariel Ramchandani (@arielramch) and Seyward Darby (@seywarddarby) stop by the show to talk about "No Place Like Home," the podcast they're producing with The Atavist Magazine and Cadence 13. It tells the story of the stolen ruby slippers.  Social Media:@CNFPod Support: patreon.com/cnfpod Show notes: brendanomeara.com

Rachel Monroe (@rachmonroe) is a freelance journalist whose work appears in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The Oxford American. Keep the conversation going @CNFPod and consider supporting the show by visiting the Patreon page: patreon.com/cnfpod. Show notes at brendanomeara.com.

Michelle Weber (@michelleinchief) and Catherine Cusick (@cusickcatherine) come by to talk about their exciting venture Pipe Wrench Magazine. Social: @CNFPod Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Show notes: brendanomeara.com

"I. Will. Write. This. Book. There's no turning back," says Bob Welch, author of Saving My Enemy, and two dozen other books. We dig into the writing process and the passion and desperation that drives him.  Support for The Creative Nonfiction Podcast is provided by: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing and HippoCamp21 (CNFPod21 to save $50!). Patreon.com/cnfpod Social media: @CNFPod Show notes: brendanomeara.com

"Everything we do as freelance business owners is a leap of faith," says Wudan Yan (@wudanyan), co-host of The Writers' Co-op Podcast with Jenni Gritters (@jenni_gritters). They talk about: Business proposals The most common questions they get as coaches Jenni "leaving" journalism And so much more! Sponsors: West Virginia Wesleyan College's MFA in Creative Writing and HippoCamp 2021

Jordan Michael Smith (@WriterJMS) came by CNFPod HQ to talk about his piece for The Atavist Magazine, a true-crime zinger. We talk about: Structure and pacing Obsession and singular focus How he's a better reporter than a writer And depth of commitment Social media: @CNFPod Support the show: patreon.com/cnfpod

Lilly Dancyger (@lillydancyger) came by CNF Pod HQ to talk all things memoir and her new book Negative Space.  She talks about how: It took her 10 years to write it Sticking to her creative guns Community over networking And taking the slime off of branding Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Social media: @cnfpod and @BrendanOMeara

Brian Broome (@bbromb) is the author of the memoir Punch Me Up to the Gods (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). In this episode we talk about: Shame Black masculinity Writing Memoir And Writing on the Bus Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Social Media: @CNFPod  

Joe Drape is a sports writer for The New York Times and the author of The Saint Makers, among other books. He's @joedrape on Twitter and you can keep the conversation going @CNFPod. Head over to patreon.com/cnfpod to support the show and get access to the audio magazine!

G'Ra Asim, author of Boyz in the Void: A Mixtape to My Brother (Beacon Press), stopped by CNF Pod HQ to talk about this incredible book, punk rock, and straight edge culture.  Great talk. Social media: @notjadedpunk, @CNFPod Patreon.com/cnfpod

Maddy Crowell comes by the show to talk about "Invisible Kid," her piece for The Atavist Magazine. Lead editor Jonah Ogles teases the piece and Ed Johnson talks about the brand new design. Keep the conversation going @CNFPod and consider becoming a CNFin' member at patreon.com/cnfpod.

Elena Passarello is the author of Animals Strike Curious Poses, Let Me Clear My Throat, and the co-host of I'll Find Myself When I'm Dead. Keep the conversation going on social media @CNFPod and consider being a member in the Patreon group, patreon.com/cnfpod. Stay cool, CNFers, stay cool forever!

Sports writer, podcast host, radio host, Julie DiCaro comes by to talk about her book Sidelined, a book about being a woman in America.  Keep the conversation going on Twitter @CNFPod and find show notes to this and other episodes at brendanomeara.com. Check out patreon.com/cnfpod for ways to support the show and get some cool swag!

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!

Glenn Stout returns to talk about his thrilling book The Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid: America's First Gangster Couple.  

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.  

Ximena Vengochea is the author of Listen Like You Mean It: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection (Portfolio). We talk about: Life audits Listening (duh) Interviewing And listener drain Follow the show on social media @CNFPod and consider being a member at patreon.com/cnfpod.

"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 media Index card systems If you dig the show, pass it around the circle. If you want to support the magazine, head over to patreon.com/cnfpod and if you want the best newsletter in the country as rated by me, head over to brendanomeara.com for show notes and the monthly newsletter. 

"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

Jenni Gritters, @jenni_gritters, a freelance writer and co-host of The Writers' Co-op Podcast with her friend and colleague Wudan Yan, comes by CNF Pod HQ to talk about all things freelance writing. Support the show by becoming a member at patreon.com/cnfpod. Newsletter: brendanomeara.com Twitter and Instagram @CNFPod.

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.  

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!

Claire McNear is a staff writer for The Ringer and the author of Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! (Twelve, 2020). We jam about her rise in longform journalism and how she came to write this great book. Social media: @CNFPod Patreon: patreon.com/cnfpod Show notes and newsletter: brendanomeara.com

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.