Home of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast

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

Scott Eden returns to the show to talk about his incredible and ambitious piece for The Atavist titled “The Guilded Age.”

This extra interview in your feed is part of a new partnership with The Atavist where I interview that month’s featured writer about that month’s story to provide readers and listeners some extra depth to the experience.

In this very first one with The Atavist, Scott talks about:

Developing sources as an investigative reporter
How COVID affected this story … right at the very end
Finding a new angle on something that was already covered
And that moment when a machete was brandished in Peru

I hope you dig this extra bit of goodness. If you’re new to The Creative Nonfiction Podcast, it’s the show where I speak to badass people about the art and craft of telling true stories. Subscribe wherever you podcast!

If you want to support the show, the audio magazine we produce and help keep the lights on at HQ, consider becoming a member at patreon.com/cnfpod.

We put out a great monthly newsletter with book recommendations, cool blogs and articles, podcast news, and an exclusive invite to a monthly CNFin’ Happy Hour. Once a month. No spam. Can’t beat it!

Episode 239: Alexandra DiPalma Leads the Podcast Workshop

Become a Patron!

By Brendan O’Meara

So excited to have the one and only Alexandra DiPalma back on the show to talk all things podcasting.

She leads the Podcast Workshop, a part of Akimbo Workshops, and in it you’ll learn what it means to find your voice and develop skills that will translate to other areas of your life and career.

If you follow this link ===> THIS ONE <=== you’ll get pretty slick discount. I’m not sure when it expires, but check it out.

Shut Down

By Brendan O’Meara

Become a Patron!

It seems our devices don’t want us to shut them down. Without us, who are these objects?

The same might be said for you when you’re even tempting to shut it down (but do you ever really?). If you want to take that nap, take that vacation, god forbid work less than an arbitrary eight-hour day, isn’t there some part of your psyche that says, “Are you sure you want to shut down your computer now?”

Guilty, you work more. Guilty, you burn more fuel. Guilty, you drink more coffee because in order to “make it,” you’ve been told you must work until you can no longer keep your eyes open. Anything less and you’re lazy.

Tell yourself whatever story you need to tell yourself to accomplish your dreams, but understand that these machines operate better when you give them rest. The same can be said for you.

You wouldn’t call your computer lazy if you shut it down every night, would you?

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

Become a Patron!

By Brendan O’Meara

Ashkan Soltani Stone and Natale Zappia (@natzappia) wrote a killer little book based on a killer documentary called Rez Metal: Inside the Navajo Nation Heavy Metal Scene (University of Nebraska Press).

I mean, you know I was into this, right, CNFers?

Lessons from ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Part 3

Become a Patron!

By Brendan O’Meara

As we keep unpacking great writing lessons from “The Queen’s Gambit,” let’s take a look at subtlety.

“The Queen’s Gambit” never hits you over the head with signals and symbols. Early on, her prized dress with her name Beth sewn into it was burned at the orphanage. She identified with that piece of clothing. It’s no wonder she grows up to love clothes and to identify with fashion. It was taken from her and she sought to take it back.

Lessons from ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Part 2

By Brendan O’Meara

Become a Patron!

Halfway through The Queen’s Gambit, Benny Watts, the top U.S. chess player with swagger, confidence, and sharp wit, asked Beth why the Soviets were so dominant.

Lessons from ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Part 1

By Brendan O’Meara

Become a Patron!

A riff on when the antagonist is yourself.

A riff on beginnings and endings and the return of Casualty of Words

By Brendan O’Meara

Casualty of Words is back!

I got to thinking about the best time to think about endings and the best time to think about endings.

Enjoy!

Become a Patron!

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

Become a Patron!

By Brendan O’Meara (@CNFPod)

V.V. Ganeshananthan is the author of Love Marriage, an essayist, and a journalist. She also teaches at the MFA program at the University of Minnesota. She’s on Instagram and Twitter.

Whitney Terrell is the author of The Good Lieutenant. He also is a journalist who covered the Iraq War. He teaches at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He’s on Instagram and Twitter.

They co-host the Fiction/Non/Fiction Podcast as part of the Lithub network of podcasts. It’s on Instagram and Twitter.

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

Become a Patron!

By Brendan O’Meara

“Writing a book could be very tedious, but I’m writing to make myself laugh or cry. If I’m not crying or laughing, I’m so bored. When I’m telling a story, I’m laughing or crying. Most of the time, that’s what I’m doing it for. If I’m not thrilled by something, I can’t do it. It becomes tedious and I quit,” says Michael Leviton, author of the memoir To Be Honest (Abrams Press).

He is @michaelleviton on Instagram. A great follow.

Brendan’s Monthly Newsletter: First of the month! No spam! Can’t beat it!

Brendan’s Monthly Newsletter: First of the month! No spam! Can’t beat it!

Brendan’s Monthly Newsletter: First of the month! No spam! Can’t beat it!

Brendan’s Monthly Newsletter: First of the month! No spam! Can’t beat it!