oregon – Home of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast

Episode 408: North to Trees, South to Gold with Ruby McConnell

By Brendan O’Meara

Well, isn’t a treat to hear from Ruby McConnell again? She’ got a new book out, this spring of 2024, Wilderness and the American Spirit (Overcup Books). It’s a book steeped in Oregon lore, but in that Oregonian-ness lies the universal of what the United States has inflicted upon the land, its Native peoples, and how the Applegate Road is the thread that connects seemingly disparate topics.

Ruby, @rubygonewild, also is the author of Ground Truth and A Woman’s Guide to the Wild. Ruby is one of the good ones, dude.

She’s a working writer with multiple projects going, small presses, big presses, freelance, teaching, organizing. She’s a buoyant spirit and always a treasure to have on these here airwaves.

Episode 290: ‘Only in Oregon’: How Drawing Political Cartoons is All About the Writing with Jesse Springer

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By Brendan O’Meara

This week, Jesse Springer, an Oregon-based political cartoonist and graphic designer, comes on the show to talk about his new book of cartoons Only in Oregon 1996-2021: 26 Years of Oregon Political Cartoons.

He came by the studio and brought his own very good microphone, so the two of us got to make eye contact. What a concept!

Sure, this is a very specific book that will have appeal largely — if not only — for Oregonians, but we do riff on whether or not political cartoons are journalism, his creative process for working through ideas, getting people to have better “art self esteem,” and a lot more.

The show has a new Instagram handle, @creativenonfictionpodcast, and you can always keep the conversation going on Twitter @CNFPod.

And you know I’d rather you sign up for my Up-to-11 Newsletter. Signup form is below you and to your right. Book recs, book raffles, cool stuff curated by me for you, CNFin’ happy hour or writing group, writing prompts, fun and entertaining. First of the month. No spam. Can’t beat it.

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Episode 269: The Visionary Life of Cecilia Brown, Making Pictures, and This American Life

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By Brendan O’Meara

Cecilia Brown (@cecilbrownn) is on the show to talk about “So Nice to Hear Your Voice,” her This American Life essay about her grandmother. We get into the behind-the-scenes of the piece. Great stuff.

What else do we get into?

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