Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Latest Episodes:

Best News: Press 3 for a Pep Talk Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

Luke and Elena discuss peduncle elongation, an elementary school hotline that's lifting spirits, and the "original" Wordle (as well as its many variations).

John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats and Dessa Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal the unexpected expertise of our listeners; novelist John Darnielle, frontman of The Mountain Goats, reflects on America's obsession with true crime and becoming a writer in his own right; and rapper and podcaster Dessa discusses falling out of love for a behavioral science experiment, plus performs her song "Jumprope" from her album Chime.

Best News: Who Framed Hank the Tank? Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

Luke and Elena discuss fan mail, a baby born at 2:22AM on February 22, 2022, plus a 500-pound bear who was falsely accused of home break-ins in Lake Tahoe.

Karen Russell, Marcella Arguello, and Ani DiFranco Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some listener-submitted DIY projects; New York Times best-selling author Karen Russell explains how she creates fantastical worlds in her stories to get at truth; comedian Marcella Arguello makes the case for staying single over 30; and folk icon and activist Ani DiFranco reflects on going her own way in the music industry and releasing her 22nd album Revolutionary Love.

Best News: Quilt Your Feelings Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

Luke and Elena discuss Jeopardy consulation prizes, boutique road races, diorama diner cats, and a centenary woman getting a special birthday tattoo.

W. Kamau Bell & Katie King, Paul F. Tompkins, and Keb' Mo' Feb 18, 2022

Show notes

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk fashion regrets; filmmakers W. Kamau Bell & Katie King discuss their Showtime docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby, which takes a look at Bill Cosby’s rise and fall from grace through the experiences of his accusers; comedian Paul F. Tompkins gives some fashion advice on the latest "trends," from monkey tail beards to bucket hats; and blues musician Keb' Mo' explains how moving back to his beloved Compton inspired his newest album Good to Be, before performing its title track.

Best News: The Elvis of Running Shorts Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

Luke and Elena discuss young fatherhood, robot care, a prescription Parks Pass, and Erin Jackson — who became the first Black woman to win gold in Olympic speedskating.

Michael Schur, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Shovels & Rope Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal the tiny unethical things our listeners admit to doing; television writer and producer Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation, The Good Place) discusses his new book How to Be Perfect, which attempts to break down moral philosophy into a conversation-starter; comedian Demi Adejuyigbe explains why he won't stop making fake credits for Will Smith productions; and folk duo Shovels & Rope describe why they think of themselves as a "manticore" of music-making, before performing their new track "Domino."

Best News: Dolly on a Dinosaur Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Luke and Elena discuss work robes and bed desks, a Harvard thesis-turned-TikTok musical, and a 5-year-old offering his own quirky pearls of wisdom.

Hanif Abdurraqib, Clint Smith, and Melanie Charles Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

In celebration of Black History Month, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share conversations with some of Live Wire's most remarkable guests: MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow Hanif Abdurraqib discusses his highly acclaimed collection of essays, A Little Devil in America, which poetically praises the cultural and historical significance of Black performance of all kinds; writer Clint Smith takes us on a journey of his best-selling book How the Word is Passed, which examines the legacy of slavery through various sites across the country, from Angola prison all the way to Wall Street; and genre-bending powerhouse Melanie Charles soars with a "reimagining" of Marlena Shaw's "Woman of the Ghetto."

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected