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PODCAST

Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Like late-night for radio, Live Wire is hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me) and artfully blends an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, comedians, and cultural observers.

arts performing arts

All Episodes

52:05

Karen Russell, Sam Miller, and David Ramirez

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/06/20

Award-winning author Karen Russell takes us inside her "dust bowl epic" novel The Antidote, which employs the fantastical to comment on memory, climate change, and the nation's troubling history of land ownership; stand-up comedian Sam Miller finds sidesplitting humor in his own experiences with addiction and incarceration; and singer-songwriter David Ramirez explains how he pulled himself out of a rut and into solitude to write his latest album All The Not So Gentle Reminders, before

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21:47

Open Book: Aubrey Gordon

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/06/18

Podcast star Aubrey Gordon (Maintenance Phase) discusses what a bookstore’s poetry section reveals about its true nature, the thrill of a literary “rug pull," and how sometimes the solution to “too much work reading” is… more reading? And Elena shares her go-to hack for getting your reading mojo back.

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52:25

Bruce Campbell, Sara Schaefer, and Emi Pop (REBROADCAST)

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/06/13

Actor and cult film icon Bruce Campbell delights in playing age-appropriate roles and explains why horses are such high maintenance actors; comedian Sara Schaefer tells us a tale from childhood about losing her best friend (her blankie) during a Christmas vacation; and Puerto Rican pop-punk artist Emi Pop performs her self-released single “Lo Sé."

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21:27

Open Book: Karen Russell

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/06/11

Award-winning author Karen Russell (Swamplandia!) chats about the joy of reading a book you love written by someone you love, how Stephen King led to sleepless nights as a child, and those “little black dress” books you always loan to a friend. Plus, Elena reveals her latest vacation read as a murder mystery starring "existential sheep."

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52:06

Kelsey McKinney, Omar El Akkad, and Kuinka

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/06/06

Podcaster and writer Kelsey McKinney (You Didn't Hear This From Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip) "spills the tea" on all things gossip — from prayer circles to AI tattle; award-winning author Omar El Akkad discusses his first book of nonfiction One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, which traces his disillusionment with the West and the failure of its promises; and indie folk band Kuinka perform their tune "Living Room Floor."

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02:05

Introducing "Open Book" with Elena Passarello

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/06/04

Open Book is a new literary podcast that “cracks the spine” on a writer’s most intimate relationship: the one they have with books. Each episode, award-winning writer and Live Wire announcer Elena Passarello hosts candid conversations with some of today’s acclaimed authors, like Karen Russell and Melissa Febos – covering all things bookish, from reading habits and book recommendations to controversial literary opinions. Eavesdrop on the kind of passionate book talk that’s typically reserved

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52:18

Danez Smith, Rachel Khong, and Danielia Cotton...

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/05/30

Acclaimed author Rachel Khong explores the themes in her newest novel Real Americans, including what it means to bridge cultural and generational divides within families; superstar poet Danez Smith reads from their latest collection Bluff and tells us what poetry can and cannot accomplish; and singer-songwriter Danielia Cotton chats about her tribute album to Black country star Charley Pride, before performing her own track "Bring Out the Country (In Me)."

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52:05

Lidia Yuknavitch, Felipe Torres Medina, and Pedro the...

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/05/23

Bestselling author Lidia Yuknavitch discusses her new memoir Reading the Waves, which explores memory and how a shift in position can reshape our complicated stories; award-winning humorist and writer Felipe Torres Medina (The Late Show With Stephen Colbert) takes us on an adventure through the quagmire of the US immigration system with his book America, Let Me In: A Choose Your Immigration Story; and indie rock group Pedro the Lion performs "Spend Time" from their latest album Santa Cruz.

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52:24

Jamie Loftus, Hari Kondabolu, and Blitzen Trapper...

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/05/16

Bestselling author Jamie Loftus unpacks her latest podcast Sixteenth Minute of Fame, where she talks to "internet famous" folks of the past, like NFL half-time legend Elvis Presto; stand-up comedian Hari Kondabolu explains why he's never performed on Long Island and how his iPhone might be stunting his parenting; and celebrated Americana band Blizten Trapper perform "Planetarium" off their latest album 100's of 1000's, Millions of Billions.

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51:59

Scaachi Koul and Emma Ruth Rundle

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/05/09

Slate writer Scaachi Koul unpacks her latest book of essays Sucker Punch, in which she delves into her unexpected birth, the dissolution of her marriage, and how her friends have come to know her as "the divorce doula." Multidisciplinary artist Emma Ruth Rundle explains how she crafted her debut poetry collection The Bella Vista – which touches on love lost, addiction, and discovering oneself – while traveling on tour, then performs “Blooms of Oblivion” from her album Engine of Hell.

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52:34

Danzy Senna, Penny Lane, and Johnny Franco and His...

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/05/02

Author Danzy Senna unpacks the struggles of her protagonist to write the quintessential biracial comedy, in her newest (and very meta) novel Colored Television; filmmaker Penny Lane discusses her latest documentary Confessions of a Good Samaritan, which follows her personal quest to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger; and Brazilian rock duo Johnny Franco and His Real Brother Dom perform "We Used to Be Awesome." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some kind acts

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52:04

Kari Ferrell, Zak Toscani, and Ural Thomas & The Pain

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/04/25

Writer and activist Kari Ferrell recounts her rise and fall as the "Hipster Grifter," New York City's infamous scammer of the late aughts, as told in her tell-all memoir You'll Never Believe Me; stand-up comedian Zak Toscani shares the trials and tribulations of growing up goth in Hawaii; and soul group Ural Thomas & The Pain perform “Gotta Say (I Love You)” from their album, The Right Time.

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52:28

Stephen Graham Jones, Alex Falcone, and Tropa Magica...

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/04/18

Horror author Stephen Graham Jones unpacks the ethos of a "slasher" and explains why, after more than 30 novels, he can't stop writing; stand-up comedian Alex Falcone admits that he would rather die doing something he hates; and cumbia psychedelic punk band Tropa Magica perform “LSD Roma” from their album Y la Muerte de Los Commons. Plus, host Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello share the weirdest fears from our audience members.

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52:11

"Poetry Month Special" with Paisley Rekdal, Hanif...

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/04/11

This special edition of Live Wire celebrates National Poetry Month, with performances by renowned poets Hanif Abdurraqib, Anis Mojgani, and Kaveh Akbar. Plus, former Poet Laureate of Utah Paisley Rekdal chats about demystifying poetry; singer-songwriter Kasey Anderson performs a tune inspired by a poem from his friend Hanif; and host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some original haikus penned by our listeners.

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52:32

Carvell Wallace, Joy Sullivan, and Danielle Durack...

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/04/04

New York Times bestselling author and podcaster Carvell Wallace unpacks his transformative memoir Another Word for Love, where he mines his own history of growing up, getting sober, and finding his voice as a writer; poet Joy Sullivan discusses her collection Instructions for Traveling West, which explores themes of home, luck, and starting again; and singer-songwriter Danielle Durack performs "Moon Song" from her latest album Escape Artist. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena

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51:35

Morgan Parker, Georgia Cloepfil, and Rogê

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/03/28

Poet and essayist Morgan Parker (You Get What You Pay For) unpacks the highs and lows of therapy... and how crying in The Gap afterwards is cathartic; writer and former professional soccer player Georgia Cloepfil explains how she hustled across the globe as an athlete, while weighing financial gain with her love of the sport; and Brazilian singer-songwriter Rogê performs his song “Existe Uma Voz” from his first solo album Curyman.

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52:26

Shalom Auslander, Simon Shieh, and Kara Jackson...

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/03/21

In his memoir Feh, writer Shalom Auslander attempts to escape his biblical upbringing and carve his own path, with a little help from Kafka; poet and former professional Muay Thai fighter Simon Shieh reckons with trauma, masculinity, and the art of healing in his debut collection Master; and singer-songwriter Kara Jackson performs her single "Pawnshop" from her album Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?, live from the Pickathon festival. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena

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52:02

Ira Madison III & Riki Lindhome

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/03/14

Cultural critic and podcaster Ira Madison III (Pure Innocent Fun) discusses how popular culture has largely shaped his reality... a notion that is put to the test when he faces off with his favorite author (and surprisel guest) Chuck Klosterman in a quiz about Chuck's cultural manifesto Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. Comedian Riki Lindhome, of the comedy folk duo Garfunkel and Oates, chats about writing "dirty" songs as a new mother, before performing a searingly hilarious tune on the hidden

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52:28

Roger Reeves, Sean Jordan, and Erin Rae (REBROADCAST)

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/03/07

Poet Roger Reeves explains how he tried to reach the universal through the personal in his first collection of essays Dark Days; stand-up comedian Sean Jordan unpacks why instructional videos on potty training your kids might be flawed; and singer-songwriter Erin Rae performs the title track of her critically-acclaimed album Putting on Airs, recorded live from Pickathon festival. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some parenting challenges from our listeners.

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52:04

Bruce Campbell, Sara Schaefer, and Emi Pop

Live Wire with Luke Burbank ·

2025/02/28

Actor and cult film icon Bruce Campbell delights in playing age-appropriate roles and explains why horses are such high maintenance actors; comedian Sara Schaefer tells us a tale from childhood about losing her best friend (her blankie) during a Christmas vacation; and Puerto Rican pop-punk artist Emi Pop performs her self-released single “Lo Sé."

en

342 results

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