Award-winning author George Saunders ( Lincoln in the Bardo ) unpacks his writing process and explains how creating confusion often leads to interesting literary worlds; and singer-songwriter Samantha Crain discusses the importance of making music in her Choctaw language, before performing "Joey" from her album A Small Death . Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello celebrate teachers and the impact they've had on us.
Aug 04, 2023•52 min•Ep. 572
Author and Jeopardy host Ken Jennings takes us on a journey to the afterlife with his latest book, 100 Places to See After You Die , and explains why contestant interviews are so darn awkward; writer Erica Berry discusses her debut book Wolfish , which examines all things "wolf" – from fables to fears; and international rock group Making Movies performs "Porcelina" from their album XOPA . Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share versions of the perfect afterlife, according to...
Jul 28, 2023•52 min•Ep. 571
Washington Post reporter Casey Parks unpacks her new book Diary of a Misfit, wherein she reckons with her own sexuality, her Southern identity, and her complicated relationship with her mother; and singer-songwriter Thunderstorm Artis explains how his music went from The Voice to Grey's Anatomy , before performing his single "Stronger." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello set out to solve some mysteries.
Jul 21, 2023•51 min•Ep. 570
Ari Shapiro, journalist and co-host of All Things Considered , unpacks his new book The Best Strangers in the World: Stories From a Life Spent Listening , which chronicles his reporting adventures across the globe, from Air Force One to the stage of the Hollywood Bowl; comedian and TV writer Demi Adejuyigbe explains how the WGA strike has afforded him so much free time... to go to the Renaissance Faire. Plus, host Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello share stories of the most amazing strangers our ...
Jul 14, 2023•52 min•Ep. 569
Comedian and satirist Ginny Hogan explains the terms and conditions of being her undetermined partner; Oregon Poet Laureate Anis Mojgani describes a surprising encounter with an unlikely poetry fan; and jazz vocalist and Pink Martini member Jimmie Herrod recounts his successful run on America's Got Talent before performing his new song, "I Love You." Plus, host Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello unpack some dating red flags.
Jul 07, 2023•52 min•Ep. 568
Writer and podcaster Jamie Loftus dives into her New York Times bestselling book Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs, a travelog on the cultural and historical significance of the American sausage; poet José Olivarez explores the lexicon of love in two languages in his newest collection Promises of Gold ; and R&B/Soul vocalist Danielle Ponder performs "So Long" from her debut album Some of Us Are Brave . Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello go on some hypothetical road ...
Jun 30, 2023•52 min•Ep. 567
Writer and podcaster Sona Movsesian makes the case for why she is "the world's worst assistant" to Conan O'Brien; stand-up comedian Marcella Arguello unpacks the politics of airport parking; and spiritual jazz duo Brown Calculus perform their song "Seven Seas." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share the worst jobs our listeners have ever had.
Jun 23, 2023•52 min•Ep. 566
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and acclaimed author Timothy Egan unpacks his newest book A Fever in the Heartland , which traces the Ku Klux Klan's expansion across America in the 1920s and one woman's crusade to stop them; rapper and poet proves she's more talented than AI by performing a poem she penned backstage using popular search terms. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal the most ridiculous challenges our listeners have accepted.
Jun 16, 2023•52 min•Ep. 565
Writer Erika L. Sanchez ( I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter ) unpacks her memoir-in-essays, Crying in the Bathroom , and how Lisa Simpson taught her about feminism; podcaster Sam Sanders ( Into It, Vibe Check ) argues that pop culture gives us the script for how to be in the world; and singer-songwriter John Craigie admits to being terrible at small talk, before performing "Drown Me" from his latest album Mermaid Salt . Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chat about those...
Jun 09, 2023•52 min•Ep. 564
Writer and director Laura Chinn ( Florida Girls ) discusses her memoir Acne, which tackles her racial identity, Scientology, and of course... very oily skin; standup comedian Mohanad Elshieky riffs on embarrassing encounters with TSA and Uber drivers; and multi-instrumentalist Jenny Conlee, of The Decemberists, performs "Hawk" from her solo album Tides: Pieces for Accordion and Piano. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello hear from our listeners about what they obsessed over as ...
Jun 02, 2023•52 min•Ep. 563
Writer Isaac Fitzgerald grapples with identity, forgiveness, and a new vision of masculinity in his searing memoir Dirtbag, Massachusetts; stand-up comedian Carmen Lagala explains how her love of the WNBA broke up a teenage relationship; and singer-songwriter No-No Boy performs "Boat People" from his album 1975, as a tribute to the millions who fled southeast Asia after the fall of Saigon. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chat about childhood misperceptions....
May 26, 2023•52 min•Ep. 562
Novelist Dana Schwartz unpacks her gothic fantasy duology, Anatomy and Immortality, then dives into her podcast Noble Blood , which explores the bizarre and risqué lives of royals; writer Jenny Odell dismantles the clock in her newest book Saving Time while explaining it's unofficial motto: "time is beans;" and indie rocker Black Belt Eagle Scout performs "Don't Give Up" from her new album The Land, The Water, The Sky , which dreams up the atmosphere of her ancestral land of Swinomish. Plus, hos...
May 19, 2023•52 min•Ep. 561
In this rebroadcast, writer Chuck Klosterman ( Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs ) unpacks his newest book The Nineties and admits how the "slacker ethos" of the decade made him embarrassed to succeed as a writer; and international rock band Making Movies explains why it's difficult to separate activism from their music, before performing the title track off their album XOPA. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello get nostalgic for the 1990s.
May 12, 2023•52 min•Ep. 560
Journalist and podcaster Kelsey McKinney ( Defector ) dishes on producing her juicy podcast Normal Gossip ; poet Brenda Shaughnessy explain how her newest collection Tanya is partially an attempt to reconnect with her estranged college roommate; and Grammy-winner Madison Cunningham performs her single "Broken Harvest." Plus host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some normal gossip from our listeners.
May 05, 2023•52 min•Ep. 559
In this podcast extra, journalist and Normal Gossip podcaster gives advice on gossip etiquette, from exes to eavesdropping.
May 03, 2023•7 min
Musician and writer Michelle Zauner, a.k.a. Japanese Breakfast, discusses her memoir Crying in H Mart , in which she reconnects with her late mother and their Korean heritage through a love of food; stand-up comedian Sean Patton pokes fun at regional airports with a tough TSA; and singer-songwriter Kurt Vile confesses to being Philadelphia's best forklift driver, before performing "Flyin (Like a Fast Train)" from his latest album (watch my moves) . Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Pas...
Apr 28, 2023•52 min•Ep. 558
The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik takes us a journey of his new book The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery , in which he learns how to draw, drive a car at age 55, and pee in public; standup comedian Abby Govindan scams the KKK for a college class; and singer-songwriter Reckless Son chats about playing for the incarcerated at over 150 prisons across the nation, before performing his song "The Wisdom of a Child." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share what our listeners have m...
Apr 21, 2023•52 min•Ep. 557
Luke and Elena explore their best celebrity impersonations in a desperate attempt to get you to join the League of Extraordinary Listeners!
Apr 19, 2023•10 min
Writer Jon Mooallem ( The New York Times Magazine ) discusses his newest collection of essays Serious Face and why you shouldn't tell your friend they look like a 1940’s Spanish bullfighter; chef Jenny Nguyen chats about opening her Portland bar The Sports Bra, which exclusively televises women's sports; and singer-songwriter Laura Veirs performs "My Lantern" from her latest album Found Light. Plus, Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk dream businesses....
Apr 14, 2023•52 min•Ep. 556
In this podcast EXTRA, celebrated author Cheryl Strayed ( Wild, Tiny Beautiful Things ) dons her Dear Sugar persona to give advice on some meaningless (but fun!) everyday life scenarios.
Apr 12, 2023•11 min
Record-breaking runner Lauren Fleshman unpacks her New York Times bestseller, Good for a Girl , a part-memoir, part-manifesto which challenges the male-built sports system; comedian and writer Joey Clift chats about his new Comedy Central digital series Gone Native , which delves into the weird microaggressions Native people are up against; and Seattle-based indie supergroup Who Is She? performs a cover of a Le Tigre song... which actually got them fired from a sports arena gig. Plus, host Luke ...
Apr 07, 2023•52 min•Ep. 555
Writer and podcaster Dylan Marron chats about his book and podcast of the same name, Conversations with People Who Hate Me, and how a phone call can forge a deeper connection than social media; and musician Brittany Davis explains how music became their first language as a blind person, before performing "Loud Loud World" from their EP I Choose to Live. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello unpack some unexpected topics of conversation.
Mar 31, 2023•52 min•Ep. 554
Celebrated author Cheryl Strayed ( Wild, Dear Sugar ) revisits her collection of advice columns, Tiny Beautiful Things, which drops next month as a Hulu series starring Kathryn Hahn; writer Joseph Earl Thomas unpacks his memoir Sink , in which he describes how geek culture saved him from his hazardous upbringing; and singer-songwriter Stephanie Anne Johnson performs their song "The Day That You Begin." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some life advice from our listene...
Mar 24, 2023•51 min•Ep. 553
Writer Cecily Wong chats about her book Gastro Obscura , which features fascinating food stories from across the globe, including psychedelic honey that was once used as a weapon in old world Turkey; and Grammy Award-nominee Andrew Bird explains how he balances painful shyness with being a public figure, before performing "Make a Picture" from his latest album Inside Problems. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello dish out some yums and yucks from our listeners....
Mar 17, 2023•52 min•Ep. 552
In this podcast EXTRA, Michelin star chef and forager Iliana Regan ( Fieldwork ) plays a round of "Metal vs Mushroom," wherein she must discern between a metal band or a mushroom strain. Cramp Balls, anyone?
Mar 15, 2023•11 min
Poet and essayist Ross Gay ( Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude ) dissects privilege, pain, and skateboarding, all themes from his newest book Inciting Joy ; Michelin Star chef Iliana Regan outlines her journey from farmer's markets to foraging, while creating a new dining experience in the wilds of Michigan; and singer-songwriter Baroque Betty, accompanied by Mood Area 52, performs the title track off her album Sobering Up . Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share our listeners...
Mar 10, 2023•51 min•Ep. 551
This week Live Wire celebrates Women's History Month! Comedian Jamie Loftus unpacks her podcast Aack Cast , which unpacks how the Cathy comic strip is still relevant to feminist struggles today; writer and mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado reveals how she became the first openly gay woman to climb “The Seven Summits” while overcoming addiction and childhood trauma; and feminist icon and activist Ani DiFranco discusses starting her own record label when she was just 19-years-old, before performin...
Mar 03, 2023•52 min•Ep. 550
Comedian Hari Kondabolu ( Snack vs. Chef) unpacks his most popular tweets and dives into why Bert and Ernie need couples' therapy; singer-songwriter Margo Cilker explains why she might have cow poop on her sleeve at any given time backstage, before performing "Tehachapi" from her new album Pohorylle ; and host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello get nostalgic for some snacks from the past.
Feb 24, 2023•52 min•Ep. 549
Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Kathryn Schulz ( The New Yorke r) unpacks her memoir Lost & Found, which weaves together the loss of her father with finding the love of her life; football coach and mentor Keanon Lowe recounts the day he intercepted a potential school shooter with a hug; and storyteller and singer-songwriter John Craigie explains having to sing around "naughty" words for public radio appearances, before performing "Laurie Rolled Me a J" from his newest album Mermaid Salt. Plus,...
Feb 17, 2023•52 min•Ep. 548
Poet and Kirkus Prize winner Saeed Jones unpacks his newest collection Alive at the End of the World and why Billie Holiday had a bone to pick with Maya Angelou; writer Silvia Moreno-Garcia ( Mexican Gothic ) explains how her love of horror at a young age found its way into her latest book The Daughter of Doctor Moreau ; and indie folk duo The Lowest Pair perform "Pear Tree" from their first record 36 Cents. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss our strange childhood obs...
Feb 10, 2023•52 min•Ep. 547
