Best News: Flying the Coop with Flamingo 492
Luke and Elena discuss Band-Aid haute couture, a runaway flamingo living his best life in Texas, and a hyperpolyglot who finds empathy through language learning.
Apr 13, 2022•19 min
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.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Roger Reeves, Anis Mojgani, Franny Choi, and Derrick C. Brown with The Helio Sequence
To celebrate National Poetry Month, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share listener-penned haikus and some of Live Wire's most memorable poet appearances: Roger Reeves explains why poetry is the harbinger of the future; Oregon Poet Laureate Anis Mojgani performs "Today's Love is Brought to You by the Letter John Sands;" Franny Choi discusses how she incorporated Google Translate into her latest collection Soft Science ; and Derrick C. Brown teams up with indie band The Helio Sequ...
Apr 08, 2022•52 min•Ep. 408
Best News: Sobbing to Prince
Luke and Elena discuss "guilty" fan mail, one teacher's maligned footwear (and what his students decided to do about it), and newly discovered footage of a young Prince standing up for public school teachers.
Apr 06, 2022•17 min
Jamie Loftus, Jelani Memory, and Tolliver
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello remember some beloved comic strip characters; comedian Jamie Loftus unpacks her newest podcast Aack Cast, which takes a deep dive into how the Cathy comic still pertains to feminist struggles today; writer and publisher Jelani Memory ( A Kids Book About Racism ) discusses how he launched a book series for parents and kids to tackle heavy topics; and soul-funk artist Tolliver performs his single "Say What!”
Apr 01, 2022•51 min•Ep. 507
Best News: The Susie Burbank Rule
Luke and Elena discuss rolling mangos, the book lady of Danville, Virginia, and a happily ever after for a supposedly "gay" dog.
Mar 30, 2022•15 min
Chris Gethard, Julia Rosen, and Shakey Graves
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello go deep as why we struggle with our favorite things becoming popular; comedian Chris Gethard chats about his latest road-tripping comedy special Half My Life and why he made a pit stop at the dubious Gatorworld theme park; science journalist Julia Rosen schools us on the invasive nature of earthworms, which could be threatening the maple syrup supply; and Americana singer-songwriter Shakey Graves recounts his daunting days as an auditioning actor,...
Mar 25, 2022•52 min•Ep. 506
Best News: The Backstreet Breakers
Luke and Elena discuss the lost mail of an all-Black, female WWII battalion, a Hawaiian cardboard shredding company that is helping businesses and the environment, and Luke's elusive days in a breakdance crew.
Mar 23, 2022•18 min
Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, Curtis Cook, and Patterson Hood
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk "personal Mt. Everests;" writer and mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado discusses how she became the first openly gay woman to climb “The Seven Summits” while overcoming addiction and childhood trauma; comedian Curtis Cook explains why you shouldn't wear a suit to Red Lobster; and Patterson Hood, frontman of Drive-By Truckers, unpacks his decades-long collaboration with bandmates, then performs "Shake and Pine" from their forthcoming album....
Mar 18, 2022•51 min•Ep. 505
Best News: Macho Nacho Man
Luke and Elena discuss appliance clocks, a veteran elementary school teacher who has raised over $100,000 to keep students from going hungry over break, and the recent discovery of the century-old Endurance shipwreck.
Mar 16, 2022•17 min
Andrea Nevins, Melissa Febos, and Pink Martini
Live Wire celebrates Women's History Month by honoring some unsung heroes from the past; filmmaker Andrea Nevins shines a light on the challenges and triumphs of female comedians in her documentary Hysterical ; writer Melissa Febos opens up about her collection of essays, Girlhood , which looks at the forces that shape the lives of girls and the adults they become; and genre-bending musical group Pink Martini performs a soaring cover of the 1970s hit "I Am Woman."
Mar 11, 2022•52 min•Ep. 504
Best News: Press 3 for a Pep Talk
Luke and Elena discuss peduncle elongation, an elementary school hotline that's lifting spirits, and the "original" Wordle (as well as its many variations).
Mar 09, 2022•17 min
John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats and Dessa
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.
Mar 04, 2022•52 min•Ep. 503
Best News: Who Framed Hank the Tank?
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.
Mar 02, 2022•13 min
Karen Russell, Marcella Arguello, and Ani DiFranco
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.
Feb 25, 2022•52 min•Ep. 502
Best News: Quilt Your Feelings
Luke and Elena discuss Jeopardy consulation prizes, boutique road races, diorama diner cats, and a centenary woman getting a special birthday tattoo.
Feb 23, 2022•14 min
W. Kamau Bell & Katie King, Paul F. Tompkins, and Keb' Mo'
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...
Feb 18, 2022•52 min•Ep. 501
Best News: The Elvis of Running Shorts
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.
Feb 16, 2022•18 min
Michael Schur, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Shovels & Rope
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...
Feb 11, 2022•52 min•Ep. 500
Best News: Dolly on a Dinosaur
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.
Feb 09, 2022•23 min
Hanif Abdurraqib, Clint Smith, and Melanie Charles
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 le...
Feb 04, 2022•52 min•Ep. 499
Best News: Telly Savalas Graphing Calculator
Luke and Elena discuss "healthy" potato chips, John Prine tattoos, a pug "bark" mitzvah, and the USA Mullet Championships.
Feb 02, 2022•23 min
Matthew Gavin Frank, Davy Rothbart & Cheryl Sanford, and Andrew Bird & Jimbo Mathus
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk birds of all kinds this week; writer Matthew Gavin Frank discusses the controversial world of diamond-smuggling pigeons; filmmaker Davy Rothbart and his subject Cheryl Sanford unpack 20 years of filming her family in their documentary 17 Blocks ; and musicians Andrew Bird & Jimbo Mathus, former bandmates of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, perform "Sweet Oblivion" from their collaborative album These 13.
Jan 28, 2022•52 min•Ep. 498
Best News: Appliancegate
Luke and Elena discuss Star Trek retractions, college blackboards, cow hoof trimming, cat hijackers, and the importance of tipping.
Jan 26, 2022•24 min
Paul F. Tompkins, Sarah Marshall, and Buffalo Nichols
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal what our listeners have “gotten wrong” in the world of pop culture; comedian Paul F. Tompkins unpacks "weekend water" and passive-aggressive carolers; social critic Sarah Marshall, host of the podcast You're Wrong About , discusses why our misperceptions of the past are largely influenced by the news cycle; and Austin blues artist Buffalo Nichols performs "These Things" from his new self-titled album.
Jan 21, 2022•52 min•Ep. 497
Best News: Fish-Operated Vehicles
Luke and Elena discuss Wordle scores, mom feedback, laughing animals, and driving goldfish.
Jan 19, 2022•23 min
Dead Eyes podcaster Connor Ratliff, Mikki Kendall, and Faye Webster
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some feedback that's made the biggest impact on our listeners; actor Connor Ratliff explains how being fired by Tom Hanks inspired his hit podcast Dead Eyes , through which he unpacks showbiz rejection; Mikki Kendall, author of Hood Feminism , explains how to right the historical wrongs of the mainstream feminist movement; and indie folk artist Faye Webster performs "Better Distractions" from her latest album I Know I'm Funny haha....
Jan 14, 2022•52 min•Ep. 496
Best News: Kangaroo on the Rocks
Luke and Elena discuss Dry January, breakthrough COVID, kangaroo rescues, and the legacy of Allen Toussaint.
Jan 12, 2022•24 min
Kaveh Akbar, Danielle Henderson, and Deep Sea Diver
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss the things our audience is resolving *not* to do this year; celebrated poet Kaveh Akbar explains how learning Farsi as his first language shaped his poetic sense of the English language; writer Danielle Henderson ( Feminist Ryan Gosling ) unpacks her memoir The Ugly Cry and how her iconoclastic grandmother helped forge her own fiercely independent path; and indie rock group Deep Sea Diver performs "Impossible Weight," the title track off t...
Jan 07, 2022•51 min•Ep. 495
David Duchovny, Nick & Kaylee Woodard, and Jensen McRae
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello unveil some hidden talents of our listeners; actor and best-selling author David Duchovny explains how his latest novel Truly Like Lightning is an attempt to have a larger conversation about America; jump rope world champions Nick and Kaylee Woodard test Luke's skills with a virtual lesson; and alt-folk artist Jensen McRae performs her harrowing song "Wolves."
Dec 31, 2021•52 min•Ep. 494
Talib Kweli, George Saunders, and Jillette Johnson
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello put a spin on some of our listeners’ favorite words and phrases; hip hop performer and activist Talib Kweli recounts stepping away from big-budget rap culture to become an independent artist; bestselling author George Saunders revisits his love of teaching through unpacking 19th century Russian literature; and singer-songwriter Jillette Johnson performs her incidentally-titled song "I Shouldn't Go Anywhere."
Dec 24, 2021•51 min•Ep. 494
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android