Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Host Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello make some small wishes for the future; Jill Lepore, historian and staffer at The New Yorker, tells us about the first American company to predict voter behavior through the use of computers; writer Ijeoma Oluo envisions a future free from racism and sexism in her book Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America; and indie folk duo The Bengsons spread a little hope with their viral hit "The Keep Going Song."

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reminisce about the best moments of the last 18 months; writer and radio host Tom Scharpling (The Best Show) explains how his dislike for Billy Joel began as a teenage misadventure to Madison Square Garden; comedian Mohanad Elshieky describes why navigating checkpoints is better than talking to his Uber driver; and indie rock group MAITA perform "A Beast" from their album Best Wishes.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss unresolved (minor) childhood grievances; Emmy Award-winning entertainer Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) makes the case against inside jokes in her new collection of essays I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are; Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natalie Diaz explores the connection between poetry and basketball; and singer-songwriter Kevin Morby performs "Campfire" from his latest album Sundowner.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal their go-to karaoke songs; Mötley Crüe co-founder and bassist Nikki Sixx describes how his love of storytelling propelled him from a small town kid to a heavy metal icon; Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Todd Haynes (Far from Heaven, Carol) unpacks his first documentary feature The Velvet Underground, which looks at the lasting legacy of the 1960s experimental rock group; and genre-bending powerhouse Melanie Charles performs a "reimagining" of Marlena Shaw's "Woman of the Ghetto" from her new album Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello get into the spooky season and share some memorable Halloween costumes; filmmakers Cristina Costantini & Kareem Tabsch reveal the man behind the cape in their Netflix documentary Mucho Mucho Amor about famed Puerto Rican astrologer Walter Mercado; and singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell takes us to the underworld of Greek mythology to discuss her Tony Award-winning folk opera Hadestown, before performing one of its hit tracks "Wedding Song." 

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chat about household rules we struggle to enforce; actor and humorist Nick Offerman discusses his newest book Where the Deer and the Antelope Play and how he squares his life in Los Angeles with his agrarian sensibilities; comedian and "Dope Queen" Phoebe Robinson explains why no one is allowed to sit on her bed in their outdoor clothes; and singer-songwriter Adia Victoria describes how working at an Amazon fulfillment center gave her the space to write her newest album A Southern Gothic, before performing one of its haunting tracks "My Oh My."

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discover what topics listeners would discuss on their hypothetical podcasts; comedian Jamie Loftus unpacks her Lolita Podcast, which reexamines the controversial literary classic through a feminist lens; comedian and television writer Demi Adejuyigbe (The Good Place, The Amber Ruffin Show) explains why he feels the creative pressure every September 21st; and powerhouse duo The War and Treaty perform the deeply personal song "Five More Minutes" from their latest album Hearts Town.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share listener advice to their teenage selves; actor Marlee Matlin discusses her critically-acclaimed new film CODA and why she's advocating for Deaf actors to play Deaf roles; writer Melissa Febos opens up about her new collection of essays, Girlhood, which looks at the forces that shape the lives of girls and the adults they become; and British blues-folk duo Ida Mae performs the tender song "Raining for You" from their latest album Click Click Domino.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some favorite words submitted by listeners; grammar expert Mary Norris recounts her early days as a copy editor at The New Yorker and her foray into all things Greek; actor and television writer Ryan O’Connell explains how keeping his cerebral palsy a secret inspired his book and Netflix series Special; and soul-rock group Dirty Revival tear down the house with “Pipe Dreams.”

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some special skills that listeners dream of having; filmmakers Mark Duplass & Natalie Morales open up about forming a friendship while making the film Language Lessons, which they shot entirely on webcams; ballet dancer James Whiteside chats about his new memoir Center Center and the need for more queerness in classical ballet; and singer-songwriter and environmental activist Dar Williams explains why she's not sweating the headlines, before serenading us with "Time, Be My Friend" from her new album I'll Meet You Here.