Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Mar 07 2025 681 ep. 50 mins 761

Live Wire with Luke Burbank Podcast artwork

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.

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

Mar 07 2025 52 mins

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. P

Bruce Campbell, Sara Schaefer, and Emi Pop

Feb 28 2025 52 mins

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."

Emily Nussbaum and Pink Martini (REBROADCAST)

Feb 21 2025 52 mins

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Emily Nussbaum (The New Yorker) unpacks her book Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV, which explores our obsession and distaste for what she calls "dirty documentary;" pianist Thomas Lauderdale and vocalist China Forbes of Pink Martini chat about their 30-year journey with the genre-bending musical group, before performing "Una Notte a Napoli" fro

Rachel Khong, Danez Smith, and Danielia Cotton

Feb 14 2025 52 mins

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 Cha

Ijeoma Oluo, Sarah Marshall, and Anna Tivel (REBROADCAST)

Feb 07 2025 52 mins

Writer and activist Ijeoma Oluo unpacks her new book Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—and How You Can, Too, which shares conversations with those who are making positive changes in powerful systems; podcaster Sarah Marshall, host of You're Wrong About, reveals the real reason we take our shoes off at the airport; and singer-songw

Tracy K. Smith, Saeed Jones, and Meklit (Black History Month Special)

Jan 31 2025 51 mins

In this Black History Month special episode, former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith discusses her memoir To Free the Captives, which looks to uncover Black strength, continuance, and community by looking back at her own family’s history; poet Saeed Jones (Alive at the End of the World) unpacks the backstories behind some of his poems involving Billie Holiday, Maya Angelou, and

Damp January: How ‘Bout We Call It a Night? (with Nora McInerny)

Jan 29 2025 47 mins

In the final episode of Damp January, Luke talks to his friend Nora McInerny – author and podcast host of Thanks for Asking – about what it means to basically not drink anymore. The two old friends chat about the drunken exploits of their youth, boozing through grief (and when enough is enough), and how to replace drinking with a “dopamine menu,” while Luke accepts that his

Annie Rauwerda, Ivan McClellan, and Sami Braman (REBROADCAST)

Jan 24 2025 52 mins

Annie Rauwerda, founder of the social media account Depths of Wikipedia, shares some more obscure entries from the website, including "The Kentucky Meat Shower;" photojournalist Ivan McClellan discusses his new book Eight Seconds, an exploration of Black rodeo culture in America; and fiddler Sami Braman plays the title track off her latest album Riveter. Plus, host Luke Burbank and

Damp January: Is Sobriety... Forever? (with Moshe Kasher)

Jan 22 2025 41 mins

Was it sheer alcoholism or just adolescent rage? Comedian, podcaster, and memoirist Moshe Kasher (Subculture Vulture) poses this question to himself in a conversation with Luke about his own journey through the 12-steps, which began as a teenager during the Nancy Regan-fueled era of “Just Say No.” Now sober for basically three decades, Moshe reflects on the mantra “one day at

Jamie Loftus, Hari Kondabolu, and Blitzen Trapper

Jan 17 2025 52 mins

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" o