Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Luke and Elena discuss misremembered vocal stylings, Lizzo taking James Madison's crystal flute out for a spin, and a 91-year-old man who found a new lease on life via macadamia farming.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chat about those pop culture moments we can't seem to let go of; writer Erika L. Sanchez 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...

Luke and Elena discuss the Millennium Falcon of litter boxes, how Elton John made the President cry, and a kid whose lunch complaint went viral.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share our listeners' 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 l...

Luke and Elena discuss Tony Passarello's Live Wire fandom, the first female Mariachi band in Denver Colorado, and rescuing a busload of stranded Torontonians.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chat about childhood misperceptions; 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...

Luke and Elena discuss fly-by summers, food stand hustles, and South Dakota's Corn-Bassador.

In this EXTRA episode, comedians and podcasters Paul F. Tompkins ( Spontaneanation ), Sarah Marshall ( You're Wrong About ) and Demi Adejuyigbe ( Gilmore Guys ) team up for a raucous round of "Whose Podcast Is It, Anyway?" live from the stage in Portland, Oregon.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello get nostalgic for the 1990s; 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 ti...

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello celebrate the songs lyrics that reflect our lives; writer Nichole Perkins discusses her memoir  Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be  and makes the case for why Niles Crane is sexy; Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Lucy Walker ( Waste Land ) unpacks her epic documentary  Bring You Own Brigade,  which goes deep inside the devastation of Califor...

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello unpack some unexpected topics of conversation; 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 perform...

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some surprising facts about our listeners; comedian Cecily Strong delves into her memoir  This Will All Be Over Soon , which weaves themes of grief with moments of absurdity, like filming  SNL  with her phone during lockdown; Toronto rapper Shad chats about interviewing his heroes for the Emmy Award-winning Netflix series  Hip-Hop Evolution an...

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk dream businesses; 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 womens' sports; and singer-songwrite...

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello celebrate the spirit of live performances; writer Daisy Hernández unpacks her latest book  The Kissing Bug , a reportage-meets-memoir which outlines the impact of Chagas disease on Latinx communities; Wayne Coyne, frontman of The Flaming Lips, explains how to play a Covid-safe concert using space bubbles; and we hear a performance of their hit song...

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some go-to icebreakers from our listeners; comedian and Emmy Award-nominated writer Sam Jay ( SNL ) chats about turning a party with her friends into poignant content for her HBO show  PAUSE ; 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 fo...

In this final episode before a brief hiatus, Luke and Elena discuss their summer plans, including an Alaska writing residency and mega home renovations. The Best News will return weekly beginning September 14, so stay tuned!

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello celebrate dads this week, in honor of Father's Day; filmmaker Kirsten Johnson comes to terms with the life, death, and legacy of her father through her Netflix documentary  Dick Johnson is Dead ; comedian and podcaster Chris Garcia pokes fun at his life choices by channeling his Cuban father; and Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy serenades us with "Save It...

Luke and Elena discuss the Kate Bush resurgence, a missing dachshund that made its way into Hillary Swank's lap, and sexy Swedish trash cans.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello dish out some yums and yucks from our listeners; 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; and Grammy Award-nominee Andrew Bird explains how he balances painful shyness with being a public figure, before performi...

Luke and Elena discuss a turtle on a Hot Wheel, "Hero Rats" with tiny backpacks, and endangered bees now classified as fish.

In this special episode celebrating "Pride Month," host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello give a shout-out to some unsung (or under-sung) queer heroes; writer Kristen Arnett ( Mostly Dead Things ) shares why she specifically likes to be referred to as a queer writer and why 7-Eleven is her happy place; podcaster James Kim shares how the language barrier between him and his mother complic...

Luke and Elena discuss a baby giraffe with human leg braces and a dog that snuggled its way into a stranger's bed; Pulitzer Prize-winning  New Yorker  writer Kathryn Schulz unpacks her memoir  Lost & Found,  which weaves together the loss of her father with finding true love; football coach and mentor Keanon Lowe recounts the day he intercepted a potential school shooter with a hug; and storyt...

Luke and Elena discuss kitten claws, a high school student who subbed in as Pearl Jam’s drummer, and a Minnesota prison program that teaches tattooing to inmates.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss two wildly different yet equally inspiring graduation stories; podcaster Anna Sale reveals how she gets to the heart of the matter in her podcast  Death, Sex & Money  and in her new book  Let's Talk About Hard Things;  writer Elissa Washuta explains how magic and witchcraft helped her get sober, as detailed in her collection of essays  W...

Luke and Elena discuss ping-pong showmanship, TikTok's favorite baseball team, and a passenger with no flight experience who emergency-landed a plane at Florida airport.