Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss an emotional support pig and a DoorDasher who saved a customer's life. Plus, legendary filmmaker John Waters chats about his first novel  Liarmouth  and why he'll never leave Baltimore; writer Sasha LaPointe ( Red Paint)  unpacks her nomadic upbringing in the Pacific Northwest and why  Twin Peaks  made an impact on her as young Native woman;...

Luke and Elena discuss a young listener's quest to transcribe a 200-year French diary, Canadians barred from committing murder in space, and the triumphant return of the California condors. 

In honor of Mother's Day, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some thoughtful mom-centric conversations: musician 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; Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes  (In the Heights ) reflects on h...

Luke and Elena discuss recording this week from a Mazda rental car, a robot living with a penguin colony in Antarctica, and a nonprofit that sends unused hotel soap to people in need.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk wacky cooking hacks; acclaimed chef and restaurateur Gregory Gourdet ( Top Chef ) discusses how his newest cookbook  Everyone's Table  begins with his journey to sobriety; and musician and scholar Julian Saporiti, a.k.a. No-No Boy, describes how he transformed his doctoral research on Asian-American history into a multimedia project, before per...

Luke and Elena discuss a guilt-ridden mail bag, a lemonade stand raising money for the Humane Society, and an anonymous French man who's donating his lottery winnings to help the planet. 

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal some scams our listeners have fallen for; comedian and podcaster Laci Mosley ( A Black Lady Sketch Show, Scam Goddess ) lends her expertise to real-life "sketchy" situations; actor Marlee Matlin discusses her Academy Award-winning film CODA and why she's advocating for Deaf actors to play Deaf roles; and multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi perf...

Luke and Elena discuss kitty adoptee Bubbles Burbank, a new Pink Floyd song in solidarity with Ukraine, a prom dress giveaway, and 90s butt cuts.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some stories of when our listeners went "over the top;" actor and comedian Molly Shannon chats about her memoir  Hello Molly  and how she championed her famous character Mary Katherine Gallagher for  Saturday Night Live ; South African rocker Tuelo explains why she secretly believes her native Mwana tribe inspired rock 'n roll music; plus, Tue...

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.

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 in...

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.

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;...

Luke and Elena discuss rolling mangos, the book lady of Danville, Virginia, and a happily ever after for a supposedly "gay" dog.

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 sup...

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.

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...

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.

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...

Luke and Elena discuss peduncle elongation, an elementary school hotline that's lifting spirits, and the "original" Wordle (as well as its many variations). 

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.  

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.

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...

Luke and Elena discuss Jeopardy consulation prizes, boutique road races, diorama diner cats, and a centenary woman getting a special birthday tattoo.

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 b...