Live Wire with Luke Burbank

In his memoir Feh , writer Shalom Auslander attempts to escape his biblical upbringing and carve his own path, with a little help from Kafka; poet and former professional Muay Thai fighter Simon Shieh reckons with trauma, masculinity, and the art of healing in his debut collection Master ; and singer-songwriter Kara Jackson performs her single "Pawnshop" from her album Why Does the Earth Give Us P...

Cultural critic and podcaster Ira Madison III ( Pure Innocent Fun ) discusses how popular culture has largely shaped his reality... a notion that is put to the test when he faces off with his favorite author (and surprisel guest) Chuck Klosterman in a quiz about Chuck's cultural manifesto Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs . Comedian Riki Lindhome, of the comedy folk duo Garfunkel and Oates, chats about...

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. Plus, host Luke...

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."

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" from their album...

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 Charley Pride, bef...

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-songwriter Anna Tivel p...

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 Luther Vandross...

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 relationship to alcohol...

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 announcer Elena...

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 a time,” his curios...

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" off their latest...

What’s really the harm in “moderate” (whatever that means) drinking? According to New York Times bestselling author Gary Shteyngart, absolutely nothing. Luke weighs the balance between sobriety and binging in a conversation about the joys of drinking with a man who loves his martinis… and has no dreams of living into his mid-80s. While recent research suggests alcohol may be more harmful than once...

Writer Noé Álvarez traces his family lineage through the history of the accordion in his latest book Accordion Eulogies: A Memoir of Music, Migration, and Mexico ; professor of engineering Naomi Fitter introduces us to Jon, a stand-up comedian robot she developed who riffs on the dating life of a bot; and singer-songwriter John Craigie explains the awkwardness of running into fans at the post offi...

Has Luke just met his match? In a conversation with journalist Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, author of Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for a Cure, Luke discovers that Shaughnessy’s love of the drink – and his knack for getting shaken up and stirred in – mirrors his very own. The two discuss tragically drunk writers of notoriety, the tendency to lie to their doctors, and the worst hango...

In a special episode of Live Wire, host Luke Burbank introduces our new limited series podcast Damp January . Over five episodes in January, Burbank explores his sometimes complicated relationship with alcohol through conversations with writers, podcasters, and others. In this selection from Episode 1, he chats with his mother, Susie, about her journey to sobriety. Then, The New Yorker's Adam Gopn...

Why not start at the beginning? Luke contemplates his complicated history of drinking, from balancing days as a public radio reporter with wild nights at Culver City’s iconic dive Tattle Tale Room, to making a public statement about quitting the drink… only to get back on the sauce. Then Luke sits down with his mom, Susie Burbank, to chat about her own road to recovery. 

Comedian and writer Ian Karmel pairs up with his sister Dr. Alisa Karmel to unpack the book they co-authored T-Shirt Swim Club, about growing up fat in a world made for thin people; stand-up comedian Zainab Johnson riffs on being one of 13 children; and Ethio-jazz artist Meklit performs the title track off her new EP "Ethio Blue." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk sibling...

On the special holiday edition of Live Wire, comedian and podcaster Paul F. Tompkins talks about passive-aggressive Christmas carolers and the most tense rendition of “O Holy Night" he's ever heard; poet José Olivarez discusses his latest collection Promises of Gold , which explores the various types of love in our lives, from self-love to platonic love and over to romance; and singer-songwriter E...

Luke Burbank, host of the public radio variety show Live Wire , knows his way around a drink. At times, he's gotten too familiar with the stuff, which is why he's now trying to fix his relationship with alcohol. In this new limited series, Luke talks to friends, family, and cultural luminaries living at various points on the booze spectrum — from enthusiastic imbibers to teetotalers and everyone i...

Author Danzy Senna unpacks the struggles of her protagonist to write the quintessential biracial comedy, in her newest (and very meta) novel Colored Television ; filmmaker Penny Lane discusses her latest documentary Confessions of a Good Samaritan , which follows her personal quest to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger; and Brazilian rock duo Johnny Franco and His Real Brother Dom perform "We...

Writer and podcaster Amanda Montell ( Sounds Like a Cult ) unpacks her new book The Age of Magical Overthinking, which looks at our cognitive biases, like why some of us worship celebrities or believe in the power of manifestation; stand-up comedian Laurie Kilmartin gets stoked about her son going to college, so she can start dating again; and singer-songwriter Lizzie No performs "Deadbeat" from t...

Horror author Stephen Graham Jones unpacks the ethos of a "slasher" and explains why, after more than 30 novels, he can't stop writing; stand-up comedian Alex Falcone admits that he would rather die doing something he hates; and cumbia psychedelic punk band Tropa Magica perform “LSD Roma” from their EP  Y la Muerte de Los Commons. Plus, host Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello share the weirdest fea...

Critically acclaimed writer Hanif Abdurraqib unpacks his latest book, There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension , in which he explores his lifelong love of the game and what it means to make it; singer-songwriter Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses discusses her new book The Future of Songwriting ,  where she considers how to be an artist in a commercialized music industry, before performi...

New York Times bestselling author and podcaster Carvell Wallace unpacks his transformative memoir Another Word for Love, where he mines his own history of growing up, getting sober, and finding his voice as a writer; poet Joy Sullivan discusses her collection Instructions for Traveling West , which explores themes of home, luck, and starting again; and singer-songwriter Danielle Durack performs "M...