Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss personal theme songs; cultural critic and poet Hanif Abdurraqib describes how his playlist project 68to05 reflects the origins of his personal music fandom; author Eula Biss unpacks the intersection of homeownership and white privilege in her newest collection of essays Having and Being Had; and alt-country singer Lydia Loveless performs "Say My Name" from her latest album Daughter.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss what listeners have learned about themselves recently; writer Lidia Yuknavitch describes her latest collection of stories, titled Verge, as a series of devotionals to the outcasts among us; comedian Atsuko Okatsuka admits to her insecurities around teenage skateboarders; and Seattle-based rock group The Black Tones shred with "Mama! There's A Spider In My Room!" from their album Cobain & Cornbread.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello unpack some unpopular opinions; author and psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb explains the importance of delivering a “compassionate truth bomb” to loved ones in need; Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Mitchell S. Jackson discusses his latest book Survival Math, in which he revisits painful relationships with the women from his past; comedian Mohanad Elshieky riffs on reading the Bible as a Muslim; and Brooklyn blues group Revel in Dimes perform “Tough City for Love.”

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some hypothetical memoir titles penned by listeners; writer Ashely C. Ford discusses her celebrated debut book Somebody's Daughter, which follows her experience growing up in Indiana with an incarcerated father; and gothic folk icon Amigo the Devil explains how his fascination with the macabre has evolved, before performing a rollicking version of "24K Casket" from his newest album Born Against.

In celebration of Father's Day, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some favorite fictional dads; writer Adam Mansbach discusses his path to publishing the hit "parenting" book series Go the F**k to Sleep; filmmaker Maya Forbes recounts being raised by her bipolar father, which inspired her film Infinitely Polar Bear; songstress China Forbes, of Pink Martini, performs The Northern Line from her sister's film; and comedian Kurt Braunohler offers his outrageous take on becoming a new father.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello get excited about reviving some summer traditions; comedian Chris Gethard chats about his new road-tripping comedy special Half My Life and why he made a pit stop at the dubious Gatorworld theme park; Clint Smith, staff writer at The Atlantic, unpacks his latest book How the Word Is Passed, which tours landmarks and monuments that have shaped the collective conversation around slavery; and indie folk artist Faye Webster performs "Better Distractions" from her new album I Know I'm Funny haha.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some financial advice penned by listeners to their younger selves; writer and Slate advice columnist Daniel Lavery explains how his latest book, Something That May Shock and Discredit You, revisits the media and myths of his past through the lens of his transition; New York Times bestselling author Michael Arceneaux unpacks the hard truths of student loan debt in his newest essay collection I Don't Want to Die Poor; and Jonathan Russell from indie folk group The Head and the Heart performs "Glory of Music."

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some controversial 1-star reviews submitted by listeners; bestselling author and vlogger John Green (The Fault in our Stars) discusses his new collection of essays, The Anthropocene Reviewed, which expands upon his podcast to review different aspects of our human-shaped world, from Diet Dr. Pepper to sunsets; and rapper Dessa chats about her new monthly singles project, IDES, before performing her pitch-perfect track "Terry Gross."

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk post-lockdown self-care; author and blogger Samantha Irby discusses her latest collection of essays Wow, No Thank You and settles some household disputes in the "Live Wire Court;" comedian Jackie Kashian casts doubt over the “empathic” abilities of her fellow comics; and Grammy Award-winning blues artist Fantastic Negrito takes us on a journey through his musical rebirth, before serenading us with "Nobody Makes Money."

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello celebrate the trivial things we spend too much time debating; 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 White Magic; and indie rock icon Juliana Hatfield performs "Mouthful of Blood" from her new album Blood.