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 blues musician Keb' Mo' explains how moving back to his beloved Compton inspired his newest album Good to Be, before performing its title track. 

Live Wire with Luke Burbank

W. Kamau Bell & Katie King, Paul F. Tompkins, and Keb' Mo'

Luke and Elena discuss young fatherhood, robot care, a prescription Parks Pass, and Erin Jackson — who became the first Black woman to win gold in Olympic speedskating.

Best News: The Elvis of Running Shorts

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal the tiny unethical things our listeners admit to doing; television writer and producer Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation, The Good Place) discusses his new book How to Be Perfect, which attempts to break down moral philosophy into a conversation-starter; comedian Demi Adejuyigbe explains why he won't stop making fake credits for Will Smith productions; and folk duo Shovels & Rope describe why they think of themselves as a "manticore" of music-making, before performing their new track "Domino."

Michael Schur, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Shovels & Rope

Luke and Elena discuss work robes and bed desks, a Harvard thesis-turned-TikTok musical, and a 5-year-old offering his own quirky pearls of wisdom. 

Best News: Dolly on a Dinosaur

In celebration of Black History Month, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share conversations with some of Live Wire's most remarkable guests: MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow Hanif Abdurraqib discusses his highly acclaimed collection of essays, A Little Devil in America, which poetically praises the cultural and historical significance of Black performance of all kinds; writer Clint Smith takes us on a journey of his best-selling book How the Word is Passed, which examines the legacy of slavery through various sites across the country, from Angola prison all the way to Wall Street; and genre-bending powerhouse Melanie Charles soars with a "reimagining" of Marlena Shaw's "Woman of the Ghetto."

Hanif Abdurraqib, Clint Smith, and Melanie Charles

Luke and Elena discuss "healthy" potato chips, John Prine tattoos, a pug "bark" mitzvah, and the USA Mullet Championships.

Best News: Telly Savalas Graphing Calculator

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk birds of all kinds this week; writer Matthew Gavin Frank discusses the controversial world of diamond-smuggling pigeons; filmmaker Davy Rothbart and his subject Cheryl Sanford unpack 20 years of filming her family in their documentary 17 Blocks; and musicians Andrew Bird & Jimbo Mathus, former bandmates of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, perform "Sweet Oblivion" from their collaborative album These 13. 

Matthew Gavin Frank, Davy Rothbart & Cheryl Sanford, and Andrew Bird & Jimbo Mathus

Luke and Elena discuss Star Trek retractions, college blackboards, cow hoof trimming, cat hijackers, and the importance of tipping.

Best News: Appliancegate

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal what our listeners have “gotten wrong” in the world of pop culture; comedian Paul F. Tompkins unpacks "weekend water" and passive-aggressive carolers; social critic Sarah Marshall, host of the podcast You're Wrong About, discusses why our misperceptions of the past are largely influenced by the news cycle; and Austin blues artist Buffalo Nichols performs "These Things" from his new self-titled album.

Paul F. Tompkins, Sarah Marshall, and Buffalo Nichols

Luke and Elena discuss Wordle scores, mom feedback, laughing animals, and driving goldfish.

Best News: Fish-Operated Vehicles

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some feedback that's made the biggest impact on our listeners; actor Connor Ratliff explains how being fired by Tom Hanks inspired his hit podcast Dead Eyes, through which he unpacks showbiz rejection; Mikki Kendall, author of Hood Feminism, explains how to right the historical wrongs of the mainstream feminist movement; and indie folk artist Faye Webster performs "Better Distractions" from her latest album I Know I'm Funny haha.

Connor Ratliff, Mikki Kendall, and Faye Webster

Luke and Elena discuss Dry January, breakthrough COVID, kangaroo rescues, and the legacy of Allen Toussaint.

Best News: Kangaroo on the Rocks

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss the things our audience is resolving *not* to do this year; celebrated poet Kaveh Akbar explains how learning Farsi as his first language shaped his poetic sense of the English language; writer Danielle Henderson (Feminist Ryan Gosling) unpacks her memoir The Ugly Cry and how her iconoclastic grandmother helped forge her own fiercely independent path; and indie rock group Deep Sea Diver performs "Impossible Weight," the title track off their newest album.

Kaveh Akbar, Danielle Henderson, and Deep Sea Diver

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello unveil some hidden talents of our listeners; actor and best-selling author David Duchovny explains how his latest novel Truly Like Lightning is an attempt to have a larger conversation about America; jump rope world champions Nick and Kaylee Woodard test Luke's skills with a virtual lesson; and alt-folk artist Jensen McRae performs her harrowing song "Wolves."

David Duchovny, Nick & Kaylee Woodard, and Jensen McRae

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello put a spin on some of our listeners’ favorite words and phrases; hip hop performer and activist Talib Kweli recounts stepping away from big-budget rap culture to become an independent artist; bestselling author George Saunders revisits his love of teaching through unpacking 19th century Russian literature; and singer-songwriter Jillette Johnson performs her incidentally-titled song "I Shouldn't Go Anywhere." 

Talib Kweli, George Saunders, and Jillette Johnson

Like late-night for radio, hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me), the show artfully blends an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, comedians and cultural observers. Music, comedy, and conversation, live and packed with surprises.

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Live Wire with Luke Burbank

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