Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Updated: 01 Aug 2025 • 710 episodes
livewireradio.org

Like late-night for radio, Live Wire is hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me) and artfully blends an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, comedians, and cultural observers. 

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Celebrated chef J. Kenji López-Alt schools us on the food history of teriyaki, nachos, and broccoli cheddar soup; music critic Ann Powers unpacks her latest book Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell, which explores the musician's life and career, while addressing her own feelings about tackling the legend; and singe

52 min
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30 Jul 2025 • EN

Open Book: Melissa Febos

Author Melissa Febos (The Dry Season) opens up about her first addiction: books. Then we hear why it's important to read "books of the people," which includes her favorite micro-genre of “airport romantasy." Plus, Melissa recommends some of her favorite sex writing.

21 min
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Poet and essayist Ross Gay (Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude) dissects privilege, pain, and skateboarding, all themes from his newest book Inciting Joy; Michelin Star chef Lane Regan outlines their journey from farmer's markets to foraging, while creating a new dining experience in the wilds of Michigan; and singer-songw

51 min
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23 Jul 2025 • EN

Open Book: Sam Sanders

Radio host and podcaster Sam Sanders (The Sam Sanders Show, Vibe Check) chats about promoting a book through wearable merch and imagines his “dream casting” for Percival Everett’s novel James. Plus, Sam and Elena attempt to “fix” publishing.

27 min
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Writer Gabe Henry unpacks his book Enough Is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Eezier to Spell, which humorously explores the centuries-long evolution of the Simplified Spelling Movement, where "laugh" most became "laf;" Hawaii-born Samoan poet and educator William Nuʻutupu Giles performs a piece that reflects

52 min
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16 Jul 2025 • EN

Open Book: Sloane Crosley

Author Sloane Crosley (Grief Is for People) confesses the origin of her aversion to audiobooks, plus tells us which adaptations are better than their literary source material and reveals the first adult book that made her bawl her eyes out. 

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