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, before performing "Jumprope" from her album “Chime.”

John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats and Dessa

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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Comedian Paul F. Tompkins chats about his improv comedy podcast The Neighborhood Listen, where he and fellow comedians re-enact posts from the app Nextdoor; poet Safiya Sinclair discusses her memoir “How to Say Babylon,” in which she recounts growing up Rastafarian in Jamaica under the strict patriarchy of her father; and singer-songwriter Isabeau Waia'u Walker performs her song "All My Friends Think I'm Okay." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some unhinged behavior from the neighbors of our listeners.

REBROADCAST: Paul F. Tompkins, Safiya Sinclair, Isabeau Waia'u Walker

Acclaimed writer Cheryl Strayed (“Wild,” “Tiny Beautiful Things”) discusses her new personal essay "Two Women Walk into a Bar," which follows her complicated relationship with her late mother-in-law; stand-up comedian Jay Jurden bridges the generational divide with some poignantly hilarious observations on Boomers and Gen Z; and singer-rapper-poet Dessa performs "Hurricane Party" from her latest album “Bury the Lede.” Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello unpack the benign (but complicated) relationships our listeners have with the people from their everyday lives.

Cheryl Strayed, Jay Jurden, and Dessa

Comedian and writer Aparna Nancherla discusses her memoir “Unreliable Narrator” and why her mother made her order pizza to combat her shyness; stand-up comedian Gary Gulman riffs on the false notion of dangerous scissors in elementary school; singer-songwriter and historian No-No Boy performs his song "1603," featured on his latest album “Empire Electric,” which tells the story of the first non-Native sighting of Oregon by a multicultural crew of sailors who fell through the cracks of history. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello learn about the times our listeners suffered from impostor syndrome.

REBROADCAST: Aparna Nancherla, Gary Gulman, No-No Boy

Cartoonist Emily Flake (“The New Yorker”) reveals “Joke in a Box,” her 70-card deck of creative prompts, which results in some live cartooning from the stage; writer and artist Tessa Hulls discusses her graphic memoir “Feeding Ghosts,” which looks at the three generations of Chinese women in her family; and indie pop duo Pure Bathing Culture perform "The Memento" from their latest album “Chalice.” Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello tells us some favorite (short) jokes.

Emily Flake, Tessa Hulls, and Pure Bathing Culture

Comedian Gary Gulman (The Great Depresh) discusses his memoir Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the '80s, his struggles with mental health, and the awkwardness of being recognized in the psyche ward; Oregon Poet Laureate Anis Mojgani reads from his newest collection The Tigers, They Let Me and makes the case for why poetry exists all around us; singer-songwriter Olive Klug touches on the TikTok generation of songwriting, before performing her song "Raining in June." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share the ways in which our listeners have been unexpectedly cheered up by others.

John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats and Dessa

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