Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Luke and Elena discuss Fat Bear Week, Trader Joe's sample resurgence, and Russell Crowe's charitable donations.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello unpack some controversial music opinions; writer and radio host Tom Scharpling (The Best Show) explains how his dislike for Billy Joel began as a teenage misadventure to Madison Square Garden; comedian Mohanad Elshieky describes why navigating checkpoints is better than talking to his Uber driver; and indie rock group MAITA perform "A Beast" from their album Best Wishes.

Luke and Elena discuss misremembered vocal stylings, Lizzo taking James Madison's crystal flute out for a spin, and a 91-year-old man who found a new lease on life via macadamia farming.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chat about those pop culture moments we can't seem to let go of; writer Erika L. Sanchez unpacks her memoir-in-essays, Crying in the Bathroom, and how Lisa Simpson taught her about feminism; podcaster Sam Sanders (Into It, Vibe Check) argues that pop culture gives us the script for how to be in the world; and singer-songwriter John Craigie admits to being terrible at small talk, before performing "Drown Me" from his latest album Mermaid Salt.

Luke and Elena discuss the Millennium Falcon of litter boxes, how Elton John made the President cry, and a kid whose lunch complaint went viral.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share our listeners' go-to karaoke songs; Mötley Crüe co-founder and bassist Nikki Sixx describes how his love of storytelling propelled him from a small town kid to a heavy metal icon; Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Todd Haynes (Far from Heaven, Carol) unpacks his first documentary feature The Velvet Underground, which looks at the lasting legacy of the 1960s experimental rock group; and genre-bending powerhouse Melanie Charles performs a "reimagining" of Marlena Shaw's "Woman of the Ghetto" from her new album Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women.

Luke and Elena discuss Tony Passarello's Live Wire fandom, the first female Mariachi band in Denver Colorado, and rescuing a busload of stranded Torontonians.

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chat about childhood misperceptions; writer Isaac Fitzgerald grapples with identity, forgiveness, and a new vision of masculinity in his searing memoir Dirtbag, Massachusetts; stand-up comedian Carmen Lagala explains how her love of the WNBA broke up a teenage relationship; and singer-songwriter No-No Boy performs "Boat People" from his album 1975, as a tribute to the millions who fled southeast Asia after the fall of Saigon.

Luke and Elena discuss fly-by summers, food stand hustles, and South Dakota's Corn-Bassador.

In this EXTRA episode, comedians and podcasters Paul F. Tompkins (Spontaneanation), Sarah Marshall (You're Wrong About) and Demi Adejuyigbe (Gilmore Guys) team up for a raucous round of "Whose Podcast Is It, Anyway?" live from the stage in Portland, Oregon.