Live Wire with Luke Burbank

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 singer-songwriter Khatumu dispels the rumors that she was an "industry plant," before performing her song "allergy season."

Earlonne Woods & Nigel Poor discuss how they launched their award-winning podcast Ear Hustle while Earlonne was still incarcerated — and why the stories they share inside and outside of prison are not about redemption; stand-up comedian Dylan Adler reveals what he considers a real missed opportunity on this college application essay; and singer-songwriter Margo Cilker chats about signing her first artist to her new label — her husband Forrest VanTuyl, who joined her to perform "Lowland Trail." 

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 on making art in the language of his colonizers; and singer Kelsey Wilson recounts the "trippy" experience that led to the formation of her soul group Sir Woman, before performing the track "High Praise" from their album If It All Works Out.

Avery Trufelman, creator and host of the fashion podcast Articles of Interest, unpacks how the US military of World War II came to shape menswear as we know it today; stand-up comedian Kyle Kinane comes to terms with the amount of micro (and macro) plastics in this body; and Brazilian musical duo Johnny Franco and His Real Brother Dom deliver their delightful shtick with tunes, jokes, and old-school radio charm.

Legendary travel writer Rick Steves reflects on his days adventuring down "the hippie trail" from Istanbul to Kathmandu... and we discover why you might find him eating at McDonald's in Paris; plus The Lullaby Project brings together singer-songwriter Stephanie Schneiderman and the Oregon Symphony to perform a song co-written by an incarcerated mother for her child. 

Acclaimed author Cheryl Strayed (Wild, Tiny Beautiful Things) breaks down the intersection of fear and courage, as explored in her new podcast Mind Over Mountain, which features interviews with women athletes and adventurers; stand-up comedian Skyler Higley shares his conspiracy theory about milk; and singer-songwriter Patterson Hood, of the rock band Drive-By Truckers, performs a song from his first solo album in over a decade, Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams.

This special edition of Live Wire celebrates National Poetry Month, with performances by renowned poets Hanif Abdurraqib, Anis Mojgani, and Kaveh Akbar. Plus, former Poet Laureate of Utah Paisley Rekdal chats about demystifying poetry; singer-songwriter Kasey Anderson performs a tune inspired by a poem from his friend Hanif; and host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some original haikus penned by our listeners.

Author and essayist Chuck Klosterman tackles the game of football in his economically titled new book Football, which examines the sport's cultural dominance in America and why, one day, that might change; poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney explains why her debut collection Joy Is My Middle Name includes U.S. Presidents, stand-up comedy one-liners, and the movie Babe; and indie singer-songwriter Laura Gibson gives us an update on her gardening practice before performing a new, unreleased song titled "Sylvia."

Award-winning author Karen Russell takes us inside her "dust bowl epic" novel The Antidote, which employs the fantastical to comment on memory, climate change, and the nation's troubling history of land ownership; stand-up comedian Sam Miller finds sidesplitting humor in his own experiences with addiction and incarceration; and singer-songwriter David Ramirez explains how he pulled himself out of a rut and into solitude to write his latest album All The Not So Gentle Reminders, before performing the track "The Music Man."

Comedian, actor, and TV writer Guy Branum tells us why he ran away from Jeopardy host Ken Jennings, then dives deep into his Instagram series Things Only the Old Gays Remember; writer and filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat discusses his book We Survived the Night, which weaves oral history, reportage, and the legend of the "Trickster Coyote" to tell tale of modern Indigenous life; and singer-songwriter Georgia Maq, formerly of Australian indie rock trio Camp Cope, gives a soaring performance of her single "Tropical Lush Ice."