Live Wire Radio
A public radio variety show hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me) and taped in front of a live audience. The show features unpredictable conversations, hilarious stand-up comedy, and unforgettable musical performances from established acts and new talent alike.
Broadcasts on 200+ stations nationwide.
Below, you will find a full list of episodes that Ashley helped produce during her 2024-2025 Production Fellowship.
Episode 674: Gabe Henry, William Nuʻutupu Giles, and Sir Woman
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.
Episode 672: Rick Steves and The Lullaby Project
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.
Episode 670: Karen Russell, Sam Miller, and David Ramirez
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."
Episode 668: Kelsey McKinney, Omar El Akkad, and Kuinka
Podcaster and writer Kelsey McKinney (You Didn't Hear This From Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip) "spills the tea" on all things gossip—from prayer circles to AI tattle; award-winning author Omar El Akkad discusses his first book of nonfiction One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, which traces his disillusionment with the West and the failure of its promises; and indie folk band Kuinka perform their tune "Living Room Floor."
Episode 666: Lidia Yuknavitch, Felipe Torres Medina, and Pedro the Lion
Bestselling author Lidia Yuknavitch discusses her new memoir Reading the Waves, which explores memory and how a shift in position can reshape our complicated stories; award-winning humorist and writer Felipe Torres Medina (The Late Show With Stephen Colbert) takes us on an adventure through the quagmire of the US immigration system with his book America, Let Me In: A Choose Your Immigration Story; and indie rock group Pedro the Lion performs "Spend Time" from their latest album Santa Cruz.
Episode 664: Scaachi Koul and Emma Ruth Rundle
Slate writer Scaachi Koul unpacks her latest book of essays Sucker Punch, in which she delves into her unexpected birth, the dissolution of her marriage, and how her friends have come to know her as "the divorce doula." Multidisciplinary artist Emma Ruth Rundle explains how she crafted her debut poetry collection The Bella Vista—which touches on love lost, addiction, and discovering oneself—while traveling on tour, then performs “Blooms of Oblivion” from her album Engine of Hell.
Episode 662: Kari Ferrell, Zak Toscani, and Ural Thomas & The Pain
Writer and activist Kari Ferrell recounts her rise and fall as the "Hipster Grifter," New York City's infamous scammer of the late aughts, as told in her tell-all memoir You'll Never Believe Me; stand-up comedian Zak Toscani shares the trials and tribulations of growing up goth in Hawaii; and soul group Ural Thomas & The Pain perform “Gotta Say (I Love You)” from their album, The Right Time.
Episode 660: "Poetry Month Special" with Paisley Rekdal, Hanif Abdurraqib, Anis Mojgani, Kaveh Akbar, and Kasey Anderson
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.
Episode 658: Morgan Parker, Georgia Cloepfil, and Rogê
Poet and essayist Morgan Parker (You Get What You Pay For) unpacks the highs and lows of therapy... and how crying in The Gap afterwards is cathartic; writer and former professional soccer player Georgia Cloepfil explains how she hustled across the globe as an athlete, while weighing financial gain with her love of the sport; and Brazilian singer-songwriter Rogê performs his song “Existe Uma Voz” from his first US solo album Curyman.
Episode 656: Ira Madison III and Riki Lindhome
Cultural critic and podcaster Ira Madison III (Pure Innocent Fun) discusses how popular culture has largely shaped his reality... a notion that is put to the test when he faces off with his favorite author (and surprise guest) Chuck Klosterman in a quiz about Chuck's cultural manifesto Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. Comedian Riki Lindhome, of the comedy folk duo Garfunkel and Oates, chats about writing "dirty" songs as a new mother, before performing a searingly hilarious tune on the hidden love triangle within The Sound of Music.
Episode 654: Bruce Campbell, Sara Schaefer, and Emi Pop
Actor and cult film icon Bruce Campbell delights in playing age-appropriate roles and explains why horses are such high maintenance actors; comedian Sara Schaefer tells us a tale from childhood about losing her best friend (her blankie) during a Christmas vacation; and Puerto Rican pop-punk artist Emi Pop performs her self-released single “Lo Sé."
Episode 652: Rachel Khong, Danez Smith, and Danielia Cotton
Acclaimed author Rachel Khong explores the themes in her newest novel Real Americans, including what it means to bridge cultural and generational divides within families; superstar poet Danez Smith reads from their latest collection Bluff and tells us what poetry can and cannot accomplish; and singer-songwriter Danielia Cotton chats about her tribute album to Black country star Charley Pride, before performing her own track "Bring Out the Country in Me."
Episode 648: Jamie Loftus, Hari Kondabolu, and Blitzen Trapper
New York Times bestselling author Jamie Loftus unpacks her latest podcast Sixteenth Minute of Fame, where she talks to "internet famous" folks of the past, like NFL half-time legend Elvis Presto; stand-up comedian Hari Kondabolu explains why he's never performed on Long Island and how his iPhone might be stunting his parenting; and celebrated Americana band Blizten Trapper perform "Planetarium" off their latest album 100's of 1000's, Millions of Billions. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share the times our audience members has a brush with fame.
Episode 643: Danzy Senna, Penny Lane, and Johnny Franco and His Real Brother Dom
Author Danzy Senna unpacks the struggles of her protagonist to write the quintessential biracial comedy, in her newest (and very meta) novel Colored Television; filmmaker Penny Lane discusses her latest documentary Confessions of a Good Samaritan, which follows her personal quest to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger; and Brazilian rock duo Johnny Franco and His Real Brother Dom perform "We Used to Be Awesome." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some kind acts from strangers.
Episode 641: Stephen Graham Jones, Alex Falcone, and Tropa Magica
Horror author Stephen Graham Jones unpacks the ethos of a "slasher" and why, after more than 30 novels, he can't stop writing; stand-up comedian Alex Falcone admits that he would rather die doing something he hates; and psychedelic Cumbia punk band Tropa Magica perform “LSD Roma” from their EP Y la Muerte de Los Commons. Plus, host Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello share the weirdest fears from our audience.
Episode 639: Carvell Wallace, Joy Sullivan, and Danielle Durack
New York Times bestselling author and podcaster Carvell Wallace unpacks his transformative memoir, Another Word for Love, where he mines his own history of growing up, getting sober, and finding his voice as a writer; poet Joy Sullivan discusses her collection Instructions for Traveling West, which explores themes of home, luck, and starting again; and singer-songwriter Danielle Durack performs "Moon Song" from her latest album Escape Artist. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello hear from our audience about their most memorable road trips.
Episode 637: Shalom Auslander, Simon Shieh, and Kara Jackson
In his memoir Feh, writer Shalom Auslander attempts to escape his biblical upbringing and carve his own path, with a little help from Kafka; poet and former professional Muay Thai fighter Simon Shieh reckons with trauma, masculinity, and the art of healing in his debut collection Master; and singer-songwriter Kara Jackson performs her single "Pawnshop" from her album Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?, which was recorded live from this year’s Pickathon festival. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello hear from our audience about the small, shameful things they grapple with.
Episode 635: Roger Reeves, Sean Jordan, and Erin Rae
Poet Roger Reeves explains how he tried to reach the universal through the personal in his first collection of essays, Dark Days: Fugitive Essays; stand-up comedian Sean Jordan unpacks why instructional videos on potty-training your kids might be flawed; and singer-songwriter Erin Rae performs the title track of her critically-acclaimed album, Putting on Airs, recorded live from this year’s Pickathon Music Festival. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some parenting challenges from our listeners.
Episode 633: Emily Nussbaum and Pink Martini
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Emily Nussbaum (The New Yorker) unpacks her book Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV, which explores our obsession and distaste for what she calls "dirty documentary;" pianist Thomas Lauderdale and vocalist China Forbes of Pink Martini chat about their 30-year journey with the genre-bending musical group, before performing "Una Notte a Napoli" from their album Hang on Little Tomato. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello hear from our audience members about an imaginary reality TV show they'd like to see.
Episode 631: Ijeoma Oluo, Sarah Marshall, and Anna Tivel
Writer and activist Ijeoma Oluo unpacks her new book Be a Revolution, which shows how people across America are making positive changes in powerful systems; podcaster Sarah Marshall, host of You're Wrong About, reveals the real reason we take our shoes off at the airport; and singer-songwriter Anna Tivel performs "Disposable Camera" off her newest album Living Thing. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello tell us about the people our listeners say are making positive changes in their own communities.