Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Author Lindy West discusses her road-trip memoir, Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane, and the online backlash sparked by the relationship choices she details in the book; writer Angela Nissel unpacks her new book, Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom Is Dead — a reckoning with her complicated relationship with her mother, particularly her role as caretaker in her mother's final days; and indie rockers Pedro the Lion perform "Modesto" from their latest album, Santa Cruz.

Comedian Maria Bamford riffs on money troubles... and why Instacart might be to blame; comic and crop artist Brandi Brown unpacks her childhood encounter with Prince and her favorite spots at the famed Minnesota State Fair; and The Reasonable Doubts prove that a cover band made up entirely of Minnesota state judges knows how to rock without robes.

Writer Edgar Gomez discusses his collection of essays Alligator Tears, which follows his various hustles as a youth in Florida—from being a flip flop salesman to getting fake teeth through a little bankruptcy fraud; author River Selby recounts how they overcame addiction and sexism to become a hotshot wildland firefighter; and classical pianist Hunter Noack performs at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, as part of his outdoor concert series IN A LANDSCAPE.

Popular science writer Mary Roach dives into lab-grown organs, historical nose jobs, and unlikely hair transplants, as covered in her latest book Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy; stand-up comedian Janesh Rahlan riffs on learning Spanish as an Indian American growing up in Texas; and singer-songwriter Amy Millan (of the indie group Stars) recites her teenage monologue from Degrassi Junior High, before performing a track from her new solo album I Went to Find You.

Comedian and podcaster Paul F. Tompkins chats about taking his variety show Varietopia back on the road after his (surprise!) coronation as Live Wire's most frequently appearing guest; and vocalist Meklit offers her exquisite blend of Ethio-jazz during a performance of the track "Tizita" from her new album A Piece of Infinity.