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

REBROADCAST: Gary Gulman, Anis Mojgani, and Olive Klug

13 days ago 52m 22s

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

Moshe Kasher, Mohanad Elshieky, and Glitterfox

20 days ago 52m 24s

Comedian and writer Moshe Kasher dives into his new memoir Subculture Vulture, which explores the six communities which shaped his life, from AA and Burning Man to sign language interpretation and his ultra-Hasidic upbringing; stand-up comedian

REBROADCAST: Scott Aukerman, Sarafina El-Badry Nance, and Family Worship Center

27 days ago 52m 27s

Comedian and writer Scott Aukerman brings his wildly popular improv podcast Comedy Bang! Bang! to book form and reveals how a goofy name and an occupation is really how a character begins; astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance explores her own

Lindy West, Paul F. Tompkins, and Ural Thomas & The Pain

Mar 22nd, 2024 52m 37s

Bestselling writer Lindy West (Shrill) chats about her new podcast Text Me Back, which unpacks friendship, the news, and text threads; comedian Paul F. Tompkins takes a stab at some other P.F.T. acronyms; and soul ensemble Ural Thomas & The Pai

REBROADCAST: Héctor Tobar, Jena Friedman, and Joseph

Mar 15th, 2024 52m 26s

Author Héctor Tobar explores the meanings and myths of the term "Latino" in his sixth book Our Migrant Souls; comedian and writer Jena Friedman (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) chats about her debut collection of essays Not Funny and recounts the t

Sloane Crosley, Roz Chast, and Black Belt Eagle Scout

Mar 8th, 2024 52m 27s

Writer Sloane Crosley unpacks loss in her memoir, Grief is for People, which poignantly weaves the suicide of a dear friend with the burglary of her home; The New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast shares some of her weirdest dreams from her new illus

REBROADCAST: Maria Bamford and Isabeau Waia'u Walker

Mar 1st, 2024 51m 37s

Comedian Maria Bamford chats about her new book Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, which unpacks mental illness and the quest to belong... and why 12-step programs and the Suzuki Method have more in common than you might think. Then, singer-songwriter

Dave Hill and No-No Boy

Feb 23rd, 2024 51m 45s

Comedian and writer Dave Hill dives into his newest book The Awesome Game, which makes the case for why hockey should be more popular in the United States, then tries his hand at the surprisingly popular genre of "hockey romance" novels; and si

REBROADCAST: Ken Jennings, Erica Berry, and Making Movies

Feb 16th, 2024 51m 33s

Author and Jeopardy host Ken Jennings takes us on a journey to the afterlife with his latest book, 100 Places to See After You Die, and explains why contestant interviews are so darn awkward; writer Erica Berry discusses her debut book Wolfish,

EXTRA: Author Curtis Sittenfeld on the Longevity of Rom-Com Couples

Feb 14th, 2024 9m 58s

To celebrate Valentine's Day, this extra episode features author Curtis Sittenfeld (Romantic Comedy) in a game where she must decide if famous rom-com couples broke up or lived happily ever after.

Avery Trufelman, Camille Dungy, and Olive Klug

Feb 9th, 2024 53m 32s

Podcaster Avery Trufelman unpacks her podcast Articles of Interest, in which she reveals the history behind fashion and clothing, including prison uniforms and the debate over pockets; author Camille Dungy discusses her latest book Soil: The St

Black History Month Special: Tracy K. Smith, Saeed Jones, and Meklit

Feb 2nd, 2024 52m 26s

In this Black History Month special episode, former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith discusses her memoir To Free the Captives, which explores Black strength, continuance, and community by looking back at her own family’s history; poet Saeed J

J. Wortham, Curtis Sittenfeld, and Margo Cilker

Jan 26th, 2024 52m 25s

Journalist J. Wortham (The New York Times Magazine, Still Processing) recounts what happened when they visited a nude queer beach in Oaxaca; author Curtis Sittenfeld discusses her newest novel Romantic Comedy, which flips the script on the cele

REBROADCAST: Jamie Loftus, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, and Danielle Ponder

Jan 19th, 2024 52m 24s

Writer and podcaster Jamie Loftus dives into her New York Times bestselling book Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs, a travelog on the cultural and historical significance of the American sausage; chef and food writer J. Kenji López-Alt te

Hari Kondabolu, Kristi Coulter, and Quasi

Jan 12th, 2024 52m 31s

Comedian Hari Kondabolu discusses his new standup special “Vacation Baby” and how regrettably he blew off congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on her campaign trail; writer Kristi Coulter unpacks her memoir “Exit Interview: The Life and Death

REBROADCAST: Ari Shapiro and Demi Adejuyigbe

Jan 5th, 2024 52m 22s

Ari Shapiro, journalist and co-host of All Things Considered, unpacks his new book The Best Strangers in the World: Stories From a Life Spent Listening, which chronicles his reporting adventures across the globe, from Air Force One to the stage

REBROADCAST: Timothy Egan and Dessa

Dec 29th, 2023 52m 23s

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and acclaimed author Timothy Egan unpacks his newest book A Fever in the Heartland, which traces the Ku Klux Klan's expansion across America in the 1920s and one woman's crusade to stop them; rapper and poet prov

Paul F. Tompkins, José Olivarez, and Esme Patterson

Dec 22nd, 2023 51m 37s

On the special holiday edition of Live Wire, comedian and podcaster Paul F. Tompkins talks about passive-aggressive Christmas carolers and the most tense rendition of “O Holy Night" he's ever heard; poet José Olivarez discusses his latest colle

EXTRA: Aparna Nancherla & Celebrity Lowlights

Dec 20th, 2023 11m 32s

In this podcast extra, comedian Aparna Nancherla (Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself and Imposter Syndrome) is quizzed on the former "career lowlights" of some high-profile celebrities.

REBROADCAST: Laura Chinn, Mohanad Elshieky, and Jenny Conlee

Dec 15th, 2023 52m 19s

Writer and director Laura Chinn (Florida Girls) discusses her memoir Acne, which tackles her racial identity, Scientology, and of course... very oily skin; standup comedian Mohanad Elshieky riffs on embarrassing encounters with TSA and Uber dri

Sam Sanders, Reggie Watts, and Sway Wild

Dec 8th, 2023 52m 24s

Podcaster Sam Sanders (Vibe Check) shares his hot takes on pop culture, from the Barbie movie to his favorite nepobaby; comedian Reggie Watts interprets his feelings about generation differences through a spoken word poem; and indie folk duo Sw

REBROADCAST: Dana Schwartz, Jenny Odell, and Black Belt Eagle Scout

Dec 1st, 2023 52m 27s

Novelist Dana Schwartz unpacks her gothic fantasy duology, Anatomy and Immortality, then dives into her podcast Noble Blood, which explores the bizarre and risqué lives of royals; writer Jenny Odell dismantles the clock in her newest book Savin

R. Eric Thomas, Ian Karmel, and NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND

Nov 24th, 2023 52m 22s

Author and columnist R. Eric Thomas shares anecdotes from his memoir Congratulations, The Best Is Over, including how baking cupcakes may have saved his life; standup comedian Ian Karmel makes the case for why Arby's is a farm-to-table restaura

REBROADCAST: Kelsey McKinney, Brenda Shaughnessy, and Madison Cunningham

Nov 17th, 2023 52m 23s

Journalist and podcaster Kelsey McKinney (Defector) dishes on producing her juicy podcast Normal Gossip; poet Brenda Shaughnessy explains how her newest collection Tanya is partially an attempt to reconnect with her estranged college roommate;