Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello relive some of their greatest escapes; writer and former sideshow performer Tessa Fontaine explains how learning to eat fire helped mend her broken heart; comedian and actor Moses Storm riffs on why he and his mom once had the same platinum blonde hairdo; memoirist and green card lottery winner Abdi Nor Iftin recounts his journey from war-torn Somalia to rural Maine; and singer-songwriter Laura Veirs performs “Margaret Sands” from her album "The Lookout."

Ep. 430: Tessa Fontaine, Abdi Nor Iftin, Moses Storm, and Laura Veirs

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share the small things that fascinate them; writer and Radiolab co-host Lulu Miller unpacks the problematic practices of turn-of-the-century taxonomist David Starr Jordan; comedian and New York Times contributor Sopan Deb discusses his memoir "Missed Translations" about reconnecting with his immigrant parents; and Moorea Masa performs her latest single "Honey."

Ep. 431: Lulu Miller, Sopan Deb, and Moorea Masa

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello get rid of some unnecessary things; poet Tommy Pico explains how writing as his alter ego "Teebs" allows him to be less self-censoring in his work; journalist Eli Saslow discusses Derek Black – the subject of his book "Rising Out of Hatred" – and how the once-heir to the white nationalist movement made a stunning transformation; comedian Emily Heller spins gut-busting analogies to online dating; and indie rock duo The Helio Sequence performs “Lately” from their album "Keep Your Eyes Ahead."

Ep. 432: Tommy Pico, Eli Saslow, Emily Heller, and The Helio Sequence

Live Wire is radio variety for the attention span challenged. It's music from up-and-coming bands, original comedy, performance and scintillating interviews with writers, filmmakers, comedians and people who think cool thoughts. Hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, Too Beautiful to Live), the show is taped in front of a live audience in Portland, Oregon and is aired on public radio stations around the country.

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