Live Wire with Luke Burbank – Episode Summary

Episode: Alexis Okeowo, Maria Bamford, and Pete Droge
Date: November 21, 2025
Podcast: Live Wire with Luke Burbank (PRX)

Overview

This lively episode of Live Wire features in-depth interviews and performances from three unique and acclaimed guests: writer Alexis Okeowo, comedian Maria Bamford, and singer-songwriter Pete Droge. From exploring the intricacies of identity and place in Alabama, to the quirks of humor and personal routines, to heartful Americana music, the episode blends thoughtful cultural commentary with offbeat charm and wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Best News All Week (02:52–07:06)

• Rock Paper Scissors Science
  Elena Passarello shares a quirky study on how humans struggle to be random in rock paper scissors, revealing broader truths about the nature of creativity and collaboration.
  Quote:

  • "The good news is...all of those things not being random actually influences positively. So hooray. But for rock paper scissors, you should try to just clear your mind and goldfish brain that thing." – Elena Passarello (04:22)

• Oklahoma's Food-for-Fines Initiative
  Luke Burbank highlights a great municipal program in Chickasha, Oklahoma allowing people to pay down city and library fines with food donations, aiding both debtors and those experiencing food insecurity.
  Quote:

  • "It is very expensive to be poor. And... when you don't have a lot of money and you're racking up these fines, it can just be...life ruining." – Luke Burbank (07:12)

2. Alexis Okeowo on “Blessings and Disasters” (08:57–24:16)

Identity, Home, and Nuance in Alabama

• Alabama’s Stereotypes vs. Reality
  Alexis describes the extreme reactions she gets when telling people she's from Alabama and the limited, often misinformed, perceptions outsiders have.
  Quote:

  • "I would say Alabama. And I would get, whoa. And it would either be, oh my God, what have you been through? Or wow, you're wearing shoes." – Alexis Okeowo (09:28)

• Insider/Outsider Childhood
  Navigating between Southern and Nigerian cultures, Alexis reflects on how being an outsider fueled her journalistic curiosity.
  Quote:

  • "Being an outsider...has fueled my whole life since in wanting to observe and report and write about things. But at the time, it was tricky." (11:19)

• Porch Creek Indians & Changing Narratives
  The overlooked history of Native people in Alabama, especially the successful and complex Porch Creek Indians and their female chief, Stephanie Bryan—a blend of “deeply Southern” and indigenously rooted identity.
  Quote:

  • "She's a Native American tribal chief and also one of the most Southern women I've ever met." (16:41)

• Aftermath of the Civil War
  Alexis discusses Alabama’s fixation on its post-Civil War narrative as an explanation for persistent state issues.
  Quote:

  • "What the Civil War left behind has always been more important to Alabama than what happened during it." (17:28)

• Why People Stay
  The resilience of people who stay in Alabama, such as Mary McDonald, despite adversity and societal problems, becomes a central theme. Quote:

  • "Progress that has come about has only been because of the people who have stayed." (20:39)

• Memoir, Memory, and Reclaiming Identity
  The process of writing the book led Alexis to new understandings about her own past and the lasting influence of “home.”
  Quote:

  • "I mostly wrote this for my 18 year old self who was extremely defensive...This is the manifesto." (23:54)

3. Listener Question: What Do You Find Super Funny? (25:14–28:14)

• Funny stories from listeners about social media mishaps, Wikipedia “burns,” and dancing delivery people provide some lightheartedness.
• Maria Bamford’s questionnaire inspires both listener questions and this segment.

4. Maria Bamford: Comedy, Truth, and Crumbs (29:19–41:30)

On “The Maria Bamford Questionnaire”

• Origins of the Questionnaire
  Maria details how she devised her signature list of disarming, revealing questions, now a regular Vulture feature. Quote:

  • "They just asked me, and I wrote. I typed it in." – Maria Bamford (30:59)

• Intimate Routine & Quirks
  Sharing her candid nighttime snack routine—a massive homemade cookie in bed—and her mutually messy relationship. Quote:

  • "I make chocolate chip cookies in the size of an asteroid...And then I slowly gnaw at that as I read and then pass out." (32:05)

• On Inclusivity and Religion
  If she created a religion, it would have a “low bar...where just like everybody in.” She reflects on inclusion, especially for those struggling. Quote:

  • "That's when you need people...my hope is that, yeah, that would be welcoming to everybody, but then maybe have metal detectors just like here." (33:15)

• Personal Anecdotes, Regret, and Reflection
  Stories about moving, affirming friendships, and memories as a street performer in Minneapolis bring vulnerability and warmth. Quote:

  • "You put yourself out there and you show your little pink belly and you want a tummy rub." (39:54)

• Humorous Observations
  On airport lounges:

  • "It is like, you know, leather bound farts, that of a man or a woman who's had a couple of gin and tonics." (38:26)

5. Pete Droge: Song & Story (45:52–53:50)

• Adoption and Identity
  Pete discusses how coming to terms with being an adoptee—especially as he reached midlife—inspired his deeply personal songwriting. He acknowledges gratitude for his adoptive parents while also investigating the trauma of separation. Quote:

  • "I thought, hmm, maybe that's a thing. Is that a thing? And I found out it is a thing. Yeah, being an adoptee." (46:03)

• Seattle Music Scene
  Anecdotes about working with Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready and carving his unique place in the Seattle sound of the '90s. Quote:

  • "I was the pioneer of the flannel. I think they all got it from me." (49:05)

• Live Musical Performance
  Performs “You’d Called Me Kid,” a tribute to his adoptive parents—tender, reflective, and filled with gratitude. Memorable Lyric:

  • "You called me kid and I can't thank you enough for what you did."

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You called me kid and I can't thank you enough for what you did.” – Pete Droge, singing (50:24–53:13)
• “Neither one is great...And it felt very divorced from what I felt was like a nuanced, complicated childhood..." – Alexis Okeowo (10:12)
• “That's when you need people, is when...sometimes they'll kick out someone who has a mental health issue who's being disruptive. And I just think, no, man, that's who needs to be here.” – Maria Bamford (33:15)
• “Rock don't stop.” – Elena Passarello (05:53)
• "The country's experiencing the Alabama fication of itself...I think we can now all relate to being from a place where we can't—A lot of us perhaps don't really feel proud of what our government is doing.” – Alexis Okeowo (19:41)
• “I make chocolate chip cookies in the size of an asteroid...And then I slowly gnaw at that.” – Maria Bamford (32:05)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:03 – Show Intro
• 02:52 – Best News All Week (Rock Paper Scissors study, Oklahoma food-for-fines)
• 08:57 – Alexis Okeowo Interview: Alabama, memoir, race, belonging
• 25:14 – Listener question inspired by Maria Bamford’s questionnaire
• 29:19 – Maria Bamford Interview: Questionnaire, humor, personal quirks
• 45:52 – Pete Droge Interview: Adoption, music, live performance “You’d Called Me Kid”
• 50:24 – Pete Droge performs “You’d Called Me Kid”

Final Thoughts

With warmth, vulnerability, cleverness, and a bit of irreverence, this Live Wire episode delivers a deeply engaging blend of storytelling, comedy, and music. The personal journeys and insights of Alexis Okeowo, Maria Bamford, and Pete Droge highlight the complexity of identity, belonging, and the creative spirit that fuels both art and connection.