Live Wire with Luke Burbank: Ijeoma Oluo, Sarah Marshall, and Anna Tivel (Rebroadcast)
Release Date: February 7, 2025
Host: Luke Burbank
Guests: Ijeoma Oluo, Sarah Marshall, Anna Tivel
Recorded at: Alberto Rose Theater in Portland, Oregon
Brought to You By: PRX

Introduction

In this engaging rebroadcast episode of Live Wire with Luke Burbank, host Luke Burbank welcomes three distinguished guests: New York Times bestselling author Ijeoma Oluo, renowned podcaster Sarah Marshall of You're Wrong About, and acclaimed singer-songwriter Anna Tivel. The episode delves deep into themes of social change, storytelling, and the power of music, offering listeners a rich tapestry of insights and inspiring narratives.

Highlighting Inspirational Community Efforts

Before diving into the main discussions, Luke shares two heartwarming stories celebrating community heroes:

1. St. Mary's Academy's Exceptional Students ([04:53]–[07:43]):
   At St. Mary's Academy in New Orleans, seniors Kelsey Johnson and Nakaya Jackson succeeded in developing a trigonometric proof of the Pythagorean theorem—only the second instance in over two millennia. Their groundbreaking achievement earned them recognition from none other than basketball legend Charles Barkley, who donated $1 million to support the school's mission of empowering Black women. Luke aptly remarks, “Could you have a better role model than the guy donating millions of dollars voluntarily to help support this amazing school and these amazing students?” ([07:11]).

2. Clementine the Orange Lobster ([07:43]–[10:20]):
   In Southampton, New York, an extraordinarily rare orange lobster named Clementine captured the community's heart. Thanks to the efforts of Humane Long Island, Clementine was safely rehabilitated back into the ocean, showcasing a beautiful example of community-driven conservation. Luke adds a personal touch, “We put her there to rehab. We brought her to the ocean, and she immediately began foraging. She was ready to go as soon as she saw the ocean.” ([09:48]).

Ijeoma Oluo on "Be a Revolution"

Discussion Highlights:

Ijeoma Oluo joins Luke to discuss her latest book, Be a Revolution, which explores how everyday people combat oppression and drive societal change. The conversation, recorded live at the Alberto Rose Theater, delves into Oluo's evolving perspective on activism and the intertwining of race and disability justice.

Key Insights:

• Shift from Reform to Abolition:
  Initially advocating for reforming existing oppressive systems, Oluo shares her transformation towards supporting abolitionist approaches. She states, “Why not demand true liberation for us all? Why not lean into the best of us that we know we have to say we could build something wholly good instead of trying to find a way to live or die a little more slowly from something that has been robbing us of so much for so many generations.” ([12:22]).

• Interconnectedness of Race and Disability:
  Oluo emphasizes the often-overlooked nexus between racism and ableism. Highlighting historical figures like Harriet Tubman, who sustained a traumatic brain injury, she underscores the necessity of integrating disability perspectives into racial justice movements. “Disabled people are in our community and leading our movements and therefore should be voices that we are turning to,” she asserts ([19:10]).

• Self-Care in Activism:
  Addressing the emotional toll of activism, Oluo advocates for self-care and community support. She reflects, “What sustained systemic oppression is the idea that there are some of us who don't deserve to live, who don't deserve joy, who don't deserve, you know, safety, who don't deserve community, who don't deserve to live right now in this very broken world.” ([22:58]).

Celebrating Community Changemakers

Luke and co-host Elena Passarello spotlight three listeners who are making significant positive impacts in their communities:

1. Chris Hyde in Olympia, Washington:
   Founder of Super Sunday, Chris organizes free meals and food boxes for those in need, fostering a supportive community network. His initiative has grown to include 2,800 members, demonstrating the power of grassroots efforts.

2. Taylor Scott in Richmond, Virginia:
   Creator of RVA Community Fridges, Taylor combats food scarcity by establishing 14 community fridges, distributing over £50,000 worth of food, and reducing waste from local growers. Elena notes, “Her efforts... remind me of what's possible when food work is community driven rather than profit driven.” ([28:21]).

3. Sarah Young in Bellingham, Washington:
   Through her project, Bellingham Pollinator, Sarah engages the community with random acts of art, spreading joy and motivation via public installations and QR codes linking to uplifting messages. Luke captures the essence: “Just a little moment in everyone's day or week to just like, kind of enjoy some art...” ([29:05]).

Sarah Marshall on "You're Wrong About"

Discussion Highlights:

Sarah Marshall returns to Live Wire to discuss her critically acclaimed podcast, You're Wrong About, which deconstructs widely held misconceptions about historical events and cultural phenomena.

Key Insights:

• Power of Storytelling:
  Marshall emphasizes the importance of narrative details in reshaping our understanding. She shares, “People don't respond to statistics. We respond to narratives, and also that there are certain details that really stick.” ([31:47]).

• Humanizing Public Figures:
  By delving into the personal lives of individuals like Tonya Harding and Richard Reed, Marshall humanizes figures often reduced to stereotypes. For instance, she reveals Harding's mother using figure skating trophies to store loose change, adding depth to her story ([32:47]).

• Podcasting Independence:
  Addressing the business side, Marshall explains her and co-host Alex Steed's decision to forgo advertising to maintain creative control. She humorously compares herself to the Newsradio character Joe Rogan, stating, “The secret to our success was that there was a pandemic, and suddenly everyone needed a lot of hours of something to listen to.” ([39:14]).

• Advice for Podcasters:
  Marshall advises emerging podcasters to value their work and cautiously navigate corporate offers, warning against relinquishing intellectual property for unfavorable terms ([40:46]).

Anna Tivel's Musical Journey

Performance Highlights:

Anna Tivel, praised by No Depression as a top modern folk storyteller, graces the Live Wire stage with soulful performances from her latest album, Living Thing. Her introspective lyrics blend seamlessly with her gentle melodies, creating an immersive listening experience.

Key Insights:

• Word and Music Fusion:
  Tivel describes her songwriting process, stating, “I love them [words]. I love them the way I love music. Or to me, they are so musical and they're so tactile and tangible and every word sort of has this whole world.” ([45:25]).

• Navigating Public Performance as an Introvert:
  Reflecting on her shy nature, Tivel shares her journey towards embracing public performances: “I'm just realizing maybe it's okay if people shift uncomfortably while I very slowly crawl my way to the end of a sentence. That we're all in this world together. There's space for everybody.” ([46:15]).

Featured Song:
Anna performs "Before You Come Into the World," a poignant piece exploring the complexities of life, resilience, and self-discovery. The lyrics resonate deeply, capturing the essence of her musical storytelling.

Conclusion

This episode of Live Wire with Luke Burbank offers a compelling blend of thoughtful discussions and heartfelt performances. Ijeoma Oluo's exploration of revolutionary change, Sarah Marshall's insightful deconstructions of cultural myths, and Anna Tivel's evocative music collectively inspire listeners to engage with their communities, rethink societal norms, and cherish the power of storytelling and art.

Whether you're passionate about social justice, fascinated by the intricacies of media narratives, or moved by soulful melodies, this episode provides valuable perspectives and uplifting stories that encourage positive action and personal growth.

Notable Quotes:

• Ijeoma Oluo ([12:22]):
  “Why not demand true liberation for us all? Why not lean into the best of us that we know we have to say we could build something wholly good...”

• Sarah Marshall ([31:47]):
  “People don't respond to statistics. We respond to narratives, and also that there are certain details that really stick.”

• Anna Tivel ([45:25]):
  “I love them [words]. I love them the way I love music... every word sort of has this whole world.”

Tune in to Live Wire with Luke Burbank for more inspiring conversations and stellar performances each week, delivered straight to your heart and ears.