Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Episode: Ken Jennings, Erica Berry, and Making Movies (REBROADCAST)
Release Date: December 12, 2025
Original Recording: July 2023

Episode Overview

This episode of Live Wire brings together witty, lively conversations with author, quiz-show legend, and Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings; author and essayist Erica Berry; and a live performance by genre-blending rock band Making Movies. The show, in its signature playful style, explores concepts of the afterlife, our relationship with fear and wolves, and celebrates unexpected joys, both personal and cultural.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Segment 1: Good News Stories

(02:52–08:36)

• Dmitry Bondavenko’s Lost Art Notebook
  Elena Passarello shares a story about artist Dmitry Bondavenko, who lost his prized sketchbook while biking in Toronto. The notebook's return was orchestrated through neighborhood Facebook pages, thanks to Chris Ellam, a 75-year-old who found it.

  • Quote (Elena, 04:19):
    "Instead of just like leaving it on like the closest park bench, he took it home with him... he saw it on that Facebook page... They managed to broker a return and Chris Ellum asked for no reward."
  • Moral: Sometimes, communities come together for heartfelt recoveries.

• Hemingway Days & Lookalike Contest
  Luke Burbank recounts the annual Hemingway Days in Key West and the heartwarming story of 68-year-old Garrett Marshall, who won the Hemingway lookalike contest after 11 years on his actual birthday.

  • Quote (Luke, 06:19):
    "He is a Lucci no more because he has now actually won... He also says that he shares many characteristics with Ernest Hemingway... The one difference he points out is that he has only been married once, whereas Hemingway was married four times."

Segment 2: Interview with Ken Jennings

(08:36–26:05)

Life as Jeopardy! Host and Author

• Ken reflects on adjusting to fame and his transition from contestant to host.
  • Quote (Ken, 08:46):
    "The great thing about being a contestant on Jeopardy! is you're cured of stage fright forever. Nothing else will be as terrifying as playing Jeopardy!... On TV it seems calm but those contestants are terrified."

On Writing “100 Places to See After You Die”

• Book's origin: Ken misread a travel book in the airport, sparking the idea.
  • Quote (Ken, 11:09):
    “I saw one of those ...‘things to do before you die’ bestsellers... and I thought it said ‘100 places to die before you see.’ And I thought, ’That’s actually ... a book idea.’ And I sold the book based on the title.”
• Ken explores how pop culture (like Mr. Spock or Mr. Hooper’s deaths) shaped his early understanding of mortality.
• Discussion of his upbringing in the LDS Church and how the Mormon afterlife is perceived as positive, as opposed to the hell-centered fears in evangelical Christianity.
  • Quote (Ken, 14:00):
    "Latter Day Saint theology, there's like multiple kingdoms you can go to. But they're all pretty good... Even the economy class one is better than here for sure."

On the Book’s Content

• The book covers mythologies, religions, books, movies, music, and theater depictions of the afterlife.
  • Maori mythology: The afterlife begins with a literal cliff dive.
  • Chinese mythology: In hell, you have to watch your loved ones forget you.
• CS Lewis and death in The Chronicles of Narnia.
  • Quote (Ken, 17:24):
    “The last Narnia book ends with ... the kids all just died in a train crash on earth... Aslan’s like, ‘Hey, don’t worry... you get to stay in Narnia forever.’”

Reflections on Hosting Jeopardy!

• Final Jeopardy! is the hardest: juggling numbers, TV drama, and contestant dynamics.

  • Quote (Ken, 22:16):
    "You're trying to be a referee and a play by play announcer and a narrator all at the same time."

• On contestant interviews:

  • Ken strives for warmth and camaraderie, contrasting with Alex Trebek’s more reserved demeanor.
  • Quote (Ken, 24:21):
    “... I remember having to do that and it's a tough ask for these people... And so I remember that and I feel like I actually have rapport with them. ... I think the fun of Alex was he did not care to convey that he cared at all.”

Segment 3: Listeners’ Ideal Afterlife

(27:15–29:30)

Elena shares audience responses inspired by Ken’s book:

• Craig: Reunited with all his pets, who are friends now.
• Dennis: Hangs out with Prince and David Bowie.
• Diana: Spends time with youthful versions of her grandparents.
  • Quote (Elena, 28:02):
    “In Dennis’s afterlife, I get to hang out with Prince and David Bowie.”

Segment 4: Interview with Erica Berry

(30:52–40:03)

The Story of OR106: Wolves as Prey and Predator

• Erica discusses her fascination with a poached Oregon wolf, OR106, and what the event signaled about humans’ relationships with wolves and fear.
  • Quote (Erica, 31:06):
    “… Wolves not as the predator that we’re sort of inherit stories around them, but as a sort of prey too and the slipperiness between those two roles.”

Wolves, Fear, and Human Narratives

• Explains her personal connection—studying wolves while caring for her ill mother led to seeing interconnectedness between humans and animal ecosystems.

Challenging the Notion of Wolves as Threat

• Wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare—statistically outnumbered by ladder falls, vending machines, and even cows.
  • Quote (Erica, 33:49):
    “I have a list of things that are statistically more likely to kill you than a wolf... Death by cow.”
• Tracing the origin of “wolf as villain” in language and myth.

Wolves and Livestock Tension

• Berry discusses empathy for livestock owners but notes wolves kill far fewer animals than other predators (e.g., cougars, bears).

On Living with Fear

• Erica relates the concept of “landscapes of fear” from ecology to her own experience after a frightening encounter in a new city and how studying fear’s ecology changed her perspective.
  • Quote (Erica, 36:16):
    “Learning about those sort of reactions helped me live beside it in a different way. Which in so many ways is like the project of growing older—it’s like learning to live beside your fear.”

Reading: The Legend of OR7, the Famed Traveling Wolf

• (Excerpt at 38:12) Erica reads about OR7 and how he achieved cult-like status across Oregon and California.
  • Quote (Erica, 39:26):
    “There was even a bumper sticker: OR7 for president... People wanted to be identified by their love of wolf.”

Segment 5: Making Movies Live Performance

(46:25–53:11)

• Band Introduction:
  Luke introduces Making Movies, known for blending Latin rhythms with rock, and asks about their song “Porcelina,” which is dedicated to female mentors and counselors in their lives.
  • Quote (Band member, 46:40):
    “…this song is dedicated to the many women who have been counselors and mentors in our lives.”
• Performance:
  Highlights cultural fusion, energy, and a heartfelt dedication to their friend Shayla.
• Reaction (Luke, 53:11):
  “Thank you. That was Making Movies right here on Livewire. Their album SOPA is available right now.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ken Jennings (On Hosting Jeopardy!) [21:01]:
  “I'm an indoor kid, you know, like, the real me is me sitting in a library... going on TV is, you know, I get that out of my system.”
• Erica Berry (On Fear and Wolves) [36:16]:
  “Learning about those sort of reactions helped me live beside it in a different way. Which in so many ways is like the project of growing older—it’s like learning to live beside your fear.”
• Listener’s Afterlife (Elena Passarello, 27:15):
  “Craig's ideal afterlife is I am reunited with every pet I've ever had and I find out they're all friends with each other now.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Best News Stories: 02:52–08:36
• Ken Jennings Interview: 08:36–26:05
• Listener Responses—Ideal Afterlife: 27:15–29:30
• Erica Berry Interview: 30:52–40:03
• Making Movies Performance: 46:25–53:11

Tone and Style

• Warm, witty, and quick-paced—with Luke and Elena keeping conversations fun but substantive.
• Guests engage thoughtfully and humorously; Ken Jennings in particular displays dry, self-deprecating humor.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This Live Wire installment delivers a delightful mix of clever banter, eye-opening perspectives on cultural myths about the afterlife and wolves, and soul-stirring live music. Whether you’re a Jeopardy! fan, nature writing enthusiast, or lover of eclectic bands, this episode offers a little something for everyone—anchored by heartfelt stories, good news, and vibrant personality.