Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Episode: Tara Roberts, Ivan McClellan, and Danelia Cotton
Date: February 6, 2026
Theme: Celebrating Black History Month – Stories of Exploration, Resilience, and Musical Legacy

Episode Overview

This special episode of Live Wire is dedicated to Black History Month, deeply exploring Black history, resilience, and creativity across unexpected realms—from underwater archaeological quests, to the vibrant Black rodeo scene, and the powerful legacy of Black country music. Host Luke Burbank is joined by three guests: National Geographic explorer and memoirist Tara Roberts, photojournalist and rodeo boss Ivan McClellan, and powerhouse singer-songwriter Danelia Cotton.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Tara Roberts: Surfacing Forgotten Histories from the Deep

(03:42 – 27:06)

Background

• Tara Roberts spent seven years accompanying Black scuba divers searching for sunken slave ships—a journey documented in her acclaimed podcast "Into the Depths" and new book, Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging.
• Roberts is an explorer-in-residence with National Geographic.

Origins of the Journey

• A transformative moment at the National Museum of African American History and Culture ("the Blacksonian") (04:59):
  • Tara describes being struck by an archival photo of Black women in wetsuits on a boat, connecting her childhood love of adventure stories with real Black adventurers:
    "It really felt like, I don't know, like the clouds parted in that moment and the angels started singing...I was mesmerized by it." (05:28)

Discovering Black Scuba Legacy

• Doc Jones, Black diving pioneer (07:27):
  • "Doc Jones is credited as having founded the very first black dive club in the United States...That club was founded over 60 years ago." (07:55-08:09)

The Henrietta Marie and Honoring the Ancestors

• The Henrietta Marie, the first documented slave shipwreck, became a memorial thanks to Diving with a Purpose and the National Association of Black Scuba Divers.
  • "When I was growing up, I couldn't tell you the name of a single one of those ships, but yet I could tell you about the Mayflower, I could tell you about the Titanic..." (09:13)
  • Approximately 12,000 ships carried 12.5 million Africans to the Americas; 1.8 million died during the Middle Passage (10:09).

Underwater Archaeology & The Emotional Journey

• Tara began as a zero-experience diver, training rigorously to join these expeditions (12:31).
  • "To me, it's almost like I got introduced to this magical, beautiful world that I didn't know...there's something that is so meditative and calming to me about diving." (13:05)

Shipwreck Searching Process

• The search for wrecks involves extensive archival research, "mowing the lawn" with sonar over probable locations, then sending in divers to collect and record evidence (17:31).

Stories Beyond Trauma: Rebellion and Survival

• There were stories of rebellion aboard slave ships, often led by women—1 in 10 ships experienced a revolt (19:24).
• The tale of two Danish ships (Christiana and Fredericus) where the crew mutinied, freed the captives on Costa Rican shores, and sparked local legends (20:54).

Community-Driven Discovery

• In Costa Rica, teenagers found ship remains and energized the community to claim and investigate their own history (22:00).

Personal Impact and the Broader Picture

• Asked how she reckons with such a painful legacy:
  • "I feel a profound sense of joy because...we have raised our hands and we have said we’re not going to wait for anyone else to prioritize this history. We’re going to volunteer our time to go down and to bring it up from the depths." (23:44)
  • "It's not just Black history...it's global history. Europe, Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean would not be what they are today if not for the trade...To me, this work is all about healing and honoring." (25:37)

Notable Quote

• "I can say to the ancestors who were lost: I see you. I haven't forgotten about you. And I'm going to help tell your story." (24:32)

2. Ivan McClellan: Black Rodeo Culture in Living Color

(28:58 – 44:31)

Ivan’s Lens on Untold Stories

• Ivan McClellan, photographer and founder of the 8 Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo (the Pacific Northwest’s first Black rodeo), shares the making of 8 Seconds, his photo book on Black cowboy culture.

Recognizing Unseen Cowboys

• Growing up in Kansas City, Ivan was surrounded by rural Black families but didn't connect them with the cowboy tradition due to the whiteness of pop culture (29:16).
  • "I thought, well, Mr. Wills down the street has cows, but he's not a cowboy. Cause that’s what white guys do." (29:16)
  • "Sheriff Bart in Blazing Saddles or Cowboy Curtis in Pee Wee’s Playhouse...it was just sort of a joke: What if a Black guy was a cowboy? Wouldn’t that be funny?" (30:41)

Entry Into the Black Rodeo World

• Invited by a filmmaker to cover the Roy LeBlanc Invitational:
  • Experience: 105°F heat, dressed wrong, but amazed by "thousands of Black cowboys...riding horses in Jordans with no shirt and chains." (31:01)
  • "It was just like this beautiful mixture of western culture with Black culture that I was familiar with." (32:05)

Building the Body of Work

• Regular, immersive engagement led to the book, initially shared via Instagram, becoming a community touchstone during the pandemic (33:22).

Bridging Two Cultures

• At first, Ivan was a novice in rodeo circles, outed by design-soft hands and rookie mistakes (e.g., wearing cowboy hat backward):
  • "My hands are like dragonfly wings because I work in tech and design." (34:58)
  • Changed wardrobe after being called out: "If you're going to be here, you gotta dress the part." (35:36)
  • "The first time I wore my hat, I had it on backward. Somebody came up to me and was like, 'That’d look better if you wore it the other way.'" (36:11)

Memorably, Ivan reads his "Letter to Cowboy Culture"

(37:37 – 41:06; key quotes):

• "You’re not just a way of life, but a symbol of resilience, courage, and determination."
• "It is awe inspiring to see a Black man or woman on horseback. It symbolizes freedom, independence, and living on your own terms." (38:36)
• "I’m overjoyed that when my kids color a cowboy in their coloring book, they color in brown." (40:08)

Photography Process

• Shoots rodeos with a medium-format camera—challenging for action but produces stunning intimate shots (41:33).
  • "Every other photographer’s got a fast Canon...I can only shoot every three seconds, and the entire ride is eight seconds if it goes well." (42:02)

Becoming "Rodeo Boss"

• Ivan founded the 8 Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo, creating space for Black cowboy celebration in the Pacific Northwest (42:53). Plans to play the entire Beyoncé Cowboy Carter album at the event (43:03).

Reflection

• "This book allows you to meditate and like really take your time...there's a picture of a church with a septic tank in front of it. It's really not that interesting, but it's a place, and it sets up the rhythm of the book." (44:10)

3. Danelia Cotton: Reclaiming Black Country Music

(46:09 – 54:02)

Musical Roots and Project Inspiration

• Danelia Cotton, acclaimed indie rocker, presents Charlie's Pride, a tribute to trailblazing Black country musician Charley Pride.

Family Legacy & Hidden Country Records

• The project was inspired by a Charley Pride album “hidden” by her grandfather, discovered under the bed—a secret love due to the genre’s racial associations (46:21).
  • "He hid it under the bed because he was like a closeted country fan...She was like, 'It was my album and he took it.'" (46:30)

Navigating Genre and Identity

• On the challenge and necessity of respecting the country genre:
  • "If you go into a genre...you have to tip your hat somewhat to what it is...then you're not really doing country music. You have to, to some degree, put a little bit in there.” (47:59)

The Beyoncé Effect and Black Country Visibility

• On the significance of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter:
  • "She opened that door wider, and then there were many that were there...her popularity and her stature allowed a whole bunch of people to be seen. I gotta give that to her." (49:07)

Performing "Bring out the Country in Me" (Original Song)

• Cotton explains the song’s inspiration: retaining her rural roots and authenticity after moving to the city (49:58).
  • "I stayed me. It actually made me more me...I’m like, authentically Danelia no matter where I am." (50:19)

Live Performance Lyrics Highlights

• "Bring out the Country in Me" (50:39–54:02):
  • A heartfelt anthem about identity, memory, and the enduring power of home.

Notable Quotes

• Tara Roberts (On the importance of her work) [24:32]:
  "I can say to the ancestors who were lost: I see you. I haven't forgotten about you. And I'm going to help tell your story."

• Ivan McClellan (Defining Black Cowboy Culture) [38:36]:
  "It is awe inspiring to see a black man or woman on horseback. It symbolizes freedom, independence and living on your own terms."

• Danelia Cotton (On bringing authenticity to country music) [47:59]: "If you go into a genre... you have to tip your hat somewhat to what it is... then you're not really doing country music."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Tara Roberts on museum inspiration: 05:28
• Tara on Dr. Albert "Doc" Jones: 07:27
• Roberts shares slave trade statistics: 09:13–10:09
• Roberts on shipwreck search process: 17:31
• Rebellions and rebel stories: 19:24
• Costa Rica discovery: 20:54
• Emotional reckoning with history: 23:44
• Ivan McClellan on childhood perceptions: 29:16
• Ivan discovers Black rodeo culture: 31:01–32:05
• Ivan reads letter to cowboy culture: 37:37
• Ivan on his photography process: 41:33
• Founding a Black rodeo in Portland: 42:53
• Danelia on her grandfather's Charley Pride album: 46:21
• Danelia on respecting genre: 47:59
• On Beyoncé and Black country: 49:07
• Performance: "Bring out the Country in Me": 50:39–54:02

Tone & Style

• Warm, inquisitive, and celebratory throughout, blending humor, earnest storytelling, and candid reflection.
• Speakers frequently emphasize the power of representation, agency, and honoring unsung or missing stories.
• The music and live audience foster a spirit of connection and cultural pride.

Memorable Moments

• Tara Roberts’ initial museum epiphany—how a single Black women's scuba group photo set her on a years-long journey.
• Ivan McClellan’s first rodeo experience—from city-slicker mishaps to forging deep community ties.
• Danelia Cotton’s story of her grandfather’s hidden Charley Pride record—reflecting the weight of race and genre.
• Ivan’s “Letter to Cowboy Culture” live reading—a heartfelt tribute to resilience, community, and identity.
• Cotton’s stirring live performance affirming rural pride and self-acceptance.

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the rich, multidimensional stories of Black history in America—both underwater and on the open range, from family legacies to visionary public art. The conversations are lively, candid, and brimming with joy for rediscovered histories and evolving cultural landscapes.