Karen Russell, Sam Miller, and David Ramirez (REBROADCAST)

About this episode

This episode features discussions with author Karen Russell, comedian Sam Miller, and musician David Ramirez about their respective works and experiences.

Award-winning author Karen Russell takes us inside her "dust bowl epic" novel The Antidote, which employs the fantastical to comment on memory, climate change, and the nation's troubling history of land ownership; stand-up comedian Sam Miller finds sidesplitting humor in his own experiences with addiction and incarceration; and singer-songwriter David Ramirez explains how he pulled himself out of a rut and into solitude to write his latest album All The Not So Gentle Reminders, before performing the track "The Music Man."

People in this episode

Host: Luke Burbank

Guests: Karen Russell, Sam Miller, David Ramirez

Topics covered

• literature
• comedy
• music
• addiction
• climate change
• memory
• land ownership

Keywords

• Karen Russell
• Sam Miller
• David Ramirez
• The Antidote
• All The Not So Gentle Reminders
• addiction
• climate change
• music

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Antidote, All The Not So Gentle Reminders

More episodes of Live Wire with Luke Burbank

• Sarah Marshall, Camille Dungy, and Kassa Overall · June 12, 2026 · 52 min
• J. Kenji López-Alt, Ann Powers, and Khatumu (REBROADCAST) · June 5, 2026 · 52 min
• Earlonne Woods & Nigel Poor, Dylan Adler, and Margo Cilker · May 29, 2026 · 52 min
• Gabe Henry, William Nuʻutupu Giles, and Sir Woman (REBROADCAST) · May 22, 2026 · 52 min
• Avery Trufelman, Kyle Kinane, and Johnny Franco and His Real Brother Dom · May 15, 2026 · 52 min
• Rick Steves and The Lullaby Project (REBROADCAST) · May 8, 2026 · 52 min