Episode 494

with David Duchovny, Nick & Kaylee Woodard, and Jensen McRae

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello unveil some hidden talents of our listeners; actor and best-selling author David Duchovny explains how his latest novel Truly Like Lightning is an attempt to have a larger conversation about America; jump rope world champions Nick and Kaylee Woodard test Luke's skills with a virtual lesson; and alt-folk artist Jensen McRae performs her harrowing song "Wolves."

David Duchovny
Actor & Author

David Duchovny is an author, actor, writer, producer, director, and singer-songwriter who rose to popularity for starring in The X-Files and Californication. His roles in both shows have earned him Golden Globe awards. In addition to his acting career, Duchovny is a New York Times best-selling author who has written four novels. His fourth book, Truly Like Lightning, is a heartbreaking meditation on family, religion, sex, greed, human nature, and the vanishing environment of an ancient desert. Duchovny exercises his talent for storytelling through many different avenues; his newest full-length album, Gestureland, is out now. Twitter • Instagram

Nick & Kaylee Woodard
Jump Rope Champions

Nick and Kaylee Woodard have jumped rope for over 22 years. They’ve traveled around the world to promote the sport through workshops, exhibitions, shows, competitions, and their jump rope program, Learnin the Ropes. Nick has earned several titles, including “Grand National Champion” and “Grand World Champion,” and has jumped for several television networks. He was also a competitor on Season 13 of American Ninja Warrior. Kaylee has made a name for herself as well, having earned multiple national and international titles and performing with Cirque Dreams, Saltare, and many other companies. Website • Twitter

Jensen McRae
Singer-Songwriter

Jensen McRae is a folk performer whose singing and songwriting touches on mental illness, love, being a person of color, and fearing adulthood. Her interest in music began as a young child, learning piano at age seven and writing songs shortly after. At 16, Jensen attended Grammy Camp, hosted by the Grammy Foundation at the University of Southern California (USC). That experience cemented her passion for songwriting and she later attended USC's competitive music program. McRae describes her music as "Tracy Chapman writing music for Adele while studying for the vocab section of the SAT.” Her poignant lyrics, rich vocals, and musical acumen shine through on recent single, “My Ego Dies At The End” and EP album, Who Hurt You?. Instagram • Listen