Episode 644
Paul F. Tompkins, José Olivarez, and Esmé Patterson
On the special holiday edition of Live Wire, comedian and podcaster Paul F. Tompkins talks about passive-aggressive Christmas carolers and the most tense rendition of “O Holy Night" he's ever heard; poet José Olivarez discusses his latest collection Promises of Gold, which explores the various types of love in our lives, from self-love to platonic love and over to romance; and singer-songwriter Esmé Patterson performs her original Christmas song “If I.” Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share our listeners favorite holiday traditions.
Paul F. Tompkins
Comedian and Podcaster
Paul F. Tompkins is nothing short of a comedic gem and podcast royalty. Alongside being an absolute Live Wire fan-favorite, PFT has appeared on over two hundred episodes of Comedy Bang! Bang! and hosts the wildly popular shows The Neighborhood Listen and Spontaneanation, among others. He and his wife, the great actress Janie Haddad Tompkins, co-created the podcast Stay F. Homekins. Full of good ideas and gut-busting jokes, he is well known for his more than two dozen appearances on HBO’s Mr. Show and for being the voice of Mr. Peanutbutter on the hit Netflix animated series Bojack Horseman. Website • Instagram
José Olivarez
Award-Winning Poet
José Olivarez is a literary star on the rise and the son of Mexican immigrants. His debut book of poems, Citizen Illegal, was a finalist for the PEN/Jean Stein Award and a winner of the 2018 Chicago Review of Books Poetry Prize. It was named a top book of 2018 by the Adroit Journal, NPR, and the New York Public Library. Along with Felicia Chavez and Willie Perdomo, he co-edited the poetry anthology The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 4: LatiNext, and his latest collection of poetry, Promises of Gold (translated into Spanish by poet David Ruano) has already been described as "visceral and moving." When he's not writing, he co-hosts the poetry podcast The Poetry Gods. Website • Instagram
Esmé Patterson
Singer-Songwriter
Esmé Patterson is a gold-selling record artist currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. Esmé emerged from the wreckage of Colorado folk experiment Paper Bird and struck out on her own path in a 2012 solo debut, All Princes, I. Her second solo album, a concept album called Woman to Woman, received national acclaim for her lyrical storytelling. In it, Esmé writes from the perspective of the women “immortalized” in popular songs, such as as Elvis Costello's "Alison," Dolly Parton's "Jolene," Townes Van Zandt's "Loretta," the Beach Boys' "Caroline, No," and retells their stories. She has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and more. Her latest album, Notes from Nowhere, is a genre-avoidant musical realm that blooms with honest and magic. Website • Instagram
Show Notes
Station Location Identification Examination (SLIE)
Home to Grandma’s Marathon, this week’s station shoutout goes to WSCN-FM 100.5 of Duluth, MN.
Paul F. Tompkins
Paul and his wife, actor Janie Haddad Tompkins, co-host the podcast Stay F. Homekins.
He shares the story of this intimate and comedic project was created during pandemic times.
Luke and Paul talk about Tam O’Shanter, one of the oldest restaurants in Hollywood (but also a traditional Scottish cap!)
You can watch archives of Paul’s variety show Varietopia here.
Live Wire Listener Question
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
José Olivarez
José reads “Ode to Tortillas” and “A Love Poem” from his latest collection, Promises of Gold.
He talks about working with his translator, David Ruano González.
Luke and José share a quote from Uruguayan journalist and writer Eduardo Galeano.
Esmé Patterson
Esmé’s performs her original Christmas song “If I”
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