Live Wire! Radio

GroupAccount image

Live Wire artfully blends unpredictable conversation, live music, and original comedy from all types of cultural talent and creative minds, from emerging artists to established acts. Hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait... Don't Tell MeCBS Sunday Morning), the show is taped in front of a live audience in Portland, Oregon and reaches over 300,000 listeners via 150 public radio stations across the country (including WAMU in DC, KUOW in Seattle, KJZZ in Phoenix, Minnesota Public Radio, and more).

Past guests include writers and authors such as George Saunders, Cheryl Strayed, Hanif Abdurraqib, Lindy West, Chuck Klosterman, Salman Rushdie, and Gary Shteyngart; performers and comedians John Hodgman, Paul F. Tompkins, Abbi Jacobson, Michael Ian Black, Jackie Kashian, Naomi Ekperigin, Ian Karmel, Phoebe Robinson, Andy Kindler, and Reggie Watts; and film directors Gus Van Sant, Todd Haynes, Lynn Shelton, and Chapman & Maclain Way (Wild Wild Country). Past musical guests include Helio Sequence, The Dandy Warhols, Meklit, Laura Gibson, Open Mike Eagle, Pink Martini, Jonathan Coulton, and Bilal, to name a few.

Series

Series image
11 Pieces

Fundraising Materials for Live Wire

Series image
638 Pieces

Live Wire artfully blends unpredictable conversation, live music, and original comedy from all types of cultural talent and creative minds, from emerging artists to established acts. NOTE: This program is available to PRX affiliates. For more information please email memberships@prx.org.

Series image
4 Pieces

Fundraising spots that promote the importance of public radio!

Series image
12 Pieces

From the comfort of their own homes, this six-week series features Live Wire Radio host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chatting with guest about their current projects, while also addressing how they are responding to and engaging with the current social climate.

Series image
18 Pieces

Specially-themed episodes


Pieces

Piece image
This episode features actor and comedian Molly Shannon and music from South African rocker Tuelo.

  • Added: Apr 13, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
This episode features comedian and podcaster Jamie Loftus, writer and publisher Jelani Memory, and music from Tolliver.

  • Added: Mar 31, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
Live Wire celebrates Mother's Day with musician and writer Michelle Zauner (a.k.a. Japanese Breakfast), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Al...

Bought by KTXK, KUFM - Montana Public Radio, WFAE, and KTSW 89.9


  • Added: Mar 29, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 4
Piece image
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Live Wire welcomes poets Roger Reeves, Anis Mojgani, Franny Choi, and Derrick C. Brown with musical accomp...

  • Added: Mar 28, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
This episode includes comedian Chris Gethard, science journalist Julia Rosen, and music from Shakey Graves.

  • Added: Mar 24, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
Piece image
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Live Wire welcomes poets Roger Reeves, Anis Mojgani, Franny Choi, and Derrick C. Brown with musical accomp...

Bought by WRGY, WJCT, KUPR low power FM, and KUNM


  • Added: Mar 23, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 4
Piece image
This episode features writer and mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, comedian Curtis Cook, and music from singer-songwriter Patterson Hood.

  • Added: Mar 17, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
These Women's History Month special features filmmaker Andrea Nevins, writer Melissa Febos, and music from Pink Martini.

  • Added: Mar 07, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
This episode features novelist and frontman of The Mountain Goats, plus rapper and podcaster Dessa.

  • Added: Mar 03, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
This epsiode features author Karen Russell, comedian Marcella Arguello, and music from Ani DiFranco.

  • Added: Feb 24, 2022
  • Length: 59:01