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
634 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 podcaster and writer Dylan Marron and music from Brittany Davis.

  • Added: Mar 23, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
This episode features author Cheryl Strayed ("Tiny Beautiful Things"), writer Joseph Earl Thomas, and music from singer-songwriter Stephanie Anne J...

  • Added: Mar 23, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
This episode features indie rock singer-songwriter Andrew Bird, plus "Gastro Obscura" author Cecily Wong.

  • Added: Mar 17, 2023
  • Length: 59:01
Piece image
This episode features poet and essayist Ross Gay, writer and Michelin-starred chef Iliana Regan, and music from Baroque Betty with Mood Area 52.

  • Added: Mar 09, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
In celebration of Women's History Month, this episode features comedian and podcaster Jamie Loftus, writer and mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, a...

Bought by KBBI Alaska


  • Added: Mar 02, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
This episode features writer and comedian Jamie Loftus, writer and mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, and music from legendary musician and activis...

  • Added: Mar 02, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
This episode is a pledge edition of Live Wire that features writer and Washington Post reporter Casey Parks, plus music from singer-songwriter Thun...

Bought by KUAC, KLCC, WVIA, KUT, Yellowstone Public Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 02, 2023
  • Length: 48:45
  • Purchases: 10
Piece image
This episode features comedian Hari Kondabolu (Snack vs. Chef) and singer-songwriter Margo Cilker.

  • Added: Feb 22, 2023
  • Length: 59:01
Piece image
This episode features New Yorker writer Kathryn Schultz, football coach Keanon Lowe, and music from singer-songwriter John Craigie.

  • Added: Feb 16, 2023
  • Length: 59:01
Piece image
This episode features poet Saeed Jones, writer Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and indie-folk duo The Lowest Pair.

  • Added: Feb 10, 2023
  • Length: 59:01