Live Wire

Series produced by Live Wire! Radio

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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.

Hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, CBS 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.

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Hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, CBS 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... Show full description


Additional Files

637 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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This episode features podcast host Anna Sale, writer Elissa Washuta, and music from indie rocker Juliana Hatfield.

  • Added: May 20, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode features filmmaker John Waters, writer Sasha LaPointe, and music from indie rock group Deep Sea Diver.

  • Added: May 13, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
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Live Wire celebrates Mother's Day with musician and writer Michelle Zauner (a.k.a. Japanese Breakfast), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Al...

  • Added: May 06, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode features celebrated chef and restaurateur Gregory Gourdet and music from singer-songwriter No-No Boy.

  • Added: Apr 28, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
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This episode features comedian and podcaster Laci Mosley, actor Marlee Matlin, and music from Kishi Bashi.

  • Added: Apr 21, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode features actor and comedian Molly Shannon and music from South African rocker Tuelo.

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

  • Added: Mar 31, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode includes comedian Chris Gethard, science journalist Julia Rosen, and music from Shakey Graves.

  • Added: Mar 24, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
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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
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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
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This episode features novelist and frontman of The Mountain Goats, plus rapper and podcaster Dessa.

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

  • Added: Feb 24, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
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The episode features filmmakers W. Kamau Bell & Katie King, comedian Paul F. Tompkins, and music from Grammy Award-winning blues artist Keb' Mo'.

  • Added: Feb 21, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
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This episode features television writer Michael Schur, comedian Demi Adejuyigbe, and music from folk due Shovels & Rope.

  • Added: Feb 11, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
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This Black History Month Special features writers Hanif Abdurraqib and Clint Smith, with music from genre-bending powerhouse Melanie Charles.

  • Added: Feb 21, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode features writer Matthew Gavin Frank, filmmakers Davy Rothbart & Cheryl Sanford, and music from Andrew Bird & Jimbo Mathus.

  • Added: Jan 27, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
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This episode features comedian Paul F. Tompkins, podcaster Sarah Marshall, and music from Buffalo Nichols.

  • Added: Jan 20, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
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This episode features actor and podcaster Connor ratliff, writer Mikki Kendall, and indie folk artist Faye Webster.

  • Added: Jan 13, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode includes poet Kaveh Akbar, writer Danielle Henderson , and music from Deep Sea Diver.

  • Added: Jan 06, 2022
  • Length: 59:01