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. 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

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11 Pieces

Fundraising Materials for Live Wire

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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.

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4 Pieces

Fundraising spots that promote the importance of public radio!

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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.

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18 Pieces

Specially-themed episodes


Pieces

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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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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 WJCT, KUPR low power FM, and KUNM


  • Added: Mar 23, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3
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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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In celebration of Women's History Month, this episode features filmmaker Andrea Nevins, writer Melissa Febos, and music from Pink Martini.

Bought by KNCT FM, KMUN, KUT, WGBH Radio Boston, KUNM and more


  • Added: Feb 22, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 9
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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 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 includes podcasters Roman Mars & Kurt Kohlstedt, writer Shayla Lawson, and music from Colin Hay.

  • Added: Feb 21, 2022
  • Length: 59:01