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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640 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

Caption: Davy Rothbart & Cheryl Sanford
This episode features writer Matthew Gavin Frank, filmmaker Davy Rothbart & his subject Cheryl Sanford of the documentary film "17 Blocks," and mus...

  • Added: Mar 04, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Amythyst Kiah
In celebration of Black History Month, this episode features poet Kevin Young, groundbreaking Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, writer and historian...

  • Added: Feb 25, 2021
  • Length: 59:01
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In celebration of Black History Month, this special episode features poet Kevin Young, groundbreaking Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, writer and h...

  • Added: Feb 22, 2021
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Talib Kweli
This episode features hip hop artist and activist Talib Kweli, celebrated writer George Saunders, and music from singer-songwriter Jillette Johnson.

  • Added: Feb 18, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: W. Kamau Bell
This episode is a pledge edition of Live Wire that features writer and Radiolab co-host Lulu Miller, comedian W. Kamau Bell from CNN's "United Shad...

Bought by KCPW Salt Lake City, WUTC, Oregon Public Broadcasting, WQLN, and PRX Demo Station


  • Added: Feb 11, 2021
  • Length: 46:42
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Naomi Ekperigin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian Naomi Ekperigin, Poet Laureate of Oregon Anis Mojgani, and music from The War and Treaty.

  • Added: Feb 11, 2021
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Naomi Ekperigin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This Valentine's Day-themed episode features comedian Naomi Ekperigin (Couple's Therapy podcast), Poet Laureate of Oregon Anis Mojgani, and music f...

  • Added: Feb 09, 2021
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: David Duchovny
This episode features actor and author David Duchovny, jump rope champions Nick & Kaylee Woodard, and music from Jensen McRae.

  • Added: Feb 04, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Jeff Tweedy
This episode features podcaster and grief expert Nora McInerny, writer Jon Mooallem, and music from Jeff Tweedy.

  • Added: Jan 28, 2021
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Ani DiFranco
This episode features actor Connor Ratliff of the podcast Dead Eyes, plus neuroscientist Dr. Carl Hart, and music from Ani DiFranco.

  • Added: Jan 21, 2021
  • Length: 58:59