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: Dani Shapiro on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features writer Dani Shapiro, comedian Chris Garcia, and music from indie-rock band Casey Neill & The Norway Rats.

  • Added: Jan 14, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Shayla Lawson
This episode features Roman Mars & Kurt Kohlstedt from the 99% Invisible podcast, plus poet and essayist Shayla Lawson, and music from Colin Hay.

  • Added: Jan 07, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, Credit: Jennie Baker
This New Year's special episode features gonzo journalist Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, founder of "Unlikely Hikers" Jenny Bruso, and music from blues ...

Bought by KSTK, KSFR, RadioStPete Florida, and KUNM


  • Added: Dec 18, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, Credit: Jennie Baker
This New Year's special episode features gonzo journalist Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, founder of "Unlikely Hikers" Jenny Bruso, and music from blues ...

  • Added: Dec 18, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Atsuko Okatsuka on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This "Best of 2020" holiday episode features masters of improv Thomas Middleditch & Ben Schwartz, comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, and music from singer-...

  • Added: Dec 16, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Ian Karmel on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian Ian Karmel, radio host Al Letson, writer and satirist Caitlin Kunkel, and music from singer-songwriter Laura Gibson.

  • Added: Dec 14, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Ijeoma Oluo
This episode features writer Ijeoma Oluo, historian and contributor at The New Yorker Jill Lepore, and music from indie folk duo The Bengsons.

  • Added: Dec 10, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Abbi Jacobson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian, writer, and illustrator Abbi Jacobson ("Broad City"), author Nicole Chung, and music from soul group The Dip.

  • Added: Dec 03, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Rachel Bloom
This episode features entertainer and writer Rachel Bloom, poet Natalie Diaz, and music from singer-songwriter Kevin Morby.

  • Added: Nov 30, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Phoebe Robinson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian Phoebe Robinson, writer and amateur boxer Thomas Page McBee, and music from folk singer Sammy Brue.

  • Added: Nov 19, 2020
  • Length: 59:01