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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641 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: Mitchell S. Jackson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode gets down to "real talk" with writer Mitchell S. Jackson, psychotherapist and author Lori Gottlieb, comedian Mohanad Elshieky, and mus...

  • Added: Aug 19, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Colin O'Brady on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode "breaks the ice" with endurance athlete and adventurer Colin O’Brady, author Dani Shapiro, comedian Chris Garcia, and music from Casey...

  • Added: Aug 12, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Matteo Lane on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode "goes rogue" with blogger Geraldine DeRuiter, comedian Matteo Lane, and vegan chef Makini Howell, plus music from Valley Maker.

  • Added: Aug 07, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Michael Ian Black on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode is a pledge edition of Live Wire that features actor and comedian Michael Ian Black, writer and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib, and ...

Bought by NET Radio (Nebraska), Tri States Public Radio, KUOW, KUAC, Spokane Public Radio and more


  • Added: Aug 06, 2019
  • Length: 41:16
  • Purchases: 11
Caption: Hanif Abdurraqib on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode unpacks what it means to "bug out" with writer and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib, grief expert and podcaster Nora McInerny, and com...

  • Added: Jul 23, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: W. Kamau Bell on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode explores "other worlds" with comedian and television host W. Kamau Bell, author Karen Russell, and musician Kishi Bashi.

  • Added: Jul 18, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Eileen Myles on Live Wire , Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode celebrates "All-Stars" with author Luis Alberto Urrea, poet Eileen Myles, and internet sensation Moshow The Cat Rapper

  • Added: Jun 28, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Paul F. Tompkins on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode unpacks "finding your voice" with comedian Paul F. Tompkins and activist Anuradha Bhagwati, plus music from Patterson Hood.

  • Added: Jun 27, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Eula Scott Bynoe & Jeannie Yandel on Live Wire, Credit: Meryl Schenker
This episode celebrates "wild cards" with podcasters Eula Scott Bynoe & Jeannie Yandel, comedian Kurt Braunohler, and Mongol derby winner Lara Prio...

  • Added: Jun 19, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Ian Karmel on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode talks "living the dream" with comedian Ian Karmel, radio host Al Letson, and satirist Caitlin Kunkel, with music from Laura Gibson

  • Added: Jun 17, 2019
  • Length: 58:59