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: Tommy Pico on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode practices "letting go" with poet Tommy Pico, comedian Emily Heller, and journalist Eli Saslow, with music The Helio Sequence.

  • Added: Apr 04, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
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This episode "faces fears" with Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, writer and former Live Wire host Courtenay Hameister, and co...

  • Added: Mar 25, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Gary Shteyngart on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode gets a "fresh start" with author Gary Shteyngart, comedian Hari Kondabolu, and world champion fly caster Maxine McCormick, with music ...

  • Added: Mar 20, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Colin O'Brady , Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode "breaks the ice" with world record-breaking adventurer Colin O'Brady, author Dani Shapiro, and comedian Chris Garcia, with music from ...

  • Added: Mar 14, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Roger Reeves on Live Wire
This episode "faces the music" in Austin, Texas with poet Roger Reeves and LeAnn Mueller & Ali Clem of La Barbeque, with music from Charley Crockett.

  • Added: Mar 05, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Matteo Lane, Credit: Meryl Schenker
This episode "goes rogue" with The Everywhereist blogger Geraldine DeRuiter, comedian Matteo Lane, and vegan chef Makini Howell, with music from Va...

  • Added: Feb 28, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Abdi Nor Iftin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode makes some "great escapes" with writer and former circus fire-eater Tessa Fontaine, memoirist and visa lottery winner Abdi Nor Iftin, ...

  • Added: Feb 19, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Hanif Abdurraqib on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode is all about "buggin' out" with music writer Hanif Abdurraqib, author and podcaster Nora McInerny, and comedian Note Davis, with music...

  • Added: Feb 14, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: John Hodgman on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode is a pledge edition of Live Wire that features writer and humorist John Hodgman, comedian Emily Heller, and poet Roger Reeves.

Bought by Wisconsin Public Radio, Spokane Public Radio, KUAC, Colorado Public Radio, WQLN and more


  • Added: Feb 08, 2019
  • Length: 42:26
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Anya Yurchyshyn on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode talks "do-overs" with journalist and podcaster Mike Pesca, author Anya Yurchyshyn, science vlogger Lindsey Murphy, and comedian Robby ...

  • Added: Feb 06, 2019
  • Length: 58:59