Live Wire

Series produced by 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.

NOTE: This program is available to PRX affiliates. For more information please email memberships@prx.org.

Hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, CBS 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.

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Hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, CBS 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... Show full description


Additional Files

637 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Angelica Garcia on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features journalist and activist Jose Antonio Vargas, poet Danez Smith, and singer-songwriter Angelica Garcia.

  • Added: Nov 06, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Anaïs Mitchell
This episode gets into the spooky season with "Mucho Mucho Amor" filmmakers Cristina Costantini & Kareem Tabsch, plus singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitch...

  • Added: Oct 29, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Tommy Pico on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode learns the art of "letting go" with poet Tommy Pico, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eli Saslow, and comedian Emily Heller, with mus...

  • Added: Oct 22, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Lulu Miller
This episode features Radiolab co-host Lulu Miller, comedian and writer Sopan Deb, and music from Moorea Masa & The Mood.

  • Added: Oct 15, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Abdi Nor Iftin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode makes some "great escapes" with writer and circus sideshow performer Tessa Fontaine, memoirist and visa lottery winner Abdi Nor Iftin,...

  • Added: Oct 07, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Demi Adejuyigbe
This episode features comedian Demi Adejuyigbe, journalist Drew Magary, and music from soulful duo The War and Treaty.

  • Added: Oct 01, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Chapman & MacLain Way on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features Chapman & MacLain Way, the filmmakers behind Netflix's "Wild Wild Country" docuseries, as well as comedian Ahmed Bharoocha, b...

  • Added: Sep 24, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Hanif Abdurraquib
This episode features poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib, writer Eula Biss, and music from Lydia Loveless.

  • Added: Sep 17, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Timothy Egan on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Timothy Egan, cannabis activist Jeannette Ward Horton, and music from indie pop duo Pure Bathin...

  • Added: Sep 09, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Maria Bamford
This episode features comedians Maria Bamford and Nore Davis, plus music from country singer-songwriter Brandy Clark.

  • Added: Sep 03, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Chioke I'Anson on Live Wire , Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features the voice of NPR’s underwriting, Chioke I’Anson, plus podcaster and investigative journalist Leah Sottile, and a tribute to s...

  • Added: Aug 26, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: W. Kamau Bell
This episode features comedian and host of CNN's "United Shades of America" W. Kamau Bell, plus science reporter Julia Rosen, and music from Samant...

  • Added: Aug 20, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption:  John Hodgman on Live Wire
This episode is features humorist John Hodgman, writer and podcaster Jon Mooallem, and music from Allen Stone.

  • Added: Aug 12, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Hari Kondabolu on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian Hari Kondabolu, science journalist Sarah Scoles, and music from Angelica Garcia.

  • Added: Aug 06, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Jami Attenberg on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode feature author Jami Attenberg, podcaster James Kim, and music from Federale.

  • Added: Jul 30, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption:  Lidia Yuknavitch on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features writer Lidia Yuknavitch, comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, and rock group The Black Tones.

  • Added: Jul 23, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Mo Rocca on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode spreads some cheer with humorist Mo Rocca, poet and writer Heather Christle, and music from jazz vocalist Jimmie Herrod.

  • Added: Jul 14, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Ross Gay on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features poet Ross Gay, staff writer for The New Yorker Casey Cep, and music from Colin Hay.

  • Added: Jul 09, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Saeed Jones on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode wishes you a Happy Fourth of July, with poet Saeed Jones and writer Kristen Arnett, plus music from Ages and Ages.

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: James Veitch
This episode features comedian James Veitch and scent archivist Allison Breed, with music from Chasity Brown.

  • Added: Jun 24, 2020
  • Length: 58:59