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

651 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Luke & Susie Burbank
This is a special Mother's Day episode, featuring Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello's moms, filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld, and music from Fantastic Ne...

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Cameron Esposito
This is the sixth episode of the "Live Wire House Party" series, recorded from home, with comedian Cameron Esposito, Claude Taylor of Twitter's @ra...

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Mandy Moore
This is the fifth episode of the "Live Wire House Party" series, recorded from home, with writer Samantha Irby, food journalist Francis Lam, and si...

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Paula Poundstone
This is the fourth episode of the "Live Wire House Party" series, recorded from home, with comedian Paula Poundstone, stylist Deanna Everson, and m...

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Jeff Tweedy
This is the third episode of the "Live Wire House Party" series, recorded from home, with writer and podcaster Nora McInerny, poet Saeed Jones, and...

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Shea Serrano
This is the second episode of the "Live Wire House Party" series, recorded from home, with author Shea Serrano, comedians Brook Wheelan and Nick Tu...

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Cheryl Strayed on "Live Wire House Party"
This is the first episode of the "Live Wire House Party" series, recorded from home, with writers Cheryl Strayed and Jon Mooallem, plus music from ...

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Eileen Myles on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
With host Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello recording from home, this special episode features cartoonist Emily Flake and celebrated poet Eileen My...

  • Added: Jun 25, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Timothy Egan on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode takes a "leap of faith" with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Timothy Egan, cannabis activist Jeannette Ward Horton, and comedian Adam Pa...

  • Added: Mar 13, 2020
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Irene Taylor Brodsky on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode explores "love languages" with filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky and poet Matthew Zapruder, plus music from Bodies on the Beach.

  • Added: Mar 02, 2020
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Chioke I'Anson on Live Wire , Credit: Duane Bolland
This episode gives us the "voice of reason" with Chioke I'Anson, the voice of NPR's underwriting, and investigative journalist Leah Sottile, plus m...

  • Added: Feb 27, 2020
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Dina Nayeri on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode says there's "no place like place" with writer Dina Nayeri, author Adam Mansbach, and comedian Shain Brenden, plus music from LaRhonda...

  • Added: Feb 18, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: John Hodgman on Live Wire, Credit: David Ryder
This episode takes a "flight of fancy" with humorist John Hodgman and podcaster Jon Mooallem, plus music from Allen Stone.

  • Added: Feb 13, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Megan Phelps-Roper, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode talks "leaving a legacy" with writer and activist Megan Phelps-Roper, comedian Joe Kwaczala, and County Judge Xiomara Torres, plus mus...

  • Added: Feb 03, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Jami Attenberg on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode keeps it "all in the family" with author Jami Attenberg, podcaster James Kim, and chef Bonnie Morales, plus music from Federale.

  • Added: Jan 30, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Chuck Klosterman on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode rethinks "social studies" with writer Chuck Klosterman and humorist Tiffany Midge, plus music from indie pop group Tacocat.

  • Added: Jan 22, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Mo Rocca on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode gets "in our feelings" with humorist and journalist Mo Rocca, poet Heather Christle, and jazz vocalist Jimmie Herrod.

  • Added: Jan 16, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Rhys Darby on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode uncovers "origin stories" with comedian Rhys Darby, comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, and theater performer Ahamefule J. Oluo, wi...

  • Added: Jan 07, 2020
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Saeed Jones on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This second episode from the 2019 Portland Book Festival celebrates being "larger than life" with poet and memoirist Saeed Jones and author Kristen...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Clyde W. Ford on Live Wire
This episode has "the last laugh" with comedian Josh Gondelman, author Clyde W. Ford, and endurance athletes Alex Borsuk & Kaytlyn Gerbin, plus mus...

  • Added: Dec 18, 2019
  • Length: 58:58