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

638 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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
Caption: Mira Jacob on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This special episode, recorded during the Portland Book Festival, lets the "truth be told" with author Tim O’Brien and writer Mira Jacob, plus musi...

  • Added: Dec 13, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Franny Choi on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode gives "poetic license" to comedian Pete Holmes and poet Franny Choi, with a performance from Pink Martini's Jimmie Herrod.

  • Added: Dec 10, 2019
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Dave Hill on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode "draws the line" with New Yorker illustrator Emily Flake and comedian Dave Hill, plus music from indie rock group Giants in the Trees.

  • Added: Dec 05, 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: Nov 25, 2019
  • 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: Nov 20, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
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: Nov 14, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
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: Nov 07, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Eula Scott Bynoe & Jeannie Yandel on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode celebrates "wild cards" with podcasters Eula Scott Bynoe & Jeannie Yandel, comedian Kurt Braunohler, and Mongol Derby winner Lara Prio...

  • Added: Oct 29, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Megan Phelps-Roper on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode interprets what it means to "leave a legacy" with writer and activist Megan Phelps-Roper, comedian Joe Kwaczala, and County Judge Xiom...

  • Added: Oct 22, 2019
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Michael Ian Black on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode discusses "getting to the point" with actor and comedian Michael Ian Black, writer Melissa Febos, and Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad,...

  • Added: Oct 14, 2019
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Chuck Klosterman on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode hits the "social studies" books with writer Chuck Klosterman and humorist Tiffany Midge, plus music from indie pop group Tacocat.

  • Added: Oct 09, 2019
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Ryan O'Connell on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode examines the "figure of speech" with grammar expert Mary Norris of The New Yorker, actor and television writer Ryan O'Connell, and com...

  • Added: Oct 01, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Rhys Darby on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode explores "origin stories" with comedian Rhys Darby, comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, and theater performer Ahamefule J. Oluo, wi...

  • Added: Sep 25, 2019
  • Length: 58:58