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: US Senator Jeff Merkley on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode ponders the "not too distant future" with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, poet Anis Mojgani, comedian Joe Zimmerman, and Afroviva...

  • Added: Sep 16, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Clyde W. Ford on Live Wire , Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode has "the last laugh" with comedian Josh Gondelman, author Clyde W. Ford, endurance athletes Alex Borsuk & Kaytlyn Gerbin, and music f...

  • Added: Sep 12, 2019
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Naomi Ekpirigin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode discusses the art of "balancing acts" with author Pam Houston, comedian Naomi Ekperigin, social activist Nadya Okamoto, and music from...

  • Added: Sep 05, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
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: Aug 28, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
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: 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: 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
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: Dan Savage on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode talks "the morning after" with sex and relationship columnist Dan Savage, author and journalist Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, and comedy d...

  • Added: Jun 11, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
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, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, and...

  • Added: Jun 05, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: John Hodgman on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode considers the "hand-me-down" with author and humorist John Hodgman, writer RJ Young, and founder of She Shreds magazine Fabi Reyna, wi...

  • Added: May 28, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
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: May 21, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Lauren Groff on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode unpacks "character building" with celebrated author Lauren Groff, writer Tommy Orange, comedian Caitlin Weierhauser, and singer-songwr...

  • Added: May 14, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: US Senator Jeff Merkley on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode ponders the "not too distant future" with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, poet Anis Mojgani, comedian Joe Zimmerman, and Afroviva...

  • Added: May 08, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Abbi Jacobson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode talks "Hitting the Road" with actor Abbi Jacobson from "Broad City," writer Nicole Chung, and the host of "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!...

  • Added: May 01, 2019
  • Length: 58:59