Live Wire

Series produced by Live Wire! Radio

Series image

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.

Hide full description

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: Paula Poundstone
This episode features comedian Paula Poundstone, comedy writer Joey Clift of "Our Fifty States Project," and music from Jimmie Herrod.

  • Added: Mar 26, 2021
  • Length: 59:00
Piece image
In celebration of Women's History Month, this episode features author and activist Mikki Kendall, comedian and podcaster Jamie Loftus, and music fr...

  • Added: Mar 18, 2021
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Shea Serrano
This episode features writer Shea Serrano, comedians Brooks Wheelan & Nick Turner, and music from Waxahatchee.

  • Added: Mar 11, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Davy Rothbart & Cheryl Sanford
This episode features writer Matthew Gavin Frank, filmmaker Davy Rothbart & his subject Cheryl Sanford of the documentary film "17 Blocks," and mus...

  • Added: Mar 04, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Amythyst Kiah
In celebration of Black History Month, this episode features poet Kevin Young, groundbreaking Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, writer and historian...

  • Added: Feb 25, 2021
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Talib Kweli
This episode features hip hop artist and activist Talib Kweli, celebrated writer George Saunders, and music from singer-songwriter Jillette Johnson.

  • Added: Feb 18, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Naomi Ekperigin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian Naomi Ekperigin, Poet Laureate of Oregon Anis Mojgani, and music from The War and Treaty.

  • Added: Feb 11, 2021
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: David Duchovny
This episode features actor and author David Duchovny, jump rope champions Nick & Kaylee Woodard, and music from Jensen McRae.

  • Added: Feb 04, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Jeff Tweedy
This episode features podcaster and grief expert Nora McInerny, writer Jon Mooallem, and music from Jeff Tweedy.

  • Added: Jan 28, 2021
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Ani DiFranco
This episode features actor Connor Ratliff of the podcast Dead Eyes, plus neuroscientist Dr. Carl Hart, and music from Ani DiFranco.

  • Added: Jan 21, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Dani Shapiro on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features writer Dani Shapiro, comedian Chris Garcia, and music from indie-rock band Casey Neill & The Norway Rats.

  • Added: Jan 14, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Shayla Lawson
This episode features Roman Mars & Kurt Kohlstedt from the 99% Invisible podcast, plus poet and essayist Shayla Lawson, and music from Colin Hay.

  • Added: Jan 07, 2021
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, Credit: Jennie Baker
This New Year's special episode features gonzo journalist Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, founder of "Unlikely Hikers" Jenny Bruso, and music from blues ...

  • Added: Dec 18, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Atsuko Okatsuka on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This "Best of 2020" holiday episode features masters of improv Thomas Middleditch & Ben Schwartz, comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, and music from singer-...

  • Added: Dec 16, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Ian Karmel on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian Ian Karmel, radio host Al Letson, writer and satirist Caitlin Kunkel, and music from singer-songwriter Laura Gibson.

  • Added: Dec 14, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Ijeoma Oluo
This episode features writer Ijeoma Oluo, historian and contributor at The New Yorker Jill Lepore, and music from indie folk duo The Bengsons.

  • Added: Dec 10, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Abbi Jacobson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian, writer, and illustrator Abbi Jacobson ("Broad City"), author Nicole Chung, and music from soul group The Dip.

  • Added: Dec 03, 2020
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Rachel Bloom
This episode features entertainer and writer Rachel Bloom, poet Natalie Diaz, and music from singer-songwriter Kevin Morby.

  • Added: Nov 30, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Phoebe Robinson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode features comedian Phoebe Robinson, writer and amateur boxer Thomas Page McBee, and music from folk singer Sammy Brue.

  • Added: Nov 19, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
Caption: Kirsten Johnson
This episode features New York Times opinion writer and bestselling author Lindy West, documentary filmmaker Kirsten Johnson, and music from cellis...

  • Added: Nov 12, 2020
  • Length: 58:59