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. Hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait... Don't Tell MeCBS 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.

Series

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11 Pieces

Fundraising Materials for Live Wire

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637 Pieces

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.

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4 Pieces

Fundraising spots that promote the importance of public radio!

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12 Pieces

From the comfort of their own homes, this six-week series features Live Wire Radio host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello chatting with guest about their current projects, while also addressing how they are responding to and engaging with the current social climate.

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18 Pieces

Specially-themed episodes


Pieces

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
Caption: Naomi Ekpirigin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode does the "balancing act" with author Pam Houston, comedian Naomi Ekpirigin, and social activist Nadya Okamoto, with music from Shook T...

  • Added: Apr 25, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Phoebe Robinson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode explores what it means to "pay your dues" with comedian and "Dope Queen" Phoebe Robinson, memoirist and boxer Thomas Page McBee, and g...

  • Added: Apr 15, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Mitchell S. Jackson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
The episode shares some "real talk" with writer Mitchell S. Jackson, author and psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb, and comedian Mohanad Elshieky, with ...

  • Added: Apr 10, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Tommy Pico on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode practices "letting go" with poet Tommy Pico, comedian Emily Heller, and journalist Eli Saslow, with music The Helio Sequence.

  • Added: Apr 04, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
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This episode "faces fears" with Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, writer and former Live Wire host Courtenay Hameister, and co...

  • Added: Mar 25, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Gary Shteyngart on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode gets a "fresh start" with author Gary Shteyngart, comedian Hari Kondabolu, and world champion fly caster Maxine McCormick, with music ...

  • Added: Mar 20, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Colin O'Brady , Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode "breaks the ice" with world record-breaking adventurer Colin O'Brady, author Dani Shapiro, and comedian Chris Garcia, with music from ...

  • Added: Mar 14, 2019
  • Length: 58:59