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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632 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

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This episode features author Héctor Tobar, writer and comedian Jena Friedman, and music from indie folk trio Joseph.

  • Added: Mar 15, 2024
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Aubrey Gordon
This episode is a pledge edition of Live Wire that features podcaster Aubrey Gordon, standup comedian Chris Meija, and music from Danielle Ponder.

Bought by WHQR, WLRN, WQLN, Yellowstone Public Radio, and WUTC


  • Added: Mar 11, 2024
  • Length: 46:01
  • Purchases: 5
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This episode features writer Sloane Crosley, The New Yorker Roz Chast, and Black Belt Eagle Scout.

  • Added: Mar 07, 2024
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode features comedian Maria Bamford and music from singer-songwriter Isabeau Waia'u Walker.

  • Added: Mar 01, 2024
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode features comedian and writer Dave Hill and music from singer-songwriter No-No Boy.

  • Added: Feb 15, 2024
  • Length: 59:01
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This episode features author and Jeopardy co-host Ken Jennings, writer Erica Berry, and music from rock group Making Movies.

  • Added: Feb 15, 2024
  • Length: 59:00
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This episode features podcaster Avery Trufelman, author Camille Dungy, and singer-songwriter Olive Klug.

  • Added: Feb 08, 2024
  • Length: 59:00
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This Black History Month Special features 22nd Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, writer and poet Saeed Jones, and music from singer-songwriter Meklit.

  • Added: Feb 01, 2024
  • Length: 59:01
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This episode features journalist J. Wortham of The New York Times Magazine, author Curtis Sittenfeld, and singer-songwriter Margo Cilker.

  • Added: Jan 26, 2024
  • Length: 59:00
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This Black History Month special episode features the 22nd U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, writer and poet Saeed Jones, and music from singer-so...

Bought by KUT, KUFM - Montana Public Radio, WLPR , WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., KUPR low power FM and more


  • Added: Jan 23, 2024
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 11