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

639 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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
Caption: Roger Reeves on Live Wire
This episode "faces the music" in Austin, Texas with poet Roger Reeves and LeAnn Mueller & Ali Clem of La Barbeque, with music from Charley Crockett.

  • Added: Mar 05, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Matteo Lane, Credit: Meryl Schenker
This episode "goes rogue" with The Everywhereist blogger Geraldine DeRuiter, comedian Matteo Lane, and vegan chef Makini Howell, with music from Va...

  • Added: Feb 28, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Abdi Nor Iftin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode makes some "great escapes" with writer and former circus fire-eater Tessa Fontaine, memoirist and visa lottery winner Abdi Nor Iftin, ...

  • Added: Feb 19, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Hanif Abdurraqib on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode is all about "buggin' out" with music writer Hanif Abdurraqib, author and podcaster Nora McInerny, and comedian Note Davis, with music...

  • Added: Feb 14, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Anya Yurchyshyn on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode talks "do-overs" with journalist and podcaster Mike Pesca, author Anya Yurchyshyn, science vlogger Lindsey Murphy, and comedian Robby ...

  • Added: Feb 06, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Eileen Myles on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
In this episode, we hear from two celebrated writers during the Portland Book Festival - author Luis Alberto Urrea and poet Eileen Myles. Plus, Liv...

  • Added: Jan 31, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Paul F. Tompkins on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode takes us inside and out of the "comfort zone" with comedian Paul F. Tompkins, writer Ijeoma Oluo, and hip hop artist Open Mike Eagle.

  • Added: Jan 22, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
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: Jan 17, 2019
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Hanif Abdurraqib on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode examines "breakthroughs" with writer Hanif Abdurraqib, comedian Beth Stelling, and Dr. Mary Zelinski, with music from John Craigie.

  • Added: Jan 08, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Dan Savage on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode unpacks "the morning after" with sex and relationship columnist Dan Savage, journalist and writer Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, and comed...

  • Added: Jan 03, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Matt Young on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode talks about getting "in over your head" with Marine-turned-writer Matt Young, Portland non-profit leader Brandi Tuck, and comedian Kat...

  • Added: Dec 20, 2018
  • Length: 59:00
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, ...

  • Added: Dec 20, 2018
  • Length: 58:59