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: Chapman & MacLain Way on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode explores "true beliefs" with filmmaking duo Chapman & MacLain Way, journalist and author Mary Pilon, comedian Ahmed Bharoocha, bee ent...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2018
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Lauren Groff on Live Wore, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode discusses "Character Building" with celebrated author Lauren Groff, writer Tommy Orange, comedian Caitlin Weierhauser, and singer-song...

  • Added: Dec 06, 2018
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Laurie Kilmartin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episodes unmasks the "unmentionables" with comedian Laurie Kilmartin, YouTuber Gaby Dunn, and singer-songwriter Chris Staples.

  • Added: Dec 04, 2018
  • Length: 58:58
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! Pe...

  • Added: Nov 27, 2018
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Lindy West on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode considers the "Guilty Pleasure" with New York Times columnist Lindy West, UnREAL co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, comedian Alex Falc...

  • Added: Nov 27, 2018
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Phoebe Robinson on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode interprets what it means to "Pay Your Dues" with comedian and podcaster Phoebe Robinson, writer Thomas Page McBee, goat yoga entrepren...

  • Added: Nov 08, 2018
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Jose Antonio Vargas on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode discusses what happens when you "Face Your Fears" with journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, comedian Marcella Arguello, writer and former L...

  • Added: Oct 19, 2018
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Gary Shteyngart on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode touches on "Fresh Starts" with author Gary Shteyngart, comedian Hari Kondabolu, world champion fly caster Maxine McCormick, and Portla...

  • Added: Nov 30, 2018
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Roger Reeves on Live Wire, Credit: E. Wight Photo
Live Wire "Faces the Music" in Austin, TX with busker-turned-blues artist Charley Crockett, poet Roger Reeves, and BBQ masters LeAnn Mueller and Al...

  • Added: Oct 19, 2018
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Abdi Nor Iftin on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode explores “Great Escapes” with writer Tessa Fontaine, comedian and actor Moses Storm, memoirist and visa lottery winner Abdi Nor Iftin,...

  • Added: Nov 29, 2018
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Anya Yurchyshyn on Live Wire, Credit: Jennie Baker
This episode considers the “do over” with author Anya Yurchyshyn, journalist Mike Pesca, and science vlogger Lindsey Murphy. Plus performances from...

  • Added: Nov 29, 2018
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Author Daniel Handler and artist Lisa Brown, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Author DANIEL HANDLER and artist LISA BROWN, comedian JAY FLEWELLING, music from THE DOUBLECLICKS.

Bought by WRIR, WCPN, KUT, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio, Northwest Public Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Jun 19, 2014
  • Length: 54:03
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Author Daniel Handler and artist Lisa Brown, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Author DANIEL HANDLER and artist LISA BROWN, comedian JAY FLEWELLING, music from THE DOUBLECLICKS.

Bought by Rhythm & News Service and KSRQ


  • Added: Jun 19, 2014
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Comedian Todd Glass, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Comedian TODD GLASS, author DANIEL H. WILSON, and music by EDJ.

Bought by WCPN, KUT, WRIR, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio, KCPW Salt Lake City and more


  • Added: Jun 12, 2014
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Comedian Todd Glass, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Comedian TODD GLASS, author DANIEL H. WILSON, and music by EDJ.

Bought by KUNV, WRIR, Rhythm & News Service, and KSRQ


  • Added: Jun 12, 2014
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Comedian Cameron Esposito, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Author DAVID KINNEY, comedian CAMERON ESPOSITO, actor JOHN KIM, and music from LEMOLO.

Bought by WCPN, KUT, WRIR, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio, Northwest Public Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Jun 05, 2014
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Comedian Cameron Esposito, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Author DAVID KINNEY, comedian CAMERON ESPOSITO, actor JOHN KIM, and music from LEMOLO.

Bought by Rhythm & News Service, KUNV, and KSRQ


  • Added: Jun 05, 2014
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Mechanical engineer/musician Christine McKinley, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Math genius JASON PADGETT, mechanical engineer/musician CHRISTINE MCKINLEY, and music by SWAN SOVEREIGN.

Bought by WCPN, WRIR, KUT, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio, KSRQ and more


  • Added: May 29, 2014
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Actor David Giuntoli, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Actor DAVID GIUNTOLI, writer VENDELA VIDA and music by CUMULUS.

Bought by KSRQ, Rhythm & News Service, and 90.1 WFYI Public Radio


  • Added: May 22, 2014
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Actor David Giuntoli, Credit: Jennie Baker for Live Wire Radio
Actor DAVID GIUNTOLI, writer VENDELA VIDA and music by CUMULUS.

Bought by WCPN, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio, KUT, KCPW Salt Lake City, and Northwest Public Broadcasting


  • Added: May 22, 2014
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 5