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About
Live Wire is a public radio variety show hosted by Luke Burbank ("Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me") and taped in front of a live audience. The show features unpredictable conversations, hilarious stand-up comedy, and unforgettable musical performances from established acts and new talent alike. Now in its nineteenth year, Live Wire cultivates joy and discovery by presenting hilarious, honest, and thought-provoking conversations from riveting and unexpected voices on stage, on the radio, and beyond.
NOTE: This program is available to PRX affiliates. For more information please email memberships@prx.org.
Producer
Live Wire Radio
Program feeds scheduled via the Exchange
Files are delivered every Friday by Noon ET
Host
Luke Burbank
Length
59:00
Number of programs
Ongoing, weekly
Station Licensing Information
View the Station Licensing Information
Live Wire is available to PRX affiliate stations. Prior to carrying this series, stations must contact their PRX Station Services Manager.
Broadcast rights
Available to all PRX affiliate stations on a time-period-exclusive basis. Stations may air each program two times within seven days of the feed. The series must be carried on a regular, weekly basis. Excerpting is permitted for promotional purposes and with network attribution. In order to excerpt for purposes other than promotion, station is required to air the full episode as fed. Simulcast streaming rights are available for this series. See terms and conditions here on the InfoSite. Prior to carrying this series, stations must contact their PRX Station Services Manager.
Program Website
www.livewireradio.org
19 Years of Great Guests
Live Wire has a history of drawing great names to the program since 2004. Recent guests have included:
Comedians, performers, and mediamakers such as Abbi Jacobsen, Nick Offerman, Hari Kondabolu, John Waters, Rachel Bloom, Sam Jay, Atsuko Okatska, Marlee Matlin, David Duchovny, Laci Mosley, Cecily Strong, Paula Poundstone, W. Kamau Bell, Maria Bamford, and Molly Shannon. Writers like George Saunders, Hanif Abdurraqib, Cheryl Strayed, John Green, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, John Hodgman, Clint Smith, Michelle Zauner, Ross Gay, Gary Shteyngart, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, Melissa Febos, Adam Gopnik, Lindy West, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Shea Serrano, and Chuck Klosterman. Podcasters and radio personalities including Aubrey Gordon, Sam Sanders, Kelsey McKinney, Saeed Jones, Sarah Marshall, Nora McInerny, Ari Shapiro, Sona Movsesian, Scott Aukerman, Roman Mars, Jamie Loftus, Dylan Marron, Paul F. Tompkins, and Demi Adejuyigbe. Musical performances by Madison Cunningham, Danielle Ponder, Ani DiFranco, Andrew Bird, The War and Treaty, Brandy Clark, Samantha Crain, Black Violin, Waxahatchee, Dessa, Kurt Vile, Anais Mitchell, Adia Victoria, and Jeff Tweedy.
Production Team
Host
Luke Burbank grew up as one of seven kids, learning early on how to vie for attention. Those profound childhood issues have propelled him to various media projects including “This American Life,” “Wait Wait Don't Tell Me,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” and the daily podcast “Too Beautiful To Live.” Luke’s uniquely charming, quick-witted, and refreshingly vulnerable interview style resonates with Live Wire guests and listeners alike.
Announcer
Elena Passarello grew up in Snellville, a smallish town in Georgia with the motto "Where Everybody's Somebody." Even after moving several thousand miles from Snellville's city limits, she thinks this motto still applies. Elena is the author of two books, one about humankind's most amazing voices called “Let Me Clear My Throat” and one about famous critters called “Animals Strike Curious Poses.” Her dream in life is to one day jump out of a cake.
Praise for Live Wire
“Live Wire ticks all the boxes of a good public radio program: it informs, shines a light on interesting people and ideas, and crucially, it entertains! For our audience it's a wonderful way to maintain the energy and excitement of Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! while presenting itself as something truly unique. Listen in to find your next great read, your new favorite band, and conversations that will stick with you all week long.”
– Jason Brown, Program Director, KLCC/Eugene
"KUT 90.5 is very happy to have Live Wire on our airwaves. When it comes to variety shows, finding a program with a fresh sound that appeals to many audiences is becoming more difficult in the public media landscape. Enter Live Wire: The music, performances and interviews have a vibrant sound that our audience has taken to. Host Luke Burbank does what is most important in a variety show, he is the thread that stitches the program together and does not get in the way of the performances. This is a show that will entertain and hopefully, grow your audience."
— Keith Neisler, Program Director, KUT/Austin
"Live Wire is perfect for weekends. It's a blend of music, comedy and culture that entertains listeners and introduces them to new voices and ideas. Luke and Elena are a great duo making listeners smile, laugh and think. The show can work any time on the weekend and should appeal to audiences of all ages.”
– Arvid Hokanson, Interim Chief Content Officer, KUOW/Seattle
Underwriting
Last Updated 10/04/2022
Aspiration