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Artwork for Live Wire

Live Wire with Luke Burbank

PRX
Grief
Black History Month
Comedy
Paul F. Tompkins
Poetry
Racial Identity
Saeed Jones
Tracy K. Smith
Meklit
To Free the Captives
Alive At the End Of the World
Dreams
Lindy West
Brenda Shaughnessy
Madison Cunningham
Normal Gossip
Kelsey Mckinney
The Ku Klux Klan
Hot Dogs
Danielle Ponder

Like late-night for radio, Live Wire is hosted by Luke Burbank (Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me) and artfully blends an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, comedians, and cultural observers.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes740Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Live Wire

Latest Episodes

Humorist John Hodgman chats about ruling the "court" in his hit podcast Judge John Hodgman, plus his stint as a cheese monger and why reading Moby Dick does not give you the right to go "a-whaling" in the state of Maine; and China Forbes, lead vocali... more

Comedian Hari Kondabolu tells us about his new podcast Health Stuff and offers his "expert" advice on how to treat some strange medical symptoms of wild animals; best friends and podcasters Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays are put to the test on ho... more

Writer and activist Kari Ferrell recounts her rise and fall as the "Hipster Grifter," New York City's infamous scammer of the late aughts, as told in her tell-all memoir You'll Never Believe Me; stand-up comedian Zak Toscani shares the trials and tri... more

Live Wire celebrates Black History Month with a special episode. Writer and explorer Tara Roberts takes a deep dive into her project and now memoir, Written in the Waters, which follows a group of Black scuba divers dedicated to uncovering shipwrecks... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

John Hodgman
Author, humorist, actor; Judge John Hodgman
Judge John Hodgman (podcast) / author
Episode: John Hodgman and China Forbes
Hari Kondabolu
Comedian and podcaster, co-host of Health Stuff
Health Stuff
Episode: Hari Kondabolu, Lindy West & Meagan Hatcher-Mays, and John Craigie
Lindy West
Author, podcaster, and cultural commentator
Text Me Back
Episode: Hari Kondabolu, Lindy West & Meagan Hatcher-Mays, and John Craigie
Meagan Hatcher-Mays
Podcaster and cultural commentator
Text Me Back
Episode: Hari Kondabolu, Lindy West & Meagan Hatcher-Mays, and John Craigie
John Craigie
Musician and singer-songwriter
Episode: Hari Kondabolu, Lindy West & Meagan Hatcher-Mays, and John Craigie
Kari Ferrell
Writer and one-time arrestee known for her memoir 'You'll Never Believe Me.'
Episode: Kari Ferrell, Zak Toscani, and Ural Thomas and the Pain (REBROADCAST)
Zak Toscani
Comedian with a unique background of moving from the mainland to Hawaii.
Episode: Kari Ferrell, Zak Toscani, and Ural Thomas and the Pain (REBROADCAST)
Tara Roberts
National Geographic Explorer, author of 'Written in the Waters'
National Geographic Society
Episode: Tara Roberts, Ivan McClellan, and Danielia Cotton
Ivan McClellan
Photojournalist, author of 'Eight Seconds' exploring black cowboy culture
Episode: Tara Roberts, Ivan McClellan, and Danielia Cotton

Host

Luke Burbank
Host who blends humor with various guest segments, bringing charm and engaging dialogues. Known for being witty and insightful while exploring a broad range of topics with his guests.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 352 ratings
  • Love

    Listening to Live Wire on my commute brings me so much joy. Luke and Elena bring the perfect balance of humor, warmth, positivity, and oddly specific geographic knowledge. I love hearing from writers about their lives and artistic process. The standup routines, musical guests, “best news,” and station location examination segments are not only entertaining, but a true comfort in these challenging times. This show is a major highlight of my week!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    randomuno
    United States10 months ago
  • Damp January

    With new guidelines recommending a cancer warning label for alcohol and thinking about why I consume alcohol, this series is thoughtful and got me thinking about different perspectives. I also appreciate Luke’s courage and honesty in the interview with his mom and his own experience with alcohol. Worth listening to!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Upstate Midwesterner
    United Statesa year ago
  • So good!

    Love the show but some new eps would be nice. You can’t do a TAL rerun-based model with this few episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Raincloud06
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love Luke!

    So excited for this new series Damp January! Luke is the best and his perspective on this topic is so insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D7s4
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best Weekly Podcast Around

    There’s nothing that delights me more during my busy week than to be notified that Live Wire has dropped another episode. Luke and Elena are delightful and charming and their dynamic is top notch. The guests they have on are obviously chosen with great care, and even when I may not have an immediate recognition of the guest’s work, I’m soon drawn into the interview and I walk away more informed about the world around me. Best News is fun and light, and Station Location Identification is a great ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sakura Mama NYC
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the engaging mix of humor and insight, highlighting the hosts' charm and dynamic.
Many enjoy the positive and uplifting segments, particularly the 'Best News' portion that offers a refreshing take on current events.
While many praise the hosts for their authenticity, some have noted a desire for greater diversity among guests.
The show is often described as a delightful relief from more serious news topics, allowing audiences to engage with art and culture in a light-hearted way.
The variety of guests from different fields enriches the listening experience, providing new perspectives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

John Hodgman and China Forbes
Q: How did you get into the role of a judge on Judge John Hodgman?
Hodgman explains he was already known for a persona on The Daily Show and Maximum Fun projects, and Jesse Thorne invited him to try a courtroom-style format with real disputes, which clicked due to his knack for judgment and storytelling.
Morgan Parker, Georgia Cloepfil, and Rogê (REBROADCAST)
Q: Can you explain the concept of arrival fallacy?
Georgia explained it as the concept that once you reach one goal, you often just find another, making it a continuous cycle in sports and life.
Morgan Parker, Georgia Cloepfil, and Rogê (REBROADCAST)
Q: What was it like to start your therapy journey, and how has it been for you?
Morgan shared her long journey through therapy, noting how her experiences have shaped her view on mental health as connected to her cultural identity.
Kari Ferrell, Zak Toscani, and Ural Thomas and the Pain (REBROADCAST)
Q: What is the best news you heard this week?
The best news shared includes heartwarming stories of an 87-year-old neighbor throwing a party to stay connected with his community.
Kari Ferrell, Zak Toscani, and Ural Thomas and the Pain (REBROADCAST)
Q: What do you think was going on psychologically for you that you were doing this thing that you must have known had to lead to the end of the relationship?
Kari mentions her need for attention and not wanting to be forgotten, rooted in her experience as an adopted child.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Live Wire

What is Live Wire about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Featuring a rich blend of artists, musicians, writers, comedians, and cultural commentators, this podcast is known for its varied content that combines humor, storytelling, and performances. Each episode typically entices listeners with engaging interviews and live performances from diverse guests, reflecting both local and national themes. The dynamic between the host and co-host brings warmth and wit, creating an inviting atmosphere for discussions that navigate everything from literature and art to social issues and personal narratives. The podcast is particularly distinguished by its unique 'Best News' segment, which aims to uplift and provide a positive spin on current events, appealing to those seeking both entertainment and inspirati... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Live Wire?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Live Wire. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Live Wire and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Live Wire get?

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What are the audience demographics for Live Wire?

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How many subscribers and views does Live Wire have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Live Wire has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Live Wire?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Live Wire:

1. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2. Fresh Air
3. Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone
4. Radiolab
5. A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

How many episodes of Live Wire are there?

Live Wire launched 19 years ago and published 740 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Live Wire?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Live Wire?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Live Wire from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Live Wire. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Live Wire?

Recent guests on Live Wire include:

1. John Hodgman
2. Hari Kondabolu
3. Lindy West
4. Meagan Hatcher-Mays
5. John Craigie
6. Kari Ferrell
7. Zak Toscani
8. Tara Roberts

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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