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Artwork for Live Wire

Live Wire with Luke Burbank

PRX
Comedy
Music
Grief
Mental Health
Alcohol
Parenting
Poetry
Portland Book Festival
Black History Month
I Was a Teenage Slasher
Acne
Sobriety
Stand-Up Comedy
Sloane Crosley
Pop Culture
Portland, Oregon
Church Of Scientology
Paul F. Tompkins
Horror Genre
Bianca Bosker

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes746Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArts

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Artwork for Live Wire

Latest Episodes

Author and essayist Chuck Klosterman tackles the game of football in his economically titled new book Football, which examines the sport's cultural dominance in America and why, one day, that might change; poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney explains why her... more

Comedian, actor, and TV writer Guy Branum tells us why he ran away from Jeopardy host Ken Jennings, then dives deep into his Instagram series Things Only the Old Gays Remember; writer and filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat discusses his book We Survived... more

Podcaster and writer Kelsey McKinney (You Didn't Hear This From Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip) "spills the tea" on all things gossip — from prayer circles to AI tattle; award-winning author Omar El Akkad discusses his first book of nonfiction One Da... more

Acclaimed poet Reginald Dwayne Betts explains how dogs of all types found their way into his newest collection Doggerel, as well as his own dogged efforts to build libraries in prisons across America; actor and writer Annabelle Gurwitch reflects on h... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sasha Debevec-McKenney
Poet, Joy Is My Middle Name
Author/Poet
Episode: Chuck Klosterman, Sasha Debevec-McKenney, and Laura Gibson
Laura Gibson
Singer-songwriter; gardener
Musician
Episode: Chuck Klosterman, Sasha Debevec-McKenney, and Laura Gibson
Guy Branum
Comedian and writer
Chelsea Lately/Total Biased/Mind y Project/History of the World Part II
Episode: Guy Branum, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and Georgia Maq
Julian Brave NoiseCat
Writer and Oscar-nominated filmmaker
We Survived the Night
Episode: Guy Branum, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and Georgia Maq
Georgia Maq
Singer-songwriter
Camp Cope, solo artist
Episode: Guy Branum, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and Georgia Maq
Reginald Dwayne Betts
Poet and MacArthur Genius Award winner; organizer of Freedom Reads
Freedom Reads; author of Doggerel
Episode: Reginald Dwayne Betts, Annabelle Gurwitch, and Max Gomez
Annabelle Gurwitch
Actor and author of The End of My Life is Killing Me
Author, Speaker
Episode: Reginald Dwayne Betts, Annabelle Gurwitch, and Max Gomez
Max Gomez
Singer-songwriter
Musician
Episode: Reginald Dwayne Betts, Annabelle Gurwitch, and Max Gomez
Lidia Yuknavitch
Best-selling author, memoirist
Author
Episode: Lidia Yuknavitch, Felipe Torres Medina, and Pedro the Lion (REBROADCAST)

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 353 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 Statesa year 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.

Chuck Klosterman, Sasha Debevec-McKenney, and Laura Gibson
Q: What is the most football psychotic thing you've done?
Klosterman explains that he often creates excuses to skip social events during football season, highlighting how his obsession shapes his life and social calendar.
Guy Branum, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and Georgia Maq
Q: What was your Jeopardy experience like, and why did you feel it was still challenging despite many appearances?
Branum describes Jeopardy as 'old magic'—exciting but daunting; even with prior appearances, live execution under pressure remains difficult, highlighting the special blend of knowledge and nerves involved.
Guy Branum, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and Georgia Maq
Q: Before you got into comedy, you were an attorney. What kind of law did you practice and did you like it?
Branum explains he briefly worked as an insurance defense attorney, realized it wasn't fulfilling, and pivoted to humor and writing, which he found more aligning with his passions.
Reginald Dwayne Betts, Annabelle Gurwitch, and Max Gomez
Q: How did Reginald Betts describe the origin of his Freedom Reads project?
He explained that the idea came from a conversation about helping people in prison get access to books, which grew into a major initiative funded by a Mellon Foundation grant that built libraries inside prisons and expanded to many states.
Scaachi Koul and Emma Ruth Rundle (REBROADCAST)
Q: You write in the book that your life became your content early in your career. Did you realize this would shape your career path?
She initially wrote for rent and embraced confessional work, but later realized many stories she had told herself were safe constructions that didn't reflect reality after marital change and pandemic-related upheaval.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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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

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How many subscribers and views does Live Wire have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Live Wire?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Live Wire:

1. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2. This American Life
3. How To Do Everything
4. TBTL: Too Beautiful To Live
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Live Wire are there?

Live Wire launched 20 years ago and published 746 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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What guests have appeared on Live Wire?

Recent guests on Live Wire include:

1. Sasha Debevec-McKenney
2. Laura Gibson
3. Guy Branum
4. Julian Brave NoiseCat
5. Georgia Maq
6. Reginald Dwayne Betts
7. Annabelle Gurwitch
8. Max Gomez

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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