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Artwork for Live Wire

Live Wire with Luke Burbank

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

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes725Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsPerforming Arts

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Artwork for Live Wire

Latest Episodes

Comedian Maria Bamford riffs on money troubles... and why Instacart might be to blame; comic and crop artist Brandi Brown unpacks her childhood encounter with Prince and her favorite spots at the famed Minnesota State Fair; and The Reasonable Doubts ... more

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and acclaimed author Timothy Egan unpacks his newest book A Fever in the Heartland, which traces the Ku Klux Klan's expansion across America in the 1920s and one woman's crusade to stop them; rapper and poet Dessa prov... more

Writer Edgar Gomez discusses his collection of essays Alligator Tears, which follows his various hustles as a youth in Florida — from being a flip flop salesman to getting fake teeth through a little bankruptcy fraud; author River Selby recounts how ... more

Writer and director Laura Chinn (Florida Girls) discusses her memoir Acne, which tackles her racial identity, Scientology, and of course... very oily skin; standup comedian Mohanad Elshieky riffs on embarrassing encounters with TSA and Uber drivers; ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Edgar Gomez
Writer and author of Alligator Tears
Episode: Edgar Gomez, River Selby, and Hunter Noack
River Selby
Author of Hot Shot, A Life on Fire
Episode: Edgar Gomez, River Selby, and Hunter Noack
Hunter Noack
Pianist and founder of In A Landscape
Episode: Edgar Gomez, River Selby, and Hunter Noack
Laura Chinn
Writer and director; author of the memoir 'Acne'.
Episode: Laura Chinn, Mohanad Elshieky, and Jenny Conlee (REBROADCAST)
Jenny Conlee
Multi-instrumentalist; founding member of The Decemberists.
Episode: Laura Chinn, Mohanad Elshieky, and Jenny Conlee (REBROADCAST)
Mary Roach
Popular science writer known for her humorous take on complex subjects.
Episode: Mary Roach, Janesh Rahlan, and Amy Millan
Janesh Rahlan
Comedian sharing insights on humor and personal experiences.
Episode: Mary Roach, Janesh Rahlan, and Amy Millan
Amy Millan
Indie rock artist known for her work with Stars and Broken Social Scene.
Episode: Mary Roach, Janesh Rahlan, and Amy Millan
Jenny Odell
Author and artist known for exploring themes of time and attention in her work.
Episode: Dana Schwartz, Jenny Odell, and Black Belt Eagle Scout (REBROADCAST)

Hosts

Luke Burbank
Host known for his engaging narrative style and witty banter, Luke Burbank is a seasoned storyteller who brings warmth and humor to the discussions, making complex topics accessible and entertaining.
Elena Pasarello
A creative and insightful host, Elena Pasarello offers a unique perspective on literature and the arts, often exploring the intersections of storytelling and personal experience in her discussions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 350 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 States7 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 States10 months 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 States10 months 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 States10 months 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 States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast is recognized for its diverse and engaging guests who bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table.
Listeners love the balance of entertainment and thought-provoking content, making it a staple in their weekly routines.
Several have commented on the podcast's ability to provide comfort and joy during challenging times, showcasing its positive impact.
Listeners appreciate the dynamic conversations and rich storytelling, often highlighting the warmth and humor of the hosts.
Feedback includes concerns over the frequency of episodes and the representation of gender among guests, suggesting room for improvement.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Timothy Egan, and Dessa (REBROADCAST)
Q: I'm curious, if you just like personally, as Timothy Egan, if as you sort of looked into Madge Overholzer and this role that she played in this book, if you sort of took anything away that the rest of us could apply to like standing up to hate and intolerance?
Not enough people did stand up to an idea.
Timothy Egan, and Dessa (REBROADCAST)
Q: I'm wondering, what was your way into this story?
It was through Oregon. It's about the Klan, y'all. Just beware.
Edgar Gomez, River Selby, and Hunter Noack
Q: What unique approach does Hunter Noack bring to classical music performances?
Noack integrates environmental sounds into his concerts, encouraging audiences to engage with both the music and the natural landscape.
Edgar Gomez, River Selby, and Hunter Noack
Q: What inspired River Selby to pursue wildland firefighting?
They were prompted by a friend's suggestion as a way to distract from personal struggles, leading to a transformative journey in the firefighting community.
Edgar Gomez, River Selby, and Hunter Noack
Q: Can you describe the relationship between Edgar and his mother as depicted in his book?
Edgar describes a complicated relationship that evolved over time, especially during his coming out journey, highlighting moments of closeness mixed with challenges.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Live Wire

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

This podcast presents a vibrant blend of interviews and performances, showcasing a diverse range of artists, writers, musicians, and cultural figures. Each episode features thought-provoking discussions that often center around personal stories, artistic journeys, and contemporary cultural observations, creating a rich tapestry of creativity and insight. Notably, the program is designed to balance humor with depth, making it a unique platform for both entertainment and education regarding the arts and personal expression.

Listeners can expect lively conversations interspersed with musical performances and comedic segments, fostering an engaging atmosphere that is both enjoyable and enlightening.

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?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Live Wire, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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

How many episodes of Live Wire are there?

Live Wire launched 19 years ago and published 725 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Live Wire?

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. Edgar Gomez
2. River Selby
3. Hunter Noack
4. Laura Chinn
5. Jenny Conlee
6. Mary Roach
7. Janesh Rahlan
8. Amy Millan

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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