Rephonic
Artwork for Live Wire

Live Wire with Luke Burbank

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes743Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Live Wire

Latest Episodes

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

Bestselling author Lidia Yuknavitch discusses her new memoir Reading the Waves, which explores memory and how a shift in position can reshape our complicated stories; award-winning humorist and writer Felipe Torres Medina (The Late Show With Stephen ... more

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

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
John Hodgman
Author, humorist, actor; Judge John Hodgman
Judge John Hodgman (podcast) / author
Episode: John Hodgman and China Forbes
Meagan Hatcher-Mays
Podcaster and cultural commentator
Text Me Back
Episode: Hari Kondabolu, Lindy West & Meagan Hatcher-Mays, and John Craigie
Tara Roberts
National Geographic Explorer, author of 'Written in the Waters'
National Geographic Society
Episode: Tara Roberts, Ivan McClellan, and Danielia Cotton
Morgan Parker
Poet and author of 'You Get What You Pay For', exploring complexities of Black womanhood.
Episode: Morgan Parker, Georgia Cloepfil, and Rogê (REBROADCAST)
Georgia Cloepfil
Former professional soccer player turned writer, author of 'The Striker and the Clock'.
Episode: Morgan Parker, Georgia Cloepfil, and Rogê (REBROADCAST)
Reverend Billy
Leader of the Church of Stop Shopping, known for his activism against consumerism.
Church of Stop Shopping
Episode: R. Eric Thomas, Reverend Billy & Savitri D, and The Brudi Brothers

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.

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.
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.

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?

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Live Wire, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

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. This American Life
4. Radiolab
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Live Wire are there?

Live Wire launched 20 years ago and published 743 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. Reginald Dwayne Betts
2. Annabelle Gurwitch
3. Max Gomez
4. John Hodgman
5. Meagan Hatcher-Mays
6. Tara Roberts
7. Morgan Parker
8. Georgia Cloepfil

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days