Live Wire Radio

Mission

Live Wire cultivates joy, discovery, and connection by amplifying unexpected and riveting voices to a national audience.

We believe life is filled with inspired people doing fascinating and sometimes ridiculous things. We want to introduce you to those people. 
We believe artists are critically important to the world and should be rewarded for their work. 
We believe "culturally relevant" and "funny" aren't mutually exclusive. 
We believe that through the shared experience of live theatre and the intimacy of radio, we can tell great stories, introduce new ideas, spark conversations, and hopefully, elicit a belly laugh or two. 

Bottom Line for Portland

Over the past 20 years, Live Wire has brought hundreds of artists from various disciplines and backgrounds to Portland to share their work, stories, and unique perspectives with thousands of audience members.

As the only nationally distributed public radio show in the Pacific Northwest, we are particularly proud of the impact we make in the careers of local artists. By sharing the best and brightest talent our city has to offer to over 300,000 listeners across the country, we help them reach new audiences while bolstering Portland’s image as a cultural and artistic hub nationwide. 

Quote

"Live Wire is a Portland institution! And not simply because of how long it’s been around, but because it seeks to be a bridge to our communities and to be a bridge between them, and succeeds in doing this in its own unique fashion, making space for the sacred and the silly. Live Wire acts as a round table, a campfire, a hearth, around which we get to sit and listen and share, inside stories of all types and many forms, getting to be a part of that and bear witness to such in the city I live is why, all these years later, I’m still and so grateful for this show.“ - Anis Mojgani

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Live Wire Radio is committed to fostering an organizational culture that prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. We do not take our role in public media lightly and will continue to amplify underrepresented voices while engaging in a dialogue that helps us confront our implicit bias.

We believe that featuring the stories, art, and accomplishments of BIPOC and underrepresented people strengthens not only our show, but the communities we serve. Through our programming, we are regularly asking our audiences to look beyond their own lived experiences and embrace curiosity, empathy, and action. Our commitment continues to deepen, with 55% of the guests on our program identifying as BIPOC, 25% as LGBTQ+, and over 60% women, and those proportions steadily increasing each year.

Incentives

Let's Incentivize! Check out these amazing prizes for donating big!

*Donate $1500 or more and receive 4 VIP passes to any 2025 Live Wire show which includes reserved seats, a backstage tour, cocktails, and swag bags for all!

*Donate $2500 or more for 4 VIP Passes to any 2025 Live Wire show (above package) + a chance to go on a personalized Powell's shopping spree with Elena Passarello (includes a $200 gift certificate)

*Donate $5000 or more for 4 VIP Passes to any 2025 Live Wire show (above package) + a chance to enjoy post-show cocktails with Luke Burbank

*Donate $7500 or more and join Live Wire for a weekend in Seattle! We'll put you and a guest up at the famous Hotel Crocodile Hotel, provide VIP passes to the show, including a backstage tour, meet and greet with Luke, Elena, and featured guests, + a gift certificate to dine at a local hotspot

*Donate $10,000 or more for Preferred Season Passes for 2 for LIFE!

Partner(s)

Friends of Noise - promotes music education through high-quality public performances.
Arts for Learning NW - connects young people with diverse arts and creative experiences.
Fear No Music - connects young people with diverse arts and creative experiences.

Jupiter Hotel - Portland's most stylish hotel

Alberta Rose Theatre - Live Wire's home venue in Portland

Fetch Coffee Roasters - our favorite local coffee shop!

Typespace - Portland's favorite vintage typewriter shop!