LeVar Burton Reads - podcast cover

LeVar Burton Reads

LeVar Burton and Stitcher•www.stitcher.com
Arts
Performing Arts
The best short fiction, handpicked by the best voice in podcasting and presented in 3D immersive audio. In every episode, host LeVar Burton (Roots, Reading Rainbow, Star Trek) invites you to take a break from your daily life, and dive into a great story. LeVar’s narration blends with gorgeous soundscapes to bring stories by Stephen King, Toni Morrison, Nnedi Okorafor, Kurt Vonnegut, Ken Liu and more to life. So, if you’re ready, let’s take a deep breath... Our immersive audio is best with headphones! If you'd prefer to listen without immersive audio, visit levarburtonpodcast.com/mono.
Follow on
Metacast
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Youtube
RSS

Episodes

"Killer of Kings" by Anjali Sachdeva

Guided by an angel, a writer pens his greatest -- and perhaps most dangerous -- work. "Killer of Kings" appears in Anjali Sachdeva's collection ALL THE NAMES THEY USED FOR GOD.

Mar 16, 2021•45 min

"Flyboys" by Tobias Wolff

Adolescent boys are faced with the reality of friendships, old and new, as they work on plans to build their own airplane. "Flyboys" appears in Tobias Wolff's collection OUR STORY BEGINS, published by Vintage Books, and is available in audio from Blackstone Audio. Content advisory: discussion of death

Mar 09, 2021•56 min

"The Regression Test" by Wole Talabi

A woman helps to test the artificial intelligence based on the mind of her mother, a brilliant thinker. "The Regression Test" appears in Wole Talabi's collection INCOMPLETE SOLUTIONS from Luna Press.

Mar 02, 2021•41 min

"Alluvial Deposits" by Percival Everett

A government contractor deals with everyday frustrations in a small town. "Alluvial Deposits" appears in Percival Everett's collection DAMNED IF I DO. Check out other titles from Graywolf Press, including WILD SWIMS and BRING ME THE HEAD OF QUENTIN TARANTINO, at graywolfpress.org . Content advisory: racial slur, hateful language

Feb 23, 2021•50 min

"Daddy" by Damion Wilson

A woman struggles to understand why her elderly father has begun to spontaneously teleport. Content advisory: drug addiction, illness, death

Feb 16, 2021•37 min

"The Takeback Tango" by Rebecca Roanhorse

A teenage thief embarks on a mission to reclaim her people's sacred treasures. First published in A UNIVERSE OF WISHES in 2020 in the United States by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC, New York. Find more from Rebecca at www.rebeccaroanhorse.com .

Feb 09, 2021•42 min

Season 8... Coming Soon!

The wait is nearly over! Join us for Season 8 of LeVar Burton Reads, beginning next week and featuring stories from Rebecca Roanhorse, Tobias Wolff, Bishop Garrison, Damion Wilson and more.

Jan 26, 2021•2 min

Nnedi Okorafor, Author of "Mother of Invention", Part 3

LeVar talks to Africanfuturist Nnedi Okorafor about the visceral nature of her writing, writing a beautiful and green future for the Niger Delta, and how human-AI relationships can feel like parent-child relationships. Plus, she'll tell us what she thinks happens after those final tense moments in "Mother of Invention".

Dec 01, 2020•51 min

"Little Man" by Michael Cunningham

A 200-year-old gnome desperately wants to become a father. "Little Man" is from A WILD SWAN AND OTHER TALES by Michael Cunningham, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. Text copyright © 2015 by Mare Vaporum Corp. Used by permission of Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, © 2015 by Mare Vaporum Corp

Oct 27, 2020•52 min

"The Story We Used to Tell" by Shirley Jackson

A recently widowed woman vanishes overnight. Content advisory: violence, death “The Story We Used to Tell” is from DARK TALES by Shirley Jackson, published by Penguin Classics, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Oct 20, 2020•33 min

"Dune Song" by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

A young girl must negotiate her own path out of a strict community in a post-disaster desertland. Visit www.suyidavies.com for more information on Suyi's work, including his novel DAVID MOGO, GODHUNTER. Content Advisory: physical violence

Sep 22, 2020•50 min

"Cricket" by Kenneth Yu

A family is both delighted and troubled by the visitation of a peculiar insect. "Cricket" was published in Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese Speculative Fiction Anthology. Content advisory: violence

Sep 08, 2020•40 min

"Room for Rent" by Richie Narvaez

A family in dire straits must share their new home with a different species. This story was published in Latinx Rising: An Anthology of Latinx Science Fiction and Fantasy. Content advisory: violence, death/dying

Sep 01, 2020•36 min

"The Nine Curves River" by R. F. Kuang

A girl escorts her younger sister on an important and life-altering journey, while thinking back on their relationship and the nature of sacrifice. Content advisory: violence

Aug 25, 2020•55 min

"Your Rover is Here" by LP Kindred

A rideshare driver must spring into action when his passenger casts a dangerous and deadly spell. Content advisory: explicit language, violence, terrorism

Aug 18, 2020•39 min

"Pockets" by Amal El-Mohtar

What could it mean to reach into your pocket and pull out... something that wasn't there before? Find more from Amal El-Mohtar at www.amalelmohtar.com .

Aug 11, 2020•42 min

A Conversation with James McBride (and News About Season 7!)

You heard that correctly -- we're coming back for a new season starting August 11! So make sure to hit subscribe if you haven't already, and check out LeVar's recent conversation with James McBride, author of "Goat" from our very first live show. This virtual book tour stop was presented by Linda McLoughlin Figel of {pages} a bookstore, and by Eso Won Books. We suggest ordering your copy of James McBride's new novel, DEACON KING KONG, online from either of these fine independent booksellers! www...

Aug 04, 2020•29 min

"The Foster Portfolio" by Kurt Vonnegut

A financial advisor meets his new client: a hardworking, unassuming man with a curious and potentially life-changing secret. "The Foster Portfolio" is from WELCOME TO THE MONKEY HOUSE by Kurt Vonnegut. Copyright © 1968 by Kurt Vonnegut, used by permission of The Wylie Agency LLC.

Apr 14, 2020•46 min

"Recitatif" by Toni Morrison, Part 2

Join us for the conclusion to Toni Morrison's tale. Twyla and Roberta's longstanding and complicated friendship becomes more challenging as they become adults. Content advisory: archaic/derogatory language

Apr 07, 2020•44 min

"A Kiss with Teeth" by Max Gladstone

In order to live an urban lifestyle as a father and husband, a domesticated vampire must suppress his darker urges. This story first appeared at Tor.com. Content advisory: references to violence, death

Mar 17, 2020•56 min