LeVar Burton Reads

LeVar Burton and Stitcher

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.

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191 episodes
Updated May 7, 2024
Explicit

Episodes191

Newest first

Nov 17, 2020 · 41 min
"Mother of Invention" by Nnedi Okorafor, Part 1
A young woman in a future Nigeria finds herself in a deadly pollen storm, alone but for her smart home.
Nov 10, 2020 · 1 min
Miniseries Coming November 17
LeVar announces a special three-part series featuring one of his favorite authors!
Oct 27, 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 20, 2020 · 33 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 13, 2020 · 44 min
"A Good Friday" by Barbara Jenkins
A chance encounter in a bar leads to an eventful Good Friday for a devout woman and a playboy.
Oct 6, 2020 · 37 min
"Low Energy Economy" by Adrian Tchaikovsky
An asteroid miner on a solo space mission finds his sense of purpose. This story appears in the anthology CONSOLATION SONGS.
Sep 29, 2020 · 45 min
"Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death and, Subsequently, Her Best Life" by Rebecca Roanhorse
A young Black girl in 1880s New Mexico territory seeks vengeance, risking life and love in the process. Content Advisory: violence, death
Sep 22, 2020 · 49 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 15, 2020 · 41 min
"Madre Nuestra, Que Estás en Maracaibo" by Ana Hurtado
A woman discovers her grandmother is being haunted by unearthly spirits. Find more of Ana Hurtado's work at www.anahurtadowrites.com. Content Advisory: Death, discussion of suicide
Sep 8, 2020 · 39 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 1, 2020 · 35 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
Aug 25, 2020 · 54 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 18, 2020 · 38 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 11, 2020 · 42 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 4, 2020 · 28 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! w
Apr 14, 2020 · 46 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.
Mar 24, 2020 · 42 min
"Let Those Who Would" by Genevieve Valentine
A dystopian society tackles fake news. Content advisory: violence
Mar 17, 2020 · 55 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 10, 2020 · 51 min
"Staying Behind" by Ken Liu
As humanity tiptoes toward the Singularity, what happens to those who are left behind? This story appears in Ken Liu's new collection THE HIDDEN GIRL AND OTHER STORIES. It was first published in CLARKESWORLD in 2011. Content advisory: death
Mar 3, 2020 · 42 min
"Skinwalker, Fast-Talker" by Darcie Little Badger
A tabloid reporter sets out to investigate a fast-talking con man who may or may not be the trickster Coyote.

LeVar Burton Reads

"Mother of Invention" by Nnedi Okorafor, Part 1

Miniseries Coming November 17

"Little Man" by Michael Cunningham

"The Story We Used to Tell" by Shirley Jackson

"A Good Friday" by Barbara Jenkins

"Low Energy Economy" by Adrian Tchaikovsky

"Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death and, Subsequently, Her Best Life" by Rebecca Roanhorse

"Dune Song" by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

"Madre Nuestra, Que Estás en Maracaibo" by Ana Hurtado

"Cricket" by Kenneth Yu

"Room for Rent" by Richie Narvaez

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

"Your Rover is Here" by LP Kindred

"Pockets" by Amal El-Mohtar

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

"The Foster Portfolio" by Kurt Vonnegut

"Let Those Who Would" by Genevieve Valentine

"A Kiss with Teeth" by Max Gladstone

"Staying Behind" by Ken Liu

"Skinwalker, Fast-Talker" by Darcie Little Badger