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LeVar Burton Reads
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LeVar Burton Reads

Author: LeVar Burton and Stitcher

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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.
192 Episodes
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A young woman must decide her future: planting seeds and forging civilization on Mars, or caretaking for future generations on Earth. This story originally appeared in Cast of Wonders. Find more from the author at annazumbro.com.Content advisory: climate change and ecological collapse
The self-proclaimed Graffiti King of Mexico brandishes his magical paintbrush, providing commentary on small-town sins. This story appears in the collection THE WATER MUSEUM. Find more from the author at luisurrea.com.
An exploration of the depth of a father's love, and his attempts to keep his son happy, healthy and safe in a world rife with racism and violence. This story appears in Justin C. Key's collection THE WORLD WASN'T READY FOR YOU. Content advisory: death, police brutality
A human street performer breaks out his boombox for an unauthorized and unwelcome performance on Planet Drx. For more from the author, visit https://culagovski.net.Content advisory: references to ecocide
A trickster storyteller brings camaraderie and hope to the land of the dead. Find more from the author at ktbryski.com. Content advisory: Death and dying; references to the death of a child
A scientist explores (and transcends) the limitations of the human body, using her daughter as a test subject. This story was first published by Tor.com. Find more from the author at www.taraisabellaburton.com. Content advisory: Death
LeVar Burton Reads is back with all-new episodes starting February 20th, but if you don't want to wait, you can get a taste right here! Look out for stories from Rebecca Makkai, Luis Alberto Urrea, Justin C. Key and more. We think 13 might be our lucky number...
We champion the work of librarians at LeVar Burton Reads, not least because they preserve books and maintain archives of important information for generations to come. Today, we’re sharing a story from our friends over at Atlas Obscura. They'll introduce you to an altogether different species of librarians: The Mafra Palace Library Bats, who make sure the palace's rare book collection is well kept! Atlas Obscura is an audio guide to the world’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Co-founder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters explore a wonder every day, Monday through Friday. In under 15 minutes, they’ll take you to an incredible place, and along the way, you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Listen to Atlas Obscura wherever you get your podcasts.
If you’ve been listening to LeVar's new podcast Sound Detectives, you know there's something irresistible about a missing sound. That’s why we teamed up with our friends at 99% Invisible to tell the story of the first music streaming service, a 200-ton instrument called the Telharmonium whose sound has been lost to history.99% Invisible is a podcast about the unnoticed design that shapes the world we live in. This is their latest episode, a collection of mini-stories that weren’t quite big enough for a whole episode. You’ll hear about time measured in decimals, a rogue unlicensed Italian architect, and the ghost kitchens that power food delivery apps. And then yours truly, telling the story of the Telharmonium.Listen to 99% Invisible wherever you get your podcasts and visit 99pi.org for more.
Adrift in a mysterious time and place, and with the ground roiling and churning beneath their feet, a brother and sister try to return home to 1970s London. Find more from the author at atgreenblatt.com.
A mysterious pub draws in lost souls on Christmas Eve. This story appears in the author's collection ADD CYANIDE TO TASTE: A COLLECTION OF DARK TALES WITH CULINARY TWISTS. 
An angel surprises a humble coffee shop owner in Cairo. This story appears in E. Lily Yu's collection JEWEL BOX, published by Erewhon Books.
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.
Enjoy more LeVar, more Detective Hunch, and more Audie with Episode #2 of LeVar's new podcast, SOUND DETECTIVES!SOUND DETECTIVES is a funny, engaging, and thought-provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the magic and mystery of sound.In this episode, the Sound Swindler is still at large, and LeVar is anxious for help! Audie is a-buzz about the mystery sound, but Hunch insists that she needs some detective training first. Hunch knows just the thing: Detective Solvall's Handbook for Young Detectives!Listen to SOUND DETECTIVES on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
A superhero returns home for Thanksgiving. Find more from Aleksandra Hill at aleksandrahill.com and khoreomag.com. 
LeVar Burton presents SOUND DETECTIVES – a funny, engaging, and thought-provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the magic and mystery of sound.Breaking News – Across the globe, sounds are mysteriously going missing! Waves aren’t crashing, crickets aren’t chirping, and the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck is a distant memory. Follow Detective Hunch (Vinny Thomas) and his new sidekick Audie the Ear (Jess McKenna) as they solve sound mysteries and track down the nefarious Sound Swindler … all with a little help from LeVar Burton himself!Equal parts fun and informative, SOUND DETECTIVES encourages listeners to engage with the sound mysteries that surround us, while unlocking the door to people and cultures around the globe. Join the team on this semi-improvised comedy caper and help return the mystery sounds before the world falls silent!Listen to SOUND DETECTIVES on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Siblings try to jog their ailing father's memory through his sense of taste. They discover that as much as he's lost -- he's retained his sense of humor. Find more from the author at www.allisonjking.com.Content advisory: person living with dementia
A robot "sin eater" is called to perform a vital service for the last human on earth. This story appears in the author's collection, entitled RAGGED MAPS.Content advisory: violence, death
A chain-smoking psychic is ready to retire, but first, she's got to see one last client. Find more from the author at www.bradley-sides.com.Content advisory: reference to child death
A story about the bond between father and daughter, cities both big and small, clocks, trees, and hope in a society designed to squash all hope. Find more from the author at www.tobiogundiran.com.Content advisory: violence, death
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Comments (363)

Teresa Wilkinson

🙂 thank you for these beautiful stories & sharing them with the world 🫂❤️💐

Dec 6th
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Hafiz Tajuddin

Amazing story. I am glad now to have heard of "The Beaglemeister". Ruminations on death tend to be grim and somber, but this story manages to do the opposite - celebrate life with its lively and youthful prose and plot.

Sep 27th
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Teresa Wilkinson

❤️❤️❤️ you reading these lovely stories 🫂🫂🫂🫂 please keep reading, especially for those of us with myopia or other difficulties reading 🫂🫂🫂

Sep 21st
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Jaz Pagan

oh my goodness. I was literally crying, so devastating. Such a great story

Aug 17th
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Jaz Pagan

I am so happy some1 posted on Instagram that you have this podcast. I am excited!!!

May 27th
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Greg Jacobs

I just started this podcast having been a fan of the host I was not disappointed . Thank you so much for these presentations.

May 24th
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PJexec

Thank you for selecting Different Kinds of Darkness. Love what you curate for us.

Mar 22nd
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Teresa Wilkinson

oh damn! WHY the irritating, pointless 'background music'?

Mar 2nd
Reply (1)

firecat

Well that was a wild fucking ride 😱

Feb 14th
Reply (1)

Forouzan Shamei

WOW! Honestly your reading makes it irresistible to listen to. I just wanted something playing, but can't believe that I put all my work away to listen to Levar. As a fiction writer I can tell you that the plot was almost simple but the idea was brilliant!

Feb 9th
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L Sprinkles

I enjoyed this story immensely.

Jan 15th
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Kelleen Jones

this was a cool story great ending

Dec 23rd
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Nicholas Andrew

While I don't agree with Mr. Burton politically, I am still a fan. I remember watching him on reading rainbow as a kid and I still love hearing him read. Plus the stories are wonderful. This is a 5 star podcast! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Nov 25th
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firecat

Yikes

Nov 19th
Reply

Andrew Browne

I made no decision. it is storey, no need to get ahead of it, let it play out. I am Irish though and we love short stories

Oct 22nd
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Jeremy Ogle

l

Aug 27th
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MM

Love Shirley Jackson, my favorite is, The Road through the Wall.

Aug 7th
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Rachel

Ubaubscribing. Thank you for sharing your distorted views on murdering tiny humans @lavar. It allows me to filter my inadvertent support or your goals. I pray the Lord opens your eyes.

Aug 3rd
Reply (1)

Andi-Roo Libecap

This story was sweet, charming, endearing, and heartwarming. All the more because it was read by the infamous Levar Burton. What a lovely story, performed by a lovely human.

Apr 26th
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Tam Kearney

The Phelps twins actually started a podcast at the beginning of the pandemic called Normal Not Normal. Good pod, worth the listen. #NormalNotNormal

Mar 25th
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