LeVar Burton Reads

LeVar Burton spent decades telling kids to take his word for it on Reading Rainbow. Now he reads to grown-ups, and it turns out he is just as good at it. Each episode of LeVar Burton Reads features a complete short story by a published author — writers like Octavia Butler, Ray Bradbury, N.K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, and Kurt Vonnegut — read aloud by Burton himself in immersive 3D audio with subtle sound design underneath. Burton's voice is one of those instruments that just works for narration. He does not do theatrical accents or over-the-top character voices. Instead, he reads with a steady warmth and intelligence that lets the writing breathe. The story selections lean toward speculative fiction, literary fiction, and stories with social consciousness, though the range extends into humor and horror depending on the episode. Burton handpicks each story, and his taste is excellent. The show ran from 2017 through 2024, building an archive of 206 episodes. It holds a remarkable 4.9 star rating from over 17,000 Apple reviews — one of the highest-rated podcasts in any category. Episodes run 30 to 60 minutes, and the show recommends headphones for the full 3D audio experience. If you grew up watching Reading Rainbow, this podcast feels like a natural continuation. If you did not, it still works beautifully as a curated short fiction experience read by someone who genuinely loves the written word.