Because That Voice Could Read a Phone Book and We’d Listen
If you grew up with Reading Rainbow, hearing LeVar Burton’s voice is like being wrapped in a warm blanket of nostalgia that gently reminds you that books are, in fact, still cool. His podcast, LeVar Burton Reads, is essentially the grown-up version of that beloved childhood show, except instead of picture books about trains or butterflies, he’s serving up short fiction that ranges from heartwarming to absolutely devastating, often within the same episode.
And while the podcast ended in 2024 there are still hundreds of episodes to choose from, and the question is: where do you even start? Do you go for the science fiction that’ll make you question reality? The literary fiction that’ll have you ugly-crying in public? The speculative stories that are equal parts magical and unsettling? Well you’re in luck, I’ve put together the absolute best episodes of LeVar Burton Reads, the ones that showcase why this podcast has become the cozy, thoughtful antidote to our chaotic world.
“Mother of Invention” by Nnedi Okorafor, Part 1
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A youthful female discovers herself trapped within a lethal windborne flower dust tempest in tomorrow’s Nigeria, isolated except for her intelligent dwelling.
“Down in the Dim Kingdoms” by Tobias Buckell
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An explorer transported treasure from an expedition to the planet’s core. Presently, his relatives accompany him on a second voyage, seeking to secure their claim to his wealth.
“The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate” Part 1 by Ted Chiang
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A traveling trader in Middle Ages Baghdad is summoned to appear before the Caliph, where he relates stories of cleverly designed portals that permit journeys through time to bygone eras and days yet to come.
“What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky” by Lesley Nneka Arimah
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A scholar of numbers has uncovered an equation that unlocks the secrets of existence and enables the alteration of physical forms and feelings of people.
“Afterlife” by Stephen King
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William Andrews, a financial professional employed by Goldman Sachs, perishes on September 23, 2012, and discovers himself facing his existence beyond mortality.
“The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu
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A foreign-born mother attempts to connect with her United States-born child by crafting an enchanted collection of folded paper creatures.
“The Coffin Maker” by AnaMaria Curtis
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During an extended expedition to locate a fresh habitable world, a supply specialist attempts to safeguard the lives of those aboard. Yet is she capable of shielding herself from the unavoidable grief and sorrow?
“Singing on a Star” by Ellen Klages
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A young student in their first year of school journeys through a gateway to a marvelous and unsettling alternate realm. This tale is featured in Ellen’s anthology WICKED WONDERS.
“Waystation City” by A.T. Greenblatt
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Stranded in an enigmatic era and location, with the earth writhing and shifting below them, a male and female sibling attempt to find their way back to 1970s London.