[encore] LeVar Burton

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don't Ask Tig – [Encore] LeVar Burton

Title: Don't Ask Tig
Host: Tig Notaro
Guest: LeVar Burton
Release Date: September 11, 2024

---

1. Listener Update: Justin’s Bookstore Success [00:27 – 02:01]

Timestamp: [00:27]

Tig Notaro opens the encore episode by sharing an inspiring update from a listener named Justin. Justin had previously sought advice from Tig and Reese Witherspoon about opening a bookstore in his small town. Tig recounts Justin's message:

“Thanks for the update, Justin. I'm going to send some copies of my book your way, and I'm going to call Reese and let her know. So you'll probably be hearing from her too. Pretty likely.”
— Tig Notaro [00:27]

Justin announces the successful establishment of "Curious Cat," an indie bookstore in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, attributing part of its fruition to the support from "Don't Ask Tig."

---

2. Welcoming LeVar Burton [02:47 – 03:20]

Timestamp: [02:47]

Tig introduces her special guest, LeVar Burton, renowned actor, director, producer, and host of the beloved PBS children's series "Reading Rainbow." Tig warmly welcomes him:

“LeVar Burton, it's a true honor to have you on the show.”
— Tig Notaro [02:47]

LeVar responds with enthusiasm, expressing his joy in being part of the "Tig Nation."

---

3. Conversation with LeVar Burton [02:01 – 32:52]

a. Personal Connections and Star Trek [02:01 – 10:31]

Timestamp: [06:01 – 10:31]

LeVar delves into his lifelong passion for speculative fiction and his role in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He reflects on how "Star Trek" provided him with a sense of belonging and representation during the tumultuous civil rights era.

“Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future... when the future comes, there's a place for you.”
— LeVar Burton [06:03]

Tig shares her own experience with "Star Trek" conventions, expressing mutual admiration and the potential for future meetings.

b. The Essence of Good Storytelling [10:31 – 11:38]

Timestamp: [10:31]

LeVar emphasizes that good storytelling hinges on conflict, compelling characters, and the ability to educate and enlighten.

“The stories that we tell... are the vessel that delivers to us as human beings everything we need to know about being human.”
— LeVar Burton [09:56]

c. Influence of Fred Rogers [11:38 – 13:41]

Timestamp: [11:38]

LeVar shares insights from his mentor, Fred Rogers, highlighting the importance of authenticity and using media as a ministry to convey meaningful messages.

“Fred was all about being okay just the way you are exactly in this moment.”
— LeVar Burton [12:05]

---

4. Listener Questions and Advice Segments [13:40 – 32:52]

a. Handling Complaints About School Reading Materials [14:08 – 17:45]

Timestamp: [14:08]

A listener, MB Writes, a high school English teacher, seeks advice on addressing parents' concerns about the appropriateness of assigned reading materials. LeVar advocates for evolving reading lists to reflect societal changes and diversity.

“I think it's healthy for parents to ask these questions.”
— LeVar Burton [14:40]

He encourages open dialogue and revising curricula to better represent a diverse society.

b. Navigating a Crush on a Co-worker [18:56 – 22:27]

Timestamp: [19:00]

Jay confides in having a crush on a co-worker who is already in a relationship. LeVar advises against pursuing the relationship, emphasizing respect for existing bonds and the potential complications of mixing work and personal life.

“I do not believe that it serves you, him, or the company you both work with to cross those streams.”
— LeVar Burton [20:52]

He recommends focusing on personal growth and recognizing the signs that the attraction is unattainable.

c. Confession Booth: Dealing with Past Guilt [24:03 – 29:17]

Timestamp: [24:38]

Lori shares a haunting memory from high school involving a possible car accident she caused during an illegal U-turn. LeVar addresses her feelings of guilt and uncertainty regarding karma, advising her to let go of the unresolved past and focus on her present contributions.

“Do what you can where you are. That's the advice that I would give to her.”
— LeVar Burton [27:59]

Tig reinforces the importance of moving forward and not dwelling on uncontrollable past events.

d. Name That Thing: Naming a Guitar [29:21 – 32:08]

Timestamp: [30:36]

In a lighthearted segment, Tig asks LeVar to name her new guitar. Drawing inspiration from his work in "Roots," LeVar suggests "Kunta" for a male guitar or "Kizzy" for a female one.

“If your guitar is male, I'm gonna go with Kunta... if female, Kizzy.”
— LeVar Burton [30:36]

He humorously notes that these names carry personal significance in his life.

---

5. Promotions and Closing Remarks [32:08 – 35:53]

a. LeVar Burton's Podcast [32:23 – 32:52]

Timestamp: [32:23]

LeVar promotes his podcast, "LeVar Burton Reads," encouraging listeners to tune in for hand-picked short fiction stories.

“There's a new episode that drops every Tuesday... I read it to you.”
— LeVar Burton [32:28]

b. Final Thoughts and Production Credits [32:52 – End]

The episode concludes with Tig thanking LeVar for his participation and sharing information about the podcast's production team and how listeners can submit their own questions or confessions.

---

Notable Quotes:

• LeVar Burton on Storytelling:
  “The stories that we tell... are the vessel that delivers to us as human beings everything we need to know about being human.”
  — LeVar Burton [09:56]

• LeVar Burton on Star Trek's Impact:
  “Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future... when the future comes, there's a place for you.”
  — LeVar Burton [06:03]

• Advice on Professional Boundaries:
  “I do not believe that it serves you, him, or the company you both work with to cross those streams.”
  — LeVar Burton [20:52]

---

Conclusion:

This encore episode of "Don't Ask Tig" featuring LeVar Burton offers a blend of personal storytelling, insightful discussions on the power of narrative, and practical advice for listeners grappling with various life questions. From the significance of representation in media to navigating complex personal relationships, Tig and LeVar provide thoughtful and engaging content that resonates with a wide audience.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

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[Tig Notaro]

Hey Danas and Beckys. What you're about to hear is an encore presentation of one of our favorite episodes from the Don't Ask Tig archives. Please enjoy. Hey listeners, Tig here. One of my favorite parts of this podcast is hearing back from listeners who have received advice on the show. Here is an update from Justin, who Reese Witherspoon and I gave advice to in December of 2020. Justin writes, I just wanted to follow up with some good news. I had asked if it was a good idea to open a bookstore in our small town, or if it was just an unnecessary indulgence, to which Tig and Reese agreed that opening a bookstore was not just a good idea, but a necessity. After hearing this endorsement, some friends of mine stepped up to enthusiastically pursue the bookstore idea. And now, thanks in part to Don't Ask Tig, I am pleased to announce that our small town of Antigonish, or Antigonish, I like to think it's Antigonish, Nova Scotia, will be getting an indie bookstore this summer. It's called the Curious Cat. I wanted to sincerely thank you for your support of the bookstore idea. There's no doubt that this bookstore is happening in part because of Don't Ask Tig. Thanks for the update, Justin. I'm going to send some copies of my book your way, and I'm going to call Reese and let her know. So you'll probably be hearing from her too. Pretty likely. Now on with the show.

[LeVar Burton]

I spent an awful lot of time in my life trying to figure out who the I am.

[Tig Notaro]

Do you ever talk like that on your podcast?

[LeVar Burton]

I curse on my podcast.

[Tig Notaro]

Absolutely not with children.

[LeVar Burton]

I do. Oh. Oh no. I rarely curse when I'm communicating to children.

[Tig Notaro]

That would be such a funny curveball.

[Unknown Speaker]

We are not alone and nobody is hopeless. Everybody goes to sh. We had a friend in tears. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

This is Don't Ask Tig. I'm Tig Notaro telling you to just take a look. It's in a book. An advice podcast, Rainbow. My guest today is an actor, director and producer known for his Roles in Star Trek Roots and as the host of the beloved PBS children series Reading Rainbow. He also hosts his own podcast, LeVar Burton reads. LeVar Burton, it's a true honor to have you on the show. Thanks for being here, Tig Notaro.

[LeVar Burton]

To be a part of Tign Nation is indeed an extreme and joyous pleasure for me.

[Tig Notaro]

It's really nice to. I guess I'm meeting you. Where are you?

[LeVar Burton]

I'm in Los Angeles. You're here, too?

[Tig Notaro]

I am. I am here. Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

Yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

Maybe one day we'll actually meet in the flesh.

[LeVar Burton]

Well, did we not cross paths in Las Vegas a couple of years ago at the big Star Trek Con?

[Tig Notaro]

No, I haven't done any Star Trek Cons.

[LeVar Burton]

Okay.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

All right. Yeah, we need to fix that.

[Tig Notaro]

Exactly.

[LeVar Burton]

Right?

[Tig Notaro]

I mean, I've been told to do them. I'm a little shy about them, to be honest.

[LeVar Burton]

Why? Why?

[Tig Notaro]

I don't know. I think I might have to ease into something like that.

[LeVar Burton]

Okay, so, first of all, Tig, you come to the Star Trek universe with your own identity.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

And number two, as a member of the Star Trek family, you are beloved.

[Tig Notaro]

Oh, that's nice to hear.

[LeVar Burton]

So get some of that love. Cause it's real. The love is real.

[Tig Notaro]

You know, I did a panel at Comic Con in San Diego, and so I definitely felt that love. But I was only in and out in, like, an hour or two, and I think the conventions, they go on for days. Right?

[LeVar Burton]

Well, it's. It's kind of a weekend thing. Look, should you ever decide to dip your toe, I tell you truly from my heart, you will be embraced in a way that is both surprising and comforting. And a bit scary. So.

[Tig Notaro]

I have heard that. That's why I think I'm somebody that has to ease into things. I have to talk to people. I gotta do my research. I gotta find out what I might be in for.

[LeVar Burton]

I am happy to be a sounding board for you. But knowing you in the way that I do, and knowing the universe of fans as intimately as I do, I know that you will be mightily embraced.

[Tig Notaro]

Ah. Well, all right, maybe I'll do it. If you're at one of the conventions and my schedule's free, then I'll for sure go.

[LeVar Burton]

Cool.

[Tig Notaro]

That'll be the plan?

[LeVar Burton]

Absolutely. We have a plan. Let's execute.

[Tig Notaro]

Well, now, speaking of Star Trek, you played Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge, The Next Generation, Next Gen. And I play Commander Jet Reno on Discovery. So. So, Commander to Commander. What does Star Trek mean to you?

[LeVar Burton]

Ooh. Tick.

[Tig Notaro]

Levar.

[LeVar Burton]

Well, I'm a lifelong fan of speculative fiction, science fiction. Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future was one that I encountered as a child. That really spoke to me because one of the things that Jean was saying as a storyteller was that when the future comes, there's a place for you. And that meant the world to me.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

I grew up in the 50s and 60s. Star Trek premiered in the latter part of the 60s, and it was the civil rights movement. It was, you know, it was Vietnam, it was flower power, it was make love, not war. But mostly it was the civil rights era for me. And it was not just refreshing, it was affirming to see a positive portrayal of. Of a black woman on the bridge of the starship Enterprise.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, I'm sure.

[LeVar Burton]

I think Jean was a real visionary in that regard. What he was saying to me as a storyteller was that when the future comes, there's a place for you. I was a kid growing up in Northern California, in Sacramento, kind of a bookworm, an early nerd prototype. It was so exciting to see myself on the screen. Even though Lieutenant Uhura was female, I identified with her because, you know, we had an obvious commonality in skin color. And I'll be honest with you, Tig, it was not easy growing up a child of color in the 60s in these United States of America.

[Tig Notaro]

I can only imagine, right? Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

And so that one hour a week to live in a world that I wanted so much to be a part of because it was so much more preferable to the world that I was living in the other six days a week had a major impact on me, to be honest.

[Tig Notaro]

Annette, how crazy. To end up on Star Trek boggles the mind.

[LeVar Burton]

Right. The idea that I would grow up and be a part of the storytelling mechanism that Star Trek is in popular culture never ceases to blow me away.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. I still kind of can't believe it. And I have such pride when I tell people, oh, I'm I'm going off to shoot Star Trek, or I'm a part of that world. I'm always concerned. It doesn't sound as genuine when I say, oh, it's an honor, but it really is.

[LeVar Burton]

It really is. I believe that the storytelling that we do in the business of entertainment and the mechanism of filmed entertainment in general is very probably the most powerful tool ever invented in the history of civilization for creating change, growth and change on a societal level. Right. The stories that we tell, they contain the sum total of all that we hope and dream and wish for ourselves and our progeny throughout humanity. It is storytelling that is the vessel that delivers to us as human beings everything we need to know about being human.

[Tig Notaro]

Right.

[LeVar Burton]

And so the idea that this one science fiction television series created by this man who was a writer and was certainly a man of his generation, but had this vision that was far reaching and inclusive and, and that vision has gone on to really make such a contribution to culture in this society as well as others. Star Trek is, you know, it's embraced all over the planet.

[Tig Notaro]

Oh my gosh. Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

So to be a part of that storytelling mythos, to be a fan of it first and really buy in, drink the Kool aid on the Prime Directive and the need necessity for successful societies, successful cultures, to be inclusive and promote everyone based on their abilities and no other criteria, to depict a world where human beings would have resolved all the issues of race and sex and class. And to be a part of that storytelling mythos is no small thing for me.

[Tig Notaro]

And what do you think is the essence of good storytelling?

[LeVar Burton]

Well, you know, the experts say it's conflict. You know, good storytelling involves conflict. I would also add that compelling characters that the audience cares about and for me, the added value of bringing something more to the exercise than simple entertainment. There's an opportunity to inform, to educate, enlighten. I believe if as a storyteller, I am doing my job right with the right material and the right partners and team involved, that the opportunity to really lift humanity up and light the way for ourselves is definitely present and on the table.

[Tig Notaro]

Now. Levar, one of your mentors, like, I mean, so many of us loved this man, Fred Rogers. What was the best advice that you ever got from him?

[LeVar Burton]

My relationship with Fred is a real north star in my life and in my career. When I first met Fred in the early 80s, I was really excited to meet Mr. Rogers, of course, but even more than that, I was excited to meet Fred Rogers because I assumed that that was a character that he played on TV and that there was another aspect to the man that was rooted more. I don't know what I expected more of an adult presence. Right. Not that he wasn't an adult as Mr. Rogers, but he was an adult that really had a focus on being present and nurturing the well being of an audience of children. And I wanted to see the other side of that Persona come to find out that that Fred Rogers was absolutely that authentic, that person, that personality that we saw on Mr. Rogers neighborhood was absolutely consistent with Fred Rogers the man, the human being. Fred was a Presbyterian minister, and earlier in my life, I studied for the Catholic priesthood. So we met on the field of spiritual service to humanity. And I think the most important lesson I learned or was able to glean from Fred was how important it was to be authentic with my audience, especially an audience of children. Fred was all about being okay just the way you are exactly in this moment. And I learned from Fred that it was really okay to sort of use the medium of television as a ministry, as a way to reach an audience in an authentic manner with something of value.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. I mean, you've both clearly done such tremendous work and reached so many people. I mean, it's really something.

[LeVar Burton]

Thank you.

[Tig Notaro]

Levar. I think it's time for us to get into some advice questions from our listeners.

[LeVar Burton]

This is always dicey for me, too.

[Tig Notaro]

Oh, you're going to be great.

[LeVar Burton]

All right.

[Tig Notaro]

They're asking for it. They need a lot of help these days. Are you ready?

[LeVar Burton]

I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

[Tig Notaro]

All right.

[LeVar Burton]

All right, here we go.

[Tig Notaro]

Not to be too on the nose, but okay. Our first question for you concerns kids and books.

[LeVar Burton]

Okay.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, yeah. MB Writes, I'm a high school English teacher and the leader of my department. Sometimes I have parents call to complain about the books we have students read as part of our curriculum. The books are the same things most schools assign teens that the teens don't read anyway. MB Says, how would you approach these parent phone calls that question the appropriateness of reading material in a public high school?

[LeVar Burton]

Good question. Yeah, really, because we are having a conversation in this country about what is and what is not appropriate to teach in schools at an elementary level, at a middle school level, and at a high school level. The issue of critical race theory comes most immediately to mind as an area where we are grappling. I think it's healthy for parents to ask these questions. As I was growing up, there was something known as the classical education, and there was a reading list that included revered authors and who had been identified and established as being representative of what we wanted our children to learn. It occurs to me and has occurred to me for some time, and it is not lost on me that some of those authors come from a point of view that is not simply antiquated, but antithetical to the idea that this society is larger and more diverse than. Than what I call my melanin challenged brethren and sister. Okay, melanin challenged being code for white people.

[Tig Notaro]

Now, I caught that.

[LeVar Burton]

I know you did, but, you know, I didn't want to leave anyone in the audience behind, wondering what the hell was Lavar talking about?

[Tig Notaro]

You gotta leave some people behind, you know, I mean, because you gotta make them get up and look into something.

[LeVar Burton]

I am always up for challenging ourselves to learn more, pick up a book, take a look and figure it out. Right. So there are writers that I read as a kid that don't have an awful lot of relevance to today's world, to the world that we occupy in this now moment. And I'm all for revising those reading lists from time to time because societies evolve and the needs of people over time shift, grow, change. So I know it's a pain in the ass for school boards and school administrations to entertain these challenges from parents, but that's a healthy dynamic.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

I grew up in a family where questioning authority was expected. Yeah, you question authority because nobody knows everything. And certainly from my mother's point of view, there were very few authorities, in fact, none outside of her, that knew absolutely what was best for me, her child, 247, 365.

[Tig Notaro]

Right.

[LeVar Burton]

I feel the same way as a parent.

[Tig Notaro]

So, MB I don't think I could have found anyone better to answer your question. You owe me one at this point. Levar. Don't go anywhere. We'll return with more questions after the break.

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[Franklin Leonard]

Franklin Leonard, founder of the Blacklist. We know what makes a good screenplay, but when it comes to what makes a blockbuster or a box office bomb, the truth is, no, nobody knows anything. Including our star panel of podcast guests.

[LeVar Burton]

I was told this was a quiz program.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, just so you know, I just thought it was ripping.

[Franklin Leonard]

Podcast Nobody Knows Anything Presented by fx. Find it wherever you get your podcast.

[Tig Notaro]

Foreign. And we're back with more questions. Lavar, this next question concerns a potentially tricky combination. Work and love. Jay writes, I have a crush on my co worker. I'm 27, single, and currently in the dating scene. But I keep meeting dud after dud. My co worker has all the qualities I'd want in a potential partner, and I definitely find him attractive. Not only do I work with this guy, but he's also in a relationship. There's literally no point in me pondering the what ifs, but it's so hard to shake these feelings, especially when I have to work with him 40 hours every week. Ugh. Do I just hope, pray this crush diminishes, or tell him how I feel help. I tend to feel like you don't tell him how you feel because he's in a relationship. I'm going to potentially contradict myself, but I still believe that maybe don't say anything. Somebody mentioned once that the only people that can respect any relationship is the people that are in the relationship. That's where the attention needs to be, is on this guy that you work with. He has to respect his relationship with whoever he's in a relationship with. So I guess if you want to go out there and let him know, then it's his responsibility to respect his relationship. I just personally would not feel comfortable telling somebody in a relationship that I had feelings for him. That's how I feel.

[LeVar Burton]

I'm gonna agree with you, and I'll take it a step further. Tig. I do not believe that it serves you, him, or the company you both work with to cross those streams, as the kids say these days.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

And it's really dangerous and can only lead to trouble where the responsibility is concerned. I believe in karma. I definitely do that. That which you sow, so shall you reap. And you have to examine intent versus outcome. What would the intention be in telling him about your attraction? My assumption is that it would be to get a response from him about said attraction. Well, that puts you in the middle of his relationship.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

Right. You are now. You have now made yourself an interloper, an intruder into his relationship dynamic. And there's a cost.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. And I feel like if this guy is not happy in his relationship or he's attracted to you, I feel like it's in his court to make some sort of move or decision to get out of his relationship or to make something clear to you. But if that is not going on, then it seems like he might be focused on his relationship.

[LeVar Burton]

She didn't mention that, by the way, that there was any sort of reciprocity in terms of her feelings for him. So my advice would be keep your own counsel and focus on your life. I think there's a reason why all of the candidates you have found lacking in one way or another, and that the one candidate that you find most appealing or appropriate is one that is unavailable to you. I think there's something really to look at there for you and puzzle out for yourself. Because I have had to learn over time that there are no accidents in the universe, that everything has purpose. And even when I am not conscious of what my purposeful intentions are, they're still at play. They're still in there operating as the engine that's driving the train. So being aware. Being aware of who we are, being aware of what our buttons are, being aware of where our damage is and what we're trying to compensate for, and all of that stuff. Right, all of that makes a difference. And. And we need to keep it all in mind if what we are looking for is a healthy expression of ourselves, of who we are.

[Tig Notaro]

Hear, hear. All right, Jay, that's what we think you should do. Let us know how it goes, please. Yeah. Lavar wants you to swing by his house and let him know. Okay. Levar, like you said in the past, you contemplated priesthood, right?

[LeVar Burton]

I did.

[Tig Notaro]

All right, that might qualify you to answer our next question, which comes to us from the confession booth. Welcome to the confession booth. The Don't Ask Tig confession booth features listeners sharing what they've never told anyone in order for us to give them the advice that they're afraid to ask for.

[LeVar Burton]

Wow.

[Tig Notaro]

Today's confession was sent in by Lori, who writes, one night when I was in high school, I was driving my grandma to dinner in her Cadillac. I passed the restaurant and made what I think was an illegal left turn because the giant median made a big thump, thump under her car. As I made a U turn, I heard a lot of horns blowing. When I circled back around, there was what I think was some kind of crash. And later, I heard sirens while we were in the restaurant. To this day, I have no idea whether I was the cause of that crash or if anything bad happened to those people. I'm a person who spends my life contributing all of my energy to my work, my family, my friends, and to non profits. And I have also suffered crazy, improbable incidents that have caused me a lifetime of intractable chronic pain. Is this karma? I am just not sure how to feel about that. Please give me the perfect answer. Oh, my gosh. You were just talking about karma. This is really tied in to what we were just talking about. First of all, are you glad you're not a priest?

[LeVar Burton]

Yes, without question.

[Tig Notaro]

I mean, you'd have to deal with this all the time. Right.

[LeVar Burton]

Well, it's not the dealing with this.

[Tig Notaro]

That I'm sure there's more things.

[LeVar Burton]

There's more. There are more things. Yeah, absolutely.

[Tig Notaro]

But this is. This is a lot.

[LeVar Burton]

This is a lot. This is a lot. Let me start out by saying I do not believe that there is a perfect answer that's good.

[Tig Notaro]

However, that is true.

[LeVar Burton]

I do believe that there is an appropriate answer for you.

[Tig Notaro]

Do you have that appropriate answer?

[LeVar Burton]

I don't know. I feel like I'm light on the circumstances. It sounds like her intuition, her inner knowingness knew that on some level she did something that could have caused an accident or some mishap, some trouble for other people in the wake of her left hand turn. But without really investigating it. She'll never know what she needs to deal with, though. And I think the more important aspect of her question and questioning is what does she do with the feelings of. The unresolved feelings that she has about what transpired on that night?

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

And I'm again just going to take a cue from her when she said that she spends a lot of time, effort and energy on charitable causes. I'm going to assume that she is genuine in that assessment of herself and that perhaps whatever happened in the past as regards that incident, she might do well to just let go and focus on the good works that she does now. And going forward, I think it's all.

[Tig Notaro]

That you can do.

[LeVar Burton]

Perhaps think of a balancing of the scales. Right.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[LeVar Burton]

I mean, let go of that past and move into the present and focus on what you can do, do. I'm a big fan of doing what I can from where I am. And so that's the advice that I would give to her. Do what you can where you are.

[Tig Notaro]

That's the only control you have right now. You can't go back in time and you don't know who these people are. It was so long ago. And not that when you're in high school, you're not an aware person, but I still feel like you're not as aware. You don't.

[LeVar Burton]

You're far from.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. And you're not really understanding certain consequences. I just, I think that you do need to move on. And I think it is great that you are giving so much to your life and to others and that really is kind of the only thing that you can do. Because what are you going to do? Are you going to go on a hunt and ask around who were these people in 1980 or I don't know what year it was? You know, you'd have to get a detective to find out who these people were, what happened, how you can fix this. It's not possible.

[LeVar Burton]

Yeah, I think it speaks a lot to the quality of her character that she even has this concern, all of this, these years later. Yeah. Give yourself a break. Stop beating yourself up. Be happy with who you are and what you're able to do in the world.

[Tig Notaro]

Laurie, thanks for your confession. That's intense.

[LeVar Burton]

And as the Catholics would say, say three Hail Marys and three Our Fathers and via con the.

[Tig Notaro]

And you're all set.

[LeVar Burton]

And omeri Patris et filiet Spiritu sancti. Amen.

[Tig Notaro]

Hear, hear. I'm on his side with that. Listeners, if you have a confession, call 833-ASK-GIG4. That's 833-275-8444, and leave me a voicemail. Feel free to make it anonymous. Levar, that's all of our listener questions. But before I go and let you go, I have one final thing. It's. It's something called Name that thing. Name that Thing. This is a segment people write in when they need us to name that thing for them.

[LeVar Burton]

Okay?

[Tig Notaro]

Anything from a house plant to a wi FI network. The catch is they must use the name. This is binding, so we can't mess it up.

[LeVar Burton]

Love it.

[Tig Notaro]

Think you can handle this?

[LeVar Burton]

I'm. I'm so.

[Tig Notaro]

It's a lot of responsibility.

[LeVar Burton]

What the ask is. No, no, no, no, no. I'm so into this.

[Tig Notaro]

I'm ready. This comes from the Ancient One.

[LeVar Burton]

Okay.

[Tig Notaro]

Greetings, Tig and unknown future guest.

[LeVar Burton]

That would be me.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, that's you, Levar.

[LeVar Burton]

Cool.

[Tig Notaro]

Many guitar players have named their instruments. B.B. king had. Lucille, I have a new guitar, and I'd love you to name it for me.

[LeVar Burton]

Well, if your inclination is that your new guitar is male, I'm gonna go with Kunta. K U N T A, as in Kunta Kinte, the protagonist in Roots. And if your guitar is, in fact, female, then I'm going to go with Kizzy, also a character from Roots. So Kunta or Kizzy. And remember, this is binding.

[Tig Notaro]

Have you named anything else Kunta or Kizzy?

[LeVar Burton]

Oh, I call. I refer to myself as Kunta all the time. And I refer to my wife as Kizzy in Mother's Day and anniversary cards.

[Tig Notaro]

Ah, well, there you go. A nice insight for you. The Ancient One. I wonder how old the Ancient One is. Oh, my gosh. Well, all right. The Ancient One, your guitar is now named either Kunta or Kizzy. So just remember Depending on if it's male or female. What do we do? If this is a non binary guitar?

[LeVar Burton]

Wow. Then you're on your own, Ancient One. And being as ancient as you are, I'm sure you will come up with something appropriate.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. You have a lot of history or herstory to choose from. Or themstory.

[LeVar Burton]

Or themstory to choose from.

[Tig Notaro]

Absolutely. We've reached the end of our show. Levar, it's been an absolute pleasure.

[LeVar Burton]

Went way too fast, Tig.

[Tig Notaro]

I know. It flew by. Thanks for taking the time to be here with us.

[LeVar Burton]

My pleasure.

[Tig Notaro]

Tig, do you have anything that you want to promote?

[LeVar Burton]

I would love to encourage folks to tune into my podcast, Levar Burton Reads. There's a new episode that drops every Tuesday. We're on our ninth season of the podcast and every episode I hand pick a different piece of short fiction and I read it to you. The only thing these stories have in common is that I love them and I hope you will too.

[Tig Notaro]

Thank you again so much for being here, Levar.

[LeVar Burton]

I'm a big fan and I you peace and blessings.

[Unknown Speaker]

There's so much I want you to see I wish that I could give you the answer I wish that I could make you believe I wish that I could put you on your path and set you free that's what your heart is for that's what your heart is for that's what your heart is for.

Don't Ask Tig is hosted by me, Tig Notaro. It's produced by Thomas Willette, Shana Deloria and Ryan Lore. Our editor is Beth Pearlman. Executive producer, Lauren D. Engineering and sound mixing by Johnny Vince Evans and Eric Rahmani. Digital production by Christina Lopez. Talent booking by Marianne Ways. Production support from People Pizza Shark. Our theme music is Friend and Tig by Edie Brickell and Kyle Crushem. And listen to your heart by Edie Brickell. Special thanks to Hunter Seidman, Lily Kim and Alex Shaffert. Concept developed by Tracy Mumford. Our executive consultant is Dean Capello and Gobsmack Studios. You can always ask for [e-mail] just write in with your problem or send us a voicemail. Remember to follow us on social media ontasktig.

[Tig Notaro]

Don't ask.

[Unknown Speaker]

Tig is a production of American Public Media and as always, thanks, Dana and I'll tell Becky. Listen to your heart.

The Soul to story podcast is about how teaching kids to read went wrong. But now, now we have a story about a school district where things are going very right.

[Tig Notaro]

Let me make sure my friends are sitting crisscross applesauce, hands in their lap.

[LeVar Burton]

I've never had a child that couldn't read.

[Unknown Speaker]

How did they do it?

[Tig Notaro]

When I tell some of my other colleagues that may be at other schools that this is what I do, and they would say, are you kidding me?

[Unknown Speaker]

New episodes of Sold a Story are available now in your podcast, apparently.