Wild Card with Rachel Martin: LeVar Burton is Learning to Embrace the Chaos (Encore) – August 7, 2025
In this encore episode of Wild Card with Rachel Martin, NPR's acclaimed podcast celebrates its status as a Top 10 Podcast of 2024 by The New York Times by revisiting a beloved conversation with actor, author, and Reading Rainbow host, LeVar Burton. Breaking away from conventional interview formats, Rachel Martin engages Burton in a deep, introspective dialogue using a unique deck of conversation cards, delving into his personal memories, insights, and core beliefs. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of their engaging discussion, highlighting key moments, poignant quotes, and the profound insights shared by Burton.
Guest Introduction and Background
Rachel Martin opens the episode by celebrating LeVar Burton's multifaceted career, emphasizing his iconic roles in Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and most memorably, as the host of Reading Rainbow. She reminisces about the impact Burton had on her own life, particularly through Star Trek, and introduces the conversation with heartfelt admiration.
Rachel Martin (01:40): "LeVar Burton didn't just teach kids to love reading. He taught them to love themselves, to believe that they had their own voice in this beautiful but complicated world."
Burton acknowledges the warm introduction, expressing gratitude and humility.
LeVar Burton (03:25): "That has to be one of the most lovely introductions I've ever heard."
Round One: Memories
Appreciating Parental Lessons
Rachel initiates the first round with a focus on memories, prompting Burton to reflect on the lessons imparted by his parents.
LeVar Burton (06:03): "The value of hard work. Ah. Doing your absolute best, no matter what it is you're doing, right? Being the President of the United States or sweeping the sidewalk, you put your whole self into that task. That's the way we do life."
Burton elaborates on his mother's relentless work ethic, which enabled him to pursue higher education despite financial constraints.
LeVar Burton (06:25): "My mom was a hard working woman as I was growing, so her first career was as an English teacher... She waited cocktails at night, Smalls paradise in Sacramento. And that's how I was able to go to USC."
Admiring His Teenage Self
Choosing to admire his teenage self, Burton shares insights about his youthful optimism and determination.
LeVar Burton (08:22): "My teenage self had this unshakable belief that everything was gonna work out okay... that I was going to move to Los Angeles, study theater, graduate with a degree, move to New York, hustle my way onto the Broadway stage... he was focused and he trusted, and, boy, did he manifest."
He emphasizes that this unwavering optimism has been a constant in his life, shaping his approach to challenges and opportunities.
LeVar Burton (09:19): "I'm an eternal optimist and I look for the good. I expect the miracle to happen. I believe that everything does work out the way it's supposed to."
Round Two: Insights
Evolving Definition of Success
In the second round, Burton discusses how his perception of success has transformed over time.
LeVar Burton (12:38): "Yes. I used to embody success unconsciously by how busy I felt and how busy I was. Now I feel that success is spending my time well."
He underscores the importance of balancing work and leisure, recognizing the finite nature of personal energy.
LeVar Burton (13:35): "I've come to the conclusion that my job is to be LeVar Burton. And I love my job. And as it happens, my job requires a lot of energy going out. Right. It's energy output. And unless I recharge this battery, it's not good."
Burton reflects on his early success with Roots, highlighting the initial pressure and high expectations that came with such a groundbreaking role.
LeVar Burton (14:05): "One of the gifts of Roots was that I had to come to terms with, you know what? I may never do anything as big or as important or as impactful as this... But part of the beauty of that journey for me is seeing that as a storyteller, I've been able to portray the black experience in America, from our enslavement to the stars."
Managing Expectations and Career Balance
Burton discusses managing expectations following his early success and how it allowed him to diversify his career without being confined to a single role.
LeVar Burton (14:36): "And that's the miracle of my life, that it wasn't the only leg on my stool. I have these three jewels, I call them, in my career, crowned in Roots, in Reading Rainbow, and Star Trek."
Round Three: Beliefs
Connection to Lost Loved Ones
In the final round, Burton opens up about personal beliefs, starting with how he stays connected to those he has lost.
LeVar Burton (20:49): "I just know that they're still there and it is in that Awareness that the connection is alive... When I think about my mom, when Irma Jean passed, I felt her intensely for about three, four months. She was pulling strings, advocating on the other side. That was really amazing and comforting."
He highlights literature and literacy as his way of honoring his mother's legacy, integrating it into his professional life.
LeVar Burton (22:08): "Everything I do that's connected with literacy... It's all in honor of her. It's all a tribute to Irma Jean. All inspired by her."
Evolving Conception of God
Burton shares a profound evolution in his understanding of God, transitioning from a traditional Catholic view to a more expansive and inclusive spirituality.
LeVar Burton (22:43): "I was raised a Catholic, and so I was raised with the idea of God as a vehicle for punishment. Right. And that has definitely changed over time. I'm much more in the camp of we are a part of God, God is a part of us."
He expresses comfort in this broader conception, finding solace in the belief that humans are intrinsically connected to the divine.
LeVar Burton (23:45): "Faith is about reconciling the ambiguity... A belief in the absence of proof is what faith."
Burton recounts his pivotal moment of leaving the priesthood, driven by a thirst for broader understanding and embracing his passion for acting.
LeVar Burton (24:46): "It happened about midway through the first four years at St. Pius, and I realized that the world was bigger and that the answers that I was being given from the dogma of Catholicism weren't satisfying my curiosity."
Closing Reflections
As the conversation winds down, Burton reflects on his affinity for the Caribbean, particularly Barbados, as a place where he feels connected and at peace.
LeVar Burton (27:41): "I have a very natural affinity for the Caribbean... When I'm here, my spirit lines up with my body. I feel at home, I feel nurtured."
Rachel Martin wraps up the episode by introducing Burton's upcoming documentary, Butterfly in the Sky, and promoting his podcast, LeVar Burton Reads, which continues his legacy of fostering a love for reading.
Rachel Martin (28:19): "LeVar Burton, acclaimed actor, Emmy award winning TV host of Reading Rainbow... You can see him in the documentary Butterfly in the Sky... It's a wonderful thing."
Burton expresses his appreciation for the conversation, pleased with how it unfolded.
LeVar Burton (28:36): "I thank you. This was more everything that I expected and then some. I'm so pleased it was you did not disappoint."
Production Credits
This episode was produced by Cher Vincent and edited by Dave Blanchard, with fact-checking by Jane Gilvin and mastering by Patrick Murray. Wild Card's executive producer is Yolanda Sangweni, and the theme music is composed by Ramtin Arablouei. For more information or to reach out, listeners can contact us@wildcardpr.org.
LeVar Burton's journey, as explored in this Wild Card episode, underscores the importance of adaptability, lifelong learning, and the pursuit of personal balance. His reflections offer listeners a window into the philosophies that have guided his illustrious career and personal growth, making this encore episode a must-listen for fans and newcomers alike.