How Levar Burton is carrying on the 'Reading Rainbow' legacy in the smartphone era, and moving beyond it

Levar Burton, of "Roots" and "Reading Rainbow" fame, remains a champion of children's literacy.
He has a new startup and podcast, both of which are dedicated to carrying on the torch for literacy in a new age of technology.

Known for his acting roles on "Roots" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Levar Burton has also been a champion of children's literacy for decades.

Burton hosted the influential PBS series "Reading Rainbow" from 1983 until 2006. In the following years, he has become an entrepreneur devoted to carrying on and expanding on the "Reading Rainbow" legacy.

Burton now has a startup, Levar Burton Kids, that promotes children's literacy through new applications and technology. He also has a podcast, Levar Burton Reads, in which he reads selected short stories aimed at adult readers.

Business Insider spoke to Burton about the legacy of "Roots" and "Reading Rainbow," his latest literary ventures, and the evolution of storytelling and literature in today's fast-paced age of technology.

John Lynch: Mr. Burton, you worked on “Reading Rainbow” for two and a half decades. How did those years of experience inform your latest ventures in promoting literacy?

Levar Burton:

Lynch: Your startup, Levar Burton Kids, recently won $180,000 in funding at the WeWork NYC Creator Awards. What will that money go toward, and what’s the mission behind the company?

Burton:

Lynch: What drew you to podcasting, in particular, with Levar Burton Reads?

Burton:

Lynch: To shift to TV for a minute, following your iconic role in the original “Roots” of the ‘70s, you were an executive producer on the remake of the series last year. What was the impetus behind reviving it in 2016?

Burton:

Lynch: You were also on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which was itself a reboot. Reboots have always been a thing, but they’re increasingly common in film and TV. Outside of “Roots” and “Star Trek,” do you see that as a good thing for the industry?

Burton:

Lynch: You have over 2 million Twitter followers, and you’re a beacon of positivity and humor on the site. What’s your key to staying positive when so much of Twitter is just a cesspool of hate?

Burton:

Lynch: With your Skybrary app and podcast, do digital forms like these make you optimistic that literature can survive, even in this age of technology and its fast pace?

Burton:

Lynch: A few last questions about reading. What was the last book you read that you were eager to recommend to people?

Burton:

Lynch: There are a lot of people, especially working adults, who avoid reading altogether and are sort of stubborn about it. What advice would you give non-reading adults to inspire them to read?

Burton: