{{short description|American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = Leo Laporte | image = Leo Laporte 27 September 2007.jpg | alt = Photograph of Leo Laporte's head and shoulders. Leo is pictured wearing a patterned shirt. There is a black background and Leo is smiling. | caption = Laporte pictured in 2007 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|11|29|mf=y}} | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (enter DEATH date then BIRTH date (e.g., ...|1967|8|31|1908|2|28}} use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> | death_place = | citizenship = | occupation = {{hlist | TV and radio presenter | podcaster}} | known_for = Founding TWiT.tv | credits = {{ubl | ''The Screen Savers'' (1998–2004) | ''Call for Help'' (1998–2001; 2003–2007) | ''The Tech Guy'' (2004-2022) | ''This Week in Tech'' (since 2005)}} | net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source --> | television = Internet! (PBS), The Site (MSNBC), Call for Help (ZDTV/TechTV), The Screen Savers (ZDTV/TechTV) | spouse = {{ubl | Jennifer Laporte (divorced) | Lisa Laporte ({{abbr|m.|married}}&nbsp;{{circa|2015}})}} | website = {{official URL}} | signature = | signature_alt = }}

'''Leo Laporte''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|p|ɔr|t}}; born November 29, 1956)<ref name="TechGuy_1849">{{cite podcast |first1=Leo |last1=Laporte |author-mask1=1 |title=The Tech Guy #1849 |website=TWiT.tv |time=17:37 |date=December 4, 2021 |url=https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy/episodes/1849 |access-date=December 31, 2021}}</ref> is an American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur, best known as the founder and owner of the TWiT.tv (This Week in Tech) podcast network, which he launched in 2005.

Laporte began his technology career in the 1980s as a software author and journalist. In the early 1990s, he hosted the syndicated radio show ''On Computers'', which aired on over 60 stations. Laporte's television career began in the late 1990s when he co-hosted ''The Site'', for which he earned an Emmy in 1997. He joined ZDTV (later TechTV) in 1998, co-hosting ''The Screen Savers'' and ''Call for Help'' until the network's acquisition by Comcast in 2004. From 2004 to 2022, he hosted the nationally syndicated radio program ''The Tech Guy'', which aired on over 200 stations and focused on consumer technology advice.<ref name="Leo_Premiere" />

== Background == Laporte was born in New York City,<ref name="Leo_G4" /> the son of geologist Leo F. Laporte,<ref name=Schwartzman>{{cite podcast |url=https://www.ericschwartzman.com/on-the-record-online-with-leo-laporte-of-this-week-in-tech/ |title=How to Pitch Leo Laporte of TWiT |website=On the Record Online Podcast |publisher= |first1=Eric |last1=Schwartzman |date=September 1, 2005 |time= |access-date=December 31, 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/tvshows/personalities/story/0%2C23350%2C3370382%2C00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003174545/http://www.techtv.com/tvshows/personalities/story/0,23350,3370382,00.html |title=Meet Leo Laporte |publisher=TechTV |archive-date=October 3, 2003 |access-date=March 14, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> From 1973 to 1976,<ref name=LeovilleResume>{{cite web |url=http://www.leoville.com/resume.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040909090216/http://www.leoville.com/resume.shtml |title=Leo Laporte Resume |last=Laporte |first=Leo |website=Leoville |date=July 22, 2004 |archive-date=September 9, 2004 |access-date=March 19, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> he studied Chinese history at Yale University before dropping out in his junior year to pursue a career in radio broadcasting,<ref name=Schwartzman/> where his early on-air names were Dave Allen and Dan Hayes.<ref>TwitLive Broadcast, after hours, 9 December 2008</ref> He began his association with computers with his first home computer, an Atari 400.<ref name="Leo_G4" /> By 1984 he owned a Macintosh and wrote a software review for Byte magazine.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Laporte |first=Leo |date=December 1, 1984 |title=Habadex on Apple's Macintosh |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1984-12/page/n497/mode/2up?view=theater |magazine=Byte |language=en-us |volume=9 |issue=13 |pages=A102–A105 |eissn= |issn=0360-5280 |oclc= |access-date=October 29, 2022 |via=Internet Archive |df=dmy-all}}</ref> From 1985 to 1988, he operated one of the first Macintosh-only bulletin board systems, MacQueue.<ref name=LifeLeo>{{cite web |url=http://leoville.com/bio/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603001646/http://leoville.com/bio/ |title=LOL: The Life of Leo |last=Laporte |first=Leo |website=Leoville |date=December 14, 2007 |archive-date=June 3, 2008 |access-date=March 19, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Radio and television == From December 1977 to May 1998, Laporte hosted newstalk and interview shows on KGO, KSFO, and KNBR in San Francisco. He was a personality DJ on KLOK in San Francisco and San Jose and KMBY in Monterey.<ref name=LeovilleResume/> Laporte had been a midday, general-interest radio host until the increasing popularity of Rush Limbaugh, after which he created and co-hosted the tech talk radio show ''On Computers'' from January 1991 to July 1994. The program was syndicated to over 60 stations nationwide as well as the American Forces Network.<ref name=LeovilleResume/><ref name=LifeLeo/><ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine |last=Friess |first=Steve |date=October 3, 2006 |title=Podcasting's Reluctant Evangelist |url=https://www.wired.com/2006/10/podcastings-reluctant-evangelist/ |url-status=live |magazine=WIRED |language=en-us |eissn=1078-3148 |issn=1059-1028 |oclc=24479723 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040510/https://www.wired.com/2006/10/podcastings-reluctant-evangelist/ |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |access-date=December 31, 2021}}</ref>

In 1997, Laporte was awarded a Northern California Emmy for his role as Dev Null, a motion capture character on the MSNBC show ''The Site''.<ref name=LeovilleResume/>

In 1998, Laporte created and co-hosted ''The Screen Savers'',<ref name=zd/> and the original version of ''Call for Help'' on the cable and satellite network ZDTV (later ''TechTV'').<ref name=nyt />

Laporte hosted the daily television show ''The Lab with Leo Laporte'', recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The program was formerly known as ''Call for Help'' when it was recorded in the US and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The series aired on G4 Canada, on the HOW TO Channel in Australia, on several of Canada's Citytv affiliates, and on Google Video. On March 5, 2008, Laporte confirmed on ''net@nite'' that ''The Lab with Leo Laporte''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/The.Lab.with.Leo |title=The Lab with Leo Laporte |website=Internet Archive |date=n.d. |access-date=January 1, 2022}}</ref> had been canceled by Rogers Communications. The HOW TO Channel did not air the remaining episodes after it was announced the show had been canceled.<ref name="vapor1" /><ref name="vapor2" />

He hosted a weekend technology-oriented talk radio program show titled ''Leo Laporte: The Tech Guy''. The show, started on KFI AM 640 (Los Angeles), was syndicated through Premiere Radio Networks. On November 19, 2022, actor, writer, musician, and comedian Steve Martin called into Laporte's radio show to announce Leo's retirement from ''The Tech Guy'' radio show.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laporte |first=Lisa |title=The Secret Is Out! |url=https://twit.tv/posts/inside-twit/secret-out |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=TWiT.tv}}</ref> Laporte's last new radio show was December 18, 2022 with reruns for the remainder of the year. Rich DeMuro later appeared on the show to announce that he would take over in January with a weekly show, recorded on Saturdays, called "Rich On Tech."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rich on Tech {{!}} Premiere Networks |url=https://www.premierenetworks.com/shows/rich-tech |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=www.premierenetworks.com}}</ref>

Laporte appeared on Friday mornings on KFI with Bill Handel, and previously on such shows as ''Showbiz Tonight'',<ref name="ShowBizTonight" /> ''Live with Kelly'',<ref name="Regis&Kelly" /> and ''World News Now''.

He holds an amateur radio license, W6TWT.

==Bibliography== Laporte has written technology-oriented books including: {{refbegin|20em}} *{{cite book | last1 = Smith | first1 = Gina | author-link1 = Gina Smith (author) | last2 = Laporte | first2=Leo | author-link2 = Leo Laporte | author-mask2 = 1 | title = 101 Computer Answers You Need To Know | publisher = Ziff-Davis Press | isbn= 978-1562763398 | url = https://archive.org/details/101computeranswe00smit | url-access = registration | lccn = 95159818 | ol = OL873902M | oclc = 32516630 | via = Internet Archive | date=1995-03-01 | access-date = 2021-12-31 | df = dmy-all }} *{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/leolaportesguide0000bran | url-access = registration | title= Leo Laporte's Guide to TiVo | last1 = Laporte | first1 = Leo | author-link1 = Leo Laporte | last2 = Branwyn | first2 = Gareth | author-link2 = Gareth Branwyn | author-mask1 = 1 | date =2004-10-01 | access-date = 2022-01-01 | location = Indianapolis, IN | publisher = Que Publishing | isbn = 978-0789731951 | lccn = 2004107054 | oclc = 57086528 | ol = OL3314839M | via = Internet Archive | df = dmy-all }} *{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/leolaportes2005mac00lapo | url-access = registration | title= Leo Laporte's 2005 Mac Gadget Guide | last1 = Laporte | first1 = Leo | author-link1 = Leo Laporte | last2 = Stauffer | first2 = Todd | author-mask1 = 1 | date =2004-11-08 | access-date = 2021-12-31 | location = Indianapolis, IN | publisher = Que Publishing | isbn = 978-0789731746 | lccn = 2004107074 | oclc = 56658424 | ol = OL3314849M | via = Internet Archive | df = dmy-all }} *{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/leolaportesguide0000lapo | url-access = registration | title= Leo Laporte's Guide to Mac{{nbsp}}OS{{nbsp}}X Tiger | last1 = Laporte | first1 = Leo | author-link1 = Leo Laporte | last2 = Stauffer | first2 = Todd | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 2005-08-01 | access-date = 2022-01-01 | location = Indianapolis, IN | publisher = Que Publishing | isbn = 978-0789733931 | lccn = 2005922649 | oclc = 60320459 | ol = OL8157794M | via = Internet Archive | df = dmy-all }} *{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/leolaportespchel00leol | url-access = registration | title = Leo Laporte's PC Help Desk | last1 = Laporte | first1 = Leo | author-link1 = Leo Laporte | last2 = Soper | first2 = Mark Edward | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 2005-09-01 | access-date = 2022-01-01 | location = Indianapolis, IN | publisher = Que Publishing | isbn = 978-0789733948 | lccn = 2005924991 | oclc = 62382528 | ol = OL8157795M | via = Internet Archive }} *{{cite book | last1 = Bacon | first1 = Jono | author-link1 = Jono Bacon | others = Foreword by Leo Laporte | date = 2009-08-27 | chapter = Foreword from the First Edition | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/ArtOfCommunitySecondEdition/page/n15/mode/2up | chapter-url-access = registration | title = The Art of Community: Building the New Age of Participation (Theory in Practice) | url = https://archive.org/details/ArtOfCommunitySecondEdition | url-access = registration | language = en | edition = Second | publisher = O'Reilly Media | pages = ix-x | isbn = 978-0596156718 | lccn = 2010277242 | oclc = 804515247 | ol = OL24194264M | via = Internet Archive | df = dmy-all }}

{{refend}} He has published a yearly series of technology almanacs: {{refbegin}} *''Leo Laporte's Technology Almanac'' *''Poor Leo's Computer Almanac'' {{ISBN|0768654920}} *''Leo Laporte's 2006 Technology Almanac'' {{ISBN|0789733978}} {{refend}} Laporte announced in October 2006 that he would not renew his contract with Que Publishing, and had retired from publishing books.

In 2008, Laporte did a voice narration of Andrew Lang's fable ''The True History of Little Golden-hood''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/lang/andrew/l26rf/chapter21.html |title=The Red Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang : THE TRUE HISTORY OF LITTLE GOLDEN HOOD |access-date=January 21, 2015 |archive-date=January 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121060412/https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/lang/andrew/l26rf/chapter21.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> from Audible (Amazon), a sponsor.<ref name="TWiT152_20080721">{{cite web | author = <!-- not stated --> | date = 2008-07-21 | title = this WEEK in TECH 152 | url = http://twit.tv/taxonomy/term/1/0/feed | url-status = dead | format = XML | website = TWiT.tv | language = en-us | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150121055714/http://twit.tv/taxonomy/term/1/0/feed | archive-date = 2015-01-21 | access-date = 2023-02-20 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

== Podcasting == Laporte owns and operates a podcast network, TWiT.tv with his wife<ref name="MarriedLisa">{{Triangulation|187|Danae Ringelmann}}</ref> Lisa Laporte. Before the expansion to new facilities in 2011, Laporte said TWiT earned {{US$|1.5}}{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1500000|2011|r=-4|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) annually on a production cost of {{US$|350000}} (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|350000|2011|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{cite news | url = http://mashable.com/2009/10/03/leo-laporte-video/ | date = 2009-10-03 | title = Leo Laporte Makes $1.5{{nbsp}}Million Per Year from Podcasting| first1=Pete | last1 = Cashmore | author-link1 = Pete Cashmore | access-date = 2022-01-01 | work = Mashable | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210419193002/http://mashable.com/2009/10/03/leo-laporte-video/ | archive-date = 2021-04-19 | url-status = live}}</ref> In a 2012 Reddit posting, he commented that revenue was approaching {{US$|4}}{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|4000000|2011|r=-4|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref name="Leo Laporte">{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/xh75q/i_am_leo_laporte_chief_twit_ama/c5maz0q | title = Reddit {{hyphen}} /r/IAmA {{!}} I am Leo{{nbsp}}Laporte, Chief{{nbsp}}TWiT. AMA! | first1 = Leo | last1 = Laporte | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 2012 | access-date = 2022-01-01 | website = Reddit}}</ref> The TWiT studios are located in Petaluma, California,<ref name=zd>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-new-screen-savers-twit-resurrects-the-show-that-launched-tech-video-into-the-stratosphere/|title=The New Screen Savers: TWiT resurrects the show that launched tech video into the stratosphere|last=Hiner|first=Jason|work=ZDNet|date = 2015-04-19| access-date = 2022-01-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211123040341/https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-new-screen-savers-twit-resurrects-the-show-that-launched-tech-video-into-the-stratosphere/ | archive-date = 2021-11-23 | url-status = live}}</ref> where Laporte lives.<ref name=eastside>{{Cite web |url=http://wiki.twit.tv/wiki/TWiT_Eastside_Studio_FAQ |title=TWiT Eastside Studio FAQ |website=The Official TWiT Wiki}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="Leo_Premiere">{{cite web | url = https://www.premierenetworks.com/shows/leo-laporte-tech-guy | title = Leo Laporte, Your Go-To Gadget Guy |date = n.d. | access-date = 2022-01-03 | website = Premiere Networks | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20211110134047/https://www.premierenetworks.com/shows/leo-laporte-tech-guy | archive-date = 2021-11-10}}</ref>

<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/tv/cover-story-plug-in-boot-up-feel-free-to-melt-down.html|title=COVER STORY; Plug In, Boot Up, Feel Free to Melt Down|last= Marriott |first=Michael | work=The New York Times|date=2003-12-21|access-date=2021-12-31 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211027024652/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/tv/cover-story-plug-in-boot-up-feel-free-to-melt-down.html | archive-date = 2021-10-27 | url-status = live | url-access = subscription | eissn = 1553-8095 | issn = 0362-4331 | oclc = 1645522}}</ref>

<ref name="Leo_G4">{{cite web | url = http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/6296/Focus_On_Leo.html | title = Focus On: Leo |date = n.d. | access-date = 2022-01-01 | website = G4 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060926020523/http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/6296/Focus_On_Leo.html | archive-date = 2006-09-26}}</ref>

<ref name="ShowBizTonight">{{Cite episode | title = Man Convicted for Cameron Diaz Nude Photo Scam; Clay Aiken Answers Questions About Charity; iPod Nation: Why Are They So Popular? | episode-link = | url = | access-date = | series = Showbiz Tonight | series-link = Showbiz Tonight | first1 = Karyn | last1 = Bryant | author-link1 = Karyn Bryant | first2 = A.J. | last2 = Hammer | author-link2 = A.J. Hammer| network = CNN | station = | date = 2005-07-25 | season = 1 | series-no = | number = 76 | minutes = | time = | transcript = RUSH TRANSCRIPT | transcript-url = https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sbt/date/2005-07-25/segment/01 | quote = | language =en-us}}</ref>

<ref name="Regis&Kelly">{{cite web | url = http://leoville.com/Appearances/LiveWithRegisAndKelly | title = Leoville: Live with Regis and Kelly | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070312214849/http://leoville.com/Appearances/LiveWithRegisAndKellyab-with-leo/ | date = 2007-01-22 | archive-date = 2007-03-12 | url-status = dead | access-date = 2022-01-01}}</ref>

<ref name="vapor1">{{cite web | url = http://blog.clickonline.org.au/2008/03/27/lab-with-leo-off-tv-in-australia-let-us-see-the-remaining-episodes/ | last1 = Vapor | first1 = Matt | title = Lab with Leo off TV in Australia – Let us See the Remaining Episodes | website = Matt Vapor's Blog {{!}} Advocating Technology for Everyone | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080804031636/http://blog.clickonline.org.au/2008/03/27/lab-with-leo-off-tv-in-australia-let-us-see-the-remaining-episodes/ | date = 2008-03-27 | archive-date = 2008-08-04 | url-status = dead | access-date = 2022-01-01}}</ref>

<ref name="vapor2">{{cite web | url = http://blog.clickonline.org.au/2008/03/27/response-from-how-to-channel-australia-regarding-the-lab-with-leo/ | last1 = Vapor | first1 = Matt | title = Response from How-To Channel Australia Regarding The Lab with Leo | website = Matt Vapor's Blog {{!}} Advocating Technology for Everyone | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080804031755/http://blog.clickonline.org.au/2008/03/27/response-from-how-to-channel-australia-regarding-the-lab-with-leo/ | date = 2008-03-27 | archive-date = 2008-08-04 | url-status = dead | access-date = 2022-01-01}}</ref>

}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} {{wikiquote}} * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb name|0487726}} * {{worldcat |id= lccn-n95-055917 |name= Leo Laporte}}

{{TWiT podcasts}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laporte, Leo}} Category:Living people Category:American bloggers Category:American talk radio hosts Category:Television personalities from California Category:Canadian television hosts Category:TechTV people Category:People from Sonoma County, California Category:People from New York City Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Amateur radio people Category:TWiT.tv people Category:Berkeley Macintosh Users Group members Category:1956 births Category:American technology podcasters