Leo Laporte

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Leo Laporte was born in New York City in 1956, the son of geologist Leo F. Laporte, and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended Yale University from 1973 to 1976, studying Chinese history, but dropped out in his junior year to pursue a career in radio broadcasting. His early radio work in the San Francisco Bay Area saw him using on-air names such as Dave Allen and Dan Hayes on stations including KGO, KSFO, and KNBR. Laporte's interest in technology began with his first home computer, an Atari 400, and by 1984 he owned a Macintosh and wrote a software review for Byte magazine. From 1985 to 1988, he operated one of the first Macintosh-only bulletin board systems, called MacQueue, which connected him to early computing communities.

Radio Career and On Computers

Laporte's radio career spanned from December 1977 to May 1998 on various San Francisco stations, where he initially worked as a personality DJ and general-interest host. The rise of talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh prompted a shift in his career focus toward technology. In January 1991, he created and co-hosted the syndicated tech talk radio show On Computers, which aired until July 1994. The program was carried on over 60 stations across the United States and was also broadcast on the American Forces Network, reaching a wide audience of technology enthusiasts. This show established Laporte's reputation as a knowledgeable and accessible voice in consumer technology, laying the groundwork for his future broadcasting ventures.

Television Work and Emmy Award

Laporte's television career began in the late 1990s, earning him a Northern California Emmy Award in 1997 for his role as the motion capture character Dev Null on the MSNBC show The Site. In 1998, he joined the cable network ZDTV, which later became TechTV, where he created and co-hosted two seminal technology programs. He was a founding host of The Screen Savers, a daily show about technology news and culture, and the original version of Call for Help, a show offering viewer tech support. These programs ran until the network's acquisition by Comcast in 2004 and made Laporte a central figure in technology television during the dot-com era.

Following his time at TechTV, Laporte continued his television work with a show recorded in Canada. The Lab with Leo Laporte, formerly known as Call for Help during its US and Toronto production, was recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia. The series aired on G4 Canada, on several Citytv affiliates across Canada, on the HOW TO Channel in Australia, and on Google Video. This Canadian production phase made him a regular presence in Canadian media. The show was canceled by Rogers Communications, with Laporte confirming the news on his podcast net@nite on March 5, 2008. The HOW TO Channel subsequently did not air the remaining episodes.

Laporte has appeared on a variety of other television and radio programs as a guest. He appeared on Friday mornings on KFI with Bill Handel. His guest appearances have also included shows such as Showbiz Tonight, Live with Kelly, and World News Now. These appearances supplemented his regular hosting duties on his own programs.

• Regular Friday morning segments on KFI with host Bill Handel.
• Appearances on CNN's Showbiz Tonight.
• Guest spots on the syndicated talk show Live with Kelly.
• Features on ABC's overnight news program World News Now.

The Tech Guy Radio Program

From 2004 until his retirement in 2022, Laporte hosted the nationally syndicated weekend radio program Leo Laporte: The Tech Guy . The show originated on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles and was syndicated through Premiere Radio Networks to over 200 stations. Focused on consumer technology advice, the program became a staple for listeners seeking help with computers, gadgets, and software. On November 19, 2022, actor and comedian Steve Martin called into the show to announce Laporte's retirement. Laporte's final new broadcast was on December 18, 2022, with reruns airing for the remainder of the year.

Beyond his professional broadcasting, Laporte is a licensed amateur radio operator with the call sign W6TWT. His career in radio began in December 1977 and included hosting newstalk and interview shows on KGO, KSFO, and KNBR in San Francisco until May 1998. He also worked as a personality DJ on KLOK in San Francisco and San Jose and on KMBY in Monterey. A key milestone was his creation and co-hosting of the technology talk radio show On Computers from 1991 to 1994.

• Hosted newstalk and interview shows on KGO, KSFO, and KNBR in San Francisco (1977 to 1998).
• Worked as a personality DJ on KLOK in San Francisco and San Jose and KMBY in Monterey.
• Created and co-hosted the syndicated show On Computers (1991 to 1994).
• Hosted The Tech Guy, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks (2004 to 2022).
• Retired from The Tech Guy in December 2022 after Steve Martin's on-air announcement.

TWiT.tv Podcast Network and Business

In 2005, Laporte founded the TWiT.tv (This Week in Tech) podcast network, which he owns and operates with his wife, Lisa Laporte. The network became a pioneering force in independent podcasting, producing a wide array of technology-focused shows. Before expanding to new facilities in 2011, Laporte stated that TWiT earned approximately US$1.5 million annually on production costs of about US$350,000. By 2012, he commented in a Reddit post that the network's revenue was approaching US$4 million. The TWiT studios are located in Petaluma, California, where Laporte resides, and serve as the production hub for the network's numerous podcasts.

The network's flagship show, This Week in Tech, is a roundtable discussion of the week's technology news. TWiT.tv represents a significant shift from traditional broadcast media to on-demand, listener-supported digital content. The network's business model and success demonstrated the viability of independent podcast networks. Laporte's role shifted from a television and radio host to a network owner and primary content creator, maintaining a direct connection with a global audience. The financial growth of TWiT.tv can be seen in its reported revenue figures:

Writing and Other Work

Laporte has authored several technology-oriented books, contributing to his reputation as an expert in the field. His publications include a yearly series of technology almanacs, which served as comprehensive guides to personal computing and the digital world. In October 2006, Laporte announced he would not renew his contract with Que Publishing and had retired from writing books, choosing to focus his efforts on broadcasting and podcasting. In 2008, he lent his voice to a narration of Andrew Lang's fable The True History of Little Golden-hood for Audible, an Amazon company that was a sponsor of his work at the time. His published works primarily consisted of practical guides for technology users.

Questions about Leo Laporte

What is Leo Laporte best known for?

Leo Laporte is best known as the founder and owner of the TWiT.tv podcast network, which he launched in 2005. He began his technology career in the 1980s as a software author and journalist. His prominence grew through television, notably co-hosting The Screen Savers and Call for Help on ZDTV, later TechTV. He also hosted the nationally syndicated radio program The Tech Guy from 2004 to 2022, which aired on over 200 stations. His long career has established him as a leading American technology broadcaster and entrepreneur.

What was Leo Laporte's connection to Canada?

Leo Laporte's connection to Canada was primarily through his television production work. He hosted the daily television show The Lab with Leo Laporte, which was recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia. This program was formerly known as Call for Help when it was recorded in Toronto, Ontario. The series aired on G4 Canada and on several of Canada's Citytv affiliates. It was also broadcast on the HOW TO Channel in Australia and on Google Video. The show was eventually canceled by Rogers Communications in 2008.

When did Leo Laporte retire from The Tech Guy radio show?

Leo Laporte retired from The Tech Guy radio show in December 2022. His retirement was announced on November 19, 2022, during a call from Steve Martin to his program. Laporte's last new radio show aired on December 18, 2022, with reruns scheduled for the remainder of the year. The show was syndicated through Premiere Radio Networks and originated on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles. It was succeeded in January by a new weekly show called Rich On Tech, hosted by Rich DeMuro.

What award did Leo Laporte win?

Leo Laporte won a Northern California Emmy Award in 1997. He received this award for his role as Dev Null, a motion capture character on the MSNBC television show The Site. This recognition came during his early television career in the late 1990s. The Site was a show he co-hosted, and the Emmy award highlighted his work in blending technology performance with broadcasting. This achievement preceded his major work on TechTV and his founding of the TWiT network.

Where are the TWiT.tv studios located?

The TWiT.tv studios are located in Petaluma, California. This is also where Leo Laporte lives. The podcast network, which he owns and operates with his wife Lisa Laporte, expanded to new facilities there in 2011. Before this expansion, Laporte stated that TWiT earned about 1.5 million US dollars annually. The network's revenue was reported to be approaching 4 million US dollars in a 2012 Reddit posting, indicating significant growth from its Petaluma base.

What was Leo Laporte's first technology radio show?

Leo Laporte's first technology radio show was On Computers. He created and co-hosted this syndicated tech talk program, which aired from January 1991 to July 1994. The show was broadcast on over 60 radio stations nationwide as well as on the American Forces Network. Laporte developed the show after shifting from general interest radio hosting, a change influenced by the increasing popularity of talk shows like Rush Limbaugh's. This program established his early reputation in technology broadcasting.

Sources and further reading

• Leo Laporte (Wikipedia)
• Leo Laporte | Founder & Owner of the TWiT Podcast Network (twit.tv)
• And me? I'm Leo Laporte (leo.fm)
• Rocky Laporte (rockylaporte.com)
• Leo Laporte on Demand, Podcast (podcasts.apple.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-31.