Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the show

Q So who is this Leo?

My name is Leo Laporte. I’ve been doing technology-oriented talk radio longer than anyone currently on the air. I created the format in 1990 when I hosted a show on KNBR in San Francisco with well-known columnist John C. Dvorak.

I’ve been doing tech talk on the radio ever since on KNBR, KSFO, KGO, and KFI. In February 2007 my show was syndicated by the Premiere Radio Networks.

In 1994 I started answering computer questions on TV and my shows Call for Help and The Screen Savers aired for six years on ZDTV and later TechTV. I no longer work on broadcast television, but I do nearly 30 hours a week of Internet video at http://live.twit.tv. You can read my full bio on my personal web site: www.leoville.com/bio.

Q Can I listen to the show online?

You sure can. It airs from 11a-2p Pacific Time every Saturday and Sunday. An online stream is available from most of the stations that carry the show, including KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles.

Q Why can’t I hear the caller audio when viewing the video stream?

At the request of the broadcasters, caller audio is turned off. If you wish to hear the callers, listen to one of the radio streams.

Q How about old shows? Are they archived anywhere?

Yes. I edit out the commercials and news and traffic and post the shows as MP3s on my site. You find links to the chatlogs and radio show stored with the show notes in the Past Shows section. You can download nearly any of the over 500 shows I’ve done since I started at KFI in January 2004 from the Audio Archives section. You can also subscribe to the podcast and automatically receive each show as soon as it is posted (roughly one week after it airs). The podcast is on iTunes or visit the Audio Archives pages for more information.

Q How can I participate in the show?

The best way is to call in at 1–88–88-ASK LEO - toll free in the US. You can watch live video of the show at http://live.twit.tv, http://www.stickam.com/leolaporte, or http://ustream.tv/channel/leo-laporte-live. Both Stickam and Ustream have chat rooms associated with the video streams. There’s also an IRC chat room at http://irc.twit.tv.

Q What are some tips for getting on the radio show?

1. Think of a question that will be interesting to the audience.
2. Sound energetic and upbeat to the call screener (Saturdays it’s usually Rebekah, Sundays it’s usually Gina).
3. If you’re on a cell phone, make sure you have a strong signal and if in the car, pull over for goodness sakes!
4. Call as early in the show as possible, best time to call is just after the top of the first hour, 11a Pacific. If Leo is doing “extra hours” to record shows for when he is on vacation, call then.
5. Relax and have a blast!

Q What are the chat rules?

The channel operators want the chat to be a nice safe place since it represents Leo and Premiere Radio Networks. As a result, please follow these simple rules:

• No spamming of web sites for either personal or commercial purposes. Posting a web site once is OK, just don’t do it repeatedly.
• No shouting (i.e. TYPING IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS).
• No harassment of chatters. You can respectfully disagree, but don’t be rude.
• Do not impersonate any moderator.
• Keep the conversation at most, PG rated since there is a wide range of ages in the chat. Anything deemed offensive will not be tolerated.
• Politics is not to be discussed and will not be tolerated.
• The channel is to talk tech, not tech support. Go to Leoville Town Square and post your question. Many of the people in the chat, plus hundreds more frequently read the boards and you are most likely to get a more detailed answer to your question there.
• If you have been devoiced for a violation, DO NOT cycle the channel to regain voice this will result in removal from the channel, no questions asked. Please wait to be re-voiced by a moderator.
• IMPORTANT: There is to be absolutely no Illegal activity (i.e. warez, pirated movies, etc.) under any circumstances. This will not be tolerated and will result in immediate punishment.
• Do have fun!

The moderators do try to be fair, however, if you break the rules you can be de-voiced (no one will see what you are typing), kicked from the channel, banned from the channel, or banned from the IRC server, so, be nice!

Q Does Leo come into the chat?

Yes I do! My nick is “Leo.” I try to chat when there are news and commercial breaks, but don’t feel badly if I don’t respond. Doing a radio show, live ads, keeping track of the waiting callers, and researching answers to callers’ questions keeps me quite busy.

Q What is the role of the chat moderators?

The chat moderators are there to keep the channel focused, fun, and family friendly. Since the chat is a component of the show, they try to keep the chat on topic (which is anything related to technology or anything Leo mentions) but an occasional off topic conversation about food or a baseball game is OK.

Q Who are the chat moderators?

The moderators vary depending on schedule. Dan and Mike_B are almost always there. Moderators are indicated by a different color or icon depending on your chat software.