Leo Laporte was born on November 29, 1956, in New York City. He grew up in Providence, Rhode Island as the son of Leo F. Laporte, a geologist. Laporte has said that this upbringing helped him learn to distinguish different types of rocks. He attended Yale University from 1973 to 1976, where he majored in Chinese history.
Leo Laporte is a veteran American technology broadcaster and journalist with a career spanning more than three decades. He has hosted nationally syndicated tech talk shows on radio and television, authored computer guides, and founded the influential TWiT (This Week in Tech) podcast network.
Over the years he earned a reputation as “the Tech Guy,” delivering clear, expert coverage of computing and consumer electronics. Laporte’s work has reached millions of listeners and viewers, making him a leading voice in technology media.
| Fact Category | Verified & Important Fact |
| Full Name | Leo Gordon Laporte |
| Date of Birth | November 29, 1956 |
| Age (2026) | 69 years |
| Birthplace | New York City, United States |
| Profession | Technology broadcaster and journalist |
| Net Worth Status | No verified public estimate (2026) |
| Primary Income | Podcasting and media ownership |
| Founder Of | TWiT (This Week in Tech) Network |
| Major Recognition | Northern California Emmy Award (1997) |
| Current Status | Semi-retired; active in podcasts |
Leo Laporte, a veteran technology broadcaster with over three decades of experience across radio, television, and podcasting. Laporte began his tech-media career in radio. In 1991 he co-created and co-hosted the syndicated talk program On Computerswith John C. Dvorak, which aired on dozens of stations nationwide and on Armed Forces Radio. He later hosted local technology segments on San Francisco radio.
During the 1990s he also wrote and edited for the tech industry, contributing articles to publications in Silicon Valley and beyond. In 2000–2001 he served as a contributing editor for Accessmagazine, a major Sunday newspaper supplement in the US.
In parallel with his radio work, Laporte moved into television. He hosted Internet!, a weekly PBS series on computers and the Web, and served as managing editor for a Ziff-Davis Television production on CNBC, co-hosting The Personal Computing Show.
He went on to create and anchor The Site, a nightly tech newsmagazine on MSNBC and its international affiliates, for which he won a Northern California Emmy Award in 1997. In 1998 he joined ZDTV, later TechTV, as a lead on-air personality. There he co-led live call-in programs aimed at computer users, establishing himself as a prominent tech TV host.
After TechTV’s 2004 restructuring, Laporte relocated production of his tech-help shows to Canada, first Toronto, then Vancouver; these series, branded Call for Helpand later The Lab with Leo Laporte, continued until 2008.
In 2005 Laporte launched the TWiT Netcast Network, short for This Week in Tech. As founder and owner, he created the network’s first podcast, the panel-format news show This Week in Tech, and began hosting it in April 2005.
He expanded TWiT by developing additional tech programs and recruiting co-hosts and contributors. Early on, the network’s audience grew rapidly, partly by transferring Laporte’s existing followers from cable TV and radio into the online medium.
By 2008 he introduced a live video streaming component, TWiT Live, with roughly 25 hours of original content each week; the launch month attracted over 2.6 million viewers.
Under Laporte’s direction, TWiT became a large independent network of technology podcasts. He oversees hiring, show development, production, and advertising for the network.
By the 2010s TWiT was serving a global audience in the millions each month. In fact, Laporte’s team reports that more than six million listeners and viewers tune in monthly to TWiT’s programming.
Shows on TWiT cover a wide range of tech topics and often feature industry experts. Laporte remains on-air for many of TWiT’s flagship series, helping to steer the network he built.
Leo Laporte brings decades of experience in technology journalism and broadcasting, known for clear, trustworthy analysis across radio, television, and podcasting platforms. Laporte’s extensive experience and background have made him an authoritative figure in tech journalism. He is known for clear and knowledgeable commentary on a broad array of technology subjects, from hardware and software to internet trends and consumer gadgets.
His career as both writer and broadcaster has given him a deep understanding of the field. For many years, media partners have noted his credibility; one network executive described him as “a trusted source of tech news and information” for audiences nationwide.
Laporte’s on-air style emphasizes straightforward explanations and practical advice, which has helped non-expert listeners follow complex topics. He has also shared his expertise through published books and seminars, further cementing his reputation. Overall, his background on radio, TV, and online platforms showcases a blend of journalism skill and technology savvy that has consistently informed his content.
- TechTV and Cable Shows:From 1998 to 2004, Laporte co-hosted TechTV’s popular live programs Call for Helpand The Screen Savers, which provided computer help and news to viewers. After TechTV’s changes, he continued these formats in Canada as Call for Help, produced in Toronto, and later The Lab with Leo Laporte, produced in Vancouver, until 2008. These cable shows made him a familiar face in tech broadcasting.
- Radio:Laporte hosted Leo Laporte: The Tech Guy, a nationally syndicated weekend radio show, from 2004 through 2022. The program aired on over 200 stations via Premiere Networks and featured Laporte answering listener questions on consumer technology and the internet. This 19-year run made The Tech Guyone of the longest-running tech radio programs in the US.
- Podcasts:As founder of TWiT, Laporte continued to lead many of its signature podcasts. He remains the host of This Week in Techand regularly co-hosts other high-profile series on the network, including Security Now!, Windows Weekly, MacBreak Weekly, and the AI-focused Intelligent Machines. These shows, often featuring panels of tech journalists and experts, extend his influence into Internet-based media.
- Publications:Laporte co-authored the beginner’s computer guide 101 Computer Answers You Need to Knowand edited several annual Technology Almanacyearbooks. His Technology Almanacwas named Pearson Publishing’s Book of the Year. He also contributed articles and columns to Byte, MacUser, InfoWorld, and other tech magazines during the 1990s. These publications established him as a knowledgeable author on computing subjects.
- Awards & Recognition:In 1997 Laporte won a Northern California Emmy Award for his work as an on-air correspondent on the MSNBC tech news program The Site. This honor recognized his innovative reporting in technology media. His long career as a media host has also earned him industry praise; for example, his peers have frequently noted his role in popularizing tech broadcasting and podcasting.
Laporte’s career is also marked by entrepreneurship and influence in the tech media industry. By creating TWiT from the ground up, he shifted from being a network employee to running his own media company.
This independence allowed him to focus on serving a dedicated tech audience without corporate constraints. His philosophy of content ownership and direct engagement helped build TWiT into a self-sustaining business.
For instance, he actively engages with listeners through live streams and community forums, fostering a sense of trust and transparency.
Observers often credit Laporte’s straightforward, informative style with the loyalty of his audience. Over time, Laporte’s success with TWiT has inspired other creators to pursue independent podcasting models.
As of the mid-2020s, Laporte has shifted his focus entirely to digital media. He retired from his syndicated radio program at the end of 2022 after a 19-year run and now describes himself as “semi-retired.”
He continues to devote most of his time to the TWiT network, typically recording podcasts three days per week. His current schedule includes hosting This Week in Techand guest-hosting MacBreak Weekly, Security Now, Windows Weekly, Intelligent Machines, and other specialty podcasts that reach a global tech audience.
In his role as founder and lead host, Laporte helps guide new projects and mentors other on-air talent at TWiT. He also maintains a presence in tech journalism through occasional speaking engagements and blog posts, sharing insights on emerging technology trends.
Even in this stage of his career, Laporte’s ongoing work continues to influence how people learn about technology, and he remains active in educating and engaging the tech community.
As of 2026, no reliable public net worth estimate has been published for Leo Laporte. Laporte is a veteran technology broadcaster and entrepreneur who founded the TWiT podcast network.
He derives income from hosting tech radio and podcasts (such as The Tech Guyand This Week in Tech) and from writing technology books. He previously earned income from early-career roles on TechTV and in San Francisco radio.
With no figure confirmed by Forbes or other financial media, any reported net worth is speculative and unverified.
Leo Laporte is an American technology broadcaster, journalist, and media entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder and longtime host of the TWiT (This Week in Tech) podcast network.
He is known for explaining consumer technology through radio, television, and podcasts. His work helped popularize tech-focused broadcasting and independent podcasting.
Leo Laporte was born on November 29, 1956, in New York City. He grew up in Providence, Rhode Island.
As of 2026, Leo Laporte is 69 years old. His career in technology media spans more than three decades.
He attended Yale University from 1973 to 1976, where he studied Chinese history. He did not complete a degree.
TWiT (This Week in Tech) is an independent podcast network founded by Leo Laporte in 2005. It produces technology-focused podcasts covering news, security, software, and consumer electronics.