Leonard Lopate

On March 5, 2015, Leonard Lopate celebrated his 30th anniversary as the host of WNYC’s daily talk show The Leonard Lopate Show.  Every week day from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, New Yorkers explore literature, art, culture, food, and life in and around our city with Leonard Lopate as their guide. 

Heavy-hitting writers, actors, ex-presidents, political figures, economists, scientists, comedians, dancers, chefs, historians, filmmakers and do-it-yourself experts have all sat down with Leonard Lopate in the WNYC studios for in-depth and personal conversations. More than 35 Noble Prize winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show over the years. Prominent guests have included: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, Henry Kissinger, Lech Walesa, Orhan Pamuk, Ang Lee, Anne Hathaway, Catherine Deneuve, Stephen Sondheim, John Updike, Doris Lessing, Bill Bradley, Mark Morris, Francis Ford Coppola, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alice Munro, Robert Altman, Mel Brooks, and too many others to list.  The program has been honored with multiple awards for its work including a George Foster Peabody Award, three Associated Press Awards for Best Interview and three James Beard Awards for Best Shows on Food. 

Each Friday, Lopate gets to the bottom of one complex issue in his Please Explain series and each month he digs deep into a particular novel with listeners through the popular Leonard Lopate Show Book Club. He also hosts live event series and annual specials like Lopate & Locavores in New York Public Radio’s Jerome L. Greene Performance Space.

In addition to his work with New York Public Radio, Lopate makes frequent appearances as an interviewer and moderator at the 92nd St. Y, Queens College, Brooklyn College, the Brooklyn Public Library and other major venues throughout the New York Metropolitan area. Lopate’s career in radio began in 1977 at WBAI.  For many years, he was the host of WBAI’s program Round Midnight. Before radio found him, Lopate worked in advertising as an art director and copywriter.

Lopate was born and raised in Brooklyn. He studied art at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn College and Hunter College Graduate School. He knows just enough Cantonese to order the best dim sum in Chinatown.

Blogs:

Leonard Lopate appears in the following:

The Leonard Lopate Show Live: Tony Shalhoub, Gary Oldman, Julie Taymor, Kristin Scott Thomas and More

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Watch video as Leonard talks with Tony Shalhoub and more about Broadway's "The Band's Visit"; Gary Oldman on "Darkest Hour"; and David Henry Hwang on the revival of "M. Butterfly."

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The Leonard Lopate Show Live: Christine Ebersole, Anthony Bourdain, Kelli O’Hara, Bill Irwin and More

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Watch a live video stream as WNYC’s Leonard Lopate broadcasts live from our stage. Tune in from 12pm to 2pm. 

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Eric Bentley

Monday, April 03, 2017

He has had a long and distinguished career.
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Wine and Chocolate Pairing with Jacques Torres

Monday, February 06, 2017

WNYC’s Leonard Lopate hosted a night of wine, chocolate and conversation with chocolatier and New York City treasure Jacques Torres.

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Lopate & Locavores: Finding Fame at Home and Abroad

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Watch a live video webcast as WNYC's Leonard Lopate talks with culinary entrepreneurs Claus Meyer and Daniel Rose about the unique challenges of opening an eatery in New York City.

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Lopate & Locavores: Food Styling Secrets

Thursday, November 03, 2016

WNYC's Leonard Lopate explores the magical art of making food look ravishing with photographers Liz Clayman and Michael Harlan Turkell and stylist Rebekah Peppler

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The Greene Space

Lopate and Locavores: Madhur Jaffrey

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

7:00 PM

Wed, Oct 21 | Join "the godmother of Indian cooking" for the final evening in Leonard Lopate's food series spotlighting cuisines from around the world. A live webcast will also be available.

The Greene Space

Lopate and Locavores: Maangchi

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

7:00 PM

Wed, Oct 14 | Join the YouTube star as she shares her authentic Korean recipes with WNYC host and three-time James Beard Award winner Leonard Lopate for the second night of his annual food series.

The Greene Space

Lopate and Locavores: Marcus Samuelsson

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

7:00 PM

Wed, Oct 7 | The acclaimed chef joins WNYC host and three-time James Beard Award winner Leonard Lopate to kick off his annual food series, focusing this season on cuisines from around the world.

On-Demand Video: Melissa Clark and Deb Perelman on Cookbook Writing

Thursday, October 23, 2014

In the final installment of his fifth annual Lopate and Locavores series, Leonard Lopate learns the secrets of cookbook writing with bestselling authors Melissa Clark and Deb Perelman.

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The Greene Space

Lopate and Locavores: How to Write a Cookbook

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

7:00 PM

Wed, Oct. 22 | Leonard Lopate learns the tricks of the trade from bestselling cookbook authors Melissa Clark and Deb Perelman.

A live video webcast will be available.

On-Demand Video: Leonard Lopate on the Best of New York's Delis

Thursday, October 16, 2014

In part two of his annual Lopate and Locavores food series, Leonard and food writers Joan Nathan and Arthur Schwartz took us through a delicious history of the city's iconic delis.

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The Greene Space

Lopate and Locavores: The Best of NYC Delis

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

7:00 PM

Wed, Oct. 15 | WNYC’s Leonard Lopate looks at the history of NYC’s iconic delis with authors and food writers Arthur Schwartz and Joan Nathan. A live video webcast will be available.

On-Demand Video: Leonard Lopate Talks with Lidia Bastianich, Andrew Carmellini and David Bouley

Thursday, October 09, 2014

Leonard Lopate talks with Lidia Bastianich, David Bouley and Andrew Carmellini about the thrills and challenges of building a collection of restaurants in New York City and beyond.

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The Greene Space

Lopate and Locavores: Building a Restaurant Empire

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

7:00 PM

Wed, Oct. 8 | WNYC’s Leonard Lopate talks with Lidia BastianichAndrew Carmellini and David Bouley. A live video webcast will be available. 

The Greene Space

Inside Look: Disgraced

Thursday, September 18, 2014

7:00 PM

Thurs, Sept. 18 | Join host Leonard Lopate to get an inside look at the Pulitzer-winning play with playwright Ayad Akhtar and actors Josh Radnor, Karen Pittman, and Hari Dhillon.

Leonard Remembers Joan Rivers

Friday, September 05, 2014

Although she (of course) said outrageous things, what I remember best is just how funny she was no matter what we were talking about.
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The Greene Space

Guastavino in New York

Monday, February 24, 2014

6:30 PM

Join WNYC's Leonard Lopate for a conversation with Santiago Calatrava, Jill Lerner, and John Ochsendorf on the marvels of engineering and architectural beauty created by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino, Sr. and his son, Rafael Jr. in public spaces across the five boroughs. Watch a live video webcast of the sold-out show beginning 7pm.

Last Chance Foods: Turning Host on Host for Food Fridays

Friday, November 01, 2013

Veteran host Leonard Lopate spoke about Food Fridays and the new three-ingredient challenge. Also, find out what food-related issues cause the most controversy and what kitchen tool is his favorite.

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Lopate and Locavores: Chef Bill Telepan's Healthy Recipes for Kids

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Having trouble getting your kids to eat foods that don't come packaged in box or wrapped in cellophane? 

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