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Harry Belafonte talks about how he got his start in music, his role in the civil rights movement, and his continued commitment to social activism. Paula Wolfert tells us about Moroccan food, from tasty tagines to lamb with couscous and dates. Pulitzer Prize-winner Jeffrey Eugenides discusses his much anticipated new novel, The Marriage Plot. Plus, John Lithgow describes how his father influenced his life and career.

The giant garbage patch in the Pacific ocean grows larger each year, and Captain Charles Moore, who discovered the floating mass of trash, tells how all that plastic got there and what we can do about it. Fanae Aaron and chef Marc Murphy of Landmarc explain how to get your kids to eat their vegetables. Lee Child discusses his latest crime thriller, The Affair. Plus, composer, arranger, guitarist, and producer Nile Rodgers tells about his role in shaping pop music.

On today's show: We'll find out how to make beer at home! Plus, Rozanne Gold shares some recipes and tips for celebrating New Year's Eve at home, on any budget!

Anita Hill discusses how the current housing crisis is jeopardizing the American Dream and setting many families across the country adrift. Lawrence Bergreen looks at the three voyages that Christopher Columbus made after his first encounter with the New World in 1492. Russell Banks discusses his latest novel, Lost Memory of Skin. And, we'll take a look at the growing dangers of the digital age: cybercrime, cyberwarfare, and cyberindustrial espionage.

Glenn Greenwald argues that America has developed a two-tiered justice system—one where the political and financial elite are immune from prosecution while the powerless are imprisoned with greater ease than anywhere else in the world. Tony Horwitz looks at the life of John Brown, the man whose raid on Harpers Ferry played a key role in sparking the Civil War. Aatish Taseer tells us about his latest novel, Noon. Plus, historian Niall Ferguson discusses the rise (and maybe the decline) of Western civilization.

In a season so dominated by impulsiveness and with so many tempting sweets to eat, we kick off today’s show with a Please Explain look at the science behind will power. Then acclaimed director Wim Wenders discusses his 3D documentary “Pina,” about the choreographer Pina Bausch. Plus, in the second hour Leonard plays some favorite gospel recordings for the Christmas holiday!

On today’s show: J. T. Rogers on Lincoln Center’s critically acclaimed production of his play “Blood and Gifts”—he’s here with two of the show’s stars: Jefferson Mays and Jeremy Davidson. Tony Award winners Jim Dale and Rosemary Harris discuss the Roundabout Theater Company’s production of Athol Fugard’s play “The Road to Mecca.” The son of celebrated but now somewhat unfashionable architect Edward Durell Stone, talks about his father’s contribution to 20th-century design. Plus, our latest Backstory segments look at the Bradley Manning trial and at the growing size of the Federal government’s various departmental police forces.

New York Times correspondent Michael S. Schimidt and Wall Street Journal reporter Sam Dagher weigh in on the Iraq the U.S. is leaving after 9 years of occupation. Then we’ll take a look at the life and work of the famous writers and friends, Dorothy Thompson and Rebecca West. David Margolick tells the story behind one of the defining images of the civil rights movement—a photograph of a black student and a jeering white student in front of Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Plus, our language maven Patricia T. O’Conner explains the origins of holiday words and phrases.

On today’s show: We’ll look at a new edition of The Landmarks of New York, an illustrated collection of some of the city’s 1,200 historic buildings. and we’ll take your calls on your favorites! Actress/singer Andrea Marcovicci on her 25th anniversary at the Oak room! Two-time James Beard Award winner Andrew Carmellini, the chef-owner of the restaurants Locanda Verde and The Dutch, talks about his new cookbook, American Flavor. Kenneth Branagh discusses playing Sir Laurence Olivier in the film “My Week With Marilyn.” And, Stephen Merchant, the writer and co-creator of the BBC’s “The Office” and HBO’s “Extras,” tells us about his first ever stand up comedy tour.

On today’s show: WNYC senior reporter Bob Hennelly discusses the spike murdered police officers. Russian soprano Marina Poplavskaya talks about her role in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of “Faust.” Film director Michael Lindsay-Hogg tells about his boyhood and coming of age in the worlds of theater, film, and television. Plus, we’ll take a look at the growth of urban farms and community gardens in New York City!

On today’s show: New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn gives us an update on the City’s efforts to improve the quality of its food system. Pulitzer Prize winning poet Rita Dove describes putting together the Penguin Anthology of Twentieth Century American Poetry. We’ll take a peek at a new exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls—including the Ten Commandments Scroll—currently on display at Discovery Times Square. Plus, Please Explain is all about polyester and other synthetics!

The critically acclaimed PBS show "Downton Abbey" examines issues of class, money, and romance through the lens of English aristocracy. On today’s show: three of the show’s stars—Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, and Joanne Froggatt—talk about the second season of the Emmy-winning series. Playwright-performer Gerard Mannix Flynn talks about “James X.” Navina Haidar, curator in the Metropolitan Museum’s department of Islamic art, discusses the museum’s newly renovated Galleries for the Art of Arab Lands. And we’ll have our latest Backstory segments.  

Director Charles Evans, Jr., and scientist Victor DeNoble talk about "Addiction Incorporated," a new documentary about the tobacco industry. Then, we’ll look at how grass roots community organizing has spurred school reform in low income communities like the Northwest Bronx. Timothy Pachirat tells us what he learned going undercover for 5 months in one of the country’s largest slaughter houses. Plus, the gurus of how-to, Al and Larry Ubell, stop by to answer your home repair questions.

Ben Zimmer returns to our show to talk about his favorite words of 2011, from "occupy" to new words like "humblebrag," "narbs," and "fomo." Former NPR foreign correspondent Eric Weiner tells about his humorous and thoughtful global quest for spiritual enlightenment. A priest talks about some of the unexpected humor in the Bible. Plus, we’ll look at the dangers professional hockey players and other contact sports players face when they play.

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews talks about his biography of John F. Kennedy, who he calls an elusive hero. Daniel Eagan discusses the 50 newest additions to the National Film Registry. The Daily Show’s resident expert, John Hodgman, talks about That Is All, the final installment of his trilogy: Complete World Knowledge. Plus, we’ll take a look at the science of waiting on lines, and we’ll take your calls on the hazards and strategies you have for shopping during the holiday season.

Kathleen Sharp tells the story of Procrit, which was promoted as a miracle drug, and of the man who blew the whistle on the medication’s dangers. Actor John Hawkes and writer-director Sean Durkin talk about the film "Martha Marcy May Marlene." Crime writer Michael Connelly discusses The Drop, the seventeenth novel in his Harry Bosch series. Plus, our latest Please Explain is about all those hard-to-pronounce ingredients listed on food labels!

Ahmad Chalabi was one of the key promoters of the Iraq War. On today’s show: 60 Minutes producer Richard Bonin tells the story of Mr. Chalabi, and how he tried to convince the Bush Administration to install him as the leader of Iraq after the invasion. Kim Cattrall and Paul Gross discuss starring in Noel Coward’s “Private Lives,”  on Broadway. We’ll take a look at a new exhibit of Diego Rivera’s murals at MoMA. On Backstory: what Argentina’s handling of its economic crisis a decade ago can tell us about how to deal with our own problems today. Plus, we’ll look at the latest efforts to stabilize the Eurozone.

Harper’s columnist Thomas Frank makes the case for more government. Michael Shara talks about the future of space exploration and a new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Darin Gibby attempts to explain why Americans have stopped inventing. And we’ll learn about an investigation into a U.S.-backed raid to capture drug lord Christopher Coke in Tivoli Gardens, Jamaica, in 2010, which killed 73 civilians.

On today’s show: We’ll learn how our EPA protected a company involved in deadly mining practices in South Africa. We’ll talk to the whistleblower who was attacked by the company. Renowned choreographer Martha Clarke and award-winning writer Alfred Uhry talk about “Angel Reapers,” their latest theatrical collaboration. Jean Strouse tells us about the life and times of Alice James, the sister of William and Henry. Plus, Stephen Sondheim talks about his career, what makes a good lyric great, and his latest book: Look, I Made A Hat!

Reason magazine editor-in-chief Matt Welch describes what he sees as the major problems with most of today’s pundits. Ruth Reichl joins us for the latest installment of the Leonard Lopate Show Book Club! Chocolatier Jacques Torres talks about holiday recipes for chocolate! Plus, a public health scholar argues that our level of mass incarceration in the United States is actually an epidemic—like AIDS or the plague.

Hamish Linklater, Lily Rabe, and Alan Rickman discuss “Seminar,” Theresa Rebeck’s new comedy about the rigors of writing. Erica Heller discusses growing up with her famous father, Joseph Heller. Rosamund Barlett tells us about her new biography of Leo Tolstoy. And our latest Please Explain is all about how the brains of teenagers work!

Yale historian John Lewis Gaddis on his acclaimed new biography of Cold War strategist George F. Kennan. Nina Arianda and Hugh Dancy talk about their roles in the hit Broadway production of David Ives’ “Venus in Fur.” Nora Guthrie—Woody Guthrie’s daughter—and Nellie McKay discuss the new album of Woody Guthrie’s unrecorded songs, “Note of Hope.” Plus, our latest Underreported segments.