Owen West, a third-generation U.S. Marine, tells the inside story of the American and Iraqi troops who fought the insurgency street by street and house by house in Khalidiya, Iraq. The Snake Eaters gives an account of the mission, one of the success stories of the war in Iraq.

Indo-Canadian artist Kiran Ahluwalia performs live in our studio. Her new album “Common Ground,” which was awarded Canada’s prestigious Juno Award for Best World Music Album of the Year, merges contemporary Indian song with Saharan desert blues and beyond.

This week we'll find out about credit reports and credit scores and how to manage them effectively. Jeffrey Blyskal, senior editor of  Consumer Reports, joins us to explain how they work and what they mean. 

If you have a question, call 212-433-9692 or leave a comment below. 

 Two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth spoke with Leonard Lopate on May 10 about her role in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and her singing career. She shared a few of her favorite things with us.

Martin Sheen was on the Lopate Show May 9 to talk about writing a memoir with his son, Emilio Estevez. He shared a few of his favorite things with us. 

Emilio Estevez, filmmaker and winemaker, shared some of his favorite books and foods with us when he stopped by May 9.