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The Leonard Lopate Show

Tuesday, October 07, 2003
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    Ultimate Punishment

    Today on The Leonard Lopate Show, special guest host and CNN legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin. He will be joined by another lawyer, Scott Turow to discuss the political and legal intricacies of the death penalty. Then Journalists Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff talk about the horrific 2001 murder of two Dartmouth professors. Then Nina Burleigh on the mysterious benefactor who endowed the Smithsonian. And Joan Jacobs Brumberg on a 19th century boy murderer – she reminds us that the problem of kids who kill is a long-standing one.

Scott Turow

Scott Turow has spent a good part of his legal career prosecuting killers; he joins us to discuss the morality of the death penalty. His latest work of non-fiction is Ultimate Punishment. Read more on Scott Turow here. Read an excerpt of Turow's book in the Reading Room.

Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff

Journalists Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff on their book, Judgment Ridge. They look into the psychology of the teens arrested for the murder of two Dartmouth professors in 2001.

Nina Burleigh

Nina Burleigh on James Smithson, the man behind the Smithsonian Institution. In her recent book, The Stranger and the Statesman, she explores the life of a man who left half a million dollars for the establishment of an American institution, even though he’d never even set foot in the U.S.

  • Events: Nina Burleigh is giving a reading at Housing Works Used Book Cafe (126 Crosby St. in SoHo) at 7 pm on Tuesday 10/7.
  • Joan Jacobs Brumberg

    Joan Jacobs Brumberg on Kansas Charley, a study of a 19th century murderer named Charles Miller. He was executed in 1892 while still a teenager.

  • Events: Joan Jacobs Brumberg will be giving a reading and signing her books at the Cornell Club (6 E. 44th St.) at 6 pm on Wednesday 10/8.
  • Patrick Swayze

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Patrick Swayze mixed grace with athleticism in his movies – and rose to stardom with roles in “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” He died just recently after a battle with pancreatic cancer. And you can hear his interview with Leonard Lopate from July 16, 2002, when he came by to discuss appearing in the film, “Green Dragon.”

    The Silver Anniversary of the Silver Palate

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Sheila Lukins was one half of a partnership that helped popularize gourmet cooking throughout America – first, through their gourmet food shop in New York City and then with the cookbook, The Silver Palate, which remains one of the top-selling cookbooks of all time. She collaborated on 2 other cookbooks that simplified gourmet cooking for the home cook. She died recently from brain cancer at the age of 66, and you can listen to her 2007 conversation with Leonard Lopate and her business partner Julee Rosso about the 25th Anniversary of the publication of The Silver Palate.

    Dominick Dunne

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Dominick Dunne was a famous novelist and Hollywood producer. But he may be best remembered for covering trials of the rich and famous – from Claus von Bulow to O. J. Simpson. He died just recently at the age of 83. But you can still hear his interview with Leonard from November 23, 2001, when he was discussing crimes, trials, and punishments.

    Let’s Go Swimming!

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    According to the Centers for Disease Control, bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms found in recreational water in the United States sicken thousands of people every year, and even result in deaths. We’ll speak with chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol about the protozoa, amoebas and other things that love to go swimming with us. Monona is also founder and President of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.

    Frank McCourt

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Frank McCourt has been a guest many times on this show over the years, starting in 1996 for the memoir, Angela’s Ashes, that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize. Fame came to him late in life, after he’d retired at the age of 65 from teaching English and creative writing at public schools here in New York. He was a sweet, eloquent man who spoke with grace and humility; he just died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. You can hear him speaking with Leonard Lopate for his Survival Kit in 2000, and in 2005, for his memoir, Teacher Man.

    Science and Faith

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Earlier this week, Pres. Obama announced that he plans to nominate geneticist Dr. Francis Collins to lead the National Institutes of Health. You can listen to Leonard’s 2006 conversation with Dr. Collins about how he reconciles his personal faith with his professional scientific knowledge.

    FDA to Regulate Tobacco?

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    May 14, 2009
    Congress is getting ready to a vote on whether to make tobacco subject to FDA regulation. You can listen to a segment we did in May about the bill and what it would mean for the cigarette companies.

    Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.

    Leonard is on Facebook

    Now Leonard is on Facebook! We’re posting photos, status updates, links to notable interviews, and lots more. Check it out.

    Barack Obama, Circa 2004

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.

    Guest Picks

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?