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Chaos in Congo
Since last week, when UN rebel factions seized the eastern Congo town of Bukavu, rioting has swept the country – most of it aimed at the UN peacekeepers who were unable to prevent Bukavu's capture. Journalist Bryan Mealer and former UN worker Alinka Konrad talk about the UN’s reaction, and how current President Joseph Kabila can keep the peace process going after the country’s devastating 5-year civil war. Then actor/author Gene Hackman and his co-author, Daniel Lenihan, talk about their latest venture into novel-writing. Plus, a conversation with three young chefs who are on their way to becoming celebrity chefs. And Edna Buchanan shares her latest suspense novel, Cold Case Squad.
Bryan Mealer and Alinka Konrad
Bryan Mealer reports on the current chaos in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mealer, a journalist Mealer, a journalist who’s traveled in the eastern parts of Congo, is the author of In the Valley of the Gun: A Massacre Unfolds in Eastern Congo in the May 2004 edition of Harper’s magazine. Alinka Konrad is a former UN worker who has just been in Bukavu; she's joining us by phone from Kenya.
Music: Musique Du Monde, Music from the World, Buda Records (track 7)
Gene Hackman and Daniel Lenihan
Gene Hackman and Daniel Lenihan are co-authors of Justice For None. It’s a cross between historical fiction and murder mystery. They’re also co-authors of 1999’s Wake of the Perdido Star.
» More about the book
Events: Gene Hackman and Daniel Lenihan will give a talk, take questions, and sign books on Monday, June 7th at 7pm at the Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center
Music: Keyboard Wizards of the Gershwin Era Volume III, Arden and Ohman, Pavilion Records (tracks 4, 8, 5)
Cornelius Gallagher, Brian Bistrong and Wylie Dufresne
The three young chefs are: Cornelius Gallagher, executive chef of Oceana; Brian Bistrong, executive chef of Josephs on 6th Ave. and 49th St.; and Wylie Dufresne, a James Beard nominee for Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2000 and current owner and chef of WD50 on the Lower East Side.
»
Ocean Restaurant website
» Josephs restaraunt website
» WD50 website
Music: Jump Start and Jazz Two Ballets by Wynton Marsalis, Sony Classical (tracks 16 and 14)
Edna Buchanan
Edna Buchanan’s latest book, Cold Case Squad, is about the Miami Police Department's Sgt. Craig Burch, who says: "I breathe new life into old, cold cases and track killers whose trails vanished long ago like footprints on a sea washed beach."
» Go to Edna Buchanan’s website
Music: Rage in Harlem, Miramax Films (track 10)
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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.”
- Comments [2]
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.
Video Pick: The J.D. Allen Trio
The Leonard Lopate Show
Recent Videos:
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- Nicholas Bakalar on The Medicine Cabinet of Curiosities
- Robert Feldman on The Liar in Your Life
- Matt Taibbi on Goldman Sachs
- Arianna Huffington on Pigs at the Trough
- Joel Grey on Images from My Phone
- Lawrence McDonald on The Fall of Lehman Brothers
- Comments [4]
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.
- Comments [33]
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.
- Comments [1]
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.
- Comments [9]
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.
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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?