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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Monday, July 05, 2004
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    Face the Music

    Walter Yetnikoff, the former president of CBS Records, calls himself a "Monstrous Music Mogul." He joins Leonard today to talk about his years of hard partying and working with the likes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Barbra Streisand. Then biographer Ron Chernow explains why Alexander Hamilton has never been accorded the same iconic standing as some of the other founding fathers, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Author Po Bronson gives his advice on how to answer that old question: "What should I do with my life?" And Edgardo Vega Yunque shares his new epic novel. It’s set in 1980s New York City

Walter Yetnikoff

Walter Yetnikoff presided over CBS during the 1970s and 80s, when it was one of the world’s most successful record labels. His new memoir is Howling at the Moon.

» Read more about the book

Music: Michael Jackson Thriller "Billie Jean” and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
Bruce Springsteen Born To Run "Born To Run" and "Thunder Road"

Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow's new biography is Alexander Hamilton. He writes: "In all probability, Alexander Hamilton is the foremost figure in American history who never attained the presidency, yet he probably had a much deeper and more lasting impact than many who did."

» Read a recent review of Chernow's biography of Hamilton
» Read the U.S. Department of the Treasury's description of Hamilton's life

Music: "Spirit of Gambo," "The President’s March," and "Agreers" from "Early American Roots"

Po Bronson

According to Po Bronson, “nothing is braver than people facing up to their own identity." Bronson is the author of What Should I Do With My Life? The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question.

Music: Mumford Soundtrack composer James Newton Howard

Edgardo Vega Yunque

Edgardo Vega Yunque’s novel is No Matter How Much You Promise to Cook or the Pay the Rent You Blew it Cauze Bill Bailey Ain’t Never Coming Home Again.

Music: The Complete Black Lion and Vogue Recordings of Thelonius Monk "Misterioso"

National Book Award Winners

The Leonard Lopate Show

A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!

Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

Please Explain: Eco-Labels

The Leonard Lopate Show

Your broccoli, shampoo, and air conditioner might bear labels declaring them to be organic, cruelty-free, or energy efficient, but what do those labels mean and are they true? Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Project Director for Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org and Consumers Union’s Senior Scientist for Policy Initiatives, and Dara O'Rourke, founder and CEO of GoodGuide.com, took a look at what eco-labels indicate, how standards are set, and what they mean for consumers and manufacturers around the world.

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.