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The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, September 22, 2004
  • Terry Gross (Will Ryan)
    Terry Gross (Will Ryan)

    A Breath of Fresh Air

    Terry Gross, host of NPR’s Fresh Air, takes a turn on the other side of the interview table to talk about All I Did Was Ask—a compendium of her best interviews, and the stories behind them. Then we’ll take a look at how religion and secularism have shaped American history with authors James Carroll and Susan Jacoby. Boston Globe columnist James Carroll’s recent book is titled Crusade: Chronicles of an Unjust War, while Susan Jacoby’s latest book, Freethinkers, examines the long legacy of secularism in America. Next, geneticist Dean H. Hamer argues that belief in God is programmed into our genes, and may have evolutionary advantages, in The God Gene.

Terry Gross

Fresh Air’s Terry Gross looks back at some of her most memorable interviews in All I Did Was Ask.

» Read an excerpt of All I Did Was Ask in the Reading Room
» More on the book
» Fresh Air website

Events: Terry Gross will be speaking and signing books on:
Wednesday, September 22 at 7 PM
Barnes & Noble, Union Square
33 East 17th Street

Sunday, November 14th
92nd St Y
1395 Lexington Ave

Music: Jump Start, Wynton Marsalis: "Ragtime" / "The Dance"

Dean Hamer

Genetecist Dean Hamer on how faith is hardwired into our genes: The God Gene.

» More about the book

Music: Soundtrack to Naqoyqatsi, music by Philip Glass: "The Vivid Unknown" / "Definition"

James Carroll and Susan Jacoby

James Carroll, author of Crusade, and Susan Jacoby, author of Freethinkers, on the role of religion plays in American presidencies.

» More on Crusade
» More on Freethinkers
» More on The Leonard Lopate Show's election coverage

Events: James Carroll and Susan Jacoby will be speaking on:
Wednesday, September 22nd at 7:30pm
The Community Church
40 E. 35th St
» More on info

Music: Soundtrack to Naqoyqatsi, music by Philip Glass: "Religion" / "Primacy of Number"

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.

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.