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The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, December 09, 2004
  • Anthropomorphic mask from The Aztec Empire exhibit
    Anthropomorphic mask from The Aztec Empire exhibit

    Unfolding Tensions

    In this week's Underreported feature, we'll look into an unusual peace offering in Thailand. Last weekend, the Thai government dropped over one hundred million paper cranes in an effort to ease tensions in its southern Muslim region. Professor Tamara Loos, Assistant Professor of Southeast Asian History at Cornell University, and Thai journalist and Neiman fellow Thepchai Yong, offer some perspective on the situation. Then, Rosie Perez discusses her role in a revival of Craig Lucas's 1988 play Reckless. And Eve Ensler explores the ways women throughout the world feel they need to change their bodies in order to be considered attractive and acceptable in their respective societies in The Good Body. Finally, Anthony Calnek and Barbara Price join us for a discussion of the Guggenheim’s current exhibit on The Aztec Empire.

Underreported: Tensions in Thailand

Professor Tamara Loos, Assistant Professor of Southeast Asian History at Cornell University, and Thai journalist and Neiman fellow Thepchai Yong, on the current tensions in southern Thailand, and the Thai government’s unusual peace offering last weekend.

» More on the Underreported series

Music: Music of Northeast Thailand, Track 9: Pong Long Ensemble "Pong Long Dance"

Rosie Perez

Rosie Perez on her latest role in the Broadway play, Reckless.

» More on the play

Music: Soundtrack of Mumford, Track 7: "Hiking", Track 11; "Flashback"

Eve Ensler

Eve Ensler tackles women's relationships with their bodies (in drama and book form) in The Good Body.

» More on Eve Ensler and V-Day

Music: Soundtrack from The Incredibly True Adventure of 2 Girls in Love , Track 9: Instrumental No.2, Track 8: Kitchen Mayhem

Anthony Calnek and Barbara Price

Click for a slideshow Anthony Calnek, deputy director at the Guggenheim, and Barbara Price, on the Guggenheim Museum's look at the art and life of the Aztecs.

» View a slideshow of selected artifacts from "The Aztec Empire" exhibit

Music: Antonio Zepeda, Antologia Personal II, Espejo de la Nocha, Track 8: El Povo del la Nada, Track 9: Mariposa de Obsidiana.

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?