On Demand
The Leonard Lopate Show Archive
January 2005
Mightier Than the Sword
Monday, January 31, 2005
Child psychiatrist Lynne Jones tells us why she believes some children who lived through the Bosnian war in the 1990s do not show lasting signs of trauma from the conflict. Then, Jeffrey Kluger reminds us of how terrifying the prospect of polio once was, in the days before a vaccine was found. He traces the epic struggle and success of the efforts to beat the disease in his new book, Splendid Solution: Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio. Carlos Ruiz Zafón's novel, The Shadow of the Wind, has spent more than a year on the Spanish bestseller list. Set in postwar Barcelona in 1945, the book follows a boy's search for more information about a little-known author he discovers. As his search takes him through the city, the boy begins to realize the power, and in this case the danger, of literature. Finally, Stephen Yafa traces the threads of cotton's political and economic influence in world history: Big Cotton.
Traffic Control
Friday, January 28, 2005
Evan Cornog, publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review, looks at the role that readers play in shaping the media they consume. Faced with declining readerships and an increasing reluctance to grapple with hard-hitting news, Mr. Cornog wonders if it's possible to do great journalism if the public doesn’t care. Next, Sergio Castellitto, one of Italy's most internationally-acclaimed actors, stops by to discuss a retrospective of his work being put on by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Then, John Turturro tells us about his unconventional new thriller, Fear X. And on our weekly Please Explain feature, we look at how the city's traffic is regulated--from street lights to subway schedules.
The Liberty of Appearing
Thursday, January 27, 2005
In our regular Thursday Underreported feature we get an update on Kosovo. Some fear that growing ethnic tensions there could reignite major conflict. We'll discuss whether establishing independence in Serbia's southern province might help bring about stability. Next, actor James Urbaniak and playwright Will Eno talk about their one-man play, Thom Paine (Based on Nothing). Then, director Nicole Kassell tells us about the challenges of making her debut feature film, The Woodsman. The film, starring Kevin Bacon, follows the story of a convicted sex offender as he tries to redeem his life after prison. Finally, Dr. Mel Levine examines ways of navigating the in-between phase many young adults face in their early twenties — the transition from college to career: Ready or Not, Here Comes Life.
It's My Party
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Christine Todd Whitman, the first woman to be elected governor of New Jersey, and the EPA administrator for the Bush administration from January 2001 to May 2003, talks politics: It's My Party Too: The Battle for the Heart of the GOP and the Future of America. Then, Redmond O'Hanlon recounts his adventures on a deep-sea fishing boat in January: Trawler: A Journey Through the North Atlantic. Geraldine Hughes portrays 24 different characters in her one-woman play, Belfast Blues. She'll tell us about the challenges and rewards of recreating her childhood in Belfast in the 1970s and 1980s. And Benjamin Soskis makes a case for why we should start thinking about the legal rights of machines in the current issue of Legal Affairs. He's here today with Wendell Wallach, the co-author of the upcoming book Robot Morality: The Prospects of Developing an Artificial Moral Agent.
Communication Skills
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Animal scientist Temple Grandin explains how her autism gives her special insights into understanding animal communication: Animals in Translation. Then, former Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy reflects on his 47-year career in football. Douglas Coupland explores the challenges of overcoming loneliness in his new novel, Eleanor Rigby. And Robert Downey, Jr. shares his first musical recording, The Futurist.
Life Pursuits
Monday, January 24, 2005
Two years ago, Tek Nath Rizal was released from a Bhutanese prison after serving 10 years as a political prisoner. A pioneering figure in the human and democratic rights movements in Bhutan, Mr. Rizal joins us with an update on the current political climate there. Then, Pam Houston, the author of Cowboys Are My Weakness, discusses the unconventional protagonist of her new novel: a three-legged Irish wolfhound who teaches the humans in his life how to love one another. Amy Krouse Rosenthal chronicles some of the not-so-unusual reference points of her life in an unconventional new memoir: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. And Charles Gasparino of Newsweek reveals the details of a Wall Street scam that swindled billions of dollars from ordinary investors: Blood on the Street.
Democracy
Friday, January 21, 2005
Our weekly Underreported series concludes its three-part series on the Democratic Republic of Congo. This June, the Congo is scheduled to hold its first direct presidential election in over forty years. We’ll talk to Susan Linnee of International Crisis Group and Micheline Bégin, Chief of Party for IFES’s program in the Congo, about the challenges facing the electoral commission. How will it coordinate and secure the election, and why might a delay spark major civil tensions? Then, director Yaron Zilberman discusses "Watermarks," a new film about the champion women swimmers of the legendary Austrian Jewish sports club, Hakoah Vienna. He’s joined by Greta Stanton, a former member who’s featured in the film. Next, James Naughton and Robert Prosky reflect on their roles in the new Michael Frayn play, Democracy. Finally, in our Please Explain feature, we tackle a listener question: how do radio waves work? Mischa Schwartz and Keren Bergman from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Columbia University explain the science and history behind radio communications.
Links to the Past
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Word maven Patricia T. O'Connor, author of You Send Me and Words Fail Me, answers listener questions about the complexities of the English language. Call 212-267-WNYC (212-267-9692). Then, Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost, uncovers the history of Britain’s antislavery movement—from initial meetings between 12 men in a London print shop, to mass mailings, boycotts, and eventual success—in Bury the Chains. And General Romeo Dallaire, the head of the UN peacekeeping force during the Rwandan genocide describes the horror he witnessed, and explains why he thinks the killing could have been stopped.
Under Fire
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
The federal government has just released its updated dietary guidelines for 2005. Dr. Marion Nestle looks at how the government's recommendations about health and fitness have changed over the past five years. And we'll be taking listener calls about the revisions. Call 212-267-WNYC. Next, we'll find out how Stella Rimington, the former head of Britain’s MI5 Security Service, uses her years of intelligence work to lend credence to her first novel, the spy thriller At Risk. Finally, Simon Singh explores the origin of the universe in his latest work: Big Bang.
Gospel and Guidance
Monday, January 17, 2005
Each year, the Leonard Lopate Show honors Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a special presentation of some of the greatest and rarest gospel recordings of all time. Leonard will discuss the impact these gospel recordings had on Martin Luther King, Jr., and on American culture. Then, Michael Almereyda discusses his documentary about photographer William Eggleston's innovative use of color photos throughout the past 25 years. Next, Dutch novelist Arnon Grunberg explains why he adopted the alter-ego of Viennese philosopher Marek van der Jagt for his latest novel, The Story of My Baldness—a literary play on the themes of love and sexual prowess. And, writer Pankaj Mishra shares his portrait of the Buddha in the world: An End to Suffering.
Not Just a Game
Friday, January 14, 2005
In the current issue of The New Yorker, Dan Baum explains how junior officers are helping to train each other on types of warfare that many top generals have not experienced themselves. We’ll speak to Major Peter Kilner about how soldiers are using his websites as a new way of dealing with the war in Iraq. Then, Miranda Seymour examines the fast-paced life of racecar driver Hellé Nice, from her early days as a dancer and nude model, to her fame on the racetrack and in the social circles of 1930s Europe, in Bugatti Queen. Jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter joins his biographer Michelle Mercer for a look back at his life and career, as captured in the new book Footprints: The Life and Work of Wayne Shorter. Finally, on our regular Friday feature, Please Explain, we look into game theory. What exactly is it, and how can we apply it to our everyday lives?
Dealing with Displacement
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Millions of Congolese civilians have remained displaced since the end of the civil war in 2002, and thousands more have been forced from their homes by recent conflict in the east. Aid workers explain how they are dealing with the issue. Next, chef Charlie Palmer discusses his signature brand of Progressive American cuisine. And, Australian writer Elliot Perlman discusses his new novel, Seven Types of Ambiguity. The book follows the intertwined lives of seven different narrators as they navigate the complications of modern life. Then, Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, explains the complexities of quick decisions in his latest work, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.
Self Examination
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Alvin and Larry Ubell, the self-appointed "Gurus of How-To," explore the nuts and bolts of home repair. Call 212-267-WNYC. Next, Barbara Goldsmith shares her thorough examination of the life of Marie Curie: Obsessive Genius. Photographer Sylvia Plachy looks at her experiences leaving, and returning to, her native Hungary for 40 years: Self Portrait with Cows Going Home. Then, Bill Bonanno, formerly of the Bonanno crime family, and Joe Pistone, the former FBI agent known as Donnie Brasco, discuss their collaboration on the novel The Good Guys.
Written in the Genes
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Dr. Jeffrey Friedman, an obesity researcher at Rockefeller University, claims that no matter what diet you chose or how much you think you will lose, your genes are in the driver’s seat. Not only do your genes control how much you eat, they also control the metabolic rate at which you burn food. He joins Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, for a discussion about dieting and obesity in America. Then, Lindsay Moran offers a not-so-flattering behind the scenes look at the CIA in Blowing My Cover. Her account details her disillusionment with the agency, and the frustration that led her to quit. Next, Gerald Nachman examines the significance of rebel comedians from the 1950s and 1960s in Seriously Funny. Finally, John Falk discusses the challenges of battling depression and serving as a wartime correspondent in Sarajevo.
Firsthand Information
Monday, January 10, 2005
Manal Omar, the Iraq Director of Women for Women International, joins us by phone from Jordan to discuss the newly released report "Windows of Opportunity: The Pursuit of Gender Equality in Post-War Iraq." The report is based on results from the first survey of Iraqi women conducted since the beginning of the war—a survey of 1000 women in Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra. Then, bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson and his band Quicksilver stop by for a live performance of their trademark high harmonies to celebrate their 25th Anniversary, and their latest album: Thank God. Then, Man Booker Prize-winner Yann Martel, author of The Life of Pi, revisits four of his earlier shorter pieces of fiction in a new collection: The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios. And we’ll look at how Frontline directors create news documentaries in dangerous regions.
Criminal Justice
Friday, January 07, 2005
Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, has accompanied five men on death row to their executions. She believes that two of these men were innocent. An outspoken opponent of capital punishment, Sister Prejean argues that flaws in the system undermine American justice, and lead to wrongful executions. Next, Barbara J. King studies the ways in which African great apes create social meaning through non-vocal communication in her new book, The Dynamic Dance. Then, Joanna Ney from the Film Society of Lincoln Center discusses the evolving relationship between film and dance, as explored in the annual Dance On Camera festival. And on our regular Friday feature, Please Explain, we immerse ourselves in the fascinating world of cheese. Cheesemaker Jonathan White and Maître Fromager Max McCalman take us on a guided tour of the process of making cheese.
Conflict and Context
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Today we begin a three-part series on the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of our weekly Underreported feature. Recent fighting between Rwandan and Congolese forces in Eastern Congo has raised concern that tensions could flare up into a full-fledged regional war. In the first part of our series, we'll examine the extent to which Congo’s troubled past may be responsible for the region’s current instability. Next, Jodi Kantor, editor of the Arts and Leisure section of The New York Times, joins us for a discussion on covering culture. Then, New York Times columnist Teresa Riordan studies the history of fashion’s scientific innovations in her new book, Inventing Beauty. Finally, Leslie Klinger pays tribute to the literary legacy of Arthur Conan Doyle with a definitive new edition of the 56 original Sherlock Holmes stories: The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes.
Screen Tests
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
New York Film Critics Circle chair Thelma Adams (US Weekly), Richard Corliss (Time magazine), and Gene Seymour (Newsday) join us for a year-end wrap up of the most compelling films and stars of 2004. Then, Jason Florio discusses photographing life in Libya for Aperture. Dave Soldier explains what it’s like to compose for elephants. The second album from the Thai Elephant Orchestra, Elephonic Rhapsodies, features elephants playing specially-designed instruments for performances of Beethoven, traditional Thai music, and even a little Hank Williams. And, now that donations for tsunami relief are pouring in, we'll look at the logistical challenges of distributing aid. What happens, for example, when the victims have plenty of packaged noodles, but no water to cook them in? Gerald Martone from the Emergency International Rescue Committee, and Nathaniel Raymond from Oxfam America update us on how relief organizations are faring in Asia.
Record Review
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
This Thursday, White House counsel Alberto Gonzales will begin his confirmation hearings for the position of Attorney General. Journalist Mark Danner, a staff writer for The New Yorker, joins us for a look at Mr. Gonzales's record, and discusses why Mr. Gonzales is expected to have to face some tough questions. Then, Robert Neuwirth shares his investigation of the new legal and social frontiers of the world’s squatter communities: Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, A New Urban World. Historian Bryan Mark Rigg reveals how one of Hitler’s soldiers helped rescue the Lubavitcher Rebbe from Warsaw in 1940 in Rescued from the Reich. And Dave King shares his debut novel about an injured Vietnam veteran’s struggle to find stability and happiness: The Ha-Ha.
Uncertainty Principles
Monday, January 03, 2005
Former Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin explains the political philosophies that informed his career in Washington and on Wall Street: In an Uncertain World. Ron McLarty discusses his new novel, The Memory of Running, and curators Stacy Hollander and Brooke Davis Anderson join us for a look at the Folk Art Museum’s new installation "Folk Art Revealed." And we’ll talk to Zachary Abuza, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Simmons College, about the impact the recent tsunami is having on decades-old separatist movements in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
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