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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, May 27, 2005
  • bowling shoes

    Uncommon Sense

    Historian Caroline Elkins uncovers a disturbing history of British-run prison and work camps in Kenya after WWII in Imperial Reckoning. Then, Irwin and Debi Unger outline the history of an American dynasty: The Guggenheims. Next, producer Bill Bryan and bowlers Wayne Webb and Walter Ray Williams, Jr. discuss a new documentary on the sport: “A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.” Finally, Martin Lindstrom explores ways that companies can expand their future marketing strategies to target all five senses of consumers—instead of focusing only on sight and sound.

Imperial Reckoning

Historian Caroline Elkins investigates the violent struggles surrounding British colonialism in Kenya. She challenges the standard British version of the Mau Mau rebellion, and uncovers disturbing stories of British labor and prison camps in her new book, Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya.

The Guggenheims

Pulitzer Prize-winner Irwin Unger, and his wife and co-author Debi, examine the larger-than-life history of one of America's most prominent families: The Guggenheims.

Music: Music: Soundtrack to The Elephant Man, music by John Morris: "Mrs. Kendal's Theater and Poetry Reading"

A League of Ordinary Gentlemen

Bill Bryan, Wayne Webb, and Walter Ray Williams, Jr. explore the world of bowling in the new documentary, “A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.”

» "A League of Ordinary Gentlemen" website

Music: Soundtrack to Benny & Joon, music by Rachel Portman: “Sam is Kicked Out”

Brand Sense

Martin Lindstrom looks to the future of marketing. He points out that even though 75 percent of our emotions are rooted in what we smell, most advertisements focus only on sight and sound. He argues that in the future, successful companies will need to find ways of appealing to all five senses of consumers. His new book is titled Brand Sense: Build Powerful Brands through Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, and Sound.

» Excerpt of Brand Sense in the Reading Room
» Visit Martin Lindstrom's website

Music: "Salpica" by Mambotur

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.