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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, August 24, 2005
  • Care Packages

    New Yorker staff writer Malcolm Gladwell examines the consequences of what he describes as “America’s health-care mess” with guest host Kenji Jasper. Then, musician Adrienne Young shares her latest recording, The Art of Virtue. Next, Charles Ross tells us about his one-man stage reenactment of the “Star Wars Trilogy.” And on our weekly Please Explain feature, we go behind the scenes at the post office to try to find out how mail gets sorted and delivered.

The Cost of Care

More than 45 million Americans have no health insurance, and more than half of the country’s personal bankruptcies are caused by medical bills. Malcolm Gladwell of The New Yorker looks at why the US has no universal health care system.

» Read Malcolm Gladwell's article "A Sick System"

Music:
“Shock to the System” tracks, 1, 2, 5

The Art of Virtue

Adrienne Young tells us how Benjamin Franklin’s Thirteen Virtures helped inspire her new pop-influenced bluegrass album: The Art of Virtue.

» More on Adrienne Young

Adrienne Young & Little Sadie
Thurs, September 15th
Statalla World Music Club
37 West 26TH Street
For more information: 212-576-1155

Music:
“The Art of Virtue” tracks 1,4, 5

One Man Star Wars Trilogy

Actor Charles Ross tells us about his one man take on the “Star Wars Trilogy.” In one hour, he reenacts each film—he plays all the parts, sings the music, and simulates all the flights and battles. His One Man Star Wars Trilogy is playing through October 31st at the Lamb Theater on 44th Street.

» More on One Man Star Wars Trilogy

Music:
“Star Wars” tracks, 1,3

Please Explain: The Post Office

Ever wonder how a birthday card gets from a drop box in New York to an apartment in California? We’ll look into the ever-expanding technology that the postal service develops to sort and deliver mail. We’ll look into the past innovations and struggles, and look ahead at future challenges like email and rising fuel costs, as part of our regular Please Explain feature.
» More on the United States Postal Service
» More on postal history at the National Postal Museum

Music:
Soundtrack for Sonatine tracks 6, 1

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.