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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

Bill Richardson on Diplomacy

The Leonard Lopate Show

New Mexico governor Bill Richardson will be joining Obama’s cabinet as Commerce Secretary. You can hear him talk about his experience in foreign policy and diplomacy on the Lopate Show in April 2007.

Plaxico Burress on the Lopate Show

The Leonard Lopate Show

NY Giants star Plaxico Burress is in the headlines this week for his self-inflicted gunshot wound. You can hear him on the Leonard Lopate Show in July 2008 talk about his life on and off the football field, and what it was like to win the 2007 Super Bowl.

Tom Daschle on Fixing America’s Health Care System

The Leonard Lopate Show

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle has accepted President-Elect Barack Obama’s offer to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. You can hear Tom Daschle talk about his prescriptions for fixing American’s health care crisis on the Leonard Lopate Show in March 2008.

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?