On Demand
The Leonard Lopate Show
-
Ricky Gervais, the "King of Comedy" (Ray Burmiston)Life's Work
Sir Alec Jeffreys is being honored with a Lasker Award for his discovery of DNA fingerprinting in 1984. He’ll tell us how he did it, and how it’s changed the way we think about identification. Then, we’ll talk to Ricky Gervais, the star of the hit BBC comedy "The Office." Finally, on today's Underreported feature, Sarah Chayes calls in live from Kandahar. Sunday's elections in Afghanistan went fairly smoothly, but the country remains very troubled.
DNA Fingerprinting
In 1984, Sir Alec Jeffreys discovered that DNA segments could be used to identify individuals and prove inheritance. He instantly realized the many possible uses of this process, and he became a major figure in the popularization of DNA fingerprinting. His influential work has been recognized this year with a Lasker Award for Clinical Research.
» More on the Lasker Awards
Music:
Soundtrack to the Secret Agent by Philip Glass,
Tracks 2, 5, 6
The Office
Ricky Gervais, the co-creator and star of the BBC comedy “The Office,” tells us where he got the inspiration for his hit television series. And he’ll tell us about his latest project, “Extras,” which will premiere soon on HBO.
» More on Ricky Gervais
» Visit our Guest Picks page to find out what moves Ricky Gervais
Music:
Theme for The Office
Update from Afghanistan
The US is planning to withdraw from Afghanistan, despite increasing security threats throughout the country. Former NPR correspondent Sarah Chayes calls in from Kandahar with an update on Afghanistan’s recent elections, and the deteriorating conditions there. In this week’s Underreported feature, she tells us why she’s worried about Afghanistan's future, and describes some of the problems she believes just aren’t getting enough attention.
Music:
Fall Out by Euphone
Wax Off by Kodo
- About This Program »
- Staff Bios »
- Contact Us »
- Guest Hosts »
- Guest Picks »
- Latest Show »
- Tapes & Transcripts »
- Show Archive »
Features & Series
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
Shop at Amazon!
Leonard Lopate Show picks
Start your Amazon shopping on WNYC.org and a portion of your total purchase goes to WNYC.
More
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.
- Comments [3]
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?
