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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, August 10, 2006
  • Girl passing by a fence with bullet holes in the area located between Russian, South Ossetian and Georgian checkpoints in Tamaresheni village (AFP/Getty Images)
    Girl passing by a fence with bullet holes in the area located between Russian, South Ossetian and Georgian checkpoints in Tamaresheni village (AFP/Getty Images)

    Tension and Support

    On today’s Underreported, we’ll get an update on South Ossetia’s push to break from Georgia--with Russia’s support. Then, we’ll talk to a woman who was raised by the last surviving black Civil War widow. And George Pelecanos describes his new literary murder mystery. Plus: biographer Randall Woods reconsiders LBJ’s political legacy.

Underreported: The Coming of the Micro-States?

On today’s Underreported, we’ll get an update on South Ossetian separatism, and the tension it’s causing between Georgia and Russia. And we’ll ask if Montenegro’s rise to statehood is inspiring the creation of micro-states. We’re joined by Cassandra Cavanaugh of the Central Eurasia Project of the Open Society Institute, and the Moscow-based journalist Fred Weir.

The Last Black Civil War Widow

When Rita Williams was four, she went to live with her Aunt Daisy—who happened to be the last surviving black Civil War widow. In If the Creek Don’t Rise, Ms. Williams tells her aunt’s story, and explains what it taught her about the legacy of racism.

Available for purchase at amazon.com


Events: Rita Williams will be speaking and signing books
Thursday, August 10 at 7 pm
McNally Robinson Bookstore
50 Prince Street, between Lafayette and Mulberry Streets

The Night Gardener

George Pelecanos describes his new literary murder mystery: The Night Gardener.

Available for purchase at amazon.com

A New Look at LBJ

Randall Woods offers a major reassessment of LBJ’s political legacy in his new biography, LBJ: Architect of American Ambition.

Available for purchase at amazon.com

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.