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The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, August 31, 2006
  • Mimi, the Wildlife Theater woman (Joanna Ebenstein )
    Mimi, the Wildlife Theater woman (Joanna Ebenstein )

    Work Habits

    On today’s show, a business professor predicts that technology addiction could lead to lawsuits. Then, we’ll get an update on the fighting in Sri Lanka on Underreported. Plus, we’ll find out how 19th century explorers planted the seeds of American environmentalism. Later on, we’ll talk to the daughter of the novelist Irene Nemirovsky--who died at Auschwitz in 1942. And as we head into the Labor Day weekend, we’ll take a look at some of the odd jobs New Yorkers do.

Could Technology Addiction Lead to Lawsuits?

Some workers jokingly refer to their BlackBerries as “CrackBerries.” Gayle Porter, associate professor of management at the Rutgers University School of Business, predicts that employees may start suing their companies for fostering technology addiction.

Underreported: An Update on Sri Lanka

On today's Underreported, we’ll get an update on Sri Lanka from James Ross of Human Rights Watch. He's just returned from Sri Lanka, he'll tell us what's behind the renewed conflict there.

The Early Roots of Environmentalism

Aaron Sachs looks at how 19th century explorers planted the seeds of American environmentalism in The Humboldt Current.

Available for purchase at amazon.com

An Unfinished Story

In 1942, novelist Irene Nemirovsky died at Auschwitz. She left an unfinished masterpiece, Suite Francaise, behind her. Her daughter, Denise Epstein, tells us about her mother, and the critically-acclaimed new translation of the novel.

Available for purchase at amazon.com

Odd Jobs

As we head into the Labor Day weekend, we’ll take a look at some of the odd jobs New Yorkers do. We'll talk to Sandy Hook Pilot Captain Gene Reil, Mimi Hirt, a performer in the Queens Zoo Wildlife Theatre, and professional knitter Adrienne Rogers. If you have an unconventional career, give us a call at 212-433-9692.

Slideshow: Odd Jobs

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.