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The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, September 01, 2006
  • Paul Rusesabagina
    Paul Rusesabagina

    Taking a Stand

    On today’s show, the manager of the real-life "Hotel Rwanda" describes his battle to save lives in the midst of genocide. Then, we'll learn what goes into crafting a Steinway concert grand piano. And we'll find out how oysters have shaped the development of New York City. Plus, Cal Ripken, Jr. explains why he's troubled by excessive competitiveness in youth sports today.

The Real-Life Hotel Rwanda

While most of the world ignored the genocide in Rwanda, there were individuals who chose to fight it. Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of the real-life “Hotel Rwanda,” explains how he saved hundreds of lives in the midst of a conflict that killed nearly one million people. His memoir is An Ordinary Man.

Available for purchase at amazon.com

The Making of a Steinway

James Barron describes his 11-month, behind-the-scenes study of a single concert grand piano as it's shaped in the Steinway factory.

Piano is available for purchase at amazon.com

History on the Half Shell

Before New York City was the Big Apple, it could have been called the Big Oyster. Mark Kurlansky writes about the oyster's influence on New York in The Big Oyster.

Available for purchase at amazon.com

Cal Ripken, Jr.: How to Parent Young Athletes

Cal Ripken, Jr. retired from baseball in 2001. He's been coaching kids in the sport ever since. His new book is Parenting Young Athletes the Ripken Way.

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.