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The Leonard Lopate Show

Monday, September 18, 2006
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    Majority Morality?

    Bob Edgar, who describes himself as part of the country’s “faithful majority,” takes issue with the morality of the radical religious right. Then, The Persuasions perform live in our studio. And we talk with biographer Simon Callow about Orson Welles. Plus, an investigative journalist says the chemicals we encounter in everyday life are ruining our health.

The "Faithful Majority"

Bob Edgar, the general secretary of the National Council of Churches USA, describes himself as part of the country’s “faithful majority.” In Middle Church, he challenges what he describes as the limited moral agenda of the radical religious right.

Available for purchase at amazon.com


Events: Bob Edgar will be speaking and signing books
Wednesday, September 27 at 7:30 pm
First Congregational Church
210 Orchard Ridge Road
Chappaqua, New York

Bob Edgar will be speaking and signing books
Thursday, September 28 at 7:30 pm
Princeton University Bookstore
64 Mercer Street
Princeton, New Jersey

The Persuasions

The Pesuasions Sing U2

The Persuasions join us for a live a cappella performance from their latest album: The Persuasions Sing U2.

Available for purchase at amazon.com

Orson Welles: Volume 2

Simon Callow shares the second volume of his Orson Welles biography: Orson Welles: Volume 2: Hello Americans.

Available for purchase at amazon.com


Events: Simon Callow will be reading and signing books
Monday, September 18 at 6:30 pm
The Drama Bookshop
250 West 40th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues

Our Chemical "Body Burden"

The average American carries a “body burden” of hundreds of synthetic chemicals—like Teflon and pesticides. In The Hundred-Year Lie, investigative journalist Randall Fitzgerald says everyday chemical exposures are ruining our health…and making humans the most polluted species on Earth.

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.