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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, October 18, 2006
  • Jim Jones (the jonestown report/FBI)
    Jim Jones (the jonestown report/FBI)

    The Roots of Change

    Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai explains how planting millions of trees has revitalized Kenya. And a political science professor argues that the red state / blue state divide can be explained by economics. Later on, we’ll find out how one largely forgotten man helped launch Time magazine. Then, a new documentary investigates what happened at Jonestown—the site of the largest mass suicide in modern history. And to start it all off, word maven Patricia T. O’Conner takes your calls.

Rich State, Poor State, Red State, Blue State

Columbia statistics and political science professor Andrew Gelman argues that the red state / blue state divide can be explained by the voting habits of each state's wealthiest residents. He and his researchers have found that rich people in poor states are more likely to vote Republican, while rich people in rich states tend to vote Democratic. Andrew Gelman is the co-author of the November 2005 study "Rich State, Poor State, Red State Blue State: What's the Matter with Connecticut?"

Words Fail Me

Word maven Patricia T. O’Conner explores the complexities of the English language. Today, she answers some listener mail and talks about the language of Halloween.

Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English is available for purchase at amazon.com

The Man Time Forgot

Isaiah Wilner examines the role Briton Hadden—now a largely forgotten figure—played in launching Time magazine.

The Man Time Forgot is available for purchase at amazon.com


Events: Isaiah Wilner will be reading and signing books
Wednesday, October 18 at 7 pm
Astor Place Barnes & Noble

Why Did Jonestown End in Mass Suicide?

On November 18th, 1978, the largest mass suicide in modern history took place in Guyana. Stanley Nelson investigates what happened at Jonestown in his new documentary, “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple.

Tree Change

Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, explains how networks of rural women are revitalizing Kenya--by planting millions of trees. Her new memoir is Unbowed.

Unbowed is available for purchase at amazon.com


Events: Wangari Maathai will be speaking with Leonard Lopate
Sunday, October 22 at 7:30 pm
The 92nd Street Y
For tickets, visit the 92nd Street Y website, or call 212-451-5500.

Tributes: Kate McGarrigle

The Leonard Lopate Show

Folk singer Kate McGarrigle, who gained acclaim for a series of projects with her sister Anna, died Monday, Jan. 18, from a rare form of cancer. She left behind a family of talented musicians, including her sister, son Rufus Wainwright, and daughter Martha Wainwright. McGarrigle appeared on The Leonard Lopate show with her sister in December 2005, ahead of their holiday show at Carnegie Hall.

Monona Rossol on 50 Million Chemicals

The Leonard Lopate Show

On September 7, 2009, scientists working for the Chemical Abstract Service (which assigns identification numbers to all new chemicals) entered the 50-millionth chemical substance into their Registry. Chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol, President and Founder of Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, took a look at what all these new substances are, where they are coming from, and how they affect our health. Rossol also responded to listener comments and questions. You can read her answers here.

Alan Alda on What Makes Us Human

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Barbara Demick on Ordinary Lives in North Korea

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Lucien Castaing-Taylor on "Sweetgrass"

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Michael Pollan on Food in 2010

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Atul Gawande on The Checklist Manifesto

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Christopher Kimball on Surviving Holiday Cooking Disasters

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Lidia Bastianich on Cooks from the Heart of Italy

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Neil deGrasse Tyson on Pluto

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National Book Award Winners

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A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

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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.