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The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, October 26, 2006
  • Harry Shearer
    Harry Shearer

    Think Global, Act Local?

    Harry Shearer, the voice behind over a dozen characters on The Simpsons, shares his new satirical novel about a town that fakes its tribal status in order to open a casino. Then, we continue our election coverage on Underreported with a look at the state of grassroots activism in America. And a retrospective at Film Forum explores how documentaries can spur social change.

Not Enough Indians

Harry Shearer, a former Saturday Night Live cast member and the voice of over a dozen characters on The Simpsons, shares his debut novel, the satirical Not Enough Indians. The book takes place in the fictional town of Gammage, New York, which is on its way to bankruptcy until it petitions for tribal status and opens a casino. The trouble is, not a single Native American lives in Gammage.

Not Enough Indians is available for purchase at amazon.com

Underreported: Outsourcing Political Activism?

Dana R. Fisher, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Columbia, tells us about her research into political canvassing in progressive politics. She claims that the left is outsourcing political activism—sending paid workers out to do the work of grassroots outreach. And she argues that it’s destroying the left’s political infrastructure, and holding back the Democratic Party.

Activism, Inc.: How the Outsourcing of Grassroots Campaigns is Strangling Progressive Politics in America is available for purchase at amazon.com

Underreported: The Power of Documentaries

Film Forum is hosting a retrospective celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Soros/Sundance Documentary Fund. We ask Bruni Burres, director of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, and Gara LaMarche, vice president of the Open Society Institute (who also sits on the board of the Sundance Documentary Fund), if documentaries really can make a difference. They talk about some of the fund’s groundbreaking films that have succeeded in raising awareness for human rights issues. And they’re joined by filmmaker Antoin Kattin, who discusses his new short “There are Women in Russian Villages.” The film focuses on the lives of two women in rural Russia—where poverty and domestic violence are often a part of everyday life.

Tributes: Kate McGarrigle

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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

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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.