wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

The Leonard Lopate Show

Tuesday, February 06, 2007
  • newspapers

    The News War

    Patrick Buchanan once said that "the battle between the White House and the national media is the battle over who controls the national agenda." On today's show: how the mainstream news media decides what is news and what isn't. Also, travelers on personal quests: one woman traces her ancestors back to Africa's Gold Coast, and another woman's search for happiness in Italy, India, and Indonesia. And Colm Toibin's new short story collection, Mothers and Sons. Guest host Julie Burstein sits in for Leonard today.
    Enter the Amy Sedaris Craft Challenge!

Mainstream Media: Who Calls the Shots?

We look into the ups and downs of modern American journalism, from Nixon’s attacks on the press, to the new challenges created by the war on terror. Leonard talks to FRONTLINE producers Raney Aronson and Arun Rath, and correspondent Lowell Bergman. Their new four-part series is News War.

Eat, Pray, Love

While recovering from a difficult divorce, Elizabeth Gilbert decided to take a trip. She says she was "pinched and thin" when she began a year's journey throughout Italy, India, and Indonesia. Her best-selling account of her travels is called Eat, Pray, Love.

Events: Elizabeth Gilbert will be signing books
Tuesday, February 6 at 7 pm
Temple Israel
112 East 75th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues

The Mother-Son Connection

Colm Tóibín 's new short story collection is Mothers and Sons. He looks into mother-son relationships, and how bonds are forged and broken.

Events: Colm Tóibín will be reading and signing books
Tuesday, February 6 at 7 pm
NYU’s Glucksman Ireland House
One Washington Mews

Retracing the Path of the Atlantic Slave Trade

Saidiya Hartman's ancestors were forced migrants from Africa's Gold Coast. She retraced their steps, and in doing so learned a great deal about the Atlantic slave trade and the horrors of the Middle Passage. Her new book is Lose Your Mother.

Events: Saidiya Hartman will be speaking and signing books
Wednesday, February 7 at 6 pm
The Hue-Man Bookstore
2319 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, between 124th and 125th Street

Patrick Swayze

The Leonard Lopate Show

Patrick Swayze mixed grace with athleticism in his movies – and rose to stardom with roles in “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” He died just recently after a battle with pancreatic cancer. And you can hear his interview with Leonard Lopate from July 16, 2002, when he came by to discuss appearing in the film, “Green Dragon.”

The Silver Anniversary of the Silver Palate

The Leonard Lopate Show

Sheila Lukins was one half of a partnership that helped popularize gourmet cooking throughout America – first, through their gourmet food shop in New York City and then with the cookbook, The Silver Palate, which remains one of the top-selling cookbooks of all time. She collaborated on 2 other cookbooks that simplified gourmet cooking for the home cook. She died recently from brain cancer at the age of 66, and you can listen to her 2007 conversation with Leonard Lopate and her business partner Julee Rosso about the 25th Anniversary of the publication of The Silver Palate.

Dominick Dunne

The Leonard Lopate Show

Dominick Dunne was a famous novelist and Hollywood producer. But he may be best remembered for covering trials of the rich and famous – from Claus von Bulow to O. J. Simpson. He died just recently at the age of 83. But you can still hear his interview with Leonard from November 23, 2001, when he was discussing crimes, trials, and punishments.

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.

Guest Picks

The Leonard Lopate Show

Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?