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The Leonard Lopate Show
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Contracts and Effects
Pulitzer Prize-winning Vanity Fair contributing editors Don Barlett and Jim Steele examine the inner workings of a company they describe as “the largest government contractor you've never heard of.” And on Underreported, we delve into some of the most innovative and unusual strategies for dealing with garbage and household waste.
The Largest Government Contractor You've Never Heard Of
In “Washington's $8 Billion Shadow”, Pulitzer Prize-winning Vanity Fair contributing editors Don Barlett and Jim Steele take us behind the scenes of SAIC (the Science Applications International Corporation), which has been awarded more individual government contracts than any other private company in America. They explain that although you’ve probably never heard of SAIC, it’s bigger than the departments of Labor, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development combined, and has a huge impact on all our lives.
Underreported: New Garbage Solutions
Dogs and cats in the United States produce about 10 million tons of waste each year. Biowaste expert Will Brinton (director of Woods End Laboratories explains how all these pet droppings could be converted into a valuable energy source. And he talks about turning food scraps into yet another useful energy source.
Underreported: The Prophet of Garbage
Science journalist Michael Behar tells us how a machine known as a Plasma Converter can turn the vilest trash into clean energy. Michael Behar's new article "The Prophet of Garbage" will be appearing in Popular Science.
The Nontoxic Avenger
The average American uses more than 660 pounds of paper per year. Ellen Sandbeck, "the nontoxic avenger" and author of Organic Housekeeping, suggests some innovative ways to cut down on household waste, and make your home healthier and cleaner. Organic Housekeeping
Available for purchase at amazon.com
Making Art out of Garbage
Robert Reed of Norcal Waste Systems, and former dump artist-in-residence Tyrome Tripoli, tell us about a program at the San Francisco city dump that turns trash into treasure. Artists chosen for a residency are given 24-hour access to a large studio at the dump, tools and equipment, and permission to scavenge through 80 tons of material a day.
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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.
Video Pick: David Chang on Momofuku
The Leonard Lopate Show
Recent Videos:
- Arthur Schwartz on The Southern Italian Table
- David Plouffe on The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory
- Ken Auletta on Googled: The End of the World as We Know It
- Paul Shaffer on We’ll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Show-Biz Saga
- George Steel on the New York City Opera’s new season
- Gail Collins on When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of Women from 1960 to the Present
- Comments [1]
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.
- Comments [33]
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.
- Comments [1]
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.
- Comments [9]
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.
- Comments [4]
