On Demand
The Leonard Lopate Show
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Scratching Beneath the Surface
Jeremy Scahill asks why the private security firm Blackwater USA has been contracted in Iraq, and tells us why he feels it’s a threat to democracy. Later on, we find out how one woman’s life changed when she went to China with a friend who was adopting a baby. Plus, we explore the inner workings of Netflix on Backstory. And we find out how elephants use their feet to communicate.
Examining a Private Military Contractor
Jeremy Scahill, a Democracy Now! correspondent and regular contributor to The Nation, voices his concerns about Blackwater USA--a private military contractor that's providing security to top US officials in Iraq.
Blackwater is available for purchase at amazon.com
Events: Jeremy Scahill will be in conversation with Amy GoodmanWednesday, March 21 at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:15 pm.
The New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 West 64th Street, at Central Park West
$10 donation at the door. Seating is first come, first seated.
For more information, visit the NYSEC website.
An Unexpected Adoption
Beth Nonte Russell tells us about the unexpected turn her life took when she traveled to China with a friend who was adopting a baby.
Forever Lily is available for purchase at amazon.com

Backstory: Netflix
Last month, Netflix delivered its 1 billionth DVD to a subscriber in Texas. On today’s Backstory, Andreas Kluth, the Bay Area technology correspondent for the Economist, explores the inner workings of the film rental giant.
Chimps Use Spears to Hunt
Jill D. Pruetz, an anthropologist from Iowa State University, has observed chimpanzees in West Africa making spears from sticks and using them to hunt small mammals. This is the first time the routine production of deadly weapons has been observed in animals other than humans.

From the Bottoms of Their Elephant Soles
Field biologist Caitlin O'Connell tells us how she discovered that elephants use their feet to feel vibrations, and communicate with each other.
The Elephant's Secret Sense is available for purchase at amazon.com
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National Book Award Winners
The Leonard Lopate Show
A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!
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:
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- 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]
Please Explain: Eco-Labels
The Leonard Lopate Show
Your broccoli, shampoo, and air conditioner might bear labels declaring them to be organic, cruelty-free, or energy efficient, but what do those labels mean and are they true? Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Project Director for Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org and Consumers Union’s Senior Scientist for Policy Initiatives, and Dara O'Rourke, founder and CEO of GoodGuide.com, took a look at what eco-labels indicate, how standards are set, and what they mean for consumers and manufacturers around the world.
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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.