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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, April 12, 2007
  • The violin maker

    Delving into Details

    On today's Underreported, we look at devolution in the UK. Later on, a master violin maker from Brooklyn talks about working to build an instrument that can rival a Stradivarius. Plus, a new novel imagines what happens when a minister who's an atheist encounters the devil. And a former nuclear weapons designer talks about his plan to end mass violence.

Underreported: Devolution in the UK

In 1997, Britain's Labour government introduced the process of devolution, which transfers more political power to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. On today's Underreported, John Prideaux, political correspondent for The Economist, talks about how devolution has changed concepts of statehood and citizenship in the UK.

Underreported: A Follow-up on Colombia

Last week on Underreported, we talked about widespread violence against union organizers in Colombia. Several listeners responded by telling us they were tired of hearing only negative things about Colombia, when it's also a beautiful country with a rich history and hospitable people. Simon Jenkins, a journalist for the London Guardian who's visited and written about Colombia, joins us for a conversation about how a country with many problems and many assets can market itself to the rest of the world. And we ask whether Colombia's official new slogan, "Colombia is Passion," can help draw tourists.

What do you think of Colombia's new slogan? Have you ever felt conflicted about visiting a troubled region as a tourist?

Underreported: Anti-Union Violence in Colombia

Carving Violins in Brooklyn

Master violin maker Sam Zygmuntowicz crafts world-class instruments in his Brooklyn workshop. He joins us, along with writer John Marchese, to talk about Mr. Zygmuntowicz's quest to carve a violin that can rival a Stradivarius.

The Violin Maker is available for purchase at amazon.com

Events: John Marchese and Sam Zygmuntowicz will be speaking and signing books
Thursday, April 12 at 7 pm
Lincoln Square Barnes & Noble
1972 Broadway, at 66th Street

devil

Meeting the Devil

James Robertson imagines what happens when an atheist Scottish minister meets the devil face to face, in his new novel The Testament of Gideon Mack.

The Testament of Gideon Mack is available for purchase at amazon.com

Events: James Robertson will be speaking and signing books
Thursday, April 12 at 7 pm
Chelsea Barnes & Noble
675 Avenue of the Americas, at 21st Street

Ending Mass Violence

Former nuclear weapons designer Stephen Younger is a pacifist. In Endangered Species, he explains his plan to end mass violence.

Endangered Species is available for purchase at amazon.com

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.

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.