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The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, April 19, 2007
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    Minority Views

    On today’s Underreported, we talk about the Mandaeans, a Gnostic sect in Iraq that has been targeted by both Sunni and Shiite extremists. And a Harvard Business School professor argues that globalization's impact has been greatly exaggerated. Later on: one woman's experiences growing up white during Rhodesia’s civil war. Plus, Tatyana Tolstaya talks about her recent works of fiction. And we get an inside look at the powerful investment firm Lazard Freres & Co.

Underreported: The Mandaeans

Eliot Weinberger explores the ancient beliefs of the Mandaeans--a Gnostic sect in Iraq that follows John the Baptist--in the May issue of Harper’s. Dr. Suhaib Nashi, a co-founder of the Mandaean Human Rights Group, tells us about some of the modern human rights challenges facing the Mandaeans--from killings, to rape, forced conversions, and displacement.

The Mandaean Associations Union

Eliot Weinberger's essay "Mandaeans" is included in his collection An Elemental Thing, which is available for purchase at amazon.com

The World is Round

Thomas Friedman has famously written about the impact of globalization in his bestselling book The World Is Flat. Harvard Business School Professor Pankaj Ghemawat tells us why he believes globalization isn’t nearly as powerful as Mr. Friedman, and many others, believe. In his article "Why the World Isn't Flat" (in the March/April issue of Foreign Policy), Professor Ghemawat explains that more than 90% of all phone calls, web traffic, and investment is local.

Civil War and Childhood

In Rainbow's End, Lauren St. John talks about her complicated feelings about growing up white on an African farm during Rhodesia’s civil war.

Rainbow's End is available for purchase at amazon.com

Events: Lauren St. John will be speaking and signing books
Thursday, April 19 at 7 pm
Astor Place Barnes & Noble

A Russian Dystopia

Tatyana Tolstaya talks about her recent works of fiction. Her novel The Slynx is set in Russia 200 years after a nuclear accident.

The Slynx is available for purchase at amazon.com

Events: Tatyana Tolstaya will be in conversation with David Remnick
As part of the PEN World Voices Festival
Saturday, April 28 at 2 pm
The Tishman Auditorium at the New School
66 West 12th Street
Free and open to the public. No reservations are required
For more information, visit the PEN World Voices Festival website.

The Last Tycoons

In The Last Tycoons, William D. Cohan reveals how the dramatic inner workings of Lazard Freres & Co. have shaped the high-powered Wall Street firm.

The Last Tycoons is available for purchase at amazon.com

Events: William Cohan will be reading and signing books
Thursday, April 26 at 1 pm
Borders Books and Music
100 Broadway, at Wall Street

William Cohan will be reading and signing books
Thursday, May 3 at 7 pm
Citicorp Center Barnes & Noble
160 East 54th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues

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?