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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
  • Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC (Vincent Noel/flickr)
    Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC (Vincent Noel/flickr)

    Stirring Accounts

    Henri Alleg talks about being imprisoned and tortured by French paratroopers during the Battle of Algiers in 1957. Then, we hear the dramatic story of the man George Washington appointed to design the nation's capital in 1791. And we survey some of Granta's best Young American Novelists. Plus, we find out how cultural attitudes towards infidelity vary around the world.

A Journalist's Torture Story

In 1957, Henri Alleg--a French journalist who supported Algerian independence--was arrested by French paratroopers during the Battle of Algiers. In his memoir The Question, which was originally published in 1958, Mr. Alleg tells the moving story of his imprisonment and torture.

The Question is available for purchase at amazon.com

The Man Who Designed Washington, D.C.

Scott W. Berg tells the dramatic story of Pierre “Peter” Charles L’Enfant--the man George Washington appointed to design the nation's capital in 1791, and who was fired after just 11 months.

Grand Avenues is available for purchase at amazon.com

Granta's Best of Young American Novelists

Ian Jack, the editor of the British literary magazine Granta, tells us who made it into the second volume of Best of Young American Novelists.

Best of Young American Novelists 2 is available for purchase at amazon.com

Events: Ian Jack will be appearing along with some of the authors featured in The Best of Young American Novelists 2
Tuesday, April 24 at 8:30 pm
The New School
The Tishman Auditorium
66 West 12th Street, between 5th Avenue and University Place
Admission is free.

Lust in Translation

Pamela Druckerman, a former foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, explores how different cultures around the world view adultery.

Lust in Translation 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.