wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, May 17, 2007
  • Joan Didion and Vanessa Redgrave (Brigitte Lacombe)
    Joan Didion and Vanessa Redgrave (Brigitte Lacombe)

    Love, Dependence, and Loss

    Joan Didion and Vanessa Redgrave tell us about bringing Joan Didion's award-winning memoir The Year of Magical Thinking to Broadway. Then, on our first Underreported, we examine a new report that claims the US government is illegally delaying the naturalization of Muslim immigrants. And on the second Underreported, we visit the Central African country Gabon.

The Year of Magical Thinking

In late December, 2003 Joan Didion’s life turned upside down. Her only daughter had unexpectedly fallen into a coma after what seemed like the flu turned into a bad case of pneumonia with serious complications. Then, after returning from the hospital, Joan’s husband of four decades suffered a fatal heart attack while they were making dinner. In The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion wrestles with her grief and loss, and what it means to be dependent on someone you love. She joins us today with Vanessa Redgrave, who brings this moving memoir to life in the Broadway play of the same name.

The Year of Magical Thinking is available for purchase at amazon.com

The Year of Magical Thinking on Broadway

Underreported: Illegal Citizenship Delays

The US government is illegally delaying the naturalization applications of thousands of immigrants, according to a recent report by the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. On today's first Underreported, we look into how individuals perceived to be Muslim are being subjected to indefinite security checks, and citizenship delays that go on for years. Smita Narula is Assistant Professor of Clinical Law and Faculty Director of the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at the NYU School of Law. Mohammad Razvi is Executive Director of the Council of Peoples Organization in Brooklyn.

Americans on Hold: Profiling, Citizenship, and the 'War on Terror.'

Underreported: Unspoiled Gabon

The Central African country Gabon looks much the same today as it did centuries ago. It's one of the last remaining vestiges of unspoiled wild Africa, and it's home to many plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. We find out how Gabon has managed to preserve its natural resources even as surrounding countries are struggling with civil war and environmental exploitation. Dr. James Deutsche is the director of Africa programs at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

“Gabon: The Last Eden” airs on Friday, May 18th at 10pm on the National Geographic Channel.

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?