wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Tuesday, June 26, 2007
  • toxic mold
    toxic mold

    Got Mold?

    Toxic mold can make some people extremely ill. On today's show: why toxic mold is so dangerous, and whether you should be concerned about it in your home and workplace. Also, a visit from Andre Previn, who's been focusing lately on solo jazz piano. A new novel about the troubled life of a Scottish priest. And on Backstory, find out why Albania is such a strong supporter of the US. We'll also hear more about the alternative energy package Congress has been working on.

Toxic Mold

An upstate New York librarian claims that her MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) was caused by exposure to mold at the library where she worked. She's now so ill she can barely leave her house. Today industrial hygienist Monona Rossol and Dr. David C. Straus explain why some mold can be so toxic, and whether you should be concerned about your workplace. Ms. Rossol is also founder and president of Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc., and Dr. Straus is Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Texas Tech University.

Andre Previn - photo  © Lillian Birnbaum / DG

Andre Previn, Alone

Conductor, composer, and pianist Andre Previn is one of the most accomplished musicians alive today. His new solo jazz piano album is "Alone."

Visit Andre Previn's website

Be Near Me: A Novel from Scotland

Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan's novel Be Near Me is about the life and losses of a Scottish-born, Oxford-educated Catholic priest. Be Near Me was Booker-longlisted and has just been published in the US for the first time.

Be Near Me is available for purchase at amazon.com

Backstory: Bush in Albania

When President Bush visited Albania earlier this month, he received a hero's welcome there that’s become unusual these days. The Balkan country is one of the staunchest allies of the US. On today's Backstory, Nicole Itano of the Christian Science Monitor explains why Albanians are so pro-American.

Backstory: The Alternative Energy Bill

Congress is working on an energy package that will include the first raise of fuel economy standards since 1983…but it also could give subsidies to the coal industry to explore the use of liquid coal as an alternative fuel. We’ll look into what this energy package will do, who it will benefit and its potential impact on the environment. Leonard talks to Vijay Vaitheeswaran, an energy correspondent for the Economist.

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.