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Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
The world's most troubled states, like Sudan and Iraq, are a threat not only to themselves but to other countries all over the world. On today's Underreported, we'll find out what defines a failed state, and how instability spreads from one country to another. Later, a look at the art of writing biographies. Taye Diggs talks about his work as a dancer. We'll find out whether the "5-second rule" about dropped food has any scientific merit. And...the moment you've been waiting for...the winners of our essay contest on breakups!
Underreported: The Spread of Failed States
The world's weakest states aren't just a danger to themselves. They can disrupt the stability of countries halfway across the world. The Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy magazine have recently released their third annual Failed States Index, and on today's Underreported, we'll find out what a failed state is, where the worst ones are, and how instability spreads from one country to another.
Leonard talks to political scientist Pauline H. Baker, president of The Fund for Peace. She has more than 40 years of experience working on issues concerning weak and failing states.
Eating Food Off the Floor
The "5-second rule" says that it's OK to eat a piece of food that has fallen on the floor as long as it hasn't been there for more than 5 seconds. Connecticut College biology professor Anne Bernhard has done scientific research into how long food morsels can remain on the floor uncontaminated, and the results may surprise you.
How to Write a Biography
Meryle Seacrest has written 9 biographies over the course of her career. Her motto is: "Well, you can't expect to be liked in my business, but with any luck you can avoid going to jail." Her new book about her writing process is Shoot the Widow.
Shoot the Widow is available for purchase at amazon.com
Events: Meryle Secrest will be speaking and signing booksThursday, June 28 at 7 pm
The Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway, at 12th Street
Taye Diggs and Andrew Palermo’s dre.dance
Taye Diggs and Andrew Palermo’s new dance company is dre.dance. They’ll be at the Joyce Soho June 28-July 1.
Essay Contest: Break-Ups
We had over 200 submissions for our Lopate Show essay contest on breakups, hosted by Phillip Lopate, celebrated essayist and brother of Leonard. Phillip has chosen 20 winners. He and Leonard talk to the top 5 winners on-air today.
Go here to find out who the 20 winners are, and to read the top 5 essays.
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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.”
- Comments [2]
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.
Video Pick: The J.D. Allen Trio
The Leonard Lopate Show
Recent Videos:
- Robert Stone on Nixon and Earth Day
- Moby on Music Business
- Nicholas Bakalar on The Medicine Cabinet of Curiosities
- Robert Feldman on The Liar in Your Life
- Matt Taibbi on Goldman Sachs
- Arianna Huffington on Pigs at the Trough
- Joel Grey on Images from My Phone
- Lawrence McDonald on The Fall of Lehman Brothers
- Comments [4]
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.
- Comments [33]
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.
- Comments [1]
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.
- Comments [9]
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.
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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?
