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The Leonard Lopate Show

Monday, July 16, 2007
  • CIA

    Storms and Ghosts

    The CIA has buried some of its biggest blunders in top-secret archives. On today's show: find out how the CIA's worst mistakes have shaped history. Also, a look back at a 1974 tornado storm that left hundreds of Americans dead. A new novel set in 17th century China. And a visit from director Milos Forman. His new film, "Goya's Ghosts," is set in Spain and stars Javier Bardem and Natalie Portman.

The CIA's Worst Mistakes

Some of the CIA's biggest blunders have been buried for years in top-secret archives. Now hundreds of those papers have been made public. Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times correspondent Tim Weiner writes about the CIA's worst mistakes in the new book Legacy of Ashes.

Legacy of Ashes is available for purchase at amazon.com


Event: Tim Weiner will be speaking and signing books
Monday, July 30 at 7 pm
Upper West Side Barnes & Noble
2289 Broadway, at 82nd Street

The Tornado Storm of 1974

In 1974, an outbreak of 148 tornadoes killed more than 300 people and caused damage throughout 13 states. Journalist Mark Levine investigated the tornadoes' effect on the rural county of Limestone, Alabama, which suffered huge damages. Levine is author of F5: Devastation, Survival, and the Most Violent Tornado Outbreak of the 20th Century.

F5 is available for purchase at amazon.com


Event: Mark Levine will be reading and signing books
Monday, July 16 at 7 pm
The Half King
505 West 23rd Street, at 10th Avenue

Weigh in: Have you ever been caught in a tornado? If so, what's your most vivid memory of the experience?

Peony in Love

Lisa See's novel Peony in Love is set in 17th century China. The main character, Peony, is a 16 year old girl who has died and is doomed to be a "hungry ghost" in the afterlife.

Peony in Love is available for purchase at amazon.com

Event: Lisa See will be speaking and signing books
Monday, July 16 at 7 pm
Upper West Side Barnes & Noble
2289 Broadway, at 82nd Street

Milos Forman and Goya's Ghosts

Milos Forman is the Academy Award-winning director of films like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Amadeus." His latest movie is "Goya's Ghosts," about Spain during the time of Francisco Goya. Javier Bardem and Natalie Portman star in the film.

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.