On Demand
The Leonard Lopate Show
-
The Language Instinct
On today’s show: what recent research reveals about the origins of language. Then: the history of Sierra Leone and its bloody civil war told through the letters of the ordinary people themselves. Also, we’ll look at one sheik’s grandiose dream to build a lavish capital city in his United Arab Emirates desert kingdom. And on this month’s Backstory, a look at the complex history of Iranian-American relations.
The Origins of Language
Language is a distinctly human gift, yet we’re only now beginning to understand how it came into being. Christine Kenneally has written about language and science for the New Yorker and Discover, and in her new book, The First Word, she investigates the evolution of language and introduces the major players in the field of linguistics and behavioral studies.
The First Word is available for purchase at amazon.com
Letters from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone was involved in a bloody civil war from 1991 to 2002. It remains one of the world’s poorest countries and is notorious as the land of blood diamonds. John Amman (PCV 1979) and Gary Stewart (PCV 1968) were Peace Corps volunteers in Sierra Leone and they corresponded with their Sierra Leonean friends before, during, and after the civil war. These poignant letters are included in their new book, Black Man’s Grave. Umaru Mansaray, one of the letter writers, will also join us by phone.
Black Man’s Grave is available for purchase at amazon.com
Read a letter written by Umaru Mansaray, excerpted from Black Man's Grave
Inside a Sheik’s Palace
His Highness Sheik Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi of the United Arab Emirate’s northern emirate, Ras al-Khaimah, has a grandiose dream – to build a brand new capital in the middle of his desert kingdom. The process of designing a city that will bring the sheik’s dreams to life becomes an intriguing encounter between East and West. “Wide Angle” captures this story in The Sand Castle which will premiere Tuesday, July 24 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS. We’ll be joined by the executive producer of “Wide Angle,” Stephen Segaller.
Backstory: Iran
This month’s Backstory will look at our complex relationship with Iran. Just this week, a new round of negotiations about Iraq was announced and Iranian-American scholars who are being detained appeared on Iranian state television. We will also look at Iran’s nuclear program, statements from the Bush Administration about Iran’s role in the chaos in Iraq, and whether regime change is even a possibility. We’ll be joined by Peter David, Foreign Editor of the Economist. He has edited a special report in the current issue of the Economist.
- About This Program »
- Staff Bios »
- Contact Us »
- Guest Hosts »
- Guest Picks »
- Latest Show »
- Tapes & Transcripts »
- Show Archive »
Features & Series
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
Shop at Amazon!
Leonard Lopate Show picks
Start your Amazon shopping on WNYC.org and a portion of your total purchase goes to WNYC.
More
Bill Richardson on Diplomacy
The Leonard Lopate Show
New Mexico governor Bill Richardson will be joining Obama’s cabinet as Commerce Secretary. You can hear him talk about his experience in foreign policy and diplomacy on the Lopate Show in April 2007.
Plaxico Burress on the Lopate Show
The Leonard Lopate Show
NY Giants star Plaxico Burress is in the headlines this week for his self-inflicted gunshot wound. You can hear him on the Leonard Lopate Show in July 2008 talk about his life on and off the football field, and what it was like to win the 2007 Super Bowl.
Tom Daschle on Fixing America’s Health Care System
The Leonard Lopate Show
Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle has accepted President-Elect Barack Obama’s offer to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. You can hear Tom Daschle talk about his prescriptions for fixing American’s health care crisis on the Leonard Lopate Show in March 2008.
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.
- Comments [3]
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?
