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Donkey Kong (tifotter/flickr)Don't Worry, Learn To Be Happy
On today’s show: a psychologist and Harvard professor explains how we can learn to be happy...and it doesn’t involve millions of dollars, convertibles, and luxurious mansions. Next, the director and subject of a new documentary on the world of competitive video gaming. Then, famed science fiction writer William Gibson on his new novel. And on this month’s Backstory, we look at how Zimbabwe transformed itself from one of Africa’s most stable countries to one of its most chaotic.
Positive Psychology
Can you learn to be happy? Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar says yes. In Happier, Dr. Ben-Shahar argues that happiness isn’t as elusive as most people think. He says that all we need is some keen self-awareness and purposeful action to uncover the key to happiness.
Happier is available for purchase at amazon.com
The King of Kong
“King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters” is a documentary that tackles the world of competitive video gaming. It follows Steve Wiebe as he perfects the game of Donkey Kong and takes on the reigning champion in a cross-country duel to see who will set the highest score ever. Leonard talks to Mr. Wiebe and the film’s director, Seth Gordon.
Visit the King of Kong website
The film opens on August 17 at the IFC Center and the AMC Empire
Spook Country
William Gibson is often considered the most influential science fiction writer of the past quarter century. Now that the present has caught up with Gibson’s vision of the future, he’s started writing about our own time – when everyday life feels like science fiction. Gibson's new novel is Spook Country.
Spook Country is available for purchase at amazon.com
William Gibson will be speaking and signing books
Tuesday, August 14 at 7pm
Union Square Barnes & Nobles
33 East 17th Street
Backstory: Zimbabwe
In the space of just seven years, Zimbabwe has managed to transform itself from one of Africa’s most stable and prosperous countries to one of its poorest and most chaotic. One estimate suggests that three million Zimbabweans have fled across the border in recent years. On this month's Backstory, we are joined by Isabella Matambanadzo, Zimbabwe Program Manager for the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, and Princeton N. Lyman, the Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, to explore the roots of Zimbabwe’s crisis.
Beyond Humanitarianism is available for purchase at amazon.com
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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.
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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.
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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?
