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Extreme Takeover
On today's show: Our Underappreciated Literature Series takes a look at Roberto Arlt, an Argentine writer whose unconventional prose influenced Jorge Luis Borges and others. Also, a historian illuminates the rise and fall of ancient Persia, once a powerful rival to Greece and Rome. And a journalist documents a year in the life of a Midwestern high school marching band. But first, a writer for Condé Nast Portfolio shares the inside scoop on the recent sale of Daimler-Chrysler to shadowy Wall Street firm Cerberus Capital.
Chrysler's Extreme Takeover
Cerberus Capital manages $26 billion in assets, including such familiar brands as Fila sporting goods, Mervyn’s department stores, Alamo and National rental cars, and Air Canada, yet somehow it keeps its own name out of the papers. In May, that changed. Condé Nast Portfolio senior writer Daniel Roth goes inside the secretive Wall Street firm to report on its highest-profile deal to date: the controversial purchase of automaker Daimler-Chrysler.
Read the full article, The Most Dangerous Deal in America, in the September 2007 issue of Portfolio.
Underappreciated: Roberto Arlt
Self-educated after the age of eight, Roberto Arlt worked many blue-collar jobs in his native Buenos Aires before embarking on a career as a writer. His novels had a huge influence on Jorge Luis Borges and others, but they are only now becoming available in English. Translator Michele Aynesworth will discuss the life and work of this great journalist, novelist, and playwright whose manic prose anticipated the likes of Irvine Welsh and William Burroughs.
Purchase Arlt's two best-known novels, Mad Toy and The Seven Madmen, at amazon.com.
American Band
Thirty years after Kristen Laine marched in her own high school band, she returned to her home state of Indiana to document the lives of the Concord High School Marching Minutemen for her new book, American Band.
Purchase American Band: Music, Dreams, and Coming of Age in the Heartland at amazon.com.
Weigh in: We want to hear from you if you were (or are) in a marching band. How has the experience shaped your life? And what was your favorite band routine?
Shadows in the Desert
Persia was once a superpower on par with the rival empires of Greece and Rome, but its history has been forgotten in the West. Dr. Kaveh Farrokh's new book explains how the art, architecture, religion, technology, and scholarship of Persia was spread throughout the ancient world, and highlights areas where its influence can still be seen today.
Purchase Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War 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
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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.
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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?
