On Demand
The Leonard Lopate Show
-
Millions of New Yorkers of every race and religion live, work, and commute in close quarters (cb-photography/flickr)Race Matters
On today's show: three journalists from TimeOut New York will take your calls for a discussion of how much race matters in New York City. Later, two filmmakers explore the attitudes that Europeans have toward the United States. Also, author Mary Gordon shares the story of her late mother's eventful life. And for the latest installment of our Underappreciated Literature series, we'll learn about seminal Japanese novelist Junichiro Tanizaki.
Race Matters
Does race matter in New York? Today we'll speak with three journalists from TimeOut New York who just took this question to the streets. Nicole Blades, an African-American reporter, visited Asian restaurants and comic book stores in Flushing, Queens; Helen Yun, an Asian-American reporter, went to casitas in the Bronx; and Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, an Arab-American journalist, checked out the white, Irish neighborhood of Woodlawn. They'll tell us what they found.
Tell us what you think about race in New York City. Call us live on the air at 212-433-9692 or post your questions and comments here.
Weigh in: How much does race matter in New York today?
Underappreciated: Junichiro Tanizaki
In the rigid literary society of Japan, Junichiro Tanizaki stood out by constructing long narratives whose imaginative content, amplitude, and structure can rightly be called novelistic. He eschewed shishosetsu - the Japanese genre that most closely resembles the novel but includes autobiographical details - choosing instead to call attention to the fictionality of his texts. Translator Anthony Chambers will tell us why Tanizaki is considered one of the most important Japanese writers of the 20th century.
Purchase Tanizaki's Some Prefer Nettles and The Makioka Sisters at amazon.com.
Circling My Mother
In her latest book, writer Mary Gordon describes the most important woman in her life: her mother, Anna. A widow and single parent, she lived to the age of 94 despite struggles with poverty, polio, depression, alcoholism, and senile dementia, inspiring her daughter with her strength and determination.
Mary Gordon will be reading tonight at 7 pm at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Center, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street.
Purchase Circling My Mother: A Memoir at amazon.com.
The Anti-Americans
For their new film for the PBS series America at a Crossroads, producers Andrew Kolker and Louis Alvarez went to France, Great Britain, and Poland to explore the complicated attitudes that many Europeans have about the United States.
The Anti-Americans airs tonight on PBS stations, check local listings.
Visit the show's website via America at a Crossroads.
- 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
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.
Video Pick: David Chang on Momofuku
The Leonard Lopate Show
Recent Videos:
- Arthur Schwartz on The Southern Italian Table
- David Plouffe on The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory
- Ken Auletta on Googled: The End of the World as We Know It
- Paul Shaffer on We’ll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Show-Biz Saga
- George Steel on the New York City Opera’s new season
- Gail Collins on When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of Women from 1960 to the Present
- Comments [1]
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.
- Comments [4]
