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The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, August 31, 2007
  • Gary Sheffield
    Gary Sheffield

    Heavy Hitters

    On today's show: Baseball superstar Gary Sheffield shares his candid memoir of twenty years in the major leagues. Then journalist Cait Murphy explains how the 1908 baseball season gave birth to the game as we know it today. Also, Walter Isaacson describes his best-selling biography of Albert Einstein. And surgeon Atul Gawande challenges doctors to improve the quality of health care by improving their bedside manners.

Inside Power

Gary Sheffield has been a baseball insider since childhood, when his uncle Dwight Gooden first taught him how to play. Over a twenty year career in the majors, he's been a Brewer, a Padre, a Marlin, a Dodger, a Brave, a Yankee, and now a Tiger. His memoir Inside Power offers a candid account of his time on the field, as well as a player's eye view of the big business side of America's pastime.

Purchase Inside Power at amazon.com.

Baseball Crazy

Modern baseball began in 1908. Fortune editor - and former Little League infielder - Cait Murphy has written a lively history of that landmark season, when riots, rivalries, corruption, greed, and a cast of characters that included Christy Mathewson, Hal Chase, John McGraw, Cy Young, and Ty Cobb made for a truly unforgettable year.

Purchase Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History at amazon.com.

Einstein's World

Albert Einstein's scientific theories are so renowned that his name has become synonymous with genius. Much less is known about his personal life, who he was as a son, husband, father, and friend. Walter Isaacson's bestselling biography examines the man behind the science, shedding light on the experiences that would shape his most famous ideas.

Purchase Einstein: His Life and Universe at amazon.com.

Getting Better

A new collection of essays from surgeon and New Yorker contributor Atul Gawande challenges doctors to improve the quality of health care by improving their personal interactions with patients.

Purchase Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance at amazon.com.

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.”

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.

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.

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?