On Demand
The Leonard Lopate Show
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Name That Tune
On today’s show, Dr. Oliver Sacks discusses the relationship between music and the human brain. Then, we’ll revisit the history of the Africa-to-America slave trade through the stories of those on the slave ships. Also, an exhibit of art from Africa’s equatorial rainforests. Plus, a new translation of Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
Tales of Music and the Brain
Dr. Oliver Sacks has been writing about patients with unusual and fascinating case histories since the 1970s. In his new book, Musicophilia, Dr. Sacks explores music and its relationship to the human brain, while introducing new and fascinating characters – from the man who, after being struck by lightning, found a new passion for piano, to Parkinson's patients who receive music therapy.
Events: Oliver Sacks will be speaking and signing books
Thursday, October 25 at 7 pm
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West, at 79th Street
To purchase tickets, visit the AMNH website
Oliver Sacks will be speaking and signing books
Tuesday, November 6 at 7pm
Union Square Barnes & Noble
Musicophilia is available for purchase at amazon.com
Weigh in: Tell us your most profound experience with music.
The Slave Ship
Marcus Rediker revisits the history of the Africa-to-America slave trade in The Slave Ship. He considers the relationships between the slave ship captain and his crew, between the sailors and the slaves, and among the captives themselves as they endured the violent and often deadly journey between Africa and America. Mr. Rediker also gives attention to those who have been largely excluded from the written accounts - enslaved women and the common seaman.
Events: Marcus Rediker will be speaking and signing books
Tuesday, October 16 at 6 pm
South Street Seaport Museum
The Melville Gallery
213 Water Street
Marcus Rediker will be speaking and signing books
Wednesday, October 17 at 12:30 pm
New York University
King Juan Carlos Center
53 Washington Square South, Room 607
Marcus Rediker will be speaking and signing books
Wednesday, October 17 at 7pm
Mystic Seaport Museum Bookstore
Art Gallery
75 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic, Connecticut
The Slave Ship is available for purchase at amazon.com
Art from Africa’s Equatorial Rainforests
Curator Alisa LaGamma joins Leonard to speak about “Eternal Ancestors: The Art of the Central African Reliquary,” a special exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It features sculptures from Africa’s equatorial rainforests and explores how they’ve influenced early 20th century artists.
To learn more about the exhibit, which runs from October 2 to March 2, visit here
New Translation of Tolstoy
Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky are award-winning translators of Anna Karenina and The Brothers Karamazov. Their translations have been praised by critics for capturing the author’s original tone. They’ve now translated Leo Tolstoy’s master epic, War and Peace. This new translation is already being praised for its fidelity to Tolstoy’s style and cadence, and for its accessible prose.
Events: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky will be speaking and signing books
Tuesday, October 16 at 7pm
The Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway, at 12th Street
Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky will be speaking
Thursday, October 18 at 7pm
New York Public Library
Fifth Avenue, at 42nd Street
For tickets, visit the NYPL website.
Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky will introduce a screening of Sergie Bondarchuk’s film adaptation of War and Peace
Friday, October 19 at 7pm
Film Forum
209 West Houston Street
For tickets, visit the Film Forum’s website.
War and Peace 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 [1]
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 [8]
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?
