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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, December 05, 2007
  • Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist

    Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist

    The FBI estimates that there over 200 million guns in civilian hands here in the US. A former gun rights lobbyist reveals the inner workings of the NRA. Also, whether John Coltrane was the last major figure in the evolution of jazz. Then, tenor sax player Bennie Wallace. We also look into why the Versailles peace conference of 1919 failed...are we still a paying a price for it today?

    We want your favorite holiday cookie recipe! On Dec. 11, we're hosting a Christmas cookie recipe swap. Dig up your favorite recipe and submit here.

Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist

The FBI estimates that there are over 200 million guns in civilian hands in the US. Former gun lobbyist Richard Feldman reveals the inner workings of the NRA and the debate over America’s firearms. His new memoir is Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist.

Ricochet is available for purchase at amazon.com

John Coltrane and the Evolution of Jazz

New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff says that John Coltrane may be the last major figure in the evolution of jazz. Ratliff’s new book about the sax player’s career and legacy is Coltrane: Story of a Sound.

Coltrane is available for purchase at amazon.com

Weigh in: Do you agree with the idea that jazz mostly hit a wall after the 1960s?

Listen to Leonard’s earlier interview with Ashley Kahn on the life of John Coltrane

Sax Player Bennie Wallace on Coleman Hawkins

Tenor saxophonist Bennie Wallace pays tribute to be-bop pioneer Coleman Hawkins in his new album, "Disorder at the Border."

Event: Bennie Wallace will be performing at the Jazz Standard
Wednesday, December 5 through Sunday, December 9
116 East 27th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues)
To purchase tickets, visit TicketWeb.

”Disorder at the Border” is available for purchase at amazon.com

Bennie Wallace’s website

The Price We Pay Today for the 1919 Versailles Conference

After WWI, the Versailles peace conference was intended to create a lasting peace. Instead, it helped lead to WWII, the Cold War, the current Iraq war, and more. David Andelman says we’re still tied up in the loose ends of Versailles in his new book is A Shattered Peace.

Event: David Andelman will be speaking and signing books
Tuesday, January 15 at 6 pm
Overseas Press Club
40 West 45th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

A Shattered Peace is available for purchase at amazon.com

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.

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.