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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, December 21, 2007
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    Did you know that the largest known snowflake measured 15 inches across?? On Please Explain, find out about the physics and composition of snow...and the conditions required to make a White Christmas. Also: Tom Stoppard's play, "Rock 'n' Roll." The results of our Taking Things Seriously photo project. And we hear about a program that sends inner-city kids to college on full scholarship.

    We want your New Year's food ideas. Submit your recipe here!

    And find out how you can participate in our new political film series. We're asking you to watch 4 movies about campaigns, and then tune in on Jan. 8 for a discussion.

Tom Stoppard’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll”

Four-time Tony Award winner Tom Stoppard’s play "Rock 'n' Roll" spans two countries, three generations and 22 turbulent years. Brian Cox, Rufus Sewell, and Sinead Cusack star in the new Broadway production. "Rock 'n' Roll' is at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre at 242 West 45th St.

Website and ticket info for "Rock 'n' Roll"

Taking Things Seriously

Most of us have an object that inspires us – a found seashell, a box, a souvenir, a sculpture bought at a yard sale...Our new Taking Things Seriously photo project is inspired by the recent book Taking Things Seriously: 75 Objects with Unexpected Significance, co-edited by Joshua Glenn. Joshua Glenn joins us to talk about some of the fabulous listener submissions we've gotten.

Taking Things Seriously is available for purchase at amazon.com

Weigh in: Even if you don't have a photo to submit, you can still write and tell us about an object that has special meaning to you.

More about the book Taking Things Seriously
Slideshow: user submissions
Here are a few of the submissions discussed on air

Posse Foundation: Sending Inner-City Kids to College

Macarthur "Genius" Award-winner Deborah Bial is the founder and president of the Posse Foundation, which has sent thousands of inner-city kids to college on full scholarships. Kareem Edwards is a former Posse Scholar.

Posse Foundation’s website

Please Explain: Snow

The largest known snowflake in history measured 15 inches across! We find out about the physics and chemistry of snow and what conditions we’ll need to have a White Christmas this year. Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht is Professor of Physics at Caltech; David A. Robinson is The New Jersey State Climatologist and a Professor of Geography at Rutgers University, where he conducts research at the Global Snow Lab.

Weigh in: What’s your favorite memory or experience with snow?

Rutgers Global Snow Lab website
Caltech Snowcrystals website

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.