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The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
  • Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
    Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

    Surviving Foster Care

    Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent much of her childhood bouncing among fourteen different foster homes. She explains how the system failed her, and what she’s doing now to help out today’s foster kids and parents. Also: artist Maira Kalman. Word maven Patricia T. O’Conner. And writers Zadie Smith, Vendela Vida, and George Saunders talk about creating characters in their fiction.

The Book of Other People: Zadie Smith, Vendela Vida, and George Saunders

Novelist and editor Zadie Smith asked 22 other writers to make up a character, and then write a story about that character. The result is The Book of Other People. Vendela Vida and George Saunders are two of the contributors.

Event: Zadie Smith, George Saunders, Vendela Vida, and Maggie Gyllenhaal will be reading
Wednesday, January 16 at 8 pm
Symphony Space, Sharp Theatre
2537 Broadway (at West 95th Street)
Tickets available here or by calling (212)864-5400. All proceeds go to 826NYC.

Maira Kalman’s Principles of Uncertainty

In her new illustrated book, Principles of Uncertainty, artist and philosopher Maira Kalman asks some existential questions like -- What is identity? What is happiness? Why do we fight wars?

If you can't see the video click here

Maira Kalman's website

A Survivor of the Foster Care System Speaks

Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent much of her childhood bouncing between fourteen different foster homes. She explains how the system failed her, and what she’s doing now to help out today’s foster kids and parents. Her new memoir is Three Little Words.

Weigh in: Tell us about your experiences with the foster care system. How would you like to see it change?

Ashley Rhodes-Courter's website

Word Maven Patricia T. O’Conner

Word maven Patricia T. O’Conner answers listeners’ questions about the English language. You can leave a comment below, or call us at 212-433-9692.

Patricia T. O’Conner’s Grammarphobia 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.