wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
  • 9/11
    (Anosmia/flickr)

    What Ifs

    If the U.S. had pursued a different foreign policy during the '80s and '90s, could 9/11 have been prevented? Also: BAM Cinematek’s celebration of J. Hoberman’s 30 years as a film critic for the Village Voice. We hear about the exciting discovery of a 52-million-year-old fossil of a primitive bat. And the guru of how-to, Larry Ubell, answers your home repair questions!

Gov. Spitzer's Resignation Speech

Leonard talks with WNYC's Brian Lehrer and Andrea Bernstein about Gov. Eliot Spitzer's official resignation.

Weigh in: What did you think of Spitzer's resignation speech?

Could Better Afghanistan Policy Have Prevented 9/11?

Could 9/11 have been prevented if the US had pursued a different foreign policy in Afghanistan in the 80s and 90s? Journalist Roy Gutman talks about American policy missteps in Afghanistan in his new book How We Missed the Story: Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban and the Hijacking of Afghanistan.

30 Years of J. Hoberman

BAMcinematek is celebrating J. Hoberman’s 30 years as a film critic for The Village Voice with a series curated by Hoberman.

More info about “30 Years of J. Hoberman” at BAM.org
Village Voice's film coverage

Bat fossil

52-Million-Year-Old Bat Fossil

Researchers have unearthed a 52-million-year-old fossil of a primitive bat that proves that bats developed the ability to fly before echolocation. Dr. Nancy Simmons of the American Museum of Natural History explains why scientists are so excited about this discovery.

More about Dr. Simmons at the AMNH

Al and Larry Ubell, Gurus of How-To

The guru of how-to Larry Ubell answers your home repair questions! Call us at 212-433-9692 or leave a comment below.

Al and Larry Ubell, Accurate Building Inspectors

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.