On Demand
The Leonard Lopate Show
-

Commander-in-Chief
Lyme disease has surpassed both AIDS and TB as the fastest-spreading infectious disease in the U.S. We look at what can be done to stop this epidemic. Also, the best illustration art from 65 years of Golden Books. And a debut novel set in elite Mexican society. Plus, our latest Political Projections is all about the role of the President as Commander-in-Chief!
The Lyme Disease Epidemic
The Center for Disease Control estimates that there are over 200,000 new cases of Lyme disease a year. Pamela Weintraub, whose entire family contracted the disease, explains why it has exploded and what can be done to stop it in Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic.
Events: Pamela Weintraub will be speaking and signing books
Saturday, July 12 at 1:00 pm
Ridgefield Library
472 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT
Pamela Weintraub will be speaking and signing books
Friday, July 18 at 7:00 pm
Borders
162 East Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY
65 Years of Golden Books
Leonard S. Marcus, author of Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became An American Icon Along the Way, discusses a new exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83rd Street) called “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books.” The exhibit features sixty masterpieces of original illustration art from America’s best loved book lines, Little Golden Books®.
Coming-of-Age in Mexico City
Liza Monroy’s debut novel, Mexican High, is the coming-of-age story of the daughter of an American diplomat living in Mexico City. It’s also a revealing look at elite Mexican society.
Event: Liza Monroy will be speaking and signing books
Tuesday, July 1 at 7 pm
Barnes & Noble Upper West Side
2289 Broadway (at 82nd Street)
Political Projections: Commander in Chief
As Commander in Chief, the President of the United States controls the Army, Navy, Air Force, and state militias. On this month’s Political Projections, we look at how Hollywood has taken on this specific function of the President. Robert Sklar is Professor of Cinema in the Department of Cinema Studies at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Geoffrey Perret is an award-winning author of books on military history and presidential biographies, most recently Commander in Chief: How Truman, Johnson, and Bush Turned a Presidential Power into a Threat to America's Future.
You can watch the films we’ve selected and weigh in on the conversation by posting your reactions below. We may incorporate your comments into the on-air discussion.
Films we’ll discuss:
“Fail-Safe” (1964): Sidney Lumet directed this Cold War thriller about the President’s efforts to avert nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
"Seven Days in May" (1964): John Frankenheimer directed this docudrama about one general’s plot to militarily takeover the US government.
"Air Force One" (1997): Wolfgang Petersen directed this action drama about the hijacking of Air Force One and the President’s attempt to stop the terrorists while on board the plane.
"Thirteen Days" (2000): Roger Donaldson directed this thriller based on the actual events surrounding the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, taking place during the thirteen days wherein the US and Soviet Union nearly engaged in full-scale nuclear war.
- About This Program »
- Staff Bios »
- Contact Us »
- Guest Hosts »
- Guest Picks »
- Latest Show »
- Tapes & Transcripts »
- Show Archive »
Features & Series
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
Shop at Amazon!
Leonard Lopate Show picks
Start your Amazon shopping on WNYC.org and a portion of your total purchase goes to WNYC.
More
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
Recent Videos:
- Robert Stone on Nixon and Earth Day
- Moby on Music Business
- Nicholas Bakalar on The Medicine Cabinet of Curiosities
- Robert Feldman on The Liar in Your Life
- Matt Taibbi on Goldman Sachs
- Arianna Huffington on Pigs at the Trough
- Joel Grey on Images from My Phone
- Lawrence McDonald on The Fall of Lehman Brothers
- Comments [4]
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.
- Comments [33]
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 [9]
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.
- Comments [4]
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?