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The Leonard Lopate Show

Tuesday, October 07, 2008
  • Chicken Nuggets

    Beyond Chicken Nuggets

    Get tips on how to get your kids to eat foods other than chicken nuggets and pizza. Also: public radio star Sarah Vowell on America's Puritan heritage. Then, our latest Political Projections is all about presidential biopics! And to start us off: find out what made Abraham Lincoln an effective wartime commander in chief, despite his own lack of military experience.

    Check out our Redraw the Electoral Map challenge! Submit your map by October 17.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, Wartime President

Find out how Abraham Lincoln became a great wartime commander in chief despite not having any military experience. Civil War historian James McPherson’s most recent book is Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief.

Kids' Food: Beyond Chicken Nuggets

It can be hard for parents to get their finicky kids to eat healthy foods. Chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse and New York Times "Well" blogger Tara Parker-Pope share tips on how to end food battles and expand menu options for even the pickiest eaters!

Weigh in: How did you get your kids to eat foods beyond pizza, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets? Share your tips and recipes.

Event:
Tara Parker-Pope and Alice Waters will be participating in a panel discussion
"Beyond Chicken Nuggets: How to Raise a Healthy Eater"
Sun. Oct. 12th from 12:00-1:30 PM
HIRO Ballroom, 88 9th Avenue (Between 16th and 17th Sts.)
For tickets and more info, go here

Sarah Vowell on America’s Puritan Roots

Essayist and public radio favorite Sarah Vowell talks about America’s Puritan roots, beyond the shoe buckles-and-corn stereotypes, and what our 17th c. cultural heritage means for modern-day Americans. Her new book is The Wordy Shipmates.

Events:
Sarah Vowell will give a Q&A and booksigning
Wed. Oct. 8 at 7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble Union Square
33 East 17th St

Sarah Vowell has also helped plan
"REVENGE OF THE BOOK EATERS"
A benefit for NYC’s Free Writing Programs for Children
Tues. Oct. 7 at 8:00 PM
Town Hall, 43rd St. between Broadway and 6th Ave.
Tickets and more info at 826nyc.org

Political Projections: Biopics

Advisors to President Bush have claimed that “perception is reality.” We look at the ways presidents are portrayed in biographical films. When are biopics accurate depictions, and when are they more about myth-making? Leonard talks to Professor Jay Parker of Georgetown University's Department of Government, and film critic David Thomson.

You can watch the films we’ve selected and weigh in on the conversation by posting your reactions below.

Films we’ll discuss:

JFK (1991)

Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

Truman (1995)

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.”

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.

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.

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?