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Second Acts
On today’s show: New York Times reporter Charlie Savage tells us about Barack Obama’s view of executive power now that he is President. Then, Lynda Carter joins us to discuss life after Wonder Woman. And, the great choreographer Paul Taylor will talk about his company’s new season at The New York City Center. Plus on Underreported we learn the latest scientific research on why locusts swarm and find out why the poor credit environment is forcing many people in Italy to turn to the mafia for loans.
Obama & Executive Power
On the campaign trail Barack Obama was extremely critical of the Bush Administration's expansive view of executive power, but has any of that changed now that he is President? We'll talk to New York Times reporter Charlie Savage about how President Obama is dealing with the extraordinary powers the previous occupant of the White House has left him.

Lynda Carter
Lynda Carter is famous for starring as Wonder Woman on television, but she launched her career as a singer. Ms. Carter returns to her first love with a new album "At Last," in June and a concert series at Lincoln Center March 13th & 14th.
Ticket and tour info here
Choreographer Paul Taylor
The Paul Taylor Dance Company sets the global standard for contemporary dance. Since the company's founding in 1954, Paul Taylor has choreographed 129 dances, many of which have attained iconic status, and he continues to create two new works a year for his 16-member Company. He discusses the Company's three-week season at The New York City Center.
Ticket info here
Why Locusts Swarm
Farmers have lost their crops to swarming locusts since Biblical times, but new research has revealed that serotonin plays a major role in starting a locust swarm. Dr. Swidbert Ott, a Royal Society Research Fellow at Cambridge University, explains what he and his research team found and how it may hold the key toward controlling locusts in the future.
Banking on the Italian Mafia
The credit crisis has made Italian banks less willing to give out loans. Desperate for cash, many Italian businesses are starting to turn to the Mafia for financing. Washington Post Foreign Correspondent Mary Jordan explains what this means for the Mafia and what happens to the debtors when a loan payment is due. You can read Ms. Jordan’s article on mafia financing here
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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 [2]
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.
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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?