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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, March 27, 2009
  • universe

    Suns, Subways, Socialism

    On today’s show: We'll hear a biography of the universe -- from quarks to galaxies. Then, law professor Jedediah Purdy on the historic figures who redefined ideas about citizenship and freedom in America. Plus, John Wray discusses his new novel Lowboy. And, our latest Please Explain is all about Socialism.

The Universe

In his book You Are Here, Christopher Potter provides a portable and accessible biography of the Universe--from its formation to its eventual end and the quarks and galaxies that exist in between.

Remaking American Freedom

Law professor Jedediah Purdy surveys the ways in which the ideals of individual liberty, dignity and fulfillment have evolved in America in A Tolerable Anarchy.

Lowboy

John Wray's critically acclaimed new novel Lowboy is about a 16-year-old schizophrenic who has wandered away from the mental hospital into the subway tunnels believing that the world will end within a few hours and that only he can save it.

Events:
John Wray will be interviewed as part of Opium Magazine's monthly literary interview series
Tuesday, April 7, at 8:00 pm
Happy Ending
302 Broome Street, at Forsyth Street
For more information, call 212-334-9676.

John Wray will be reading
Wednesday, May 6, at 7:00 pm
Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette Street

Socialism

Please Explain: Socialism

The term "socialist" has been tossed around in the news lately in reference to any number of Obama Administration policies. Find out what socialism really means, where it came from, and how it got such a bad wrap. Eric Foner is Dewitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University and James Surowiecki is business columnist for the New Yorker.

James Surowiecki will be leading a conversation on the economy at The New Yorker Summit on May 5th. More information here.

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.