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The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, September 02, 2009
  • salmon

    Chewing the Fat

    You've probably heard that Omega-3s are good for you, but on today's show we'll unravel why they've all but disappeared from Western diets and the possible health consequences that could have for each of us. Then, actor and political playwright Wallace Shawn. Also, we'll learn about the life of Clarice Lispector—one of the most popular, but least understood, Latin American writers. Plus, Harvard primatologist Richard Wrangham on the key role cooking played in human evolution.

The Vanishing Youth Nutrient

Susan Allport, author of The Queen of Fats: Why Omega-3s Were Removed from the Western Diet and What We Can Do to Replace Them, looks into why the disappearance of omega-3s from our diet may be responsible for the high rates of obesity, heart disease, cancer. Her article "The Vanishing Youth Nutrient" appears in the September issue of Prevention Magazine.

Wallace Shawn

Actor and playwright Wallace Shawn discusses how he finds pathos in the political and personal challenges of everyday life. His book Essays challenges us to look at our own behavior in an honest light. He also talks about "My Dinner with Andre," which he co-wrote with Andre Gregory, being released on DVD by the Criterion Collection.

Why This World

Benjamin Moser examines the life of Clarice Lispector, who looked like Marlene Dietrich, wrote like Virginia Woolf, and was one of the most popular but least understood Latin American writers. His book Why This World tells how Lispector, a precocious Ukrainian girl matured into a great writer.

Event: Benjamin Moser will be reading and signing books
Wednesday, September 2nd, at 7:00 pm
McNally Jackson Booksellers
52 Prince Street

cooking

How Cooking Made Us Human

Renowned Harvard University primatologist Richard Wrangham argues that cooking is the major factor in human evolution. In Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, he shows that the shift from raw to cooked foods was the key factor in human evolution.

National Book Award Winners

The Leonard Lopate Show

A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!

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.

Please Explain: Eco-Labels

The Leonard Lopate Show

Your broccoli, shampoo, and air conditioner might bear labels declaring them to be organic, cruelty-free, or energy efficient, but what do those labels mean and are they true? Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Project Director for Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org and Consumers Union’s Senior Scientist for Policy Initiatives, and Dara O'Rourke, founder and CEO of GoodGuide.com, took a look at what eco-labels indicate, how standards are set, and what they mean for consumers and manufacturers around the world.

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.