WNYC New York Public Radio Most Emailed of the Month

The Unhealthy Truth (The Leonard Lopate Show: Wednesday, 08 July 2009)

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:00 GMT

In her book The Unhealthy Truth, Robyn O'Brien argues that deregulation of the American food industry has allowed major corporations to put inexpensive- but harmful- chemicals and additives into our food which adversely affect our health.

Under Our Skin (The Leonard Lopate Show: Friday, 19 June 2009)

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00 GMT

Andy Abrahams Wilson directed the documentary "Under Our Skin," which sheds light on the science and politics of Lyme disease. He’s joined by Mandy Hughes, who tells her personal story of living with the disease. "Under Our Skin" is playing at IFC center June 19-June 25. Screening schedule and tickets here.

Events: Director Andy Abrahams Wilson and subject Mandy Hughes will be answering questions
Friday, June 19th at the 9:40 pm screening
Saturday, June 20th at the 5:05, 7:25, 9:40 pm screenings
IFC Center
323 Sixth Avenue at West 3rd Street

Food Inc. (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 09 June 2009)

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:12 GMT

Food writer Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, and Robert Kenner, the director of the new documentary Food INC., discuss the upcoming film.

Food INC. opens this Friday at Film Forum.

Live to Work/Work to Live (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 08 June 2009)

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:04 GMT

We spend much of our adult lives at work--yet what makes employment meaningful is not well understood. Alain de Botton, writer, philosopher, and author of The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, takes a look at the modern idea that you can do well by doing good.

Event
Alain de Botton will speak with Paul Holdengräber at New York Public Library tonight at 7PM. Click here for ticket info.

Question of the Day: Do you have to love your work to love your life? Comment below!

Twelfth Night (The Leonard Lopate Show: Wednesday, 24 June 2009)

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:00 GMT

Anne Hathaway and Raul Esparza talk about their roles in the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of "Twelfth Night," a comedy following the romantic adventures of Viola and her twin Sebastian, both shipwrecked in the enchanted dukedom of Illyria. It's playing through July 12 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. More information about the schedule and tickets here.

Negotiating Severance (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 16 June 2009)

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:12 GMT

Alan Sklover, senior partner of Sklover, Donath & Felber LLC, a law firm that represents employees and author of Fired, Downsized or Laid Off offers his insight on negotiating severance packages.

State Lending (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 11 June 2009)

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:49 GMT

Michael Dannenberg, Senior Fellow at New America Foundation and founder of higheredwatch blog, talks about trouble in the not-for-profit state student loan agencies and how it may affect your loans.

Conquest of the Useless (The Leonard Lopate Show: Friday, 26 June 2009)

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:00 GMT

Filmmaker Werner Herzog shares the diaries he compiled during the production of his 1982 film "Fitzcarraldo." His book, Conquest of the Useless, vividly recounts the emotional, physical and psychological toll exacted by moving a 320-ton steamship over a hill in the Peruvian jungle without the use of any special effects.

Event: Werner Herzog will be at
McNally Jackson Bookstore
52 Prince Street
Friday, June 26, at 7:00 pm

When the Time Comes (The Leonard Lopate Show: Monday, 29 June 2009)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:18 GMT

There are currently 45 million Americans caring for family members, and as the 77 million boomers continue to age, this number will only go up. Journalist Paula Span shares the stories of several families who’ve had to deal with older family members to frail to live alone but to healthy for a nursing home. She’s joined by Debbie Drelich, President of the Greater New York Chapter of Professional Geriatric Managers, and Ilze Earner, who has had personal experience caring for an aging parent. In When the Time Comes: Families with Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions, Span writes about the emotional challenges and practical discoveries about elder care options.

Cooking in a Small Kitchen with Melissa Clark (The Leonard Lopate Show: Monday, 22 June 2009)

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:10 GMT

For Part III of our Food in the City series, we’ll be discussing the tricks of cooking in a small kitchen, with food writer Melissa Clark, a frequent contributor to the Wednesday food section of The New York Times and NYTimes.com.
Watch a video of Melissa cooking in a tiny kitchen here.

A Recipe from Melissa Clark
Garlicky Shrimp with Feta and Lemon
Time: 10 minutes
3/4 cup couscous
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon boiling water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
1 pound extra-large shrimp, shelled and cleaned
1/3 cup feta, crumbled
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1-2 tablespoons capers, to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (or dill, parsley or basil), plus additional for garnish

1. Place the couscous in a medium bowl. And add the boiling water. Cover with a clean dish towel and let sit until the couscous has absorbed all the water, 3 to 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper, stirring, and cook until garlic is fragrant and golden around the edges but not brown, about 1 minute. Stir in the shrimp and let cook until they begin to turn pink, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the feta, lemon juice, capers, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Continue stirring over the heat until the shrimp are opaque and the cheese begins to melt, about 2 minutes more. Add the cilantro and stir to combine.
3. Top the couscous with the shrimp, making sure to scrape all the sauce from the pan. Serve garnished with additional cilantro, if desired.
Yield: 2 to 3 servings

Being Human in a Digital World (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 03 July 2009)

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:28 GMT

Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences and the NSF Science of Learning Center at the University of Washington, John Palfrey, faculty co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, and video game designer Will Wright, creator of Spore and SimCity, discuss what it means to be human in a digital world.

Something in the Air (The Leonard Lopate Show: Friday, 19 June 2009)

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:13 GMT

Why is Lyme disease so often misdiagnosed? The director of the documentary "Under Our Skin" investigates the emerging epidemic. Patricia Clarkson and Evan Rachel Wood talk about their roles in the new Woody Allen film "Whatever Works." Then, we’ll "put our nose to the grindstone" and investigate the history of idioms. Plus, Please Explain is all about the atmosphere.

We want your "New York" recipes!
Share your recipes – from your New York. They can be recipes you brought with you from somewhere else and adapted to your new home here in the city or just personal touches you’ve added to classic recipes over the years. Submit your recipe here.

What's The Big Idea? (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 09 June 2009)

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:12 GMT

It's a day of big name guests and big ideas. Kirsten Gillibrand gives her first interview with WNYC since becoming New York Senator. Then, Noam Chomsky, food writer Michael Pollan, and the controversial Dock Street development project in DUMBO.

Enter the Uncommon Economic Indicators Video Contest!

Tall World (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 02 July 2009)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:40 GMT

Six-foot-three-inch tall Arianne Cohen takes us on a tour of Tall World. In The Tall Book, she travels from endocrinologists' offices to the annual European Tall Club Convention, and meets the tallest couple in the world to unlock the mysteries about tallness.

Deeply Rooted (The Leonard Lopate Show: Tuesday, 23 June 2009)

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:04 GMT

A century of industrialization has created a food system riddled with problems, yet we look to nutritionists and government agencies, scientists and chefs for solutions, instead of looking to the people who grow our food. Lisa M. Hamilton profiles three unconventional farmers in her book Deeply Rooted: Unconventional Farmers in the Age of Agribusiness. She will also be joined by Teresa Podoll, one of the independent farmers she spoke with in her book.

Getting Skilled (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 25 June 2009)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:41 GMT

Richard Sennett, a professor of sociology at NYU and the London School of Economics and author of several books including The Craftsman, on why skilled workers with real-life experience in certain industries are still in high demand despite the recession.

Do you have skills envy or skills bragging rights? What practical skills do you have or wish you had? Comment below!

Charter Schools: Are They Saving Harlem's Schools or Just Pockets of Success?

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:38 GMT

New York City is well on track toward Mayor Bloomberg’s goal of having 100 charter schools by the fall. Charters are publicly funded but privately managed. Some parents believe they provide competi....

Blood, Sweat, and Gears (The Leonard Lopate Show: Wednesday, 01 July 2009)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:35 GMT

Director Nick Davis on his documentary "Blood Sweat + Gears: Racing Clean to the Tour de France," which follows the journey of an American cycling team seeking to compete in its first Tour de France, the epic French bicycle race that covers over 3,500 kilometers in 22 grueling days. "Blood Sweat + Gears" is playing on the Sundance Channel through July 25.

Slow Food for Less Money (The Leonard Lopate Show: Tuesday, 16 June 2009)

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:00 GMT

Is it really possible that families in America can no longer cook their own meals for under $10? That is what fast food companies like KFC would have you believe, but Josh Viertel, the new president of Slow Food USA, is out to prove them wrong. He and Ruth Reichl, editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, explain how healthy meals can also be affordable.

Read a Q&A with Josh Viertel from Gourmet magazine here.

Another Side of Iggy (Soundcheck: Wednesday, 24 June 2009)

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:00 GMT

Punk icon Iggy Pop has fronted The Stooges and collaborated with David Bowie. He’s also risked life and limb more often than a Hollywood stuntman. Today, Pop talks about how a French novel inspired his new album. Plus: Elizabeth and the Catapult play live in the studio.

BRT roundup (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 18 June 2009)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:37 GMT

WNYC reporter Andrea Bernstein has been reporting on Bus Rapid Transit plans from Bogota to New York City. She talks about busses in cities around the world. Then Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation discusses the results for New York's pilot BRT programs and plans for expansion.

Best Couple

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:09 GMT

When seniors at a small public high school in the Bronx cast their votes for "Best Couple" earlier this year, they chose a pair they admire but who definitely defy the stereotype of best couple. ....

Unquenchable (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 02 July 2009)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:00 GMT

Robert Glennon reports on our looming water-supply crisis. His book Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis and What to Do About It, documents present and future water crises being caused by the massive water consumption for agriculture, power generation, industry, and homes has led to reduction of groundwater and is threatening rivers and many of the nation's lakes.

Addled by Ads? (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 22 June 2009)

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:24 GMT

Carrie McLaren and Jason Torchinsky, co-editors of Ad Nauseam: A Survivor's Guide to American Consumer Culture, offer their critique of the prevalence of marketing in American culture.

Big Apple Barbeque (The Leonard Lopate Show: Friday, 12 June 2009)

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:45 GMT

We celebrate the 7th annual Big Apple Barbeque Block Party by speaking with Kenny Callaghan, pitmaster and executive chef of Blue Smoke, and Patrick Martin, a pitmaster from Nolensville, Tennessee, including an on-air sampling of different styles of barbeque. The Big Apple Barbeque Block Party is June 13-14, 11:00 am-7:00 pm, in Madison Square Park.