majora carter was selected by the coca cola company to represent new york city as a torch runner for the olympics.  we chatted just before she left to go to san francisco for the actual run.  she makes the bronx real proud.

mark pomerantz is an important lawyer in new york city and he has promised to defend me every time i get arrested….well, not really, but i would much rather have him defend me than prosecute me.  when i was in college and working at a tennis club in the bronx, i used to play tennis (at 6am) with the federal judge, edward weinfeld, who mark talks about in the interview.

ruth reichl is the editor of gourmet magazine and we discussed the holiday/december issue of the publication.   i called her sexy.  are you permitted to do that on the bbc?

scott stringer is the manhattan borough president.  each of the five boroughs have a president.  when i interviewed him, i asked him if i should call him “mr. president.”  someday i know i will be calling him “mr. mayor.” 

francine lucas is the daughter of frank lucas who was a notorious drug dealer and just about the most dangerous person in harlem years ago.  the movie “american gangster” is about him and in the movie he is played by denzel washington.  francine is a lovely lady who has embarked upon a course of helping the children of people who have been incarcerated.  the first thing i asked her was “what is the name of your website?”

frank cangelosi has been fixing chairs and such things for more than a half century.  he is a classic workman who takes great pride in what he does and is definitely one of the last of a vanishing breed of craftsmen.  he has worked for the kennedy family for many years.

frank lucas is the “american gangster” as played by denzel washington.  this interview is the unedited version.  when played on air by the bbc, his references to me as a “white boy” which i actually enjoyed, and his explanation as to what a nigger is, were cut.

bob esposito is the man who sees that new year’s eve in times square is a happy safe event for all.  i asked him to let me drop the ball, but he said no.  i still like him.

robert gebbia is with the american foundation for suicide prevention and he is the executive director.  more than being just a discussion of an illness, he makes it clear that it is a major disease in the united states.  the first question i asked him was, “should we even be talking about this?  is it contagious?”        

sara moulton is the second best cook in the world.  my wife is the first.  however, sara is far more famous than my wife, but you wouldn’t know that when you talk to her because she is a nice lady who is just like a real person.  also, she is cute.