Leonard Lopate at Large on WBAI Radio in New York

It’s hard to deny that the English language has become more lazy and frivolous in recent years. We rely on clichés to communicate feelings that are far removed from any deeper meaning. In a culture of “takeaways” and buzzwords, an individual needs vigilance and discipline to keep direct, expressive language alive. In "Mind over Memes: Passive Listening, Toxic Talk, and Other Modern Language Follies,” Diana Senechal examines words, concepts, and phrases that demand reappraisal. Targeting a variety of terms, the author contends that a “good fit” may not always be desirable; delivers a takedown of the adjective “toxic” and argues that “social justice” must take its place among other justices. Join us on “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI for a lively discussion with author Diana Senechal on why words matter.

“Amazon, the company that has made Jeff Bezos the planet’s richest human being, is a critical partner for the U.S. Government in building an ever-more invasive, militarized and sprawling surveillance state,” reads Glenn Greenwald’s latest article for The Intercept, the publication he co-founded. “Indeed, one of the largest components of Amazon’s business, and thus one of the most important sources of Bezos’ vast wealth and power, is working with the Pentagon and the NSA to empower the U.S. Government with more potent and more sophisticated weapons, including surveillance weapons.” Fresh of the heels of Amazon’s retreat from building a new facility in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens after widespread local opposition, Glenn Greenwald considers the role that the man at the heart of a surveillance scandal has had in funding government efforts on the same front in this installment of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI.

In 1985, video production company owner Frank Beacham embarked on a creative journey with what was then the latest technology—the Betacam recorder—and a film legend, Orson Welles. With the first handheld camera and recorder combination ever produced, the two men set out to revolutionize the movie business—bypassing the gatekeepers to put the responsibility of art back into the artists’ hands. What happened next, neither man could have predicted. In this installment of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI, Frank Beacham and his co-author George Demas discuss writing a play entitled “Maverick” based on Frank’s experience working with Orson Welles. “Maverick” is currently being performed at Manhattan’s Connelly Theater until March 2, with George playing the role of Orson Welles.

When something breaks around the house, there’s no one better to tell you what do and how to do it than Alvin and Laurence Ubell. In this installment of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI, we open the phones so that Al and Larry Ubell can answer your questions about fixing all of the things that can break in your house or apartment. No problem is too big (or small) for these experts of repairing and renovating the home.

When we try to understand our world, we often ask why a specific event occurred. Yet, according to sociologist Gregory Smithsimon this basic analysis often leads us astray. In his book “Cause…And How It Doesn't Always Equal Effect,” sociologist Gregory Smithsimon brings the concept of cause and effect into sharper focus and demonstrates how, by using it correctly, we can solve some of our most daunting collective problems. Join us for another edition of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI when Gregory Smithsimon breaks down the intriguing thinking behind “Cause…And How It Doesn't Always Equal Effect.”

On September 9, 2010, while embedded with an Army unit and talking with locals in a small village in eastern Afghanistan, journalist Carmen Gentile was struck in the face by a rocket-propelled grenade. Inexplicably, the grenade did not explode and he survived, albeit with the right side of his face shattered and blinded in one eye. Making matters worse, his wedding engagement was on the ropes. The book “Blindsided by the Taliban” chronicles Carmen’s numerous missteps and shortcomings while coming to terms with injury and a lost love. Inventive and unprecedented surgeries would ultimately save Gentile’s face and eyesight, but the depression and trauma that followed his physical and emotional injuries proved a much harder recovery. Carmen Gentile talks about the difficult experiences that he chronicles in “Blindsided by the Taliban” in this installment of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI.

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” With these 10 words, the Oxford professor J.R.R. Tolkien ignited a fervid spark in generations of readers. From the children’s classic “The Hobbit” to the epic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien’s adventurous tales of hobbits and elves, dwarves and wizards have introduced millions to the rich history of Middle-earth, the world of his own creation. The Morgan Library & Museum’s new exhibition Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth celebrates the man and his creation. The most extensive public display of original Tolkien material for several generations, the show will include family photographs and memorabilia, Tolkien’s original illustrations, maps, draft manuscripts, and designs related to “The Hobbit,” “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Silmarillion.” In this edition of “Leonard Lopate at Large,” assistant curator of printed books and bindings at the Morgan Library John McQuillen discusses the work on display that makes this show critical viewing for any true Tolkien fan.

David J. Goodwin’s book “Left Bank of the Hudson: Jersey City and the Artists of 111 1st Street” is a window into the demographic, political, and socio-economic changes experienced in Jersey City over the last 30 years. As a Jersey City resident, Goodwin applied his knowledge of the city’s rich history of political malfeasance and corruption—including how auspicious plans for a waterfront arts enclave were repeatedly bungled by a provincial-minded city administration. In this installment of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI, David J. Goodwin discusses “Left Bank of the Hudson” and the history of this now-defunct artists' space that inspired him to tell its tale.

It would be difficult to deny that Kevin Cunningham, the executive artistic director of 3-Legged Dog in New York, has been on the cutting edge of merging technology and performance. He finds himself at an interesting crossroads. Fresh back from premiering new work at the Sundance Film Festival, 3-Legged Dog is in the process of vacating their Lower Manhattan headquarters after being forced out by their landlord, the MTA. Manhattan’s loss is Brooklyn’s gain. On Friday’s “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI, Kevin Cunningham of 3-Legged Dog talks about his plans to open a virtual laboratory for conceiving large-scale immersive performances rooted in cutting-edge technologies.

Covering fiction, poetry, science and science fiction, memoir, travel writing, biography, children’s books, history, and more James Mustich’s book “1,000 Books to Read Before You Die” ranges across cultures and through time to offer an eclectic collection of works that each deserve to come with the recommendation, “you have to read this!” The book is not a proscriptive list of the “great works”—rather, it’s a celebration of the varied mosaic that is our literary heritage. Join James Mustich and Leonard for a discussion of what the Washington Post called “the ultimate literary bucket list,” in this edition of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI.