On Demand
Please Explain
A Weekly Feature on The Leonard Lopate Show
Airs every Friday at noon
In our Please Explain feature, we set aside time every Friday afternoon to get to the bottom of one complex issue. Ever wonder how New York City's water system works? Or how the US became so polarized politically? We'll back up and review the basic facts and principles of complicated issues across a broad range of topics — history, politics, science, you name it.
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Please Explain: Baking
The Leonard Lopate Show
December 19, 2008
‘Tis the season for holiday cookies, cakes, and pies. Find about the chemistry of baking, and why techniques and ingredients really do matter when creating the tastiest baked treats. Chef Katherine Alford is editor and Test Kitchen Director for the Food Network; Dorie Greenspan is a food writer, expert baker, and author of several cookbooks including Baking: From My Home to Yours.
Please Explain: Metabolism
The Leonard Lopate Show
December 12, 2008
Some diets and supplements claim to work by speeding up metabolism. Find out how metabolism works, why it’s essential to life, and whether food, exercise, and supplements really can accelerate it...or slow it down. Dr. Rosalind Coleman is Professor of Nutrition and Pediatrics at UNC-Chapel Hill; Marion Nestle is Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at NYU. She's author of several books including, most recently, What to Eat.
Please Explain: Tea
The Leonard Lopate Show
December 05, 2008
After water, tea is the most widely-consumed drink in the world. Please Explain is all about tea! Find out why it’s so popular, and how it’s shaped world history. Michael Harney is a tea expert as well as a buyer and blender for Harney & Sons of Connecticut; Jane Pettigrew is a tea historian and writer.
Please Explain: The Sun
The Leonard Lopate Show
November 21, 2008
The Sun makes up about 99% of the total mass of the Solar System. Find out what the sun is made of, how hot it is, and why humans couldn’t survive without it. Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase is an astronomer with Chicago’s Adler Planetarium and a senior research associate in the Department of Astrophysics at the University of Chicago; Chris Lintott is an astrophysicist with Oxford University and the co-host of the BBC’s astronomy program, "The Sky at Night."
Please Explain: Autism
The Leonard Lopate Show
November 14, 2008
Since the 1980s, the percentage of people diagnosed with autism has risen dramatically, and no one is exactly sure why. Find out how autism affects the brain, and what the latest theories are on how to treat it. Dr. Robert T. Schultz is Director of the Center for Autism Research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Dr. Kathy Pratt is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of America.
Please Explain: After the Campaigns Are Over
The Leonard Lopate Show
November 07, 2008
Now that the election is over – what happens to all the staff, leftover funds, and political machinery? Find out how campaigns are dismantled and transitioned after Election Day. Paul C. Light is Professor at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service; Martha Joynt Kumar is Professor at Towson University and Director of the White House Transition Project.
Please Explain: Undecided Voters
The Leonard Lopate Show
October 31, 2008
Please Explain is all about what keeps voters undecided until the very last minute. And if you’re one of those undecided voters…we’d love to hear from you. Tell us why you haven’t made up your mind, and what it will take for you to do so by Nov. 4.
Dr. Joshua Gold is Assistant Professor at the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Samuel Wang is Associate Professor of Molecular Biology and Neuroscience at Princeton University, and author of Welcome to Your Brain. We're also joined by Carroll Doherty from the PEW Research Center for the People and the Press.
Please Explain: Jealousy
The Leonard Lopate Show
October 24, 2008
Jealousy is one of the most basic human experiences; it's even been observed in infants as young as five months old. Find out what jealousy is, what causes it, and why the green-eyed monster can be both destructive and productive. Dr. Maria Legerstee is Professor of Psychology at York University; Dr. Gordon Clanton is Sociology Professor at San Diego State University.
Weigh in: Tell us about your most intense experience with jealousy, and how it affected your life.
Please Explain: Botox
The Leonard Lopate Show
October 17, 2008
Botox is the most common cosmetic procedure in the U.S.. In addition to erasing wrinkles, it’s also sometimes used to treat migraines and excessive salivation, among other conditions. Find out what Botox is, and what the risks and benefits are. Dr. Paul Greene is Associate Professor of Neurology at Columbia University; Ewen Callaway is Biomedicine reporter for New Scientist magazine.
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