Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

What does a country do when it realizes it cannot win an outright war against the United States? It turns to new subversive, clandestine types of modern warfare. This, argues CNN chief national security expert Jim Sciutto, is exactly what China and Russia have been successfully doing—winning a new kind of war that the United States has barely realized it is currently fighting. Sciutto’s new book, The Shadow War: Inside Russia’s and China’s Secret Operations to Defeat America, is filled with a dizzying amount of on-the-ground reporting. From Ukraine to the South China Sea, from the belly of a submarine under the Arctic to the highest levels of America’s Space Command, Sciutto’s experience both as a reporter and as a diplomat give him unprecedented access and a uniquely informed perspective. His words of caution (and sometimes alarm) point to the areas in which Russia and China have successfully undermined America’s reputation and credibility. Join us for a conversation with someone reporting from the front lines of modern shadow warfare. ** This Podcast Contains Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2012, after moving up the ranks at Condé Nast, Elaine Welteroth became the first African-American to hold the title of beauty and health director at Teen Vogue. At 29, she was eventually promoted to editor in chief, making her the youngest to hold the title in the company’s 107-year history and the second person of African-American heritage. Her reign at Teen Vogue was undeniably historic as she led the magazine in a new, fresh direction that allowed her young staff to create content centered on not only fashion and beauty, but also politics, social activism, world news and other topics that painted a more realistic, well-rounded picture of teen life. Throughout her wildly successful career, Welteroth has often noted that she consistently found herself alone as the only black woman in the room. Her life is filled with stories of triumph despite the numerous roadblocks put in her way, and in her memoir, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), Welteroth offers invaluable advice to young women looking to change the world in their own terms. She joins INFORUM to chronicle her life as a pioneer in media and to inspire a new generation of trailblazers. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Produce, consume, discard; we all know the routine. Raw materials are extracted, produced into goods, and used – sometimes only once – before turning into waste. And maybe we think that recycling that Starbucks cup or Smartwater bottle is the best we can do for the planet. But that’s only one part of the story. Now, innovative companies are “going circular” by transforming how their products are designed, used, and remade. Can a circular economy salvage the climate and save the planet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This program is part of our Food Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Founded in 2006 by former New York Times food contributor Ed Levine, food blog Serious Eats has combined storytelling and culinary expertise to become one of the most acclaimed food sites in the world. The site provides in-depth recipes and reviews of food products and kitchen equipment carefully tested by culinary professionals in order to provide thorough and trustworthy reviews for its readers. Levine’s forthcoming book, Serious Eater: A Food Lover’s Perilous Quest for Pizza and Redemption, recounts his challenging journey to create a successful online food publication. Levine bought the domain name Serious Eats for $100 and created the blog as a space to connect other like-minded eaters. Over the course of 10 years and with the help of a dedicated team and a supportive family, Levine has made Serious Eats into an established website with a large following. In addition to Serious Eater, Levine is also the author of New York Eats, New York Eats (More), and Pizza: A Slice of Heaven. He also hosts “Special Sauce,” a weekly podcast covering food in conversation with various prominent figures within the culinary landscape and beyond. Join Levine live at INFORUM as he reflects on his transformation from food writer to entrepreneur. This conversation will be moderated by Chef J. Kenji López-Alt, chief culinary adviser for Serious Eater and author of the James Beard Award–nominated column “The Food Lab.” ** This Podcast Contains Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Segment 1 - (10:15am - 11:45am) Is America Breaking Apart? The 2019 Travers Conference will bring together experts from around the country to assess the question of whether America is breaking apart politically. There is a sense among some that Americans are more divided than at any time since the Civil War. The conference will consider the nature of these divisions, how deep and genuine they really are, and how they are affecting governance. It will include three panels: "Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real?"; "Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization"; and "Identity and Politics in a Changing America." 10:15–10:25 a.m.: Introductory Remarks 10:30–11:45 a.m.: Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real? While there is little doubt that political elites in Washington, D.C. are highly polarized by party, to what extent are ordinary Americans ideologically divided? This panel will consider the extent to which policy preferences, partisanship and geography separate the country into different political camps. Morris P. Fiorina (Stanford) Leah Stokes (UCSB) Jessica Trounstine (UC Merced) 11:45–1 p.m.: Lunch Break Lunch provided for conference participants and attendees 1:15–2:30 p.m.: Identity and Politics in a Changing America? Many attributed Donald Trump’s election to a backlash against growing racial diversity in America. What is the relationship between demographic diversification and political change? What are the prospects for division or unity going forward? Marisa A. Abrajano (UCSD) Patrick Egan (NYU) Vincent Hutchings (University of Michigan) Ashley E. Jardina (Duke) 2:45–4 p.m.: Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization? Does polarization inevitably result in gridlock and paralysis? What are the prospects for finding solutions to pressing policy challenges in today’s divided Washington? Pamela Ban (UCSD) Steven Hayward (UCB) Jack Pitney (Claremont McKenna) Registration must be done through UC Berkeley at http://polisci.berkeley.edu/travers. Notes: Hosted by the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, UC Berkeley In cooperation with The Commonwealth Club of California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Segment 2 - (1:15pm - 2:30pm): Is America Breaking Apart? The 2019 Travers Conference will bring together experts from around the country to assess the question of whether America is breaking apart politically. There is a sense among some that Americans are more divided than at any time since the Civil War. The conference will consider the nature of these divisions, how deep and genuine they really are, and how they are affecting governance. It will include three panels: "Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real?"; "Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization"; and "Identity and Politics in a Changing America." 10:15–10:25 a.m.: Introductory Remarks 10:30–11:45 a.m.: Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real? While there is little doubt that political elites in Washington, D.C. are highly polarized by party, to what extent are ordinary Americans ideologically divided? This panel will consider the extent to which policy preferences, partisanship and geography separate the country into different political camps. Morris P. Fiorina (Stanford) Leah Stokes (UCSB) Jessica Trounstine (UC Merced) 11:45–1 p.m.: Lunch Break Lunch provided for conference participants and attendees 1:15–2:30 p.m.: Identity and Politics in a Changing America? Many attributed Donald Trump’s election to a backlash against growing racial diversity in America. What is the relationship between demographic diversification and political change? What are the prospects for division or unity going forward? Marisa A. Abrajano (UCSD) Patrick Egan (NYU) Vincent Hutchings (University of Michigan) Ashley E. Jardina (Duke) 2:45–4 p.m.: Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization? Does polarization inevitably result in gridlock and paralysis? What are the prospects for finding solutions to pressing policy challenges in today’s divided Washington? Pamela Ban (UCSD) Steven Hayward (UCB) Jack Pitney (Claremont McKenna) Registration must be done through UC Berkeley at http://polisci.berkeley.edu/travers. Notes: Hosted by the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, UC Berkeley In cooperation with The Commonwealth Club of California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Segment 3 - (2:45pm - 4:00pm): Is America Breaking Apart? The 2019 Travers Conference will bring together experts from around the country to assess the question of whether America is breaking apart politically. There is a sense among some that Americans are more divided than at any time since the Civil War. The conference will consider the nature of these divisions, how deep and genuine they really are, and how they are affecting governance. It will include three panels: "Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real?"; "Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization"; and "Identity and Politics in a Changing America." 10:15–10:25 a.m.: Introductory Remarks 10:30–11:45 a.m.: Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real? While there is little doubt that political elites in Washington, D.C. are highly polarized by party, to what extent are ordinary Americans ideologically divided? This panel will consider the extent to which policy preferences, partisanship and geography separate the country into different political camps. Morris P. Fiorina (Stanford) Leah Stokes (UCSB) Jessica Trounstine (UC Merced) 11:45–1 p.m.: Lunch Break Lunch provided for conference participants and attendees 1:15–2:30 p.m.: Identity and Politics in a Changing America? Many attributed Donald Trump’s election to a backlash against growing racial diversity in America. What is the relationship between demographic diversification and political change? What are the prospects for division or unity going forward? Marisa A. Abrajano (UCSD) Patrick Egan (NYU) Vincent Hutchings (University of Michigan) Ashley E. Jardina (Duke) 2:45–4 p.m.: Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization? Does polarization inevitably result in gridlock and paralysis? What are the prospects for finding solutions to pressing policy challenges in today’s divided Washington? Pamela Ban (UCSD) Steven Hayward (UCB) Jack Pitney (Claremont McKenna) Registration must be done through UC Berkeley at http://polisci.berkeley.edu/travers. Notes: Hosted by the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, UC Berkeley In cooperation with The Commonwealth Club of California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since 2014, George F. Ridgely, Jr. has been the executive director of San Francisco Pride. Attracting nearly 1 million attendees and participants annually, San Francisco Pride is one of the largest gatherings of the LGBTQ community and its allies in the world. On June 29 and 30, SF Pride will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with a 25-block celebration and rally in Civic Center; as well as a massive parade along Market Street, from the Embarcadero to Civic Center, on June 30th. On June 20, we will interview Ridgely and celebrate his years of work as SF Pride's executive director, a position he is leaving this year. Before joining San Francisco Pride, George was the director of operations for another iconic San Francisco event, Bay to Breakers, one of the oldest, largest and most unique footraces in the country. During his 11 years with the 12K race, George served as director of marketing before overseeing operations. For the past 16 years, George has also been involved with the Castro Street Fair; serving as their executive director from 2004–2013, and currently serving as treasurer on its board of directors. Castro Street Fair is a community celebration that was founded by Harvey Milk in 1974 and attracts about 40,000 attendees annually. Born and raised in southern Maryland, George relocated to California in 1988; he has lived and worked in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Join us as Michelle Meow brings her long-running daily radio show to The Commonwealth Club one day each week. Meet fascinating—and often controversial—people discussing important issues of interest to the LGBTQ community, and have your questions ready. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As any traveler knows, some of the best and most honest conversations take place during car rides. So, when a long-time NPR correspondent wanted to learn more about the real China, he started driving a cab and discovered a country amid seismic political and economic change. China—America's most important competitor—is at a turning point. With economic growth slowing, Chinese people face inequality and uncertainty as their leaders tighten control at home and project power abroad. In his adventurous book The Shanghai Free Taxi, Frank Langfitt provides details about his free taxi service and how he got to know a wide range of colorful, compelling characters representative of the new China. They include folks such as Beer, a slippery salesman who tries to sell Langfitt a used car; Rocky, a farm boy turned Shanghai lawyer; and Chen, who runs an underground Christian church and moves his family to America in search of a better, freer life. Langfitt is currently NPR's London correspondent, covering the UK, Ireland and Europe. He previously spent five years covering China for NPR. In China, he reported on the government's infamous black jails—secret detention centers—as well as his own travails taking China's driver's test, which he failed three times. Before coming to NPR, Langfitt spent five years as a correspondent in Beijing for The Baltimore Sun, covering a swath of Asia, from East Timor to the Khyber Pass. He is a graduate of Princeton and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard. Come for a fascinating conversation that will help make sense of the world's other superpower at this extraordinary moment in history. In association with the Asia Society of Northern California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future for LGBTQ seniors could be quite different from the past. Join us for a discussion about the challenges and new opportunities facing LGBTQ seniors. We'll hear about the latest research into what seniors need to age and thrive at home, even if their health worsens or they experience cognitive changes. Our panelists will also discuss how and why LGBTQ seniors experience health disparities and high levels of isolation, while also under-utilizing existing aging services right here in the Bay Area. ** This Program Contains Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When President Trump entered office, his administration immediately began rescinding new federal protections for transgender students in public schools. President Trump later announced, via Twitter, a ban on transgender individuals from serving "in any capacity" in the United States Armed Forces. In Trump’s second year, the administration continued to introduce anti-trans policies. They created a new Health and Human Services (HHS) Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, which is expected to offer greater protections for health care workers who do not wish to treat transgender patients. The year ended with a leaked memo, which considered narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a government-wide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law. Yet trans Americans and their allies have fought back, defining their resiliency and ability to personally succeed at historic levels. We will highlight and discuss trans policy under the Trump administration. MLF Organizer: Patrick O'Reilly MLF: Psychology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

La Cocina started in San Francisco, one of the nation’s most competitive food industries, as a grassroots organization in the Mission District. It has grown into the best-known kitchen incubator in the United States. La Cocina provides support and resources to help women, people of color and immigrants formalize and expand their food businesses to create a more diverse and equitable food industry. Caleb Zigas, executive director of La Cocina, built the original infrastructure of the incubator program. This program now supports nearly 40 growing businesses and continues to break down barriers and strengthen communities. For the first time, get a glimpse of this life-changing work with We Are La Cocina, a new cookbook that offers over 40 stories of women pursuing economic freedom and includes over 120 of their recipes, bringing a taste of that success into your own home. Join Zigas and La Cocina graduates live at INFORUM as they share inspiring stories featured in the cookbook and reflect on their journeys to entrepreneurial success as they progress toward increasing diversity and equity in the food industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Representative Eric Swalwell, an East Bay Democrat and fixture in Bay Area politics, launched his presidential campaign on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in April 2019. Swalwell’s long-awaited announcement is another marker of the generational shift emerging in the 2020 election, and he is sure that millennials are ready to take on the country’s toughest issues. Swalwell was first elected to Congress at the age of 31 after winning an upset primary contest against a 40-year Democratic incumbent. Now 38, he is one of the youngest candidates in the presidential race and, if elected, would be the youngest president in American history. He is a vocal advocate for stricter gun policies and student debt reform, two issues that have earned him national recognition. Swalwell joins INFORUM to chronicle his rise in Congress, discuss his highly anticipated campaign and urge Americans to “go big, be bold, and do good.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the context of the catastrophic Syrian refugee crises, Niveen Rizkalla will discuss her work with refugees struggling with PTSD and how secondary traumatization affects aid workers. Rizkalla, a post doctorate fellow at UC Berkeley’s Mack Center for Mental Health and Social Conflict, has an impressive record of scholarship, research and volunteerism. A Palestinian Israeli, she earned her doctorate at the school of social work at Tel Aviv University and has worked professionally and as a volunteer with survivors of trauma, war and sexual violence. In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20, join us for a program that recognizes the plight of refugees and their aid workers. MLF Organizer: Celia Menczel MLF: Middle East Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. The United States experiences the highest number of school shootings in the world. Shannon Watts decided to do something about it. In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Watts, a mother of five and former communications executive, started Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, an organization that advocates for gun regulation reform. Moms Demand Action has grown into one of the largest and most far-reaching organizations in American politics with a grassroots network in all 50 states and millions of supporters. Under Watts’ leadership, Moms Demand Action has enjoyed a 93 percent success rate in beating the NRA in state legislatures. In her forthcoming book, Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby, Watts recounts how she and other mothers turned their outrage into action to drive progress in gun safety. The book celebrates the unique strength and power of women and highlights the potential for everyone to engage in everyday activism. In addition to her work with Moms Demand Action, Watts is the founder and board chair of Rise to Run, an organization dedicated to mobilizing young progressive women to run for office, and an active board member of Emerge America. Join Watts live at INFORUM as she shares her inspiring journey of how one woman’s cry for change became a driving force in a national demand for action. Notes This program was generously supported by Levi Strauss & Co. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Distinguished Citizen Award recognizes those who exemplify the ideals and values that have guided The Commonwealth Club for over a century and whose professional and humanitarian contributions and accomplishments are worthy of admiration. The Gala is the Club's most important annual fundraiser and provides valuable support for the Club's dynamic non-partisan programming. The event cocktail hour and award ceremony will take place in the breathtaking San Francisco Ferry Building nearby. After a quick stroll down the street, the evening will continue with an intimate dinner on each level of The Commonwealth Club’s state-of-the-art new building. Guests on each floor will dine in the company of an honoree and enjoy an engaging civic dialogue featuring the honoree in conversation with a fellow thought-leader. To more easily locate each of the honorees, you may scroll through the audio to these locations; 00.35 Madeleine Albright 21.00 John Hope Bryant 51.10 Suzanne DiBianca 65.33 William and Susan Oberndorf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. As fashion designer, Tan France said, “Yes, I know I’m gayer; yes, I know I’ve got a different skin color. Yes, I know I’m a certain religion. Yes, I know I’m an immigrant. But look at all the similarities we have.” France is more than a star of the hit Netflix reboot, “Queer Eye”—he is an unapologetic representative of his many, often marginalized identities, and he leverages his unique ability to connect with others in spite of their differences. As one of the Fab Five, performing makeovers for a diverse array of people, France has played a vital role in transforming the perception of “Queer Eye” from a niche fashion show into an authentic exploration of identity and difference, and it continues to captivate viewers across the country and around the world. In his new memoir, Naturally Tan, France recounts his experience growing up gay in a traditional South Asian Muslim family in South Yorkshire. Alongside fashion advice and humor, he connects his unusual childhood to his rise to stardom and ability to connect across the divide. Experience the style icon’s charisma and compassion as he reflects on the importance of representation and the power of connection. Notes This program is generously supported by Academy SF !! THIS PROGRAM CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE - MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES !! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Department of Defense is the single largest institution in America, managing the most complex information network, carrying out more research and development than Google, Apple and Microsoft combined, owning and operating more real estate and spending more money than any other entity. As such, it has incredible power and immense responsibility. There is no better person to explain the inner workings of such a place than the man who ran it all. In his new book, Inside the Five-Sided Box: Lessons from a Lifetime of Leadership in the Pentagon, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter gives us an inside look into all that happens in one of the most secretive and secure locations in the nation—the obstacles it faces and the innovation taking place there. Unlike many of his colleagues in the Department of Defense, Carter was not always a career bureaucrat. His straightforward explanations of American foreign policy, and the ways in which the private sector and public sector can work together towards greater peace and security, reflect a refreshingly moderate perspective in such a highly-politicized era. Join us for a conversation with America’s 25th secretary of defense about what really goes on inside that mysterious five-sided box, and how people are learning to think outside it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presidential hopeful Jay Inslee is the only candidate who has made stopping climate change his top priority. The Washington state Governor is a notable departure from other Democratic candidates who regularly mention, but rarely prioritize the issue. Yet in a recent poll of public policy priorities, Americans ranked climate change next to last. Could a climate-focused candidate nudge the Democratic platform toward bolder action – let alone become the Climate President? Join us for the first in a series of conversations with the 2020 candidates about their plans for climate action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For over a century, conventional science has attributed illness and disease to mechanistic failures of the body’s systems. Rather than “victims” of dysfunctional cells and genes, the new fields of epigenetics and quantum biophysics reveal that your mind expresses creative mastery over your biology and the character of your life. A radical new insight on how the mind shapes the body was discovered in 2007. A population of exosomes, small submicroscopic vesicles in the blood, were found to be virus particles created by our own cells and designed to infect our own cells. Via the cell’s membrane, consciousness is translated into gene and behavior controlling molecules. These information molecules can be conveyed by exosome viruses to specifically targeted cells. Exosome signaling coordinates the structure and function of the body’s cellular community in shaping overall health and wellbeing, including disease states, especially cancer. Understanding epigenetic and exosome mechanisms offers profound insight on the process of expressing self-empowerment in the unfolding of our lives. Join Bruce H. Lipton for an illustrated and animated presentation that will engage your mind and challenge your creativity as you comprehend the enormous potential for applying this information in your life and practice. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Adrea Brier NOTES MLF: Health & Medicine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet a pathbreaker and a powerful persona. Donna Personna is an artist and activist for transgender rights who got her start with the Cockettes. She has served on the boards of Trans March and Transgender Day of Remembrance, and on the committees to name streets after Vicki Marlene and Compton’s Cafeteria in San Francisco’s Transgender Cultural District. In 2018, she raised San Francisco’s first transgender flag at City Hall with Mayor London Breed. Donna was the subject of the Iris Prize-winning 2013 short film My Mother and was featured in the film Beautiful by Night. Donna has been covered in media outlets such as Out, The Advocate, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Daily Beast. The immersive play she co-wrote, The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, recreates San Francisco transgender history and received many accolades, including SF Weekly’s Best of 2018. Join us as Michelle Meow brings her long-running daily radio show to The Commonwealth Club one day each week. Meet fascinating—and often controversial—people discussing important issues of interest to the LGBTQ community, and have your questions ready. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, a range of authors have tried to explain who Donald Trump is, what makes him tick, and, since he has become president, what drives his political decision-making. Legendary sportswriter Rick Reilly thinks one of the best ways to understand who the 45th president of the United States really is as a person is to study how he golfs, a sport Reilly reveres. In his new book, Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump, Reilly takes readers on an on-the-ground and behind-the-scenes look at Trump's ethics deficit on and off the course. Reilly has been with Trump on the fairway, the green and in the weeds and has seen firsthand how the president plays—and it's not pretty. Based on his personal experiences and interviews with dozens of golf pros, amateurs, developers, partners, opponents and even caddies who have firsthand experience with Trump on the course, Reilly takes a deep and often hilarious look at how Trump shamelessly cheats at golf, lies about it, sues over it, bullies with it and profits off of it. Reilly, in conversation with beloved Bay Area sportswriter Joan Ryan, will outline a new and amusing way to think about the current president, his administration and one of the country's most popular sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1974, nearly three quarters of all governments were dictatorships; today, more than half are democracies. Yet, by most measures, there are now 25 fewer democracies than there were at the turn of the millennium. Is democracy in decline? And if so, what has contributed to this regression? Larry Diamond, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, founding co-editor of the Journal of Democracy and professor of political science and sociology at Stanford University has dedicated the majority of his life to answering these questions. His newest book, Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency, takes a strong and somewhat controversial stance: The defense of democracy depends upon U.S. global leadership. However, before it can fulfill this role, American democracy itself needs to be reformed from the inside. In the book, Diamond not only shares his wealth of knowledge about democracies across the globe but also provides concrete and deeply informed measures that can be taken to reduce polarization, reduce the influence of money in politics and make elections fairer, both here in the United States as well as globally. Join us for a conversation with one of the most respected scholars of democracy about its apparent decline, the challenges it faces and how we can best protect it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bay Area's Jeff Raz presents an entertaining, inside view of his life on the road and at home as a clown, actor, teacher and playwright. Raz explores both ridiculous and profound revelations in his second book about a decades-long clowning career, The Snow Clown: Cartwheels on Borders from Alaska to Nebraska. He notes that as a teacher, a consultant and a medical clown, it takes practice and skill to ask good questions and to be quiet and acknowledge the other person in ways that build rapport. In the following excerpt, Raz has just performed a monologue at the University of Nebraska as his father’s ghost, talking about his suicide. He writes: “The theater is silent. It’s Monday morning … [I’m] determined to let the students talk first. A full minute passes. Another minute. Nebraskans are Olympians when it comes to silence. They win. This is a literature class so I say, ‘Have any of you read …’ A short young woman in a red tracksuit sporting a blond bouffant, interrupts, ‘Did your daddy really kill himself?’” Join us for a discussion on Raz’s life as a performer and the connections he’s made thus far. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Anne W. Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We face some unprecedented challenges today related to how we grow, produce, distribute and consume food. Changing climatic conditions, population growth and decades of unsustainable growing practices are leading to growing consumer demand for higher quality provenance and production practices and healthier food options. Entrepreneurs are at the forefront of this movement to design a food system that is focused on the health of people and planet. Join Presidio Graduate School for a conversation led by Renske Lynde, CEO of Food System 6, a Bay Area based non-profit organization that supports mission-driven entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions to some of our greatest food system challenges. Renske will be joined in conversation with Jordan Schwartz, co-founder and chief grainmaster of ReGrained; Andrew Falcon, CEO of Full Cycle Bioplastics; and Christine Su, CEO of PastureMap. Together they will discuss the ways in which their innovative solutions are remaking the food system as we know it. Come prepared to be inspired by these entrepreneurs and to learn how you too can become part of the good food revolution. MLF Organizer: Elizabeth Carney MLF: Business & Leadership In partnership with Presidio Graduate School Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. How do you come to terms with the need for an apology that will never come? How can the trauma of a childhood in an abusive household be put into words? And how can recounting the pain of those histories become a process of healing and personal reconciliation? These are the questions that Eve Ensler grapples with in her newest book, The Apology. It is a raw reckoning with a traumatic and unresolved past which has played an important role in Ensler’s artistic and political activist careers, and it shows other survivors of abuse how they may finally envision their own freedom from the past. Ensler’s theatrical career took off when she wrote “The Vagina Monologues,” a work of such originality and power that it ran for over 10 years and has been translated into 140 languages. The performances inspired the creation of V-Day, a global platform to share the stories of survivors and for groups to raise money for the cause through their own yearly performances of “The Vagina Monologues.” Ensler has received numerous awards, including the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship in playwriting, an Obie and Glamour’s Woman of the Year. Come join us for a discussion with a woman renowned for her artistic work and political impact on a topic for which words do not come easily but need to be heard. Audible Segments from The Apology, performed by Edoardo Ballerini. ** This Program May Contain Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, Scott Kupor has seen it all. He offers firsthand experiences and insider advice for every entrepreneur trying to secure venture capital funding. Kupor has been with Andreessen Horowitz since its inception in 2009 and has overseen the firm’s growth from $300 million in assets to over $7 billion. He is the co-founder and co-director of the Stanford Venture Capital Director’s College and was previously the chairman of the board of the National Venture Capital Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since 1931, the California Book Awards have honored the exceptional literary merit of California writers and publishers. Each year a select jury considers hundreds of books from around the state in search of the very best in literary achievement. The California Book Awards have often been on the vanguard, honoring previously unknown authors who go on to garner national acclaim. John Steinbeck received three gold medals—for Tortilla Flat in 1935, In Dubious Battle in 1936 and The Grapes of Wrath in 1939. Recent award winners include Adam Johnson, Jared Diamond, Karen Fowler, Kay Ryan, Bill Vollman, Joyce Maynard, Andrew Sean Greer, Yiyun Li, Adrienne Rich, Chalmers Johnson, Richard Rodriguez, Michael Chabon, Philip Levine, Rebecca Solnit, Galen Rowell, Jonathan Lethem, Peter Orner and Kevin Starr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daphne Muse is a Bay Area writer, social commentator and cultural broker. Her collection of more than 3,700 handwritten and typed letters dating back to 1958 reflects the voices of activists, writers, artists, actors, world leaders and media innovators who shaped movements, created new artistic visions and drove the intellectual and cultural discourse for civil rights and human rights for the 20th and the early years of the 21st century. Award-winning authors Gwendolyn Brooks, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, along with political prisoners, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, 44th President Barack Obama and architect Sir David Adjaye, are among the hundreds with whom she's corresponded. Fifty-two letters from students at the University of Baltimore were recently added to the collection. In an interview with retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, Muse will discuss and read from the letters in her collection, reflecting the voices of key figures in the civil rights, Pan-African, and black power movements. Come for a unique chance to see history through the words of those who lived it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday Night Philosophy looks into the local history of how the Civic Center was created. San Francisco is known for its iconic man-made structures such as the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and the Transamerica Pyramid. Its Civic Center is yet another of its urban planning marvels. Featuring the grandest collection of monumental municipal buildings in the United States, it was originally planned and designed by John Galen Howard in 1912 and is considered one of the finest achievements of the American reformist City Beautiful Movement. James Haas meticulously unravels the story of why the Civic Center was built, of how it became central to the city's urban planning initiatives in the early 20th century, and of how it held onto its founders’ vision despite heated public debates about its function and achievement. Its history is riddled with controversy as well as inspiring leadership, but the Civic Center remains a stunning manifestation of the confident spirit of San Francisco's dynamism and creativity. MLF Organizer: George Hammond MLF: Humanities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This event is the latest in the San Francisco Foundation’s series on People, Place and Power. Being a teenager is difficult in the best of times, but the universal work of figuring out your identity, your passions, and your path and place in the world can be even more daunting for some. Youth of color, immigrants, LGBTQ community members, and those with disabilities or in low-income households are just some of the populations who face unique challenges. Place those against the backdrop of a Bay Area where inequality is rising, long-time residents are being displaced and the tech sector (literally) towers above, and you’ve got a whole generation grappling with unprecedented questions. So how are young people surviving and thriving in a changing region? What happens when their identities are intersectional and don’t fit into a simple narrative? How are they raising awareness on critical issues to change perceptions, influence policy and spur civic engagement—and how can we better listen? Bay Area youth will take the stage to tell us just how they’re addressing questions of representation, activism and equity as they grow up in this beautiful region of contradictions. Join us to hear the next generation speak for themselves. NOTES Presented in association with KQED Program made possible by the foundation’s Bay Area Leads Fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Located in the geopolitically important Caucasus region of Eastern Europe, Georgia serves as a vital U.S. ally and a gateway for American companies to access Eurasian markets. Georgia, the birthplace of wine, is bordered to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, and to the south by Turkey and Armenia. Georgia regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and for more than 25 years, its government has been a representative democracy. Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze will address U.S.–Georgia bilateral relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, as well as the role Georgia plays as a stable democratic stronghold in its region. He will also discuss Georgia’s championing of sustainable and inclusive economic development and provide a perspective on advancing America’s commercial interests in Eurasia and beyond. Under Bakhtadze’s leadership, Georgia seeks stronger economic ties with Silicon Valley and the United States. Bakhtadze has been prime minister of Georgia since June 2018. He is committed to strengthening democracy and fostering a vibrant and sustainable economy. He has helped advance Georgia’s integration into the European Union and NATO, standing shoulder to shoulder with allies to strengthen global security. Domestically, Bakhtadze introduced a green economy agenda and lean government initiative that reduced the number of ministries and redirected budget expenditures to social programs. He has launched a comprehensive reform program to overhaul the country’s education system and pledged to allocate 6 percent of GDP to boost human capital development and empower sustainable economic growth. Prior to becoming prime minister, Bakhtadze served as minister of finance of Georgia. In this role, he carried out a number of reforms to simplify banking regulations and the country’s tax system. From 2013 to 2017, Bakhtadze worked as a CEO of JSC Georgian Railway, earning a place for Georgian Railway as one of the leaders in the industry. This program was produced in association with World Affairs of Northern California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late May, millions of Europeans will head to the voting booth for elections that will determine the future of the European Union (EU). As the Brexit controversy deepens and a violent populism rises in several European countries, this year's parliamentary elections will be decisive for the EU’s survival and instrumental in how major powers, including the United States, are affected. Please join renowned economist, academic and author James K. Galbraith in a discussion of economics, politics and the state of the European continent after the critical elections. He will be in conversation with the UC Berkeley philosopher Hans Sluga, an expert in political philosophy, to celebrate the book launch of A Vision for Europe: an international collaboration of writers, theorists, artists, political leaders and activists who have joined forces in one groundbreaking volume of exclusive writing to show how the rising tides of nationalism can be tempered; the migration crisis managed; climate change combatted; and a better, fairer democracy built for all Europeans. The book, with additional contributions from leading political and cultural figures across the globe, including Yanis Varoufakis, Naomi Klein, Slavoj Zizek, Elif Shafak, Ken Loach and Jeffrey Sachs, will be available at the event. Overview of Speakers: James Kenneth Galbraith is a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and the University of Texas as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the World Economics Association. A prolific writer whose work has been featured in The Nation, The New York Times and The Washington Post, his books include The Predator State (2008), Inequality and Industrial Change (2001), and Created Unequal: The Crisis in American Pay (1998). Hans D. Sluga is an academic specializing in analytic and political philosophy who has taught and lectured for the University of California and University College London. His writing has appeared in numerous academic journals and collections across the world in multiple languages, and his books include Politics and the Search for the Common Good (2014), The Cambridge Companion to Wittgenstein (1996), and Philosophy and Politics in Nazi Germany (1993). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a rich and varied career that has included roles as U.S. secretary of state, secretary of the treasury and secretary of labor, George P. Shultz has aided presidents, confronted national and international crises, and argued passionately that the United States has a vital stake in promoting democratic values and institutions. In speeches, articles, congressional testimony and conversations with world leaders, he has helped shape policy and public opinion on topics such as technology, terrorism, drugs and climate change. The result is a body of work that has influenced the decisions of nations and leaders and impacted the lives of ordinary people. In his newest book, Thinking About the Future, Secretary Shultz has collected and revisited key writings, applying his past thinking to America’s most pressing contemporary problems. In the more than half a century since Shultz entered public life, the world has changed dramatically. But he remains guided by the belief that “you can learn about the future—or at least relate to it—by studying the past and identifying principles that have continuing application to our lives and our world.” Here’s a rare chance to hear from one of America’s most respected statesmen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for this voyage spécial to Paris, with three travel writers who share their love of all things Parisian. They will talk about their own adventures and also read excerpts from a new edition of Vignettes & Postcards from Paris, the award-winning anthology originally created at Shakespeare and Company bookstore. Come enjoy a discussion of Parisian literary and creative culture of the past and present. MLF Organizer: George Hammond MLF: Humanities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever taken an underground sewer tour in San Francisco? Or wandered through a labyrinth where the land meets the sea? Secret San Francisco unlocks these secrets and other little-known stories about our city’s most enduring icons. You’ll find out about the real crookedest street, local windmills and an airport for flying boats. Along the way, you’ll encounter bizarre and often hilarious history, including the origins of Burning Man, Santa Con and the fight to legalize public nudity. And did you know that San Francisco was the site of the last American duel? Carlson takes you places locals would rather keep to themselves—that is, if they even knew about them! MLF Organizer: George Hammond MLF: Humanities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four years ago, 21 student plaintiffs sued the U.S. government for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property by failing to act on climate change. On the other side of the world, 15-year-old Greta Thunberg initiated a global youth strike for climate, prompting 1.6 million students in over 120 countries to leave school in protest of adult inaction. Will this global surge in youth climate action be enough to influence the decisions of industry and fossil fuel interests, let alone the current presidential administration? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1953, Robert Cutler—the first person appointed to be national security advisor to the president, and one of the closest aides to new President Dwight Eisenhower—helped put into effect an executive order that destroyed the lives of thousands of federal employees just because they were homosexual. What was not known at the time is that Cutler himself was gay. Come hear Cutler's great-nephew, Peter Shinkle, tell what he found out about Cutler, his life, and his impact. Peter Shinkle worked for 19 years as a reporter at various news organizations, including most recently the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He covered the federal court system and wrote investigative stories on subjects ranging from improper disposal of radioactive waste to contamination spread by a lead mining company. Shinkle is the great-nephew of Robert Cutler. It was during a family vacation in 2006 that his mother, Judith Cutler Shinkle, and his aunt told him that their "Uncle Bobby" was gay. That sparked a 12-year endeavor to explore the story of the man who was one of President Eisenhower's closest advisors. Join us as Michelle Meow brings her long-running daily radio show to The Commonwealth Club one day each week. Meet fascinating—and often controversial—people discussing important issues of interest to the LGBTQ community, and have your questions ready. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to be a journalist in 2019? Scott Pelley, a longtime CBS anchor and "60 Minutes" correspondent, knows better than most. In his new book, Truth Worth Telling: A Reporter’s Search for Meaning in the Stories of Our Times, he reflects on his years of experience, what it means to report the truth, and how this era of fake news and free speech controversies is still the best time to be a reporter. Pelley's book is founded upon an eloquently simple premise: “Don’t ask the meaning of life. Life is asking, what’s the meaning of you?” To answer this question, Pelley recounts the most formative moments of his career: standing with firefighters at the collapsing World Trade Center; advancing with American troops into combat in Afghanistan; his conversations with numerous world leaders. In moments as adrenaline inducing or heart wrenching as these, what is the duty of a journalist? How can a reporter navigate the emotional response to their experiences while also providing an unbiased and nuanced view of the situation? Join us for a conversation with the person most fit to answer these questions. This program is part of our Ethics and Accountability series, underwritten by the Travers Family Foundation, with additional support from the Bernard Osher Foundation for our Good Lit programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After eight years of Republican control, the blue wave of 2018 put Democrats back in charge of the U.S. House and made Representative Adam Schiff chair of the House Intelligence Committee. With broad power and jurisdiction, Schiff’s committee oversees the nation’s intelligence agencies, from components of the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, Justice, and the CIA. While his investigations and public comments have made him one of the president’s favorite Twitter targets, Schiff has defended them as vital to American security. As one of the leading Democrats in Congress, Schiff’s voice is one of the most important coming out of Washington, D.C. With their new majority, how will Democrats lead until the 2020 election? How will the completion of the Mueller investigation impact domestic politics? Join us for a timely and important conversation about politics and the integrity of the American political system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, our in-studio guests will be Brett Andrews of the Positive Resource Center and Sherilyn Adams of Larkin Street Youth. They will discuss the challenges and rewards of working in the nonprofit sector. Join us as Michelle Meow brings her long-running daily radio show to The Commonwealth Club one day each week. Meet fascinating—and often controversial—people discussing important issues of interest to the LGBTQ community, and have your questions ready. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Adam Savage is a maker. From his elaborate Comic-Con costumes to a 1,000-shot Nerf gun, he has built thousands of projects as a special effects artist and co-host of the hit TV show “MythBusters.” Savage will highlight some of his memorable ideas and shares what inspires him to build, make, invent, explore and above all else create. Savage spent 14 years as the popular co-host of “MythBusters.” He currently stars on Tested.com’s YouTube channel and is the host of “MythBusters Jr.” In association with Wonderfest ** This Program May Contain Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Nancy Pelosi first ran for political office at the age of 47, she wasn’t new to politics. From the time she spent helping her father while he served as the mayor of Baltimore, working for Jerry Brown’s presidential campaign or serving as the Democratic Party chair of California, she developed skills that would propel her to the peak of American politics. As the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, she is now the most powerful woman in the political history of the United States. In the first 100 days of the 116th Congress, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have worked on their “for the people” agenda, passing legislation to clean up corruption and restore ethics to Washington, D.C., a bipartisan background checks bill, and what many Democrats call a landmark paycheck fairness bill. House Democrats are also pursuing a bipartisan infrastructure deal, looking at ways to expand and protect the right to vote, tackling climate change, and lowering health care costs and prescription drug prices for all Americans. This progress comes as Democrats welcome the most diverse caucus in the history of Congress, including more than 100 women in the same Congress that America will mark 100 years since women won the right to vote. Speaker Pelosi says this diversity is a strength that enables Democrats to more fully represent the values and voices of the American people and deliver progress in their lives. How will the Democratic Party try to recreate the success it saw in the 2018 midterm elections? As America heads toward the presidential election in 2020, join us for a conversation with the iconic face of the Democratic Party, and bring your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for an evening to recognize community leaders advocating for immigrant rights. Immigration has become the central social issue of our time. A rise in anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric are creating instability for immigrants, including many here legally. Advocates argue that those most in need are being turned away at the border, detained, and their families separated with no clear path to follow. Yet for centuries, immigrants have come to America expecting a place of refuge, hope and opportunity. During the program, the following organizations and community leaders will be recognized: CAIR SF (Council of American Islamic Relations–S.F. Chapter), Transgender Law Center, African HRC, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Plus live music from three immigrant singers during the program: Flash is a 23-year-old metal-rock artist who hails from Nepal. He was the lead guitarist of the local band named Beside The Coffin. He immigrated to America three years ago to escape religious and political persecution. Flash is a creative, multi-instrumentalist who plays lead guitar, bass, drums and piano. He writes and produces his own music and is currently finishing an EP to be released at the end of 2019. He is one of the subjects of a documentary film currently in production with a working title “In a Flash,” which documents the lives of three music artists who use their music to escape, engage, and dream big while navigating the harsh realities of immigrant life in America. Igor Chudak is 26 years old and originally hails from Russia. Igor moved to the United States when he was 21 years old to escape the Russian persecution against LGBTQ people. In 2014, he released his first mini-album entitled “Inception.” He is currently a member of the San Francisco Gay Man’s Chorus and is about to release his first American EP entitled “Out of Faith.” Igor has developed a drag queen alter ego named "Mila Knockabitch," the supposed sister of Melania Trump, and has a Youtube comedy series called “Russian Concussion.” He is part of the advisory council of the LGBT Asylum Project. Tookta is a Thai Molam (folk, country) singer. She started singing at the tender age of 12 years old. Her sound and genre is specific to the Isaan region of Thailand. She has performed for an audience of more than 100,000 on Mother's Day for Thailand's queen. In addition to a successful career as a Molam singer, Tookta has also performed as a popular stand-up comedian. She immigrated to the United States 2 years ago and is now beginning a new chapter in her life and career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The speakers will survey the retirement living options available in the Bay Area, from living at home to choosing a communal living option. Learn the key decision points in comparing rental, equity-based options, entry fee communities and assisted living. A spreadsheet answering frequently asked questions will be provided. Subsidized, low-income housing options will not be included in this program. MLF Organizer: Denise Michaud MLF: Grownups Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does a former advisor to Richard Nixon think about the climate crisis? “This is turning out exactly the way scientists predicted, with one exception: it’s happening faster than they thought,” says David Gergen, who served in four presidential administrations. “The question is what can we do rapidly that would alleviate this and be fair to all.” InsideClimate News reporter Marianne Lavelle credits the Green New Deal for moving the debate forward, while Republican pollster Lori Weigel highlights the divergence between GOP voters and the current administration’s environmental policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we discuss the biggest, most controversial and sometimes the surprising political issues with expert commentary by panelists who are smart, are civil and have a good sense of humor. Our panelists will provide informative and engaging commentary on political and other major news, and we'll have audience discussion of the week’s events and our live news quiz! And come early before the program to meet other smart and engaged individuals and discuss the news over snacks and wine at our members social (open to all attendees). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Technology has transformed the often-confusing personal finance landscape. From Bitcoin to mobile pay, digitization has fundamentally changed the rules of spending, saving and investing, and financial guru Alexa von Tobel views these changes as incredible opportunities. Von Tobel’s confusion surrounding her own personal finances as a young professional shaped the trajectory of her career. She dropped out of Harvard Business School to found LearnVest.com, a personal finance website with the goal of helping other women take control of their money, before launching her new venture capital firm, Inspired Capital Partners. In her new book, Financially Forward: How to Use Today's Digital Tools to Earn More, Save Better, and Spend Smarter, she demonstrates how to harness the smartphone-accessible tools of the digital age to maximize financial gain, covering everything from financial planning to preparing for the future of digital money. Join von Tobel live at INFORUM as she reflects on how the digital age has created new potential for successful financial planning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Franca Viola made #MeToo history in 1966. When she was 18, she refused to go along with a centuries-old forcible marriage custom in Sicily. Having endured kidnap and rape, she publicly defied the expectation that she would marry the rapist in order to “restore her broken honor.” A social uproar occurred throughout the island and beyond. Two decades later, with little more than the memory of the article she had read, author Natalie Galli traveled to Palermo to search for Viola. Galli wanted to know: What had become of this courageous girl who had defied an ancient tradition? Galli recounts the riveting events after Viola pressed charges with the police: Franca was publicly taunted whenever she appeared on the street, Mafia-orchestrated bullying threatened her entire family, and her own relatives pleaded with her not to break the Sicilian code of silence. Throughout her search for the enigmatic Viola, Galli shares her own poignant and hilarious observations about a vibrant culture steeped in contradictions and paradoxes. Does Galli succeed in locating the elusive protofeminist? Join us for Galli's odyssey and find out. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether it was the invention of the radio at the beginning of the 20th century or the advent of smartphones in the mid-to-late 2000s, technological revolutions have fundamentally shaped the era with which they are associated. Yet, according to Susan Hockfield, technological advances are only the half of it. It is instead the combination of technological innovation with biological research that are producing and will produce the most revolutionary products and technological advances of our time. Her new book, The Age of Living Machines: How Biology Will Build the Next Technology Revolution, describes some of the most exciting developments in this field, including mind-reading bionic limbs, cancer-detecting nanoparticles, virus-built batteries and protein-based water filters. What is even more impressive is the fact that many of these technologies were the result of Hockfield’s own foresight and tenacity. As the first female president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hockfield was a key advocate for interdisciplinary research and breaking down borders between fields. Join us for an optimistic conversation about how these living machines may help us overcome some of the greatest humanitarian, medical and environmental challenges of our time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices