Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

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

For a decade, Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) India program has advanced clean energy and public health solutions while fighting climate change. As India, the world's largest democracy, prepares to vote in its general election, the country’s clean energy future remains a central question. Will India achieve its ambitious climate goals and successfully fight air pollution? What does India's rapid development mean for the rest of the world? What are the business opportunities to engage with India and clean energy? Join our experts for a discussion about India's climate actions, progress on climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Today, India stands at the crossroads of development and the future. At the same time, clean energy and energy efficient solutions are more critical than ever before. With its fast-growing economy, rapid urbanization and employment growth, India is skyrocketing, increasing energy and providing electricity to rural communities and addressing long-time poverty. Join us for this very important program about India at the crossroads as it debates clean energy and energy-efficient demands and solutions. MLF Organizer: Ann Clark MLF: Environment & Natural Resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Green New Deal is shaking up climate politics in Washington. The resolution’s ambitious clean energy goals are championed by several leading Democrats — but are criticized by Republicans for being costly and unrealistic. With an increasing number of Green New Deal alternatives being put forward by Democrats, the pressure is on Republicans to propose an actionable climate plan of their own. Is there such a thing as a bipartisan climate solution? Join us for a conversation with two Republicans and a Democrat about the politics of energy leading up to the 2020 campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Flynn Siler’s new book, The White Devil’s Daughters: The Fight Against Slavery in San Francisco’s Chinatown, is a revelatory history of the trafficking of young Asian girls—a practice that flourished in San Francisco during the first century of Chinese immigration (1848–1943)—and the "safe house" on the edge of Chinatown that became a refuge for those seeking their freedom. Starting in 1874, the brick house at 920 Sacramento Street in San Francisco’s Chinatown served as a home and gateway to freedom for thousands of enslaved and vulnerable young Chinese women and girls—a pioneering “rescue mission.” Known then as the Occidental Mission Home, it survived earthquakes, fire, bubonic plague and violence directed against its occupants and supporters—a courageous group of female abolitionists who fought the slave trade in Chinese women. Donaldina Cameron was the indomitable leader of the home for over 37 years. In 1942, the home was renamed Cameron House, and it still serves the Asian-American community today, offering a range of social services and youth programs. With compassion and an investigative historian's sharp eyes, Siler relates how the women who ran the house defied contemporary convention and anti-Chinese prejudices. These women occasionally even broke the law by physically rescuing children from the brothels where they worked or snatching them off the ships that were smuggling them in, helping bring the exploiters to justice. Siler has also uncovered the stories of many of the girls and young women who came to the Mission and the lives they later led. Sometimes these women became part of the home's staff themselves, including Tien Wu, who became Donaldina Cameron’s translator and aide. Siler will talk about this remarkable story of an overlooked part of our history—a story that still resonates today. This is the tale of immigrants overcoming great difficulties with the aid of sympathetic Americans. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Lillian Nakagawa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annie Jacobsen is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and investigative journalist whose work revolves around government secrets. She has published books on a range of topics, including what really goes on inside Area 51; Operation Paperclip, which brought Nazi scientists to America; and government-funded research projects on extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis. Her latest book delves into one of the most infamously covert agencies in the country: the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Surprise, Kill, Vanish: The Secret History of CIA Paramilitary Armies, Operators, and Assassins is an unprecedented look inside the Special Activities Division of the CIA, one of the most effective black operations in the world. Through interviews with 42 men and women who served in covert CIA operations, she delivers a shocking exposé of U.S. covert operations with the pace and novelistic skill of a thriller. Join us for an insider’s view on this controversial and understandably obscure component of American foreign policy and the political, ethical and legal quandaries that have come with it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday Night Philosophy and almost all physicists agree that quantum mechanics is among humanity's finest scientific achievements. But ask what it means, and the result will be a not-so-scientific brawl. For a century, most physicists have followed Niels Bohr's Copenhagen interpretation and dismissed questions about the reality underlying quantum physics as meaningless. That is why, even though it is a mishmash of solipsism and poor reasoning, the Copenhagen interpretation has endured, with Bohr's students vigorously protecting his legacy, and the physics community favoring practical experiments over philosophical arguments. As a result, questioning the status quo has almost always meant professional ruin. And yet, from the 1920s to today, physicists such as John Bell, David Bohm and Hugh Everett persisted in seeking the true meaning of quantum mechanics. Join us—first for the gripping story of this battle of ideas and the courageous scientists who dared to stand up for seeking truth, and then for reexamining the littered trail of half-understood research results in the never-discarded quest for answering the fundamental questions that can be summed up as: “What is real?” MLF Organizer: George Hammond MLF: Humanities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suicide and mental health are hard subjects—so Crisis Text Line leveraged the power of the data it collects to help their counselors determine the best way to talk about the topics with those in need. The nonprofit, founded in 2013 by CEO Nancy Lublin, has provided a free text-based and human-driven service to support those experiencing mental health stress, gathering data points from more than 75 million text messages sent and maximizing the impact of their information to better train counselors and support their community. Its innovative and data-driven methodology for tackling hard conversations can also be applied to more than the mental health space, including to Lublin’s latest venture: Loris.ai. Lublin’s entire career has focused on initiatives addressing social issues, and she founded Dress for Success and Do Something prior to Crisis Text Line. With her technology lens on big challenges, she continues to iterate on innovative mechanisms and creative solutions to sticky problems. At INFORUM, she’ll be joined in conversation by DJ Patil, head of technology at Devoted Health and former U.S. chief data scientist in the Obama administration, to dig into the power of data to effect change. Come curious! ** This Program Contains Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It’s the social divides that cause health divides.” Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, comes to this conclusion in his new book, Well: What We Need to Talk About When We Talk About Health. Americans spend more money on health than people anywhere else in the world, yet they lead shorter, less healthy lives than citizens of other rich countries. Galea's book is a call for a new framing of American health care, in which socioeconomic factors take on a larger role in the conversations about public health. While not obvious at first glance, Galea explains how the American fixation on medicine and symptom-focused health care misses the point—we should be preventing these medical issues in the first place. Join us for a conversation on how socioeconomic factors ultimately decide who gets to be healthy and who does not, and how we can invest in structural changes to build a healthier America for the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across the globe, democratic governance is under assault. The rise of populism in the West, and the rise of China in the East, have stirred a rethinking of how democratic systems work—and how they failed their citizens by not addressing the dislocation of globalization and the rapid disruption of technological change. Yet, despite the increasing attention paid to the impact of globalism and digital capitalism, few concrete solutions that use technology and apply the realities of globalization have been offered to close the stark divide between the haves and the have-nots. Little has been done to repair the damaged social contract in countries around the world. The Berggruen Institute, the innovative California think tank, is answering this challenge with their new book, Renovating Democracy. Berggruen Institute founders Nicolas Berggruen and Nathan Gardels challenge us to conceive of an alternative framework for governance. To truly renovate our global systems, the authors argue for empowering participation without populism by integrating social networks and direct democracy into the system. They outline steps for harnessing globalization through positive nationalism at home while advocating for global cooperation—specifically with a Chinese partnership—to create a viable rules-based world order. In a special Saturday appearance at The Commonwealth Club, just weeks before critical elections in Europe where populists are pushing for more power, Berggruen, Gardels and Berggruen Institute board member Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, will discuss this new approach to governance and why such a forward-looking approach is so critically needed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ravit Baer and Alon Sachar will discuss the recent, complex Israeli election and how the results could affect the region, the peace process, Israel and her allies, including the United States. Baer is the deputy consul general and heads the political and public diplomacy departments at the Israeli Consulate in the Pacific Northwest. She has been a career diplomat since 2004. Sachar has worked to advance Middle East peace under two U.S. administrations and served at the State Department Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. He co-authored A Path to Peace: A Brief History of Israeli Palestinian Negotiations and a Way Forward in the Middle East with former Senator George Mitchell (D–VT). MLF Organizer: Celia Menczel MLF: Middle East Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans have a love affair with Italy and Italian food and few more so than our speaker, Elizabeth Minchilli, who has written eight books on the joys of Italian life. Her latest book, The Italian Table, delivers both parts of the fantasy and reality of meals as they would be eaten in Italy. Combining menus and recipes with visual experience and inspiration—as well as insight into the traditions of the food and celebrations—it serves as a practical resource that gives home cooks and hosts step-by-step guidance on how to recreate these fabulous meals at their own tables. MLF Organizer: Cathy Curtis MLF: Food Matters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can we design a health-care system that serves all? Rupa Marya thinks we can. Through hard lessons learned, Marya joins Donna LaSala, Presidio Graduate School professor, to discuss aspects of the U.S. health-care system that are aligned with social justice and others that create injustice. They will explore workable solutions for diversity and inclusion with a systems-thinking mindset. The conversation will include engaging stories about the past and a hopeful future, including an account of how Marya served the water protectors at Standing Rock, offering medical support during the encampment. She is now helping to build a clinic to decolonize medicine called the Mni Wiconi Health Clinic and Farm. Based on her experience working for the city of Berkeley, Goodwill Industries and other triple bottom line organizations, LaSala will demonstrate how multisector partnerships can merge health care with social justice. Together, they will share what can help when the community provides wide-spread and equitable benefits. MLF Organizer: Elizabeth Carney MLF: Business & Leadership In partnership with Presidio Graduate School Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her new book, Alpha Girls, award-winning journalist Julian Guthrie tells the unforgettable story of four different women who, through grit and ingenuity, became stars in the cutthroat, high-stakes, male-dominated world of venture capital in Silicon Valley, and helped build some of the foremost companies of our time. Guthrie takes readers behind the closed doors of venture capital, an industry that transforms economies and shapes how we live. Through their experiences juggling work and family, the featured leaders and others continued to shape the tech landscape we know today while overcoming unequal pay, actual punches, betrayals, and the sexist attitudes prevalent in Silicon Valley and in male-dominated industries everywhere. Despite the setbacks, they would rise again to rewrite the rules for an industry they love, paving the way for the next generation of women along the way. Join Guthrie for a powerful live conversation featuring Magdalena Yesil, one of the “alpha girls” in the book, and Meaghan Rose, a rising startup founder. The discussion will be led by Will Hearst of Journal of Alta California. They’ll explore the world of tech, startups, venture capital and work culture—and how it has and hasn’t changed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are 2.2 million people in American prisons and jails—a 500 percent increase over the last 40 years. We have heard about the role of government policies and law enforcement practices that factor into the creation of this statistic, but we rarely hear about the individuals who interact most closely with putting these people in jail: prosecutors. Renowned journalist and legal commentator Emily Bazelon investigates the power prosecutors hold in the outcome of a case in her new book, Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution­ and End Mass Incarceration. Prosecutors are some of the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system, as they are virtually unchecked in their power to decide what to charge defendants with, how to set bail and determine the plea bargain. Bazelon shows how prosecution in America is at a crossroads and details both the damage that overzealous prosecutors can do as well as the second chances they can extend, if they choose. Join us for a conversation that investigates the unchecked power in the criminal justice system and identifies a possible solution to this mass incarceration crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global temperatures would be soaring even higher were it not for a powerful heat-trapping ally: oceans. From regulating the temperature of the planet to generating half of the oxygen we breathe, oceans are a vital part of sustaining life on Earth. Increasing their temperature as little as two degrees, however, has an opposite effect, threatening marine biodiversity and turbocharging dangerous hurricanes and typhoons. But there are bright prospects on the horizon for humans and oceans. Join us for a conversation exploring how oceans play a bigger role in climate than you may think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tubman Command is an impeccably researched historical novel that brings to light the bravery and brilliance of American icon Harriet Tubman. It’s May 1863. Outgeneraled and outgunned, a demoralized Union Army has pulled back with massive losses at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Fort Sumter, hated symbol of the Rebellion, taunts the American Navy with its artillery and underwater mines. In Beaufort, South Carolina, a female spy, code named “Moses,” is hatching a spectacular plan. Hunted by Confederates, revered by slaves, a bounty on her head, Tubman plots an expedition behind enemy lines to liberate hundreds of bondsmen and recruit them as soldiers. Gen. David Hunter places her in charge of a team of black scouts, even though he is skeptical of what one woman can accomplish. The Tubman Command tells the story of Tubman at the height of her powers, when she devises the largest plantation raid of the Civil War. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. MLF Organizer: George Hammond MLF: Humanities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Dustin Lance Black, influential LGBTQ+ activist and the Academy Award-winning screenwriter behind Milk, as he reveals his unexpectedly conservative origins in his new memoir, Mama’s Boy: A Story from Our Americas, providing personal and philosophical insight into the complicated divide between red and blue America. Black’s memoir chronicles his coming of age in a military, Mormon household in Texas and moving to more liberal California after his mother’s remarriage. Finding himself at odds with the religious and political atmosphere of his family and his community’s condemnation of his sexuality, Black kept his identity a secret. He ultimately found release and professional success in the arts and reveals that throughout his often difficult childhood, he and his mother always managed to share a powerful bond of support. When Black played an instrumental role in the overturning of California’s antigay marriage Proposition 8, she was next to him despite a lifetime of opposition. Join Dustin Lance Black live at INFORUM as he reflects on his personal journey to self-acceptance and success and shares his unique perspective on bridging the many divides in our country today. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. ** This Podcast Contains Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness is deeply rooted in American culture and society. Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health and to raising awareness, understanding and empathy. Award-winning actor and advocate Glenn Close co-founded Bring Change to Mind in 2010 after her sister Jessie Close was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her nephew Calen Pick was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Science and evidence-based programs are essential to achieving the work of BC2M. The organization’s seven public service announcements have provided stigma-reducing messaging to more than four billion individuals. By mobilizing deeply engaged change agents, especially youth, to collectively talk about mental health, BC2M is able to encourage healthy help seeking behavior, greater resilience and self-care techniques. It is transforming feelings of isolation and despair into feelings of community and hope. The organization’s peer-led high school clubs, operating in 16 states, are a great example of how youth can, and will, change the perspectives on mental illness in our lifetime. Join Glenn Close and other BC2M leaders for a conversation about the power of advocacy, science and youth leadership to reduce stigma and creative positive change in the world of mental health. Notes Part of our series on mental health, dedicated in memory of Nancy Friend Pritzker, with support from the John Pritzker Family Fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s kids are caught up in one of the largest mass migrations in human history: the movement indoors. The majority of modern Americans now spend much of their lives penned in by walls, staring at screens. Increasingly, we don’t touch, look at or even speak to each other, connecting instead through apps. When we do get together, it’s for a quick coffee or play date, because who has time for anything else? At home, children see Mom and Dad thumbing away nonstop on their devices and follow suit. The result: Our youth are suffering from a rise in health problems, heightened social pressures and a frightening set of new addictions around technology. For the editors of Outside, this dynamic represents a national crisis. Last fall, the 42-year-old magazine’s cover story, “Rewilding the American Child,” called on parents to set their kids free—from screens, from schedules, from the kind of ever-present supervision that hinders full maturation. In a collection of essays and how-to articles that was nominated for a National Magazine Award, Outside argued that today’s children desperately need opportunities to roam without adults around, play games with no winners or rules, and engage the natural world on their own terms. This program, moderated by Outside’s Marin-based executive editor Michael Roberts, will bring these topics and more to life through the experiences of two leading figures in the movement to get children—and their parents—to spend more time outdoors. Award-winning science journalist Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix, will speak about the efforts to restore the kinds of outdoor rites of passage—your first hunt, your fist fish, your first solo walk in the wilderness—that used to mark the steps on the journey to adulthood. Nooshin Razani, a pediatrician and the founder of the of the Center for Nature and Health, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland will talk about the growing trend for physicians to prescribe nature to their patients as well as her own pioneering work in helping lower-income communities access the exceptional public lands in the Bay Area. This conversation is part of an extended series of discussions that The Commonwealth Club will present in Marin over the course of 2019 on an expanded notion of health. Future conversations will address political and democratic health, China and trade health, and creativity and physical health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former San Francisco Mayor Brown will give his annual lecture on national and regional political trends in 2019. A two-term mayor of San Francisco, legendary speaker of the California State Assembly and widely regarded as one of the most influential African-American politicians of the late 20th century, Brown has been at the center of California politics, government and civic life for five decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Conversation About War, Diplomacy and Presidential Decision-Making Brett McGurk has just joined Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute. He resigned from his special envoy post this past December when President Trump announced a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria without any process or deliberation. McGurk had served as President Trump’s envoy to defeat ISIS for the past two years, helping to oversee a global campaign with a coalition of 75 countries and 4 international organizations. He was appointed to the post by President Barack Obama in 2015 and was retained in this role by the Trump administration. McGurk has had nearly two decades of diplomatic service, particularly in the Middle East, across Democratic and Republican administrations. He was presented the Distinguished Honor Award by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Distinguished Service Award by Secretary of State John Kerry for exceptional service overseas. From October 2014 to January 2016, McGurk led 14 months of secret negotiations with Iran that led to a prisoner swap and the return home of six Americans, including journalist Jason Rezaian. Before joining the Bush administration’s national security team, McGurk served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and was at the Supreme Court during the September 11, 2001 attacks, an experience that led to his practice of foreign affairs at the highest levels in Washington, D.C. and on the front lines. Come for a rare visit about his experiences as a seasoned diplomat as well as his thoughts on the direction of U.S. foreign policy and the intertwining of policy and politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mueller report continues to reverberate throughout the Trump administration and Congress, fueling renewed arguments over impeachment. Meanwhile, the administration is digging in its heels in the face of numerous investigations by House Democrats. And here at home, are things any quieter? Not on the political scene, where local and state officials are grappling with everything from vaccination bills to hot-button housing legislation. What will be the big issues when we gather on May 6 for our next political roundtable? Come find out. 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

Based on a careful study of Homer's the Odyssey, and her research on women's lives in Bronze Age Greece, Patti Trimble has written a suite of spoken poems on the women of the Odyssey. In this presentation of poetic/musical excerpts, Penelope speaks monologues on her life in the palace, weaving and thinking in her room, responding to Rumor's messages about Odysseus and his return. A poetic chorus, supported by song and music, tells the mythical–historical origins of Homer's female archetypes and monsters. Trimble uses the evolution of her imagined Penelope to weave poetic imagery onto the loom of her research from academic texts and ancient Greek writings MLF Organizer: George Hammond MLF: Humanities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Composer Jake Heggie, conductor Nicole Paiement and dramaturg Clifford Cranna share insights into the creation of Heggie’s "If I Were You,” a Faustian story that delves into issues of identity and a quest for one’s place in the world that are at once timeless and very relevant to the world today. As the hero, Fabian becomes a wealthy older man, a young handsome brute and eventually a young woman. The opera deals with issues of age, power, sexual politics and gender identity. Commissioned by the renowned Merola Opera Program, the world premiere of "If I Were You” is on August 2019 at Herbst Theatre. MLF Organizer: Anne W. Smith MLF: Arts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Politico's Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman offer a startling look at President Trump’s first two years in office and all the power struggles happening in Washington, D.C. Taking us behind the scenes to some of the most defining moments of our era, they highlight the gamesmanship, impulsiveness, fighting, backstabbing and dealmaking happening amongst our political leaders. More importantly, they share what’s really at stake for our country and the lasting impact it will have on the American people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PG&E has had a bad few years. A series of record-breaking wildfires culminating with 2018’s devastating Camp Fire propelled the California utility giant into lawsuits, $30 billion in liabilities and, ultimately, bankruptcy. Under new state laws, regulated utilities will have a hard time avoiding blame in fires where their equipment is involved—so what’s ahead for PG&E’s peers and their shareholders when a deadly blaze could spell bankruptcy? What happens when the California dream of living near nature is in direct conflict with disruptive tragedies fueled by climate change? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join LaDoris Hazzard Cordell and two young civic leaders, Hatim Mansori and David Miles, after they travel on the Club’s trip, “On the Road to Freedom: Understanding the Civil Rights Movement” in early April. The group will have spent time in Jackson, Little Rock, Memphis, Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery. Come hear a discussion on the movement from both a historical perspective and how it impacts young people today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to lead a meaningful life? Brooks believes we live in a society that celebrates freedom and takes individualism to the extreme. He explains that personal fulfillment depends on how well we choose and execute our commitments. Through his research, he identifies and explores four principal commitments that define a life of meaning and purpose. Brooks is a popular political and social commentator and appears regularly on “PBS NewsHour” and “Meet the Press.” ** This Podcast May Contain Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator Scott Wiener represents San Francisco and northern San Mateo County in the California State Senate. Elected in 2016, Senator Wiener focuses extensively on housing, transportation, civil rights, criminal justice reform, clean energy, and alleviating poverty. He chairs the Senate Housing Committee. Before being elected to the Senate, Wiener served as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, representing the district previously represented by Harvey Milk, and chaired the San Francisco County Transportation Authority. Before being elected to office, Wiener practiced law for 15 years, including nearly a decade as a deputy city attorney in the San Francisco city attorney’s office. He also served in a number of community leadership roles, including co-chair of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center and on the national board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign. Wiener has lived in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood since 1997. He received degrees from Duke University and Harvard Law School. 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

Known as the ultimate coach, the legendary Bill Campbell mentored some of the best and brightest tech entrepreneurs, including Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. In honor of Bill Campbell, authors Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle wrote Trillion Dollar Coach highlighting some of his most valuable lessons in forward-thinking business and management. The trio all recount their firsthand experiences with “Coach Bill,” giving a unique glimpse into the fast-paced environment of Silicon Valley. Schmidt served as Google CEO from 2001 to 2011, Google executive chairman from 2011 to 2015 and executive chairman of Alphabet from 2015 to 2018. Rosenberg was a senior vice president at Google and is an adviser to the Alphabet management team. Eagle is the director of executive communications at Google. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. ** This Podcast Contains Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most dramatic figure skaters on the planet, Adam Rippon won the hearts of America and the world at the 2018 Winter Olympics. With his refreshing candor and wit, he used his place on the global stage to speak out in support of LGBTQ rights and the freedom to be oneself. After the Olympics, Rippon remained in the spotlight, becoming a role model and even an icon. He was named to Time's 100 Most Influential People list, Forbes' 30 Under 30, Out magazine's Power 50: The Most Influential Voices in LGBTQ America, has been recognized with the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award and Attitude magazine's 2018 Sports Hero Award and has been honored by the Matthew Shepard Foundation. And Rippon is not slowing down—his memoir Beautiful on the Outside is due out on September 24 and he is launching a YouTube channel this spring. Now Rippon comes to The Commonwealth Club to discuss his life, his sport, and his causes. Join us for a special up-close look at an influential young voice being heard by millions. ** This Podcast Contains Explicit Language ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Hickenlooper is a Democratic candidate for president of the United States. He is a former, two-term governor of Colorado and two-term mayor of Denver. Hickenlooper's background is unique: After being laid off with thousands of other geologists in the mid-1980s, Hickenlooper was out of work for nearly two years before he and a friend decided to scrape together the money to open a brewery in an abandoned part of Denver. Working with a few other business owners, Hickenlooper helped create a new neighborhood that became a national model for urban revitalization. In 2003, Hickenlooper ran and won as a "dark horse" for mayor of Denver. He eliminated a $70 million budget deficit without major service cuts or layoffs—cutting his own salary by 25 percent. Hickenlooper also instituted major police reform, expanded pre-k and created a sweeping mass transit plan. In 2005, with an approval rating of 92 percent, Time magazine rated him one of the five best big city mayors in America. In 2010, Hickenlooper ran successfully for governor. He was reelected in 2014—one of only three Democrats to win a swing state in one of the worst cycles for Democrats in 25 years. In the past eight years, Colorado jumped from 40th in job growth to become one of the fastest growing rural economies in the nation. Hickenlooper also brought oil companies and environmentalists together to pass strict methane regulations in the country—a major contributor to climate change. Hickenlooper led Colorado’s recovery effort through major fires and floods, reopening roads, bridges and communities in record time. Hickenlooper launched his campaign for president in mid-March. Come hear from this aspiring and accomplished political leader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Variously referred to as the “Nation’s Attic” or “Octopus on the Mall,” the Smithsonian is an institution that is 172 years old and comprised of 19 museums; 9 research centers; 21 libraries; and the National Zoo, which is bound to have secrets. (Well, maybe not secrets, but certainly the uncommon, rare, curious, extraordinary—even perhaps bizarre.) Nancy E. Gwinn will delve into the fascinating history of the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum complex and America’s national museum, and share some of its intriguing stories. Gwinn has been director of the Smithsonian Libraries since 1997. She oversees a network of 21 libraries and central services units and is a recognized leader in international librarianship, in developing digital libraries, in building cooperative programs and partnerships, and in promoting Smithsonian scholarship to external communities. A former Fulbright Scholar at the University of Oxford in England, Gwinn holds a doctorate in American civilization from George Washington University, a master’s in library science from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s from the University of Wyoming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices