Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Building an Anti-Racist Classroom Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

Of the many inequities brought to light by COVID-19, the disparities that BIPOC students face in the American education system have proven to be the most complex. Creating an inclusive and anti-racist educational experience that helps students achieve their full potential is made even more difficult in the virtual classroom.

To provide their expertise on equitable education, four education leaders will speak at INFORUM on the challenges and opportunities offered by online schooling. They are Dr. Shawn Ginwright, professor of Africana Studies at San Francisco State University; Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammel, superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District; Dr. Natalee Kēhaulani Bauer, assistant adjunct professor of race, gender and sexuality studies at Mills College; and moderator Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Wright Institute Clinical Program.

Join three Bay Area education experts at INFORUM and with the Club’s education initiative, Creating Citizens, to learn more about teachers’ vital role in the construction of an anti-racist future.

NOTES

This conversation is presented in partnership with Generation Thrive, the Golden State Warriors' new game-changing, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit hub that supports the effectiveness of Bay Area academic-focused nonprofits and schools through education and wellness support.

SPEAKERS

Natalee Kēhaulani Bauer

Ph.D, Assistant Adjunct Professor of Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Mills College

Shawn Ginwright

Ph.D, Professor of Africana Studies, San Francisco State University; Author

Kyla Johnson-Trammel

Ph.D, Superintendent, Oakland Unified School District

Allison Briscoe-Smith

Ph.D., Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, The Wright Institute Clinical Program—Moderator

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded via video conference on February 26th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Fnnch and the Honey Bears: Street Art for All Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

If you have walked, biked, or driven around San Francisco during the pandemic, you have most likely seen them: multi-colored illustrations of honey bears painted onto the boards covering closed shops and other businesses. Did you know that masks bearing (forgive the word) the honey bear have raised more than $125,000 for local restaurants to prepare meals for people in need?

Now is your opportunity to meet fnnch, the elusive artist behind the honey bear. Wearing a mask—he likes to keep his identity secret—fnnch will join us for a lively discussion about public art, the pandemic, and touching others.

fnnch (pronounced like the bird) believes art is for everyone. He says only about 5 percent of a city’s residents and visitors tour its modern art museums; street art and murals are art for the other 95 percent, inspiring and engaging them with the arts. fnnch creates street art and murals using multi-layered stencils and spray paint. He calls his work “contemporary pop art,” depicting objects from nature and everyday life. Over time his work has gained a strong following on social media and has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

His art can be found in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, St. Louis, Tel Aviv and Hong Kong.

NOTES

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded via video conference on February 25th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Daughters of Kobani: Kurdish Women Warriors Against Islamic State Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

Find out what Hillary and Chelsea Clinton liked so much about The Daughters of Kobani—so much that they acquired the book's TV rights for their new production company, HiddenLight.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, the New York Times best-selling author of Ashley's War and other books, is an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and partner at Shield AI, a tech company focused on national security. Lemmon—who regularly appears on CNN, PBS, MSNBC,NPR, etc.—will discuss her latest book, based on years of on-the-ground reporting. The Daughters of Kobani, A Story of Rebellion, Courage and Justice, tells the extraordinary story of the Kurdish heroines who fought on the front lines alongside U.S. forces and helped defeat Islamic State in Syria.

NOTES

MLF: Middle East

SPEAKERS

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Journalist; Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; Author, The Daughters of Kobani, Ashley's War and The Dressmaker of Khair Khana; Twitter @gaylelemmon

Eddy Simonian

Vice Chair, Middle East Member-Led Forum, The Commonwealth Club of California—Moderator

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded via video conference on February 23rd, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at '60 Minutes' Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

Award-winning writer and producer Ira Rosen reveals the intimate, untold stories of his decades at America’s most iconic news show. When he joined the "60 Minutes" team in June 1980, he knew he had reached the heights of TV journalism, and while there he helped break some of the most important stories in TV news history. Behind closed doors, though, was a war room of clashing producers, anchors, and the inimitable Mike Wallace.

With surprising humor, charm, and an eye for colorful detail, Rosen delivers an authoritative account of the unforgettable personalities that battled for prestige, credit and the desire to scoop everyone else in the game. As Mike Wallace’s top producer, Rosen reveals the interview secrets that made Wallace’s work legendary, and the flaring temper that made him infamous. Rosen also shares his experiences as senior producer of "ABC News Primetime Live" and of "20/20", exposing the competitive environment among colleagues like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters, and the power plays among correspondents like Chris Wallace, Anderson Cooper, and Chris Cuomo.

Join us for a master class on how TV news is made.

MLF ORGANIZER

George Hammond

NOTES

This program contains EXPLICIT language.

MLF: Humanities

SPEAKERS

Ira Rosen

Former Producer, "60 Minutes"; Author, Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes

In Conversation with George Hammond

Author, Conversations With Socrates

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CLIMATE ONE: John Kerry, Gina McCarthy and Biden’s Climate Team Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

“The long-term energy future of America is not going to be written in fossil fuels,” declared John Kerry last April. President Biden recently appointed the former Secretary of State to a top position in his climate cabinet - United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

Joe Biden did not start his campaign as the “climate candidate.” But as he starts his second month as president, he is looking at everything through a climate lens – from jobs and infrastructure to international diplomacy, public health and social justice.

“He really is a person who was engaged somewhat in climate, but I don't think it was as yet sort of ingrained into him,” said former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Well, it is now!”

McCarthy and Kerry are just two of the climate leaders that President Joe Biden has tapped to put his ambitious climate plan into action. In this program, we revisit conversations with these and other Climate One guests from the past year that have been named to prominent roles in the Biden-Harris administration.

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Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick: The Limits of Progressive Politics Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

American liberals find unity on domestic issues such as immigration, racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ rights and other topics. When these issues are extended to other nations, however, unity is disrupted. In their new book Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics, scholar and political commentator Marc Lamont Hill and Middle East expert Mitchell Plitnick explore liberal indifference to the Israel-Palestine conflict and its contributions to the rise of authoritarianism.

Except for Palestine argues that progressives and liberals must extend their core principles of equality and anti-exploitation to what they call the oppression of Palestinians. They say that U.S. policy has made peace hard to achieve in the Middle Eastern region, but Hill and Plitnick are strong believers that agreement is plausible if the political concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians are taken into account. Hill and Plitnick provide a timely proposal by examining multiple dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conversation, encouraging political leaders and citizens alike to align their beliefs and politics with their values.

Join us as Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick make a bold call for the American Left to align their beliefs and policies to all corners of the world.

SPEAKERS

Marc Lamont Hill

Professor and the Steve Charles Chair in Media Cities and Solutions, Temple University; Host, "UpFront" on Al Jazeera English; Co-author, Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics

Mitchell Plitnick

President, ReThinking Foreign Policy; Co-author, Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics

In Conversation with Lara Bazelon

Professor of Law and Director of Criminal Juvenile Justice and Racial Justice Clinical Programs, University of San Francisco

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded via video conference on February 24th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

After World War II, a newly affluent United States searched for its own gourmet culture. In James Beard, whose larger-than-life presence would rule over kitchens and dinner tables for the next 35 years, America found its culinary maestro. How did this secretly queer failed opera singer from the epicurean backwater of Oregon become America’s first food celebrity? John Birdsall tells the tale in his new book The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard, bringing to life a towering figure, a man who still represents the best in eating and yet has never been fully understood—until now.

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Birdsall, who will look beyond the public image of the celebrated cean of American cooking to find a man who battled depression, self-doubt, loneliness, and the complex rules of the closet to become a beloved household name synonymous with fine cooking and the good life. Producing nearly two dozen cookbooks in his lifetime, Beard was staunchly unfussy and proudly anti-elitist, embracing the elegance and pleasures of pure, local food and “humble, everyday cooking that aims for simplicity, honors flavor over dubious thrift, and achieves perfection using fine ingredients.” His influence on American food culture cannot be overstated: he was the definitive source of knowledge and inspiration for American home cooks in the 20th century, and the inspiration for a new generation of restaurant chefs in the 1970s, including Larry Forgione, Jeremiah Tower, and Alice Waters.

Our special guest, John Birdsall, is himself a two-time James Beard Award-winning author, a former food critic and a longtime restaurant cook. He co-authored (with James Syhabout) the cookbook Hawker Fare.

SPEAKERS

John Birdsall

Author, The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard; Former Food Critic; Restaurant Cook; Co-Author, Hawker Fare; Twitter @John_Birdsall

Michelle Meow

Producer and Host, "The Michelle Meow Show" on KBCW/KPIX TV and Podcast; Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors; Twitter @msmichellemeow—Co-Host

John Zipperer

Producer and Host, Week to Week Political Roundtable; Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club—Co-host

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AgeMarch/AgeMagnificent: Everyone at Every Age Is Age Magnificent Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

Join this historic evening! Hollywood’s famed Melissa Rivers will host Barbara Rose Brooker, San Francisco native, author and founder of the first televised, virtual global AgeMarch/AgeMagnificent movement production in history, which will air on March 27, 2021.

Barbara and Melissa, opposite ages, will discuss their feelings about ageism in our anti-age culture. Barbara will talk about why and how in 2010, she founded AgeMarch, and her vision to promote a pro-age culture where people of all ages, race, genders, sexual orientations, will not be defined by age.

The AgeMarch has evolved into a current Hollywood production and a world -wide movement. Barbara will talk about the gift of age at every age, dating, mating, careers, health. All of it.

Melissa Rivers is an award-winning fashion and pop-culture host, a reality-TV star, an actress, and executive producer. She’s the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books, an accomplished speaker and lecturer, and a dedicated and vocal philanthropist and advocate. But Rivers is perhaps best known as a creator of the modern “Red Carpet” event brand through her many interviews and appearances as a co-host on the E! Television and TV Guide networks, including the globally recognized and iconic "Fashion Police."

Barbara Rose Brooker, MA, is a native San Franciscan, columnist, teacher, and author of 12 novels. Her latest novel Love, Sometimes, is being considered for a TV series. She has been on "The Today Show," Andy Cohen, "Inside Edition," "Extra," CBS, KRON TV and ABC. Her latest book Night Songs will be released in 2021. Her podcast The Rant is live on YouTube and global.

Julie Stern is one of the most highly regarded and sought-after television executives in the world. Her extensive roles include executive producer, strategist, executive consultant, chief of staff and network executive. Forbes magazine recently named Stern “A Profile of Leadership, Humanity, Humility and Hard Work.” And, for good reason. Her impressive resume includes serving as senior vice president of production for OWN, Oprah Winfrey Network, as well as vice president of production for Lifetime Entertainment, where she oversaw all unscripted programming, development and finance, which included oversight of the Emmy Award-winning hit series "Project Runway." From respected roles at NBCUniversal, ABC, CBS, FOX and most global network and cable entertainment companies, to most recently Reese Witherspoon’s "Hello Sunshine," Stern continues to bring her passion for creating unique and groundbreaking programming.

MLF ORGANIZER

Denise Michaud

NOTES

MLF: Grownups

SPEAKERS

Melissa Rivers

TV Red Carpet Host; Actor; Author

Barbara Rose Brooker

Columnist; Teacher; Author, Love, Sometimes and Night Songs; Host, "The Rant" Podcast

Julie Stern

Executive Producer, AGEMARCH

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A Citizen's Guide to Medicare for All Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

Research shows that as many as 70 percent of Americans want the government to provide universal health-care coverage, yet the idea of affordable health care continues to be a complex, partisan issue. Accessibility is pertinent. Every American interacts with the health-care system at some point in their lives, and improper access is the difference between life and death.

In their new book Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide, physicians and health-care reform activists Abdul El-Sayed and Micah Johnson look to go beyond partisan talking points to offer a feasible health-care solution. Health care is quite complex, but they say that the solution is simple: affordable, accessible medicine for all. The authors create a no-nonsense guide to health-care accessibility, prioritizing the health of all Americans in our advanced society.

A citizen’s guide to America’s most debated policy, Medicare for All offers a short, realistic roadmap to creating a health-care system for all. Join us as Abdul El-Sayed and Micah Johnson envision a hopeful and accessible future for all Americans.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded via video conference on February 22nd, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Ayaan Hirsi Ali with Bari Weiss: Islam, Immigration and Women's Rights Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

Somali-born Dutch-American politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali has long been an advocate for Islamic reform. As a former Muslim herself, she has publicly denounced forced marriage, honor violence, and female genital mutilation. In her newest book, Prey, Hirsi Ali is asking a new tough question: Is the rise of sexual assault cases in Europe correlated with the mass arrival of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries?

As a refugee herself, Hirsi Ali knows first-hand the struggles of integration and assimilation that are necessary in immigrating to a new nation. Rather than restricting immigration, Hirsi Ali is calling for Europeans to reform their broken system that allows young men to bring sexual violence and marginalization of women from the Muslim world into Europe. This violence isn’t a figment of alt-right propaganda, Hirsi Ali insists, even if neo-Nazis exaggerate it. She says it’s a real problem that Europe—and the world—cannot continue to ignore.

Join us as Ayaan Hirsi Ali and journalist Bari Weiss describe her research in Prey and imagines a new future that protects and advances the rights of women around the world.

SPEAKERS

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Human Rights Activist; Research Fellow, Hoover Institution; Author, Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights

In Conversation with Bari Weiss

Journalist and Former Op-ed Staff Editor, The New York Times

Gloria Duffy

President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club of California—Program Chair

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded via video conference on February 11th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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