Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Dr. James Gordon: Transforming Trauma Jul 24, 2020

Show notes

Trauma can come at any time in the life span and have significant impact on one's life. Trauma comes early to those who have been abused or neglected as children or arrive in the world facing the challenges of poverty and discrimination. It may come later as people deal with the pain of broken relationships, overwhelming job stress, sexual harassment, the dangers of combat or a life-threatening or serious illness. For those who live long enough, contending with the loss of loved ones, physical frailty and impending death brings still more trauma. How does one heal from trauma whenever it comes? James S. Gordon, an authority on post-traumatic stress and an acclaimed mind–body medicine pioneer, has worked for decades with individuals and communities around the world to address the damage done by trauma. In his new book, The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma, Gordon offers the first comprehensive, evidence-based program for reversing the biological and psychological damage from trauma and for discovering and growing through its challenges to become the people we’re meant to be. Offering eye-opening research, innovative prescriptive support and inspirational stories, The Transformation, for the first time, gives the reading public clear guidance in the methods that Gordon has developed and that he and his team at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine have used to relieve the suffering of hundreds of thousands of children and adults around the world. Come hear from one of world's leading experts on trauma and how to transform the lives of those suffering from it.

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Fergus Bordewich: Congress at War Jul 24, 2020

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Join us for a virtual conversation with Fergus Bordewich, whose new account of the Civil War does not focus on President Lincoln's role, but instead shows how four Republican congressional leaders often led the way, pushing Lincoln to do more and even defying him at times. Thaddeus Stevens, Pitt Fessenden, Ben Wade, and the pro-slavery Clement Vallandigham, all members of the newly empowered Republican party, passed the drastic measures to defeat the Confederacy, planned Reconstruction, created the forerunner of the IRS, laid the foundation for the Federal Reserve system, passed the Pacific Railway Act to link the heartland with California, created the Land Grant Colleges Act—which laid the groundwork for public state university systems nationwide—demanded emancipation of the slaves before Lincoln was ready to consider it, and in the process laid the foundation for a strong central government. Brimming with drama and outsized characters, Congress at War is a timely reconsideration of the conflicts of power between the White House and Congress that will change the way we understand both the Civil War and our own future. MLF ORGANIZER George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

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An Agenda for Elder Justice Jul 23, 2020

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In this era of heightened attention to social justice, one voice is not being heard—the voice of older adults. Drawing from her book Elder Justice, Ageism, and Elder Abuse (Springer, 2019) and more than 35 years as an advocate and program developer, Lisa Nerenberg will trace the forces that have given rise to the elder justice movement. These include heightened attention to ageism, the recognition of aging and elder abuse as public health matters, and the global movement to adopt a universal convention for the rights of older people. Her "elder justice agenda" offers a vision for a more just society for older adults and people of all ages who aspire to live long and fulfilling lives. She will be joined for a Q&A by Bill Benson, a thought leader and driving force in health and aging issues for more than four decades. MLF ORGANIZER Denise Michaud NOTES MLF: Grownups

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CNN's David Gergen: America Now and in 2021 Jul 22, 2020

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David Gergen is professor of public service and founding director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, positions he has held for more than a decade. In addition, he serves as a senior political analyst for CNN and works actively with a rising generation of new leaders. In the past, he has served as a White House adviser to four U.S. presidents of both parties: Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. Professor Gergen's work as director of the Center for Public Leadership has enabled him to work closely with a new generation of younger leaders, especially social entrepreneurs, military veterans and Young Global Leaders chosen by the World Economic Forum. Through the generosity of outside donors, the Center helps to provide scholarships to more than 100 students a year, preparing them to serve as leaders for the common good. The Center also promotes scholarship at the frontiers of leadership studies. In the 1980s, he began a career in journalism. Starting with "The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour" in 1984, Gergen has been a regular commentator on public affairs for about 30 years. Twice he has been a member of election coverage teams that won Peabody awards, and he has contributed to two Emmy award-winning political analysis teams. A native of North Carolina, Gergen is a member of the D.C. Bar, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the U.S. executive committee for the Trilateral Commission. He is an honors graduate of Yale and the Harvard Law School. Join one of America's most respected political observers for a discussion of the country's challenges and opportunities at this crucial time in history.

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CLIMATE ONE: John Kerry: The Global Dynamics of Decarbonization Jul 21, 2020

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What will it take to get the world’s major economies off fossil fuels? In late 2019, former US senator and secretary of state John Kerry, declared a World War Zero on carbon pollution. “It’s really putting the nation on a war footing to avoid the next pandemic which will be exacerbated by the climate crisis, and the way to get ahead of it is to prepare and make the decisions now,” says Kerry. “The long-term energy future of America is not going to be written in fossil fuels” The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to cut U.S. carbon emissions by 7.5% in 2020 — exactly the rate needed globally to meet the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. But can other major emitters like China and Europe make plans to decarbonize at the same rate without throwing their economies over a cliff? “You really can't make any progress on climate without China making an effort,” says Justin Wu, Head of Asia-Pacific, at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. “China basically has hit some of the climate goals it announced a few years ago, including the ones that were part of the Paris agreement,” Wu explains, “but so far hasn't announced any new goals yet. So we’re still waiting to see whether it has something more ambitious in store.” Meanwhile, in December 2019 European Union announced a $1 trillion green deal aimed at transforming the 27 member economies to higher quality of life and lower carbon emissions. “In Europe we are only now catching up with China,” says Julia Poliscanova, Senior Director of Vehicles & E-mobility at the Brussels-based advocacy group Transport & Environment, “so we will see. The race is on, that’s for sure and we see Europe catching up.”

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CLIMATE ONE: The 2020 Election with Tiffany Cross, Rick Wilson and Rich Thau Jul 21, 2020

Show notes

Racism, police and the pandemic are dominating hearts and headlines, but will they translate to votes in national and regional elections? One study found wavering Trump voters rank immigration and climate change as top reasons for a possible vote change, but it’s unclear if that will materialize. Other studies contend climate doesn’t even rank on the minds of swing voters.

Young, liberal Americans are leading the charge on climate, but Bernie Sanders learned they are more likely to protest than vote. What issues are top of mind for Obama-Trump voters in swing states? How will the Coronavirus and racial justice crises of 2020 impact voters this cycle?

Guests:

Tiffany Cross, Co-Founder, The Beat DC; Author, Say It Louder! Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy

Rich Thau, President & Co-founder, Engagious

Rick Wilson, Republican Political Strategist

This program was recorded via video on June 23, 2020.

For full show notes, visit our website.

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Dewey Defeats Truman Jul 17, 2020

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Join us for a virtual conversation with best-selling author, A. J. Baime, to discuss his latest book, the thrilling story of the 1948 presidential election, during which Truman mounted a remarkable comeback and staked a claim for a new course for America. On the eve of the 1948 election, America was a fractured country. Racism was rampant, foreign relations were fraught, and political parties were more divided than ever. Americans were certain that President Truman's political career was over, his own staff did not believe he could win, nor did his wife Bess. But win he did. Baime sheds light on one of the most action-packed six months in American history, as Truman not only triumphs, but also oversees watershed events: the Marshall Plan, the creation of Israel, the origins of the Cold War, and the first desegregation of the military. Not only did Truman win, he succeeded in guiding his country forward at a critical time with high stakes and haunting parallels to current events. MLF ORGANIZER George Hammond

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Zerlina Maxwell: The End of White Politics Jul 17, 2020

Show notes

Zerlina Maxwell is an expert on the divisions plaguing the liberal left. As an MSNBC political analyst and staffer on both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaigns, Maxwell witnessed firsthand the successes and failures of the Democratic party’s attempt to unify voters. Now with the 2020 election boiled down to two older white male candidates, she is asking liberals to take an introspective look at why they have been unable to engage women and people of color for years. Maxwell’s new book, The End of White Politics: How to Heal Our Liberal Divide, asks progressives to hold themselves accountable for their own racist and misogynist blindspots while also challenging them to do better by their constituents. She argues that by leaning into a more diverse landscape in American politics, every single citizen would benefit. Join us at INFORUM, where Maxwell will give us her vision on the future of the Democratic Party and how she thinks there may still be time to save it.

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Responding to the Resurgence: What Does Our Future Look Like? Jul 16, 2020

Show notes

COVID-19 cases are surging again across the United States. Governors, colleges, sports teams and others are announcing new plans every day. It’s hard to know what to expect, or understand the shifts. Is this part of the first wave of infections, or a second one? While hospitalizations are up, why are death rates are lower? With younger people making up a larger number of positive cases, what should the response be? Will schools open in the fall, and if so, under what circumstances? Will employees be able to go back to work, and even if they can, is it wise? More broadly, should we be easing restrictions or clamping down? Should our government mandate or only recommend mask wearing, social distancing, and business closing? Why does the United States seem out of step from the rest of the developed world? Never have public officials and individuals faced such complex choices and such an uncertain future. Hear two leading public health officials and policy advisors explain where we are in managing the pandemic, what we should do, and what we can expect through the rest of 2020. NOTES In association with the Zetema Project Generously supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

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Gay Family Building Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

Advancing technology, changing social attitudes and evolving laws have all combined to make establish this as a time when LGBTQ people are looking to create or expand families. How do they do it? What do they need to know? To answer these and other questions, Michelle Meow talks with fertility experts from the medical and legal realms, as well as proud parents of a new 3-month-old baby.

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