Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ambassador Samantha Power Sep 18, 2019

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Samantha Power, former President Barack Obama’s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is widely known as a leading moral voice of her generation. Power has been described by President Obama as one of America’s “foremost thinkers on foreign policy” and is revered as a Pulitzer Prize winner and a relentless advocate for promoting human rights. In her memoir, The Education of an Idealist, Power traces her extraordinary career and her change from an outspoken war correspondent and vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy to working with Obama in the Senate, on the campaign trail and throughout his presidency. Power takes us across the world from the streets of war-torn Bosnia to the White House Situation Room and delves into the complex networks of high-stakes diplomacy through her humorous, stirring and ultimately unforgettable account of the striking power of idealism. Join us for an invigorating and honest conversation with a world leader and human rights activist as she empowers us to approach global politics with a clearer eye and a kinder heart. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.

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Kevin Bard, President of the Harvey Milk Democratic Club Sep 17, 2019

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San Bernardino native Kevin Bard earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in political science from San Francisco State University with a focus on American politics and political theory. His thesis is a biography of his former local supervisor Ed Jew. He began his journey in local politics in college with the SF State Young Democrats, then joining the San Francisco Young Democrats. He worked for the California Democratic Party as the volunteer coordinator during the 2008 coordinated campaign with the Obama Campaign. Kevin then joined the Harvey Milk Club‚a decade ag0—and worked his way up to the organization's president in 2019. Just prior to that, he worked as a campaign organizer at the Nancy Pelosi Red To Blue office, which helped flip the House of Representatives and then convened the California AD 17 delegate election in January a few days before winning the Milk Club presidency. 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. See more upcoming Michelle Meow Shows at The Commonwealth Club here.

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CLIMATE ONE: From Wheels to Wings: Our Flying Car Future Sep 15, 2019

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Can we beat the traffic by taking to the skies? Sailing over freeways in a flying car, getting to work in minutes instead of hours, has long been the stuff of science fiction. But ambitious startups are on their way to making three-dimensional commutes a reality. For now, there are still many challenges to getting those flying cars off the ground, from mechanics and design to infrastructure, regulatory issues, air traffic and zoning. What does our flying car future look like?

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Sean Carroll: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Space-Time Sep 15, 2019

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Quantum mechanics is the most accurate and far-reaching theory in physics, yet physicists themselves readily admit that they don't understand it. But Caltech physicist and New York Times best-selling author Sean Carroll suggests that we do have a very promising way of understanding the mysteries of the quantum world. Previously featured on “The Colbert Report” and PBS’s “Nova,” theoretical physicist Carroll will explore quantum discoveries throughout history, unveiling how the atomic and subatomic worlds impact our daily lives and giving us a whole new way of comprehending the cosmos. In association with Wonderfest

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Life After Liquidity Sep 13, 2019

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This program is generously supported by First Republic Bank San Francisco’s 2019 IPO (initial public offering) wave has made national headlines, but little has been said to equip employees for the major cultural shifts they will face as their companies consider liquidity strategies. What does the lead-up entail, and what does life after liquidity look like for executive leadership and employees alike? Join a panel of experts as they share their own post-liquidity insights—from inception to successfully navigating initial public offering, acquisition or mergers and many of the other stages of a company’s life. Learn how companies can make these informed decisions and should prepare their employees for these life-changing transitions as well as how these business decisions impact the community at large.

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The Vagina Bible: Dr. Jen Gunter and Mary Roach Sep 13, 2019

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In this age of clickbait, pseudoscience and celebrity-endorsed products, it’s hard to know what’s best for our bodies. Jen Gunter, ob-gyn and the Internet’s go-to doctor, is dedicated to debunking the myths, marketing and misinformation surrounding reproductive health. While much of the dialogue surrounding women’s health targets the shame or inexperience of women and girls, Gunter aims to educate and empower with both humor and evidence. Join Gunter in conversation with Mary Roach, author and popular scientist, to answer your burning questions about women’s health.

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Reducing the Global Burden of Dementia: The First Effective Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Sep 12, 2019

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Everyone knows someone who’s survived cancer. But no one knows anyone who’s survived Alzheimer’s—until now. Alzheimer’s disease is a global pandemic and the third leading cause of death in the United States. Of the 326 million Americans currently living, approximately 45 million will develop Alzheimer's disease during their lifetimes unless effective prevention programs are instituted. The 99 percent failure rate of Alzheimer’s drug trials underscores both the area of greatest biomedical failure and the need for a more complete understanding of the drivers (i.e., the root causes) of the disease. Despite these alarming statistics, it has now been demonstrated that early stage Alzheimer's and its precursors, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), can be prevented and in some cases reversed. Join Dale Bredesen as he presents a novel programmatic approach that identifies and targets the multiple contributors to cognitive decline. Based on his findings from over 30 years of research into the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, this approach led to the first published reports of the reversal of cognitive decline. Currently, over 3,000 patients use the protocol described in these initial reports, with success that has not been described previously. MLF Organizer: Adrea Brier MLF: Health & Medicine

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Spin Wars and Spy Games: Global Media and Intelligence Gathering Sep 12, 2019

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As most long-standing news outlets have shuttered their foreign bureaus and print operations, the role of Global News Networks (GNNs) as information collectors and policy influencers has changed. Western GNNs are both untethered to government entities and able to produce accurate yet critical situational analyses. But due to the emergence of other GNNs owned or directed by national governments, the global news cycle has become thoroughly manipulatable. Kounalakis' interviews with a diverse set of GNN professionals vividly depicts the momentous sea change that has occurred in global news production. He also traces the evolution of GNNs from the 20th century to now, revealing today's drastically altered global news business model. Find out why countries such as Russia and China invest heavily in their news media, and how some GNNs operate in tandem with state strategies and diplomatic sensitivities. Get a firsthand look at how the global media is shaping policy and morphing the public's consumption of information. MLF Organizer: George Hammond MLF: Humanities

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How to Be an Anti-Racist: Ibram X. Kendi Sep 12, 2019

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The struggle for racial justice is far from over. Inequality is built on many aspects ingrained in our society—history, law and culture. How do we confront this inequality embedded in American life? How can we play an active role in building an anti-racist society? National Book Award winner Ibram X. Kendi returns to INFORUM to deliver an honest critique of modern America and our own role in perpetuating inequality. In his new book, How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi holds up both a magnifying glass and a mirror to examine how to uproot racism from society—starting with ourselves.

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Mike Isaac: The Battle for Uber Sep 11, 2019

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Since its launch in 2009, ride-hailing service Uber has undergone major shifts to become a worldwide transportation network despite severe setbacks. Harassment allegations that led to the firing of 20 employees and the resignation of former CEO Travis Kalanick publicly embarrassed the company, yet Uber has grown to become the highest valued private tech company in Silicon Valley. In his new book, Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, New York Times tech reporter Mike Isaac delves into the ambition, excess and massive loss of Uber and Kalanick over the last few years. Isaac has nearly a decade of experience writing about technology industry in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has spent the past few years covering the controversial ascent of Uber and the company’s issues of workplace harassment, sexism and allegations of misconduct that reveal the problematic work culture of Silicon Valley tech companies. Join us as he narrates the deception and bad behavior of Uber that culminated in one of the most controversial periods in American corporate history. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.

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