Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Tech Titans of China: The Roots of a U.S.–China Tech Cold War Jul 31, 2019

Show notes

China’s rise as a technology innovator is challenging the world by working hard, innovating fast and going global. A new book by Rebecca A. Fannin, Tech Titans of China, delves into the Chinese technology sector and its influence and implications worldwide, in tech sectors and beyond. The book is the go-to guide for those seeking to understand China’s grand tech ambitions, who the players are and what their strategy is. Join us for a fireside chat with Fannin and Wei Jiang, venture capitalist, discussing the rise of China's tech giants, China's challenge to the United States for global technology leadership, and the impact of a U.S.–China tech and trade war on Silicon Valley. MLF Organizer: Lotus Fong MLF: Asia Pacific

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Debate Night: Week to Week Political Roundtable 7/30/19 Jul 31, 2019

Show notes

It's the night of the next Democratic presidential candidates debate, and we're all set to watch and comment on that and other political news. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and we will show the debate on the big screen in our auditorium. Then at 6:30, we'll switch over to our panelists, who will 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!

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A Beginner's Guide to the End of Life Jul 30, 2019

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How do we cope with the inevitability of death? How can we make better decisions for ourselves and our families? B.J. Miller and journalist Shoshana Berger visit INFORUM to answer the questions about death we’re all afraid to ask with their new book: A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death. Berger and Miller offer step-by-step instructions on managing the end of life, including how to navigate a complex system of hidden costs and intense emotions without shame and guilt often associated with this period of life. Miller is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at UCSF, where he practices and teaches palliative medicine. Berger is a journalist and editorial director at IDEO. Together they join INFORUM for a lesson on dying—and how to live fully until you do. **This program contains EXPLICIT language**

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The Iran Crisis Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Keynoush is the author of the book Saudi Arabia and Iran: Friends or Foes? and the editor of a forthcoming book Iran's Interregional Dynamics in the Near East. She was recently a visiting scholar at Princeton University and a visiting fellow at the King Faisal Center in Saudi Arabia. She has translated at diplomatic meetings, and for United Nations secretary generals, U.S. congressional leaders, Nobel laureates and four Iranian presidents. Dr. Keynoush will discuss Iran's regional ties, including with Saudi Arabia, the consequences of the U.S withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and Iran’s decision to increase its nuclear capabilities. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Celia Menczel NOTES MLF: Middle East

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Bees, Butterflies and Your Well-Being Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

This event is the latest in our member-led forums’ Art and Science of Well-Being series. Bees, butterflies, bats, birds and other insects are important actors in maintaining a healthy environment. The health of the environment directly influences human well-being. The quality of the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink profoundly affect how we feel. Research shows that having access to natural places has a significantly positive impact on our mental, physical and spiritual health. But in many parts of the world, pollinators are under siege, from climate change, human disruption of habitat, urbanization and industrial agriculture. Pollinators are the "canary in the coal mine," indicating the rise of present and future threats including food security, biological diversity and environmental degradation. There is hope, and Laurie Davies Adams, the founder and executive director of the Pollinator Partnership (P2) based in San Francisco, will explain the nature of the challenges that pollinators face, share success stories and provide specific ways that individuals, families and communities can become involved in creating sustainable solutions that benefit pollinators and all people. P2’s mission is to promote the hearths of pollinators, critical to food and ecosystems, through conservation, education and research. MLF Organizer: Robert Kilpatrick MLF: Health & Medicine

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Seduction and Satiety: Under the Hood of the Brain Circuits That Drive Us to Overeat Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

No one wants to overeat. And certainly no one wants to overeat for years, become overweight, and end up with a high risk of diabetes or heart disease—yet two thirds of Americans do precisely that. Why does our behavior betray our best intentions to eat healthy foods in moderation? The reason is that our appetites and food choices are led astray by ancient, instinctive brain circuits that play by the rules of a survival game that no longer exists. These circuits don’t care about how you look in a bathing suit next summer. Join Stephan J. Guyenet for an exploration of some of these circuits and how they conspire with our modern food environment to expand our waistlines. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Patty James NOTES MLF: Health & Medicine

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Carole Migden: Representing the Underrepresented Jul 29, 2019

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This week's special guest: Carole Migden. Carole Migden is a former California state senator (and former state assemblymember, and former San Francisco supervisor and much more) who has worked her entire career to assist underrepresented demographics. 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.

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Deborah Lipstadt on Anti-Semitism: Here and Now Jul 26, 2019

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Over the past several years, there has been a noticeable uptick in anti-Semitic rhetoric and incidents from college campuses in the United States to terrorist attacks against Jews throughout Europe and, in 2018 and 2019, the tragic hate crimes at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and Poway Synagogue outside San Diego. Marin County has also not been immune, with anti-Semitic symbols found in county schools this past school year. A hatred long thought to be laid to rest, anti-Semitism from both sides of the political spectrum has again become a visible part of American society. No one knows this issue better than Deborah Lipstadt, a professor of modern Jewish history and Holocaust studies at Emory University. Actress Rachel Weisz portrayed Lipstadt in Denial, a film based on her book History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier. Lipstadt's new book, Antisemitism: Here and Now, has been hailed as one of the most important works on the issue. Where is this hatred coming from? Is there any significant difference between left-wing and right-wing anti-Semitism? What role has the anti-Zionist movement played? And what can be done to combat this latest manifestation of an ancient hatred? Please join us as Lipstadt makes a special visit to Marin County to discuss these questions and what can be done about the the rise of anti-Semitism locally and nationally.

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CLIMATE ONE: The Art of the Green Deal Jul 26, 2019

Show notes

With the Green New Deal, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's vision challenges her own party to go further and faster on climate action than ever before. Her co-sponsor, Sen. Ed Markey, has spent 40 years in Congress and has similar experience pushing for bold climate action. Meanwhile, Rep. Matt Gaetz vigorously supports President Trump – except when it comes to climate and extreme weather, which have battered his Florida district. Gaetz’s Green Real Deal is a market-based alternative to the Green New Deal’s regulatory approach. So what is the deal with climate action in Congress?

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An Evening with Dr. Cornel West Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Cornel West says his passion is to keep alive the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.—a legacy of telling the truth and bearing witness to love and justice. In addition to his posts at Harvard and Princeton, West has taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale and the University of Paris. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in three years and obtained his master’s and doctorate in philosophy at Princeton. Sheryl Davis is the executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC), a city agency mandated to address the causes of and problems resulting from prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination in San Francisco. Davis previously served as commissioner from 2011 to 2016, including a tenure as vice chair of the commission. Prior to her work with the HRC, she was the executive director of Collective Impact, a community-based organization in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco. In a polarized country, with issues of voter disenfranchisement, police shootings of unarmed African-Americans and discussions of reparations at the forefront, our guests will explore the possibilities for improved life outcomes and opportunities for black people, particularly in cities such as San Francisco as the wealth gap continues to swell. In commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the HRC, created in response to anti-black racism in businesses, government services and community investments, join us for a conversation with one of the nation’s most prominent and provocative civil rights champions about America’s (and San Francisco’s) present and future racial equity. ** This Program May Contain Explicit Language **

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