Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Beyond the Screen: Race and Diversity in Hollywood May 11, 2021

Show notes

People from BIPOC communities face a myriad of challenges in the entertainment industry, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. From on-screen talent and actors to production crews, publicity teams, talent management, writing and film criticism, marginalized groups often remain underrepresented in all aspects of an industry that has major influence on American culture. Despite evidence that shows addressing these racial inequities could reap an additional $10 billion in annual revenue, efforts by the industry to create parity continue to be inadequate.

Join a panel of experts on race in Hollywood at INFORUM, where they will discuss the harsh realities that most people of color face in entertainment, as well as steps toward industry-wide changes meant to increase representation and provide space for a new and diverse generation of creatives.

NOTES

This program contains EXPLICIT language.

This important community program is made free to the public thanks to McKinsey & Co.

SPEAKERS

Linda Yvette Chávez

Filmmaker; Film and Television Writer; Co-creator, Co-showrunner, Executive Producer, Netflix’s "Gentefied"

Franklin Leonard

Founder, The Black List

Sheldon Lyn

Partner, McKinsey & Co.; Co-Author, Black Representation in Film and TV: The Challenges and Impact of Increasing Diversity

Rebecca Sun

Senior Editor, Diversity and Inclusion, The Hollywood Reporter—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 May 4th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Inside the Adachi Project May 07, 2021

Show notes

Join us for an inside look at The Adachi Project, a first-of-its-kind storytelling initiative that spotlights powerful stories and unseen perspectives of the U.S. criminal legal system via compelling documentary film, video and photojournalism.

Following an introduction to The Adachi Project by Mano Raju and Santhosh Daniel, we'll view one of the films from the project and feature a discussion with the people involved.

SPEAKERS

Santhosh Daniel

Founding Partner, The Adachi Project; Founder, Compound; Co-Founder, First Kitchen Media

Mohammad Gorjestani

Founding Partner, The Adachi Project; Filmmaker and Creative Director

Carolyn Ji Jong Goossen

San Francisco Policy Director, San Francisco Public Defender’s Office; Leading Member, The Adachi Project

William M. Palmer II (Tariq)

Criminal Justice Advocate; Committee Member, San Francisco Reentry Sentencing Commission, Direct Services; Co-Leader, Subcommittee on Legislation, Policy & Practices; Communications Fellow, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children; CEO, Life After Next

Hadi Razzaq

Managing Attorney, San Francisco Public Defender’s Office; Core Member, The Adachi Project

Mano Raju

Public Defender, City and County of San Francisco

Michelle Meow

Producer and Host, "The Michelle Meow Show," KBCW/KPIX and Podcast; Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors—Host

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 April 23rd, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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A Conversation with Cindy McCain May 07, 2021

Show notes

"My husband, John McCain, never viewed himself as larger than life—but he was. He had more tenacity and resolve than anybody I ever met. Being with him didn’t hold me back—it gave me flight, a courage I never would have felt on my own." —Cindy McCain

John McCain was a respected six-term senator from Arizona, Navy hero, and dedicated family man. No one knew him better than his wife of 38 years, Cindy McCain.

She said, “My husband John lived by a code: country first. We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. . . ." Last year she made the bold decision to cross party lines and endorse Joe Biden for president.

In her new book Stronger, she reveals her own successes and challenges and how Sen. McCain inspired her to fight for family, honor and country.

Join an inspirational conversation with Cindy McCain about her life and her husband's lasting legacy.

NOTES

This program is part of The Commonwealth Club’s Series on Ethics and Accountability, generously underwritten by The Travers Family Foundation.

Thanks to the support of the Bernard Osher Foundation, this program is also part of our Good Lit series

SPEAKERS

Cindy McCain

Author, Stronger: Courage, Hope, and Humor in My Life with John McCain; Twitter @cindymccain

In Conversation with Dan Ashley

Anchor, ABC7 KGO-TV and Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors; Twitter: @DanAshleyABC7

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 May 5th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Commonwealth Club Week in Review for May 7, 2021 May 07, 2021

Show notes

This is your Commonwealth Club week in review. Hear what you missed this week, and what we’ve got lined up for you next week.

We’re always adding new programs - check out commonwealthclub.org/online for all of our upcoming events.

If you haven’t already - please consider becoming a member of the Club. Enjoy exclusive discounts and access to special programs all while knowing your contributions directly support our many public programs and civic initiatives.

Visit commonwealthclub.org/special, for special rates on memberships.

Thanks for your support and as always - thanks for listening!

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The Illusion of Evidence-Based Medicine: Distorted Science in the Age of Big Pharma May 07, 2021

Show notes

Financial interests distort the truths of evidence-based medicine, says Dr. Leemon B. McHenry. By revealing previously confidential documents released in litigation, Dr. McHenry exposes the role that pharmaceutical marketing has in the construction of medical literature, conference presentations and continuing medical education. The marketing spin is designed to be indistinguishable from the genuine science, he says, thus seriously misleading our medical professionals and the public.

Leemon B. McHenry, Ph.D. specializes in medical ethics and philosophy of science. He is a legal research consultant, and is a professor emeritus at California State University in Northridge. He is the co-author of The Illusion of Evidence-Based Medicine: Exposing the Crisis of Credibility in Clinical Research.

MLF ORGANIZER

Adrea Brier

NOTES

MLF: Health & Medicine

SPEAKERS

Leemon B. McHenry

Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, California State University, Northridge; Co-Author, The Illusion of Evidence-Based Medicine: Exposing the Crisis of Credibility in Clinical Research

Adrea Brier

CHNP, CLC, Vice Chair, Health and Medicine Member-Led Forum; International Integrative Epigenetic Cancer Consultant; Life Coach—Moderator

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CLIMATE ONE: Climate Stories We Tell Ourselves May 07, 2021

Show notes

How do our identities and values shape the way we listen to others’ climate experience? Author Nathaniel Rich and journalist Meera Subramanian cover the hopes, fears, and middle-of-the-night concerns affecting the people living closest to climate change.

In Georgia, farmers were convinced that climate is a political issue — until too-warm winters began upending the Peach State’s prized crop. In a wealthy Los Angeles suburb, an invisible methane gas leak caused outrage and hysteria for local residents concerned about personal health and property values — but not the climate.

“I think we've all gotten really used to telling our stories, putting them out there in the world, and it sometimes feels like maybe not so many people are actually listening to them,” Subramanian says. “And so I think sometimes showing up as a journalist and just being all ears can feel kind of profound.”

Guests:

Nathaniel Rich, Author, Losing Earth; Second Nature

Meera Subramanian, Environmental Journalist

Have you ever had a difficult conversation about climate? A disagreement, perhaps, or coming to terms with a new reality? We’d like to hear your stories. Please call (650) 382-3869 and leave us a voicemail about your toughest climate conversation. Or drop us a line at climateone@gmail.com. We may use your story in an upcoming episode.

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Making Waves: Protecting Nature and Culture in Micronesia May 05, 2021

Show notes

Climate change threatens the very existence of many small island nations. Sea-level rise, weather extremes and coral reef destruction caused by warming waters have driven untold destruction and outmigration, with some communities fleeing—literally—to higher ground.

Fighting for their collective survival, three small Pacific Island nations and two U.S. territories spanning over 2 million square miles of ocean launched the Micronesia Challenge in the mid-2000s to protect critical land and marine ecosystems by 2020—reducing human impact that imperils reefs, coastlines and mountains. A strategic partner since the Challenge’s founding, The Nature Conservancy is working across Micronesia as this initiative launches bold new 2030 targets for people and nature.

SPEAKERS

Kate Brown

Executive Director, Global Island Partnership

Willy Kostka

Executive Director, Micronesia Conservation Trust

Trina Leberer

Director, Pacific Regional Partnerships, The Nature Conservancy

Ben Doherty

Pacific EditorThe Guardian—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 April 29th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Reimagining Public Safety May 05, 2021

Show notes

Amid nationwide reckoning with racial justice and calls to reimagine policing in America's cities, Oakland has moved ahead with plans to change its public safety funding and performance.

The Defund OPD campaign was launched by the Anti Policy Terror Project five years ago. Join us for a discussion with two leaders in the effort to change the criminal justice system.

About the Speakers

Cat Brooks is an activist, performer, politician and speaker or who has served as the communications director for Coaching Corps, as executive director of Youth Together and executive director of the National Lawyers Guild. Brooks is the co-founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP) whose mission is to rapidly respond to and ultimately eradicate what it calls state violence in communities of color. With APTP, she shepherded the development of a “first responders” process, which provides resources and training for a rapid community-based response to police violence. She also helped negotiate the passage of AB392, AB 931 and SB 1421 and has organized with local housing advocates to bring Proposition 10 (Repeal Costa Hawkins) to the ballot in November. n late 2018, Cat was the runner up in the Oakland mayoral race. Brooks currently serves as the executive director of the Justice Teams Network, a network of grassroots activists providing rapid response and healing justice in response to all forms of state violence across California. In addition, she is touring her one-woman show, Tasha, about the in-custody murder of Natasha McKenna in the Fairfax County Jail. She lives in West Oakland with her daughter.

Born and raised in Natick, MA, James Burch grew up with the direct impacts of a punitive carceral system within his immediate family; all three of his siblings have been entangled in the criminal justice system for their entire lives. To address this, James became a lawyer after attending Yale University and Georgetown Law School. Upon moving to the Bay Area, James became an active member of the Anti Police-Terror Project, eventually becoming the director of policy and a member of the Black Leadership Team. Burch now works as the policy director for the Justice Teams Network (JTN), a statewide coalition working to end state violence in California. James is also the current president of the National Lawyers Guild of the Bay Area.

SPEAKERS

Cat Brooks

Activist; Politician; Performer

James Burch

Lawyer; Activist

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

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Progress Toward Middle East Peace May 04, 2021

Show notes

Elsalameen, a prominent activist, social media analyst, political commentator and public speaker will discuss Arab-Israeli progress toward Middle East peace with Jonathan Curiel, journalist and author. As a known critic of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and of Hamas, Elsalameen will also discuss how President Abbas's "reign has been marred by corruption," etc. (Elsalameen recently accused Fatah’s military wing of sending him death threats for his pro-democracy and anti-corruption work.)

Born in Hebron, Elsalameen is an adjunct senior fellow at the American Security Project, which was created to develop an American national security vision and strategy for the 21st century. He is also a successful businessman with working experience in the United States, the Middle East, and Africa, a graduate of Seeds of Peace and of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) program.

MLF ORGANIZER

Celia Menczel

NOTES

MLF: Middle East

SPEAKERS

Fadi Elsalameen

MS, International Relations and Economics, John Hopkins University (SAIS)

Jonathan Curiel

Journalist; Author—Moderator

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Commonwealth Club Week in Review for April 30, 2021 May 01, 2021

Show notes