Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

CLIMATE ONE: A Decade of Oil: From Deepwater Horizon to Deflation Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

Ten years ago, a very different crisis was gripping the country as 500 million gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico, taking lives and threatening fishing, tourism and more. The nation’s worst oil disaster cost BP an estimated $145 billion in cleanup costs and penalties. Now the industry is experiencing another crisis within a pandemic, as oil prices collapsed to historic lows in April and are expected to remain volatile. What’s next in the industry’s uncertain future? How will the collapse of oil prices impact gradual efforts to shift away from fossil fuels? Join us for a conversation on the past, present and future of oil with Bill Reilly, former EPA administrator and co-chair of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Heather Richards, energy reporter at E&E News, and John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil Company.

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Arlan Hamilton: About Damn Time Jun 05, 2020

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Arlan Hamilton’s story is one made for the movies. In 2015, she was homeless, sleeping on the floors of the San Francisco airport, and dreaming of making it big in the venture capital world. As a gay black woman, she knew she didn’t fit the typical mold of a VC superstar, but she also knew that there were countless other founders and funders whose potential remained underestimated and untapped because they were different. With zero connections in Silicon Valley and a single laptop, she founded Backstage Capital—a seed-stage investment fund that has since garnered national recognition and invested $5 million in more than 100 start-ups founded by minorities. Join Hamilton at INFORUM, where she will share her incredible story of triumph in the face of systematic adversity, and how she defied expectations in hopes of inspiring an entire industry to change for the better. This conversation will be moderated by Megan Rose Dickey, senior reporter at TechCrunch. NOTES Part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation

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Destination Health: Addressing Societal Trauma Jun 05, 2020

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How do we navigate the impact of a pandemic on our mental health and wellness? The health fears, social isolation and economic insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will likely lead to rising incidents of trauma in the United States and across the world. Just as we know that childhood trauma leads to poor health outcomes later in life, experts are concerned about the long-term effects on those who experience this event as a trauma. How significant is this risk, and what steps can we take to mitigate the impact? A panel of experts will outline how uncertainty and extended periods of stress affect the brain and how becoming more aware of your stress while learning how to manage your mental health can mitigate the impact of that trauma. They will also share resources and tools that help people get through a pandemic and discuss what is needed to support communities when it’s over, addressing the impacts of social isolation, including depression, suicidal ideation and substance abuse. NOTES This event is the third in The Commonwealth Club’s Thought Leadership series, Destination Health, which is focusing on the future of health, featuring in-depth conversations on the challenges driving physical, mental and social health

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David Frum: Restoring American Democracy Jun 04, 2020

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The “Trump effect” on our democracy reaches far beyond 4-year presidential terms. President Trump has highlighted a chasm among the American people, revealing a fierce “us vs. them” mentality that might not be amended depending on who is elected in 2020. Many Americans feel the rest of the country is building a future that doesn’t have a place for them. Why would they want to participate in the systems that have led to their disenfranchisement? Popular political commentator David Frum believes there is a way for those excluded from Trump’s America to reclaim their democracy and reshape the political landscape. In his new book, Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy, Frum outlines a map for the reinvention of American democracy and world leadership in the wake of Trump’s historic presidency. Frum argues that the United States is experiencing great trauma, and we need to do better—for ourselves, for our neighbors, for our nation. Join us for a virtual conversation as David Frum makes the case for believing in the possibilities of a united America once again.

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Vivian Lee: Solving America's Health-Care Crisis Jun 03, 2020

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According to Dr. Vivian Lee, health care is killing our economy and, in many cases, killing us. Beyond the outrageous expense, the quality of care varies wildly, and millions of Americans can’t get care when they need it. This is bad for patients, bad for doctors, and bad for business. Dr. Lee cuts to the heart of the health-care crisis and offers a blueprint that is both realistic and optimistic. She warns it may not be a quick fix, but she says her concrete action plan for reform―for employers and other payers, patients, clinicians, and policy makers―can reinvent health care, and create a less costly, more efficient, and healthier system for all. NOTES This program is generously supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and a collaborative of local funders and donors. We are grateful for their support and hope others will follow their example to support the Club during these uncertain times.

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San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ+ COVID-19 Relief Coalition Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

SPEAKERS

Clair Farley
Senior Advisor, Trans Initiatives at the City and County of San Francisco

Anjali Rimi
Parivar SF Bay Area

Jack Beck
Turnout

Akira Jackson
Director, TAJA's Coalition

Nicole Santamaria
Executive Director, EL/LA Para Translatina

Michelle Meow
Producer and Host, "The Michelle Meow Show" on KBCW/KPIX TV and Progressive Voices Radio; Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors—Host

In response to the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, this program took place and was recorded live via video conference, for an online audience only, and was live-streamed from The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on May 28th, 2020.

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Celebrating API Month and Successful Lao-American Women Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

Celebrating API month and recognizing successful Lao-American women. NOTES This program was part of the Club's presentation of "The Michelle Meow Show" at The Commonwealth Club.

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Lavender Talks: The State of San Francisco's LGBTQ Cultural Districts Jun 02, 2020

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Join us for the second in our new series of Lavender Talks—produced in partnership with San Francisco Pride, which is celebrating 50 years in 2020. In this program, we'll explore the status of San Francisco's LGBTQ cultural districts. How and why did they come into being? How are they used today? What's next? Our panel will feature leaders from the LGBTQ Cultural District, the Transgender District, the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District, and the mayor's manager of cultural districts. NOTES In association with San Francisco Pride Made possible by the generous support of Comcast And thanks to San Francisco Pride Legacy Partners: Bud Light Hilton San Francisco Union Square KPIX 5 CBS Bay Area Kaiser Permanente Genentech Gilead GLBT Historical Society KBCW TV Parc 55 San Francisco Smirnoff Recology T–Mobile This is a free program; please consider making a donation to support our online program production.

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Supporting Girls' and Women's Empowerment Around the World Jun 02, 2020

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Empowering girls and women around the world is increasingly seen as an essential aspect of social justice and development. To help to break the cycle of poverty, education in many forms is a critical feature of programs that transform the lives of girls and women. Confidence and believing in oneself can help young girls and women realize their dreams and build sustainable economic growth. Building on the success and increasing the skills of students can enable young women to become successes in the future and make the world a better place. Our panelists represent significant organizations that will impact the lives of individual women and change the world. MLF ORGANIZER Frank Price NOTES MLF: International Relations This is an online-only event; register to receive a link to the live stream This program is free; please consider making a donation during registration to support production of our online programs

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The Importance of Interfaith Understanding Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

Our distinguished panel—led by Michael Pappas and which includes Mahjabeen Dhala, a religious motivational speaker, who is pursuing a doctorate at the Graduate Theological Union; the Rt. Reverend William Swing, president and founding trustee of the United Religions Initiative (URI), and Sam Berrin Shonkoff, Ph.D. assistant professor of Jewish studies at GTU—will discuss the connections among the the Abrahamic faiths, the unfortunate general lack of knowledge of the others' histories, cultures, and beliefs, and how increased understanding, tolerance, acceptance, respect, etc. among all faiths could help bring about a more peaceful world. They will also share expressions of faith and how Interfaith communities interact in the midst of the horrendous COVID-19 crises. MLF ORGANIZER Celia Menczel NOTES MLF: Middle East

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