Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Modern Love Oct 28, 2019

Show notes

The rise of social media has led to an increased appetite for new and more intimate ways of storytelling. The New York Times' column “Modern Love" has documented this movement, publishing over 700 personal narratives over the past 15 years about relationships of all kinds. As editor of the column, Daniel Jones reads over 100 submissions a day that range from euphoric exclamations of love to harrowing experiences of loss. Jones has overseen the broad success of “Modern Love,” which first grew into a popular podcast and is now reaching new heights as an upcoming series on Amazon Prime Video. “Modern Love” moves beyond the stereotypical boy meets girl tropes of the romance genre and looks toward complicating the way we think of love today. The series will bring eight of the most compelling essays to life, one story per episode, with a stellar cast that includes stars Anne Hathaway, Dev Patel and Tina Fey. Join us at INFORUM for an exciting screening of the first episode of the new “Modern Love” series followed by a discussion about the ways in which modern love can keep us together—and drive us apart. In collaboration with The New York Times

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judith Finlayson: The Secrets of Genetics Oct 28, 2019

Show notes

The food you eat and the choices you make impact your health and, according to the science of epigenetics, becomes interwoven with the genes you pass on to your children. Thanks to the discovery of epigenetics, we now know that the experiences of your ancestors are at work to influence your health and well-being. Everything from chronic diseases and trauma to how you age and sleep is determined by the epigenetics that turn on and off your DNA sequences. In You Are What Your Grandparents Ate: What You Need to Know About Nutrition, Experience, Epigenetics, and the Origins of Chronic Disease, best-selling author Judith Finlayson charts the steps you can take to making healthy dietary choices that have shown to spark epigenetic adjustments leading to better health, not only for yourself, but for your offspring and their children in the generations to come. Finlayson has dedicated her career to sharing her wide-ranging passions—from women’s history to the joys of cooking—through her best-selling books. Her penchant for cooking translates to her successful cookbooks which have sold over a million copies worldwide. Join us for an exciting conversation about the intergenerational impact of nutrition on long-term health with cooking expert Judith Finlayson.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NY Times Chief TV Critic James Poniewozik: Donald Trump’s 24-Hour Television Show Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

James Poniewozik joined The New York Times in 2015 after spending 16 years as a Time magazine columnist and television and media critic. At The Times, he has written about television as a reflection of changing culture and politics. In his new book, Poniewozik says that television has not only entertained us, but, with the election of Donald Trump, it has conquered America. Poniewozik argues that television has morphed from the three-network era of the 20th century, which joined millions of Americans in a shared monoculture, into today’s zillion-channel, Internet-atomized universe, which has sliced and diced us into fractious, alienated subcultures. Against that background, he offers a portrait of Donald Trump as the chameleonic celebrity who courted fame, achieved a mind meld with the media beast, and rode it to ultimate power. Come hear Poniewozik discuss his view that the age of Trump is a 24-hour TV production and that we live in an era where politics has become pop culture and vice versa.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International Career Opportunities Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

As events, social media and media coverage bring the world closer together, professionals at all career levels (public sector, nonprofit and for-profit) are interested in international career opportunities to make the world a better place. Come to this event to learn more. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Ian McCuaig NOTES MLF: International Relations

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Malkin: Inside the Immigration Crisis Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

Michelle Malkin is a nationally recognized syndicated columnist who made her name through sharp humor to become an unapologetic conservative voice in America’s political discourse. A popular Fox News Channel contributor, Malkin has more than 2 million Twitter followers. Adding to her collection of four no. 1 best sellers, Malkin’s new book, Open Borders, Inc., is her exposé about what happens at America’s borders. Beginning with a thorough reexamination of the southern border’s history of immigration to its current state of crisis, Malkin argues that powerful special interest groups are working behind the scenes to keep America’s borders open for an influx of cheap labor in order to enrich the nation’s elite and create new generations of Democratic voters. Unafraid to challenge the status quo, Malkin offers her insight and confrontational approach on a variety of issues, from identity politics to social matters. Join us for an engaging conversation with one of the most outspoken voices of the American Right, and be sure to bring your questions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking the Stage with Sean Dorsey and Shawna Virago Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

Join us for a conversation with a leading trans artistic couple—Shawna Virago and Sean Dorsey—about their lives as transgender activists and successful performing artists. Shawna Virago is a singer and songwriter who is known for her striking lyric-based songs. She was one of the country's first openly transgender women to perform and tour nationally. She is also the artistic director of the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, which will take place November 7–10 at San Francisco's Roxie Theater. Sean Dorsey founded and leads the Sean Dorsey Dance troupe, which is celebrating its 15th year. He is known as the nation's first critically acclaimed transgender choreographer in modern dance; he has toured 30 cities domestically and abroad. He has been awarded four Isadora Duncan Dance Awards and the Goldie Award for Performance. Come for a free midday program, as Michelle Meow brings her long-running 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. Note: This program contains EXPLICIT language

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Outfit on Sex and the City Oct 24, 2019

Show notes

From Carrie Bradshaw’s newspaper dress to her iconic Manolo Blahniks, the popular Instagram sensation Every Outfit on Sex and the City’s mission is to document every single pump, dress and accessory that became a quintessential part of the hit TV show. The account is a not-so-ironic take on the series, as it blends equal parts adoration and nostalgia for the 90s classic while offering up a hilarious critical lens on some of the show’s less politically correct moments. The page is responsible for the viral meme #WokeCharlotte, rewriting the show’s straight-laced conservative into an intersectional feminist who calls out microaggressions and always makes sure you check your privilege. With nearly 600,000 followers, account creators Lauren Garroni and Chelsea Fairless are now releasing their highly anticipated book We Should All Be Mirandas: Life Lessons From Sex and The City’s Most Underrated Character. Cynthia Nixon’s sarcastic and workaholic portrayal of Miranda Hobbes was a foil to the trendy and romantic Carrie Bradshaw, but Garroni and Fairless argue that her no-nonsense style makes her the best role model for women in today’s world. Everyone can learn important life lessons from Miranda—fashionistas, pop culture mavens and every woman who has dealt with more than her fair share of mansplaining. Join INFORUM for a celebration of an underrated cultural icon and to learn how we can all elevate our inner Miranda. NOTE: This program contains EXPLICIT language

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roll Red Roll: Changing the "Boys Will Be Boys" Culture Oct 24, 2019

Show notes

Now available on Netflix, Nancy Schwartzman’s new film, Roll Red Roll, goes behind the headlines to look at the aftermath of the assault of a teenage girl by members of the beloved high school football team in a small Ohio town. It is a searing look at the deep-rooted "boys will be boys" culture of so much high school sexual assault in America. Join us for a discussion with Schwartzman about her film and about the timely topic of sexual violence. Schwartzman is a documentary film director, producer and media strategist who uses storytelling and technology to create safer communities for women and girls. Roll Red Roll is her feature film debut. The film is designed to have a robust impact campaign focusing on engaging men and boys into the solution to end violence against women, as well as engaging communities, schools and parents. She released a companion short film Anonymous Comes to Town in April 2019 on The Guardian. Her first film, The Line (2010), a short documentary examining consent, was used by the White House for a campaign around sexuality, and her follow-up film xoxosms (2013), explored love between two teenagers, bridged by technology. A human rights activist, Schwartzman is a tech founder and created the Obama/Biden’s White House award-winning mobile app Circle of 6 designed to reduce sexual violence among America’s youth and college students.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Immigrant Experience with Aarti Shahani Oct 24, 2019

Show notes

The American political discourse is constantly calibrating its interpretation of what it means to be American. Coming from an undocumented family herself, writer Aarti Shahani has spent her life navigating the shifting tides of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. Her book Here We Are: American Dreams, American Nightmares documents Shahani and her father’s disparate versions of the immigrant experience, coexisting as the scholarship kid at one of Manhattan’s most elite prep schools and the shopkeeper who mistakenly sells watches and calculators to the notorious Cali Cartel. In addition to being an author, Shahani is an award-winning correspondent for NPR in Silicon Valley, covering the largest companies on Earth. Shahani remains a resounding voice advocating on behalf of our country’s immigrant community. INFORUM hosts Aarti Shahani to address a question that plagues immigrants and natives alike: Who really belongs in America? In association with American India Foundation This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waking the Witch: Pam Grossman with Anne Devereux-Mills Oct 23, 2019

Show notes

Witches in various guises have been with us for centuries, and they are notorious shape-shifters. In both spiritual culture and pop culture, they've changed from diabolical villains to empowered heroines as women and femmes have sought more autonomy in their own lives. In celebration of her spellbinding book Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power, Pam Grossman will delve into why witches matter, how they reflect our fear and love of feminine power, and what they can teach us during this age of profound transformation. Grossman will be joined by CEO, entrepreneur and documentary film executive Anne Devereux-Mills, founder of Parlay House, for this evening of feminist magic and bewitching conversation. In association with Parlay House

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected