Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Valerie Jarrett: Politics, the Obamas and Finding My Voice Apr 13, 2019

Show notes

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Despite the almost constant streams of media reporting on the White House, very few people know what really goes on in the West Wing. Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president in the Obama administration, is one of those people. From the day she interviewed a young Michelle Robinson in July 1991 to the night of January 20, 2017, when the first family departed the White House, Jarrett has been a trusted confidante and a close friend of the Obama family. In her book, Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, Jarrett shares her story of growing up with American parents in the town of Shiraz, Iran, living in Chicago during the civil rights movement and ultimately finding her voice in public service. She led the Obama administration’s criminal justice reforms, advocated for women’s rights and political empowerment, and fought to improve the lives of working families. Join us for a conversation with the woman The New York Times called the “ultimate Obama insider.” She will share her unique perspective into the inner workings of the White House and the inspiring story of how she got there.

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Foursome: Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O’Keeffe, Paul Strand, Rebecca Salsbury Apr 13, 2019

Show notes

Foursome is the spirited account of the intense relationship among four artists whose strong personalities, passionate feelings and aesthetic ideals drew them together, pulled them apart and profoundly influenced 20th-century art. In 1921, Alfred Stieglitz, the most influential figure in early 20th-century photography, celebrated the success of his latest New York City exhibition, whose centerpiece was a series of nude portraits of the young Georgia O'Keeffe (soon to be his wife). It was also a turning point for both O'Keeffe and Rebecca Salsbury, the fiancée of Stieglitz's protégé at the time, Paul Strand. In the years that followed, O'Keeffe and Stieglitz became the preeminent couple in American modern art, spurring each other's creativity. Observing that relationship led Salsbury to encourage new artistic possibilities for Strand and to rethink her own potential as an artist. In fact, it was Salsbury, the least known of the four, who was the main thread that wove the two couples' lives together. Carolyn Burke mines this foursome's correspondence to reveal how each inspired, provoked and unsettled the others while pursuing their own artistic innovations. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

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Max Brooks and ML Cavanaugh: How Game of Thrones Explains Modern Military Strategy Apr 13, 2019

Show notes

Who will claim the Iron Throne and why? On the eve of the premiere of the final season of “Game of Thrones,” Max Brooks and ML Cavanaugh’s new book brings together 30 expert strategists to answer that question and engage in questions surrounding the most popular television series of our time. As characters battle for power and control, there is magic and witchcraft, fiery dragons, frozen zombies, chaotic combat, swordplay and brutal intrigue, creating one of the most intense worldwide strategy plotlines in contemporary television. By applying the theories of our actual world to the examples in fictional Westeros (including Tyrion Lannister’s unlikely success, Daenerys Targaryen’s fire-strafing dragons and Jon Snow’s abilities as a leader), Brooks and Cavanaugh will discern the fascinating connections between George R. R. Martin's fantasy world and real war and politics.

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Innovate for Good Conference, Segment 1 of 3 Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

SEGMENT 1 Are you looking to do good and still run a profitable business? Learn from globally recognized CEOs, professors and inspirational business leaders who have already taken action on their passion to change the world. From powerful keynotes to panel discussions and Q&As, you will leave with new ideas to innovate for good at your enterprise. Schedule: 11:45–12:30 p.m.—Check-in and lunch 12:30 p.m.—Opening Remarks: Donald Heller, Provost, University of San Francisco and Elizabeth Davis, Dean of the School of Management, University of San Francisco. 12:40 p.m.—Overview of the Conference: William Riggs, Assistant Professor, School of Management at the University of San Francisco 12:45 p.m.—Innovating Complex Organizations for Good Elizabeth Davis, Dean of the School of Management, University of San Francisco Therese McMillan, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission 1:30 p.m.—Break 1:40 p.m.—Microtalk: Kelley Nayo-Jahi, Community Resources Lead, Landed 1:45 p.m.—Social Impact and Investing / Finance Nick Hodges, SVP and COO, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors—Moderator Daryl Collins, CFO, Bankable Frontiers Maurice Jones, President and CEO, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Maya Perkins, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Facebook Kim Wright-Violich, Managing Partner, Tideline 2:30 p.m.—Break 2:40 p.m.—Microtalk: Regina Clewlow, CEO and Co-Founder, Populus 2:45 p.m.—Cities & The Environment Molly Wood, Host, Marketplace Tech—Moderator Robert Grant, VP Global Government Affairs, Cruise Stephen Hardy, CEO, mySidewalk Lenny Mendonca, Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Newsom Kevin Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO, Marble Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland 3:30 p.m.–4 p.m.—Presentation of Harari Award Presentation and Concluding Thoughts Hosted by University of San Francisco School of Management, in partnership with Commonwealth Club of California

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Innovate for Good Conference, Segment 2 of 3 Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

SEGMENT 2 Are you looking to do good and still run a profitable business? Learn from globally recognized CEOs, professors and inspirational business leaders who have already taken action on their passion to change the world. From powerful keynotes to panel discussions and Q&As, you will leave with new ideas to innovate for good at your enterprise. Schedule: 11:45–12:30 p.m.—Check-in and lunch 12:30 p.m.—Opening Remarks: Donald Heller, Provost, University of San Francisco and Elizabeth Davis, Dean of the School of Management, University of San Francisco. 12:40 p.m.—Overview of the Conference: William Riggs, Assistant Professor, School of Management at the University of San Francisco 12:45 p.m.—Innovating Complex Organizations for Good Elizabeth Davis, Dean of the School of Management, University of San Francisco Therese McMillan, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission 1:30 p.m.—Break 1:40 p.m.—Microtalk: Kelley Nayo-Jahi, Community Resources Lead, Landed 1:45 p.m.—Social Impact and Investing / Finance Nick Hodges, SVP and COO, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors—Moderator Daryl Collins, CFO, Bankable Frontiers Maurice Jones, President and CEO, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Maya Perkins, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Facebook Kim Wright-Violich, Managing Partner, Tideline 2:30 p.m.—Break 2:40 p.m.—Microtalk: Regina Clewlow, CEO and Co-Founder, Populus 2:45 p.m.—Cities & The Environment Molly Wood, Host, Marketplace Tech—Moderator Robert Grant, VP Global Government Affairs, Cruise Stephen Hardy, CEO, mySidewalk Lenny Mendonca, Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Newsom Kevin Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO, Marble Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland 3:30 p.m.–4 p.m.—Presentation of Harari Award Presentation and Concluding Thoughts Hosted by University of San Francisco School of Management, in partnership with Commonwealth Club of California

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Innovate for Good Conference, Segment 3 of 3 Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

SEGMENT 3 Are you looking to do good and still run a profitable business? Learn from globally recognized CEOs, professors and inspirational business leaders who have already taken action on their passion to change the world. From powerful keynotes to panel discussions and Q&As, you will leave with new ideas to innovate for good at your enterprise. Schedule: 11:45–12:30 p.m.—Check-in and lunch 12:30 p.m.—Opening Remarks: Donald Heller, Provost, University of San Francisco and Elizabeth Davis, Dean of the School of Management, University of San Francisco. 12:40 p.m.—Overview of the Conference: William Riggs, Assistant Professor, School of Management at the University of San Francisco 12:45 p.m.—Innovating Complex Organizations for Good Elizabeth Davis, Dean of the School of Management, University of San Francisco Therese McMillan, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission 1:30 p.m.—Break 1:40 p.m.—Microtalk: Kelley Nayo-Jahi, Community Resources Lead, Landed 1:45 p.m.—Social Impact and Investing / Finance Nick Hodges, SVP and COO, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors—Moderator Daryl Collins, CFO, Bankable Frontiers Maurice Jones, President and CEO, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Maya Perkins, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Facebook Kim Wright-Violich, Managing Partner, Tideline 2:30 p.m.—Break 2:40 p.m.—Microtalk: Regina Clewlow, CEO and Co-Founder, Populus 2:45 p.m.—Cities & The Environment Molly Wood, Host, Marketplace Tech—Moderator Robert Grant, VP Global Government Affairs, Cruise Stephen Hardy, CEO, mySidewalk Lenny Mendonca, Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Newsom Kevin Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO, Marble Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland 3:30 p.m.–4 p.m.—Presentation of Harari Award Presentation and Concluding Thoughts Hosted by University of San Francisco School of Management, in partnership with Commonwealth Club of California

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New San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

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. This week's guest is Manohar Raju. Raju is the newly appointed public defender for San Francisco. Before being chosen by Mayor London Breed to succeed the late Jeff Adachi, Raju worked in the public defender's office for 11 years, some of which he spent as director of training and then as felony manager. Previously he worked at the Contra Costa Public Defender's Office. Raju did his undergraduate studies at Columbia University and earned his Master's in South Asian studies from the University of California Berkeley. He also attended UC Berkeley for law school. He is a founding member of Public Defenders for Racial Justice.

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Week to Week Political Roundtable 4/10/19 Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

Join us as we 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! And come early before the program to meet other smart and engaged individuals and discuss the news over snacks and wine at our members social (open to all attendees). ** This Podcast Contains Explicit Language **

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The Penalty for Success: My Father Was Lynched in Alabama Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

Monday Night Philosophy investigates the painful reality that succeeding in business is not always an advantage in America. In fact, if you were black in the Jim Crow South, it could get you killed. Elmore Bolling, a successful entrepreneur, was lynched in Lowndes County, Alabama in 1947 when his youngest daughter, Josephine Bolling McCall, was five years old. Over 70 years later, Bolling is now honored in the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which opened in Montgomery last year. In her book, The Penalty for Success, McCall tells the story of her father’s murder and the impact it had—and still has—on her family and her community. She offers a revealing narrative that challenges us to rethink the reality of life for both blacks and whites in the rural South during Jim Crow, where whites used lynching to destroy competition from black business owners as part of a pattern of racial violence that terrorized African-Americans for generations and has yet to be adequately addressed in America. MLF Organizer: George Hammond MLF: Humanities

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The Power of Youth in Our Politics Apr 09, 2019

Show notes

Gun violence. #BlackLivesMatter. Climate change. Voting rights. Despite a sense of alienation from civic engagement in today’s political atmosphere, young leaders continue to take up the charge across these and other critical issues, demanding a better future, wielding their votes and pushing the country forward to create change. In his book Generation Citizen: The Power of Youth in Our Politics, Scott Warren, co-founder and CEO of Generation Citizen, recounts his personal political awakening and the long and inspiring history of young people enacting significant political change in the United States, ranging from the civil rights movement to the Parkland students’ stance against gun violence. Since its founding in 2010 when Warren was a senior at Brown University, Generation Citizen has worked with more than 50,000 students across the country to engage them in politics as the next generation of future leaders through an innovative curriculum and hands-on opportunities to dig into the civic process, creating new channels for learning and capacity building to make a difference locally and nationally. Join Warren at INFORUM, alongside other rising voices in youth leadership and civic engagement, for an inspiring conversation about the political potential of youth and students and the future of American social change. Notes In association with YR Media, a national network of young journalists and artists

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