Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Latest Episodes:

San Francisco Pride Third Annual Human Rights Summit Segment 5 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

On June 26, join us for the third annual Human Rights Summit from San Francisco Pride and The Michelle Meow Show at Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

Segment. 5

At the Intersection of Immigrants, Trans, and People with Disabilities
Addressing the mounting attacks on immigrants, trans people, and people with disabilities. The intersections of these communities—and the compounding impacts of policy and budget decisions—are at the heart of what we hope to address.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), MIJENTE, SF Pride, Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE)
Moderator: Maceo Persson, Vice President of the Board of SF Pride
Speakers: Devon Ojeda (Advocates for Trans Equality, A4TE), Claudia Center (Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund), Aldita Amaru Gallardo (Action for Transformation Fund), Dr. Alexis Petra (Transclinique)

See more ⁠Michelle Meow Show⁠ programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.

This program contains EXPLICIT language.

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San Francisco Pride Third Annual Human Rights Summit Segment 3 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

On June 26, join us for the third annual Human Rights Summit from San Francisco Pride and The Michelle Meow Show at Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

Segment. 3:

LGBTQIA & Tech Luncheon + Program
Donna Sachet, Emcee

Addressing AI and Tech for the LGBTQIA+ Movement
Moderator: Celso Dulay
Speakers: Sister Roma, Susan Gonzalez, Amp Somers

See more ⁠Michelle Meow Show⁠ programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.

This program contains EXPLICIT language.

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San Francisco Pride Third Annual Human Rights Summit (Breakout Session 1) Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

On June 26, join us for the third annual Human Rights Summit from San Francisco Pride and The Michelle Meow Show at Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

Breakout:
LGBTQIA Elder SSID & MEDICAID
Moderator: Sandra Riva, Openhouse + On Lok Community Day Services
Speakers: Paul Aguilar, Vince Cristostomo, Ms. Billie Cooper, Dr. Jessica Eng (On Lok PACE)

See more ⁠Michelle Meow Show⁠ programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.

This program contains EXPLICIT language.

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San Francisco Pride Third Annual Human Rights Summit Segment 4 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

On June 26, join us for the third annual Human Rights Summit from San Francisco Pride and The Michelle Meow Show at Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

Segment. 4

Keynote
City Attorney David Chiu

Plenary: LGBTQIA in Politics
Moderator: Evan Low of Victory Fund
Speakers: Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Melissa Hernandez (Harvey Milk Democratic Club), Khilynn Fowler

See more ⁠Michelle Meow Show⁠ programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.

This program contains EXPLICIT language.

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San Francisco Pride Third Annual Human Rights Summit Segment 7 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

On June 26, join us for the third annual Human Rights Summit from San Francisco Pride and The Michelle Meow Show at Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

Segment. 7

Closing Plenary
Harper Steele and Suzanne Ford

See more Michelle Meow Show programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.

This program contains EXPLICIT language.

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San Francisco Pride Third Annual Human Rights Summit Segment 2 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

On June 26, join us for the third annual Human Rights Summit from San Francisco Pride and The Michelle Meow Show at Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

Segment. 2:

Global Pride Organizers
Rise in Right wing extremists and anti-LGBT rights advocates
Moderator: Michelle Meow, Producer and Host, "The Michelle Meow Show"
Speakers: Carmen Prins (South Africa), Julia Maciocha (Budapest), Koko Tiamsai (Thailand), Melissa Gonzalez (Guadalajara), Jessica Yamamoto (Cambodia)

See more ⁠Michelle Meow Show⁠ programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.

This program contains EXPLICIT language.

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Discussion on Cuts to U.S. Foreign Aid—and the Future of Foreign Aid Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

The beginning of 2025 saw significant cuts to US foreign aid, most notably with the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since its establishment in 1961, USAID has implemented programs in global health, disaster relief, socioeconomic development, environmental protection, democratic governance and education. What are the implications of the sharp funding cuts and other changes to U.S. foreign aid efforts both for the countries that USAID worked in as well as the U.S.' strategic interests and leadership around the world?

This program will feature several panelists with extensive expertise and experience working on development and humanitarian projects for USAID in countries around the world such as Haiti, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Kenya. The speakers will share their insights on the recent changes and cuts to U.S. foreign aid and perspectives on the future of foreign aid.

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CLIMATE ONE ENCORE: Drag Queen Pattie Gonia on Bringing Joy to Climate Action Jul 04, 2025

Show notes

When individuals want to take action on climate, it’s often in the form of electrifying a home, voting, or maybe even traditional activism. Those are very important, but we often overlook how individual skills and talents can also make a difference.

This week we’re highlighting creative forms of climate action. Pattie Gonia is a drag queen, environmentalist and advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the outdoors who struts their message through national parks, in Pride events, and through the halls of Congress. Mike Roberts and Will Hammond Jr. wrote a sultry R&B song that will change the way you think about heat pumps… and an equally stimulating song about the power of geothermal energy. Together, they remind us that we don’t always have to take ourselves too seriously in order for our work to be meaningful and have impact.

This episode originally aired on February 7, 2025.

Guests:

Pattie Gonia, Drag queen; Environmentalist

Mike Roberts, Musician; Climate advocate

Will Hammond Jr., Educator; Musician

Pattie Gonia image credits Mitchell Overton and Maxwell Poth.

On July 31, Climate One is hosting Premal Shah and Kinari Webb for a live episode recording! With years of experience navigating the global climate movement, the two are sure to offer unparalleled insights during their conversation with Co-Host Greg Dalton. Tickets for the show, which will be held at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, are available now through our website.

Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.

Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads

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General Stanley McChrystal: Choices That Define a Life Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

“When I die, how will I be measured?”

For Stanley McChrystal, the answer could be obvious. As a retired four-star general, McChrystal might be measured by his stars (four), commands held, wars fought, or awards and medals received (numerous).

But when McChrystal looked back on his life and his current status, he focused on the importance of character, a topic he explores in his new book aptly titled On Character: Choices that Define a Life. Character is, he says, the key to living with purpose and integrity. He says character isn’t something you are born with, nor do you automatically accrue it through education, position, or experience. Instead, he says it is the result of a succession of choices, sometimes mundane ones, sometimes hugely important ones, that together reveal our capacity for virtue.

At a time when virtue and character are sometimes hard to identify in leaders, come hear McChrystal in his return to Commonwealth Club World Affairs for a rallying cry to become our best selves—as individual people and as Americans.

Note: This Podcast Contains Explicit Language.

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The Confluence of Technology, Traditional Painting, and Interactive Art Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Join us for a conversation with author and new media artist Scott Snibbe. Snibbe will introduce us to the history of his pioneering use of new technology and his exploration of traditional art forms. His artwork has been featured in leading institutions, from MoMA, SFMOMA, and The Whitney Museum of American Art to London’s Institute of Contemporary Art, Tokyo’s Intercommunications Center, and beyond.

Snibbe has collaborated with renowned artists and creators throughout his career, including multiplatinum recording artist Björk on the groundbreaking “app album” Biophilia, filmmaker James Cameron, musician Beck, and composer Philip Glass. He is the author of How to Train A Happy Mind, featuring a forward written by the Dalai Lama.

In his latest work, Snibbe draws from centuries-old Tibetan thangka painting techniques he studied in Nepal, which inspired him to explore the intersections of digital media and ancient craftsmanship. At the confluence of technology, traditional painting, and interactive design, Snibbe creates participatory experiences that push the boundaries of contemporary art and invite audiences to engage with it in new and unexpected ways.

A Technology & Society Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums.

OrganizerGerald Anthony Harris

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