Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

From Hurricane Katrina’s racial impacts to Jay Z’s hip hop politics, Michael Eric Dyson has uplifted race-related academia through his analysis on a diverse array of Black cultural topics. Dyson began his lengthy academic career at Knoxville College at 21 years-old after having worked in factories in Detroit, Michigan, to support his family. He later went on to receive his Ph. D. in religion from...

As the United States grapples with COVID and an economy in crisis, and with President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris about to take office, here's a special opportunity to hear from and submit your questions to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about the direction of the country, plans for the new Congress and the possibilities for breaking gridlock in Washington and the country in...

"There was a time when people like me could not win." —Adrian Tam Becoming the only gay Asian-American member of the Hawai'i House would be a significant achievement for any 28-year-old. Adrian Lam not only achieved that, but he did it by defeating the leader of the state chapter of the far-Right Proud Boys. Tam will join us from Hawai'i to discuss his successful campaign—which he won with 63 perc...

John Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, has spent years making quick decisions on complex issues to protect the national security of the United States. With 25 years of experience in intelligence, Brennan has served as a Near East and South Asian security analyst, as the CEO of The Analysis Corporation, and as the assistant to the president for homeland security under the...

“Unprecedented” is one of the most overused words of 2020, but it reflects the superstorm of disruption brought on by an overlapping pandemic, racial justice awakening, and presidential election. For the first time ever, climate change galvanized a record number of voters to elect Joe Biden to the Presidency. How has the focus on climate shifted in a year shaped by multiple social and economic cri...

On March 12, 1947, President Harry Truman delivered an address before Congress announcing a policy of Soviet containment that would later be known as the Truman Doctrine. This was just the beginning of a global movement against communist attempts at power that changed U.S. foreign procedure and policy. In his new book, Saving Freedom: Truman, the Cold War, and the Fight for Western Civilization, S...

As discussed in his new book The Myth of Chinese Capitalism, Dexter "Tiff" Roberts will describe how surging income inequality, an unfair social welfare system, and rising social tensions block China’s continued economic rise, with implications for companies and countries around the world. He will discuss how China is struggling to leave behind its "Factory to the World" growth model, and include...

Activist Alicia Garza started a movement that changed how we think about race. One of the pioneers behind the phrase #BlackLivesMatter, Alicia co-founded the Black Lives Matter Network in 2013 and remains a seminal leader in the effort to organize for racial justice. In her new book, The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, Garza relays details and lessons from her life worki...

Join us for a virtual conversation with Lisa Feldman Barrett to explore fundamental questions, like why we even have a brain and what that means for all of us. When we think about the larger issues in our own society, and for humanity as a species, we don't often focus on the role science plays in our understanding of these issues. But even when not explicitly involved in the discussion, the assum...

Noted chef José Andrés and actor/activist Sean Penn are of course each well regarded for their respective talents. But in recent years, they have worked both individually and together to provide philanthropic assistance to those in need. Join us for a program that will salute these efforts and discuss what we all can do to help others during this challenging time. Chef Andres' World Central Kitche...

Join us for this special program in The Commonwealth Club's series recognizing recipients of the Club's 2020 Distinguished Citizens Award. This program honors Lauren (Laurie) Dachs and her colleagues at the S. D. Bechtel Jr., Foundation. The Foundation, based in San Francisco, was established in 1957 by Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr., as a reflection of his personal commitment to ensuring a prosperous Ca...

Is this the end of the road for the internal combustion engine? California isn’t the first major economy to ban gas-powered cars and trucks, and it won’t be the last. Fifteen countries, including some of the world’s top auto markets, have announced plans to phase out gas-powered engines as a step toward a 100% zero-emission vehicle future. It’s a bold move, but a critical one for climate. Transpor...

In honor of Transgender Awareness Month, join a dynamic post-election discussion with trans leaders and advocates on the fight for trans rights. The event also includes an important discussion on trans health equity and wellness in the time of COVID and beyond. Trans and gender nonconforming communities—especially trans communities of color—continue to be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-1...

Few 18-year-olds have thousands of Twitter followers, unless they're actors or boy band stars. But Georgia teenager Niles Francis' 21,500 Twitter followers—including many established political journalists, analysts and strategists—follow him because of his expertise at analyzing voting trends and data. A regular contributor to Decision Desk HQ, Francis has earned praise for his insight and skill....

Our distinguished panel will discuss the history of the conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan to gain control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory within Azerbaijan mainly populated by Armenians. The influence that Russia, Turkey, America, Iran, etc. have in the dispute and the specter of a regional war will also be discussed. MLF ORGANIZER Celia Menczel NOTES MLF: Middle East Learn more about your...

Join us for a virtual conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Ricks to discuss four founding fathers, their educations and, in particular, their devotion to the ancient Greek and Roman classics—and how that influence would shape their ideals and the new American nation. Ricks, provoked by the 2016 presidential election, awoke the next morning wondering what kind of nation we had...

John Hope Bryant says American opportunity is not dead. In his new book, Mr. Bryant outlines the mindset and practices that he says will allow all of us to achieve the American Dream, no matter what our current circumstances. He discusses his own rise from humble beginnings, and argues that individually, we can change our mindset from survivor to thriver to winner, and move beyond just getting by...

Join us for a rare conversation with renowned statesman George Shultz, former long-time State Department official James Timbie and economist Adele Hayutin about opportunities facing the United States and the world at this unique point in history. In their new book, Hinge of History, our speakers say that the world is at an inflection point. They argue that with advancing technologies, great demogr...

What is the role of the Peace Corps? Where is the Peace Corps going in the future? What are some of the changes envisaged? How does the National Peace Corps Association connect and work with Peace Corps? Join us for an in-depth conversation with two leaders of this unique movement. Peace Corps Director Jody K. Olsen was sworn into office as the 20th director of the Peace Corps in March 2018. Olsen...

Please join us for an exclusive and comprehensive docent art talk by Kathryn Zupsic on the exhibit "Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving," currently showing at the de Young Museum. We'll take a close look at some of Kahlo's personal items, photographs and paintings that reveal the many ways the artist constructed her identity. The talk will be followed by Q&A, so bring your questions as we de...

Harvest season is especially hard this year, as the pandemic strains farmers and food systems, highlighting a deeply divided and often unjust America. Black farmers are no strangers to the intersection of these challenges, as structural racism in the food system makes it increasingly challenging for non-white farmers to own and profit from land. Is small-scale, regenerative agriculture the solutio...

Join us for a virtual conversation with Neal Gabler, award-winning author and film critic, to discuss volume one of his new biography of Ted Kennedy—an immersive journey through the life of a complicated man and a sweeping history of the fall of liberalism. Gabler pursues the Ted Kennedy seldom seen beneath the well-known images of the reckless hedonist who rode his father’s fortune and his brothe...

Months and months in a sweet little bubble, with stresses and chaos on the outside, but warmth and safety on the inside . . . doesn't that sound great? But if this idyllic situation isn't yours right now, don't worry! Neuroscience and emotional resilience specialists Dr. Rick Hanson, psychologist and New York Times best-selling author, and Forrest Hanson, host of the "Being Well" podcast, will tea...

Join us for this special program in The Commonwealth Club's series recognizing recipients of The Club's 2020 Distinguished Citizens Award. This program honors Rod Diridon, Sr., a staunch transportation and environmental advocate for most of his life. As The San Jose Mercury News observed, "Along the way to having a passenger station named in his honor that has become the catalyst for the next iter...

Join us in conversation with Jacob Goldstein, co-host of the NPR show “Planet Money,” as he talks with Molly Wood from “Marketplace Tech” about the irreverent concept of money and its evolution over time. In his new book, Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing, Goldstein illustrates the use of money and how it has been an important factor in society for thousands of years. But what is money? Gol...