The San Francisco Experience

James Joyce's great novel of the 20th Century - Ulysses - now has a companion guide with Ambassador Mulhall's new book. In today's episode the Ambassador shares his keen insights into Joyce's greatest work.

Buzzy Martin taught guitar to the convicts at San Quentin Prison for three years and shows how music can transform lives, even for hardened criminals. The book and soon to be released motion picture present a compelling message about rehabilitation in one of America's toughest penitentiaries. With 2.3 million prisoners locked up, mass incarceration in this country needs to be addressed. 

Unleashed is a story of loss, healing and growing stronger from dealing with unexpected tragedy. The protagonists all gain comfort and insight from each other and their animals. Skye shares her thoughts on the writing practice and her journey as a writer. 

Israel has built a broad and deep technology ecosystem in Silicon Valley. And it is a two way street. In addition to the numerous California tech companies with operations in Israel, there are many Israeli companies flourishing in Silicon Valley in the fields of cybersecurity, fintech, mobility, agtech and water. Our two guests discuss in depth how this close relationship benefits both countries.

The 94th Academy Awards was one for the history books to paraphrase Chris Rock, one of the presenters. The best actor award went to Will Smith for his starring role in King Richard. But the Motion Picture Academy is weighing whether to sanction Smith. Jessica Chastain won best actress for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Best film went to Coda. 

Russia's post Communist democratic reforms in the 1990's gave the country a representative form of government with a relatively free press. But under Vladimir Putin's 22 year rule, the country has slipped back into an autocratic style of governance. Professor Pankina recounts how the Communist regime absorbed many of the governing structures of the Tsarist era which continue to influence Russia's...

Cannabis sales passed $17.5 billion in the United States during 2020 which was a 46% increase over 2019. Sales in California reached $4.4 billion in 2020. With 18 states having legalized recreational marijuana and 5 more states weighing ballot measures in 2022, the trend to nationwide legalization is growing. Women are playing an increasing role in the industry and in this episode, Chase Roberts d...

Barry Waitte took his entrepreneurial skills and drive from the center of the tech industry in Silicon Valley and headed 85 miles North across the Golden Gate Bridge to create an award winning winery. And along the way he took up endurance horse back riding, learning to ride a horse at the age of 39 ! Listen to today's podcast to learn how to transfer your entrepreneurial drive to your dream caree...

Sir Chris Deverell is a retired British General. He served from 2016 to 2019 as one of the UK Chiefs of Staff in the Joint Forces Command, now called Strategic Command. His 40 years of experience in the British Army included assignments in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Germany.

China believes in internet sovereignty, whereby each country should control its' own internet. And it is looking to influence Internet governance and free speech policies through international organizations and the UN. Most recently, Russia has implemented controls on its' citizens access to internet information following China's example. Are the free wheeling days of the world wide web numbered ?

Sebastopol's 15th annual Documentary Film Festival premiers March 24 through the 27 with 73 films featured. Over 600 films were submitted for consideration from around the world. The Motion Picture Academy has approved the festival as a qualifying festival for the Documentary Short Subject Category for the Academy Awards. Of the 8000 film festivals that cover the whole gamut of films, only 158 hav...

American Universities in the 1960s were caught up tumultuous times. On the one hand, resources flowed liberally to expand the number of campuses and faculty to educate the Baby Boomers. But at the same time, academia was transformed as Civil Rights and Vietnam War protests brought   a growing and unprecedented politicization to campuses across the country. Dr. Schrecker recounts her prof...

The Russian Army was led to believe that their invasion of Ukraine would last a matter of days, resulting in their sweeping the capital Kyiv and installing a puppet President. But 13 days in, the Russians have met with fierce Ukrainian resistance. Retired US Marine Colonel Brendan Kearney explains the quagmire the Russians have created and history does not augur well for the invaders or Putin for...

1980's TV was renowned for its lavish primetime soap operas like Dallas and Dynasty.  But the San Francisco Bay Area was celebrated and showcased through Falcon Crest, set in the mythical Tuscany Valley - read Napa Valley. After being absent from TV for many years, it has come back on Amazon Prime, IMDB-TV streaming. So all nine seasons of wine country escapism can be enjoyed by another generation...

Speaking to us from his office in Lviv, in Western Ukraine, Oleg gives us a sense of the nation's drive to maintain infrastructure and energy supplies to this Texas size, nation of 44 million, in the middle of Winter. Gas production is only down 1.1% in the midst of the war with Russia. How has life changed as we enter week two of the invasion ?

Ian Brooks is a business coach and founder of Rhodes Smith LLC. He works to help clients transform their lives and their companies. In his book, he outlines the tools you need  to transform your life when faced with change in order to live your best life. Award winning and one of the best Self Help books of 2021.

Karkhiv is the second largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1.5 million in the North East of the country, 440 kilometers from Kyiv, the capital. Julia recounts what it's like to live day to day in the war zone that her city has become, with the Russian Army 35 kilometers away.

Phillip Inman, Economics correspondent for the UK's   The Guardian and Economics Editor for The Observer recently profiled Minouche Shafik, Director of the LSE. He shares his impressions with us in today's podcast episode.

African American women who served in the US armed forces in World War II had a double disadvantage to surmount - racism and sexism. Jonathan Speed recounts these tales of accomplishment for Black History Month.

Alice Dunbar Nelson was a poet, journalist, educator, political activist and feminist, born 1875 in New Orleans. Her mother had been born into slavery. Alice was also a thought leader in the African American community and beyond. Professor Green brings this remarkable woman and her accomplishments into sharp focus in this episode.

As sundry groups like the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and Boogaloo Bois stand accused of organizing and abetting the Capitol siege last year, white supremacy groups have spread throughout the world. Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, Greece, Australia and the UK are seeing a rise in their activity. Professor Dan Byman of Georgetown University, a noted terrorism and counter terrorism expert, discusses his n...

During the Golden Age of Television, the 1950's to the 1980's, Oscar Night was almost as big as the Super Bowl is today. Families would gather in front of the TV to soak up the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. But of late, TV audiences have steadily declined for the the Academy Awards, due in no small measure to its' pompous solemnity and preachy virtue signaling. Is Oscar Night following the Miss...

A fusion power experiment last week in Oxfordshire, England at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility marked a breakthrough in the quest for fusion power. See the episode cover art for a picture of the white hot plasma which was generated. The results from JET will be analyzed and used to refine the design of a much larger Takamak reactor in Cadarache, France, with a view to eventual commercial p...

Doug London is a retired, decorated,  34 year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency's Clandestine Service, With assignments in the Middle East, Africa, South and Central Asia he recruited numerous agents in many countries. His CIA subject matter expertise includes Iran, Counterterrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction. 

Serial entrepreneur Gary Hoover is the former Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Texas, McCombs School of Business, Austin, Texas. Founder of two public companies,  Book Stop and Hoover's Business Information Company, he is high energy and creative with great mentorship skills. Listen in for some tips for entrepreneurs at the American Business History Center.