Commonwealth Club Of California Podcast

2024 set new records for extreme heat around the world in what is already the warmest decade on record. According to the World Meteorological Organization, sea-level rise and ocean heating are accelerating along with the loss of ice from glaciers. We continue to see extreme weather of all kinds wreak havoc on communities across the world. In spite of the growing disruption, countries continue to miss their self-imposed climate targets. And in November, the U.S. re-elected Donald Trump to the presidency, a move that will almost certainly slow the transition to cleaner forms of energy. And yet, the transition continues. As the year winds down, Climate One hosts Greg Dalton and Ariana Brocious look back upon recent climate progress and pitfalls and revisit some of our most illuminating interviews of 2024. Guests: Karen Hao, Contributing Writer, The Atlantic Shelley Welton, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Law and Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law and the Kleinman Center for Ene

In his final book, the late Henry Kissinger joined forces with two leading technologists to mount “a profound exploration” (says Walter Isaacson) of the epochal challenges and opportunities presented by the revolution in artificial intelligence—a breakthrough that they believe dramatically empowers people in all walks of life while also raising urgent questions about the future of humanity. Kissinger and his coauthors, technologists Craig Mundie and Eric Schmidt, argue that as AI absorbs data, gains agency, and intermediates between humans and reality, it will help us to address enormous crises, from climate change to geopolitical conflicts to income inequality. It might well solve some of the greatest mysteries of our universe and elevate the human spirit to unimaginable heights. But it will also pose challenges on a scale and of an intensity that we have never seen—usurping our power of independent judgment and action, testing our relationship with the divine, and perhaps even spurring a new phase in human

In recent headline news, actor Simu Liu called out a boba tea company for cultural appropriation saying “There’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and quote-unquote ‘making it better.’” The comment generated a lot of feedback from consumers who then chimed in to add their thoughts on what cultural appropriation, especially in food, actually means. Join us for a lively discussion with Bay Area brand founders on what their thoughts are on cultural appropriation. See more Michelle Meow Show programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For over a century, coal fueled much of the country and served as the economic backbone for many rural communities. But with the rise of more affordable wind and solar energy, coal is in decline, leaving these towns increasingly vulnerable. As jobs disappear, coal-dependent communities are faced with the threat of economic collapse and depopulation.  To adapt, many are working to diversify their economies, seeking new industries and opportunities for the future. Today, we’ll visit coal communities across the country, where locals and leaders are actively exploring ways to rebuild and ensure no one is left behind in the energy transition.  This episode also features field reporting from Climate One and Caitlin Tan of Wyoming Public Media on the transition from coal to nuclear power in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Guests: Chris Levesque, CEO, TerraPower Brian Muir, Kemmerer City Administrator Tony Skrelunas, Executive Director of the Division of Economic Development, Navajo Nation Mike Eisenfeld, Energy and Climate Progr

Humanities West and the Italian Cultural Institute celebrate the life and art of Giacomo Puccini (December 22, 1858 to November 29, 1924) on the 100th anniversary of his death. His operas La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot are among the most beloved and most often-recorded operas of all time. His arias are famous for both their emotional resonance and their melodic beauty—even among millions who have never listened to a complete opera. Puccini was born into a centuries-old family of Italian composers, and he began his successful career just as Verdi was completing his, quickly inheriting Verdi’s renown as the greatest living composer of Italian opera. We have brought the internationally praised scholar and musicologist Gabriele Dotto from Italy to share the stage with San Francisco Opera’s favorite Kip Cranna to tell some of the stories behind the composition of Puccini’s heavenly arias. Giacomo Puccini and the Impact of Early 20th Century Media Gabriele Dotto will trace the rapid rise of sound

Nathan Law was a leader of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution when he was still only 21 years old. By the age of 23, he was the youngest lawmaker ever elected in the history of Hong Kong. By the age of 26, he was “Most Wanted” under the government’s National Security Law. Join us for a screening of Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? followed by a Q&A with Nathan Law (participating remotely) and director Joe Piscatella, and learn more about the courage, resilience and youthful idealism of Nathan Law, a young man who mortgages his own future to try to save his home. As a college freshman, shy Nathan Law discovers an identity in activism. As one of the organizers of a student strike demanding that Hong Kong be allowed to elect its own leader (something promised to them back in 1998), Law leads five days of student boycotts with a message of peaceful civil disobedience. When the strike suddenly becomes the Umbrella Revolution, Law is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role that shuts down Hong Kong for 79 days and capt

Meet this amazing group of people who help bring food to your and your neighbor’s tables. This interactive program will include delicious samples from Sway and Curtis Aikens plus a panel discussion. It will be a fun, informative event that might change how you view our Bay Area food system.  Andy Naja-Riese, CEO of the Agricultural Institute of Marin County, will discuss how we can strengthen our local food system in a changing climate. Chef Curtis Aikens, a former host and founding chef of The Food Network, will explain the Marin City HEAL Collaborative CAT, its three food system priorities, and how that ties into farmers markets and food banks. Ms. Tanis Crosby will discuss the mission of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to end hunger with a commitment to equity, collaboration and community. And Sway, founder of Forest & Flour, will share their journey into the allergen-free world and discuss how food nourishes environmental health, playing a vital role in bridging tradition, modernity, resilience and soc

The 14th annual Lundberg Institute Lecture features Robert Wachter of UCSF and his predictions about what advances artificial intelligence will make, and will not make, in health care. Why has health care not undergone the kind of digital transformation that has completely remade industries ranging from retail to entertainment to travel? Wachter will discuss health care’s bumpy road to digital nirvana, and why, to paraphrase Hemingway, generative AI may lead to medicine’s “gradually, then suddenly” moment. Join us for a preview of the ideas Dr. Wachter discusses in his latest book on AI and health care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“American values over autocracy. Benevolence over bigotry.”—So begins the rousing finale of the first floor speech delivered by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries upon his historic elevation as House Democratic Leader, affirming the values of our great country one letter of the alphabet at a time. His words provide a reminder of what will keep the United States the greatest democracy in the history of the world. In his new illustrated book for all ages, Jeffries employs clever and memorable turns of phrase to paint an alphabetic road map for a brighter American future and warn of the perils of taking a different path. Jeffries (D-NY) has served as the House minority leader since 2023, when he succeeded San Francisco’s Rep. Nancy Pelosi as leader of House Democrats. He is the first Black party leader in either chamber of the U.S. Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the surface, climate policy couldn’t face a worse future than under a second Trump administration. As a candidate, Trump said on his first day back in office: “I want to drill, drill, drill.” So, what are environmental organizations, including those aligned with the Republican party, doing to keep making progress on addressing climate change? And what do Trump’s cabinet picks say about the incoming administration’s attitude toward energy policy? Guests:  Abigail Dillen, President, Earthjustice Heather Reams, President, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions For show notes and related links, visit our website. A brief correction was made to this episode on 29 December 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the intersection of art, artificial intelligence, and new technology. Through the diverse perspectives of three incredible artists, we will delve into unique opportunities that new technology presents for creative expression, activism, and the artists' evolving role in the 21st century.  This event will offer exciting opportunities to interact with the artists and a realistic portrait-drawing robot built on 60,000 lines of code. Together, we will gain insight into the future of art and AI by fostering a deeper understanding of how technology is reshaping the art world, culture, and humanity's creative landscape. Learn more: Read this New York Times article "Visions of A.I. Art From OpenAI's First Artist in Residence," including comments from speaker Hugh Leeman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Regardless of who won the presidential election on November 5, one thing remains on the calendar: Former President Donald Trump heads back to court on November 26 for sentencing. Bestselling author and presidential historian Jonathan Alter had a front-row seat to Trump’s felony trial, one of just a handful of journalists allowed in the courtroom. For 23 days, he sat just feet away from Trump, watching the spectacle of the century. In his new book American Reckoning, Alter shares everything he witnessed—from eviscerating takes on the colorful characters to the chilling legal ups and downs—to offer a barbed account of the trial and its aftermath, including fresh reporting about the historic events of the summer of 2024. While experiencing a crisis of faith in the good sense of the American people, Alter chronicles the shaping of his political consciousness and his bracing, unpredictable relationships with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, and Joe Biden, whose decis

Each generation of classical music lovers may wonder if their generation will be the last to truly enjoy the fusion of beautiful sound and emotional depth expressed by the master composers and performers of this centuries-old artistic tradition. Changing economic and social pressures in the early 21st century dented the interest in classical music in the West, a trend exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. But other forces of change are also at work, including a rapidly increasing interest in Asia following upon the worldwide success, among other performers, of Lang Lang and Yuja Wang (both of whom were discovered and whose early careers were managed for several years by Earl Blackburn). Blackburn will explore what it means to make a career work in today’s classical music industry and will discuss the principles that help thousands of great artists continue to grow both artistically and commercially. Decades ago careers in classical music necessitated getting a powerful agent. Now the tables have flipped somewha

It is possible that the only news we hear about more than politics is the climate crisis, and sometimes it is politics about the climate crisis? But what are we hearing and saying about climate change, and is it what we think we’re hearing and saying?  Genevieve Guenther, founder of the nonprofit organization End Climate Silence, has engaged journalists in efforts to improve coverage of environmental crises in their reporting. Publishers Weekly called her new book, The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It, a “revelatory study.” In it, she puts forth powerful new ways to talk about the climate crisis that she says will help create transformative change.  Guenther argues that the climate debate is not neatly polarized, with Republicans obstructing climate action and Democrats advancing climate solutions. Partisans on the right and the left often repeat the same fossil-fuel talking points, and she says this repetition produces a consensus upholding the status quo, even as gl

Globally, one-third of food produced every year is wasted. That’s enough to feed about 2 billion people — twice the number of people who are undernourished. The global food system also accounts for a whopping one-third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. These two problems — waste and emissions — are intricately linked: Climate disruption exacerbates food insecurity. And industrial food production contributes to the climate crisis. When food is wasted, it’s also a waste of land, water and energy. In this episode, we talk with experts about how to fix the broken system and hear from some of the people on the ground recovering food before it goes to waste. How can we address both climate and food insecurity at the same time?  This episode also features a news story produced by Harvest Public Media contributor Peter Medlin, a reporter with WNIJ Northern Public Radio. Guests: Dawn King, Senior Lecturer, Brown University Lisa Moon, CEO, The Global Food Banking Network Norma Alonso, ABACO, Cooperation Manager 

Journalism can be a powerful force for change, especially in helping people understand the complex causes and impacts of domestic violence. Reporting that includes the diverse experiences of survivors can help shine a light on solutions. This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, join us for a special event, "From Silence to Solutions: Changing the Conversation about Domestic Violence." Come together with a community of journalists, survivors, and advocates who want to change the conversation about domestic violence so that we can end it. The program will feature an interactive discussion with survivors and journalists, introduce a Journalists’ Playbook on covering domestic violence, and be followed by a networking reception. For more info about the toolkit for journalists, by journalists and survivors of domestic violence: https://journalists.letsenddv.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The national results of the recent general election caused a wave of shock through many progressive organizations in the country and here in the Bay Area. Join us for a live town hall with speakers from leading LGBTQ organizations, including SF AIDS Foundation, LYRIC, NCLR, SF Pride, El/La Para Translatina, SF HRC, EQCA, SF Office Transgender Initiative and more to come. They'll discuss the election results, its impact on various LGBTQ communities, and plans to respond. Fireside Chats: Immigration Nicole Santamaria, executive director, El/La Para Translatina—Moderator Jennicet Gutierrez, co-founder and co-executive director, Familia TQLM Okan Sengun, co-founder, Center for Immigrant Protection Yuan Wang, executive director, Lavender Phoenix State of LGBTQIA+ Honey Mahogany–Moderator Imani Rupert-Gordon, NCLR Tyler TerMeer, SF AIDS Foundation Suzanne Ford, SF Pride Lance Toma, executive director, San Francisco Community Health Center TGNC Youth, Families, and Gender Affirming Care Gael Lala-Chavez, executi

Rising star New York Times technology reporters, Kate Conger and Ryan Mac, tell for the first time what they say is the full and shocking inside story of Elon Musk’s unprecedented takeover of Twitter and the $44 billion deal’s seismic political, social and financial fallout The billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become inextricable from X. the social media platform that until 2023 was known as Twitter. Started in the mid-2000s as a playful microblogging platform, Twitter quickly became a popular nexus of global politics, culture and media—where the retweet button could instantly catapult any idea to hundreds of millions of screens around the world, unleashing raw collective emotion like nothing else before. While its founder had idealistically dreamed of building a "digital town square," he detested Wall Street and never focused on building a profitable business. Musk joined the platform in 2010 and, by 2022, had become one of the site’s most influential users, attracting more than 80 mill

Join us for a lively discussion on the future of San Francisco's downtown. Featuring leaders in the post-pandemic San Francisco revival story, our program will explore the challenges and opportunities facing downtown San Francisco, the progress that has been made and what is around the corner that could turbocharge or derail the next chapter of our city.  Discover the city’s post-pandemic hidden triumphs and where we should be looking for approaches and policies to shape a more resilient and vibrant urban core. We’ll be talking: entertainment zones and pop-ups, new jobs and revamping spaces. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from key voices driving the transformation of San Francisco's heart, and join the conversation on how we can collectively reimagine our city's downtown for a brighter future. UP NEXT. . . Save the date: August 29, 5:30 p.m.: "California Volunteers," the role of community and service in San Francisco's revival. Coming soon: "A Thriving, Natural City," how should we shape a sustainable

The 2024 fall general election has just ended. Who won? Who lost? Why did anyone win or lose? Which party controls Congress, the White House, most state houses? And what happens next? Will there be a peaceful transition of power? Join us for the post-election special edition of our Week to Week political roundtable. Enjoy and learn as our panel of political experts explains what happened and what to expect, and answers your questions. See other upcoming Week to Week political roundtables, as well as audio and video of past Week to Week programs.   This program contains EXPLICIT language, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices