Commonwealth Club Radio Program
By Commonwealth Club of California
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Podcast Description
The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Please click the link below and visit our website to learn more about The Commonwealth Club and don't forget to become a member!
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Paul Krugman: End This Depression Now (5/22/12) | Paul Krugman, Columnist, The New York Times; Professor of Economics and International Affairs, Princeton University; Author, End This Depression Now! Nobel Laureate economist Krugman believes that the U.S. and world economies are not getting better. He says we are still in the midst of a depression rather than a recession, and that “nations, rich in resources, talent, and knowledge, all the ingredients for prosperity and a decent standard of living for all, remain in a state of intense pain.” Yet he also believes that a quick, strong recovery is but one step away. Come hear his thoughts on what political leaders can and must do. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on May 22, 2012 | 25 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Week to Week: May 14, 2012 | Week to Week: May 14, 2012 Larry Gerston, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University; Political Analyst, NBC 11; Author, Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California Carly Schwartz, Founding Editor, Huffington Post San Francisco In conversation with John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club of California It's our first Monday program of Week to Week! Join us for informative and fun commentary on the week's news, featuring our expert panelists, an in-depth look at a topic in the news, audience discussion of the week's events, a news quiz, and a look at the week ahead. It's a new experience from The Commonwealth Club, a recurring program offering timely insight, opinions, and commentary on the news of the world, the nation, and the Bay Area. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 14, 2012 | 14 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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John Stossel: Fighting Government (4/20/12) | John Stossel: Fighting Government John Stossel, Fox News/Business Correspondent; Author, No They Can’t: Why Government Fails…but Individuals Succeed Fox News and Business Correspondent John Stossel has criticized government programs as inefficient, wasteful, and harmful, and he says he’s prepared to lay out the facts about why government can’t solve our problems. Come hear his thought provoking arguments about job creation, healthcare, education, and product regulation … and his further thoughts on how Americans can achieve success. Stossel hosts his own one-hour weekly Fox Business Network show, Stossel, and a series of one-hour specials on Fox News. He also appears regularly on The O’Reilly Factor and other Fox News shows. During three decades in journalism, Stossel has received numerous honors and awards. He is also known for having been co-anchor of ABC’s 20/20 and the host of the John Stossel Specials for ABC television and radio, and ABCNews.com. He is a 19-time Emmy Award-winner, and a five-time honoree for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. His two previous books spent more than twenty weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on April 20, 2012 | 10 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Timothy Geithner, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (4/26/12) | Remarks on the U.S. and Global Economies Ahead of the 2012 U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue Timothy Geithner, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Adam Lashinsky, Senior Editor at Large, Fortune; Author, Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired and Secretive Company Really Works - Moderator In his visit to San Francisco, Secretary Geithner will address the condition of the U.S. economy as he argues that we have made significant progress toward economic recovery over the last three years, despite a series of external shocks to the economy. Secretary Geithner will also address the state of the global economy ahead of the Administration's 2012 U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED). This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on April 26, 2012 | 27 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Week to Week: April 27, 2012 | Week to Week: April 27, 2012 Larry Gerston, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University; Political Analyst, NBC 11; Author, Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California Debra J. Saunders, Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle; "Token Conservative" blogger, SFGate.com Carla Marinucci, Senior Political Writer, San Francisco Chronicle In conversation with John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club of California Join us for informative and fun commentary on the week's news, featuring our expert panelists, an in-depth look at what is now the general election - yes, it's that time again - plus audience discussion of the week's events, a news quiz, and a look at the week ahead. It's the newest experience from The Commonwealth Club, a recurring program offering timely insight, opinions, and commentary on the news of the world, the nation, and the Bay Area. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 27, 2012 | 27 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jonah Lehrer: How Creativity Works (4/5/12) | Jonah Lehrer: How Creativity Works Contributing Editor, Wired; Author, How We Decide and Imagine: How Creativity Works Tim Ritchie - President, The Tech Museum- Moderator Acclaimed science writer and popular blogger Jonah Lehrer helped us learn about our decision making process in his best-selling book How We Decide. Now he delves into the human mind to decipher the anatomy of imagination and explore the new science of creativity with Imagine. Lehrer introduces us to musicians like Bob Dylan and Yo Yo Ma, artists working at Pixar, engineers at Procter and Gamble, and even a bartender who thinks more like chemist, to demonstrate our most important mental talent: the ability to imagine what has never existed. Find out what cities and companies are doing to double our creative output and make our culture more creative. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on April 5, 2012 | 10 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Week to Week: (3/30/12) | Week to Week: March 30, 2012 Larry Gerston, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University; Political Analyst, NBC 11; Author, Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California Carly Schwartz, Editor, Huffington Post San Francisco Susan Reynolds, Editor, The Marina Times John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club of California -- Host Join us for informative and fun commentary on the week's news, featuring our expert panelists, an in-depth look at San Francisco's sheriff controversy, audience discussion of the week's events, a news quiz, and a look at the week ahead. It's a new experience from The Commonwealth Club, a recurring program offering timely insight and commentary on the news of the world, the nation, and the Bay Area. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on March 30, 2012 | 5 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dave Eggers, Founder and Editor, McSweeney’s (3/22/12) | DAVE EGGERS: INFORUM’S 21ST CENTURY VISIONARY AWARD Dave Eggers, Founder and Editor, McSweeney’s; Co-Founder, 826 Valencia; Author, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius; In conversation with Dan Moulthrop, Co-Author, Teachers Have It Easy; Co-founder, The Civic Commons; Former Public Radio Host Having charmed the literary world at the age of 30 with his best-seller, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Eggers immediately lent his commercial success to the enlightenment of our youth through literature and education. Infusing his personal passions and writing talents into the community, Eggers has taken on numerous philanthropic efforts including 826 Valencia, ScholarMatch and onceuponaschool.org. INFORUM is pleased to award this Bay Area humanitarian with our 21st Century Visionary Award. Eggers has got a way with words, so you won’t want to miss out on this sharp discussion, which is sure to expand your appreciation for the scholastic prospects of our youth and the value of fair access to higher education. This program was recorded at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on March 22, 2012 | 29 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jodi Kantor: What You Don't Know About the Obamas (3/21/12) | What You Don't Know About the Obamas Jodi Kantor, Arts and Leisure Editor, The New York Times; Author, The Obamas Belva Davis, Journalist/Host, KQED, This Week in Northern California- Moderator The author of the new highly publicized bio of President Obama and the first lady reveals personal and political details, and how the first couple’s partnership affects all Americans. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 21, 2012 | 26 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Week to Week (3/16/12) | Week To Week Dr. Larry Gerston, Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University; Political Analyst, NBC 11; Author, Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California Debra J. Saunders, Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle; "Token Conservative" Blogger, SFGate.com Brian Caulfield, Technology Journalist, Forbes John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club of California -- Moderator Join us for informative and fun commentary on the week's news, featuring our expert panelists, an in-depth look by Brian Caulfield at the new iPad 3 and tablet computing, audience discussion of the week's events, a news quiz, and a look at the week ahead. It's a new experience from The Commonwealth Club, a recurring program offering timely insight and commentary on the news of the world, the nation, and the Bay Area. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 16, 2012 | 19 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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T.C. Boyle (3/5/12) | T.C. Boyle Author, When the Killing’s Done: A Novel; Distinguished Professor of English, University of Southern California Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club- Moderator Prolific and renowned author T. Coraghessan Boyle has written 22 novels, many of which probe the relationship between contemporary human civilization and the natural world. His latest work, When the Killing’s Done, adopts as its setting California’s geographically isolated Channel Islands and gives a harrowing fictional account of the battle that ensues when two ideologically opposed environmentalists disagree over the fate of the islands’ species. Much like Boyle’s previous novels, including the best-selling The Tortilla Curtain and The Women, this new book combines suspenseful narrative and strong characterization with provocative questions about our role in, and responsibility to, the world in which we live. Come hear Boyle share his thoughts on the making and implications of this powerful book. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 5, 2012 | 13 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Russell Feingold (3/1/12) | Russell Feingold Former U.S. Senator (D-Wisconsin); Author, While America Sleeps: A Wake-up Call for the Post-9/11 Era Christopher Edley, Jr., Dean, Berkeley Law School, University of California -- Moderator Widely known for his efforts to spur campaign finance reform during his 18 years as a U.S. senator, Democratic Feingold was the only senator to oppose the Patriot Act of 2001 and the first to propose a concrete timetable for the dissolution of American troops in Iraq. He is also a major opponent of financial deregulation and controversial trade agreements, cosponsor of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, and founder of Progressives United, an organization formed to combat the results of the Supreme Court’s contentious ruling on Citizens United v. FEC. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on March 1, 2012 | 8 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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George Shultz, Sam Nunn, William Perry: The Nuclear Chessboard (2/23/12) | George Shultz, Sam Nunn, William Perry: The Nuclear Chessboard, 2012 George Shultz, Former U.S Secretary of State under President Reagan William Perry, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Clinton Sam Nunn, Former U.S. Senator, Georgia (1972-96), Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative Philip Taubman, Consulting Professor, Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation; Former New York Times Washington Bureau Chief; Author, The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb – Moderator Three distinguished statesmen discuss their vision for international security in these precarious times. Secretaries Shultz and Perry and Senator Nunn will assess the current state of nuclear threats, including Iran's drive to build a bomb, the North Korean nuclear weapons program, and future prospects for limiting the spread of nuclear materials and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on February 23, 2012 | 2 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Adam Lashinsky-Inside Apple (2/15/12) | Inside Apple: How America’s Most Admired and Secretive Company Really Works Adam Lashinsky, Senior Editor at Large, Fortune Jessica Vascellaro, Senior Technology Reporter, The Wall Street Journal - Moderator If Apple is Silicon Valley’s answer to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, then Lashinsky provides readers with a golden ticket to step inside. In a 2008 Fortune cover story entitled, “The Genius Behind Steve: Could Operations Whiz Tim Cook Run the Company Someday?” he predicted that Tim Cook, then an unknown, would eventually succeed Steve Jobs as CEO. Come hear the secret systems, tactics and leadership strategies that allow Apple to churn out hit after hit and inspire a cult-like following for its products as well as predictions for the future in the post-Steve Jobs era. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on February 15, 2012 | 29 2 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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How to Hire Like Google: Bagging and Becoming the Rare Find (2/9/12) | How to Hire Like Google: Bagging and Becoming the Rare Find Laszlo Bock, Senior Vice President, People Operations, Google George Anders, Author, The Rare Find In conversation with Brad Stone, Senior Writer, Bloomberg Businessweek The nature of work is changing. Companies are learning to hire during a recession and hold onto increasingly smart, proficient and flexible employees. Google’s unique hiring process and reputation for wooing potential hires has generated a lot of myths and models. What is the Google way? What is the philosophy of talent at the Bay Area’s most successful companies, and what skills can you develop to bring you to the top? Anders and Bock are two leaders in the world of work. Come hear their perspectives on how to recruit and get recruited differently. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on February 9, 2012 | 24 2 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Thomas Frank (1/26/12) | Thomas Frank Founding Editor, The Baffler; Author, What’s the Matter with Kansas? and Pity the Billionaire: The Hard Times Swindle and the Unlikely Comeback of the Right Joseph Fink, President Emeritus, Dominican University of California - Moderator The best-selling author of What's the Matter with Kansas? takes a sardonic look at why he believes the the worst economy since the 1930s has brought about the revival of conservatism. When Frank set out in 2009 to look for expressions of American discontent at the collapsing economy, he said all he could find were loud demands that the economic system be made even harsher on the recession's victims and that society's traditional winners receive even grander prizes. The American Right was reinvigorated by the arrival of hard times. Join us as Frank examines the peculiar mechanism by which dire economic circumstances have delivered wildly unexpected political results. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on January 26, 2012 | 10 2 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Humor Columnist Dave Barry and Former "SNL" Writer Alan Zweibel (1/19/12) | Humor Columnist Dave Barry and Former "SNL" Writer Alan Zweibel Dave Barry, Humor Columnist; Co-author, Lunatics Alan Zweibel, Former Writer, "Saturday Night Live"; Co-author, Lunatics Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio/ CBS 5 TV Correspondent (Moderator) Beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Barry and quirky Thurber Prize-winning writer and "SNL" alum Zweibel take you on a literary journey of inspiration and mayhem. In a world filled with unbelievable jerks and morons, the two main characters of their new book Lunatics are about to collide in a swiftly escalating series of events that will send them running for their lives, pursued by the police, soldiers, terrorists, subversives, bears and a man dressed as Chuck E. Cheese. Experience the world through the eyes and words of bestselling humorist Barry and five-time Emmy Award winner, renowned "SNL" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" writer Zweibel – a sure way to tickle your funny bone! This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on January 19, 2012 | 31 1 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dylan Ratigan (1/18/12) | Dylan Ratigan Host, “The Dylan Ratigan Show,” MSNBC; Author, Greedy Bastard$! Quentin Hardy, Deputy Technology Editor, The New York Times- Moderator Dylan Ratigan, host of one of the highest rated daytime shows on MSNBC, graces The Commonwealth Club with his hardball, gloves-off approach to American politics and big business. In his first book, Greedy Bastards, Ratigan details what he calls a “broken system” and “illustrates how fixing these problems will release a renaissance of growth and innovation.” Prior to joining MSNBC, Ratigan previously launched CNBC’s highly successful Fast Money and Closing Bell. Come join the debate as Ratigan discusses the repercussions and remedies to the problems we face in America today. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on January 18, 2012 | 27 1 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Michael Gazzaniga: Who's in Charge? Free Will and the Science of the Brain (1/5/12) | Who's in Charge? Free Will and the Science of the Brain Michael Gazzaniga, Professor of Psychology and Director of the SAGE Center for the Study of Mind, UC Santa Barbara Known as the "father of cognitive neuroscience," Gazzaniga makes a powerful argument for free will. The question of free will versus determinism continues to vex scientists, psychologists and philosophers, but the biological evidence is not as stridently deterministic as it is often presented. Dr. Gazzaniga argues that the human mind constrains the brain and monitors our behavior, much as a government constrains its citizens. Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology, as well as ethics and law, he offers a deeply considered case for human responsibility. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on January 5, 2012 | 10 1 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Occupy: What Now, What Next? (12/15/11) | Iris Brown, Organizer, Occupy Oakland Nadim Haidar, Nonviolent Direct-Action Trainer; Travelling Occupier, Denver, Boulder, Santa Fe, Oakland George Lakoff, Cognitive Linguist & Professor, UC Berkeley Jean Quan, Mayor, Oakland Melissa Griffin, Columnist, San Francisco Examiner; Co-Host, Necessary Conversations- Moderator #OWS, pepper spray, book sharing, tents, mic checks and protest signs: Since September, the Occupy movement has staked a claim in every Facebook feed, almost every news program and in literally more than 100 major cities in the United States alone. Using the tools of collective assembly, occupiers have mobilized thousands in their fight for global change and against the richest 1 percent, but so many people are still less than sure what Occupy is all about. What have been the strategies and intent of this people-powered movement? Now that they have the world’s attention, what are they going to do with it? What is driving the movement forward? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on December 15, 2011 | 16 12 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Insiders Look at Education: Creating Great Teachers (12/5/11) | Insiders Look at Education: Creating Great Teachers John Merrow, Education Correspondent, NPR/PBS; Author, The Influence of Teachers Kathleen Martin McCarthy, Recipient, 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching; Teacher, Washington Elementary School, San Leandro Anthony Smith, Ph.D., Superintendent, Oakland Unified School District Steven Thomas, Science Teacher/Director, De Anza High School Health Academy, West Contra Costa Unified School District Dr. Colleen Wilcox, Executive Director, Silicon Valley Alliance For Teachers; Former Superintendent of Schools, Santa Clara County; Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors (Moderator) A panel of high-level educators and experts discuss what they believe makes a great teacher and what the public and government can do to ensure that standards of excellence are set and adhered to at the primary and secondary level. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on December 5, 2011 | 13 12 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paula Kerger and John Boland: PBS, KQED - Where is Public Broadcasting Headed? (11/29/11) | PBS – Past, Present and Future PBS President Paula Kerger and KQED President John Boland In conversation with Robert Rosenthal, Executive Director, Center for Investigative Reporting Kerger is president and CEO of PBS, the nation’s largest non-commercial media organization, with more than 350 member stations throughout the country. Boland oversees KQED Public Media, including KQED Television – one of the nation's most-watched public television stations during primetime, with more than 1.5 million households viewing per month – as well as KQED Radio, the most-listened-to public radio station in the country, reaching more than 745,000 listeners each week. Our members ask the leaders of PBS and KQED their plans for future programming. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on November 29, 2011 | 8 12 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor and Publisher, The Nation (11/30/11) | Katrina vandal Heuvel, Editor and Publisher, The Nation; Author, The Change I Believe in: Fighting for Progress in the Age of Obama In conversation with Phil Bronstein, Editor-at-Large, Hearst Newspapers Vanden Heuvel challenges the limits of our downsized political debate, arguing that timid incrementalism and the forces of establishment power that debilitate American politics can be overcome only by independent organizing, strategic creativity and determined idealism. In the wake of the economic crisis, says vandal Heuvel, it is clear that neither one election, nor one person, can wholly reshape American politics. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on November 30, 2011 | 6 12 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jennifer Granholm and Dan Mulhern: Fighting for America’s Economic Future (11/29/11) | Jennifer Granholm and Dan Mulhern: Fighting for America’s Economic Future Jennifer Granholm, Former Governor of Michigan; Co-author, A Governor’s Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future Dan Mulhern, Senior Advisor, Families and Work Institute; Co-author, A Governor’s Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Reporter and Columnist, Contra Costa Times, Bay Area News Group, Media News – Moderator The impact of the recent economic crisis was felt especially intensely in Michigan, the heart of American manufacturing. As the state’s governor from 2003 to 2011, Granholm was on the front lines of a series of battles that began in the Great Lakes state before spreading across the country. During her eight years of leadership, Granholm tackled creating new jobs and reworking health care, rebuilding manufacturing industries and repairing the education system, in attention to attempting to restore public faith in the local and national economies. Join us for an exclusive conversation with Governor Granholm and her husband and co-author, Mulhern, as they discuss Michigan’s unique struggles, how the state weathered the economic storm, and what advice they can offer other policy makers and citizens. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on November 29, 2011 | 2 12 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News Special Correspondent (11/21/11) | Tom Brokaw NBC Nightly News Special Correspondent; Author, The Greatest Generation, Boom! and The Time of Our Lives: A Conversation about America Dan Ashley, News Anchor, KGO TV and Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator With all of the current political, social and economic challenges facing our country, veteran television broadcaster Brokaw asks: What happened to the America I thought I knew? In an effort to reconnect our families, communities and commitment to civic engagement, Brokaw looks back at his own family history and South Dakota upbringing and discusses the many changes that have transformed society. He offers inspiring stories of Americans who are leading the way for change in their own communities and shares his thoughts on how we can revitalize the promise of the American dream. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Santa Clara Convention Center Theatre on November 21, 2011 | 30 11 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Robert Mueller, FBI Director: Changing Threats In A Changing World (11/17/11) | Changing Threats in a Changing World: Staying Ahead of Terrorists, Spies and Hackers Robert S. Mueller III, Director, FBI As technology and globalization change our world, the threats to our nation’s security are changing as well. The FBI must stay ahead of these changes, in order to protect our safety and prosperity. FBI Director Mueller discusses how threats are evolving in the FBI’s top three national security priority areas – counterterrorism, counterintelligence and cyber security – and how the Bureau and the country must adapt to defeat these threats. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 17, 2011 | 28 11 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Chris Matthews, Host, “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” MSNBC (11/8/11) | Chris Matthews Host, “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” MSNBC; Author, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero David Kennedy, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History, Emeritus, Stanford University - Moderator Discover a new side to an American icon. Throughout the media storm that has followed him in life and death, President John F. Kennedy is still referred to as “that elusive man” by even his closest friends and family members. TV Host Chris Matthews sought to pull away the mystery when he began interviewing those who knew Kennedy best. From childhood in Massachusetts to a private battle with Addison's disease and finally Kennedy’s White House days, Matthews reveals the man behind the iconic initials. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Schultz Cultural Hall in Palo Alto on November 8, 2011 | 15 11 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Amory Lovins: Reinventing Fire - Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era (10/17/11) | Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era Amory Lovins, Author; Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute Renowned environmentalist Lovins maps business-led pathways for the U.S. to phase out fossil fuels and win the global clean energy race. He envisions a future in which a 2.6-times larger U.S. economy in 2050 could need no oil, coal or nuclear energy, use one-third less natural gas, and save trillions. The transition can be led by business for profit and requires no act of Congress, says Lovins. He lays out his bold vision. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 17, 2011 | 15 11 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Social Networking on the Brain: Neuroscience and the New Media (11/1/11) | Social Networking on the Brain: Neuroscience and the New Media Adam Gazzaley, Associate Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry and Director, Neuroscience Imaging Center, UCSF Josh McHugh, CEO, Attention Span Media Tiffany Shlain, Founder, Webby Awards; Filmmaker, Connected: An Autobiography about Love, Death and Technology David Ewing Duncan, Author, Experimental Man; Co-host, Tech Talk Radio – Moderator More than a billion people around the world are engaged in a massive and unprecedented experiment in how social media technologies are changing society, commerce, politics, health, innovation, love, work, the arts and more. But what is this new tech literally doing to our brains? How is it impacting who we are as humans, and how is it making us different from previous generations in how we interact with information, our environment and each other? This provocative panel features a neuroscientist who studies the impact of multitasking on our gray matter and those who believe new social networking may be leading us to a more connected and even better world, as well as those who are wary of the physiological and societal impact that social media has on humanity. Listen to this mind-bending special event. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 1, 2011 | 14 11 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Your Brain on Music: A Story of Song Meets Science (11/3/11) | Your Brain on Music: A Story of Song Meets Science Daniel Levitin, Author, This Is Your Brain on Music In musical conversation with Alex de Grassi, Grammy Award-nominated Fingerstyle Guitarist Ever wonder what’s going on in your brain when you tune in to your favorite radio station or hum that song stuck in your head? Humans have been creating and enjoying music for thousands of years, but what really creates the experience? Is the brain of a musician different than the brains of the rest of us? Hear Levitin and De Grassi jam, chat and foot tap their way through the story of “Music and the Mind Machine.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 3, 2011 | 14 11 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Reid Hoffman and Brian Chesky Talk Two Generations of Tech (11/2/11) | Reid Hoffman and Brian Chesky Talk Two Generations of Tech Reid Hoffman, Partner, Greylock; Executive Chairman and Co-founder, LinkedIn; Previous Executive VP, PayPal Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO, Airbnb In conversation with Brad Stone, Senior Technology Writer, Bloomberg Businessweek One of Silicon Valley’s most successful entrepreneurs and one of the Valley’s most promising individuals are coming together to talk about the business of tech. Hoffman has not only been an important angel funder, an instrumental player in the birth of PayPal and now a thriving venture capitalist at Greylock; he also led LinkedIn to a public offering at more than $8 billion this past spring. Chesky launched the very popular and controversial Airbnb to change the way people look at ownership and dove into the world of self-monitoring online marketplaces. Find out what this tech duo has to say about crisis management, building trust, learning to be a leader and harnessing the power of the Internet. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 2, 2011 | 8 11 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jim Lehrer: Former News Anchor, PBS “NewsHour” (10/19/11) | Jim Lehrer Former News Anchor, PBS “NewsHour”; Author, Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain In conversation with David Kennedy, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History Emeritus, Stanford University As the “man in the middle seat,” legendary broadcaster Lehrer has presided more than 11 presidential and vice-presidential debates. Drawing on his own experiences and interviews with candidates and other moderators, Lehrer gives an insider account of all of the backstage drama and reflects on some of the “major moments” and “killer questions” that defined each historical debate. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch on October 19, 2011 | 31 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Laurence Tribe and Roger Pilon: The Constitutionality of President Obama's Health Care Reform (10/26/11) | The Constitutionality of Health-Care Reform Laurence Tribe, Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard Law School Roger Pilon, Founder and Director of Cato's Center for Constitutional Studies Jesse Choper, Earl Warren Professor of Public Law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law - Moderator Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act constitutional? As the litigation on health-care reform percolates up toward the Supreme Court, legal experts Pilon and Tribe debate the constitutionality of health-care reform. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 26, 2011 | 31 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Lawrence Lessig: Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress (10/24/11) | Lawrence Lessig Director, the Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics, Harvard University; Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Author, Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress – and a Plan to Stop It With the influx of private donations and corporate campaign expenditures continuing to balloon, trust in government is at an all-time low. Lessig discusses the evolution of our “economy of influence,” faulting both Democrats and Republicans and offering a plan to end corruption and restore our trust in the political system. Hear his thoughts on how to stop, correct and change the process. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch on October 24, 2011 | 27 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Michele Bachmann: The Revival of American Competitiveness (10/20/11) | Michele Bachmann: The Revival of American Competitiveness Congresswoman; Republican Candidate for U.S. President According to the World Economic Forum, the United States has slipped to fifth in global competitiveness. Republican presidential candidate and Minnesota Congresswoman Bachmann will present her views on pro-business economic policies that will allow private sector businesses to compete in the global market while addressing the need for job-skill retraining, innovation, comprehensive tax reform and reduction of regulations that threaten jobs. She will share her thoughts on how to revive America's competitive edge and restore the United States to the top of global competitiveness. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 20, 2011 | 27 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dr. Jeffrey Sachs (10/10/11) | Dr. Jeffrey Sachs Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University, Special UN Advisor; Author, The Price of Civilization Michael Moritz, Managing Member, Sequoia Capital - Moderator Sachs gives a startling account of the inadequacies of U.S.-style capitalism. He offers a bold plan of reforms relating to sustainable infrastructure, taxes, job training, etc., that he says must be taken to avoid further damage. One of the most influential international economic advisors, Sachs was the director of the UN Millennium Project and is the president and co-founder of Millennium Promise Alliance. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch on October 10, 2011 | 19 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Joseph Cirincione, President, Ploughshares Fund: Shaping a 21st Century National Security Strategy (10/4/11) | Shaping a 21st Century Strategy for National Security Joseph Cirincione, President, Ploughshares Fund; Author, Bomb Scare: The History and Future of Nuclear Weapons In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club How should the U.S. confront nuclear terrorism and the currently unstable economic and political dynamics in the Middle East? Osama bin Laden’s death and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan indicate that the post-9/11 security era is ending. While the U.S. defense budget shrinks, strategic priorities rise to importance. Which priorities will remain? Cirincione explores these points and more. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 4, 2011 | 18 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Supporting Veterans and Taking National Priorities Local (10/4/11) | Supporting Veterans and Taking National Priorities Local Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez, President and Chief Executive Officer, Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin; Board Chair, East Bay Community Foundation Major General Michael Myatt, President and CEO, Marines Memorial Association; Chair, Fleet Week Association Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director and Founder, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Ana Thompson, Executive Director, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation Jane Whitfield, President, Whitfield Consulting – Moderator Nearly 2 million veterans live in California, with more than 200,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area alone and tens of thousands of troops returning home over the next year. Collaboration between philanthropy, corporations and government is being hailed as the possible solution for the urgent needs of this massive population. Joining Forces, a White House initiative announced in March, is an attempt to catalyze this collaboration by increasing the national discourse. How can our community unite to support veterans? Experts and insiders weigh in. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 4, 2011 | 11 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Susan N. Herman: The War on Terror and the Erosion of Democracy (10/5/11) | Susan N. Herman: The War on Terror and the Erosion of Democracy President, ACLU; Author, Taking Liberties: The War on Terror and the Erosion of Democracy Following the 9/11 attacks, Americans watched as the government implemented numerous pieces of antiterrorist legislation such as the Patriot Act in an effort to fight the war on terror. In recent years, however, many civil rights advocates have increasingly argued that these emergency measures may pry too deeply into the lives of not only suspected terrorists, but of nearly all Americans. ACLU President Herman contends that civil liberties have rapidly eroded in post-9/11 America. She will examine whether laws and policies, like the Patriot Act, are constitutional and effective, or just counterproductive. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 5, 2011. | 7 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Francis S. Collins: A Revolution in Biomedical Innovation (10/3/11) | A Revolution in Biomedical Innovation Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D, Director, National Institutes of Health Larry Brilliant, M.D., MPH, President and CEO, Skoll Global Threats Fund - Moderator Hear one of the world’s most influential scientists and medical researchers discuss the coming revolution in biomedical innovation – and what it might mean for you. Dr. Collins oversees the work of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the federal agency that is the nation’s largest supporter of biomedical research. Before taking the helm of NIH in August 2009, he led the international Human Genome Project and made landmark discoveries of a number of important disease genes. Today, one of Dr. Collins’ top priorities is to accelerate the movement, or translation, of scientific advances from the research lab to the medical clinic. However, despite dramatic progress in identifying the molecular basis of many diseases, translation remains a slow, expensive and failure-prone endeavor. For example, it currently takes about 13 years and more than $1 billion to develop a successful new drug. To help reengineer this process, NIH recently announced plans to establish a new entity, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Dr. Collins describes how NCATS, along with other NIH research initiatives, will catalyze the generation of innovative methods and technologies to enhance the development, testing and implementation of new treatments for a wide range of diseases. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 3, 2011 | 4 10 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Public-Private Partnerships: Boosting America's Jobs, Education and Economic Development (9/20/11) | Public-Private Partnerships: Boosting America’s Jobs, Education and Economic Development John Donahoe, CEO, eBay; Member, White House Council for Community Solutions John Lee, Executive Director, The Bread Project Nicole Levine, Executive Director, Women's Initiative for Self Employment for San Francisco and the Bay Area Sid Espinosa, Director of Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft Corporation; Mayor, City of Palo Alto Sydnie Kohara, Broadcast Journalist - Moderator During challenging economic times, creative solutions to boosting underserved communities are at a premium. Our panel of experts discuss how the private and public sectors can best join forces to support underserved communities through education, entrepreneurship and job training. eBAY CEO John Donahoe brings his unique expertise in both business and government (through his presence on the White House Council for Community Solutions) to this high-profile panel. WISE is a Bay Area nonprofit that provides high-potential, lower-income women with training, resources and ongoing support to start and expand their business. The Bread Project’s mission is to empower individuals with limited resources on their path to self-sufficiency through on-the-job training in our social enterprises and assistance for employment in the food industry. All panelists offer creative solutions that can provide empowerment not only to the underserved communities but to California as a whole. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 20, 2011 | 29 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Finding Faith and Spirituality in the 21st Century (9/14/11) | Finding Faith and Spirituality in the 21st Century Julian Guthrie, Journalist, San Francisco Chronicle; Author, The Grace of Everyday Saints Michael Krasny, Ph.D, KQED Radio Host; Author, Spiritual Envy: An Agnostic’s Quest Rabbi Stephen Pearce, D.D., Ph.D., Senior Rabbi, Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco Bishop William Swing, President and Founder, United Religions Initiative; Episcopal Bishop of California, 1980-2006 Alan Jones, Dean Emeritus, Grace Cathedral - Moderator A panel of provocative thinkers and leaders of San Francisco’s interfaith community discuss the role faith and the sacred play in modern society. Is the faith found in nature any less or more powerful than faith felt in a house of worship? Can communities save us when hierarchies fail? Must a religious community depend on a physical structure for its reality? In this eye-opening conversation, an esteemed group of panelists shed light on what it means to have faith in the 21st century, as well as push us to rethink what we hold as truly sacred in our own lives. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 14, 2011 | 29 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Eric Ries: The Principles of a Lean Startup (9/27/11) | The Principles of a Lean Startup Eric Ries, Author, The Lean Startup In conversation with Dave McClure, Founder, 500 Startups Starting one, working for one, going public with one – startups seem to be the thing to do in SF. But how do you make your startup great? Ries, the guru behind the “Lean Startup” sensation, asks: Is your startup employee-centric and knowledge-obsessed? Is your company functioning at optimal efficiency? Is your office a fun place to work? Ries reveals what he believes to be the necessary hard facts that lead to a successful startup. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 27, 2011 | 28 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Joel Brinkley: Israel and the Arab Spring (9/19/11) | Israel and the Arab Spring Joel Brinkley, Journalism Professor, Stanford University; Foreign Affairs Columnist John Diaz, Editorial Page Editor, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator Former New York Times Israel bureau chief and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Brinkley takes us inside his recent working trip to the Middle East, where he covered a tour of U.S. and European officials in the Middle East and interviewed several senior, regional leaders. Hear an eyewitness perspective on the changes reshaping that region. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 19, 2011 | 27 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gavin Newsom: The Man, the Issues and the State of California | Gavin Newsom: The Man, the Issues and the State of California Lieutenant Governor, California; Former Mayor, San Francisco In conversation with Scott Shafer, Host, "California Report," KQED Now that Newsom has packed up his San Francisco office and moved to Sacramento, he’s encountering many new challenges and responsibilities. He began his term with California billions of dollars in debt and facing numerous contentious issues. Come hear Newsom’s positions on the most important issues facing California and how he thinks we can get back on track. | 16 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Frances Moore Lappé: EcoMind (9/6/11) | EcoMind Frances Moore Lappé, Author, Diet for a Small Planet Drawing on the latest research from disciplines ranging from anthropology to neuroscience and her own field experience, Lappé argues that the biggest challenge to human survival isn't our fossil fuel dependency, melting glaciers or other calamities. Rather, she says, it's our faulty way of thinking about these environmental crises that robs us of power. Lappé dismantles seven common "thought traps" that belie what we now know about nature, including our own, and offers contrasting "thought leaps" that suggest our hidden power. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 6, 2011 | 15 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Navi Radjou, INDOvation - India's Rise as an Innovation Superpower (8/31/11) | INDOvation: India’s Rise as an Innovation Superpower Navi Radjou, Independent Consultant and Fellow, Cambridge Judge Business School; Former Executive Director, Centre for India & Global Business, University of Cambridge India’s pervasive resource and capital scarcity combined with massive diversity and growing connectivity are turning the country into a large-scale, living laboratory where grassroots entrepreneurs and corporations are coming up with frugal inventions that are both affordable and sustainable. Radjou explains how “innovations” have relevance not only within India but worldwide. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 31, 2011 | 7 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Rajiv Doshi and Anurag Mairal - Medical Technology Innovation for India (8/29/11) | Medical Technology Innovation for India Rajiv Doshi, M.D., Executive Director (U.S.), Stanford-India Biodesign; Consulting Assistant Professor of Medicine, Stanford University Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., Director, Global Biodesign Exchange Programs, Stanford University The emerging health-care needs of the rapidly expanding Indian population require the development of novel, cost-effective medical technologies that are relevant for the needs of the Indian people. However, the medical technology industry in India is still in its infancy, and there have been relatively few successful examples of medical technology innovation in that country's history. Stanford University’s program in biodesign has been working closely with the government of India to promote medical technology innovation within industry and academia, with the goal of creating scalable medical technology innovation for the masses. Doshi and Mairal will share their experiences in medical technology innovation for India and discuss the opportunities and challenges for medical technology innovation in the future. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 29, 2011 | 7 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: India and China in the World Economy and Why That Matters (8/25/11) | India and China in the World Economy, and Why That Matters William Miller, Herbert Hoover Professor of Public and Private Management Emeritus, Stanford Graduate School of Business; President Emeritus, SRI International Rafiq Dossani, Senior Research Scholar, Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Stanford University; Executive Director, South Asia Initiative Sean Randolph, President and CEO, Bay Area Council Economic Institute - Moderator India and China are the world’s two most populous countries, with dynamic, fast-growing economies that are reshaping the economic balance of power. It is widely accepted that both countries are becoming forces to contend with – which will present the United States with challenges and opportunities. But though they are often spoken of together, their political and economic systems are very different. The similarities and differences between India and China, the distinct economic paths they have chosen, and the success of their respective models will heavily influence the shape of the future global economy – and the United States. Two noted experts on China and India compare and contrast modern India and China, and assess their present and future roles. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 25, 2011 | 7 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Minal Hajratwala, Leaving India - My Family's Journey from Five Villages to Five Continents (8/25/11) | India and Her Fragments: Migrations from Old to New Worlds Minal Hajratwala, Author The story of India’s 30-million-and-growing worldwide diaspora is reshaping trade, identity and culture all around the globe. Hajratwala will speak on what she says Americans need to know today about the rapidly changing country to which nearly 2 million Americans trace their roots. Hajratwala will draw from the seven years of research that led to her nonfiction book, Leaving India, winner of a California Book Award (Silver) and other literary awards. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 25, 2011 | 6 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Bulbul Tiwari, Bollywood Now (8/24/11) | Bollywood Now Bulbul Tiwari, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University In this special program, Stanford Fellow Tiwari introduces us to historical and contemporary Indian Hindi film. She will provide insight into the significant conventions, economics and genres, including a screening of excerpts from old and new musical film performances. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 24, 2011 | 6 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Ranjan Dey, Spices of India Cooking and Henna Party (8/23/11) | Spices of India Cooking and Henna Party Ranjan Dey, Proprietor, New Delhi Restaurant; Founder, New World Spices A special event with acclaimed chef and proprietor of San Francisco’s New Delhi Restaurant. The evening included a cooking demonstration using Chef Dey’s “speed scratch” style with a masalas spice-blend, sampling of traditional Indian flavors, and henna hand painting. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 23, 2011 | 6 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Rajasvini Bhansali - India Shining, From the Ground Up (8/23/11) | India Shining: From the Ground Up Rajasvini Bhansali, MPA, Executive Director, International Development Exchange The rhetoric of India Shining, a 2004 public relations campaign, engineered by the then-ruling Hindu fundamentalist party, referred to the economic growth following India's IT boom and a few years of plentiful rain. As India's image as a developed nation grew in the eyes of the global north, it disguised the growing economic, social and cultural disparities in a country where over 400 million people continue to live in extreme poverty. A vibrant civil society and many grassroots movements in India work to deepen democracy and build the power of ordinary people. Bhansali will discuss what has been learned from the ground up from these movements working across sectors, cultures, issues and regions. She will focus on the success of women-led, community-driven initiatives working for long lasting social transformation and discuss the current lgbt movement. | 1 9 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Salma Arastu - Sacred Heritage: A Merging of Islamic and Hindu Traditions (8/22/11) | Sacred Heritage: A Merging of Islamic and Hindu Traditions Salma Arastu, Artist; Author Michael Pappas, Executive Director, SF Interfaith Council - Moderator Renowned Indian-born Muslim artist Arastu speaks to the contemporary relation of religion to art. In conjunction with her art exhibit at the SF Club office, she shares the inspiration for her imagery, a blending of spirituality, Islamic values and beauty in modern culture. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 22, 2011 | 24 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Veena Srinivasa - Pipe Dreams: Water for Thirsty Cities in India (8/18/11) | Pipe Dreams – Water for Thirsty Cities in India Veena Srinivasan, Ph.D., Research Associate, Pacific Institute As India’s urban population and income grow in unprecedented numbers, supplying water reliably to the community has become a growing concern. Faced with limited reservoir storage, aging piped infrastructure, and rapidly growing demand, no Indian city today has a 24/7 water supply. India’s rapidly growing cities represent both a challenge and an opportunity. Because much of the infrastructure is still being built, there is the opportunity to follow a different development path than has been followed elsewhere in the world. Join Srinivasan for a discussion on possible pathways to build a sustainable water supply system in India. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 18, 2011 | 23 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Nirvikar Singh-India's Economic Growth (8/11/11) | India’s Economic Growth: What Can We Expect? Nirvikar Singh, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, UC Santa Cruz; Author; Member of an Advisory Group to the Finance Minister of India on G-20 matters India’s economy is projected to grow in 2011 at a rate faster than almost every other country in the world. Is this growth sustainable? What will drive, and limit, its growth? How will it sustain innovation and entrepreneurship? What will be the role of the government? A prominent economist and expert on India will share views on the Indian economy and its future. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's main office in San Francisco on August 11, 2011 | 18 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Rafiq Dossani-Muslims of India: Their Politics, Identity and Economy (8/10/11) | Muslims of India: Their Politics, Identity and Economy Rafiq Dossani, Ph.D.; Author; Senior Research Scholar, Stanford University India’s 160 million Muslims differ geographically by language, socio-economic status and culture. The Muslim-Indian community shares a common trajectory of challenges in their political power and socio-economic status. Their identity, in the eyes of the average Indian, is evermore monolithic and faith-based. To some politicians, Muslim Indians are now considered a security risk. Dossani will discuss the causes of their challenges and possible future. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 10, 2011 | 17 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Barbara Desoer, President, Bank of America Home Loans | The Future of the Housing Market Barbara Desoer, President, Bank of America Home Loans Jed Kolko, Ph.D., Policy Fellow, Public Policy Institute of California – Moderator Bank of America’s purchase of mortgage giant Countrywide three years ago came at the height of the housing crisis. Since that time, Bank of America has spent billions of dollars to clean up legacy issues including a recent announcement to pay $8.5 billion to resolve nearly all of the Countrywide-issued first lien residential mortgage-backed securitization repurchase exposure - the largest settlement in the banking industry to date. Desoer will discuss the future of the housing market: the various reforms in play, the state of lending, foreclosure trends and housing recovery metrics. With Bank of America being the largest U.S. bank by assets and the nation’s second largest lender, originating one out of every five home loans, Desoer is uniquely positioned to provide insight into the housing industry. She has been with Bank of America since 1977 and, in 2010, was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” by Fortune magazine and one of the “25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” by U.S. Banker. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's offices in San Francisco on August 4, 2011 | 12 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: The Philosophy of Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita (8/8/11) | The Philosophy of Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita Monday Night Philosophy dives deep into dharma, as detailed in the divine conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. Hear as they discuss the byways of yogic philosophy, and delight in Krishna’s failure to convince the warrior Arjuna to do battle with his relatives until Krishna realizes he must forego reasoning and rely on the usual divine persuasiveness of overwhelming power. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 8, 2011 | 11 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Sunil Asnani; Investing in India Today (8/3/11) | Investing in India Today Sunil Asnani, Portfolio Manager, Matthews International Capital Management Jennifer Schatz, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Matthews International Capital management India’s ability to not only achieve respectable economic growth in a turbulent environment but to do so without injecting mammoth stimulus, demonstrates its inherit resilience, says Asnani. However, blindly investing in anything in India could lead to disappointment. Come learn about growth opportunities as well as the challenges for this country of 1.2 billion people. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 3, 2011 | 11 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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India Now Series: Swami Beyondananda; Wake Up Laughing, Wise Up Loving (8/1/11) | Wake Up Laughing, Wise Up Loving Swami Beyondananda, Cosmic Comic Swami Beyondananda gives a heart opening presentation. Find out why noted author Marianne Williamson has called Swami “The Mark Twain of our generation.” The Swami also takes live questions from the audience. If you have an answerable question, the Swami will have a questionable answer for you. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on August 1, 2011 | 11 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ellen Tauscher: Arms Control and Nonproliferation: The Road from Prague (7/28/11) | Ellen Tauscher: Arms Control and Nonproliferation: The Road from Prague U.S. Under Secretary, Arms Control and International Security Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club - Moderator The former U.S. congressional representative and current senior adviser to the president and secretary of state for arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament discusses the prospects for U.S. and international security in the midst of continued global unrest. Under Secretary Tauscher represented California’s 10th Congressional District for 13 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district includes San Francisco’s suburbs in Contra Costa, Alameda Solano, and Sacramento counties. She was the only member of Congress to have two national defense laboratories, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia California, in her district. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at a Commonwealth Club event held in Lafayette California on July 28, 2011 | 5 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Margaret Hoover: A New Generation of Conservatives and the Future of the Republican Party (7/26/11) | Margaret Hoover Contributor, Fox News; Author, American Individualism: How a New Generation of Conservatives Can Save the Republican Party Hoover lays the groundwork for how the GOP can capture the allegiance of the “fiscally conservative but socially liberal” millennial generation and help solve some of the country’s most pressing issues. Hear Hoover in an impassioned conversation on the future of the GOP and the country. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 26, 2011 | 4 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Arab Spring (7/18/11) | The Arab Spring Nour Ahmedin, Egyptian Student Janet Penley, American Traveler Maher Kalaji, British/Jordanian Academic Dr. Abbas Milani, Director of Iranian Studies, Stanford University; Co-director, Iran Democracy Project, Hoover Institution; Author, The Shah Jonathan Curiel, Journalist; Author, Al'America: Travel Through America's Arab and Islamic Roots - Moderator Jonathan Curiel leads a discussion with panelists who have travelled throughout North Africa and the Middle East and discusses their observations about the tumultuous Arab spring and the enormous changes coursing through the region. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 18, 2011 | 2 8 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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WWLD: What Would Libertarians Do? (7/25/11) | WWLD: What Would Libertarians Do? Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch, Co-editors, Reason Magazine and Reason.tv; Co-authors, The Declaration of Independents In conversation with Joe Garofoli, Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle; Author, Politics Blog, SFgate.com What do health care, same-sex marriage, marijuana law, the budget and social service policies look like on a Libertarian ticket? Authors of a new Libertarian manifesto, Gillespie and Welch offer up principles of “free minds and free markets” as their fix to what’s wrong with America. Hear how Libertarian solutions for modern America match up against the other platforms. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 25, 2011 | 27 7 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Stephen Zack, American Bar Association President: Threats to American Justice (7/14/11) | Threats to American Justice Stephen Zack, President, American Bar Association Geoffrey Hazard, Thomas E. Miller Distinguished Professor of Law, UC Hastings College of Law - Moderator Lauded as one of the country’s best lawyers in 2011 and the American Bar Association’s first Hispanic president, Zack will discuss underlying threats to the American legal system such as underfunding and political indecisiveness. Zack fled Cuba at the age of 14 after a harrowing night of detention and isolation at the hands of the Cuban secret police. After building up a powerhouse Florida litigation firm, he was tapped by David Boies to work on Gore vs. Bush in 2000. Following that monumental case, the two law firms merged. Come listen to one of the nation’s top legal voices speak about what he sees as a failing system. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 14, 2011 | 21 7 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Larry Harvey: Burning Man, A Conversation with the Founder (7/19/11) | Burning Man: A Conversation with the Founder Larry Harvey, Founder, Burning Man A first-time Burning Man attendee once said, “I walked through the gates, looked around, and asked myself, 'What is this place? Is it real?'” Every year up to 50,000 ‘burners’ make the pilgrimage to Black Rock City for eight days of commerce-free, debauchery-filled expression of human imagination. Leaving no trace of the party behind them, this diverse group of international artists, CEOs, technologists, intellectuals, families and bohemians alike carry on Burning Man founder Harvey’s world – one of mutant cars, themed villages and a 40-foot fiery effigy. Join us as we speak to the founder himself, and find out what Burning Man’s new HQ in SF will mean for that fair city. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 19, 2011 | 21 7 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jose Antonio Vargas: My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant (7/11/11) | My Life As an Undocumented Immigrant Jose Antonio Vargas, Former Reporter, The Washington Post; Founder, Define American In conversation with Phil Bronstein, Editor-at-Large, Hearst Newspapers “I convinced myself that all would be OK if I lived up to the qualities of a 'citizen': hard work, self-reliance, love of my country.” Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post journalist Vargas just revealed to The New York Times that he immigrated to the United States illegally at the age of 12. Raised and educated in the Bay Area, Vargas won the Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for his breaking news piece on the Virginia Tech shootings. Now 30 and no longer a reporter at the Post, Vargas has founded Define American, to changed the conversation on immigration reform. Fresh on the heels of this game-changing Times article, hear Vargas speak first at the Club. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 11, 2011 | 12 7 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bruce H. Lipton: The Biology of Belief (5/18/11) | The Biology of Belief Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., Author; Motivational Speaker Lipton unveils a vision of life science that is shattering old myths. New discoveries in cell biology, epigenetics and physics suggest that we are not victims of our genes but instead have unlimited capacity to live a life overflowing with peace, happiness and love. Infusing his pioneering stem cell research with insights from frontier cell biology, quantum physics and fractal mathematics, Lipton argues that our thoughts, attitudes and beliefs create the conditions of our body and our place in the world. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on May 18, 2011 | 12 7 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Social Media for Social Good (5/23/11) | Social Media for Social Good Beth Kanter, CEO, Zoetica; Author, Beth’s Blog; Co-author, The Networked Nonprofit May Boeve, Director for Partnerships and Policy and Co-founder, 350.org Ben Rattray, Founder and CEO, Change.org Darian Rodriguez Heyman, Editor, Nonprofit Management 101; Former Executive Director, Craigslist Foundation – Moderator What are the tools, tricks and triumphs of social media as an essential component of any organization’s mission in the 21st century? Social media experts examine the consequences, opportunities and workable lessons this landscape presents for nonprofits and causes. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on May 23, 2011 | 7 7 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Polly Trottenberg: U.S. Transportation Infrastructure: Buying the Future (6/24/11) | U.S. Transportation Infrastructure: Buying the Future Polly Trottenberg, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation If you have ever been stuck in traffic on the Bay Bridge, late to meetings, or have had a ruined weekend because you couldn’t make it to a destination in time, you know that California suffers from a major transportation infrastructure problem. From pot holes jarring people’s necks and backs, to bridges collapsing nationwide, thousands of commuters are being affected every day by America’s inadequate and faltering transportation infrastructure system. U.S. Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Policy Polly Trottenberg explores solutions to this serious crisis. Trottenberg works toward implementing the president’s priorities for transportation including safety and creating jobs. The DOT employs more than 55,000 employees with a $70 billion budget that oversees air, maritime and surface transportation missions. For 12 years she worked extensively on transportation, public works, energy and environmental issues in the U.S. Senate, for Senators Barbara Boxer, Charles Schumer and Daniel Patrick Moynahan. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on June 24, 2011 | 6 7 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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David Eagleman: The Brains Behind the Mind (6/23/11) | The Brains Behind the Mind David Eagleman, Neuroscientist, Baylor School of Medicine; Author, Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain In conversation with Kishore Hari, Director, Bay Area Science Festival What is our subconscious mind doing while we pay our bills, write emails and decide between crunchy and smooth at the grocery store? As neuroscientists are learning more and more about our body’s hidden frontier, we have gained fleeting insights into our own intuition, habits and seemingly unexplainable preferences. Neuroscientist Eagleman draws connections between our perception of the world and the hidden functions of the brain. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on June 23, 2011 | 30 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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John Gray: Venus on Fire, Mars on Ice (6/20/11) | Venus on Fire, Mars on Ice: Hormonal Balance, the Key to Life, Love and Energy John Gray, Ph.D., Author, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus Come hear from best-selling relationship author Gray, whose monumental Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus sold an astounding 50 million copies worldwide. Now, Gray reveals what he says are the associations between hormone levels and happiness and advises men and women to harness the connections between stress, blood sugar, body fat and behavior to create lifelong passion and better health. He will talk about how the differences between the sexes and how they relate to one another, can be explained and managed by our hormones. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on June 20, 2011 | 29 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Steny Hoyer, Democratic Whip, U.S. House of Representatives (6/27/11) | The "Make It in America" Agenda Steny Hoyer, Democratic Whip, U.S. House of Representatives House Democratic Whip Hoyer (D-Md.), the second-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, will discuss the "Make it in America" agenda: a Democratic legislative program designed to help American businesses innovate here, grow here, make products here, and sell them to the world. Hoyer will explain his belief that wise investments in innovation, infrastructure and education can create jobs in the U.S. and help our country regain its competitive edge in the world economy. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on June 27, 2011 | 27 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Adam Gazzaley: Brain plasticity across the lifespan (6/15/11) | Brain Plasticity Across the Lifespan Adam Gazzaley, Professor, UCSF It is now known that our brain changes structurally and functionally in response to our interactions with our environment throughout our lives, not just during critical times like childhood. This modern perspective is called neuroplasticity and scientists are actively exploring the intricacies of this phenomenon. Gazzaley discusses new theories on the topic, such as cognitive reserve, use-it-or-lose-it, and neural efficiency. He will also tackle the hotly debated topic of the impact of brain training and cognitive exercises. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 15, 2011 | 23 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gary Shapiro: The Future of Innovation and Consumer Electronics (6/7/11) | The Future of Innovation and Consumer Electronics Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association; Author, The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream In conversation with Richard Watson, Co-founder and Partner, Essential From broadband spectrum to HDTV, from gaming to Hollywood and social media, innovation is happening through industry, entrepreneurs and technology advances. How is consumer electronics driving innovation in the U.S. and abroad? What lessons can be learned from the electronics industry that can be applied to other segments of the U.S. comeback? Come hear from the head of an organization that represents 2,000 technology companies and produces the International CES Conference. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 7, 2011 | 23 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Cecile Richards: President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (6/14/11) | Cecile Richards President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Katrina Heron, Editor-at-Large, Newsweek and The Daily Beast - Moderator This year, Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading provider of sexual and reproductive health care for women, found itself at the center of a congressional budget debate over abortion that almost shut down the United States government. Calling it the “most devastating assault on women’s health in American history,” Planned Parenthood and President Richards vowed to continue providing affordable health care to women across the United States. Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2011, Richards is one of the country’s leading voices in support of women’s rights, sex education and reproductive health. The daughter of Ann Richards, former governor of Texas, Cecile will speak about the current status of women’s health care in this country and what lies ahead for her organization. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 14, 2011 | 16 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Googlization and the Future of Books (5/17/11) | Googlization, and the Future of Books Siva Vaidhyanathan, Professor of Media Studies and Law, University of Virginia; Author, The Googlization of Everything (And Why We Should Worry) Brewster Kahle, Digital Librarian and Founder, Internet Archive and the Open Content Alliance Learn about the legal, cultural and economic implications of Google moving into the center of the publishing ecosystem. Will Google’s presence cheapen the value of “book culture,” or will the power of the service to connect people to information generate a boost to the hopes of those who wish to preserve “long-form” writing and reading? The panel will answer these questions and raise new concerns about our heavy dependence on Google to navigate the world. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 17, 2011 | 13 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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It's Complicated: Muslims and Jews in America (6/1/11) | It's Complicated: Muslims and Jews in America Reza Aslan, Co-author, Muslims and Jews in America: Commonalities, Contentions, and Complexities; Contributing Editor, The Daily Beast Aaron Hahn Tapper, Co-author, Muslims and Jews in America: Commonalities, Contentions, and Complexities; Swig Chair of Judaic Studies, USF Aysha Hidayatullah, Assistant Professor of Islamic studies, USF Sydney Mintz, Rabbi, Congregation Emanu-El A distinguished panel takes a new look at the innovative ways in which Judaism and Islam have absorbed, and been profoundly altered by, the so-called “American experience.” American Jews and American Muslims have consistently engaged each other in conversation – whether directly or indirectly, constructively or not – in ways that have usually eluded their co-religionists throughout the rest of the world. The members of these two groups often find themselves the focus of a disproportionate amount of media attention, particularly when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. American Jews and American Muslims struggle with similar inter-communal concerns when it comes to education, politics or even pop culture. Join in a fascinating discussion. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at a The Commonwealth Club event in Lafayette Ca on June 1, 2011 | 10 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bruce Bodaken, CEO, Blue Shield of CA: A Health Insurance CEO's Commitment to Affordability (6/7/11) | A Commitment to Health Insurance Affordability Bruce Bodaken, CEO, Blue Shield of California Sarah Varney, Health Reporter, KQED Radio - Moderator The rising cost of health care looms large over the state and the nation. The CEO of Blue Shield of California, one of the state's largest health-plan providers, will discuss new initiatives to address rising health-care costs in the context of national health reform. A native of Iowa, Bodaken doesn't fit the typical profile of a health-plan CEO. He earned a masters degree and taught philosophy at the college level before embarking on a career in health care. He has been at the helm of Blue Shield of California for 11 years. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 7, 2011 | 9 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Walter M. Bortz: Is American Healthcare Threatening the Stability of the Nation? (5/31/11) | Wealth Before Health: Is American Health Care Threatening the Stability of the Nation? Walter M. Bortz II, M.D. Recognized as one of the country's most distinguished scientific experts on aging and longevity, Bortz believes that the defects of the American health-care system threaten the stability of the nation. He argues that the financial interests of biotech and drug companies have eroded the values of the medical profession and placed profit before human well-being. Bortz makes a powerful case for a new kind of American health care – one based on rigorous science and a fearless acknowledgement of human potential. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 31, 2011 | 8 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jorge G. Castaneda: Mexico's Future and Its Relationship With The U.S. (6/1/11) | Jorge G. Castaneda: Mexico's Future and Its Relationship with the U.S. Former Foreign Minister, Mexico; Professor of Politics and Latin American and Caribbean Studies, NYU; Author, Manana Forever? Mariano-Florentino Cuellar, Professor of Law and Political Science, Stanford University - Moderator Mexico’s future is most certainly dependent on its relationship with the United States. In fact, Mexico ranks third in total trade with the United States behind Canada and China. But in the midst of this positive relationship, there is also a drug cartel war that has claimed the lives of more than 34,000 Mexicans and over 100 Americans in the past four and a half years. Ongoing issues of immigration and border control are also high on the list of mutual concerns. Mexico’s foreign minister under former President Vicente Fox, Castaneda will offer a broad perspective on the future of the Mexican people and on relations between our two countries. Hear from one of Mexico’s most profound social thinkers. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 1, 2011 | 7 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Anna Lappe: Diet for a Hot Planet (5/18/11) | Anna Lappe Founding Principal, Small Planet Institute; Author, Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do About It Steve Wright, Vice President of Strategic Communications, Silicon Valley Leadership Group - Moderator With as much as one-third of total greenhouse emissions related to food production, the cost of our eating habits on the environment has never been more apparent. Lappe highlights the hidden cost of America’s culinary culture and outlines seven principles for a climate-friendly diet. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 18, 2011 | 2 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Willie Brown Jr.: 2011 Annual Lecture on Political Trends (5/26/11) | Willie Brown Jr.: 2011 Annual Lecture on Political Trends Former Mayor, San Francisco; Chairman and CEO, Willie Brown Institute on Politics and Public Service With a new governor and an unprecedented fiscal crisis in California, 2011 is shaping up to be a big year for politics. Two-term mayor of San Francisco, legendary speaker of the California State Assembly, and regarded by many as one of the most influential African-American politicians of the late 20th century, Brown gives us the inside scoop on what’s ahead for California and beyond. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 26, 2011 | 2 6 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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James Stewart: Tangled Webs: How False Statements are Undermining America (5/24/11) | James Stewart: Tangled Webs: How False Statements Are Undermining America Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist; Former Wall Street Journal Page One Editor; Staff Writer, The New Yorker; Author, Den of Thieves In conversation with Kirk Hanson, Executive Director, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, University of Santa Clara Business journalist Stewart says that a “perjury outbreak” is symptomatic of a broader breakdown of ethics in American life. It isn’t just the judicial system that relies on an honor code: Academia, business, medicine and government all do. He explores the age-old tensions between greed and justice, self-interest and public interest. Stewart seeks to reaffirm the importance of truth. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 24, 2011 | 31 5 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jack Dorsey: 21st Century Visionary Award (5/25/11) | Jack Dorsey: 21st Century Visionary Award Jack Dorsey, Co-founder, Twitter; Founder and CEO, Square In conversation with Kara Swisher, Co-executive Editor, All Things D Making Square Hip Entrepreneur, programmer, botanist, jean designer, taxi cab enthusiast and wanna-be mayor of New York City – Dorsey is a Jack-of-all-trades. Best known for revolutionizing communication via Twitter, Dorsey is now making waves with his one-inch-by-one-inch device called Square. “Payment is another form of communication... it’s never been designed. It’s never felt magical.” Who relates financial transactions to magic? Visionaries think differently. Join us as INFORUM gives Dorsey our 21st Century Visionary Award to find out more about the technologist who thinks differently. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 25, 2011 | 26 5 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Annie Jacobsen: The Uncensored History of Area 51 (5/23/11) | The Uncensored History of Area 51 Annie Jacobsen, Columnist, Los Angeles Times Magazine; Author, Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base Gil Gross, KGO Radio Host - Moderator Myths and hypotheses about Area 51 have long abounded, thanks to the intense secrecy enveloping it. Some claim it is home to aliens, underground tunnel systems and nuclear facilities, and some conspiracy theorists believe that the lunar landing itself was filmed there. No credible insider has ever divulged the truth about his time inside the base. With unprecedented access to military and intelligence personnel, Jacobsen takes an unprecedented look into the Nevada desert activities, from testing nuclear reactions to building super-secret, super-sonic jets to pursuing the war on terror. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 23, 2011 | 26 5 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Larry Flynt: One Nation Under Sex (5/18/11) | Larry Flynt, Publisher; Activist; Co-author, One Nation Under Sex David Eisenbach, Ph.D., Professor of American History, Columbia University; Co-author, One Nation Under Sex Legendary Hustler publisher Flynt is seen as a pro-sexuality trailblazer to some folks, but for others he’s the source for sex scandal and smut. Yet for three decades, Flynt has been a symbol of sexual freedom, crusading for First Amendment rights and against political hypocrisy. His landmark Supreme Court case, Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, is taught in law schools. Now, Flynt and Columbia historian Eisenbach have teamed up to tackle America’s sexual mores past and present, as well as the evolving role of the press as truth-seeking opinion-shapers. Join us as the fearless Flynt takes a look at freedom of expression, sexual politics and privacy. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 18, 2011 | 24 5 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Richard North Patterson, Author of Devil's Light (5/11/11) | Richard North Patterson Former Assistant Attorney General, Ohio; Former Trial Lawyer, Securities and Exchange Commission; Author, Eclipse and Exile Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Journalist; Author, 'Al' America - Moderator Patterson has brought us 15 novels, 11 of them best sellers. His works deal with issues such as religion, the gun lobby, capital punishment and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Patterson’s newest novel takes on the issue of international terrorism and the real possibility of a mass destruction that would dwarf 9/11. Devil's Light is centered around the global lust for oil. Join us for a rare discussion with this great, best-selling author. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center on May 11, 2011 | 16 5 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Tavis Smiley: TV Host, PBS; Radio Host, PRI (5/10/11) | Tavis Smiley TV Host, PBS; Radio Host, PRI; Author, Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure Award-winning television and radio broadcaster Smiley gives a peek behind the curtain of success to share personal stories of his missteps, misdeeds and miscalculations. Smiley recounts 20 instances of perceived “failures” that were, in fact, “lessons” that shaped the principles and practices he steadfastly employs in his business and personal life today. Come learn how to turn your perceived failures into stepping stones for success from this legendary broadcast journalist. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 10, 2011 | 11 5 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Les Hinton: CEO of Dow Jones & Company (5/3/11) | Dow Jones & Company CEO Les Hinton: Technology, Mobility and Accelerating the Collective Intelligence Quentin Hardy, Executive Editor, Forbes - Moderator Come hear from one of the most powerful leaders in media. Dow Jones CEO Hinton will discuss information in the digital era, the role of journalists, and harnessing technology to find intelligence admist the noise. Hinton has worked for News Corp. for more than 48 years as a journalist and executive in all corners of the world. After several executive positions, he was appointed president of Murdoch Magazines in 1990, two years later becoming president and CEO of News America Publishing, responsible for the company’s U.S. publishing operations. In 1993, he was appointed chairman and CEO of Fox Television Stations, and then in 1995 as executive chairman of News Corp. subsidiary News International Limited, Britain’s largest national newspaper publisher. He was appointed CEO of Dow Jones & Company in December 2007, after its acquisition by News Corporation. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on May 3, 2011 | 5 5 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (5/3/11) | San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Joe Garofoli, Political Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator Lee became mayor of San Francisco in January, when Gavin Newsom left the position to take over as California's lieutenant governor. Lee, San Francisco’s first Chinese-American mayor, steps in at a time when many controversies challenge this major city, including issues over the America’s Cup, budgeting, the Central Subway and the upcoming elections for the city’s next mayor. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on Ma 3, 2011 | 4 5 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Senator Dianne Feinstein, Member, United States Senate (D-CA) (4/27/11) | Senator Dianne Feinstein, Member, United States Senate (D-CA) in conversation with Greg Dalton, Founder of Climate One at The Commonwealth Club In this Climate One conversation at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, in San Francisco, Senator Dianne Feinstein touches on some longtime pursuits – national security experience and protecting the California desert from development. She also pledges to investigate the safety of the US nuclear fleet, protect children from toxins, and continue to shield California’s coastline from oil drilling. Feinstein is clear that clean energy is California’s future. “Energy is the largest source of new jobs for this state,” she says, citing an estimate placing the number at 100,000 additional jobs. Those new energy jobs – such as building large solar thermal power plants – should not be located, however, in the state’s undeveloped desert. “There is plenty of land in the desert that is disturbed that can be used. I think all of these [solar] companies are essentially finding other places to build, where there is no real environmental challenge to things that are endangered like desert tortoises,” says Feinstein. A trickier problem, especially in the wake of the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear complex, is how to ensure the safety of, and store spent fuel from, America’s nuclear reactors. Insufficient attention has been paid to the full nuclear fuel cycle, Feinstein says. “I believe very strongly that we need either regional or centralized nuclear fuel storage. It’s asking for trouble to keep hot rods in spent pools for decades and dry casks right along the side of nuclear reactors. I think they should be moved right away.” She also pledges quick action on plant safety. “I’m going to try to push as far and as fast as I can push to see that we really take a good look, a real examination, of all the facilities,” says Feinstein. Feinstein warns against the danger posed by exposure to chemicals, especially for infants. Of particular concern is Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, which, she says, is added to the inside of canned goods and baby bottles. “I become very interested in chemicals that are added that we know very little about,” says Feinstein. Though a proponent of greater energy efficiency (in the Q&A, Feinstein cites her decades-long quest to boost fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles as her proudest Senate achievement) Feinstein says now is not the time to raise the gas tax. “I’d go slowly on that. We have very long commutes for workers in this state,” she says. “This is not the time, when gasoline is this high, with the nation trying to pull itself out of recession. We need to keep gasoline below the $4 mark right now,” Feinstein says. She blamed speculators for the high prices: “Demand is down, and supply is even – so what can it be?” She reaffirms that oil companies should not look to California’s coast for additional supply. “The people of California have spoken through initiative. They don’t want oil drilling off the coast.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on April 27, 2011 | 29 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paul Allen, Co-founder of Microsoft (4/26/11) | Paul Allen Co-founder, Microsoft; Chairman, Vulcan Inc.; Author, Idea Man: A Memoir In conversation with John L. Hennessy, President, Stanford University In 2007 and 2008, Time named Microsoft co-founder Allen one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since making his fortune with Bill Gates, Allen’s impact has been felt in science, technology, business, medicine, sports, music and philanthropy. Allen explains how he has solved problems, what he’s learned from his many endeavors (the triumphs and the failures) and his compelling vision for the future. This program was recorded in The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley Office on April 26, 2011 | 29 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Video Stars Tell All: Pathways to Fame & Fortune (3/9/11) | Video Stars Tell All: Pathways to Fame and Fortune Jim Louderback, CEO, Revision3 David Prager, CEO, Revision3 & Producer, Diggnation Tara Long, Host, Destructoid Dan Brown, Host, Dan 3.0 Jack Conte, Recording Artist, Pomplamoose Martine Paris, Marketing Manager, Electronic Arts - Moderator The revolution in web video distribution has opened the floodgates for those seeking fame and fortune. Hollywood talent are going directly to fans, and the rising stars of digital have production values that rival big media and audience numbers that can move ratings. Join us for this fascinating look at the economics of web celebrity, and see how video stars are making money in this golden era of opportunity. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on March 9, 2011 | 28 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Steven Levy: Inside Google; The Myths, the Culture and the Secret Sauce (4/19/11) | Inside Google: The Myths, the Culture and the Secret Sauce Steven Levy, Senior Writer, Wired; Formerly Senior Editor and Chief Technology Writer, Newsweek; Author, In the Plex In conversation with John Battelle, Journalist; Founder and Chairman, Federated Media Publishing Is it the five-star chefs, free laundry and on-site masseuses that are the secret to Google's success? Perhaps its unique management style and innovative team? Either way, the revolutionary search engine has so deeply impacted our work and culture that we have turned the company name into a verb. Despite being one of the most successful and celebrated companies in history, Google maintains an air of mystery, and cultural myths abound. How has Google stayed innovative and cutting edge while making the transition to tech giant? What exactly happens inside the elusive Google campus? Levy took a deep dive into Google management, its products and its company culture. Join us as he shares untold stories and unpacks the mythology behind Google. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on April 19, 2011 | 28 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Wendy Kopp-Founder and CEO, Teach for America (4/21/11) | Wendy Kopp Founder and CEO, Teach for America; Author, A Chance to Make History: What Works and What Doesn’t in Providing an Excellent Education for All Dr. Colleen Wilcox, Board of Governor and Executive Director, Alliance for Teaching - Moderator On Teach For America’s 20th anniversary, founder Kopp draws on the experiences of the organization’s 25,000 teachers and alumni who, driven by passionate belief in their students’ potential, have set out to accomplish what most think is impossible. Through engaging stories from the front lines of the achievement gap, Kopp offers a provocative exploration of what’s driving the unprecedented success in a growing number of low-income communities’ classrooms, schools and districts. She will identify what she firmly believes will provide transformational education – education that changes the academic and life trajectories predicted by children’s socioeconomic backgrounds and our nation's future. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch in Palo Alto on April 21, 2011 | 25 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson: How to Transform American Education (4/20/11) | Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson: How to Transform American Education Michelle Rhee, Founder and CEO, Students First; Former Chancellor, District of Columbia Public School System Kevin Johnson, Mayor of Sacramento; Chair, U.S. Conference of Mayors Task Force on Public Education Students First is an organization that Rhee calls a “national movement to transform education.” In her controversial three years as chancellor of the Washington, D.C., school system, she closed nearly two dozen schools, cut administrative positions and proposed that teacher salaries be based on merit rather than tenure. Today, her goal is to “put pressure on elected officials and press for changes in legislation to make things better for kids.” Sacramento Mayor Johnson says he’s “committed to identifying ways to strategically drive education reform.” Upon retiring from the NBA after 12 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Johnson returned to his hometown of Sacramento to serve as the CEO of St. HOPE, a nonprofit community development organization he founded to revitalize inner-city communities. Hear from these two leaders about what can be done to save the American education system. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on April 20, 2011 | 21 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Julius Genachowski - Chairman of the FCC (4/14/11) | A conversation with Julius Genachowski Julius Genachowski, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission Adam Lashinsky, Senior Editor at Large, Fortune Magazine - Moderator Chairman Genachowski leads the federal agency responsible for wired and wireless communications. He has focused the FCC on the opportunities of digital communications, expansion of broadband access, and pursuing policies to spur private investment and innovation, foster competition and empower consumers. In a landmark decision on December 21, 2010, the FCC passed the first enforceable net neutrality regulations, which will have widespread consequences for providers and consumers of all online content. Genachowski warns that the nation is running out of airwave spectrum, which could lead to dropped wireless calls, agonizingly slow downloads and budget-busting prices for mobile services if broadband capacity is not increased. He will discuss these challenges and others facing the FCC. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on April 14, 2011 | 20 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Capitalism in an Era of Climate Change (4/12/11) | Capitalism in an Era of Climate Change L. Hunter Lovins, President and Founder, Natural Capitalism Solutions; Author, Climate Capitalism: Capitalism in the Age of Climate Change David Chen, CEO and Founder, Equilibrium Capital Group Bruce Klafter, Managing Director for Environmental, Health, and Safety at Applied Materials Inc. Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group Inc. - Moderator The time when businesses could operate without regard for their environmental impact is long past. Many companies now calculate their carbon footprint, minimize their packaging, switch to efficient energy sources wherever possible, and some even purchase carbon offsets. The U.S. is no longer in a race to the bottom with Asian manufacturing giants, but a race to sustainability and efficiency. Innovative companies are looking beyond the costs of climate change and toward business strategies that capitalize on new opportunities, innovate and spur economic growth. Time Magazine Hero of the Planet Lovins argues that moving aggressively to solve global warming, peak oil and weaknesses in our energy infrastructure will give us a stronger economy and higher quality of life. Get the inside scoop on sustainable approaches and what corporations of the present and future will need to do to remain competitive. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on April 12, 2011 | 15 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Howard Schultz, Chairman and CEO of Starbucks (4/4/11) | Howard Schultz, Chairman and CEO, Starbucks; Author, Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul In conversation with Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Wired One of the world’s most influential corporate leaders shares how a small Seattle coffee shop spawned a global empire. Schultz discusses what he’s learned on his journey from small business owner to head of a company with more than 17,000 locations. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco on April 4, 2011 | 11 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dr. Michio Kaku: Physics of the Future (3/28/11) | Physics of the Future Michio Kaku, Host, “Science Fantastic”; Professor of Physics, City College of New York; Author, Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100 No one has used the revelations of science fiction to explain the realities of science more than Kaku, who takes us on a fast-forward look at tomorrow. Based on interviews with more than 300 of the world's top scientists who are already inventing the future in their labs, Kaku reveals the lives we'll be leading tomorrow. Prepare yourself for the Internet being embedded in your contact lenses, the ability to rearrange shapes of objects, nanotechnology monitoring your health and home, elevators to space, and even spaceships powered by lasers. Come meet the scientist and television star who makes science understandable and the future visible. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at Cubberley Theatre in Palo Alto, CA on March 28th, 2011 | 11 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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John Kerry, U.S. Senator (D-MA); Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (4/1/11) | Senator John Kerry U.S. Senator (D-MA); Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Under Senator Kerry’s leadership, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee addresses the key foreign policy and national security issues facing the United States, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, nuclear nonproliferation and global climate change. As nations across the Middle East face unprecedented political upheaval, Kerry will discuss current affairs in that region as well as a variety of domestic issues. A U.S. senator for nearly three decades and a former Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, Kerry has distinguished himself as one of today’s most highly respected and influential leaders. Kerry has been a leading voice on a wide array of issues – from expanding health care to supporting small business – but his most notable work has been in regard to international affairs and national security. Kerry now chairs the very committee he notably testified before in 1971. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on April 1, 2011 | 8 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Randi Weingarten: Seeking Solutions Together: Using Collective Bargaining to Solve Fiscal Problems and Improve Quality (3/28/11 | Seeking Solutions Together: Using Collective Bargaining to Solve Fiscal Problems and Improve Quality of Services Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers; Former president, United Federation of Teachers Bruce Fuller, Professor, Education and Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley - Moderator A recent CNN report states that Republican officials across the country have made teachers’ unions “public enemy No. 1.” Now teachers and their Democratic legislative allies are taking to the streets to protest what they see as the erosion of unions' rights and other issues. As the fever that started in Wisconsin spreads across the country, school districts are suspending classes and Democratic state senators are on the lam. As governors, claiming excessive benefits and out-of-control waste, look toward teachers unions to trim state budgets, state legislatures are coming to a standstill and school districts are scrambling to find substitutes and childcare. Is a compromise possible? Or is this battle headed for an all-out war? Join Weingarten for a discussion of what's going on, and how teachers and state houses can solve this financial and educational crisis. Weingarten was named by New York magazine as one of the most influential people in education in New York state. Crain's New York Business called her one of the 25 most powerful women in New York City business. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in Lafayette, CA on March 28, 2011 | 6 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bart Ehrman: Ph.D., Author, Forged and Jesus, Interrupted (3/21/11) | Bart Ehrman Ph.D., Author, Forged and Jesus, Interrupted Alan Jones, Dean Emeritus, Grace Cathedral - Moderator Ehrman takes you on a journey to the ancient world and the forgery battles that have raged through the centuries. Ehrman contends that the New Testament is riddled with contradictions about the life of Jesus and his significance. He has provided compelling evidence that early Christianity was a collection of competing schools of thought and that the central doctrines we know today were the inventions of theologians living several centuries after Christ. Ehrman is a distinguished and prominent religious scholar, and has also appeared on NPR, "The Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on March 21, 2011 | 1 4 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Should Sales of Violent Video Games Be Restricted? (3/17/11) | Should Sales of Violent Video Games be Restricted? Jim Steier, Founder and CEO, Common Sense Media George Rose, Executive VP and Chief Public Policy Officer, Activision Blizzard Inc. Michael McConnell, Director, Stanford Constitutional Law Center; Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution John Diaz, Editorial Page Editor, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator Do violent video games present a danger to national safety? Should selling them be restricted, as with pornography? Critics argue that there is a link between children's exposure to violent video games and their increased likelihood to commit violent acts. In a time when it is very easy for individuals to carry out senseless acts of violence, the state government has passed a law that bans the sale of video games deemed “ultra-violent” to children under 18. AB 1179 was signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2005 but is not in effect because of an injunction. The Supreme Court has heard arguments and will soon decide how far the government should go to protect the well-being of our children in a case that touches on free speech, national safety and the rights of video game manufacturers and retailers. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on March 17, 2011 | 30 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Stress: The New Biological Clock -- How we can turn it back (3/3/11) | Stress: The New Biological Clock – How We Can Turn It Back Elissa Epel, Ph.D., Health Psychologist, UCSF Calvin Harley, Ph.D., pioneer in telomere biology Jue Lin, Ph.D., Telomere/telomerase assay specialist in Elizabeth Blackburn's lab, UCSF Thea Singer, Author, Stress Less Groundbreaking science by Nobel Prize Winner Elizabeth Blackburn and health psychologist Elissa Epel links psychological stress not only with disease but directly with aging, all the way down to our cells – in particular, our “telomeres,” the caps on the ends of our chromosomes that protect our DNA and a marker of biological aging. Indeed, the subjects in those studies who perceived themselves as being under the most stress had telomeres that were the equivalent of 10 years older than the telomeres of those who perceived themselves as being under the least stress. Stress Less, science/health writer Singer’s new book, springs from Blackburn and Epel’s remarkable discovery; it enlists a veritable Who’s Who of stress and telomere researchers to explore this new science as well as the cutting-edge research that shows how we can slow, or even turn back, that ticking clock. Join a discussion of the implications of this ongoing revolutionary research with the scientists at the center of the research. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on March 3, 2011 | 30 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Egypt and the Middle East: Revolutions 2.0 (3/10/11) | Egypt and the Middle East: Revolutions 2.0 Jamal Dajani, Vice President of Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, Internews Network Stephen Zunes, Professor, University of San Francisco; Chair, Middle Eastern Studies Program; Author, Tinderbox and Non-Violent Social Movements Nour Ahmadein, Student, University of San Francisco; Member, Yalla! Students in Solidarity; Born and raised in Cairo Ayman Mohyeldin, Correspondent, Al Jazeera English – invited to drop in via Skype, live from Egypt Chris Taylor, San Francisco Bureau Chief, Mashable Dan Williams, Senior Emergencies Researcher, Human Rights Watch; Detained for 36 hours in Cairo during protests In conversation with Adam Yamaguchi, Vanguard Executive Director and Correspondent, Current Tv It all started in Tunisia, where the first dictator fell to the will of the people. Then the winds blew east; millions of Egyptian protestors with grassroots spirit, high-tech tools and an appetite for change came together and ousted their own autocrat. Now what? Egypt’s revolution has inspired the people of Libya, Bahrain, Yemen and elsewhere to forge their own change. Some have credited Facebook, Twitter, and Flip Cam as the champions of the Egyptian revolution. What impact did social media really have? Will democracy prevail in the Middle East, or will these movements become mute before we know it? Join journalists hot out of Cairo, political commentators and Middle East experts as we unpack the on-the-ground story, explore the role of social media, and discuss the future of the Middle East and revolutions 2.0. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on March 10, 2011 | 25 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Global Corporate Social Responsibility Panel (3/14/11) | Global Corporate Social Responsibility: How You Can Scale Your Philanthropy and Volunteer Programs Worldwide Pamela Hawley, Founder and CEO, UniversalGiving - Host Bob Saldich, Former CEO, Raychem - Panel Introduction Gabriele Zedimayer, Vice President of Global Social Innovation, Hewlett Packard Trisa Thompson, Vice President of CSR, Dell Mark Edmunds, Vice Chairman and Regional Managing Partner, Deloitte LLP This expert panel of CEOs and executives will discuss the innovations and practical lessons learned from launching CSR programs all over the world. Come find out how Fortune 500 companies are scaling their international giving and volunteer programs worldwide. Join us for their successful stories, challenges, and lessons learned by the innovative leaders. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on March 14th, 2011 | 21 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Charles Ferguson: Inside Job (3/2/11) | Charles Ferguson: Inside Job, Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary (Feature) Charles Ferguson, Documentary Filmmaker, Inside Job and No End in Sight Adam Lashinsky, Senior Editor at Large, Fortune magazine - Moderator Come hear from the filmmaker of this year's Academy Award-winning best documentary feature film. Could the global economic meltdown of the last few years have been prevented? Ferguson believes that the crisis was no accident. His latest documentary, Inside Job, makes the powerful case that an out-of-control finance industry took advantage of a deregulated atmosphere and purposely sought to get rich at the expense of others. Through extensive interviews with financial insiders and government officials, Ferguson crossed the globe to find proof that the financial industry intentionally engaged in unethical behavior. His gripping account of the global recession is sure to evoke feelings of disgust, anger, and concern that this all may happen again unless our regulatory system is changed. Ferguson’s previous film, No End in Sight, was nominated for an Oscar, and Inside Job brought home the grand prize at this year's awards ceremony. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on March 2nd, 2011 | 17 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Phil Angelides: The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report (3/3/11) | The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report: Findings and Ramifications Phil Angelides, Chair, Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission; Former Treasurer, State of California Mary Cranston, Senior Partner, Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman; Past Chair, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator In the wake of the most significant financial crisis since the Great Depression, the president signed into law on May 20, 2009, the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, creating the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. The commission was established to "examine the causes, domestic and global, of the current financial and economic crisis in the United States." Chairman Angelides will reflect on the commission's findings, presented to Congress, the president and the American people in late January. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on March 3, 2011 | 14 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Michael Scheuer: Discovering Bin Laden (2/23/11) | Michael Scheuer: Discovering Bin Laden Michael Scheuer, Former Chief, Central Intelligence Agency’s Bin Laden Unit; Author, Osama bin Laden A 20-plus year veteran of the CIA, Scheuer provides a rare, detailed look at Osama Bin Laden, showing him still to be a formidable and implacable enemy of the West. Scheuer draws from a wealth of information about bin Laden and his evolution from peaceful Saudi dissident to America's Most Wanted. Shedding light on bin Laden’s development as a theologian, media manipulator and paramilitary commander, Scheuer makes use of all of the speeches and interviews bin Laden has given as well as lengthy interviews, testimony and previously untranslated documents. From 1996 to 1999, Scheuer served as the chief of the bin Laden unit, the Osama bin Laden tracking unit at the Counterterrorism Center. He then worked as special adviser to the chief of the bin Laden unit from September 2001 to November 2004. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco on February 23, 2011 | 14 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Max Levchin and Peter Thiel: Smart Venture Capital in 2011 | Max Levchin and Peter Thiel: Smart Venture Capital in 2011 Max Levchin, Founder, Slide; Co-founder, PayPal Peter Thiel, President, Clarium Capital; Co-founder, PayPal; Managing Partner, The Founders Fund Brad Stone, Senior Writer, BusinessWeek – Moderator Venture capitalists and entrepreneurs have long been ‘the masters of the universe,’ at least in Silicon Valley. They have turned the Valley into the heart of high-tech innovation and development and have the power to make or break some of the world’s largest companies. The 21st century has borne witness to the dot-com bubble, the private equity crash, yesteryear’s greentech capital wave, to today’s monetary flow into social networking, e-commerce and online game companies. What’s next? Paypal founders and renowned VCs Levchin and Thiel will discuss what they foresee as the best and brightest of 2011. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on | 4 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dambisa Moyo, International Economist; Author, How The West Was Lost and Dead Aid | Dambisa Moyo Dambisa Moyo, International Economist; Author, How The West Was Lost and Dead Aid Richard Waters, West Coast Editor, Financial Times - Moderator Moyo daringly claims that the West can no longer afford to simply regard global up-and-comers as menacing gatecrashers. In a world where Western economies hover on the brink of recession while emerging economies post double-digit growth rates, Moyo calls out the economic myopia of the West and the radical solutions that it needs to adopt to salvage its global economic power. A former consultant for the World Bank and former emerging markets investment banker at Goldman Sachs, Moyo was named by Time Magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World," and was nominated to the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Forum. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on February 17, 2011 | 4 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Addressing the Legacy of Agent Orange in Vietnam | Addressing the Legacy of Agent Orange in Vietnam Bob Edgar, President and CEO, Common Cause Charles R. Bailey, Director, Ford Foundation Special Initiative on Agent Orange/Dioxin Wars don’t end when the guns fall silent. Thirty-five years after the end of the Vietnam War, the legacy of Agent Orange - dioxin contaminated soils and a heavy burden of disability on people in Vietnam as well as on American veterans - continues to be a challenge. Recent progress, however, has created a window of opportunity for the U.S. to intensify its effort in a shared commitment to reduce the public health impact in Vietnam. Drawing on extensive experience in today’s Vietnam, the speakers will show how this is a humanitarian concern that we can do something about. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on February 25, 2011 | 4 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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William Draper-Entrepreneur; Author of The Startup Game | William Draper Entrepreneur; Author, The Startup Game Ann Winblad, Co-founder and Managing Director, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners - Moderator For more than 40 years, Draper has worked with top entrepreneurs in fabled Silicon Valley, where today’s vision is made into tomorrow’s reality. This venture capitalist saw the value in Skype, Open Table and many other companies, and he will share his firsthand stories of success. Draper will provide an inside look at how the worlds of venture capital and entrepreneurship work and will reveal lessons for success in both business and life. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on January 10, 2011 | 25 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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San Francisco Giants’ Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean | San Francisco Giants’ Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean Bruce Bochy, Manager, SF Giants; Two time National League Manager of the Year Brian Sabean, Senior Vice President and General Manager, SF Giants In conversation with Roy Eisenhardt Now that they're the World Series champs, how can the San Francisco Giants stay on top and orchestrate a repeat performance in 2011? Come meet the people who strategized the Giants' World Series triumph and hear what's in store this season. Giants Manager Bochy and General Manager Sabean will take you behind the scenes and down into the dugout to give the lowdown on who's in, who's out, and what strategies will keep the Giants at the peak of their game. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on February 3, 2011 | 18 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Simon Winchester: Atlantic – The Biography of an Ocean | Simon Winchester: Atlantic – The Biography of an Ocean Author, Krakatoa, The Professor and the Madman and Atlantic: A Biography of the Ocean Brian Hackney, Science Editor and host of "Eye on the Bay," CBS5 - Moderator Come learn about the epic sea battles, natural phenomena and colorful personalities that have helped shape and traverse one of the world’s largest bodies of water. A site of trade, exploration and natural resources that brought the discovery of new worlds and new peoples, the Atlantic Ocean has played an undervalued but crucial role in the development of the modern Western world. Bestselling author Winchester explores the meanings of this vast body of water for select communities and locations along the Atlantic seaboard from historic and scientific perspectives. A prolific author, Winchester has written a number of other works about the intersection of geological features and human evolution, including the national and New York Times best sellers The Map that Changed the World, Krakatoa and A Crack in the Edge of the World. Winchester also worked as a journalist for nearly 30 years and covered Bloody Sunday and the Watergate scandal during his time at The Guardian. Join The Club for an informative and lively discussion of the complex ways in which Earth’s topography has changed human history. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on November 14, 2010 | 18 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Obama Effect: Where Does the African-American Community Stand Now? | The Obama Effect: Where Does the African-American Community Stand Now? Barbara Lee, U.S. Congresswoman, California's 9th Congressional District Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO, Green For All James Rucker, Co-founder and Executive Director, ColorOfChange.org Richard T. Ford, George E. Osborne Professor of Law, Stanford Law School; Author, The Race Card Martin G. Reynolds, Editor, The Oakland Tribune - Moderator What is the real effect on the black community of the first African-American president? This February we take a look at the most momentous move forward in civil rights in decades: the election of the first African-American president of the United States. But what has this meant for the African-American community? Has Obama landed the final blow needed to break the glass ceiling? Or has electing the first African-American president during one of the worst times in our country’s history created an unfortunate association that will become more of a hindrance than a help? This program was recorded in front of a live audience on February 7, 2011 | 15 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Belva Davis: A Bay Area Legend Tells All | Belva Davis: A Bay Area Legend Tells All Broadcast Journalist; Host, “This Week In Northern California,” KQED Television; Author, My Wildest Dreams In conversation with Ray Taliaferro, KGO Radio Host Raised in a dysfunctional family in Louisiana and the Bay Area, Davis rose through the black radio industry, became the first black female reporter west of the Mississippi with her hiring at KPIX, and eventually anchored KQED’s “Evening Edition,” the station’s nightly news show. Davis will discuss her extraordinary journey, personal and professional. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on February 10, 2011 | 15 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Abbas Milani: The Shah, the Ayatollah and Iran’s Nuclear Program | The Shah, the Ayatollah and Iran’s Nuclear Program – Double Talk or Double Standards? Abbas Milani, Director of Iranian Studies, Stanford; Co-director, Iran Democracy Project, Hoover Institution; Author, The Shah The life of Mohammad-Reza Shah Pahlevi, the last Shah of Iran, continues to resonate today. Milani looks at the monarch who shaped Iran’s modern age and with it the contemporary politics of the Middle East. He reveals the complex and sweeping road that he says has brought the U.S. and Iran to where they are today. This program was recorded in front of a live audience on January 19, 2011 | 11 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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John Robbins-Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World | John Robbins Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World Alison van Diggelen, Founder and Host, Fresh Dialogues - Moderator Meet the man who said “no” to ice cream. Heir to the Baskin-Robbins empire, Robbins choose to walk away from the multi-million dollar ice cream business to pursue a healthier and ecologically balanced lifestyle. He outlines why eating is not just a culinary act, but one with profound political, economic and environmental consequences. He offers mind-boggling information on factory farming, genetically modified foods and the economics of food production. (For example, did you know that it takes over 5,000 gallons of water to produce 1 lb. of beef?) Join him for his views on why we need to re-evaluate our food choices and how becoming a food activist is essential to living longer and saving our planet. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley Branch on February 2, 2011 | 7 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Timothy Ferriss-The Four-Hour Work Week | The Four-Hour Work Week Timothy Ferriss, Author; Investor In conversation with Rachael King, Writer, Bloomberg Businessweek Want to work just four hours a week? Ferriss believes he can show you how. This Jack-of-all-trades has done it all, from becoming the National Chinese Kickboxing Champion and the Guinness World Record-holder for tango dancing to working for education reform. In his controversial book, The 4-Hour Workweek, Ferriss advocates throwing out old ideas of retirement and deferred-life plans. His latest sensation, The 4-Hour Body, is a choose-your-own-adventure guide to the human body, covering topics ranging from fat loss to sex, and he says it’s all been tested. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on | 4 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The True Cost of Public Pensions: Reform or Bust? | The True Cost of Public Pensions: Reform or Bust? Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Joe Nation, Lecturer, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research Roxanne Sanchez, President, SEIU Local 1021 Daniel Borenstein, Columnist and Editorial Writer, Contra Costa Times and Oakland Tribune – Moderator California’s financial situation is in shambles, and some pundits have identified the state’s public-employee pension obligation as a central part of the problem. But what is the true cost of pensions to the state’s structural deficit? Nineteen states reformed their public pension benefits in 2010. California has the largest pension system in the nation; is it now time for our state to reform our program too? Our panel of experts will share their views on whether pension reform is needed in California and how it should be done. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 25, 2011 | 4 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Josh Silver: Future of Journalism and Internet Access | Josh Silver: Future of Journalism and Internet Access – The Nexus of Media, Technology, Policy and Politics CEO, Free Press; Blogger, Huffington Post The future of journalism and the Internet are both in jeopardy, says the president of the leading national organization working on media and technology policy in the public interest. Free Press chief Silver will address the three major fronts in the battle – Internet policy, journalism policy, and public media policy – and reveal how we can help solve this crisis at an individual level. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco on January 31, 2011 | 2 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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SF Street Food Update: Underground and Off the Grid | SF Street Food Update: Underground and Off the Grid Matt Cohen, Founder, Off the Grid: San Francisco and SF Cart Project Iso Rabins, Founder, Forage SF (the Underground Farmers Market) Shakirah Simley, Founder, Slow Jams; Food Justice Activist Margarita Rojas, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, La Cocina Jason Mark, Editor, Earth Island Journal; Co-manager, Alemany Farm - Moderator The city's bursting at the seams with street food, our city blocks featuring everything from trucks selling kimchi tacos to carts wielding bacon crème brulee. What about the other foodie trends working their way up the haute cuisine ladder? INFORUM’s group of epicurean innovators will give you a taste of what’s going on in the culinary underworld. Learn which neighborhood blocks grow the most umami mushrooms as we give you the dirt on foraging. Or maybe you’ll get inspired to go public with your chipotle peanut brittle after hearing about the Underground Farmers Market, a new haven for outlaw urban eaters. Join us for a look at what’s fresh on the alternative food scene, both the trends and the motivations behind them. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco on January 26, 2011 | 2 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Tom Campbell: Bank of America/ Walter E. Hoadley Annual Economic Forecast | Tom Campbell: Bank of America/ Walter E. Hoadley Annual Economic Forecast Visiting Professor of Economics and Law, Chapman U.; Former Bank of America Dean, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley; Former Member of Congress Is the U.S. economic recovery in full swing, or are we headed for a double-dip recession? Former congressman, former Cal business dean and economic expert Campbell will lay out what we can expect in the year ahead and how you can be prepared. Campbell joined Chapman in January 2009 as a visiting presidential fellow. Prior to that, he was the Bank of America dean and professor of business at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. For 20 years prior to that, he was a professor of law at Stanford Law School, a member of Congress, a member of the California State Senate, and the director of the California Department of Finance, during the last year when the state balanced the budget without additional borrowing, taxes, or dipping into reserves. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of California on January 21, 2011 | 28 1 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ronald Reagan at 100: A Personal, Behind-the-Scenes Look | Ronald Reagan at 100: A Personal, Behind-the-Scenes Look Tyrus Cobb, Ph.D., Former National Security Council Member and Special Assistant to President Reagan This February 6th, Ronald Reagan would have turned 100. A participant in many private meetings with President Reagan and various world leaders, Cobb will share with us his intimate perspective on Reagan and his relationships with such world leaders as Gorbachev, Thatcher, Mulroney, Kohl and Pope John Paul II. Cobb will provide first-hand insights into the role of other participants in those epic times as well, including George H.W. Bush, Tip O'Neill, Colin Powell, Oliver North, Bob Gates and George Shultz. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on January 25, 2011 | 28 1 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Reversing U.S. Innovation Decline: What the U.S. Economy Needs for the Next Decade | Reversing U.S. Innovation Decline: What the U.S. Economy Needs for the Next Decade Mark Warner U.S. Senator (D-VA), Hon. Co-Chair, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Rob Atkinson, President, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Weili Dai, Co-founder and Vice President and General Manager of Communications and Computing Business Unit, Marvell Technology Group Steve Wright, Vice President of Strategic Communications, Silicon Valley Leadership Group - Moderator A recent report by the Information Technology Innovation Foundation found that the U.S. ranks last out of 40 nations in progress made in the last decade on innovation-based competitiveness. When compared to other nations, we have failed to grow our innovation economy, which is measured by factors such as corporate R&D, numbers of scientists and engineers, venture capital investments, and more. The consequences of our decline are significant. Some people believe that the lack of innovation-based competitiveness contributed to the financial crisis and is a driving factor in the anemic nature of the current U.S. recovery. Unless we take steps now on an array of fronts - tax policy, trade, support for science and technology, education and others - the United States is likely to continue to slip, with deleterious implications for productivity, wage growth, business vitality and the trade deficit. Our panelists will discuss what is needed and how Washington can collaborate to play a more effective role in supporting the policies needed to restore America's innovation and leadership. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley Office in San Jose on January 19, 2011 | 25 1 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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David Brooks: Politics and Culture in the Age of Obama | David Brooks: Politics and Culture in the Age of Obama Columnist, The New York Times; Commentator, PBS "NewsHour" Dan Schnur, Chairman, Fair Political Practices Commission of California; Director, Jesse Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California - Moderator New York Times op-ed columnist and American political and cultural commentator Brooks offers a fresh perspective on politics and culture in the age of President Obama. Is the country moving further to the left, right or center? What is the future of the tea party movement? As author of a twice-weekly column for The New York Times, Brooks has written extensively on regional and intergenerational differences in America, America as a consumerist society, the benefits of a free-market economy, and foreign policy. Brooks regularly appears on PBS’ "NewsHour" and on NPR’s "All Things Considered." A prolific writer and editor with a long career in journalism, he has also served as contributing editor at Newsweek and the Atlantic Monthly, senior editor of The Weekly Standard, and editor for The Wall Street Journal. Brooks is the author of two books, Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There and On Paradise Drive: How We Live Now (And Always Have) in the Future Tense. His eagerly anticipated new book will be released in March, 2011. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on January 11, 2011 | 20 1 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Reza Aslan: Bridging the Middle East and America Through Culture | Reza Aslan: Bridging the Middle East and America Through Culture Reza Aslan, Author, No God But God, How to Win a Cosmic War, and Tablet and Pen; Contributing Editor, The Daily Beast Wajahat Ali, Playwright, “The Domestic Crusaders;” Journalist; Attorney; Creator, Goatmilk: An Intellectual Playground Blog Zoe Ferraris, Author, Finding Nouf and City of Veils Najva Sol, Photographer; Poet; Co-founder, the Lowbrow Society for the Arts In conversation with Laura Sydell, Arts Correspondent, National Public Radio - Moderator American headlines about the Middle East often focus on terrorism, suicide bombings and escalating tensions. The mainstream media can create a massive American cultural blindspot around the literature, history and stories of the Middle East. A political commentator, New York Times best-selling author and an analyst on CBS News, Aslan is considered by some to be an American window to Islam. He is now looking to bridge the gap and share the best of the Middle East's literary leaders. Join the acclaimed author and contributing editor to The Daily Beast as he brings you the cultural luminaries from Iran, Pakistan, Morocco and Turkey and beyond. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 11, 2010 | 14 1 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Premal Shah-Co-founder and President, Kiva | Premal Shah Co-founder and President, Kiva Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending web site, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe. Combining technology with social issues in a way that allows mass participation in facilitating solutions, it inspires grassroot support for the financing of social alleviation projects. Kiva has generated extraordinary excitement and more than $100 million in small online loans that are reimbursed if the donor requests such an outcome. Says Shah: “What bummed me out was that microfinance is such a great tool to alleviate poverty and that there is a shortage of capital – but that there is no way for the average guy in the U.S. to invest in microfinance.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on December 8, 2010 | 12 1 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Modernizing Medicare and Medicaid: How to Upgrade America's Health Care | Modernizing Medicare and Medicaid: How to Upgrade America's Health Care Donald Berwick, M.D., M.P.P., Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Sarah Varney, KQED Health Reporter, “The California Report” and “Health Dialogues” - Moderator Berwick leads a department with a larger budget than the Pentagon and oversees the programs that provide health care to nearly one in three Americans, yet he has made few public appearances since President Obama made him CMS administrator in a recess appointment last summer. A recipient of numerous medical awards and honors, Berwick has a long history of involvement with public policy on health care and was given an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth in 2005 for his work. Come hear him share his thoughts about how the recent reform bill passed by Congress will affect the longevity and viability of our nation’s medical system and his goals of improving patient care while reducing waste. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on | 7 1 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Laurie David, Producer, An Inconvenient Truth; Author, The Family Dinner | Why Family Dinners Matter: How Every Concern Crosses Your Dinner Plate Laurie David, Producer, An Inconvenient Truth; Author, The Family Dinner Research has shown that children who have regular dinners together with their parents do better in almost all areas of life, from higher grades in school to maintaining loving relationships, to avoiding bad behaviors like drugs, alcohol, and promiscuity. David presents practical and inspirational ways to keep your family at the table. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on November 9, 2010 | 5 1 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Nora Ephron-Film Director, Sleepless in Seattle; Screenwriter; Author, I Feel Bad About My Neck and I Remember Nothing | Nora Ephron Film Director, Sleepless in Seattle; Screenwriter; Author, I Feel Bad About My Neck and I Remember Nothing In conversation with Jane Ganahl, Author; Co-founder, Litquake Acclaimed director of Julie & Julia and writer of When Harry Met Sally, Ephron offers her hilarious observations and insights into the past, present and future, sharing everything she hasn’t (yet) forgotten. She reflects on what women really think when they reach a certain age and what she’s learned along the way. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch in San Jose on November 21, 2010 | 22 12 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Richard Wolffe, Political Commentator; Author, Renegade and Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the White House | Behind Closed Doors: Inside the Obama White House Richard Wolffe, Political Commentator; Author, Renegade and Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the White House Phil Bronstein, Editor at Large, Hearst Newspapers – Moderator Wolffe, award-winning journalist, NBC and MSNBC political analyst, and author of the New York Times best-selling political epic, Renegade: The Making of a President, will tell the dramatic inside story of the defining period of the Obama White House, based on exclusive interviews with President Obama and his White House staff. As Newsweek’s former senior White House correspondent, Wolffe covered the entire length of Obama’s presidential campaign and has had unprecedented access to Obama – allowing us to see and hear President Obama with an immediacy and honesty never before witnessed. Come and listen to Wolffe as he answers the simple yet enduring question: Who is Barack Obama? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on December 7, 2010 | 20 12 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Tony Kushner, Playwright, “Angels in America” | The 20th Anniversary of “Angels in America” Tony Kushner, Playwright, “Angels in America” Kushner returns to celebrate the opening day of the new exhibition: “More Life! Angels in America at 20” at the Museum of Performance & Design. Exhibition curator Brad Rosenstein will talk with Kushner about this play’s dramatic evolution, its powerful ongoing legacy, and the much-anticipated New York revival. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco on November 6, 2010 | 10 12 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Alice Walker-Author of The Color Purple and Hard Times Require Furious Dancing | Alice Walker Author, The Color Purple and Hard Times Require Furious Dancing In conversation with Laura Sydell, Correspondent, Arts Information Unit - Moderator The masterful Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Color Purple, Walker is also a prominent political activist, feminist and a voice of cultural progressivism. With a quiet and enlightened sense, Walker speaks about the world as she sees it. Come and hear the legendary storyteller as she explores gut-wrenching and sorrowful topics in her new collection of poems, Hard Times Require Furious Dancing. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 4, 2010 | 8 12 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Condoleezza Rice: Former U.S. Secretary Of State | Condoleezza Rice: Former U.S. Secretary Of State Professor of Business and Political Science, Stanford University; Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Author, Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family In her first public appearance since the publication of her new family memoir, Secretary Rice provides a rare glimpse at the experiences that have shaped her world outlook and discusses her views on current issues. Rice details her remarkable childhood, which began in the late 1950s, when Birmingham blacks lived in segregation, and continued through the '60s, when Rice saw her girlhood friends lose their lives to the bloodshed of the era. Rice was the 66th U.S. secretary of state and the first black woman to hold that office. She will talk about the people and experiences that have guided her on her path to occupying one of the nation’s highest offices. Prior to serving as secretary of state, she was the first woman ever to serve as national security advisor, was provost of Stanford from 1993 to 1999, and served as the Soviet and East European Affairs advisor during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 18, 2010 | 6 12 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Free Enterprise Versus Big Government: The Battle for America’s Future | Free Enterprise Versus Big Government: The Battle for America’s Future Arthur Brooks, President, American Enterprise Institute; Author, The Battle: How the Fight between Free Enterprise and Big Government Will Shape America's Future Brooks outlines a new culture war – not the old struggle over guns or abortion or religion, but over two competing visions of America. In one, America continues as a unique and exceptional nation organized around the principles of free enterprise. In the other, the U.S. moves toward a European-style social democracy characterized by increasing bureaucracies, income redistribution and government control of corporations. Brooks argues that free enterprise is not merely an economic system but an expression of American values and American culture, and he makes the case that free enterprise is the system that delivers the greatest levels of prosperity to the greatest numbers of people. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 25, 2010 | 3 12 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Arianna Huffington: Beyond the Post | Arianna Huffington: Beyond the Post Arianna Huffington, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Huffington Post; Author, Third World America: How Our Politicians Are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream In conversation with Raj Patel, Journalist, Activist, Author, Stuffed and Starved - Moderator “It is no longer an exaggeration to say that middle-class Americans are an endangered species," says Huffington. She is now sounding the alarm on "Third World America" She takes on the menacing duo of Washington and Wall Street, brazenly charging politicians with abandonment of the middle class and claiming the disappearance of the American Dream. Is the American middle class really in danger of extinction? How can we close the widening gap between the haves and have-nots? Hear what one of the most influential voices in modern media has to say about America’s imminent (or not so imminent) collapse. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 18, 2010 | 1 12 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Park 51: NY Islamic Center Project | Park 51: NY Islamic Center Project Munir Jiwa, Founding Director and Professor, Center for Islamic Studies, Graduate Theological Union Ameena Jandali, Educator; Co-founder, the Islamic Network Group – Moderator The controversial Park 51 project to build a mosque and Muslim community center near Ground Zero has thrust us into a national conversation about religious freedom, patriotism and Islamophobia. Jiwa posits that the general public still equates 9/11 with Islam rather than al-Qaida. He says we must work toward mutual respect and understanding. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 18, 2010 | 1 12 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Skeptical Environmentalist and The Sierra Club: Lomborg and Pope Tackle Climate Change | The Skeptical Environmentalist and The Sierra Club: Lomborg and Pope Tackle Climate Change Bjorn Lomborg, Author, Cool It; Skeptical Environmentalist Carl Pope, Chairman, The Sierra Club Craig Miller, Senior Editor, Climate Watch, KQED Radio - Moderator Skeptical environmentalist Lomborg declares that global warming is a chief concern facing the world, but says we should focus our resources on more immediate concerns like fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS. INFORUM is hosting a pre-release screening of Cool It, the film based on Lomborg’s 2007 book, which outlines Lomborg’s climate solutions. Are these the same solutions that the Sierra Club’s Pope would offer up? Probably not. This pair of environment advocates will tackle the issues in an exclusive discussion. Find out what happens when the environment’s devout defender meets the climate change critic. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on October 19, 2010 | 24 11 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Fireside Chat with Twitter's @Biz and @Ev | Fireside Chat with Twitter's @Biz and @Ev Evan Williams, Co-founder, Twitter Biz Stone, Co-founder, Twitter Brad Stone, Senior Writer, BusinessWeek - Moderator Twitter founders Williams and Stone open up and answer our questions about the site that has the whole world chirping. A year after launching in 2006, Twitter had just a few thousand users and a quirky name. Now, the site has more than 160 million users who send nearly 100 million messages a day. The Twittersphere is flooded with the real-time updates by everyone from your 80-year-old grandmother to Iranian political protestors, Top Chefs, best-selling authors and uber-celebs seeking the Twitter crown. How did a social network based on tweets, or "short bursts of information," become the preferred voice for so many around the globe? Is Twitter the evolution of mobile messaging and news consumption and/or a soapbox for the world's attention seekers? Hear the true Twitter tale, its evolution and future from the men behind the hashtag. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 11, 2010 | 19 11 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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James Zogby: What Arab Voices Are Telling Us | James Zogby: What Arab Voices Are Telling Us Founder and President, Arab American Institute; Advisor, Zogby International Polling Firm; Author, Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us, and Why It Matters Based on a new Zogby International poll, Zogby reveals what people in the Middle East are really thinking right now and how we can better understand them. The poll results deliver insight on how people in the region view American society, world affairs, their own position in the world, and a host of other issues so that we can truly grasp their perspective beyond assumptions and bias. Zogby is the founder and president of the Arab American Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based organization which serves as the political and policy research arm of the Arab American community. Since the mid-1990s he has been a senior advisor to Zogby International (ZI), the polling firm founded by his brother John. At ZI he has supervised a number of path-breaking public-opinion polling projects in countries across the Middle East. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on October 18, 2010 | 10 11 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Robert Pearl: Solving America’s Health-Care Challenges Through 21st-Century Solutions | Robert Pearl: Solving America’s Health-Care Challenges Through 21st-Century Solutions CEO, Permanente Medical Group Following passage of health insurance reform, a fundamental challenge – and opportunity – facing our nation today is how to advance the medical delivery system into the 21st century. As CEO of the largest medical group in the nation, Pearl is responsible for the health care of over 3 million Kaiser Permanente members. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on November 3, 2010 | 10 11 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Money or Merit: What's Electing Our Political Leaders? | Money or Merit: What's Electing Our Political Leaders? Bob Edgar, President and CEO, Common Cause Jesse Choper, Earl Warren Professor of Public Law, UC Berkeley Lawrence McQuillan, Director of Business and Economic Studies, Pacific Research Institute John Diaz, Editorial Page Editor, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator Do our political leaders achieve their positions on merit, or are they buying them? After the Supreme Court ruled in January to permit both corporations and unions to promote and finance the campaigns of electoral candidates, many people, including the president, said that big business would now own and control politics. The issue appears to be polarized along party lines. Conservatives contend that prohibiting corporations from financing political campaigns is a violation of the First Amendment, and liberal politicians and policy groups have adamantly protested the ruling for giving equal representative rights to corporations and individuals. Dialogue is critical to fully understanding this thorny issue. Join The Club for a spirited debate on the ramifications, constitutionality and precedent of this landmark ruling. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on October 11, 2010 | 4 11 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer? | Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer? Devra Davis, Author, Disconnect; School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University Oncology expert Davis blows the lid off what she asserts is the cell phone industry’s abuse of science. It isn’t just about brain cancer, says Davis: cell phones damage DNA, break down the brain’s defenses, reduce sperm count, and increase memory loss. Radio frequency radiation from phones is especially threatening to children, whose brains are still growing. But the U.S., helped along by the powerful mobile phone industry, has done little to examine these risks or set standards that significantly improve our safety, Davis and others contend. She will reveal the untold inside story of how we got here. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on October 6, 2010 | 4 11 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The State of the Economy: A Conversation with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner | Timothy Geithner The State of the Economy: A Conversation with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner Michael Moritz, Managing Member, Sequoia Capital - Moderator Secretary Geithner will address the Obama administration’s proposals to help get more Americans back to work and help reinforce long-term growth at home as well as efforts to build a more stable financial system and to strengthen the global economy. Before his ascension to the Treasury in 2009, Secretary Geithner helmed the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. His many years of service include jobs in three presidential administrations for five secretaries of the treasury in a variety of positions. He served as under secretary of the treasury for international affairs from 1999 to 2001 for secretaries Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers, and was director of the Policy Development and Review Department at the International Monetary Fund from 2001 until 2003. Don't miss this chance to get up close and personal with one of the most important figures entrusted with getting the nation’s economy back on track. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch in San Jose on October 18, 2010 | 27 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dr. Frank Spinelli | Frank Spinelli Associate Clinical Professor, New York Medical College; Health Care Columnist, The Advocate Internist and medical professor Spinelli is a leading expert on gay men’s health and wellness. He will discuss principles of gay men’s health, new paradigms for wellness and health promotion, and important insights for health-care providers. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Jose at The Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley on October 1, 2010 | 27 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton | Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Greg Dalton, Founder of Climate One, moderator In just her third appearance before a US audience as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton touts the potential of American innovation to further public diplomacy and to help tackle a host of global challenges. Before a sold-out Commonwealth Club crowd of 1,500, Clinton comments on global flashpoints – Afghanistan, Iran, and Mexico – while addressing climate change and clean energy. Clinton repeatedly stresses the need to leverage the creativity of Silicon Valley with work underway at her department. “Innovation is one of America's greatest values and products,” she says, “and we are very committed to working with scientists and researchers to look for new ways to develop hardier crops or lifesaving drugs at affordable costs, working with engineers for new sources of clean energy or clean water to both stem climate change and also to improve the standard of living for people.” In the Q&A, Climate One founder Greg Dalton asks Clinton if the State Department would reconsider granting a permit for the controversial Alberta Clipper Pipeline. Clinton concedes that while a final decision had not been made, the project is likely to go ahead: “We're either going to be dependent on dirty oil from the Gulf or dirty oil from Canada. And until we can get our act together as a country and figure out that clean, renewable energy is in both our economic interests and the interests of our planet.” Clinton also comments on Senate’s failure to act on climate change. “I don't think it will come as a surprise to anyone how deeply disappointed the President and I are about our inability to get the kind of legislation through the Senate that the United States was seeking,” she says. Clinton closes with advice for Ellie, a 10-year-old who expresses concern for the future environment. “I think that there is a lot that you can do, because it's been my experience that young people are much more environmentally conscious and committed to protecting the world you're growing up in than some of us older people are,” she says. “I'm out of politics, as you all know. So speaking as a private citizen,” she adds, to laughter, “I think people running for office should be asked to explain their positions on what they're going to do.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 15, 2010 | 22 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Keeping the Net Healthy: How Can We Develop an Immune System for the Internet? | Keeping the Net Healthy: How Can We Develop an Immune System for the Internet? Vinton Cerf, VP and Chief Internet Evangelist, Google; one of the “fathers of the Internet” Paul Mockapetris, Chief Scientist and Chairman of the Board, Nominum; Creator, Domain Name System (DNS) Esther Dyson, Chairman, EDventure Holdings & Angel Investor - Moderator Viruses, spyware, spam, phishing, zombie machines. Several years ago, we might have thought of these as just a nuisance, and their perpetrators as mostly underemployed kids. Today, cybercrime is worth billions of dollars to loosely organized networks of criminals that prey on individuals, businesses and governments with malicious or profit-seeking intent. What are some of the current threats, and how is industry responding to them? What new threats might we expect in the coming years? Is the Internet's health partly a result of misaligned incentives, where those who cause the damage don't bear its costs? How can we change that? What more should industry, government and individuals be doing to protect the network and, ultimately, ourselves? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Jose on October 4, 2010 | 21 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Swiss System of Direct Democracy and How It Compares to the U.S. | The Swiss System of Direct Democracy and How It Compares to the U.S. Corina Casanova, Federal Chancellor, Switzerland Switzerland has one of the most extensive systems of democratic rights in the world. Chancellor Casanova will compare the Swiss and U.S. constitutions, elaborating on commonalities and differences, particularly with regard to state institutions, direct democracy, people's rights and federalism. Casanova was a delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross in South Africa, Angola, Nicaragua and El Salvador. She has held the office of federal chancellor since January 2008 following her election by the Swiss parliament in December 2007. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 6, 2010 | 21 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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In the Balance: Energy, Economy and Environment | In the Balance: Energy, Economy and Environment Part of The Chevron California Innovation Series Raj Atluru, Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson Ralph Cavanagh, Energy Co-director, Natural Resources Defense Council Cathy Reheis-Boyd, President, Western States Petroleum Association Jack Stewart, President, California Manufacturers and Technology Association Virgil Welch, Special Assistant to the Chairman, California Air Resources Board Greg Dalton, Climate One - Moderator The low-carbon economy is California’s future. But this panel of energy experts convened by Climate One disagrees on how fast that transition will take, and how it will impact the economy. Jack Stewart, President, California Manufacturers and Technology Association, and Cathy Reheis-Boyd, President, Western States Petroleum Association, repeatedly stress that California could be more business friendly, and that green jobs alone won’t pull the state out of recession. “We all see a clean energy future,” Stewart says. “The question is: When do we get there? How fast do we get there? And at what cost?” “We cannot lose sight of the fact that we are not in a good state in California,” says Reheis-Boyd. “I can tell you my members are making some very difficult choices about where to invest their next dollar.” We have to get the rules right, the remaining panel members say, but they see no trade-off between environmental and economic good. “I think the energy history of California over the last 30 years is how to do both well,” says Ralph Cavanagh, Energy co-director, Natural Resources Defense Council. “Nobody is satisfied with 12.4% unemployment, but I don’t think the answer is doing less of what we already know we do better than anyone else. I think it’s speeding up.” For Virgil Welch, Special Assistant to the Chairman of the California Air Resources Board, it’s also about maintaining California’s global competitiveness. “The policies that we as a state are working on are not just what we need to do for our energy and environmental needs, but they’re critical to driving us towards where the global economy is heading, which is clean energy.” As long as California’s maintains its forward-thinking policy framework, green innovators will call the state home, says, Raj Atluru, Managing Director at the venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson. “California has succeeded over the last century because of its innovation. We’ve innovated in entertainment, flight, defense, communications, PCs, the Internet. Our bet, at our firm, is that the next wave of innovation is going to be the green jobs economy. ” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 12, 2010 | 14 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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California Votes! The Results That Might Change the State | California Votes! The Results That Might Change the State Dan Walters, Political Columnist, Sacramento Bee In conversation with Josh Richman, Politics and Legal Affairs Reporter, Oakland Tribune and Bay Area News Group Renowned political columnist Walters takes a look at the upcoming November election that could drastically change California’s political climate. Will political newbies Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina lead California into a Republican dominance not seen since Governor Ronald Reagan and Senator Richard Nixon were in power? Or will the deep California roots of political veterans Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer knock California securely back into the blue? Walters weighs in on these two heated campaigns as well as what else we should be watching out for this November. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on September 22, 2010 | 13 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Markos Moulitsas Zuniga-Founder, Daily Kos | Markos Moulitsas Zuniga Founder, Daily Kos; Author, American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right In conversation with Jonathan Weber, Editor-in-Chief, The Bay Citizen “Think about it. The freedom that jihadists hate – freedom of thought, inquiry and lifestyle – are the very freedoms that the conservatives hate.” In Moulitsas' new book, American Taliban, he pulls out the big guns against the American conservative movement. Quoting pundits and politicians, pointing to polls and news, Moulitsas makes a litany of charges claiming that the entire conservative movement in America is comparable to the U.S.’s international enemy #1 – Islamic radicalism. Does he go too far? Does he make some valid points and observations? Decide for yourself. Come see a candid, no-holds-barred interview with the founder of the popular online blog Daily Kos and frequent contributor for Newsweek and MSNBC. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on September 27, 2010 | 13 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Robert Reich-America’s Economy and the Road Ahead | America’s Economy and the Road Ahead Robert Reich, Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley; Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, Aftershock When the nation’s economy foundered in 2008, blame was almost universally directed at Wall Street, but celebrated economic policymaker and political theorist Reich suggests a different reason for the meltdown and describes a potentially treacherous road ahead. Reich explores a blueprint for lastingly improving our economy. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 28, 2010 | 8 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Thomas Keller: The Making of America’s Best Chef | Thomas Keller: The Making of America’s Best Chef Owner, the French Laundry, Bouchon, Per Se, Ad Hoc; Author, Ad Hoc at Home and The French Laundry Cookbook Clark Wolf, President and Founder, Clark Wolf Company; Consultant; Author; Writer - Moderator World-renowned chef Keller serves up stories from the front line of fine dining. The owner of such celebrated restaurants as the French Laundry, Bouchon, Per Se and Ad Hoc, Keller penned the award-winning The French Laundry and Bouchon cookbooks, as well as Under Pressure, on sous vide cooking, and Ad Hoc at Home. In 2001, he was named “America’s Best Chef” by Time Magazine. In 2003, Johnson & Wales University awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Culinary Arts for his contributions to the industry. His accolades include consecutive "Best Chef" awards from the James Beard Foundation and "Chef of the Year" by the Culinary Institute of America. He is the only American-born chef to hold multiple three-star ratings by the Michelin Guide. Don’t miss a rare opportunity to hear from this modern kitchen master. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on September 30, 2010 | 8 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jonathan Safran Foer-Author, Everything Is Illuminated and Eating Animals | Jonathan Safran Foer Author, Everything Is Illuminated and Eating Animals Foer looks at our dining habits, insatiable appetites and the cultural meaning of food. He explores the ethical, environmental and health risks behind commercial fishing and factory farming and discusses his journey from carnivore to vegetarian. Hear from the man that actress Natalie Portman claims changed her from a “20-year vegetarian to a vegan activist.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on September 21, 2010 | 7 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Cross Cultural Health Care: Caring in All Languages | Cross Cultural Health Care: Caring in All Languages Frank Puglisi Jr., Executive Director, Health Care Interpreter Network Melinda Paras, President and CEO, Paras and Associates Carolyn Wang Kong, MPH, MPP, Practice Leader, Language Access, Northern California Diversity, Kaiser Permanente Sarah Varney, Health Reporter, "The California Report," KQED - Moderator The increasingly critical role of interpreters in health care and the skill required to interpret in such delicate and emotional situations have spurred the creation of a revolutionary service. This sophisticated and integrated technological system aims to break down the language barriers between service providers and patients with limited English proficiency. Language technology is rapidly becoming an integral part of health care. By using interpretation services, doctors and patients can overcome the language barriers to enable and enhance access to health care. Come hear how technology is helping doctors and patients communicate through cyberspace. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 24, 2010 | 7 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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National Debt: The Threat and Potential Solutions | National Debt: The Threat and Potential Solutions David Walker, Former U.S. Comptroller General; Former Head, U.S. Government Accountability Office Robert L. Bixby, Executive Director, The Concord Coalition Michael Boskin, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Professor of Economics, Stanford University; Chairman, President George H.W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisors Isabel Sawhill, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution Tom Campbell, Visiting Professor of Economics and Law, Chapman University; Former Director of Finance, State of Calfornia; Former Member of the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress - Moderator We are inundated with facts and figures that support the argument that the U.S. government is headed toward fiscal crisis, yet we rarely read or hear a discussion of how such a crisis can be avoided. Experts with years of front-line experience in the fiscal jungle of Washington share their ideas on what steps should be taken now to place the nation on a sustainable course of fiscal responsibility. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 23, 2010 | 1 10 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Social Capital: Put Your Money Where Your Meaning Is | Social Capital: Put Your Money Where Your Meaning Is Melanie Cheng, Founder OmOrganics.org and FarmsReach.com David Hodgson, Co-founder, the Idea Hive; Fellow, the International Futures Forum Kevin Jones, Founder Good Capital; Convener, SOCAP Hope Neighbor, Founder and CEO, Hope Consulting Sean Stannard-Stockton, CEO, Tactical Philanthropy Advisors; Columnist, Chronicle of Philanthropy; Author, Tactical Philanthropy Blog Amy Benziger, Co-producer, SOCAP - Moderator More than 1,000 people from more than 35 countries are coming to San Francisco in October, intent on showing the world that there is a real market at the intersection of money and meaning. Experts in areas as diverse as mobile, food systems, philanthropy and international development will introduce and explain the growing social enterprise investment movement. Join us for an exciting and informative preview of the ideas and issues of SOCAP 2010 in conversation with the team leading the upcoming conference. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 17, 2010 | 30 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Rick Bayless – Chef-Restaurateur, Co-Founder of the Frontera Farmer Foundation w/ Joey Altman | Rick Bayless – Chef-Restaurateur, Co-Founder of the Frontera Farmer Foundation, and Author of “Fiesta at Rick’s – Fabulous Food, Luscious Libations, Great Times with Friends” Award winning Chef and TV Personality Bayless has spent the last 30 years putting his own delicious twist on gourmet Mexican cuisine. With successful restaurants around the country, he has cooked for everyone from Oprah Winfrey to President Obama. Bayless will share his unique culinary philosophy and highlight a few of his new 150 mouth-watering recipes from “Fiesta at Rick’s”. The season one winner of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters will also discuss why supporting local sustainable farms is so important to him. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 17, 2010 | 17 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-Janet A. Flammang, Author, The Taste for Civilization: Food, Politics, and Civil Society | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. The Taste for Civilization Janet A. Flammang, Professor and Chair of Political Science, Santa Clara University; Author, The Taste for Civilization: Food, Politics, and Civil Society The recent deterioration of family mealtime traditions raises questions about the concomitant lack of civility in America’s political and civil discourse. Are our dining rooms the fundamental education foundation of our civility? Could they be the source of our awareness of the importance of the common good and what it means to be a good citizen? Professor Flammang combines political theory, feminist analysis and cultural study to explore the familiar world of our dinnertime rituals and the civilizing function of food. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 31, 2010 | 15 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-The Women of Israel: A Remarkable Diversity | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Remembering Afghan Women The Women of Israel: A Remarkable Diversity Donna Rosenthal, Author; Journalist; Television Producer Rita Semel, Vice Chairwoman, SF Interfaith Council - Moderator Rosenthal will describe the ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of Israeli women – Christians, Jews, Muslims, Druze – who range from the radically modern to staunchly traditional. Some work in high tech, the government or the military, while others practice polygamous marriages, march in gay pride parades, or support the religious fervor of their husbands. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on August 27, 2010 | 15 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-Achieving Success with the Help of a Mentor: Women Advising Women on Power, Progress and Priorities | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Remembering Afghan Women Achieving Success with the Help of a Mentor: Women Advising Women on Power, Progress and Priorities Mary Stutts, Author, The Missing Mentor; Senior Vice President, Elan Corporation Evelyn Dilsaver, Former President and CEO, Charles Schwab Investment Management Mary Cranston, Senior Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; Immediate Past Chair and CEO of the Firm What is my next career move? How can I achieve balance between career and family? How can a mentor help? This expert panel of powerful women will help answer these questions, based on their own experience and successful business careers, and they will explore top tips and major pitfalls to avoid. Stutts and fellow panelists will discuss how to increase your confidence, create a life plan, maintain your well-being, and define and achieve your own success in life. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 30, 2010 | 15 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-Remembering Afghan Women | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Remembering Afghan Women Katherine Brown, Truman National Security Project Fellow; Former Communications and Public Events Advisor, U.S. Embassy Kabul; NGO Worker; Former White House Staffer Olga Oliker, Senior International Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation Following the overthrow of the misogynistic Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the situation for women seemed to enter a promising era. A Ministry of Women was established, and a new constitution guaranteed women 25 percent representation in the legislature. But progress has been stymied in Afghanistan. More than 80 percent of Afghan women are illiterate and many remain victims of violence. Brown and Oliker will address the key challenges that hamper progress in Afghanistan and discuss how women are working to create possible solutions This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 23, 2010 | 13 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Kate Kendell Now occurring on August 26 Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) The NCLR’s precedent-setting case victories have literally re-written the law, changing the legal landscape for LGBT individuals and families. Kendall stands at center stage in our nation’s discussion of civil rights and social justice. Topics explored will include the role of women in securing economic parity, marriage equality and parenting rights. Kendall will also share her views on domestic and international issues such as female circumcision, homophobia and bullying in our nation’s schools. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 26, 2010 | 13 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-Jackie Speier-What Is a Woman Worth? | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. What Is a Woman Worth? Jackie Speier, Member of Congress, (D-CA) Jan Yanehiro, Director of Multimedia Communications, Academy of Art University; Broadcast Journalist - Moderator With more than 20 years in national, state and local political work, Speier has set precedents for women and what they are worth in creating state and national politics and policies. Currently, her work includes three pivotal congressional committees: Finance Services, Oversight and Government, and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Join in this important discussion about the power of women's voices and actions during the unprecedented storm of turmoil, change, energy crisis, money and job uncertainty in the second decade of the 21st century. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 24, 2010 | 13 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Aneesh Chopra-Innovation and Technology in Health Care | Innovation and Technology in Health Care Aneesh Chopra, United States Chief Technology Officer Thomas Nesbitt, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Technologies and Alliances, UC Davis School of Medicine - Moderator Chopra, assistant to the president and the nation's first-ever chief technology officer, has made it a priority to advance America's health-care reform goals through the use of technology and innovation for one of the administration's top priorities. He will discuss using technology, such as telemedicine and mobile health, to drive new care models for disease management, independent living and appropriate virtual care for people in their own homes. With millions of Americans about to apply for health insurance for the first time, Chopra is leading the effort to make enrollment as easy as using the Internet to pay bills or file income taxes. He will also discuss how policies, standards and harnessing the potential of technology, data and innovation can transform the nation's health-care system and improve the lives of everyday Americans. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 18, 2010 | 10 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-Midori in Conversation with Ruth Felt | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Midori in Conversation with Ruth Felt Midori, Violinist Ruth Felt, President, San Francisco Performances Renowned violinist Midori has captured the world’s heart with her brilliant performances. Her repertory and career has established a record of achievement that sets her apart as a master musician, an innovator and a champion of the developmental potential of children. In this conversation with her long-time presenter, San Francisco Performances President Felt, Midori also will reflect on her community engagement programs that bring music closer to the lives of people who may not otherwise have involvement with the arts. She will also speak about her role as a United Nations messenger of peace. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 20, 2010 | 7 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-Spin It Green: The Story of Marissa Muller | Spin It Green: The Story of Marissa Muller Marissa Muller, Solar-Powered Bicycle Pioneer After graduating from business school in Spain, Muller returned home to California and worked with her family in building her vision: a solar powered electric bike. During her 1,000-mile solo adventure on the roads of California, she visited 14 high schools, offering a seminar on solar and electric vehicles, and sparking a dialogue with the students to start brainstorming ways to combat our energy and environmental challenges. Though the ride is over, her goal of reaching 1,000 clean ideas is ongoing. Meet this amazing young woman and hear her message of clean power. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 19, 2010 | 7 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ascent of Woman Series-Women Changing the Way We Eat | Women Changing the Way We Eat Temra Costa, Author, Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat Nina Simons, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Bioneers, Collective Heritage Institution Jesse Ziff Cool, Restaurateur; Cookbook Author, Simply Organic Kira Gould, Co-author, Women in Green; Director of Communication, William McDonough & Partners - Moderator Women (including First Lady Michelle Obama) are using their unique leadership skills to play a critical role in the sustainable food movement. Come learn how women are working diligently and effectively to change the way Americans eat and farm. From bringing organic fruits and veggies into schools to ensuring that farm workers are treated fairly to pioneering new methods of sustainable farming, women are fighting to ensure that we and the planet thrive well into the future. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on August 16, 2010 | 7 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Senator Barbara Boxer-Member, United States Senate (D-CA) | Senator Barbara Boxer Member, United States Senate (D-CA) Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992, Senator Boxer is now preparing for a tough race against Republican challenger Carly Fiorina. Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Ethics Committee, Boxer is the only U.S. senator to chair two committees. She also serves on the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation as well as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Boxer was a strong supporter of President Obama’s 2009 economic stimulus plan and co-authored the bipartisan Invest in the U.S.A. Act, to encourage companies to bring overseas profits back to the United States to create jobs here. She wrote the first-ever law to authorize federal funding for afterschool programs. Come hear her thoughts on jobs, the economy and California’s future. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 31, 2010 | 7 9 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ascent of Woman Series-Rosalynn Carter: Ending the Mental Health Crisis | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Rosalynn Carter: Ending the Mental Health Crisis Former First Lady; Author Former First Lady Carter is an icon and an advocate for mental health, early childhood immunization, human rights and conflict resolution through her work at The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter will discuss her decades working in the mental health field. Following the program, she will also sign copies of her new book, Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 13, 2010 | 31 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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David Gergen: Will America Remain a Great Nation? | David Gergen: Will America Remain a Great Nation? Senior Political Analyst, CNN; Director, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School Environmental catastrophe, economic uncertainty, international strife – where’s America headed as it faces down these and other challenges? Hear an insider’s view from the man with a front-row seat to history-making headlines. Gergen is a senior political analyst for CNN and has served as an adviser to four U.S. presidents. A professor of public service and the director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, Gergen got his start in public life as a speech writer in the Nixon White House. He went on to serve in the communications department for Gerald Ford and director of communications for Ronald Reagan, and as an adviser to Bill Clinton and to the 1980 George H.W. Bush presidential campaign. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 28, 2010 | 20 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ascent of Woman Series-Yves Saint Laurent: Creating Power in Style for the Modern Woman | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Yves Saint Laurent: Creating Power in Style for the Modern Woman Julia Geist, Docent Lecturer, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco In the 1960s, master couturier and fashion pioneer Saint Laurent radically changed the way women dressed. His pantsuits and tuxedos – traditional symbols of male power – conveyed elegance and chic. This illustrated lecture is a retrospective of his imaginative and sexy designs through 40 years. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 4, 2010 | 19 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ascent of Woman Series-A Life in Science: Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. A Life in Science: Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn in conversation with UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D., Nobel Laureate, Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF Susan Desmond-Hellmann, M.D., M.P.H., UCSF Chancellor; Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Distinguished Professor On October 5, 2009, UCSF molecular biologist Blackburn learned that she had received the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, for her co-discovery of an enzyme that plays a key role in aging and cancer. Join us as Blackburn discusses her life in science. We encourage both scientists and non-scientists to come hear Blackburn's reflections on an unfettered childhood, skirting the "safe" scientific projects, the benefits of not listening to naysayers, and the difference between good and bad stress. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 4, 2010 | 19 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ascent of Woman Series-Girls Gotta Do Business: The Rising Force of Women Entrepreneurs | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Girls Gotta Do Business: The Rising Force of Women Entrepreneurs Alison Covarrubias, Co-founder, The Hatch Network, SF Baat Enosh, Entrepreneur Alliance Program Director, NCWIT; VP of Operations, Women 2.0 Ayesha Mathews-Wadhwa, Director, Savor the Success, SF Bay Area Julie Abrams, CEO, Women's Initiative for Self Employment Cathy Curtis, Financial Advisor, Curtis Financial Planning – Moderator The exponential growth of women-owned businesses has been in the news for well over 20 years. More than a quarter of a million women in the U.S. own businesses with revenue exceeding $1 million. Demographics have played a role: female empty nesters, corporate escapees and the newly laid off are flexing their entrepreneurial muscle. However, there are some studies that indicate that women-owned businesses on average generate less revenue than businesses owned by men. Panelists will explore this issue and more, and give insight on how women entrepreneurs can get to the next level of success. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 3, 2010 | 19 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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David Boies: Challenging Law and Making History: Overturning CA’s Prop 8 Gay Marriage Ban | David Boies: Challenging Law and Making History Attorney; Chairman, Boies, Schiller and Flexner LLP Pamela S. Karlan, Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law, Stanford University; Co-director, Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Stanford University - Moderator Challenging Law and Making History: Overturning CA’s Prop 8 Gay Marriage Ban. Boies has been deeply involved in some of the most prominent legal disputes of the past two decades. From serving as special counsel to the Justice Department in the United States v. Microsoft trial to representing Vice President Al Gore in the Bush v. Gore case following the 2000 presidential election, Boies' legal experience is extensive and varied. Together, Boies and former Solicitor General Theodore Olson have successfully overturned California's Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage. The judge’s ruling on the case happened just one day before this program was recorded. In a recent interview with Salon.com, Boies asserted that overturning this legislation will "improve the lives of gay and lesbian couples...it will not in any way harm heterosexual marriage." In 2010, Boies was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. Boies provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Prop. 8 case, and provide insight into what it takes to challenge the status quo and make legal history. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 5, 2010 | 13 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ascent of Woman Series-The Origins of the Education of Women | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. The Origins of the Education of Women Patricia Lundberg, Professor Emerita of English Language and Literature and Women’s Studies, Indiana University Northwest Monday Night Philosophy peers back in history, where not that many men were educated, and almost no women. How was that stifling cultural ideal challenged and changed, so that the ascent of woman could get started? The history of breaking this taboo, and who did it, is bound to surprise you. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 2, 2010 | 12 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ascent of Woman Series-Population Aging as a Feminist Issue | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Population Aging as a Feminist Issue Adele M. Hayutin, Senior Research Scholar and Director of the Global Aging Program, Stanford Center on Longevity Older women face particular challenges due to gender differences in life expectancy, labor force participation and income levels. Hayutin will provide a global demographic framework for understanding historical changes in the status of women as well as future challenges and opportunities that older women face. She will highlight women’s living arrangements, care-giving responsibilities and potential social isolation. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 2, 2010 | 12 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ascent of Woman Series-Outliers and Outperformers: Women in Fund Management | The evolving status of women in the world today will be explored at The Commonwealth Club throughout the month of August in the series The Ascent of Woman. Through speakers, panels, films and art, we will examine this transformational period in women's history, this dramatic shift from the expectation of our mothers' choices, to how we work and live today in ways that reach out through our families and communities to reverberate throughout the nation. The Ascent of Woman series will illuminate women's lives today, where women are redefining what a 'woman's place' will be. Outliers and Outperformers: Women in Fund Management Mellody Hobson, President, Ariel Investments Ivka Kalus-Bysticky, Portfolio Manager,The Pax World International Fund Luz Padilla, Head of Emerging Markets Fixed Income, Doubleline Mary Ellen Stanek, Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer, Robert W. Baird & Co. Cathy Curtis, Investment Advisor, Curtis Financial Planning - Moderator The position of portfolio manager occupies the apex of the career hierarchy in the world of investment management. Yet the gender gap remains inordinately wide in this industry. Though women own half of the investment wealth in the U.S., one recent study found that only 10 percent of mutual fund managers and 3 percent of hedge fund managers are women. What barriers confront female analysts and traders who aspire to take their place at the helm of professionally managed portfolios? And how did those exceptional women who have joined this elite circle achieve their breakthrough success? What are their lives like – inside and outside of work? How can more women join the small but distinguished ranks of female money managers? Our panelists will explore these issues and more. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 30, 2010 | 12 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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California's Economic Future: Staying Competitive in a Flat World | Part of The Chevron California Innovation Series Laura Tyson, Economist; Member, President Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board; Chair, Council of Economic Advisors for President Clinton; Professor and Former Dean, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley Paul Saffo, Managing Director, Discern Analytics; Visiting Scholar, Stanford Media-X Research Network Nancy Pfund, Managing Partner, DBL Investors Robert Klein, J.D., Chairman, Governing Board of California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Robert Hertzberg, Former Speaker, California State Assembly; Partner, Mayer Brown LLP; Environmental Entrepreneur Sydnie Kohara, News Anchor, CBS 5 Television - Moderator How can California remain economically competitive with the eager, talented and educated middle classes emerging in China, India and elsewhere? How can the California Dream be prevented from turning into a California Nightmare? Gold drove the first economic boom, and information technology fostered California’s most recent revolution of jobs and growth. What will be next? As the world becomes flat, globalization presents challenges. Will Californians innovate their way out? Prominent Californians (including a world-renowned economist, urban analyst and business innovators) discuss the issues challenging the state's business environment and provide insight into what must be done to ensure economic success. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 13, 2010 | 6 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Tony Hsieh-Author, Delivering Happiness; CEO, Zappos | Tony Hsieh Author, Delivering Happiness; CEO, Zappos In conversation with Geoffrey Fowler, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal Meet the man who built a business based on happiness. Hsieh co-founded LinkExchange and sold it to Microsoft for $265M in 1998. He then took Zappos from $1.6M in 2000 to more than $1 billion in 2008. Contrary to the take-no-prisoners persona one might presume would be required to rake in such revenues, Hsieh has made his mark by focusing his business model, ironically enough, on happiness. Hsieh now brings you his secret recipe for Zappos success. How does a company go from $1.6M to more than a billion dollars on happiness? And how did Hsieh make Zappos one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For”? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on June 17, 2010 | 4 8 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Richard Dreyfuss-Academy Award-Winning Actor; Founder, The Dreyfuss Initiative | Richard Dreyfuss Academy Award-Winning Actor; Founder, The Dreyfuss Initiative Recognized for his roles in Jaws, American Graffiti, and Mr. Holland's Opus, Richard Dreyfuss has issued a call to action in our classrooms. Dreyfuss believes civic education is the foundation of public education; yet over the years, it has become more about memorizing facts and dates than understanding context and history. By incorporating logic, history, and critical thinking with a national standard, Dreyfuss hopes to inspire a new way of teaching and preparing America's youth. Learn more about his bold national initiative to enhance civic education in today's classrooms. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's office in San Jose on July 19, 2010 | 30 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Why Muslim Women Must Re-interpret the Quran | Why Muslim Women Must Re-interpret the Quran Nimat Hafez Barazangi, Ph.D., Islamic and Arabic Studies, Cornell University; Author, Woman's Identity and the Quran Laura Sydell, Correspondent, National Public Radio - Moderator Barazangi posits that it’s time for Muslim women to have a peaceful, silent revolution, firmly grounded in the Quran. Barazangi is a researcher for feminist, gender and sexuality studies at Cornell and has worked to improve attitudes and conditions for women in Islam. Hear from this dedicated educator, who helped draft the Iraqi constitution. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 19, 2010 | 29 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Investigating Cults | Investigating Cults David Sullivan, Professional Cult Investigator Learn about cults from a man who’s seen them from the inside. Professional investigator Sullivan describes the process of identifying and investigating cults, providing an overview of how cults recruit, convert and maintain control of their members through a variety of psychologically coercive techniques. A licensed private investigator for more than 19 years, Sullivan has worked in collaboration with leading authorities in the area of undue influence. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on July 19, 2010 | 29 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Madeleine Albright and George Shultz: A Conversation About War and Peacebuilding | Madeleine Albright and George Shultz: A Conversation About War and Peacebuilding Former Secretaries of State Marvin Kalb, Former CBS/NBC News Correspondent; Edward R. Murrow Professor Emeritus, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government – Moderator At the halfway point between 2010 and 2011, the United States is facing numerous challenges, as well as opportunities. Two wars are still raging in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Middle East peace process has stalled. Concerns about global terrorism, nuclear proliferation and climate change dominate the headlines, all against the backdrop of financial instabilities in many realms, including our own. Yet the promise of new technologies, the information revolution and engaged citizens hold out hopes for innovation and problem-solving. What should be the major priorities for the U.S. in the second half of 2010? Is it possible to create the political will for positive change? Albright and Shultz address the challenges. This program was recorded in front of a live audience by The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 14, 2010 | 23 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Thomas Frieden M.D., M.Ph., Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Haile T. Debas, Executive Director, UCSF Global Health Sciences; chancellor emeritus, ucsf; Dean Emeritus, UCSF School of Medicine - Moderator As director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Frieden works to control communicable and noncommunicable diseases in the United States and around the world. He led the nation’s response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Most recently, his efforts have focused upon protecting the nation’s water supply against high levels of lead as well as raising awareness to the dangers of tobacco – the single largest preventable cause of death, killing 443,000 Americans every year and costing $193 billion in annual direct medical costs. As head of the CDC, Frieden has called for urgent action to be taken against abuse of prescription painkillers, which have caused a 111-percent increase in emergency room treatment and is threatening America’s public health system. Come hear about the next potential pandemic and how we are combating future outbreaks. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 22, 2010 | 23 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Van Jones: Inforum’s 21st Century Visionary Award | Van Jones: Inforum’s 21st Century Visionary Award Founder, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; Former Advisor to President Obama Jones broke new ground with his proposal for a green-collar economy, stating that “the time has come to move beyond eco-elitism to eco-populism.” He fights for environmental justice and to create an economy that is both sustainable and that lifts up the poorest communities through green-collar jobs. Jones describes how the third wave of environmentalism – the investment wave – could solve inequality and catastrophe with a “Green New Deal” mindset. We award Van Jones a 21st Century Visionary Award for guiding our nation to ecological equality. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club on June 29, 2010 | 16 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Guns in Public: Exploring California's Open Carry Policy | Guns in Public: Exploring California's Open Carry Policy Lori Saldana, California State Assembly Member; Author AB1934 Karen Arntzen, California Chapter Services Coordinator, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence Yih-Chau Chang, Press Secretary, Responsible Citizens of California Adnan Shahab, Republican candidate for State Assembly; Open carry advocate Josh Richman, Politics and Legal Affairs Reporter, Oakland Tribune and Bay Area News Group - Moderator Open carry policies around the country are being ardently tested and fiercely debated. Contra Costa County has become a hotbed for this controversy, hosting some of the most active open carry movements locally. Open carry groups have been congregating at different locations to demonstrate their right to carry unloaded, unconcealed fire arms in public. Others have come out en masse to protest this right. There is now even a proposed bill, AB 1934, that would make it a misdemeanor to openly carry an unloaded handgun in specified public areas. As the state struggles with what’s right – constitutionally and morally – we take a close look at this controversy from different sides. This program was recorded live by the Commonwealth Club in Lafayette California on June 17, 2010 | 9 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Conchy Bretos-CEO, MIA Consulting; Ashoka Fellow | Conchy Bretos CEO, MIA Consulting; Ashoka Fellow In 1993 Bretos was appointed Florida secretary for aging and adult services, a position that allowed her to see the thousands of low-income elders and disabled adults who were not getting the services they needed to stay in their homes. Bretos became the driving force behind the nation’s first public housing project to bring assisted living services to older adults who just need a little help to stay in their homes. Now she runs a consulting company that has helped 40 public housing projects nationwide bring assisted living services to their residents. This program is part of The Club's Social Entrepreneurship Series, recorded live at The Commonwealth Club on June 22, 2010 | 9 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Funding The Transportation System of The Future | Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Ph.D., Director, Mineta Transportation Institute National Transportation Finance Center William Millar, President, American Public Transportation Association John Horsley, Executive Director, Association of American State Highway and Transportation Officials Alan Lowenthal, California State Senator Norman Mineta, U.S. Secretary of Transportation (Ret.); Former U.S.Congressman - Moderator Within the next two decades, the Census Bureau estimates that the U.S. population will increase by as many as 50 million people, including at least a 25-percent increase in California’s population alone. This population growth, combined with a growing backlog of overdue maintenance work on roads and transit systems, creates a need for significantly expanded transportation revenues. However, the current political climate is generally unfavorable to tax increases. Given these political realities, what new or expanded revenue sources could be generated for transportation? In particular, what options will be politically feasible in the short and medium term? Our panel of transportation experts, representing viewpoints from the national and state level, will discuss possible revenue options and their likely reception from the public and legislators. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on June 25, 2010 | 7 7 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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What's Next? The Future of the Financial Services Industry | What's Next? The Future of the Financial Services Industry John Stumpf, Chairman, President and CEO, Wells Fargo Hear from the man at the helm of one of banking’s biggest powerhouses at a time of industry uncertainty. Stumpf became chairman of Wells Fargo & Company in January. He was named CEO in June 2007, elected to Wells Fargo's board of directors in June 2006, and has been president since August 2005. A 27-year veteran of Wells Fargo, Stumpf will provide insight into where financial services are headed in the short and long term, and what you need to know to protect yourself and stay informed. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 16, 2010 | 25 6 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Nuclear Tipping Point. William Perry, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense | The Nuclear Tipping Point William Perry, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Perry will discuss how we must reframe the global debate to eliminate nuclear weapons and keep them out of the hands of terrorists. Perry will provide an overview and further thoughts on changes in the U.S. nuclear doctrine and the new START treaty. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in the Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley office in San Jose on June 9, 2010 | 18 6 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Make It: How to DIY | Make It: How to DIY Mark Frauenfelder, Editor, Make Magazine Dale Dougherty, Publisher, Make Magazine; Co-founder, O'Reilly Media In conversation with Adam Savage, Host, “Mythbusters” You know that guy or girl who can make or fix anything? Yes, the same MacGyver wannabe who repairs a flat tire with an empty water bottle and a pen. You can now compete with these handy heroes. Especially now, in times of financial hardship, people want to fix and create useful and awesome gadgets from scratch. Make Magazine leads this “yes I can” attitude with tips for new self-sufficiency. From fixing your cracked iPhone screen to make-shifting an aerial camera rig from Popsicle sticks, a drugstore kite and Play-Doh, Make has it all. Find out where technophile and editor-in-chief Frauenfelder plans to lead this DIY movement. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on June 14, 2010 | 18 6 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Turning over a New LEAF: The Start of an Electric Vehicle Revolution? | Turning over a New LEAF: The Start of an Electric Vehicle Revolution? Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director, Chevy Volt, General Motors Mark Duvall, Director of Electric Transportation, Electric Power Research Institute Jit Bhattacharya, CEO, Mission Motors Richard Lowenthal, CEO, Coulomb Technologies Inc. Kerry Curtis, Chair, The Commonwealth Club’s Environment & Natural Resources Member-Led Forum; Member, The Commonwealth Club's Board of Governors - Moderator As legislation compels manufacturers to innovate with cleaner vehicles, the world’s need for mobility is increasing. How can we meet that combined challenge? Hybrid and natural gas vehicles have been accepted and proven viable. But what about electric vehicles? Can they address their shortcomings while improving on their advantages? Our panel of experts will discuss the environmental, engineering, market acceptance and other issues regarding electric cars possibly becoming the vehicle of the future. This program was recorded at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on May 18, 2010 | 11 6 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Sebastian Junger-Filmmaker; Author, War and The Perfect Storm | Sebastian Junger Filmmaker; Author, War and The Perfect Storm The author who brought us The Perfect Storm, Junger explores the harsh realities of soldiers dealing with war and combat. For 15 months, Junger followed a single platoon through its tour of duty in Afghanistan’s dangerous Korengal Valley. Through the harrowing experiences of the young men he joined, Junger examines the physical and mental strength needed to fight, serve and survive on a daily basis. This experience also led to his documentary Restrepo. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 25, 2010 | 8 6 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Michael Moss: 2010 Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist’s Look Inside the Food Industry | Michael Moss: 2010 Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist’s Look Inside the Food Industry Reporter, The New York Times Sarah Varney, KQED Reporter, "The California Report" and "Health Dialogues" - Moderator Pulitzer Prize winning Times reporter Moss will share his insights gained while uncovering some of the food industry’s best kept secrets. Moss just won the Pulitzer Prize for his investigation of lapses in food safety surrounding contaminated hamburger meat. Moss traced the sordid history of one hamburger that left a 22-year-old woman paralyzed from E. Coli. The day after Moss’ article ran in The New York Times, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak launched a review of all department meat safety practices. Moss was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for his work on the lack of protective armor for soldiers and Marines in Iraq. Moss will discuss his work to uncover hamburger and other food-safety issues, as well as other nutrition-related issues, from the White House’s war on obesity to an exploration of salt, sugar and fat in processed foods. Moss will also comment on the financial future of investigative reporting in a world of cash-strapped newspapers. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 20, 2010 | 4 6 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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100 and Loving It! The Road Map to Aging Well | 100 and Loving It! The Road Map to Aging Well Walter M. Bortz II, M.D. Sure, you can’t live forever, but renowned doctor and aging expert Bortz contends that we can live far longer – and happier – than most people can even dream of. Recognized as one of America’s most distinguished scientific experts on aging and longevity, Bortz is past co-chairman of the American Medical Association’s Task Force on Aging, former president of The American Geriatric Society and is currently chairman of the Medical Advisory Board for the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation and a clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. He will talk about the breakthrough science that is being done on aging and give you his road map to living a long, healthy and happy life. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 20, 2010 | 2 6 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Muhammad Yunus: 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner; Founder, Grameen Bank | Muhammad Yunus 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner; Founder, Grameen Bank; Author, Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism that Serves Humanity’s Most Pressing Needs Microcredit pioneer and Grameen Bank founder Yunus shows how he believes the social business model can harness the entrepreneurial spirit to address poverty, hunger and disease. Yunus shows how social business has gone from being a theory to an inspiring practice, adopted by leading corporations including BASF, Intel, Danone, Veolia and Adidas, as well as entrepreneurs and social activists worldwide. He demonstrates how social business transforms lives; offers practical guidance for those who want to create social businesses of their own; explains that public and corporate policies must adapt to make room for the social business model; and claims that social business holds the potential to redeem the failed promise of free-market enterprise. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club on May 24, 2010 | 27 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Evan Thomas: America, War and Empire | Evan Thomas: America, War and Empire Editor, Newsweek; Author, The War Lovers Thomas’s work in journalism has won him praise from all quarters. He explores our nation’s idiosyncratic urge to invade via the context of the Spanish-American War. He will present his take on America’s mindset for war, drawing links between the likes of hawkish Teddy Roosevelt and William Randolph Hearst and our current leaders. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 10, 2010 | 26 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Scott Turow: Writing Innocent | Scott Turow: Writing Innocent Author, Innocent, Presumed Innocent, The Burden of Proof Writer and attorney Turow has authored seven best-selling novels and taken the literary world by storm. His latest, Innocent, is the sequel to his 1987 best-seller Presumed Innocent. Join us at The Club for an inside look from Turow himself on writing Innocent, a reflection on American criminal law as much as it is an explosive crime drama. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 6, 2010 | 21 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Urban Farming Movement | The Urban Farming Movement Jason Mark, Co-manager, Alemany Farm; Editor-in-Chief, Earth Island Journal Novella Carpenter, Founder, Ghost Town Farm; Author, Farm City Christopher Burley, Founder, Hayes Valley Farm David Gavrich, Founder, City Grazing Sarah Rich, Writer; Editor; Co-founder, The Foodprint Project; Co-author, Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century - Moderator Enterprising city dwellers are bursting from their pre-packaged lives and taking back their choices for consumption. Urban farms foster community and healthy eating beneath towering city blocks, where fast and easy often supersede fresh and home-grown. Like SF’s own Alemany Farm and Hayes Valley Farm, these urban crop spaces allow neighbors to trade their Swingline staplers for pitchforks and break new ground. Fresh, organic veggies are grown and sold, and the locavore food economy is epitomized. What’s the appeal of throwing away the chain grocery store for the neighborhood till? Come hear from local leaders of the movement like Novella Carpenter, founder of Oakland’s Ghost Town Farm, and trailblazing San Franciscans Jason Mark, of Alemany Farm, Christopher Burley, founder of Hayes Valley Farm, and David Gavrich, "goat whisperer" and founder of City Grazing. They’ll discuss the urban farming movement's place in the world of organic, local-grown culture, and how they’re bringing the farm to the city - goats included! This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 12, 2010 | 20 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Steven L. Pease: Jewish Achievement | Steven L. Pease: Jewish Achievement Author, The Golden Age of Jewish Achievement Stephen M. Dobbs, Ph.D., Consultant in Philanthropy - Moderator Though the Jewish people only represent 2 percent of the United States' population, they comprise 36 percent of the world's Nobel Prize recipients in economics, 51 percent of Pulitzer Prizes for nonfiction, 21 percent of Ivy League university enrollment and 37 percent of Academy Award-winning directors. Pease, raised a Presbyterian, asks why Jews are disproportionately high achievers and attempts to answer these questions through hundreds of fascinating case studies, ultimately making the case for the important role Jewish culture has played in this high-achieving result. Pease will discuss what drew him to investigate this topic, as well as the significance of the Jewish emphasis on literacy and education in creating this legacy of achievement. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 13, 2010 | 20 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Willie Brown: 2010 Lecture on Political Trends | Willie Brown: 2010 Lecture on Political Trends Former Mayor of SF Two-term mayor of San Francisco, speaker of the California State Assembly, and widely regarded as among the most influential African-American politicians of the late 20th century, Brown has played a key role in California government for the better part of four decades. He heads the Willie L. Brown Jr. Institute on Politics and Public Service, where he shares his knowledge and experience with new generations of the state’s leaders. Join him for a sweeping look at the state of politics. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on May 11, 2010 | 14 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Victor Davis Hanson: War and Its Impact on Society | Victor Davis Hanson, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Author, The Father of Us All Hanson is here to tell us how war has created the world as we know it – and how war will frequently change to suit our needs. He explores our conflicts from the terrorist bombings of September 11 and Iran to ancient Athens and the U.S. Civil War. Hear this decorated author describe a fundamental component of human history in an enlightening evening. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on May 3, 2010 | 14 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Why “Y” Matters: The Male Brain. Dr. Louann Brizendine, Author of The Female Brain and The Male Brain | Why “Y” Matters: The Male Brain Louann Brizendine, M.D.; Women's Mood and Hormone Clinic, UCSF; Author, The Female Brain and The Male Brain For all those times you’ve wondered “Why?,” Brizendine has the answers. A neuropsychiatrist, Brizendine has studied why our brains lead us to act and react the way we do. Founder of the Women’s Mood and Hormone Clinic, Brizendine first focused on the female brain, studying the neurology behind the emotions and actions of women, and coming to conclusions that helped answer many of those “why” questions that females kept asking her. Now she has answers for the other half. Brizendine explores the male brain, showing how, through every phase of life, the "male reality" is fundamentally different from the female one. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 22, 2010 | 10 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Yes Men | The Yes Men Andy Bichlbaum, Leading Member, the Yes Men Joe Garofoli, Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle – Moderator Bichlbaum and his partner, Mike Bonanno, pose as top-notch representatives for large corporations and nations…yes, nations. At the Copenhagen Climate Conference last December, the Yes Men delivered a faux press release claiming Canada was reversing its position on climate change. And how can one forget the jaw-dropping statements made by “spokesperson for Dow Chemical” accepting full responsibility for the Bhopal disaster on worldwide news station BBC? Needless to say, they have a knack for striking chords of condemnation and admiration, stimulating polar perspectives simultaneously. Their latest documentary, The Yes Men Fix the World, has been hailed as “a riotous reminder that patriotism is often misconstrued as troublemaking.” Get a load of the Yes Men. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on April 27, 2010 | 10 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Rise of the Graphic Novel | Rise of the Graphic Novel Gene Yang, Creator, American Born Chinese Andy Hartzell, Creator, Fox Bunny Funny Lark Pien, Creator, Long Tail Kitty; Colorist, American Born Chinese Dash Shaw, Creator, Body World and Bottomless Belly Button Summerlea Kashar, Acting Director, Cartoon Art Museum The popularity of graphic novels is exploding. For many years, these comics were not taken seriously by readers or critics; however, with the recognition and success of works like Ghost World, Persepolis and American Born Chinese, graphic novels have surged to a widely respected status in the literary and art landscape. How did this happen? Are we as a society simply tired of reading huge, verbose novels? Or does this shift illustrate a new appreciation of the synthesis between visual art and literature? Leaders of the form talk about these issues and more. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on April 26, 2010 | 10 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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John Hope Bryant: Recession or Reset? The Way Forward | John Hope Bryant: Recession or Reset? The Way Forward John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE; Vice Chair, U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy; Author, Love Leadership Don J. McGrath, Chairman and CEO (retired), Bancwest Corporation - Moderator As a 26-year-old upstart at a thriving local business firm, Bryant realized his life’s mission as he witnessed the Los Angeles riots. Since then, his speeches have inspired many people and his personal philosophy aims to help everyone become a better leader, using love and respect. Bryant, the founder and CEO of Operation HOPE, a nonprofit organization that aims to eliminate poverty through its ‘Silver Rights Movement,’ has shown how leaders can make lasting positive change. In fact, Bryant has raised more than $500 million for these causes. Through a business perspective, Bryant will explain how to lead in today’s economy by combating a fear-based world and focusing on giving. He will demonstrate his five secrets to personal success by helping others. This program recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 5, 2010. | 3 5 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jerry Weintraub: The Legendary Producer and Hollywood Deal Maker Tells All | Jerry Weintraub: The Legendary Producer and Hollywood Deal Maker Tells All Author, When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man In conversation with Mary Bitterman, Chair, The Commonwealth Club’s Board of Governors; President, The Bernard Osher Foundation The producer of films from Oh God, The Karate Kid and Nashville to the recent Oceans Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen discusses his friendships with George Clooney, George H.W. Bush, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and other famed politicians, stars and confidants. Weintraub is a self-made, Brooklyn-born, Bronx-raised impresario, Hollywood producer and legendary deal maker. Don’t miss this opportunity to go beyond the glitz and glamour to get the real dirt on what goes on inside Hollywood, and Weintraub’s role at the heart of it all. | 23 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: Self-Publishing (Program 2) - The Nuts and Bolts of Making Books | Self-Publishing – The Nuts and Bolts of Making Books Lee Foster, Owner, Foster Travel Publishing; Author, The Photographer’s Guide to San Francisco Joel Friedlander, Proprietor, Marin Bookworks; Blogger, TheBookDesigner.com V. Vale, Publisher, RE/Search Publications; Founder, Search and Destroy Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales – Moderator Book publishing is undergoing a sea change. Come and participate in our dynamic and interactive three-part series covering all aspects of self-publishing, taught by front-line experts who have done it themselves Ð and succeeded. What goes into making a book truly a book? What are the essentials of editing and page layout – and how can they make or break you? Learn from an insider panel of experts about the critical design and production of your book and the ins and outs of available formats, from traditional to e-books and apps. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 12, 2010. | 22 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: Self-Publishing (Program 1) - Tutorials from the Trenches | Self-Publishing: Tutorials from the Trenches Program 1 – Options, Directions and Resources Lisa Alpine, Publisher, Good to Go Media; Co-author, Self-Publishing Boot Camp Workbook Peter Beren, Literary Agent; Publishing Consultant; Author, The Writer’s Legal Companion Carla King, Publisher, Good to Go Media; Social Media Consultant; Author, Miss Adventuring Series Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales – Moderator Book publishing is undergoing a sea change. Come and participate in our dynamic and interactive three-part series covering all aspects of self-publishing, taught by front-line experts who have done it themselves Ð and succeeded. What does it take to publish a book, and how do you choose which route to follow? Discover your options – from traditional to cooperative to true self-publishing – with industry experts who’ve done it themselves. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 6, 2010 | 22 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: Self-Publishing (Program 3) - Book Sales and Marketing | Self-Publishing: Book Sales and Marketing Scott James, Columnist, The New York Times; Author (aka Kemble Scott), SoMa, The Sower Elizabeth Block, Author, A Gesture Through Time; Recipient, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation Fiction Fellowship Teresa LeYung Ryan, Author, Love Made of Heart, Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales Book publishing is undergoing a sea change. Come and participate in our dynamic and interactive three-part series covering all aspects of self-publishing, taught by front-line experts who have done it themselves Ð and succeeded. Bookstores are closing; newspaper book reviews are almost gone; and online options can be overwhelming. What’s an author or publisher to do? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 19, 2010. | 22 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Amy Goodman: in conversation with Angie Coiro | Amy Goodman, Host, “Democracy Now!”; Author, Breaking the Sound Barrier and Standing Up to the Madness Goodman has exposed human-rights violations in East Timor and Nigeria, has been arrested covering the Republican National Convention and was the first person to interview exiled Haitian President Aristide. “The role of reporters,” she says, “is to go to where the silence is and say something.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 10, 2010. | 21 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: Doing Business in China | Doing Business in China: For Better or Worse Dan Harris, International Lawyer; Author, China Law Blog David Gorodyansky, CEO and Co-founder, AnchorFree Inc. George Koo, Ph.D., Special Advisor, Deloitte China Services Group; Member, Committee of 100 Jeff Richards, Partner, GGV Capital Edith Yeung, Founder, BizTechDay Quentin Hardy, National Editor, Forbes - Moderator Google’s recent struggle with China over censorship has raised the possibility that China's regulatory regime may be too restrictive for the free operation of American technology companies. HBS's February review of the Google/China skirmish says that "the Google issue has become a cause celebre that exacerbates the already fragile and festering U.S.-China relationship." Is it worth it for American businesses to acquiesce to the Chinese government’s control and censorship requests in order to operate in China’s ever-growing market? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 6th, 2010. | 21 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Game Change: Mark Halperin and John Helleman | Game Change Mark Halperin: Editor-at-large and Senior Political Analyst, Time; Co-Author, Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime John Heilemann: National Political Correspondent & Columnist, New York magazine; Co-Author, Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime Phil Bronstein: Executive Vice President, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator Go behind the scenes of the historic 2008 election and learn more about the riveting book that even Stephen Colbert just can’t put down. Political journalists Halperin and Heilemann, discuss in extensive detail the momentous rise of Barack Obama, shocking fall of Hillary Clinton’s bid for the White House, and the national phenomenon around John McCain choosing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. From hundreds of interviews with people working inside the '08 campaigns, learn more about the Obama campaign machine, how McCain staffers truly felt about Sarah Palin, and how Hillary Clinton was wooed as secretary of state. Since its debut, Game Change has been one of the most talked about books of the year – skyrocketing to #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on March 13, 2010. | 19 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Nancy Pelosi: In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy | NANCY PELOSI In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club Don’t miss a rare opportunity to come face to face with the speaker of the House, as she addresses challenges facing the nation and world, including the economy, health care and Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. Hear the view from inside Washington in this frank and timely discussion. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 6, 2010. | 12 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Steve Poizner: California's Next Governor? | Poizner’s Play for Governor: Who Will Win Out? Steve Poizner, California Insurance Commissioner; Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Can Steve Poizner defeat Meg Whitman in the GOP gubernatorial primary? From Silicon Valley executive to East San Jose public school teacher, co-founder of the California Charter Schools Association to California Insurance Commissioner, Poizner's resume offers a much different Republican option for governor. Both GOP candidates made a lot of money as Silicon Valley executives, but Poizner is one of only two statewide elected Republicans. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on March 18, 2010. | 7 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: Keeping California’s Schools Competitive | Keeping California’s Schools Competitive: Can Today’s Students Become Tomorrow’s Leaders? Craig Barrett, Retired CEO/Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation Michael Kirst, Professor Emeritus of Education and Business Administration, Stanford University; Former President, California State Board of Education Wendy Kopp, Founder, Teach for America Moira Gunn, Host, NPR’s “Tech Nation” - Moderator With school budgets in crisis and critics decrying the quality of public education, what does this bode for the future of California? Can the state remain smart and competitive? Ultimately, will we have qualified leaders to carry forth the mantle of our cutting-edge technology as well as the other businesses necessary for economic success? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on March 31, 2010. | 5 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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James A. Baker III, Former U.S. Secretary of State. Ethical Imperative of America’s Involvement in the World | Ethical Imperative of America’s Involvement in the World James A. Baker III, Former U.S. Secretary of State The man who played a crucial role in crafting American policy over the last four decades returns to the spotlight for a candid discussion of the ethical concerns that must guide U.S. foreign policy. A Republican Party powerhouse player since the 1970s, James A. Baker III served at top levels of government, including stints as chief of staff in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush White Houses, and as President Reagan’s treasury secretary and George H.W. Bush’s secretary of state. Since leaving these roles he’s stayed active in politics, acting as advisor to President George W. Bush and being tapped for the co-chair position in the Iraq Study Group. Secretary Baker will draw on the lessons of his extraordinary career in a hard-hitting exploration of what the United States must do in order to develop an effective and secure foreign policy.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club on March 16, 2010 | 2 4 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage: Mythbusters | Jamie Hyneman, Co-host, “MythBusters” Adam Savage, Co-host, “MythBusters” In conversation with Kevin Kelly, Founding Executive Editor, Wired Are elephants truly scared of mice? Can trousers really spontaneously combust? Is it movie magic, or can a person actually hold on to the hood of a speeding car? Learn how urban legends and illusions are debunked. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on March 13, 2010 | 29 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Meg Whitman: From Running eBay to Running California | Meg Whitman: From Running eBay to Running California Can the woman who launched eBay to success help turn around California’s flailing economy? As former president and CEO of eBay, Whitman has a different idea about what California needs to return to its golden days. She sees her background in business as a gubernatorial asset, one that can help her lead California into the future just as she lead eBay. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club on February 16, 2010. | 25 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Inside NATO: Ambassadors Ivo Daalder, Stefano Stefanini, Per Poulsen-Hansen | Inside NATO: Ambassadors Ivo Daalder, Stefano Stefanini, Per Poulsen-Hansen In conversation with Commonwealth Club President and CEO Dr. Gloria Duffy Now including 28 countries of Western, Eastern and Southern Europe – as well as the United States – NATO has evolved to include roles as varied as fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, airlifting aid to Haiti after the recent earthquake, and ensuring collaboration among its members in combating terrorism. What else does NATO do today? How strong is this alliance? How is it measuring up to the new challenges of security we and our European allies face, from terrorism and cyberterrorism, climate change, the global economic rollercoaster, pandemics, natural disasters, and nuclear proliferation? What should an alliance of economically developed democracies be doing in the world today? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on February 25, 2010 | 18 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Governance in California: From Greatness to Gridlock in 50 Years | Governance in California: From Greatness to Gridlock in 50 Years William T. Bagley, Former California Assemblyman and UC Regent; Author, California’s Golden Years Tracing what he sees as the downfall of the art of governance, Bagley describes the causes and effects of gridlock in Sacramento. He’ll detail personal participatory knowledge of the creation of California’s golden era, before “political reform,” when non-ideological legislators produced what might be the state’s most significant gains in education, civil rights, infrastructure, environmental protection and more. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on March 8, 2010. | 17 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Joseph Stiglitz: Winner, 2001 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics; Author, Freefall | Joseph Stiglitz Winner, 2001 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics; Author, Freefall In conversation with Andrew Leonard, Senior Technology and Business Writer, Salon Stiglitz argues that America exported bad economics, bad policies and bad behavior to the rest of the world. Stiglitz outlines a way forward building on ideas that he has championed his entire career: restoring the balance between markets and government; addressing the inequalities of the global financial system; and demanding more good ideas (and less ideology) from economists. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on February 22, 2010. | 12 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Amartya Sen: The Search For Justice | Amartya Sen: The Search For Justice Nobel Laureate; Professor of Economics and Philosophy, Harvard University; Author, Reducing Injustice on Earth Nobel Laureate Sen has been called the "Mother Teresa of economics" for his work on famine, human development theory and welfare economics. He argues that social justice is more than a matter of intellectual discourse, and that the idea of justice influences how – and how well – people live. Sen offers a powerful critique of the mainstream theories of justice that, despite their many specific achievements, he argues, have taken us in the wrong direction. This program was recorded in front of live audience at the Commonwealth Club on February 25, 2010. | 10 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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International Criminal Court: How’s It Doing? Should the U.S. Join? | International Criminal Court: How’s It Doing? Should the U.S. Join? William H. Taft, IV, Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, Stanford Law School The International Criminal Court is almost 10 years old, but the Obama administration has yet to decide if the U.S. will join. Fear that it would be a politicized institution likely to prosecute American soldiers have not been realized, nor has it been effective in prosecuting persons responsible for war crimes. In recent years the U.S. has moderated its hostility to the court, but where do we go from here? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on February 24, 2010. | 8 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Garry Wills: The Extra-Constitutional Executive | Garry Wills: The Extra-Constitutional Executive Historian; Author, The Modern Presidency and the National Security State Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Wills argues that the atomic bomb paved the way for presidential authority that has “enfeebled” Congress and the courts, and that reached its apex with George W. Bush. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on February 11, 2010. | 4 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: Same-Sex Marriage - State vs. Fed | Same-Sex Marriage: State vs. Fed Molly McKay, Media Director, Marriage Equality USA Jennifer Morse, President and Founder, Ruth Institute at the National Organization for Marriage Therese Stewart, Chief Deputy City Attorney, San Francisco; Attorney for the plaintiffs in current court case challenging Prop. 8 Kevin Snider, Chief Counsel, Pacific Justice Institute Doug Sovern, Broadcast Journalist, "Sovern Nation" on KCBS; Three-time Winner, AP’s Reporter of the Year Award for California - Moderator Six years ago, the eyes of the nation were focused on San Francisco when Mayor Gavin Newsom granted almost 4,000 same-sex couples marriage licenses. But the battle was far from over. With the passage of Proposition 8 in 2008, only marriage between a man and a woman is recognized in California; this year, after numerous protests, lawsuits and campaigns, San Francisco’s Federal District Court will decide the constitutional validity of the law. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on February 17, 2010. | 1 3 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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John Yoo, Law Professor, UC Berkeley; Author, Crisis and Command | Crisis and Command: Presidential Power in the 21st Century John Yoo, Law Professor, UC Berkeley; Author, Crisis and Command Allen Weiner, Co-director, International Law Program, Stanford Law School - Moderator At the Department of Justice, Yoo played a large and controversial role in shaping the Bush administration’s policy in the war on terrorism, arguing that prisoner of war status under the Geneva Conventions does not apply to “enemy combatants.” He further asserted executive authority to undertake “enhanced interrogation techniques” regarded as torture by the current Justice Department. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 27, 2010. | 26 2 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Eve Ensler: I Am an Emotional Creature | Eve Ensler: I Am an Emotional Creature Eve Ensler, Author, I Am An Emotional Creature; Playwright, "The V****a Monologues" In conversation with Daniel Handler, "Lemony Snicket"; Author; Screenwriter; Accordionist Since creating her groundbreaking first work, "The V****a Monologues," Ensler and the performers she inspired have grown into nothing less than a global movement. A best-selling author, award-winning playwright and anti-violence activist, Ensler has been the voice for women and girls across the globe for over a decade. She will reveal the daily struggles faced by many modern women around the world. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on February 16, 2010. | 24 2 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Margaret Hamburg: Protecting Public Health through the FDA | Protecting Public Health: FDA’s Global Challenge Margaret Hamburg: M.D., Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration J. Michael Bishop, M.D., Professor and Director, G.W. Hooper Foundation, UCSF and Chancellor Emeritus UCSF - Moderator FDA chief Hamburg has been tasked with an extremely difficult job: ensuring the safety of everything we consume, in an increasingly globalized world with increasingly obscured accountability trails. With a background in medicine, science and public health, she is well-positioned to meet the myriad of challenges facing the FDA. As New York’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene commissioner, Hamburg improved services for women and children, instituted needle-exchange programs to reduce the spread of HIV (the AIDS virus), and created the first public health bio-terrorism defense program in the nation. Her most celebrated achievement, however, was curbing the spread of tuberculosis. Learn what she has planned to help keep the nation and its food and medicine supply safe. As New York’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene commissioner, Hamburg improved services for women and children, instituted needle-exchange programs to reduce the spread of HIV (the AIDS virus), and created the first public health bio-terrorism defense program in the nation. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 28, 2010. | 18 2 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Janice Mirikitani: The Journey of Recovery | And Yet, We Are Not Broken: The Journey of Recovery Janice Mirikitani, Co-founder/Founding President, Glide Foundation; San Francisco’s 2nd Poet Laureate Mirikitani speaks about recovery of her life from a childhood history of incest, abuse, violence and internment of her family in WWII camps. She has worked for 43 years in partnership with the Rev. Cecil Williams. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on February 8, 2010. | 17 2 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Eliot Spitzer: The Cataclysm of 2008-2009 | The Cataclysm of 2008-2009: Lessons Learned, or Lessons Ignored Eliot Spitzer, Former Governor and Attorney General, New York Mary Cranston, Senior Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; Immediate Past Chair, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator As the former attorney general and later governor of New York, Spitzer prosecuted some of the most notorious white-collar crime and securities fraud on Wall Street. He now questions whether we have what it takes to regulate and reform the banking industry. Does “too big to fail” mean too big? Without successful financial regulatory reform, are we just waiting for the next economic meltdown? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 26, 2010. | 11 2 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paul Linde: Danger to Self | Danger to Self: Life on the Front Line with an ER Psychiatrist Paul Linde, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCSF School of Medicine What happens behind closed doors in an urban psychiatric ER? What medical, psychiatric and social problems does a front line psychiatrist confront? Linde sheds light on this place, highlighting the history, politics, finance and ethics of society’s current involuntary commitment laws. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on February 9, 2010. | 11 2 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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David Walker: Comeback America | Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility David Walker, President, CEO, Peter G. Peterson Foundation; Former Comptroller General of the U.S.; Author, Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility One of America’s foremost independent financial experts, former comptroller general of the U.S. and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office from 1998-2008, Walker will discuss a range of compelling ideas, including how to control spending, save Social Security, dramatically alter our health-care system, reform our tax system and re-engineer the base of the federal government – all taking into account the Obama administration’s efforts to-date to do the same. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 25, 2010. | 4 2 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Michael Pollan: In Defense of Food | Silicon Valley Reads: In Defense of Food Michael Pollan, Author, The Ominvore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food Mike Cassidy, Columnist, San Jose Mercury News According to Pollan, the advent of “nutritionism” has vastly complicated how Americans see food, without doing very much for our health. Nutritionism arose to deal with genuine issues – addressing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and many cancers – but now seems to be obscuring and perpetuating the real problems of the American diet, says Pollan. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 27, 2010. | 1 2 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Robert Reich: Professor; Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, The Work of Nations | Robert Reich, Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, U.C. Berkeley; Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, The Work of Nations Is the U.S. economy showing signs of recovery, as some indicators suggest, or are these assertions dangerously premature? He served in three administrations, wrote best-selling books and published articles in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 22, 2010 | 28 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bank Lending on the Hot Seat: What Lies Ahead? | Bank Lending on the Hot Seat: What Lies Ahead? Steve Buster, CEO, Mechanics Bank Mike Walker, Northern California President, U.S. Bank Perry Pelos, Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo National Commercial Banking Tom Cleveland, Professor, St. Mary’s School of Economics and Business; Former Banking Executive – Moderator Top executives from a range of national, regional and local banks will stand and deliver on the questions we all are asking: What is the future of credit and bank lending for businesses as well as for individuals? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 27, 2010. | 28 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Patrick Geary: Modern European Nationalism and the Fight to Control the Past | Modern European Nationalism and the Fight to Control the Past Patrick Geary, Professor of Medieval History, UCLA Does history matter in the New Europe? Geary will explore the recent, dangerous resurgence of ethnocentric nationalism since 1989 in Europe, which makes an appeal to long-discredited but still powerful myths about the region’s deep past. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 20, 2010. | 26 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Barry Moltz: Failing up in Business | Failing up in Business Barry Moltz, Author, Bounce! In conversation with Cassandra Phillipps, Executive Producer, FailCon; Founder, WebWallflower Events Conventional wisdom teaches us that the road to business success is a straight one – if you work hard you’ll win big, and if failure finds you at least there will be lessons to be learned. Not so, says entrepreneurship expert Barry Moltz, who regularly serves up unorthodox views on dealing with failure and defining success. In Bounce!, Moltz teaches that sometimes failure simply stinks. But if we recognize failure as a fixture of the business cycle and an opportunity for choice and change, we can build the business confidence needed to go the distance in a challenging economy. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on January 11, 2010. | 26 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Tom Campbell: What Government Must Do To Promote Economic Recovery | Tom Campbell: What Government Must Do To Promote Economic Recovery Tom Campbell: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate; Former U.S. Congressman; Former Dean, Haas School of Business; Former CA Director of Finance Republican gubernatorial hopeful and economics Ph.D. Campbell says that his experience as state finance director in 2004-2005 (when California had a balanced budget) can help lead the state out of its current fiscal crisis. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 20, 2010/ | 25 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Kamala Harris: Smart on Crime - Elevating the Discussion in Our City, State and Nation | Smart on Crime: Elevating the Discussion in Our City, State and Nation Kamala Harris, District Attorney, San Francisco; Candidate, California Attorney General; Author, Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safe Are corrections institutions failing their mission? Many people say that prisoners are leaving the system as increasingly hardened criminals, not rehabilitated citizens. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 14, 2010 | 20 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Raj Patel: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy | Raj Patel Author, Stuffed and Starved and The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy If economics is about choices, who gets to make them? Activist and academic Patel says that prices often mislead us, and he reveals the "hidden costs" of goods. To demonstrate his argument that the free market and corporations distort price and value, Patel suggests that the true price of a hamburger would be $200 if we factor in the hidden environment and health costs. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 6, 2010. | 14 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bill George: Seven Lessons for Leading in Crisis | Bill George: Seven Lessons for Leading in Crisis Bill George, Professor, Harvard Business School; Former CEO, Medtronic; Author, Seven Lessons for Leading in Crisis As the U.S. continues to feel the devastating effects of the economic meltdown and widespread job losses, George reminds us that it is precisely in times like these that leaders of organizations of all sizes must remember to “never waste a good crisis.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on December 2, 2009. | 13 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Madeleine Kunin: Pearls, Politics and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead | Pearls, Politics and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead Madeleine Kunin, Former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland; Former Governor of Vermont; Author, Pearls, Politics and Power The first woman elected governor of Vermont, Kunin held positions of power during the Bush Sr. and Clinton administrations, eventually taking her as a U.S. ambassador back to Switzerland, from which she fled with her family at the outbreak of World War II. She will share her views of the problems facing women in power in an insightful, candid discussion of what it means to become a leader. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on December 8, 2009 | 8 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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William Eggers: When Government Works and When It Doesn’t | When Government Works and When It Doesn’t William Eggers, Co-author, If We Can Put a Man on the Moon…Getting Big Things Done in Government Frustrated by the growing list of high-profile failures, Americans have rarely expected so much from our government while also having so little public confidence in government’s ability to actually get things done. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on December 9, 2009 | 4 1 10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, “Miracle on the Hudson” Pilot; Author, Highest Duty | Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger Bay Area Pilot; Author, Highest Duty In conversation KGO TV’s Dan Ashley Sullenberger had less than three minutes to plan and execute the water landing hailed around the world as “the miracle on the Hudson” last winter. In a talk about work, priorities and challenges, Sully reveals how he’d spent his entire life preparing for those minutes in the cockpit of US Airways Flight 1549, when his actions would mean life or death. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco | 18 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Greg Mortenson, Co-founder, Central Asia Institute; Co-author, Three Cups of Tea | Greg Mortenson Co-founder, Central Asia Institute; Co-author, Three Cups of Tea; Author, Stones in Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003 and shares his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy. He discusses his relentless and ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan, his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after the horrific 2005 earthquake, and how he has managed to stay alive among feuding Afghan warlords and an eight-day abduction by the Taliban. The recipient of The Star of Pakistan, the country’s highest civil award, Mortenson also provides a candid look at the current social and political situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch in San Jose | 18 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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A.J. Jacobs: My Life As an Experiment | My Life As an Experiment: A Year of Living Biblically and More A.J. Jacobs, Author, The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life As an Experiment; Editor at Large, Esquire David Ewing Duncan, Chief Correspondent, NPR’s "Biotech Nation"; Author, Experimental Man: What One Man’s Body Reveals About His Future- Moderator An acclaimed journalist and a best-selling author, Jacobs takes journalistic commitment to a whole new level. His experimental and "experiential" undertakings have led him from conquering all 32 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica to outsourcing his entire life to India (yes, even his children’s bedtime stories). In the 2007 best-seller, This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 16, 2009 | 14 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Andre Agassi, Professional Tennis Champion; Author, Open: An Autobiography | Andre Agassi Professional Tennis Champion; Author, Open: An Autobiography In conversation with Barry MacKay, Tennis Promoter and Broadcaster During his exhilarating, epic 21-year professional career, Agassi captured eight Grand Slam championships and is the only man to win a career “Golden Slam” – adding an Olympic gold medal to his four Grand Slams. His new book reflects candidly on his life on and off the court, from pivotal matches with rivals Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer to his personal relationships with Brooke Shields and wife Stefanie Graf, and his role as an education advocate and philanthropist. As the founder of the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, he has raised more than $85 million for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, an acclaimed K-12 charter school for underprivileged children in his hometown, Las Vegas. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club's San Jose office on November 20, 2009 | 11 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: The Millennial Changemakers | The Millennial Changemakers Erica Fernandez, Stanford student; Grassroots Organizer Opposing Liquefied Gas and Pesticide Spraying in S. CA Rachel Barge, Director and Founder, Campus InPower Alec Loorz, Founder, Kids vs. Global Warming May Boeve, Co-coordinator, 350.org The Millennials and Generation Y are perhaps the most eco-savvy generations in U.S. history. Born between 1978 and 2000, 95 million youth are inheriting an ecosystem on the brink. The climate crisis is a key issue for them and has birthed a new branch of environmentalism – diverse in its leadership, global in scope, and youth-driven. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on November 23, 2009. | 7 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Adam Gazzaley: Distraction and Multitasking in the Modern Media World | Distraction and Multitasking in the Modern Media World Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Neuroscience Imaging Center, UCSF Our brains, despite extraordinary complexity and remarkable capabilities, have distinct limitations – we misplace car keys, we confuse names, we forget phone numbers. This Program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on December 2, 2009. | 7 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jonathan Zittrain: Minds for Sale | Minds for Sale Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Law, Harvard University; Author, The Future of the Internet – and How to Stop It In conversation with Amanda Congdon, Co-president, Oxmour Entertainment; Co-owner, Rocketboom; Independent Videoblogger, Starring Amanda Congdon Imagine a future in which passengers on a subway stare into screens for a few minutes – and earn as much money in that time as their respective skills and stations allow. New projects like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and LiveOps are making the application of human brainpower as purchasable and fungible as additional server rackspace. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 18th, 2009. | 3 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Haleh Esfandiari: Iran – My Prison, My Home | Iran: My Prison, My Home Haleh Esfandiari, Founder and Director, Woodrow Wilson Center’s Middle East Program; Author, My Prison, My Home: One Woman’s Story of Captivity in Iran Renowned Iranian journalist and scholar Esfandiari was forced to leave the country and settled in the U.S. during the 1979 revolution. Over the years, she returned to visit family members, but during a 2006 visit she was told by officials that she was under investigation and could not leave the country. She later discovered that the Intelligence Ministry believed her scholarly work at the Woodrow Wilson Center was a cover by the U.S. government to overthrow the Iranian regime. What ensued was a Kafkaesque journey through the paranoid and repressive Iranian bureaucracy that left Esfandiari a prisoner for eight months. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 28, 2009. | 3 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: The Future of Books | The Future of Books Kevin Hunsanger, Co-owner, Green Apple Books Jared Friedman, Co-founder, Scribd Brewster Kahle, Director and Co-founder, Archive.org Dan Clancy, Engineering Director, Google Books Pamela Samuelson, Distinguished Professor, Law and Information, UC Berkeley David Hellman, Associate Librarian, San Francisco State University – Moderator Will the printed word become obsolete? Access to information is constantly changing, and the popularity of e-books and online material is on the rise. To survive, publishing companies are trying to adapt to new forms of written media. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 16, 2009. | 1 12 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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John Nieters: Traditional Chinese Medicine Today | Old Solutions for New Problems: The Relevance of Traditional Chinese Medicine Today John Nieters, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; Certified in Integrated Diabetes Care, Xin Hua Hospital As the oldest professional integrated medicine in the world, traditional Chinese medicine has been recognized by the World Health Organization as the number-one treatment for stroke recovery and for many orthopedic pain syndromes. Acupuncture is considered evidence-based medicine and is recognized by nationwide organizations. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on | 30 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Steve Levitt and Stephen Dubner: SuperFreakonomics | SuperFreakonomics with Steve Levitt and Stephen Dubner Steve Levitt, Economics Professor, University of Chicago; Blogger, The New York Times; Co-author, Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics Stephen Dubner, Journalist; Blogger, The New York Times; Author, Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics In Conversation with Alan Murray, Deputy Managing Editor and Executive Editor Online, Wall Street Journal With Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner revealed the good, bad, ugly and super freaky of the world around us. The freakquel is here. This program was recorded in font of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 4, 2009. | 25 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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John Perkins: How to Remake the Global Economy | How to Remake the Global Economy John Perkins, Author, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and Hoodwinked Economic hit man Perkins has confessed the sins of predatory politicians and analyzed the reasons for the current meltdown. A reformed economist, he warns that returning to our “normal” blueprints for the global economy would prove disastrous. This program was recoded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 18, 2009. | 23 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Deepak Chopra, Author, Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create A New You | Deepak Chopra Author, Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create A New You Lata Krishnan, Vice Chair, American India Foundation and Member of Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator “You can’t change the body without changing the self, and you can’t change the self without bringing in the soul,” says Chopra, a renowned pioneer in holistic medicine. Chopra believes the highest choice is to reinvent your body and resurrect your soul. He will discuss aging, the many lifestyle diseases he says are the result of the steady loss of energy inside the body, and how awareness can reverse the process. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley office in San Jose, CA | 20 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Barbara Ehrenreich: Against Positive Thinking | Barbara Ehrenreich Author, Nickel & Dimed and Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America Alyssa Byrkit, VP of Advancement, American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley - Moderator We’ve been told that optimism is the key to success and prosperity, but is that really the truth? Ehrenreich embarks on a myth-busting exposure of America’s history of forced positive thinking and its downside. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 24, 2009. | 18 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Tim Brown: Change By Design | Tim Brown CEO, IDEO; Author, Change By Design One myth of innovation is that brilliant solutions leap fully formed from the minds of geniuses. In reality, we don’t simply realize solutions; we design them. Design thinking is now being applied to address a wide range of concerns, from delivering clean drinking water to improving airport security and microfinancing. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 9, 2009 | 16 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Sally Pipes: Dispelling Health-Care Myths | Dispelling Health-Care Myths with Sally Pipes Sally Pipes, President and CEO, Pacific Research Institute; Author, The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care: A Citizen’s Guide Inundated with medical terminology and ill equipped to navigate the options available, most people probably could use a little health-care-system guidance. In this program, Sally Pipes offers her extensive experience in the field and an at-times controversial outlook. This program was recorded in front of a live audence at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 26th, 2009. | 16 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Frank Luntz: What Americans Really Want… Really | What Americans Really Want… Really Frank Luntz, Pollster; Political Consultant; Communications Expert; Author, What Americans Really Want…Really Joseph Tuman, Professor of Political and Legal Communications, San Francisco State University; Political Analyst, CBS5 News and KCBS Radio - Moderator Whether it’s health care, religion and the Bill of Rights, or the size of your retirement nest egg, Luntz answers the question of “what Americans really want.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 6, 2009. | 12 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Listen Up, Mr. President; Helen Thomas on White House journalism | Helen Thomas-Journalist; Author, Listen Up, Mr. President In conversation with Phil Bronstein, Executive VP, San Francisco Chronicle Learn the recipe for a successful presidency from a legendary journalist who has covered 10 administrations during her 60-year career. Thomas draws on more than 200 years of presidential history and her own experiences in the front row at White House press conferences in a discussion of what personal characteristics and choices contribute to memorable and powerful presidential administrations. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 12, 2009 | 6 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Redefining Growth: Build It Green | Redefining Growth: Build It Green Ed Mazria, Founder, Architecture 2030 Peter Calthorpe, Principal, Calthorpe Associates David Assmann, Deputy Director, San Francisco Department of the Environment Leslie Gueverra, Associate Editor, Greener World Media - Moderator When it comes to pollution, it's easy to blame cars, but our buildings alone are responsible for nearly half of our nation's greenhouse gas emissions. That's why many people believe that successfully combating global climate change requires innovative land-use planning and structuring our cities to remove buildings as energy wasters. Mazria, the innovator behind the Architecture 2030 approach, has a plan for greener construction and better energy efficiency; renowned urban designer and architect Calthorpe has mapped out the strategies for most sustainable growth; and David grapples with the political implementation of these options to green our cities. Our speakers will give politicians, businesses and the average citizen tangible ways to join the mission of zero emissions. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 15, 2009 | 6 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Kenneth Cook: The “Inconvenient Truth” for Environmental Health | Ten Americans: The “Inconvenient Truth” for Environmental Health Kenneth Cook, President and Founder, Environmental Working Group We know there are harmful substances in everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe, but do we know how many industrial chemicals and carcinogens have already invaded our bodies? The Environmental Working Group will reveal the updated results of its body-burden study, which finds 287 toxins linked to cancer and other serious health problems in the blood of 10 Americans. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 2, 2009. | 3 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: San Francisco's Street Food Movement | The Street Food Movement: SF Hearts the Cart Anthony Myint, Mission Street Food Brian Kimball, Magic Curry Kart Steven Gdula, Gobba Gobba Hey Charles Phan, Executive Chef, Slanted Door Tamara Palmer, Contributor, Pavement Cuisine, SF Weekly – Moderator These days you can barely walk down some streets without bumping into a taco truck, a sausage stand or the tamale lady. San Francisco just held its first-ever Street Food Festival, and the local Creme Brulee Man was recently written up in The New York Times, signifying that Bay Area street food has moved beyond pretzels and hot dogs and into the Twittersphere and beyond. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 26, 2009. | 3 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Jungle Effect-Daphne Miller, M.D., Associate Professor, UCSF | The Jungle Effect Daphne Miller, M.D., Associate Professor, UCSF Food is a powerful medicine, and what you eat and how can tell a lot more about your health than the supplements you take. Over the span of three years and tens of thousands of miles, Miller traveled to five locations where common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and depression were rare. While visiting Mexico, Crete, Iceland, Cameroon and Okinawa, Miller collected recipes and learned of indigenous foods that prevent chronic illnesses. Now she demonstrates her international diet guide. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 14, 2009 | 2 11 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Leon Panetta, Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) | The CIA: Preparing for Tomorrow's Challenges Leon Panetta, Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO , The Commonwealth Club - Moderator Hear about challenges facing national security from the man at the helm of the nation’s largest intelligence agency. California native and longtime congressman Panetta has spent his life devoted to public service. He was chief of staff under President Clinton, a director of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights and a Budget Committee chairman during his final years in Congress. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 23, 2009 | 30 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Watching Out for Your Financial Future:How to make Americans more financially literate and fiscally safe | Watching Out for Your Financial Future: How to make Americans more financially literate and fiscally safe Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, President, Charles Schwab Foundation Pam Erwin, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility Group, Wells Fargo Michelle Greene, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Education, U.S. Department of the Treasury José Cisneros, Treasurer, City and County of San Francisco Susan Keating, President and CEO, National Foundation for Credit Counseling - Moderator The Great Recession has occurred in part because some people in the U.S. are financially illiterate, making them vulnerable to too-good-to-be-true mortgage offers, derivatives and other financial schemes. When these schemes failed, the economy cratered, and with it many jobs, investments and retirement plans. Nationally and personally, we will be digging ourselves out of this economic hole for years. Financial illiteracy affects us all, and we won’t have a healthy economy until more American understand basic personal finance. A lively panel will debate this question and offer ideas about how to better educate and protect the average American, and the American economy as a whole. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 27, 2009 | 30 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Taylor Branch: The Clinton Tapes, Wrestling History with the President | Taylor Branch Historian; Author, The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President Joseph Fink, President, Dominican University of California; Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Branch will share the confidential interviews he conducted with President Bill Clinton throughout his two terms in the White House. Clinton completed nearly 80 candid and informal sessions with Branch, most of which were held at night to minimize awareness within his staff. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 20, 2009. | 21 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Arnold Schwarzenegger: California - Carbon = A Cleaner World? | Arnold Schwarzenegger: California - Carbon = A Cleaner World? Governor of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will soon convene a global summit of governors from developing countries to advance the transition to a clean-energy economy. Before that happens, he visited Climate One for a discussion of California's role managing greenhouse gases, promoting green jobs and developing clean technology. Join us at the intersection of policy, politics and carbon for a conversation with the governor. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco as part of Climate One at The Commonwealth Club | 20 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The FBI’s Fight Against Cyber Crime, Espionage and Terrorism. Robert Mueller, Director of the FBI | ROBERT MUELLER, Director, FBI The FBI’s Fight Against Cyber Crime, Espionage and Terrorism The FBI’s top man tackles the Internet age. The web has changed the way we learn, work and communicate. But with that convenience we have compromised our security, and widespread use has also left us vulnerable to attack from hostile foreign powers, hackers, spies – and even terrorists. There are many adversaries who seek our protected information, and countless criminals use the web to harm consumers, corporations and private citizens. Mueller will discuss cyber threats to our national security and what the FBI is doing to meet these diverse dangers. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of California on October 7, 2009 | 16 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Noam Chomsky: Philosophies of Language and Politics | Noam Chomsky: Philosophies of Language and Politics Noam Chomsky, Professor, Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, MIT Larry Bensky, Former National Affairs Correspondent, Pacifica Radio; Host, "Sunday Salon" KPFA; Professor at Stanford, California State University East Bay and Berkeley City College - Moderator World-renowned intellectual Chomsky has been pushing change in language, politics and culture for decades. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 6th, 2009. | 12 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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EPA + You = A Greener Future. Lisa Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | EPA + You = A Greener Future Lisa Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency After winning higher auto fuel economy earlier this year, what are the EPA’s next big priorities? In her first visit to California as the country’s chief environmental regulator, Jackson will lay out her vision for cleaning up America’s air, water and land. What are her plans on toxics, mining and other hot-button issues? And with climate legislation winding through Congress, what is her view on a national renewable fuel standard and other drivers moving toward a clean energy future? How does she plan to “sell” environmentalism in minority communities? Join us for an evening with President Obama’s top green advisor. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco as part of Climate One at The Commonwealth Club on September 29, 2009 | 9 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel China at the Crossroads | China at the Crossroads: Energy, Environment, Economy Barbara Finamore, Director, Natural Resources Defense Council China Program, Beijing Gao Jie, Staff Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council China Program, Beijing Felicia Marcus, Western Director, Natural Resources Defense Council Peter Liu, Founder and Vice Chairman, New Resource Bank Twenty-first-century China is central to the resolution of the global economic downturn, environmental pollution and climate change. In 1996, foreseeing the importance of working with Chinese communities and leaders, NRDC opened its China office in Beijing. NRDC's efforts have resulted in diverse, varied experiences and observations, and a look into what the future may hold for China at the crossroads of economic and environmental sustainability. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 29, 2009. | 9 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Chris Anderson: Free-Conomics | Free-Conomics Chris Anderson, Editor-In-Chief, Wired Magazine; Author, Free: The Future of a Radical Price Apparently there is such a thing as a free lunch. Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails capitalized on offering their music for free, Google lets us search, e-mail and use all kinds of free applications, and AT&T will give you a cell phone gratis, if you just buy their monthly plan. These are only a fraction of the businesses that have helped to establish a full-fledged economy based on the concept of zero dollars down. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on September 23, 2009. | 7 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Panel: The Secret Lives of Parents Revealed | The Secret Lives of Parents Revealed: Bad Mommy Redefined Ayelet Waldman, Author, Bad Mother Po Bronson, Author, Nurture Shock In conversation with Regan McMahon, Deputy Book Editor, San Francisco Chronicle; Author, Revolution in the Bleachers: How Parents Can Take Back Family Life in a World Gone Crazy Over Youth Sports Though your kids may make you want to rip out your hair and scream bloody murder, must parents remain calm, forgiving and extremely patient? Not anymore, according to these two experts. Blogs and web sites like True Mom Confessions are revealing intimate truths about parenting and forcing us to reconsider what it means to be a "good parent." This Program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 30, 2009. | 5 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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David Wessel: Ben Bernanke vs. the Great Panic | David Wessel: Ben Bernanke vs. the Great Panic David Wessel, Economics Editor, The Wall Street Journal; Author, In Fed We Trust: Ben Bernanke's War on the Great Panic How did we find ourselves confronting the worst threat to the U.S. economy since the Great Depression? Wessel will explain what the Federal Reserve did right and did wrong, where the economy stands now and where it is headed. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of California on September 22, 2009 | 2 10 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Steve Hildebrand: Doing the Impossible | Doing the Impossible Steve Hildebrand, Deputy National Campaign Manager, 2008 Obama Presidential Campaign Sandip Roy, Host, "New America Now," KALW; Commentator, "Morning Edition," NPR - Moderator Considered one of the premier political strategists in the nation, Hildebrand served as Barack Obama’s deputy national campaign manager during the historic 2008 campaign. When a rift appeared between the LGBT community and Obama last spring, Hildebrand mediated, explaining the position of many in the community. Hildebrand is now at the center of the movement to repeal Prop. 8 in 2010, serving as a senior political advisor. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 28, 2009. | 30 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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285 |
Panel: What Is "the Economy" for Anyway? | What Is "the Economy" for Anyway? Annie Leonard, Documentarian, The Story of Stuff Colin Beavan, Author, No Impact Man David Batker, Executive Director, Earth Economics Chip Giller, Founder and President, Grist - Moderator While the economy hums away in an uncertain environment, some people question the basic purpose of the capitalist market: to provide iPhones to the masses, or to provide food to the needy? What is the role of the government as trust in the free market falters? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 21, 2009 | 28 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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286 |
Admiral Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence. An Inside Look into America's Intelligence Apparatus | An Inside Look into America's Intelligence Apparatus Admiral Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence Each day, thousands of men and women in America's 16 different intelligence organizations go to work behind the scenes. Blair delivers an inside look at some of the unsung successes that rarely make it to the public eye and to discuss his key priorities and challenges. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of Califoria | 25 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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287 |
Haynes Johnson and Dan Balz: How the 2008 Election Changed Politics Forever | How the 2008 Election Changed Politics Forever Haynes Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist; Co-author, The Battle For America 2008 Dan Balz, Lead Political Reporter, The Washington Post; Co-author, The Battle For America 2008 Go behind the scenes of the 2008 election with Balz and Johnson. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 17, 2009. | 22 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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288 |
An Evening with Michael Moore and His Latest Film, Capitalism: A Love Story | An Evening with Michael Moore and His Latest Film, Capitalism: A Love Story Who are we and why do we behave the way that we do? Writer, director and producer Moore has been trying to answer that question his entire filmmaking career. His latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story, investigates the powerful forces behind the calamitous predicament in which countless Americans are finding themselves: losing their homes, jobs and savings to foot the bill for past spending. What is the price that America – and the rest of the world – pays for its love of capitalism? From Middle America to the halls of power in Washington to the global financial epicenter in Manhattan, Moore takes filmgoers into uncharted territory as he tries to get to the heart of the matter. This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of California on September 17, 2009 | 21 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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289 |
T.R. Reid: Can We Really Fix U.S. Health Care? | T.R. Reid: Can We Really Fix U.S. Health Care? T.R. Reid, Correspondent, The Washington Post; Commentator, National Public Radio; Author, The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care For 100 years, U.S. presidents have unsuccessfully strived to provide universal health coverage. When LBJ created Medicare in 1965, he thought the program would gradually be extended – to people over 60, then 55, then 45, etc., so that everybody would have government health insurance by 2000. Decades later, the Clinton plan failed. George W. Bush created Medicare Part D. Barack Obama says we have the best chance ever this year to fix our health-care system. Is he right? Reid weighs in and reveals what we can learn from health-care models across the globe. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 14, 2009. | 18 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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290 |
Frederick Hertz: Making It Legal | Making It Legal with Frederick Hertz Frederick Hertz, Attorney; Author Fighting for the right to marry or register as domestic partners may be easy for many gays and lesbians to embrace, but deciding whether to legally partner your beloved raises far more personal questions. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on September 2, 2009. | 17 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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291 |
China: Great Power Interrupted | China: Great Power Interrupted Robert Horrocks, Ph.D., Chief Investment Officer, Matthews International Capital Management, LLC Uldis Kruze, Associate Professor and Chair, History Department, USF As we mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident, China seems stronger than ever. But the recent economic downturn may threaten the ability of China’s leaders to trade economic prosperity for political stability. Will the Communist Party be able to continue its precarious balancing act, or will reduced economic growth lead to greater internal opposition and a push for democracy? How should the United States balance its economic and security interests with its concerns for human rights in China? Where does China go from here? Experts debate the issues. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 20, 2009 | 10 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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292 |
How to Smell a Rat: The Five Signs of Financial Fraud. Ken Fisher | How to Smell a Rat: The Five Signs of Financial Fraud Ken Fisher, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Fisher Investments; Columnist, Forbes; Author, How to Smell a Rat: The Five Signs of Financial Fraud In recent years, the public has been shell-shocked by some of the biggest financial frauds and scams in history. Fisher believes that nearly every investment scam ever perpetrated was actually easily detectable and avoidable. Hear his examples and timely advice on what investors need to look for - how to be sure investment choices are sound by asking the right questions, noticing the red flags and breaking down complicated jargon. This program is a must-see for anyone affected by the economic downturn. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 11, 2009 | 4 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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293 |
Ramit Sethi: Bulletproof Personal Finance | The Psychology of Building a Bulletproof Personal Finance System Ramit Sethi, Author, I Will Teach You to Be Rich Cathy Curtis, CFP, Curtis Financial Planning Personal finance has traditionally been about “no”: No, you can’t buy that latte. No, forget those jeans. In conversation with Curtis, best-selling author Sethi shows how you can say yes – yes, you can spend on the things you love, if you cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on August 24th, 2009. | 2 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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294 |
Panel: $10 (or Less) Wine | $10 (or Less) Wine Doug Due, Director of Wine and Beer, Grocery Outlet Chad Richard, Co-founder, Furthermore Wines Dorian Kendal, Creator, BudgetVino Blog Courtney Cochran, Founder, Your Personal Sommelier; Author, Hip Tastes: The Fresh Guide to Wine - Moderator Are you wine-obsessed but afraid that being an oenophile will empty your pockets? Never fear, there’s more available than “two-buck Chuck”! Young wine lovers, makers and educators are breaking new ground in the way wine is created and enjoyed. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on August 26th 2009. | 2 9 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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295 |
Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage: Bust a Myth | Bust a Myth: Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, Hosts of hit television series, "MythBusters" In conversation with Moira Gunn, Host, NPR’s "Tech Nation" Does the Bermuda Triangle defy the laws of physics? Are banana peels really as slippery as they are in slapstick comedy? Finally, a television show that makes science cool. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on August 6th, 2009 | 27 8 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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296 |
Gary Schlossberg: The Big Picture – What Happened and What’s Ahead? | The Big Picture: What Happened and What’s Ahead Gary Schlossberg, Vice President and Senior Economist, Wells Capital Management. A timely update on the economic crisis that you can’t afford to miss. Wells Fargo’s senior economist takes a look back at the origins of the recession. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on August 19th, 2009. | 27 8 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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297 |
Environmental Action through Eating: Best Bang for the Buck | Environmental Action through Eating: Best Bang for the Buck Laura Stec, Chef, Co-author, Cool Cuisine Eugene Cordero, Associate Professor of Meteorology, SJSU, Co-author, Cool Cuisine Stec and Cordero will discuss the new economy through the eyes of the food system. Rather than expanding control and diminishing variations, this emerging new food economy is about expanding variety and building smaller yet efficient regional food systems. Cordero presents research on the energy efficiency of our food system and the relationship to our changing climate. A Taste of California cheese and vegetable platter, highlighting bee pollinator crops, will be served and discussed. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on August 10, 2009 | 24 8 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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298 |
General Anthony Zinni, Former Commander in Chief, United States Central Command; | Leading the Charge General Anthony Zinni, Former Commander in Chief, United States Central Command; Author, Leading the Charge: Leadership Lessons from the Battlefield to the Boardroom In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club General Zinni applies leadership lessons learned on the battlefield to help us understand how to succeed in the new century. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on August 18, 2009. | 20 8 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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299 |
Making the Web Work for Science | Making the Web Work for Science Tim O'Reilly, Founder, O'Reilly Media Stephen Friend, Founder, Sage Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia John Wilbanks, VP, Science Commons Digital technologies have greatly enhanced our ability to communicate and share information, but the scientific community remains largely untouched by these advances. Why doesn’t the web work for science the way it works for culture and for commerce? What will it take to make science digital? Please join us for a fascinating discussion of the movement to bring digital methods to the world of science. This was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 28, 2009 | 19 8 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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300 |
$10 Philanthropy: Change for Change | $10 Philanthropy: Change for Change Darian Rodriguez Heyman, Member, United Nations GAID High-Level Panel of Advisors; Trustee, Project Ahimsa Jacob Colker, Co-founder and CEO, The Extraordinaries Joe Engle, Sales Associate, Network for Good Premal Shah, President, Kiva Madeline Stanionis, CEO and Co-founder, Watershed – Moderator President Obama’s election is believed by many to have reinvigorated the spirit of civic engagement and volunteerism. But how can younger, less affluent people do this while still paying rent, dealing with college loans and working multiple jobs to stay afloat? Come learn about nontraditional groups that are giving philanthropy a facelift with microloans, giving circles, time pledges and seed funding. Discover how doing good is cheaper than you think. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 12, 2009 | 17 8 09 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 300 Episodes |
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