Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Commonwealth Club of California
  • 4.6 (87)
  • Politics
  • Updated Daily

The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's largest public affairs forum. The nonpartisan and nonprofit Club produces and distributes programs featuring diverse viewpoints from thought leaders on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast — the oldest in the U.S., since 1924 — is carried on hundreds of stations. Our website features audio and video of our programs. This podcast feed is usually updated multiple times each week.

  1. 1d ago

    Kate Marvel on Fear, Wonder, and Leaving NASA

    Climate scientist Kate Marvel made headlines this year when she publicly resigned from NASA, drawing coverage from Bloomberg to The New York Times. Marvel says her resignation wasn’t newsworthy on its own. What made it notable is that she was one of more than 10,000 Ph.D. scientists to leave the federal government during President Trump’s second term, part of what she calls a “mass nerd exodus.”  She is now senior climate scientist at Project Drawdown and author of “Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet.” Marvel argues that scientists need to stop hiding their feelings behind the data.  “When we pretend we don’t have emotions, that’s not making us more credible, because that’s lying,” she says. “You can feel a whole range of human emotions and still get the numbers right.” Guests:  Kate Marvel, Senior climate scientist, Project Drawdown; author, “Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet” Michael McPhaden, Senior oceanographer, University of Washington For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit ⁠ClimateOne.org⁠. Highlights: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:24 Kate Marvel on if leaving NASA was newsworthy  00:08:05 Kate Marvel on why science should be publicly funded  00:12:18 Kate Marvel on “emergency break” solution  00:15:01 Kate Marvel on why feelings are a major topic in her book  00:18:11 Kate Marvel on which emotion was hardest to write about 00:23:06 Kate Marvel on which emotion isn’t discussed enough 00:26:27 Kate Marvel on when she felt wonder  00:30:36 Kate Marvel on how to talk about climate change 00:33:28 Kate Marvel on why it’s not too late  00:37:18 Michael McPhaden on this year’s El Niño  00:39:40 Michael McPhaden on the hurricane season  00:41:06 Michael McPhaden on the Climate change and El Niño connection 00:46:12 Michael McPhaden on what people should look out for  ****** On October 20 at 6 p.m. join us, in partnership with The Redford Center, for a screening of the short film In Earth We Trust, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, the film’s central figure, and other faith leaders. Tickets available at ⁠climateone.org/events⁠  On November 5 at 5:30 p.m., join Climate One and the Children & Nature Network for an evening with Richard Louv, the internationally bestselling author of Last Child in the Woods. Tickets available at ⁠climateone.org/events⁠  Support Climate One by going ad-free! Subscribe to Climate One on ⁠Patreon⁠ for exclusive access to all future episodes, free of ads. ⁠Sign up today⁠. Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Kate Marvel on Fear, Wonder, and Leaving NASA

  2. 1d ago

    Miriam Pawel: The Making and Remaking of the University of California

    Miriam Pawel returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to discuss the issues raised in her latest book, an epic history of the sweeping social impact of the world’s largest higher education institution, the University of California, and what it can teach us in a time of educational crisis. Set apart by its founding mission to be an engine of upward mobility, the University of California system is a great American experiment that has endured in spite of fraught battles over access, funding and leadership. Ever since the Civil War, the university has been at the nexus of nearly every public policy decision and social movement in the Golden State, from affirmative action to immigration to student protests. Pawel narrates the UC’s rise and resilience through the lens of those whose lives it has transformed—in particular, five pioneering graduates whose diverse paths underscore why UC remains, in the words of Berkeley graduate Joan Didion, “California’s best idea of itself.” At a time of staggering inequality and uncertainty, as higher education faces unprecedented threats, that role has never been more crucial or more difficult. Pawel weaves the history of the inexorably linked school and state in all its drama, significance, and humanity, providing a clear-eyed analysis of the university’s roots with an incisive lesson, and a glimmer of hope, for our future. A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. ORGANIZERGeorge HammondNOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 3d ago

    Food Sense: What to Eat and Why

    Note: This podcast contains explicit language. What should we eat—and why is the answer still so complicated? Join us for a compelling conversation at the intersection of science, food and health as we explore the evolving landscape of nutrition through the lens of Dr. Christopher Gardner’s forthcoming book, Food Sense: What to Eat and Why. A leading nutrition scientist at Stanford, Dr. Gardner has spent decades studying a wide range of dietary patterns—from Mediterranean to ketogenic to plant-based—seeking clarity on what truly supports long-term health. His work moves beyond rigid dietary camps, focusing instead on evidence, behavior change, and what he calls “unapologetic deliciousness” in the pursuit of better eating. He will be joined by Dr. Russell Jaffe, a physician-scientist whose decades of work in integrative and functional medicine have centered on inflammation, root causes and whole-person health. Together, they offer both complementary and contrasting perspectives on how we understand diet, disease and the body’s innate capacity for healing. Moderating the conversation is Kristen Rasmussen, a culinary nutrition and food systems expert whose work bridges traditional foodways, sustainability and modern health. With a deep appreciation for culture, flavor and the power of food to connect us, Rasmussen will guide a discussion that is as practical as it is thought-provoking. This program invites us to step back from nutrition noise and consider a more nuanced question: not just what we eat, but how, why and in what context. From inflammation and the microbiome to culture, environment and personal choice, this conversation will challenge assumptions and offer fresh insight into how we nourish ourselves—and each other. About the Speakers For more than 30 years, Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., the Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine at Stanford and a nutrition scientist, has been a key faculty member at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, where he leads the Stanford Nutrition Studies Research Group. With a Ph.D. in nutrition science from UC Berkeley, he has led more than 20 human nutrition intervention studies, including trials of Mediterranean, ketogenic, vegan, low-fat and low-carb diets and their effects on cardiometabolic outcomes such as blood lipids, glucose and inflammation. Dr. Russell Jaffe received his B.S., M.D. and Ph.D. from the Boston University School of Medicine in 1972. He completed residency training in clinical chemistry at the National Institutes of Health (1973–1976), remaining on the permanent senior staff until 1979. He is board certified in clinical pathology and in chemical pathology. As a physician and scientist who aspired to be comprehensive, objective, empiric and experiential, Dr. Jaffe started his career searching for deeper understanding, wisdom, evidence and insight in mechanisms of health. Through intense curiosity and learned skepticism, Dr. Jaffe sought to debunk the best-known advocates of a variety of health promotion and healing systems. What started as a journey to disprove holistic forms of care became a rich educational experience that transformed Dr. Jaffe into a student and then researcher in such areas a traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, active meditation, homeopathy and manipulative arts. Moderator Kristen Rasmussen, M.S., R.D.N., is a culinary nutrition and food systems expert with passions that have led her many places – from leading UC Berkeley study-abroad programs on traditional diets and sustainable food systems in Greece to working on public health campaigns and exploring the foodways of Oaxaca, Mexico. Currently Rasmussen acts as associate director of health & sustainability programs for The Center for Food & Beverage Leadership at the Culinary Institute of America. ORGANIZERPatty James Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. 4d ago

    Walter Isaacson: The Greatest Sentence Ever Written

    In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, bestselling biographer Walter Isaacson has taken a fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, this line lays the foundation for the American Dream and defines the common ground we share as a nation. Join us as Isaacson returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to unpack the word-by-word genius of the sentence, illuminating the then-radical concepts behind it. He’ll explore not just the power of the words but how, in these polarized times, they can be used to restore an appreciation for our common values. * Note - this podcast contains explicit language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. 4d ago

    After H.R. 1: Medicaid Cuts and the Future of Health-Care Access in San Francisco

    Please join us for a panel discussion: Following the enactment of H.R. 1, which includes significant changes to Medicaid and other federal health-care programs, California and San Francisco are grappling with what these changes will mean for patients, providers and the health-care safety net.  The San Francisco General Hospital Foundation (SFGHF) is convening this timely conversation at the Commonwealth Club to explore the law’s implications for health-care access, our city’s public hospital Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG), and communities across California.  Featuring Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and ZSFG CEO Dr. Susan Ehrlich, in a conversation moderated by SFGHF CEO Kim Meredith, the discussion will examine the evolving policy landscape and the challenges and opportunities ahead. An Arts Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Organizer: Robert Melton  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. 6d ago

    The 800th Anniversary of Francis of Assisi’s Death

    San Francisco has been connected to Francis of Assisi for over 250 years, when Spanish explorers gave the name San Francisco Bay to the waters east of the Golden Gate. That connection intensified 180 years ago when the town of 600 called Yerba Buena was renamed San Francisco. Humanities West and the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco celebrate this civilizational connection to the influential Italian who founded the Order of Friars Minor for priests and brothers and the Order of Saint Clare for cloistered nuns — having been inspired by his earlier membership in the lay organization Brothers and Sisters of Penance (a part of which organization later became the Franciscan Tertiaries). When Francis of Assisi died 800 years ago, on October 3, 1226, he was already famous not only for his contributions to religious thought and practice, but also for his deep respect for the natural world, his “small carbon footprint” lifestyle and his interest in the brotherhood of man. In his new biography, Augustine Thompson, O.P., has sifted through the surviving evidence for the life of Francis using modern historical methods. In Thompson’s complex yet sympathetic portrait, Francis emerges as a typical thirteenth-century Italian layman, but one who, when faced with unexpected crises in his personal life, made decisions so radical that they challenged his own society—and ours. Thompson peals away the layers of legend that quickly coalesced around Francis to reveal that Francis never had a unique divine inspiration to provide him with rules for following the teachings of Jesus. Rather, he spent his life reacting to unexpected challenges, before which he often found himself unprepared and uncertain. His famous devotion to poverty is more nuanced than expected, and perhaps not even his principal spiritual concern. Francis's troubled relations with his father, his friendship with Clare of Assisi, his encounter with the Muslim sultan, and his receiving the Stigmata, all help Thompson uncover the man behind the legends. Sam Dennison has lived and worked in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco for more than 15 years in community with Faithful Fools Street Ministry. Faithful Fools is many things, as all communities are, and everything they do is a celebration of our common humanity. Dennison will reflect on the charism of Francis and Clare and how it informs the Fools' commitment to witnessing and responding to poverty and the struggle for human dignity in a very wealthy city in a very wealthy nation. It's not always an easy thing, but it's never dull — a Foolish and Franciscan way of life, to be sure. Join us on the 800th anniversary of his death to find the real Francis of Assisi, because once you have a fuller grasp of his personality, it will not be surprising at all that San Francisco is the city whose citizens inspired tens of thousands to wear flowers in their hair, and aspired (even though they failed) to create a Summer of Love.    A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. In association with Humanities West and the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco. ORGANIZER George Hammond Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. 6d ago

    Unfiltered Conversation: What Happened to the American Dream

    For generations, the American Dream has represented a promise of opportunity: work hard, and you can achieve economic stability, security, and upward mobility. Yet for many today, that promise feels uncertain—or fundamentally changed. ​Throughout our Dinner & Dialogue series, people across generations and backgrounds have gathered to share how they understand opportunity, success, and security in this moment. Now, we bring those insights to the stage. ​As the culminating event of this quarter’s Dinner & Dialogue series, What Happened to the American Dream?, this Unfiltered Conversation will bring together a panel of leading experts to respond directly to what emerged from those dialogues. Drawing on their expertise, lived perspectives, and disagreements, they’ll help us push the conversation further. ​The evening will unfold in two parts: a candid panel discussion, followed by an intergenerational dinner reception. Over dinner, participants will be grouped by age demographic and invited to reflect on what they’ve heard, exchange perspectives, and continue the dialogue with one another. ​Come hear what our community has learned, and put those insights in conversation with expert perspectives. Together, we’ll look beyond the white picket fence to ask: What has the American Dream been? What is it today? And what could it become? This program is part of Creating Citizens, the civics education initiative at Commonwealth Club World Affairs.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Oct 9

    We Got $9.99 Problems, and Energy is One

    The war in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz created a global energy supply crisis. And while gasoline prices didn’t reach the extreme highs some predicted a few months ago, the global markets are still in flux.  “What has been disrupted most is the confidence in the old energy system where you could reliably and affordably dig up a source of energy thousands of kilometers away from where you expected to ignite it and expect that process to be smooth,” says Gerald Butts, chairman of political risk consultancy the Eurasia Group.  What has the war in Iran meant for energy markets? How much have shortages and price spikes pushed more companies and countries toward renewable energy? As China reaps the benefits of decades of investment in clean tech and renewable energy, will the U.S. be left behind? Guests: Gerald Butts, Chairman and Senior Advisor, The Eurasia Group Scott Marlow, Founder and CEO, Long Rows Consulting; Agricultural policy expert Alex Wang, Law Professor, UCLA; Faculty Co-Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment  Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – Last decade of geopolitical turmoil on energy markets 07:00 – Responses of countries like Canada, China 13:30 – Risks of the U.S. being “Overpowered” according to The Eurasia Group 17:30 – Decarbonization is happening but it’s going to be slower than science demands 21:00 – How high diesel prices impact farmers 27:00 – How farmers cope with all the pressures of their business plus climate impacts 33:00 – We’re on the cusp in major change in how we farm in U.S. – Scott Marlow 42:00 – Alex Wang on China’s pivot towards pollution reduction and investments in clean tech 49:45 – How China flexed its oil demand during recent global energy crisis 54:00 – Last few months showcase two different paths towards energy supplies between China and U.S.  For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit ⁠our episode page. *** Join us on October 14 at 6 p.m. for a conversation with PG&E CEO Patti Poppe on energy affordability, outages, and public outrage. Tickets available at climateone.org/events  *** On October 20 at 6 p.m. join us, in partnership with The Redford Center, for a screening of the short film In Earth We Trust, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, the film’s central figure, and other faith leaders. Tickets available at climateone.org/events  *** On November 5 at 5:30 p.m., join Climate One and the Children & Nature Network for an evening with Richard Louv, the internationally bestselling author of Last Child in the Woods. Tickets available at climateone.org/events  *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! Subscribe to Climate One on Patreon for exclusive access to all future episodes, free of ads. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    We Got $9.99 Problems, and Energy is One
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The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's largest public affairs forum. The nonpartisan and nonprofit Club produces and distributes programs featuring diverse viewpoints from thought leaders on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast — the oldest in the U.S., since 1924 — is carried on hundreds of stations. Our website features audio and video of our programs. This podcast feed is usually updated multiple times each week.

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