Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Commonwealth Club of California
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Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

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. 3 HR. AGO

    Jonathan Rauch: The Christianity-Democracy Break Up

    The crisis of American Christianity has become a crisis for democracy, says award-winning journalist Jonathan Rauch. A lifelong atheist, he is warning that the waning of the church in this country is tied to the waning of our democracy. What happens to American democracy if Christianity is no longer able, or no longer willing, to perform the functions on which our constitutional order depends? In his provocative new book Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy, Rauch reckons candidly with both the shortcomings of secularism and the corrosion of Christianity. Rauch says the mainline church—which he calls “thin Christianity”—isn’t able to inspire and retain believers. Worse, he says a “Church of Fear” has distorted white evangelicalism in ways that violate the tenets of both Jesus and James Madison. What to do? For answers, Rauch looks to a new generation of religious thinkers, as well as to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has placed the Constitution at the heart of its spiritual teachings. Rauch addresses secular Americans who think Christianity can be abandoned, and Christian Americans who blame secular culture for their grievances. The two must work together, he argues, to confront our present crisis. He calls on Christians to recommit to the teachings of their faith that align with Madison, not MAGA, and to understand that liberal democracy, far from being oppressive, is uniquely protective of religious freedom. At the same time, he calls on secular liberals to understand that healthy religious institutions are crucial to the survival of the liberal state. Join us for a special online-only talk about mending the rift in American democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 2m

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Sahil Bloom: Designing Your Dream Life

    Reject the default path, define your priorities, and achieve lasting happiness with this transformative guide to your dream life—that’s Sahil Bloom’s recipe for a life centered around five types of wealth. Bloom says that throughout your life, you’ve been slowly indoctrinated to believe that money is the only type of wealth; in reality, your wealthy life may involve money, but in the end, it will be defined by everything else. After three years of research, personal experimentation, and thousands of interviews across the globe, Bloom has created a groundbreaking blueprint to build your life around five types of wealth: time wealth, social wealth, mental wealth, physical wealth, and financial wealth. A life of true fulfillment engages all five types—working dynamically, in concert across the seasons of your journey. Through powerful storytelling, science-backed practices, and actionable insights, Bloom explores all of this in his book The 5 Types of Wealth. No matter where you are on your path—a recent graduate, new parent, midlife warrior, retiree, or anything in between—Bloom aims to help you act on your priorities to create an instant positive impact in your daily life, make better decisions, and design the life you’ve always dreamed of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 9m

  3. 1 DAY AGO

    Shift: Managing Your Emotions so They Don't Manage You

    Tension is high this time of year, personally and politically, and award-winning University of Michigan Professor Ethan Kross is in town for a special evening to help explore how emotions work and how we can manage them. An international speaker and bestselling author, his first book, Chatter, helped readers understand how to change the "voice" in our head. And now he returns with his new book, Shift, to help readers understand how emotions form, where they come from, and how we can regulate and master them.  From our dinner tables at home to workplace conversations, emotional mastery can feel like a distant goal, but Kross says it's something we should all strive for. How can we learn to harness emotions as sources of powerful information? The term "emotional regulation" has now joined popular terminology, but what does it mean and how can we implement it at any age?  Kross is joined by local celebrated psychology reporter Jenara Nerenberg, author of Divergent Mind and the forthcoming Trust Your Mind: Embracing Nuance in a World of Self-Silencing. About the SpeakersEthan Kross, Ph.D., is one of the world’s leading experts on emotion regulation. An award-­winning professor and international bestselling author in the University of Michigan’s top-­ranked Department of Psychology and its Ross School of Business, he is the director of the Emotion and Self-­Control Laboratory. Ethan has participated in policy discussion at the White House, spoken at Ted Talks and SXSW, and consulted with some of the world’s top executives and organizations. He has been interviewed about his research on "CBS Evening News," "Good Morning America," "Anderson Cooper Full Circle," and NPR’s "Morning Edition." His research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Science. His first book, Chatter, has been translated into more than 40 languages. Jenara Nerenberg is the bestselling author of Divergent Mind, hailed as "extraordinary, jaw-dropping" by Library Journal; she is an Aspen Ideas Brave New Idea speaker and the author of a second forthcoming book on the psychology of groupthink. A celebrated writer covering the intersection of psychology and society, Jenara's work has been featured in the UC Berkeley Science Center's Greater Good magazine, Fast Company magazine, CNN, NPR, BBC and elsewhere. Nerenberg speaks widely on social science topics, including at universities, libraries, companies and organizations around the world. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and the Harvard School of Public Health; she grew up in San Francisco and, as a millennial, can now be found on Instagram. Organizer: Denise Michaud   A Grownups 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 13m

  4. 2 DAYS AGO

    Humanities West Presents Hannibal’s Carthage

    The Phoenicians were the most civilized people of the Near East and the greatest businessmen and conduits of culture of the ancient world (e.g., they gave us all the alphabet). Their expansion westward across the Mediterranean, driven by the trade in metal ore, is told in myth, archaeology, and the accounts of the people they impacted (including the Berbers, Etruscans, Greeks and Romans). The Phoenician settlement at Carthage (modern Tunisia) soon became the most powerful and cultured city of the western Mediterranean, their ships dominating trade routes. Conflict thus became inevitable with the Etruscans, Greeks and Romans, which culminated in the three Punic Wars. In the Second Punic War, Hannibal terrorized the Romans like no other enemy they had ever encountered, but in the end the Romans erased Carthage entirely.  Yet Carthage remains eternal: in myth, painting, literature and grand opera. Hannibal, Rome’s Nightmare Patrick Hunt will describe how Hannibal, the great Carthaginian general, weaponized nature—making Roman armies cross icy streams, and face fog and dust storms, in his almost two decade war against Rome in Italy starting in 218 BC. Brilliantly defeating multiple Roman legions even when outnumbered, Hannibal’s flexible craftiness and ability to get in the minds of his enemy, by employing a staggering arsenal of tactics, are still admired and emulated in modern warfare. It is likely that Roman legions would never have conquered their empire had Hannibal not first schooled Rome in his methods of professional warfare. Even Machiavelli created his famous dictum “better to be feared than loved” based on Hannibal. So it is fatefully ironic that the general who won so many battles, but could not win the war, only wanted Rome to leave Carthage alone. Hannibal’s policies ultimately failed when the Romans totally obliterated Carthage in 146 BC. Legendary Carthage Douglas Kenning will illustrate how mythology expresses in narrative the varied ways a people understand themselves and their world. In the case of Carthage we began with the Rape of Europa, which led to the stories of Phoenix and Cadmus, which led to the stories of the Phoenician princess Elissa, which led to the story of Dido and Aeneas as told by Virgil. Few mythic cycles were as important as this one in ancient times, being fundamental to any understanding of Carthaginian values and behavior (e.g., Hannibal casting himself as Hercules) and how the Romans viewed their international role and their foreign policy. And for this reason, few mythic cycles are as important across subsequent Western arts, especially painting and music. Organizer: George Hammond   The Commonwealth Club of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. 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. Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 6m
  5. Solar Power to the People

    2 DAYS AGO

    Solar Power to the People

    At this moment, the cheapest way to create electricity is by pointing a solar panel at the sun. That’s good news for the climate. It’s also good news for communities who want to take control of their own electricity generation. In the heart of Brooklyn, UPROSE is helping to build a solar project that will be owned by the community, provide jobs, and help residents bring down their energy costs. In Puerto Rico, where hurricanes have devastated the power grid, community members are building solar microgrids to provide reliable electricity as the utility has proven they cannot. Meanwhile in conservative rural Virginia, Energy Right is helping farmers and rural communities adopt solar projects, touting a free market message about energy independence and security.  Guests:  Elizabeth Yeampierre, Attorney; Executive Director, UPROSE  Skyler Zunk, CEO and Founder, Energy Right  Arturo Massol-Deyá, Executive Director, Casa Pueblo de Adjuntas We’re excited to share two upcoming opportunities to see Climate One Live! On February 25, internationally recognized environmental and civil rights activist Catherine Coleman Flowers will join Climate One for a live conversation about the future of environmental justice. And on March 24, Google’s Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt and Irina Raicu, Director of the Internet Ethics Program at the Markkula Center, will speak with Climate One about the development of sustainably powered artificial intelligence. Tickets to both shows are on sale through our website. Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month. For show notes and related links, visit our website. Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min

  6. 3 DAYS AGO

    Joan Baez - Legendary Artist & Activist

    Joan Baez returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs nearly 45 years after she came here to discuss “Human Rights in the Eighties.” She's coming back not for a performance but for an in-depth talk about her personal thoughts and life experiences—the person behind the stardom. Baez has been writing poetry for decades, but she’s never before shared it publicly. Now in her book of poems When You See My Mother: Ask Her to Dance Baez shares poems about her contemporaries (such as Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, and Jimi Hendrix), reflections from her childhood, personal thoughts, and cherished memories of her family, including pieces about her younger sister, singer-songwriter Mimi Fariña. Speaking to the people, places, and moments that have had the greatest impact on her art, this collection is an inspiring personal diary in the form of poetry. Join us in-person to hear her discuss how, for the first time ever, she has shared revealing pivotal life experiences that shaped an icon, offering a never-before-seen look into the reminiscences and musings of a great artist. Note: This podcast contains explicit language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 7m

  7. 4 DAYS AGO

    Juan Williams: The Rise of America's Second Rights Movement

    More than a century of civil rights activism reached a mountaintop with the arrival of a Black man in the Oval Office. But hopes for a unified, post-racial America were deflated when Barack Obama’s presidency met with furious opposition. A white, right-wing backlash was brewing, and a volcanic new movement—a second civil rights movement—began to erupt.  In the highly anticipated follow-up to his Eyes on the Prize, bestselling author Juan Williams turns his attention to the rise of a new 21st-century civil rights movement. In New Prize for These Eyes, Williams shines a light on this historic, new movement. Who are its heroes? Where is it headed? What fires, furies, and frustrations distinguish it from its predecessor?  In the 20th century, Black activists and their white allies called for equal rights and an end to segregation. They appealed to the Declaration of Independence’s defiant assertion that “all men are created equal.” They prioritized legal battles in the courtroom and legislative victories in Congress. Today’s movement is dealing with new realities. Demographic changes have placed progressive whites in a new role among the largest, youngest population of Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians in the nation’s history. Williams says the new generation is social media savvy, and they have an agenda fueled by discontent with systemic racism and the persistent scourge of police brutality. Today’s activists are making history in a new economic and cultural landscape, and they are using a new set of tools and strategies to do so.  Join us as Williams traces the arc of this new civil rights era, from Obama to Charlottesville to January 6th and a Confederate flag in the Capitol. It’s more than a recounting of history. Williams offers a forward-looking call to action, urging Americans to get in touch with the progress made and hurdles yet to be overcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 2m

  8. 5 DAYS AGO

    Reid Hoffman: Superagency and Our AI Future

    The advent of artificial intelligence has spawned numerous nightmare scenarios of a runaway technology negatively affecting everything from jobs to national security to individual rights. Now Reid Hoffman shares his unique insider’s perspective on an AI-powered future, making the case for its potential to unlock a world of possibilities. Imagine AI tutors personalizing education for each child, researchers rapidly discovering cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer, and AI advisors empowering people to navigate complex systems and achieve their goals.  In his new book Superagency, Hoffman and co-author Greg Beato envision a world where these possibilities, and many more, become a reality. They offer a roadmap for using AI inclusively and adaptively to improve our lives and create positive change. While acknowledging challenges like disinformation and potential job changes, the book focuses on AI’s immense potential to increase individual agency and create better outcomes for society as a whole.  Join us as Hoffman challenges conventional fears, inviting us to view the future through a lens of opportunity, rather than fear. It’s a call to action—to embrace AI with excitement and actively shape a world where human ingenuity and the power of AI combine to create something extraordinary. NOTE: This podcast contains explicit language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 4m
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4.5
out of 5
63 Ratings

About

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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