From classical philosophers like Epictetus, to great 20th century thinkers like Martin Luther King Jr., to her own experience working in the federal government during a particularly politically fraught era, Alexandra Hudson examines how civility―a respect for the personhood and dignity of others―transcends political disagreements. Respecting someone means valuing them enough to tell them when you think they are wrong. It’s easy to look at the divided state of the world and blame our leaders, the media, or our education system. Hudson says that instead, we should focus on what we can control: ourselves. She argues that includes living tolerantly with others despite deep differences, but still rigorously protesting wrongs and debating issues rather than silencing disagreements. Since a robust public discourse is essential to a truly civil society, and since respecting others means telling hard truths, if enough of us decide to change ourselves, we might be able to change the world we live in too. And that is the difference between politeness―a superficial appearance of good manners―and true civility. 
 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.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alexandra Hudson: The Soul of Civility

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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In 2022, India surpassed the United Kingdom as the fifth largest economy in the world. Since the 1990s, a series of U.S. presidents and secretaries of state have acclaimed India as a rising major power that deserves to be recognized as a lead actor in the international arena. T.V. Paul, an international relations professor at McGill University, explores in his new book The Unfinished Quest the key motivations driving Indian leaders to enhance India's global status and power, but also on the many constraints that have hindered its progress. Paul's analysis of India's quest for status also sheds important light for understanding the China-India rivalry, as well as India's relative position in the broader Indo-Pacific theater. Join us for a special online-only program to hear Paul’s sweeping account of India's uneven rise in the global system. Whether India can be a "swing power" able to mitigate China's aggressive rise depends on its relative power position in that theater and its own evolution as an inclusive, tolerant democracy that can develop and utilize its most priced asset, the demographic dividend, says Paul. MLF ORGANIZER Dr. Kalidip Choudhury, Ph.D.   An Asia-Pacific Affairs 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. 
 This program contains EXPLICIT language.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India’s Search for Major Power Status

Is hustling and grinding to “do it all” doing you in? Are you feeling fried and frayed, with a short fuse, low energy, and troubled sleep? Can't remember what you used to enjoy? But quitting your job doesn't feel like an option, and who has the energy and time to learn new coping skills or plan an escape? You’re not alone. Burnout is the modern epidemic, with an estimated 82 percent of American employees at risk in 2024. That's why the Club chose Cara Houser, who was a high-performing executive running major real estate development projects while raising two kids, to talk about real burnout solutions for real people. In her first career, Houser spent 20 years learning how to thrive in the 24/7, always-on real estate development business. Her teams produced more than 3,000 homes in the San Francisco Bay Area, creating over $1.5 billion in value. Trying to be everything to everyone (except herself), she hit the wall and burned out, badly. Houser has now spent years focusing on what can be done to help people in burnout. She constructed a practical and inspiring guidebook that works for people who are so burned out that they don't have the emotional, physical, or financial resilience to follow the usual Internet tips of "relax, learn yoga, go for a run, brainstorm your ideal job." That's what makes her approach so refreshing and useful. It meets you where you are: with barely enough energy to get through the day and zero interest in adding more expensive "self-care" to your overflowing to-do list. Houser says her realistic, no-fluff roadmap guides you step by step out of burnout and into creating a vibrant, joyful, fulfilling life. Did you know that one of the ingredients for healing from burnout is enlivening experiences and supportive connections? Join us for an engaging, interactive program, with Cara Houser. You’ll leave feeling energized, inspired, resourced, and ready to chart a new course that lights you up. The world needs your spark, and your time to shine is now. MLF ORGANIZER: Eric Siegel A Personal Growth 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. 
 This program contains EXPLICIT language.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Burned Out? This Is The Way Out!

Join us for an afternoon focused on automation and innovation for public good. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to revolutionize transportation in our cities, offering increased accessibility and efficiency in our urban transport systems. The 8th Autonomous Vehicles and the City symposium at The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California will feature global discussions from senior executives and experts across the AV industry and the public sector. From integrating automation and AI within public transit systems to optimizing resources like curbs and city rights-of-way for autonomous vehicle operations to reduce vehicle miles traveled, the conference will touch on the variety of ways AV platforms are being used to serve diverse populations and help global cities meet climate goals. Speakers and Moderators Dr. William (Billy) Riggs, Professor, University of San Francisco; Director, Autonomous Vehicles & the City Initiative Dr. Otgontsetseg Erhemjamts, Dean, School of Management, University of San Francisco Sharon Giovinazzo, CEO, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired San Francisco Mollie Cohen D'Agostino, Executive Director, Mobility Science, Automation and Inclusion Center (MoSAIC) at UC Davis Arielle Fleisher, Policy Development and Research Manager at Waymo Brook Dubose, Associate Principal and Cities, Planning & Design Leader at Arup Dr. Henriette Cornet, Professor, University of San Francisco; Strategic Mobility Consultant Tim Haile, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Dr. James Fishelson, Executive Director, PATH at UC Berkeley  Dr. Sven Beiker, Managing Director, Silicon Valley Mobility; Lecturer, Stanford University Ron Thaniel, Senior Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Zoox Dr. Michael Goldman, Professor, University of San Francisco; Associate Dean of Graduate Programs   Hosted by the University of San Francisco School of Management. In partnership with The Commonwealth Club of California   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Autonomous Vehicles and the City 2024

Acting like a responsible adult can be challenging at the best of times. Add dealing with climate chaos to the mix, and keeping it all together can feel like an outright miracle.  Let’s start by acknowledging that all does not feel fine in the world at the present moment. But living through extreme intensity isn’t a completely unique experience. Generations before us have endured existential crises of unimaginable magnitudes.  So how do we navigate this period of uncertainty — regardless of our age? And what tools can we use to build resilience in the midst of what feels like a lot? Guests:  Emily Raboteau, Author, “Lessons for Survival: Mothering Against ‘The Apocalypse’” Ana Alanis, Founder, Hungry for Climate Action Andrew Bryant, Co-Director, North Seattle Therapy & Counseling Join Climate One and Project Drawdown's Matt Scott live in San Francisco on June 25! 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.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLIMATE ONE: Adulting in Turbulent Times

It is an enduring mystery whether Frank Morris, and brothers John and Clarence Anglin, escaped from Alcatraz prison on June 11, 1962. It is widely believed that they succumbed to the waters of San Francisco Bay, though no trace of the men has ever been found―only their makeshift raft. In this reexamination of the escape and its aftermath, Ken Widner presents compelling evidence that his two Anglin uncles did in fact survive and eventually made their way to Brazil, where they married and had children―evidence which corroborates the stories he heard about his uncles while growing up. Widner and Mike Lynch make a strong case for the Anglin brothers’ survival using official government documents showing how mobster Mickey Cohen may have been involved in their escape, revealing letters from fellow inmate Whitey Bulger, and recorded testimony from the person who facilitated their escape to Brazil. In addition, there is a 1975 photograph of the brothers in Brazil which has overcome all challenges to its authenticity by skeptics. Join us for a fascinating deep-dive into Bay Area history. MLF ORGANIZER: George Hammond  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. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alexandra Hudson: The Soul of Civility

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