Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Hear about the enduring lessons that helped shape Robert F. Kennedy Jr., influencing his values, his principles and his work as a leading environmental activist. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the third of 11 children born to Bobby Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, reflects on what it meant to grow up as part of his extraordinary family. He shares some of his favorite childhood memories and speaks passionately of the role models who shaped him, including his father and his Uncle Jack. NOTES Part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation

San Francisco Opera characterizes its upcoming production of 2018 Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen (The Ring) as a transformative journey through a world unhinged by corruption and politics, ravaged by greed and neglect, and where the one true power is the redeeming force of love. Reknowned opera and stage director Francesca Zambello will lead us through production video and music that reflect how the The Ring, as she reminds us, “is always contemporary. We are presenting a world in some ways familiar to our audience but also one that will feel very mythic as we look to our country’s rich imagery. The great themes of the Ring—nature, power and corruption—resound through America’s past and haunt our present." MLF ORGANIZER NAME Anne W. Smith NOTES MLF: The Arts

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union 27 years ago, Russia has been both a central figure in our foreign relations and a surprise actor in our domestic politics. Given the unprecedented attention paid to our Cold War foe, how did we get here? Ambassador Michael McFaul may have some answers. McFaul served as the seventh United States ambassador to Russia from 2012-2014 and is one of America’s leading scholars, with unparalleled insight into the Russian Federation and how it functions. in his new book, From Cold War to Hot Peace, McFaul shares his knowledge and provides a unique perspective on one of today’s most contentious and consequential international relationships. Come listen to reflections on U.S.-Russia relations, election interference, the rise of the hostile, paranoid Russian president and a firsthand account of McFaul’s ambassadorship. NOTES This is a Good Lit event, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation

The June local and state election is almost upon us—actually, it is already upon us, because most California voters cast their ballots before Election Day. Meanwhile, events in Washington and internationally from Iran to North Korea are keeping us checking our news feeds regularly. Join us as we discuss the biggest, most controversial and sometimes the surprising political issues with expert commentary by panelists who are smart, are civil and have a good sense of humor. Join our panelists for informative and engaging commentary on political and other major news, audience discussion of the week’s events, and our live news quiz!

Opened in September 2017, our new LEED Gold building sits right on the historic Embarcadero, with sweeping views of the Bay and Bay Bridge from every level. Every year, the Club celebrates honorees who provided strong and ethical leadership in their fields. This year we laud the achievements of distinguished citizens from various sectors, including government, technology, education and philanthropy. A tented, outdoor cocktail reception and awards ceremony will be followed by four simultaneous dinner events, one on each level of the new Commonwealth Club. To more easily locate each of our honorees, scroll through the audio to these locations; 0.28 Nancy Pfund 23.12 Sylvia and Leon Panetta 51.09 John Hennessy 73.00 Mary Bitterman

"Class is complicated. So, so complicated," a listener named Jessica wrote to WNYC Studios’ "Death, Sex & Money" (DSM) podcast when they asked for listener-submitted stories about class. Death, Sex & Money and BuzzFeed News collaborated on a multimedia project called Opportunity Costs: Money and Class in America. In listening to and reading the stories, it became evident that class wasn’t just about money—it was also about childhoods, present-day status, aspirations, housing, education, culture, mental health, community and much more. And now, we want to know: What does class mean to you? Join DSM host Anna Sale and BuzzFeed News’ Venessa Wong for a conversation about class and all that it entails. Expect lots of audience participation and engagement around questions like “What embarrases you about your current class status?” and “What was a moment when you felt particularly aware of your class status?” We’ll provide drinks and snacks to help get the dialogue started and keep it going in a post-show happy hour.

The Paris Climate Accord was signed by 195 countries in December 2015. In June 2017, President Trump announced he'll start to withdraw the country from the agreement, claiming it disadvantaged the United States. The symbolism of the American government’s retreat overshadowed the reality that the U.S. business community has embraced a low-carbon future.

The widening gap between the rich and the poor is one of the most important issues facing societies worldwide. Income inequality has increased drastically over the past four decades, and the debate on how to address this problem has never been more important. Dambisa Moyo, global economist and author of the new book, Edge of Chaos, analyzes how liberal democracies are failing their own citizens. She emphasizes the importance of economic growth in creating global stability, and presents us with a radical roadmap to reform our democracies to meet the needs of the people. Moyo presents the economic struggles that are weakening our democracies and how we can overcome them without abandoning democracy itself.

For the last five years, James and Deborah Fallows have been traveling across the country, meeting with civic leaders, factory workers, entrepreneurs and recent immigrants to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing small- and medium-sized cities in the United States. The Fallows offer a unique portrait of America and the people and organizations that are helping reshape our country and present a vision of hope. Learn more about their amazing 100,000-mile journey and the optimistic view they have for America’s future.

Grace Kennan Warnecke has lived a life on the edge of history: In addition to her own multi-faceted career as a professional photographer, television producer, and book editor and critic, and her deep involvement in U.S.-Russia relations, she is the daughter of one of the most influential diplomats of the 20th century, the wife of the scion of a newspaper dynasty and the mother of the youngest owner of a major league baseball team. Born in Latvia, Warnecke lived in seven countries and spoke five languages before she was eleven. As a child, she witnessed Hitler’s march into Prague, attended a Soviet school during World War II and sailed the seas with her father. Later she accompanied Ted Kennedy and his family to Russia, escorted Joan Baez to Moscow to meet with dissident Andrei Sakharov, hosted Josef Stalin’s daughter Svetlana on the Kennan family farm after Svetlana defected, and witnessed the breakup of the Soviet Union. Come hear from this remarkable woman who has a front-row seat to history. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond