Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

For Academy and Tony Award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden, ordinary was never in the cards. As a child, she moved between exotic locations and demonstrated an innate talent for storytelling. It’s no surprise that she became a highly celebrated actress and now an author. In her book, The Seasons of My Mother, Harden artfully depicts her creative bonds with her mother, Beverly. She uses floral imagery and ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, to connect her experience of becoming an artist to her mother's challenge to maintain her identity during her struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. This experience also drove Harden to become an activist for Alzheimer’s awareness. Join Harden for a loving conversation about the intersection of art, remembrance and the unique love that exists between mother and daughter. NOTES This is part of our Good Lit Series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation

After the ground stopped rumbling in the 1906 earthquake, many survivors fled the flames engulfing San Francisco and escaped to Berkeley. For the next 10 weeks there, an all-volunteer, citizen-organized relief effort first saved those refugees' lives and then put them back on their own two feet. In this illustrated presentation, Schwartz plumbs the depths of these events and painstakingly reconstructs the stories, details and subtleties of the relief period. Schwartz also asks: What did the people of 1906 know about human nature that they were able to mount a relief effort so successful that it was completed in 10 weeks, everyone having been uplifted to a new life or returned to their old ones? Find out the intriguing answers. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

Through powerful photographs taken by the world's leading photographers and evocative first-person essays from over a dozen noted writers, best-selling author Rick Smolan created The Good Fight: America's Ongoing Struggle for Justice to capture the sporadically violent, often triumphant, always risky struggles of Americans who have experienced hatred, oppression or bigotry because of their gender, skin color, beliefs and more over the past century. Fought in the streets, the courthouse and the corridors of Congress, this story, as told through Smolan's new book, has unfolded across America, illustrated with more than 180 memorable photographs, nearly 60 embedded videos, over a dozen compelling essays plus examples of music and lyrics that rallied America's resistance to injustice. To celebrate these stories and struggles, Smolan will engage some of the contributors to his book to share inspiring stories about how Americans have fought against injustice. Jonathan Greenblatt focuses on social justice issues as CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League. DeRay McKesson tackles civil rights issues on the streets and via social media. Andrea Dew Steele brings attention to women's rights. Ray Suarez, a longstanding journalist, tells the story of immigrants to emphasize their humanity and importance to our country. Please join us for a fascinating discussion of the power of civic activism, where America is today and what's at stake in the future. NOTES This program is generously supported by Levi Strauss & Co.

Do you wake up stiff and creaky? Does an old back injury sometimes knock you out of commission? Back pain often becomes more prevalent as we age, and though we may think we're powerless, back problems can be fixed. Learn specific moves that decrease back and neck pain almost immediately, or prevent pain if there isn’t any. We will talk about how to keep your back pain-free by learning how to bend in a way that does not hurt you, and by learning how to sit at your computer. We’ll cover exactly what it takes to get and maintain a back that is pain-free and stays that way. MLF ORGANIZER NAME John Milford NOTES MLF: Grownups

The scientific consensus is that human activity is cooking the planet and disrupting our economies. Yet many people still don’t believe that climate change will affect them personally. Or they deny that the problem is urgent enough to take action that would disrupt their lifestyles. Why has communicating the facts about climate change to the public been such a challenge?

Recent accounts of the U.S. State Department building liken it to the site of a nuclear attack: empty offices, dark wings and noiseless halls. According to Ronan Farrow, this desolate building is a symbol of something even bigger—American diplomacy has fallen to the wayside while our use of military action seems to grow. How did this happen and what does it mean for America’s place in the international sphere? Farrow, investigative journalist, former government advisor and now author, answers these questions and more. Farrow documents the decline of diplomacy since 9/11, citing incidents from across the globe and sharing interviews with whistleblowers, policymakers and every living secretary of state, from Henry Kissinger to Rex Tillerson. Join us for an enlightening conversation with Farrow about America’s role in the global community, the changes that have gotten America here, and how a return to diplomacy could lead the nation down a brighter path.

Always outspoken and entertaining, with four decades of experience at the center of California politics, Former San Francisco Mayor Brown will give his annual lecture on where we're headed at the state and federal level. A two-term mayor of San Francisco, legendary speaker of the California State Assembly and widely regarded as one of the most influential African-American politicians of the late 20th century, Brown is a key figure in California politics, government and civic life.

You've probably never considered if moose get drunk, penguins cheat on their mates or worker ants lay about. They do — and that's just for starters. Cooke takes us on a worldwide journey and exposes the secret, and often hilarious, habits of the animal kingdom. She explores our biggest myths and misconceptions about animals, ensuring that we will never think about hyenas, penguins and pandas in the same way again.

Join our distinguished annual panel for an up-to-date report on the Sierra Nevada mountains, habitats, water, rivers, trees, ground cover, and the harsh economic impacts caused by fire, degradation, drought and ecosystems changes. Where are we now in the 2017–2018 climate cycle and the cycle of destruction, renewal and regrowth for our mountains, valleys, rivers, farmlands, cities and economies? MLF ORGANIZER NAME Ann Clark NOTES MLF: Environment & Natural Resources

Albright fears that fascist tactics are growing more prevalent and threatens the balance of peace and justice more than at any time since the end of World War II. She issues an urgent warning to help us avoid repeating tragic mistakes of the past. Join us as this remarkable stateswoman offers a candid look at our foreign policy and national security, influenced by her own experiences as a child growing up in war-torn Europe and her distinguished career as a diplomat and first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state.