Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Robert Reich is one of the most beloved and influential voices in progressive politics today. In his new book, The Common Good, the former secretary of labor, and professor of public policy at U.C. Berkeley, contends that America has trapped itself in a vicious cycle of “whatever it takes” that has left us more divided than ever. As a result, Americans are experiencing an erosion of trust in our media, the largest income inequality in modern history, and the resurgence of nationalist movements and racist rhetoric. Yet despite this political bickering, Reich argues this cycle can—and must—be reversed. He believes that Americans should focus on our shared ideals and values, rather than what divides us. Join us as Robert Reich visits The Commonwealth Club to discuss how we can work together to create a stronger future for all. Reich will discuss his belief that "the political class is beholden to special interests who demand unsustainable spending, and that the unfunded liability crisis can be solved if we unshackle the engines of economic growth."

How do top-performing nonprofits achieve success, and how can we all play a part in making a difference? An expert on philanthropy, Millennial engagement and scaling early-stage organizations, Kathleen Kelly Janus has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Tech Crunch and the San Francisco Chronicle. An attorney, Kathleen is also co-founder of Spark, a nonprofit focused on building a community of young global citizens promoting gender equality. Join Janus in a lively conversation with inspiring social entrepreneurs Abby Falik, Krista Donaldson and Tess Reynolds highlighting the stories and insights from Janus' new book, Social Startup Success: How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up and Make a Difference. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Elizabeth Carney NOTES MLF: Business & Leadership

Ira Glass is a world-renowned storyteller and the host of radio show "This American Life." A titan of public radio, Ira’s show has more than 2 million listeners each week and has been on the air since 1995. Ira's latest project is producing Come Sunday, a Netflix film from director Joshua Marston based off an episode of "This American Life." Come Sunday tells the story and struggle of Carlton Pearson (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a preacher from Tulsa who has a crisis of faith and embarks on a new path that jeopardizes everything he holds dear. Join us for a special conversation with Ira about Come Sunday and the incredible true story of a man of faith. Portions of this program may contain explicit language.

In April 1962, the Kennedys hosted 49 Nobel Prize winners, along with many other prominent scientists, artists and writers, at a White House dinner. Among the guests were: J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was officially welcomed back to Washington, D.C. after a stint in the political wilderness; Linus Pauling, who had picketed the White House that very afternoon; William and Rose Styron, who began a 50-year friendship with the Kennedy family that night; James Baldwin, who would later discuss civil rights with Attorney General Robert Kennedy; Mary Welsh Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway's widow, who sat next to the president and grilled him on his policy in Cuba; John Glenn, who had recently orbited the Earth aboard Friendship 7; and historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., who argued with Ava Pauling at dinner. Held at the height of the Cold War, the dinner symbolized a time when intellectuals were esteemed, divergent viewpoints could be respectfully discussed at the highest level and the great minds of an age might all dine together in the rarefied glamour of "The People's House." MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

In an emergency, we’re told to “break the glass” and reach for the fire extinguisher. Some would argue we’re in the midst of a climate emergency – so what’s the solution? Can we spray a firehose into the sky to cool down our atmosphere? It may sound like science fiction, but there are climatologists who believe we can – and should – do something very much like it.

Renowned author Elizabeth Rosner takes on the complex subject of war’s long aftermath. The daughter of two Holocaust survivors, she interweaves personal narrative with extensive research, in order to provide an over-arching look at the multi-generational consequences of genocide and atrocities worldwide. Incorporating scientific evidence for epigenetics, she examines interconnections among descendants of Holocaust victims, survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees, and African Americans shadowed by the legacy of slavery and lynching — offering insights into the urgent need for meaningful, shared dialogue about our collective task of healing Rosner's books have been celebrated internationally. The Speed of Light was translated into nine languages and won several awards in the U.S. and in Europe, including being shortlisted for the prestigious Prix Femina. Blue Nude was named among the best books of 2006 by the San Francisco Chronicle. Electric City was named among the best books of 2014 by NPR. Rosner's essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Elle, the San Francisco Chronicle and elsewhere. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Linda J. Calhoun NOTES MLF: International Relations

Buzzwords like blockchain, cryptocurrency, and bitcoin are popping up in every news outlet and in casual conversation—but if you’re not an insider, do you actually know how it works? INFORUM wants to make sure this new technology feels more accessible and understandable to all, and we’ve got lots of questions we want to get answered. Join top blockchain journalist Laura Shin as she digs into the burgeoning field and asks all our burning questions to Kathryn Haun, a leader in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space known for being a clear and candid “explainer.” It’s time to clarify this murky world and ensure you can both throw the buzzwords around and engage more deeply with this technology. Start thinking of your questions now! A few of ours include… What IS cryptocurrency? What IS blockchain? Why do either of those things matter now, or in the future? Are they safe? What is an ICO? What does ‘mining’ mean? Should I buy cryptocurrency? If so...how? This program is the first in a series exploring blockchain, cryptocurrency, and the future of this technology—we hope you’ll come back for more.

Join us on the day after Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, as our distinguished panel of consuls general discusses the actions of heroic diplomats who defied their superiors to save thousands of Jews from certain annihilation in the Holocaust. While almost the whole world was reluctant to help desperate Jewish refugees, these brave diplomats went beyond the call of duty and are recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Celia Menczel NOTES MLF: The Middle East

Monday Night Philosophy rediscovers the influential precedents set by Chief Justice John Marshall. No member of America's founding generation had a greater impact on the Constitution and the Supreme Court than Marshall, and no one did more to preserve the delicate unity of the fledgling United States. From our nation's founding in 1776, and for the next 40 years, Marshall was at the center of every political battle. As chief justice of the United States Supreme Court—the longest-serving in history—he established the independence of the judiciary and the supremacy of the Constitution and the federal courts. As the leading Federalist in Virginia, he rivaled his cousin Thomas Jefferson in influence. As a diplomat and secretary of state, he defended American sovereignty against France and Britain, counseled President John Adams, and supervised the construction of Washington, D.C. This is the story of how a rough-cut frontiersman with little formal education became one of the nation's preeminent lawyers and politicians and, with cunning, imagination and grace, shaped America's future. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation

President Bill Clinton called former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband "one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time.” As president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, Miliband oversees the agency’s humanitarian relief operations in more than 40 war-affected countries and its refugee resettlement and assistance programs in 28 United States cities. Miliband points out that we are in the middle of the largest humanitarian crisis of the modern era and that more people have been forced to flee their homes by conflict and crisis than at any time since World War II. Miliband will discuss his view that while political leadership, abroad and in the United States is in retreat, close collaboration between the public, private and nonprofit sectors can help save millions of lives. Miliband’s parents fled to Britain from continental Europe during World War II and its aftermath. As the son of refugees, he brings a personal commitment to the IRC's work. As the 74th Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, Miliband also drove advancements in human rights throughout the world.