Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

As the debate about out-of-control policing continues, come hear a provocative discussion about threats to constitutional rights involving the use of force and surveillance by law enforcement agencies and how those threats can be kept in check. Panelist Barry Friedman, a noted authority on constitutional law, argues that the problem is not so much the policing agencies as it is the rest of us. He says we allow these agencies to operate in secret and to decide how to police us, and that it’s time for citizens to take responsibility for governing those who govern us. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón established a blue-ribbon panel on transparency, accountability and fairness in law enforcement as an advisory body in 2015. What should be the parameters of policing? Bring your questions.

Amy Goodman has built a career on covering movements that highlight solutions and catalyze change. She has explored how grassroots activism and general muckraking can give a voice to those otherwise ignored. Goodman does not shy away from difficult issues and is not afraid to take on powerful industries when bringing a story to the public. As the president of Union for Concerned Scientists (UCS), Kenneth Kimmell has the same tenacity as Goodman in terms of getting to the bottom of things. Under Kimmell’s leadership, UCS has led the charge in exposing the relationship between oil companies, climate change and climate denial. Join us for a conversation about what it’s like to go up against one of the most powerful industries in the world in and convince people they have been lied to.

Chefs Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski always have a line out the door for their award-winning dishes. Inspired by years of catering parties, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo adopted a casual dim sum cart style of small plates at their debut restaurant, State Bird Provisions. They then expanded their empire with The Progress, a place where the menu feels like a dinner party banquet. Both restaurants have garnered critical acclaim, including multiple James Beard Awards and Michelin Stars, and their shared special event space, The Workshop, creates even more opportunities for good food and community. Now Brioza and Krasinski want to get into your kitchen too. Join us as they discuss their first book, State Bird Provisions: A Cookbook. We’re hungry just looking at the recipes for some of their most popular dishes, and the breathtaking photography will no doubt inspire you to get creative and get cooking.

Oliver Sacks, scientist and storyteller, was one of the most talented minds of our time. He offered us some of the most compelling and seminal ideas on evolution, consciousness, creativity and more, with passion and honesty. Sacks was instrumental in introducing autism, Tourette’s syndrome and schizophrenia to a general audience. A true polymath, Sacks explored many other topics both scientific and poetic, and he frequently turned his inquisitive mind onto his own experiences. Sacks’ book, The River of Consciousness, is a posthumous collection of essays that reveals Sacks’ ability to make unexpected connections while also showing Sacks’ sheer joy in knowledge and uncovering his unceasing, timeless project to understand what makes us human. Join Bill Hayes, New York Times writer and photographer; Steve Silberman, science writer; and Victoria Sweet, associate clinical professor of medicine at UC San Francisco, in celebrating the extraordinary life and work of Oliver Sacks.

Marin wellness coach Carlyn Montes De Oca, an animal–human health expert and author of Dog as My Doctor, Cat as My Nurse, will share the surprising ways that our furry best friends can make us healthier and happier. Speaking from her book, Montes De Oca will explore the many ways our animal companions enhance our health and well-being. She will relay heart-warming stories of healing, transformation and redemption. Hoping to inspire more pet adoptions, Montes De Oca is eager to share how pets can be terrific lifelines, adding years to owners’ lives.

Nearly a year after Donald Trump was elected president, what has happened? What has changed? What promises have been kept and not kept? It's Halloween, so we'll have some holiday treats in store — hopefully no tricks. We'll 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!

It has become clear: North Korea not only has nuclear weapons but is also developing intercontinental missiles with the capacity to strike the continental United States. What are the latest facts about North Korea’s weapons and the political situation? How does this crisis affect South Korea, Japan and other countries throughout Asia? How does it affect the United States? What are the possible ethical and policy responses to the current situation? Professor William J. Perry and Professor Jeffrey Lewis, two of the leading American experts on nuclear weapons and related defense policy, and Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, will address this nuclear crisis and its broader implications.

Should Americans be optimistic or pessimistic about the state of the country heading into 2018? Come hear from one of America’s leading conservative pundits. Steve Forbes is chairman of Forbes Media, which publishes Forbes magazine. Forbes has a circulation of nearly 1 million readers domestically and 5 million worldwide. In both 1996 and 2000, Forbes campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the presidency. Key components to his platform included a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental school choice, term limits and a strong national defense. Forbes continues to energetically promote this agenda. Bring your questions.

Recent campaign scandals and celebrity arrests have brought discussions on gender quality and domestic violence to the forefront in the news. But for many Californians, domestic violence is not just a news story. In fact, a staggering 40 percent of female Californians report having been victims of domestic violence in the past. How can we understand this devastating societal issue and seek to address its root causes? Join our discussion as we talk about new studies on domestic violence in California and discuss shocking new findings on racial disparities and perceptions of gender roles.

San Francisco Opera's world premiere of "Girls of the Golden West," set during the 1850s California Gold Rush, was created by the renowned team: composer John Adams and director/librettist Peter Sellars. Sellars and San Francisco Opera general director Matthew Shilvock will discuss the production and its mix of wildness, optimism, greed, violence, humor and racial prejudices in the stories of three Gold Rush women whose lives intersected in a small mining community in the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1850. "Girls of the Golden West" is based on factual events and persons.