Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

The Brower Youth Awards are recognized as North America's most prestigious prize for youth environmental activism between the ages of 13-22. Six winners will be announced at the public awards ceremony in San Francisco. Join us for a special preview night, when we will hear more about what inspires, challenges and excites each of these young environmental change-makers. Learn more about past winners and the awards program by visiting broweryouthawards.org.

Election Day is almost here. Some of you will have already voted, and are now biting your nails for the final outcome. Join us then as we explore 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!

Today, we’re going to extreme ends of climate change debate... and action. While most of us are still comfortable sitting in the center – perhaps accepting the science, but not doing much about it – there are some organizations and individuals who are willing to jump off a bridge to convince us of the peril we face. And there are others who are using misinformation and deception to try to sow doubt in our minds about whether there is any problem at all.

Today we’re talking about the business and politics of climate change. Keeping our economy rolling and workers employed, while making the transition to climate-friendly energy sources requires political imagination and industrial innovation. But innovation can also be a bridge between business and politics. With the Paris agreement now part of our climate landscape, industry leaders need to adapt their business models to respond to the historic promises made by our politicians.

Fossil fuels have lifted nations into the modern era, bringing wealth and well being to many. But as we turn away from these carbon intensive energy sources, will the promise of jobs and prosperity from a clean energy society, be fulfilled? Or will the gulf between the haves and have-nots simply widen? And how will we protect everyone from the health impacts of a hot world?

Pirchner will examine the imperialist and nationalist ideology that drives Russia's interference in the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Additionally, he will discuss how the centuries-long repression of Ukrainian culture by Russia and the USSR—especially in the 1930s—have motivated Ukraine's spirited defense of its territory. Pirchner will conclude with an analysis of current events affecting this war, which has killed more than 10,000 people and created 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees.

Has California’s climate law created new jobs and industries? Or has it been a drag on the economy and raised energy prices? What happens when the law’s clock runs out in 2020? Join us for a lively discussion with the AB 32’s co-author, its primary enforcer, and its chief adversary.

With election day just a few weeks away, Nancy Cohen, a frequent writer and commentator on women's political leadership, will draw on some 125 interviews with elected officials and strategists of both parties to assess the history of women's experience in politics, the changing political climate, and the current prospects for Hillary Clinton to win the country's highest elective office. Dr. Cohen is author of four books, including the widely acclaimed Delirium: The Politics of Sex in America and The Reconstruction of American Liberalism. Her writing on American politics has appeared in the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, and Rolling Stone. She has taught politics and history at Occidental College, UCLA and Cal State Long Beach, and holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University.

In the 40 years that have passed since he crafted the iconic Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that beat its French counterpart in the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting competition, Miljenko "Mike" Grgich has garnered wide acclaim as an industry pioneer while his wines have been served at White House state dinners. Having grown up alongside her father in the winery, trying her hand at everything from the bottling line to the tasting room, Violet Ggrich will share her personal recollections on publishing her father’s newly released memoir, A Glass Full of Miracles, as well as the family's plans for the future.

Luvvie Ajayi, writer and humorist, is that friend who brings up all the “touchy” topics you’re not supposed to talk about at dinner, like love, sex, money and politics. In her new book, the New York Times best-seller I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual, Luvvie deftly dissects everything from feminism to friendship to social media to sex tapes, all the while encouraging readers to take a hard look at why they think and act the way they do in today’s crazy-connected, digital world. Luvvie can and does school her readers on everything from proper Facebook etiquette to race relations; she tells you to “do better,” and people will want to listen. Recently named a member of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100, Luvvie’s award-winning blog AwesomelyLuvvie reaches more than 500,000 readers. She’s a highly coveted speaker all over the world, and she’s the executive director of the Red Pump Project, a national HIV/AIDS non-profit. Luvvie’s bringing the awesome to the INFORUM stage, and we can’t wait!