Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Climate change has joined sex, politics, and religion as a topic not to raise in polite company. But don’t blame deniers or oil companies for the socially constructed silence. People who are aware of the need to build a cleaner economy struggle with how to talk about it without turning off their friends and colleagues. As a result, climate conscious people are not talking about it, or taking as much personal action, as they know they should. Many are suffering from pre-traumatic stress worrying about carbon-driven storms and upheaval headed our way, according to a recent Esquire article. What can we learn about how to handle feelings of fear and despair as well as powerlessness and motivation? A conversation with experts on emotional intelligence, psychology, and mindfulness.

Geoengineering may sound like science fiction, but there are many who believe we can — and should — be taking drastic measures to cool our planet down.

In 2013, Antonio Villaraigosa finished his two terms as mayor of Los Angeles, a city of nearly 4 million residents, after eight years of major strides in transportation, crime reduction, infrastructure, energy and resource sustainability, "right-sizing" government, business development and education reform. Before his time in the mayor's office, he served as an L.A. city council member and speaker of the California Assembly. He has more than 20 years of leadership experience at the highest levels of state and municipal government, as well as in business, political, educational and nonprofit organizations. What’s next for one of California’s biggest political stars? He passed on making a Senate run this year, saying his heart and his family belongs in California. Will he be one of the candidates running for governor in 2018? Come and bring your questions!

Does this year’s wet winter mean we can go back to having green lawns and eating almonds in the shower? History suggests people quickly snap back to their regular ways after a drought. The state has loosened water restrictions this year and it may appear the drought has eased if not ended. A look at California’s water future and how innovation can help farmers get more crop per drop.

Queensland is Australia’s second largest state and the third most populous, with more than 4.5 million inhabitants. The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, premier of Queensland, is one of her country’s leading political figures. She will outline how her state is diversifying its economy from a traditional reliance on natural resources to innovation and ideas, and the potential that Queensland has as a launchpad for investment in the Asia-Pacific. She will also discuss the strategic importance of Australia to the world economy and international security. Ms Palaszczuk holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland, Master of Arts (Hons) from the University of London, Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Australian National University.

Robert Heller discusses policy issues facing the Federal Reserve: Should the Fed "normalize" monetary policy now? Was "quantitative easing" a success? Is the Fed’s chosen two-percent inflation target appropriate? What happens to the Fed as it pays ever more interest on bank reserves? These and many other important policy issues will be discussed by the author of The Unlikely Governor.

The Bay Area’s own Blue Bottle Coffee is known for its delicious coffee, clean, modern spaces and rapid expansion. Entering the Japanese market had been a longtime dream for Blue Bottle Coffee founder James Freeman, an enthusiastic fan of Japanese culture. Blue Bottle uses Japanese equipment and embraces the Japanese tradition of kodawari, or pursuit of perfection in one’s craft. Freeman has made numerous visits to Japan, and recently celebrated the opening of a Blue Bottle outlet in Tokyo. Join us as Freeman shares the story of Blue Bottle’s Japan market entry, from adjustments the company made to Japanese culture (and what they didn’t change), to its most interesting and surprising Japan experiences, as well as the inspiration he draws from Japan’s traditions.

Sherry Turkle, M.I.T. professor, researcher, consultant and author, will discuss the timely topic of digital influences on our personal lives, from how we relate to our family, friends, and lovers, plus how technology affects how we think, conduct our business, our productivity, creativity and innovation. The emphasis will be on the strategies to reintroduce conversation and put technology in a supporting, not default, mode of communication. Referred to by many as the "Margaret Mead of digital culture," Professor Turkle has 30 years of experience researching the psychology of people’s relationship with technology. She is the author of Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age and Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. She has a long list of awards and honors, has delighted audiences on all the major networks, and has been featured in The New York Times, Scientific American, and many other publications.

Jan Ellison's debut novel, A Small Indiscretion, was a San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of 2015. A graduate of Stanford, Jan left college for a year at 19 to study French in Paris, work in an office in London, and try her hand at writing. Twenty years later, her notes from that year became the germ of her acclaimed debut. She will discuss that journey, along with the long and winding road — paved with rejection and revision — to publishing her first short story, which went on to win an O. Henry Prize.

Brevetti will take a step-by-step approach to explaining one of the most difficult tasks that most people face—and typically under difficult circumstances. Writing one's own obituary can save a loved one from that responsibility, provided the relative is able to complete it on their own. Step by step, Ms. Brevetti will lead the audience through the process of where to find resources that might be available to help, the proper format and contents, and publishing the obituary. Why take chances? Learn from a professional how to write your own obituary, or that of someone else.