Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Adam Levin, a longtime consumer advocate and identity fraud expert, offers his new book Swiped as an essential guide to surviving online security, providing practical information on how to minimize risk, monitor your identity, and manage the damage. Join Levin as he sits down with consumer reporter Michael Finney to discuss a strategy for dealing with identity theft.

How does the U.S. plan to combat ISIS? How will we know if we are succeeding? What is our future role in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan? How should we be approaching Russia—as a threat or an ally, or both? Why did the U.S. finally just decide to admit women to combat roles in our armed forces? Is North Korea in a new round of nuclear weapons development, and how should the U.S. respond? Is the U.S. defense budget too large or too small? Will we need to spend more or less in the future, and on what kinds of technology? How can “soft power” help to further U.S. security goals? Do we need more nuclear weapons, or fewer, or to improve and update those we have? Where are the future hotspots that could threaten U.S. and global security? How is the Pentagon dealing with climate change? What countries are the closest allies and collaborators for the U.S.? Here’s a rare chance to hear first-hand from the U.S. secretary of defense on these and many other topics—you bring the questions! A physicist and Rhodes Scholar, Defense Secretary Ashton "Ash" Carter has spent more than three decades applying his knowledge of science and technology, global strategy, and policy in leadership roles during both Democratic and Republican administrations. Secretary Carter served as deputy secretary of defense from 2011 to 2013, essentially the Department of Defense’s chief operating officer. From 2009 to 2011, he was under-secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. From 1993-1996, he served as assistant secretary of defense for international security policy, where he was responsible for strategic affairs, nuclear weapons policy, and the Nunn-Lugar program that dismantled nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia. Prior to his appointment as secretary of defense, Dr. Carter was a distinguished visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and a lecturer at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Previously, at Harvard’s Kennedy School, he was professor and chair of the international and global affairs faculty. Secretary Carter earned his bachelor’s degrees in physics and medieval history at Yale University and his doctorate in theoretical physics at Oxford University. For his government service, Secretary Carter has been awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, DoD’s highest honor, on five separate occasions. Secretary Carter is author or co-author of 11 books and more than 100 articles on physics, technology, national security and management. Join us for what promises to be a provocative and informative discussion.

For Hayden, playing to the edge means playing so close to the line that you get chalk dust on your cleats. By playing back, you might protect yourself, but he believes you will be less successful in protecting America. "Play to the edge" was Hayden's guiding principle when he ran the National Security Agency, and it remained so when he ran the CIA. In his view, many shortsighted and uninformed people are quick to criticize, but he offers an unapologetic insider's look told from the perspective of the people who faced awesome responsibilities head on, in the moment. How did American intelligence respond to terrorism, a major war and the most sweeping technological revolution in the last 500 years? What was the NSA before 9/11 and how did it change in its aftermath? Why did the NSA begin the controversial terrorist surveillance program that included the acquisition of domestic phone records? What else was set in motion during this period that formed the backdrop for the infamous Snowden revelations in 2013? Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at America's anti-terror efforts.

“Originals is one of the most important and captivating books I have ever read, full of surprising and powerful ideas. It will not only change the way you see the world; it might just change the way you live your life. And it could very well inspire you to change your world.” —Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook What does it mean to be original? Using studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports and entertainment, Grant explores how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt. Grant explores different ways to nurture and encourage originality both personally and professionally. Grant has been recognized as Wharton's top-rated teacher for four straight years and is one of Malcolm Gladwell's favorite social science writers.

Tinsley, who graduated with a law degree from the London School of Economics and was a political reporter for the BBC will primarily discuss the work of Waging for Peace, a project she started after visiting a Darfur refugee camp at the height of the killing there. She collects evidence of human rights abuses and helps Sudanese dissidents who wish to claim asylum. Tinsley also started Network for Africa to help survivors of genocide and former child soldiers rebuild their lives. In recognition of her work, President and Mrs. Carter invited Tinsley and her husband Henry, to start the Carter Center in Europe.

A celebrity at 23, controversial at 26, Custer immersed himself in the making of the modern United States—as a professional soldier, politician, popular writer, outdoorsman, and financier—yet he could never adapt to the times he helped to create. Stiles paints an intimate portrait of a volatile public figure, highlighting the women who surrounded him, as he finds surprising new significance in a life that stretched from West Point to Wall Street to the Western frontier.

The San Francisco Foundation is investing in communities and the environment to build climate equity and resilience because it believes that all people need access to clean water, healthy food, safe outdoor play areas, and nature, for the health and safety of the Bay Area. Join us in a discussion of the important work that the San Francisco Foundation does and what the foundation envisions for the years to come.

In his first public conversation, NRW chairman Bill Ryan will share lessons learned from his pioneering work with clients such as Apple, Yahoo!, Xerox and others. Lessons that continue to impact his approach to brand development today.

As president and CEO of the Skoll Foundation, she partners with Founder and Chairman Jeff Skoll and guides the organization in its search and support of innovators pioneering scalable solutions to pressing global problems. Under Osberg’s leadership, the foundation has invested in more than 100 ventures led by social entrepreneurs worldwide; established the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School of Oxford University; created the annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship; and brokered cutting-edge partnerships with organizations such as the Sundance Institute and the Social Progress Imperative. Osberg has been recognized as one of Silicon Valley’s Millennium 100 by the San Jose Mercury News and among the social sector’s 50 most influential leaders by The NonProfit Times. Roger Martin is well-known as a thinker who crosses over between the world of ideas and the world of practice. His books have made numerous top-10 business book lists and won prizes, including 800-CEO-READ's top business book and the Thinkers50 book award for Playing to Win. He has also written more than a dozen Harvard Business Review articles and numerous articles in leading newspapers and magazines. Roger has been internationally recognized for his work as a professor and former dean of the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. He has served on the Skoll Foundation’s board of directors since its formation in 1999. They will discuss how meaningful change actually happens in the world and provide concrete lessons and a practical model for businesses, policymakers, civil society organizations, and individuals who seek to transform our world for good.

Given the historic closeness and cultural similarities between the U.S. and the UK, what explains this tremendous difference in relations? Understanding this question is relevant to the future of world peace and stability, and we have invited two speakers eminently qualified to shed light on this issue. They will describe the stark difference in reception of President Xi in both the United States and China, why the UK is going its own way with Chinese relations, and the takeaways and implications arising from this issue.