Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

If anyone can make provocative predictions about technology and its impact on business and our everyday lives, it is Tom Siebel. One of Silicon Valley's most successful entrepreneurs for more than four decades, he remains at the forefront of enterprise software, big data, cloud, the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning—formerly at Oracle and Siebel Systems and, most recently, as founder and CEO of C3. Siebel explores the far-ranging impact that AI and digital innovation will have on every aspect of life and how this step function change in technology—fueled by AI and IoT—continues to disrupt critical industries from agriculture, health care, manufacturing, defense, financial services and energy. Siebel will discuss the societal and ethical implications of AI, exploring both the dangers and the opportunities where AI can have the greatest impact. Given AI is being rapidly applied to virtually all societal domains, the urgency of working together to mitigate the adverse consequences has never been greater. Leading researchers suggest it is only a matter of time before rival states, criminals and terrorists use AI’s scale and efficiency to launch finely targeted and highly efficient attacks. In this rapidly evolving climate, Siebel argues that the benefits of AI are substantial, but the potential costs are significant. He advocates that the balance between the two lies in regulation, private and public sector collaboration, and a clear focus on issues such as privacy and cybersecurity to protect us—as consumers and citizens. Join one of technology’s most preeminent leaders for a night of insightful conversation on the shaping of society by the exponential—and unstoppable—rise of AI.

Photography has always had a special role in shaping the visual narratives that help us make sense of our world. Not only do we record, share and understand life through images, but these images also galvanize individuals to act. While the impulse for visual storytelling is as old as humanity itself, the tools, storytellers and mechanisms for sharing visual stories are now dramatically different. More than ever, photography has the power to transcend barriers, spark dialogue and promote understanding. But who is telling these stories today, and how can we take action to enable people to tell their own stories, widening the lens of storytellers everywhere? Three extraordinary leaders in photography will discuss their groundbreaking approaches to using the most powerful communications tools of our time, concurrently creating provocative work on their own and exposing diverse artists to opportunities to amplify their visual voices. Join us for a dynamic conversation about the exciting possibilities of a more nuanced and inclusive photographic lens to create a broader societal impact. *Shahidul Alam is currently being held by Dhaka police after criticizing the Bangladeshi government in an interview with Al Jazeera. His attendance at our Nov. 2 event is dependent on his release: https://www.catchlight.io/news-content/2018/10/2/update-shahidul-alam-at-widening-the-lens. In association with CatchLight.

Red states, blue states – when it comes to our environment, are we really two different Americas? New Yorker writer Eliza Griswold spent time in southwestern Pennsylvania to tell the story of a family living on the front lines of the fracking boom. Berkeley professor Arlie Hochschild traveled to Louisiana to escape what she calls the “bubble” of coastal thinking. Both writers emerged with books that paint an honest portrait of a misunderstood America. On today’s program, tales of the people whose lives have been impacted by America’s craving for energy, the choices they’ve made, and their fight to protect their families and their environment.

Twenty-four years after the genocide against the Tutsi, a process of reconciliation and redevelopment has helped Rwandans transcend many of the divisions that tore their nation apart. The process of reconciliation today is embodied by government initiatives intended to erase the old colonial construct of operation along ethnic identities. This event will discuss Rwanda's history and how its people were able to heal the wounds of genocide and harness a shared spirit to challenge the forces that tore the country apart. MLF Organizer Name Linda Calhoun Notes MLF: International Relations

Modern health means metabolic health. The main pathway to chronic diseases today is the breakdown of our finely tuned metabolic machinery inside, due to processed food, lifestyle and – mental health? Stress and depression have potent effects on our behavior and creating imbalance of hormones such as glucose, insulin and inflammation. Poor mental health contributes to the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of common maladies including a large waist, high lipid levels and blood pressure, breakdown of the balance between insulin and glucose, and the most invisible to all, a fatty liver. You will hear from four experts in this area on the important topics of nutrition, optimal daily habits and how to prevent depression and the cascade of dysregulation that manifests as the metabolic syndrome. Elissa Epel, Ph.D, is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSF. Epel studied psychology and psychobiology at Stanford University (BA), and clinical and health psychology at Yale University (Ph.D.). She completed a clinical internship at the Palo Alto Veterans Healthcare System. Her research aims to elucidate mechanisms of healthy aging, and to apply this basic science to scalable interventions that can reach vulnerable populations. She is the Director of the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Lab, and the Center for Obesity Assessment, Study, & Treatment, (COAST), and Associate Director of the Center for Health and Community. With her collaborators, she is conducting clinical trials to examine the effect of self-regulation and mindfulness training programs on cellular aging, weight, diet, and glucose control. Wolfram Alderson's career in pursuit of social and environmental change spans across four decades. He currently serves as CEO of the Hypoglycemia Support Foundation. The broad focus of his lifetime of work has been improving human and environmental health–often by developing programs and organizations that accomplish both. In addition to being a social change agent, Wolfram is also a visual artist and writer, and has built two major therapeutic arts programs, one for refugees and one for abused children. Dr. Lustig specializes in the field of neuroendocrinology, with an emphasis on the regulation of energy balance by the central nervous system. His research and clinical practice has focused on childhood obesity and diabetes. Dr. Lustig holds a Bachelor’s in Science from MIT, a Doctorate in Medicine from Cornell University Medical College, and a Master’s of Studies in Law from U.C. Hastings College of the Law. Dr. Lustig is the author of the bestselling books The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains and Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity and Disease. Dr. Rasgon is a professor in the departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University’s School of Medicine. She began her distinguished career at Odessa Medical Institute and UCLA School of Medicine, and in 2002, she established the Center for Neuroscience in Women’s Health at Stanford University. Dr. Rasgon is considered a renowned expert in neuroendocrinology and women’s mental health. Dr. Rasgon is the author of more than 165 peer-reviewed publications, 25 book chapters, and is a reviewer for 30 professional journals. Her predominant research focus has been on neuroendocrine correlates in various models of affective and cognitive neuroscience, the treatment of bipolar disorder in women, the use of hormonal interventions during menopause and the effects on mood and cognitive function, and the interplay between endocrine function and aging. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Patty James NOTES MLF: Health & Medicine

For over 100 years, Australia and the United States have enjoyed a relationship—military, social and economic—unlike any other. From the World War I battlefields of France 100 years ago to the present time, when the United States remains the largest investor in Australia—the history of the two countries is inexorably linked. The countries are joined not just by common values but also by common challenges so that one wonders: where to for the next century? Over the last three years, Consul-General Chris Oldfield has taken the opportunity to engage and reflect on the issues critical to the ongoing future of this vitally important relationship. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Norma Walden, Lillian Nakagawa NOTES MLF: International Relations, Asia-Pacific Affairs In association with the Australian American Chamber of Commerce

In the last 50 years, there’s a good chance you’ve watched “Sesame Street”—whether as an adult, a child, or both—and that it’s shaped the way you see the world around you. Sherrie Westin heads up Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind "Sesame Street," and touts the show's unique approach to creating learning opportunities: “We're combining the power of popular media with our engaging, nonthreatening Muppets to enlighten young children. That's pretty powerful." With Muppets who talk about everything from autism to incarceration to refugees to personal hygiene, friendly fuzzy faces tackle important subjects for a young audience every single day in 150 countries around the world. In 2018, Sesame Workshop, in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), won the MacArthur Foundation’s first ever $100 million 100&Change grant competition. This enormous grant enables Sesame Workshop and IRC to implement the largest early childhood intervention in the history of humanitarian response, targeting children and families in the Syrian response region, which includes Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. The goal? To improve children's learning outcomes, support their vital intellectual and emotional development, and help them overcome the trauma of war. No mean feat, but the Muppets are up for the task. Join us for a unique look into Sesame Workshop’s innovative approach to supporting children and those who care for them around the world. NOTES This program is generously underwritten by The Canet Foundation

One of America's leading political scientists and theorists Francis Fukuyama is back with a provocative new look at one of the most critical issues facing America: identity politics and, most specifically, its role in promoting democracy as well as undermining it through polarization. In 2014, Fukuyama wrote that American institutions were in decay due to the power of powerful interest groups. Two years later, his predictions were borne out by the rise to power of a series of political outsiders whose economic nationalism and authoritarian tendencies threatened to destabilize the entire international order. These populist nationalists seek direct charismatic connection to “the people,” who are usually defined in narrow identity terms that offer an irresistible call to an in-group and exclude large parts of the entire population. At the same time, groups previously marginalized based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion are increasingly demanding equal recognition in society, setting up a clash in identity politics at a time when national unity is so needed. Fukuyama's new book looks at the contrasting ways identity has become a potent new battleground in society and discusses the threat to society when there are such significant challenges to collective action and communication. His book also makes a spirited call for the importance of forging a national identity that supports democracy as opposed to breaking it apart. Fukuyama's previous best-selling books, including The End of History and the Last Man and Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy, have been essential to understanding America's role in the world and our country's politics and culture. As the country faces another bitterly divided election amidst debates about populism and identity, understanding Fukuyama's new book and viewpoint will be critical no matter what happens in November. Please join us for this important discussion with one of the country's top political scientists. Fukuyama will be in conversation with Frederick M. Dolan, professor emeritus of rhetoric at UC Berkeley. Dolan is the author of Allegories of America: Narratives, Metaphysics, Politics and numerous articles on modern political philosophy, aesthetics and interpretation.

The 2018 election will change the balance of power in California and the nation. While the factors that have driven climate change and drought are on the rise, environmental actions, policies and agencies face rollbacks and cutbacks. The outcome of the November vote on candidates and ballot initiatives will likely have far-reaching ecological and social impacts. Our panel will discuss the present and future of the 2018 midterm elections and the environmental turning points ahead. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Ann Clark NOTES MLF: Environment & Natural Resources

The month of October is dedicated to immigration issues on The Michelle Meow Show at The Commonwealth Club. Our guest this week: Aarti Kohli Aarti Kohli landed in Queens, New York, as a seven-year-old with her family and saw first-hand what it means to be a struggling immigrant in the United States. She is currently the executive director at Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, the first organization in the country to represent and promote the legal and civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander communities. At Advancing Justice-ALC she oversees key program areas, including national security and civil rights, immigration, and criminal justice reform. She also helps guide the state and national policy work of the Advancing Justice affiliation with partners in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Formerly, she was the director of immigration policy at the Warren Institute at UC Berkeley School of Law, where one of her key projects involved creating an intensive immigration seminar for professional journalists. Prior to her work in California, she worked in Washington, D.C., as Judiciary Committee counsel to Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) and as assistant legislative director at UNITE union, where she lobbied on behalf of low-income garment workers who were primarily immigrant women. Join us as Michelle Meow brings her long-running daily radio show to The Commonwealth Club one day each week. Meet fascinating—and often controversial—people discussing important issues of interest to the LGBTQ community, and have your questions ready.

The Earth's temperature has been rising. To limit catastrophic outcomes, we must limit warming to no more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) average temperature rise. Economists agree we will save trillions of dollars by acting early. But how do we act successfully? What is the plan if we fall short? Bridging climate science, design, psychology, politics and religion, we explore the practical steps to reduce global warming and to adapt to the inevitable, all the while improving the bottom line, beautifying our communities and increasing human health for all of us who occupy and shape our environment. MLF Organizer Name Ann Clark Notes MLF: Environment & Natural Resources

Ejaz Naqvi, author of The Three Abrahamic Testaments: How the Torah, Gospels, and Qur'an Hold the Keys for Healing Our Fears, will discuss Hajj, the great pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. He will share his precious memories of the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a once-in-a-lifetime, sacred duty demonstrating Muslim solidarity and submission to Allah. He will share the lessons he learned for personal spiritual growth as well as for the benefit of society at large. Naqvi is a practicing physician and serves on the Board of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Celia Menczel NOTES MLF: Middle East

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. In many ways, there was no reason Julián Castro should have been successful. Born to unmarried parents in a poverty-stricken neighborhood of a struggling city, his prospects of escaping this circumstance seemed bleak. Yet he and his twin brother, Joaquin, did not let cynicism hold them back. Instead, they aspired to achieve the American dream despite unlikely odds. Castro’s success as the mayor of San Antonio propelled him onto the national stage, where he was the keynote speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention—the same spot President Obama held in 2004. He then went on to Washington, D.C., where he served as the Obama administration's secretary of housing and urban development. His meteoric rise has many wondering if a presidential run is in his future. Join us as Castro tells the unlikely story of how he believes the American dream can still lift unlikely heroes, no matter one’s politics.

After a year of climate-amplified fires and hurricanes around the country, New York Times reporter Trip Gabriel tells host Greg Dalton how climate and energy issues are playing in the midterm elections. Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, describes what his organization is doing to mobilize the more than 10 million Americans who cite environmental protection as a core value but who don't vote regularly. And Sam Arons, Director of Sustainability at Lyft, explains how his company is encouraging its employees and customers to get out and vote.

When Donald Trump announced his presidential bid in 2015, conservative historian Max Boot couldn’t help but think he was watching a dystopian science-fiction movie. He couldn’t fathom that the party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan could endorse a reality TV star with no prior political experience and a laundry list of controversies. This created an ideological dislocation so shattering that Boot’s transformation from Republican foreign policy adviser to celebrated anti-Trump columnist is the dramatic story of his new book, The Corrosion of Conservatism. After joining other prominent conservatives such as David Frum, Rick Wilson and Ana Navarro in denouncing Trump’s candidacy and subsequent presidency, Boot left the Republican Party. No longer a Republican, but also not a Democrat, Boot’s journey from a movement conservative to a man without a party is one worth hearing about. While 90 percent of his fellow Republicans endorsed President Trump’s agenda in the aftermath of the 2016 election, Boot stood his ground, enduring the criticism of conservative colleagues. Join us for this important conversation about a party at a never-ending crossroads and the movement by people such as Max Boot to reclaim the Republican Party in the name of conservative fiscal and national security principles.