Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Electric scooters, skateboards and bicycles are popping up all over in cities all over the country. Ride-hailing companies are also moving to two wheels. Uber bought the bike sharing company Jump, and Lyft followed suit by scooping up Motivate, which operates bike sharing services in San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, New York and other cities. Is an electric skateboard company next? As companies jockey to offer a suite of transportation options what is the future of urban mobility? Are these new urban toys really solving the notorious first-mile and last-mile problem?

As national politics swirl and President Trump continues his second year in office, what issues matter most for California’s top cop? Sworn in just days after Trump took office, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is on the front lines. He is committed to environmental justice, access to health care, consumer protection and immigrants’ rights. A native of Sacramento, Becerra has served the people of California for decades during his 12 terms in Congress. Join one of California’s leaders for an important conversation about keeping California safe and fighting for our state’s values.

We've all had those days when everything we were doing worked, things just seemed to fall into place and we were more productive, doing more and better, and yet it felt effortless, that we were completely in tune with what we were doing. This experience has been described as being in the zone, in the flow or on a roll. In this program, Dr. Kriegel will present techniques and a 'zone map' that will enable anyone, at any age, to access that optimal 'zone' more often and for longer periods of time. He will also discuss how to overcome the sabotage thinking that creates stress, anxiety, worry and depression and lands us in the high-stress panic zone or depressed zone so that you can lead a richer, more rewarding and joyful life. MLF ORGANIZER NAME John Milford NOTES MLF: Grownups

Political polarization, accompanied by negative partisanship, are striking features of the current political landscape. Perhaps these trends were originally confined to politicians and the media, but we recently reached the point where the majority of Americans report they would consider it more objectionable if their children married across party lines than if they married someone of another faith. Where did this polarization come from? And what it is doing to American democracy, which is housed in institutions that were framed to encourage open deliberation, compromise and consensus formation? In this talk, Professor David Peritz will examine some of the deeper forces in the American economy, the public sphere and media, political institutions, and even moral psychology that best seem to account for the recent rise in popular polarization. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Bill Grant NOTES MLF: Health & Medicine

This event is the latest in our member-led forums’ Crisis in Our Country summer series. Monday Night Philosophy investigates Tartakovsky's blend of biography and history, which tells the epic and unexpected story of our Constitution through the eyes of ten extraordinary individuals ― some renowned, like Alexander Hamilton and Woodrow Wilson, and some forgotten, like James Wilson and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Tartakovsky brings to life their struggles over our supreme law from its origins in revolutionary America to the era of Obama and Trump. From Gold Rush California to the halls of Congress, Tartakovsky's vivid Dickensian cast grapples with questions like democracy, racial and sexual equality, free speech, economic liberty, and the role of government. He also chronicles how Daniel Webster sought to avert the Civil War; how Alexis de Tocqueville misunderstood America; how Robert Jackson balanced liberty and order in the battle against Nazism and Communism; and how Antonin Scalia died warning Americans about the ever-growing reach of the Supreme Court. From the 1787 Philadelphia Convention to the clash over gay marriage, this is a grand tour through two centuries of constitutional history and an education in the principles that sustain America in the most astonishing experiment in government ever undertaken. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

Retired intelligence officer Malcolm Nance knows about Vladimir Putin and the threat he poses to American sovereignty. From the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in our elections to Putin’s persistent presidency, Russia has a looming presence. Nance suggests this presence isn’t benign but part of a greater plan to break down western democracy. His new book, The Plot to Destroy Democracy: How Putin’s Spies Are Winning Control of America and Dismantling the West, exposes how Russia has supported the campaigns of right-wing extremists throughout the United States and Europe. By seeking to create antidemocratic sentiment around the world, Nance argues Putin can leverage his strength to build a Russian-led alliance of nondemocratic autocracies. With the future of democracy hanging in the balance, Nance digs into the plans and goals of its enemies. Join Nance for an important conversation about Russia’s plan to unseat democracy and learn what we can do about it.

When you think of climate activism, Wall Street doesn’t immediately come to mind. But as investors are coming to realize, they do have a voice – and a vote – when it comes to corporate environmental action. Responsible investing is a concept that’s been around for many years, but it’s only recently that companies have begun to take notice. And who’s driving that change? Shareholders. Greg Dalton talks with three experts about the ways that market forces can turn the ship, inspiring awareness, transparency and in some cases, even change, in seemingly immovable corporations.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among teens in the U.S. In this program, Elliot Kallen, who founded A Brighter Day in honor of his late son, Jake, will discuss the organization's efforts in fighting depression and teen suicide. A Brighter Day reaches out to teens suffering from depression and other related issues while allowing them to maintain their dignity. The charity connects teens to the resources they need, showcasing local bands in a way that helps teens learn about depression and its risk factors. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Patrick O'Reilly NOTES MLF: Psychology

Climate change is sometimes called the anti-story because the end is uncertain and far in the future. But several recent documentaries tell climate-related stories with real human drama. My Country No More, Hillbilly, Saving the Dark, and Point of No Return are four favorites for summer viewing picked by the Climate One team at the Commonwealth Club.

This event is the latest in our member-led forums’ Crisis in Our Country summer series. Join us for an enlightening evening with four seasoned California political journalists who will share their insights on the upcoming all-important November 6 general election. They will explain the state's major issues, take audience members inside the politics of the campaign and discuss what's at stake as voters decide who will occupy California's highest office. This November, voters will also select the new superintendent of public instruction, the attorney general, 100 state legislators and 53 U.S. representatives. The moderator, Dave Lesher, is co-founder, CEO, and editor in chief of CALmatters, the nonpartisan state news nonprofit that now has the biggest statehouse news team in the area. The discussion will be followed by a question and answer session. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Norma Walden NOTES MLF: Middle East

Four prominent New York Times political journalists will take The Commonwealth Club stage to discuss the most consequential midterm election in a generation. What will the results mean for California and the nation? Following the California primary, Adam Nagourney, New York Times Los Angeles bureau chief, will moderate a discussion about the shape of the races, the role President Trump will play in this election, the future of polling and more. He will be joined by White House reporter Maggie Haberman, who was part of the team honored with a Pulitzer Prize in April for its coverage of Russia’s influence in the 2016 election; Nate Cohn, domestic correspondent for “The Upshot,” a data-driven blog that features a digital probability needle on The New York Times website on each election night; and national political correspondent Alex Burns.

How did we get here and what do we do next? Pfeiffer was one of President Obama’s longest-serving advisors, working on two presidential campaigns and spending 6 years in the White House as communications director and senior advisor to the president. Now he co-hosts the wildly popular Pod Save America podcast, along with Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor, which brings insiders' expertise to bear in a twice-weekly discussion about the latest happenings in the White House and Congress. Pfeiffer shares never-before-heard stories about working in the Oval Office and reflects on those years of massive change that helped rewrite the rules of politics. He addresses the current political landscape and offers a hopeful message for where our country can go from here. Part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by The Bernard Osher Foundation

Come hear a gripping tales that will amuse, shock and inspire. Growing up poor and black in the rigidly segregated South, Spencer Christian relied on his family’s strong values to overcome adversity. On "Good Morning America" from 1986 to 1999, he was a daily presence in the homes of millions of Americans. By every conventional standard, he had it all—a loving wife and two wonderful children, a beautiful home, and a rewarding and remarkable career. Yet, he was living a double life that was largely unknown to the TV-viewing public. For nearly 30 years, he was a compulsive gambler — and fully addicted to the high-roller lifestyle. By the time he found the courage to confront his dependence, he had lost over $3 million, his home, his job—and most important—his family. Spencer reveals his roller-coaster rise to success and crash to rock bottom. He also details his rebounding, rebuilding, and recovery of hope and happiness. Spencer Christian is an Emmy Award-winning reporter best known for his 13 years on "Good Morning America," where he covered the national weather reports in addition to traveling throughout the United States and abroad reporting on a wide range of topics. Since 1999, Spencer has been the weather forecaster on San Francisco’s ABC7 News team. Part of the Good Lit Series, underwritten by The Bernard Osher Foundation

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. It’s almost a cliché: it’s good to be different. However, it’s hard to believe this when there are a plethora of experiences and challenges that hinder anyone who exists beyond the structure of traditional power. But today, there are women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community and millennials in the world who are ready to make a difference. Stacey Abrams, Former Georgia House minority leader and candidate for governor of Georgia, wants to show everyone that there is truth in the cliché and value in the struggle against traditional power structures. In her new book, Minority Leader: How to Lead from the Outside and Make Real Change, she emphasizes the importance of knowing your own passion, regardless of the scale or target. She discusses personal stories about launching a company, starting a daycare center for homeless teen moms and running a successful political campaign to show how ambition, fear, money, and failure function in leadership. Join this special conversation about how being in the minority can provide unique and vital strength!

The need to invest in California’s transportation system is dire and after years of seeking a solution to the state’s transportation crisis, the state legislature passed and the governor signed SB 1, also known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, increasing transportation funding by $54 billion over a decade. SB 1 provides the first significant, stable and ongoing increase in state transportation funding in more than two decades. This free, half-day summit hosted by the Mineta Transportation Institute looks at how SB1 funds are being implemented and documents the strategies that state, local and regional governments and transportation agencies are taking to address California’s transportation needs. Underwritten by the Mineta Transportation Institute