Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

More than a century of civil rights activism reached a mountaintop with the arrival of a Black man in the Oval Office. But hopes for a unified, post-racial America were deflated when Barack Obama’s presidency met with furious opposition. A white, right-wing backlash was brewing, and a volcanic new movement—a second civil rights movement—began to erupt. In the highly anticipated follow-up to his Eyes on the Prize, bestselling author Juan Williams turns his attention to the rise of a new 21st-century civil rights movement. In New Prize for These Eyes, Williams shines a light on this historic, new movement. Who are its heroes? Where is it headed? What fires, furies, and frustrations distinguish it from its predecessor? In the 20th century, Black activists and their white allies called for equal rights and an end to segregation. They appealed to the Declaration of Independence’s defiant assertion that “all men are created equal.” They prioritized legal battles in the courtroom and legislative victories in Congress. Today’s movement is dealing with new realities. Demographic changes have placed progressive whites in a new role among the largest, youngest population of Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians in the nation’s history. Williams says the new generation is social media savvy, and they have an agenda fueled by discontent with systemic racism and the persistent scourge of police brutality. Today’s activists are making history in a new economic and cultural landscape, and they are using a new set of tools and strategies to do so. Join us as Williams traces the arc of this new civil rights era, from Obama to Charlottesville to January 6th and a Confederate flag in the Capitol. It’s more than a recounting of history. Williams offers a forward-looking call to action, urging Americans to get in touch with the progress made and hurdles yet to be overcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The advent of artificial intelligence has spawned numerous nightmare scenarios of a runaway technology negatively affecting everything from jobs to national security to individual rights. Now Reid Hoffman shares his unique insider’s perspective on an AI-powered future, making the case for its potential to unlock a world of possibilities. Imagine AI tutors personalizing education for each child, researchers rapidly discovering cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer, and AI advisors empowering people to navigate complex systems and achieve their goals. In his new book Superagency, Hoffman and co-author Greg Beato envision a world where these possibilities, and many more, become a reality. They offer a roadmap for using AI inclusively and adaptively to improve our lives and create positive change. While acknowledging challenges like disinformation and potential job changes, the book focuses on AI’s immense potential to increase individual agency and create better outcomes for society as a whole. Join us as Hoffman challenges conventional fears, inviting us to view the future through a lens of opportunity, rather than fear. It’s a call to action—to embrace AI with excitement and actively shape a world where human ingenuity and the power of AI combine to create something extraordinary.NOTE: This podcast contains explicit language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Ukraine is like porcelain, easy to break yet impossible to destroy.”—Slava LeontyevJoin us for a Q&A with the co-director and the producer.Under roaring fighting jets as war ravages their homeland, three artists—Slava, Anya and Andrey—stay behind in their native Ukraine, defiantly finding beauty amid destruction. Armed with art, cameras and—for the first time in their lives—guns, they show that while it’s easy to frighten people, it’s harder to destroy their passion for living.Nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary feature, Porcelain War has already won the 2024 Sundance Grand Jury Prize. The film is a stunning tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, embodying the enduring hope and passion of ordinary people living through extraordinary circumstances. From the Academy Award-winning producer of The Cove and the Emmy Award-winning producer of Chasing Ice, and the team behind the Grammy Award-winning Quincy, Porcelain War is one of the most decorated documentary features of 2024.We will have a discussion with co-director Slava Leontyev and producer Paula DuPré Pesmen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this discussion, Deepak Srivastava, President of the Gladstone Institutes and a fellow in regenerative medicine, shares insights into groundbreaking treatments that are reshaping medicine. He explains how CRISPR and stem cell therapies could lead to cures for heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer. The conversation dives into the importance of genetic analysis and AI in medical research, as well as the critical need for health equity in access to these innovations. Excitingly, he outlines potential future therapies that sound like science fiction but are on the horizon.

When individuals want to take action on climate, it’s often in the form of electrifying a home, voting, or maybe even traditional activism. Those are very important, but we often overlook how individual skills and talents can also make a difference. This week we’re highlighting creative forms of climate action. Pattie Gonia is a drag queen, environmentalist and advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the outdoors who struts their message through national parks, in Pride events, and through the halls of Congress. Mike Roberts and Will Hammond Jr. wrote a sultry R&B song that will change the way you think about heat pumps… and an equally stimulating song about the power of geothermal energy. Together, they remind us that we don’t always have to take ourselves too seriously in order for our work to be meaningful and have impact.Guests:Pattie Gonia, Drag queen; EnvironmentalistMike Roberts, Musician; Climate advocateWill Hammond Jr., Educator; MusicianOn February 25, internationally recognized environmental and civil rights activist Catherine Coleman Flowers will join Climate One for a live conversation about the future of environmental justice. Join us at noon in San Francisco for a can’t-miss show. Tickets are now available!Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month.For show notes and related links, visit our website.Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/adsPattie Gonia image credit Mitchell Overton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Mary Daly, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco; John H. Cochrane, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution; Baie Netzer, Investment Strategist at Bank of America; and Susan Hyde, Political Science expert from UC Berkeley. They dive into the economic forecast for 2025, discussing the impacts of tariffs, tax cuts, and inflation. Insights on income inequality and its effects on democracy are also examined. The conversation highlights the resilience of the U.S. economy amid changing political landscapes and evolving policies.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about technology and humanity with Silicon Valley Read’s featured authors Charlee Dyroff (Loneliness & Company), Dr. Fei-Fei Li (The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI), and Ray Nayler (The Mountain in the Sea).Attendees are invited to come early to see two robot dogs and visit the Euphrat Museum of Art, for their special exhibit where artists will be showcased around the theme "Encoding Empathy."Hosted by Santa Clara County Library District, Santa Clara County Office of Education, San José Public Library, and DeAnza College. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second Trump administration has hit the ground running. The president has signed a flurry of executive orders targeting everything from birthright citizenship to pulling out of the Paris Climate Accords. This is a far different moment from the first Trump term. The president is more focused, his team is more focused, and energy policy is at the top of their action list. However, the renewable energy market is also much more mature, and the transition away from fossil fuels has been accelerated by three major climate-related bills passed during the Biden years. In this new political and economic landscape, how do climate advocates need to think and act differently to sustain progress? Guests: Dana R. Fisher, Director of the Center for Environment, Community, and Equity & Professor, School of International Service, American UniversityNathaniel Stinnett, Founder and Executive Director, Environmental Voter ProjectArnab Datta, Director of Infrastructure Policy, Institute for ProgressOn February 25, internationally recognized environmental and civil rights activist Catherine Coleman Flowers will join Climate One for a live conversation about the future of environmental justice. Join us at noon in San Francisco for a can’t-miss show. Tickets are on sale now through our website.Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month.For show notes and related links, visit our website.Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chinese have a saying, or perhaps a curse: "May you live in interesting times." From Taiwan to Ukraine, the Middle East and now Greenland, Canada, the Panama Canal and the Gulf of Mexico—from existing conflicts and perhaps soon-to-be conflicts, these are interesting times we find ourselves living in. Who better to help us understand and navigate through the swirling news and events in the dawning of the new Trumpian Age than Professor Casimir Yost from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. We hope you can join us on Thursday, January 23, at 5.30 p.m. at Commonwealth Club World Affairs in San Francisco as our chair Dr. Kalidip Choudhury engages with Professor Yost to shed light on the conflicts we can and cannot expect in the age of Trump.About the SpeakerCasimir Yost is a senior fellow in the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and teaches in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. From 2009 to 2013. Yost served on the National Intelligence Council (NIC), where he directed the Strategic Futures Group and its predecessor, the Long Range Analysis Unit. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and on the Board of Directors of the American Ditchley Foundation.Organizer: Kalidip Choudhury The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.An Asia-Pacific Affairs Member-led Forum program. Forums and chapters at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums.Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, from predictive analytics to advanced data systems, has emerged as a catalyst for innovation. Yet, the criminal justice system lags decades behind, as more than 3,000 counties in the United States continue to rely on outdated and manual case management systems, making the path to justice far from linear. This technological gap means that while other sectors move forward, many parts of the criminal justice system continue to struggle with inefficiencies and disparities that hinder true progress.Imagine a world where communities have access to the reliable data they need to create change and drive informed, fair decision-making; a world where AI bridges gaps and promotes transparency. But there’s a crucial question: How can we ensure this powerful tool closes the equity gap instead of widening it? The stakes are high, and ethical implementation is key.Despite the United States investing billions annually in policing, courts and corrections, outdated technologies and lack of access to high-quality data have often deepened existing disparities.If we—as a collective of public and private sectors, communities, and institutions—incorporate AI thoughtfully, we can catapult ourselves into a world where the criminal justice system is fully transparent, accessible and accountable to the people it serves.The technological gap in the criminal justice system is significant, impacting not just efficiency, but fairness and equity. Embracing new technologies—such as AI, public facing dashboards, and modern case management systems—can enhance transparency, and rebuild public trust. Addressing these challenges is crucial for creating more effective and equitable criminal justice systems nationwide.Join Amy Bach (Measures for Justice), Raffi Krikorian (Emerson Collective) and Tom Kalil (Renaissance Philanthropy) as we explore these opportunities and discuss the role of AI in reshaping a justice system that is fair, transparent, and accountable for all.Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices