Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

In the midst of one of modern history’s most uncertain moments, how can we all work to keep mindful of ourselves and those who matter most to us? Krista Tippett’s podcast, "On Being," aims to shine a light on people whose insights illuminate the best aspects of the human spirit. Every week, Tippett talks to writers, scientists, poets, activists and theologians from an array of faiths who have all opened themselves up to her compassionate yet searching conversations. In times like these, it’s easy to lose track of what keeps us grounded in the human experience. Join us for an enlightening conversation with one of America’s luminaries as she discusses her fiercely hopeful vision for humanity in these uncertain times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us to learn the story behind the AIDS Memorial Quilt, as the Quilt's caretakers share their personal stories reflecting on 40 years of the pandemic. We'll discuss the Quilt's deep roots in San Francisco; meet the "Mother of the AIDS Quilt, who has been there since the beginning and is still there today to "take care of her boys"; learn about the Quilt's move to the care of the National AIDS memorial and how it is a powerful tool to teach—and reach—today's generation about HIV/AIDS; and hear personal stories behind the panels of the Quilt. While the United States and the world are reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, learn about the parallels and differences between this pandemic and the AIDS pandemic, and how the Quilt provided healing and became a source of support to today's first-responders via mask-making. NOTES This program contains some explicit language This program is produced in partnership with AIDS2020 Made possible by the generous support of Gilead and Comcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Americans continue to grieve, protest and cry out over the death of George Floyd and the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, many wonder if this will be the tipping point for permanent change to the American justice system. And if not, what does the future hold for civil rights and American democracy? As leader of the National Urban League, the nation’s largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization, Marc Morial is a leading voice in the battle for jobs, education, housing and voting rights equity. He previously served as the highly successful mayor of New Orleans as well as the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. On November 8, 2016, Michael Tubbs was elected to serve as the mayor of the city of Stockton, California. Upon taking office in January 2017, Mr. Tubbs became both Stockton’s youngest mayor and the city’s first African-American mayor. Michael Tubbs is also the youngest mayor in the history of the country representing a city with a population of more than 100,000 residents. Join an important intergenerational conversation about the next steps Americans can and must take. NOTES Co-Presented by INFORUM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While topics such as ADHD, autism, bipolar and dyslexia are often discussed in the context of children, what happens after these children grow up, and what happens when they don’t receive such diagnoses until their 50s, 60s or later? Jenara Nerenberg offers practical takeaways and surprising scientific discoveries on how families, society and medicine can better meet the needs of those with mental and sensory processing differences. Nerenberg, an award-winning reporter with the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center and the Garrison Institute, is the founder of The Neurodiversity Project. Her work appears in CNN, Fast Company, KQED, Healthline and Time. She is a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health and UC Berkeley. Nerenberg was named a brave new idea speaker by the Aspen Institute for her work in destigmatizing and celebrating mental differences among adults later in life. Her new book is: Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed For You. MLF ORGANIZER Denise Michaud NOTES MLF: Grownups Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a fleeting moment atop the national political agenda last year, climate change has been eclipsed by the global pandemic. A recent poll from Yale found that public engagement on climate change is at or near historic levels. But will that matter when people vote? The Environmental Voter Project asserts that many people who say they care about climate and the environment don’t actually cast ballots. Further, when talking to pollsters they lie and say they did vote. How will mainstream media cover climate in national and regional elections? Will President Trump’s stance on climate hurt Republicans in down-ballot races? Do Joe Biden’s policy positions on climate really matter? Join us with Vannessa Hauc, journalist and senior correspondent at Noticias Telemundo, Jeff Nesbit, executive director at Climate Nexus, and Nathaniel Stinnett, founder and executive director of the Environmental Voter Project, for a conversation on climate coverage in the race for the presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigration has been a flash point in U.S. politics for years, but for the past several years, it has been one of the defining dividing lines in American life. When you add LGBTQ status to the normal challenges facing immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, even more hurdles come up. What are the problems new arrivals to this country are struggling with? What is being done to help them? What can be done? Join us for the third in our new series of Lavender Talks—produced in partnership with San Francisco Pride, which is celebrating 50 years in 2020. Our panel will feature immigration and human rights advocates and legal experts. NOTES In association with San Francisco Pride Made possible by the generous support of Gilead and Comcast And thanks to San Francisco Pride Legacy Partners: Bud Light Hilton San Francisco Union Square KPIX 5 CBS Bay Area Kaiser Permanente Genentech Gilead GLBT Historical Society KBCW TV Parc 55 San Francisco Smirnoff Recology T–Mobile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meena Harris’ story is shaped by the many strong women who raised her. She is now honoring their legacy with a new children’s book, Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, a picture book about two sisters who work together to change their community. The book is inspired by a true story Meena heard from childhood about her aunt, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, and her mother, lawyer and policy expert Maya Harris. Join Meena at INFORUM to learn about the power of raising children who are engaged in their community and how generations to come can enact lasting change. This program will be moderated by author and artist Jessica Hische. NOTES This program contains some explicit language Part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the run-up to the 2016 election, The New Yorker's Masha Gessen stood out from other journalists for calling out the significance of Donald Trump’s speech and behavior, unprecedented in a national candidate. Within 48 hours of his victory, Gessen's essay “Autocracy: Rules for Survival” had gone viral, and Gessen’s coverage of Trump’s norm-breaking presidency became important reading for a citizenry struggling to wrap their heads around the unimaginable. Thanks to the unique perspective from a childhood in the Soviet Union and two decades covering the resurgence of totalitarianism in Russia, Gessen has a sixth sense for signs of autocracy—and the unique cross-cultural fluency to delineate its emergence to Americans. Now, as the 2020 race takes shape, their new book Surviving Autocracy provides an indispensable overview of what Gessen views as the calamitous trajectory of the past few years. Join us for a conversation with one of our leading journalists as they highlight the dangers of complacency and how America can forge a new path forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While a reporter at The Washington Post, Barton Gellman was one of three journalists Edward Snowden picked to review the vast and explosive archive of highly classified files revealing the extent of the American government's access to our every communication. Those three shared the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for their work. But that was only the beginning for Gellman. He went on to dig deeper into both the U.S. surveillance state and Snowden’s own complicated history. As he sought the truth, Barton was harassed with legal threats, government investigations and foreign intelligence agencies intent on stealing his files. Come for a detailed look at Edward Snowden, America's surveillance state now and post-COVID, as well as Mr. Gellman’s own account of his personal cloak-and-dagger experience of being surveilled by unknown adversaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did an Italian grandmother in 4-inch heels become the greatest legislator since LBJ? Join us virtually as award-winning political journalist Molly Ball takes you inside the life and times of the speaker of the House. Based on exclusive interviews and deep background reporting, Ball shows Nancy Pelosi through a thoroughly modern lens, explaining how this extraordinary woman has met her moment by taking on a president and defending democracy. Ever since the Democrats took back the House in the 2018 midterm elections, Nancy Pelosi has led the opposition with strategic mastery and inimitable elan. It's a remarkable comeback for the veteran politician who for years was demonized by the Right and taken for granted by many in her own party even though, as speaker under President Barack Obama, she deserves credit for epochal liberal accomplishments, from reforming Wall Street to allowing gay people to serve openly in the military, from universal access to health care to saving the U.S. economy from collapse. Perhaps twice. MLF ORGANIZER George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities Part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices