Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Join us for the third installment of the "What's Good, SF!” series as we delve into the future of San Francisco and how sustainability, biodiversity and access to nature can help us flourish. From navigating climate change to improving public health, how we shape and integrate our natural world is critical—holding immense potential to support our people, places and ecosystems.A thought-provoking discussion will bring together visionary civic leaders who are reimagining how our city can evolve to become a thriving, eco-friendly metropolis. From brand new partner collaborations like Reimagining SF to ambitions for accessible nature woven into our urban fabric, discover the plans and aspirations for nature’s place in the revitalization of San Francisco.Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation on how San Francisco can lead the way in creating a sustainable, vibrant, and inclusive future for the whole city."What's Good, SF!” is a compelling series delving into the post-pandemic revitalization of San Francisco. Through three insightful programs, the series navigates the city's landscape of opportunity and challenge. Join us as we uncover the stories of resilience, adaptation and transformation that define San Francisco's journey toward a new, vibrant and sustainable future.Part 1: Future of DowntownPart 2: People Power & Service This program is generously supported Levi Strauss & Co. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not since the fall of Saigon has a U.S. evacuation proven so devastating and controversial as the one that ended U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. The documentary Hollywoodgate picks up where the rest of the world left off, in the immediate aftermath of the United States’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Days after the last U.S. plane leaves Afghan soil, the Taliban—now in control of the country—enter an American base in Kabul called Hollywood Gate, reputed to have been a secret CIA station. There they find a portion of the more than $7 billion in sophisticated American weaponry left in the country: numerous small arms and munitions, jet fighters, Black Hawk helicopters, and other military equipment. Much of it is damaged, but the base is also equipped with many of the parts needed to fix it. Director Ibrahim Nash’at’s unprecedented and audacious Hollywoodgate bears witness as the new head of Afghanistan’s air force, Mawlawi Mansour—a Taliban whose father was killed by the Americans—orders his soldiers to inventory everything and repair all they can. The men go to work restoring the weaponry and training themselves to use it. Among them is Mukhtar—a former Taliban fighter now aiming to build a high-ranking military career—who dreams of avenging the war.Following the screening of Hollywoodgate, we’ll have a Q&A with director Ibrahim Nash’at and producer Shane Boris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a climate-conscious person, you likely already know some of the main ways you can reduce your contribution to greenhouse gasses: buy less, eat less meat, ride your bike. But there are other, less obvious methods we don’t always think of: voting, having climate conversations, engaging with your local government, changing where your money is invested. And while our role as individuals does matter, we’re more powerful when we work together in collective action. Guests: Jon Foley, Executive Director, Project DrawdownEliza Nemser, Executive Director, Climate ChangemakersThis episode also features excerpts from Cory Booker, Anna Lappé, Frances Moore Lappé, Saul Griffith, Monique Figueiredo, Jonathan Chapman, Jennifer Anderson, Tanya Gulliver Garcia, Vernon Walker, Abrar Anwar, Slater Jewell-Kemker, Kyle Gracey and Alec Loorz.🎟️ Join Climate One live in San Francisco on December 9 for our celebration of 2024 Schneider Award Winner Leah Stokes! Tickets are on sale now.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Mina, celebrated chef and restaurateur, takes us on a flavorful journey through his Egyptian roots. He reflects on growing up in a Middle Eastern household and his eventual return to authentic cooking, highlighting dishes like ta’ameya and ful medames. Mina shares personal stories of his family's immigration from Egypt and the challenges they faced. He emphasizes the importance of culinary identity and celebrates traditional Egyptian cuisine while discussing the evolving restaurant industry and the value of humility in professional growth.

Chris Benner, a professor at UC Santa Cruz and co-author of "Charging Forward," teams up with Manuel Pastor, Director of the Equity Research Institute at USC, to tackle the complexities of lithium extraction in California. They discuss the potential of Lithium Valley to reshape energy landscapes while addressing past injustices. Their insights highlight the importance of community empowerment and equitable resource distribution in the green transition. With a focus on transparency in battery supply chains, they advocate for sustainable practices that benefit both people and the planet.

Award-winning journalist Paola Ramos dives into the surprising rise of the Latino far right, unraveling the complexities behind changing political loyalties. She highlights fascinating figures like Republican congresswoman Monica de la Cruz and evangelical leaders pushing conservative agendas. The conversation touches on themes of tribalism, identity, and the emotional impact of misinformation within the Latino community. Ramos combines personal storytelling with journalistic integrity, revealing how historical contexts influence modern political alignment.

We're entering the final days of the 2024 presidential election, but a lot can change in a few weeks.Historically, several presidential contests have been upended in October. Coined the "October Surprise," for decades candidates have been tested at the finish line... and many have faltered.In 2016, the "Comey Letter" damaged Hillary Clinton's favorability, and in 2020, Hunter Biden's discovered laptop threatened to derail Joe Biden. In both of these elections, Donald Trump was trailing in the polls-as he is now with Kamala Harris-so could a last-second surprise ensure victory for Trump?On Tuesday, October 15, join us for a panel conversation about the final weeks of the 2024 presidential election, and what our political experts expect to see on election day, November 5.We'll hear from Rachel Bitecofer, political scientist, pollster, and election forecaster turned political strategist; Jonathan M. Metzl, professor of sociology and psychiatry and the director of the Department of Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University; and Tara Setmayer, cofounder and chief executive officer of The Seneca Project, who will join Ray Suarez to discuss the state of the race.This program contains EXPLICIT language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last two decades, China has made big commitments to renewable energy — and it’s delivered. Last year, China installed more solar panels than the U.S. has in its history. Solar panel exports increased 38%, and lower prices have all but killed solar manufacturing in the U.S. and EU. Chinese company BYD recently surpassed Tesla as the world's largest EV maker — with cars at just a fraction of the cost. This has leaders in the West fretting about competition, but isn’t this good news for the planet? How do we balance competition with global climate progress?Guests: Emily Feng, International Correspondent, NPRAlex Wang, Professor, UCLA School of Law; Co-Director; Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the EnvironmentJames Sallee, Professor, Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley🎟️ Join Climate One live in San Francisco on December 9 for our celebration of 2024 Schneider Award Winner Leah Stokes! Tickets are on sale now.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t miss our "Women in the Workplace" 10-year anniversary panel event, celebrating a decade of progress and the path ahead. Join us as we reflect on women's gains and setbacks across industries and look forward to new opportunities.Against a backdrop of pivotal social moments over the past decade, including the #MeToo movement and the historic candidacy of the first major party presidential female nominee, how is the pursuit for equitable workplace policies, the talent pipeline, equal representation and pay parity advancing? Jumping off from the 2024 benchmark annual report on "Women in the Workplace" by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org, this conversation will explore the latest developments in the diverse experiences of women in workplaces across the United States. Moving beyond corporate diversity rhetoric, our panel of leaders will analyze real-world data and share authentic experiences to lay bare the reality from the C-suite to the first rungs of the career ladder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professional risk takers—poker players and hedge fund managers, crypto true-believers and blue-chip art collectors—can teach us a lot about navigating the uncertainty of the 21st century, says statistician and analyst Nate Silver. He embedded himself within the worlds of Doyle Brunson, Peter Thiel, Sam Bankman-Fried, Sam Altman and many others and now comes to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to share insight into a range of issues that affect everyone, from the frontiers of finance to the future of AI.In his bestselling book The Signal and the Noise, Silver showed how forecasting would define the age of Big Data. Now, in his riveting new book On the Edge, Silver investigates "The River"—those whose mastery of risk allows them to shape and dominate so much of modern life. The River has increasing amounts of wealth and power in our society, and understanding their mindset—including the flaws in their thinking—is key to understanding what drives technology and the global economy today.There are certain commonalities in this otherwise diverse group: high tolerance for risk; appreciation of uncertainty; affinity for numbers; skill at de-coupling; self-reliance and a distrust of the conventional wisdom. For these people, complexity is baked in, and the work is how to navigate it, without going beyond the pale.Join us in-person or online as Silver takes you behind the scenes from casinos to venture capital firms to the FTX inner sanctum to meetings of the effective altruism movement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices