Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Former California attorney general and U.S. health secretary Xavier Becerra says this is a “break-glass moment” for state residents who are struggling economically. That's why, he says, he's making economic opportunity the centerpiece of his campaign to succeed Gavin Newsom in the governor's office.  Raised in Sacramento by immigrant parents—his father worked in construction, his mother was a clerical worker—Becerra was the first in his family to earn a college degree. He attended Stanford for both undergraduate and law school, thanks in part to opportunities he says were once more widely available in California.  If elected, Becerra says he would be the “health-care governor,” an issue he has emphasized throughout his career, from his 24 years in Congress to his time in the Biden administration. He also points to his track record as attorney general standing up to the Trump administration on issues such as immigration and the environment.  Becerra joins Commonwealth Club World Affairs as part of our "Race for Governor 2026" series of candidate forums. Come meet the candidate, hear his vision for California, and ask your questions before you cast your vote for California's next governor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fermented foods have been part of traditional diets around the world for centuries—and for good reason. From improved digestion and gut health to enhanced nutrient absorption and immune support, fermentation offers both flavor and function. This event brings together local business owners who specialize in fermented foods to share their knowledge, craft, and passion. Panelists will discuss the fermentation process, the unique health benefits of their products, and how to incorporate fermented foods into everyday life.  Whether you're new to fermentation or already a fan, this event offers insight, inspiration and a deeper appreciation for foods that truly support well-being. Organizer: Patty James  A Nutrition, Food & Wellness Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frontier & Field is a Black History Month program presented during Super Bowl Week. It centers on a multidisciplinary panel exploring the historical, cultural, and therapeutic significance of Black equestrians in American history and contemporary life. Together, the panel re-centers Black equestrian history within frontier narratives while examining its contemporary relevance to sports culture, mental health, and youth development. See more  Michelle Meow Show programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Prof. Ronjon Nag (of Stanford University and R42 Group) for an accessible, fast-moving tour of the most important technology approaches in longevity today. We'll also explore the companies investing heavily to turn these ideas into real-world therapies and tools. Prof. Nag works at the intersection of AI and biology and teaches on topics that include longevity science and venture capital. This program is designed for a broad audience: the curious public, students, technologists, investors, clinicians, and anyone trying to understand what's real, what's hype, and what breakthroughs could plausibly shift how we age over the next decade. About the Speakers Professor Ronjon Nag is an inventor, educator and entrepreneur. He is an adjunct professor in genetics at Stanford School of Medicine and teaches topics including AI, genes, ethics, longevity science, and venture capital. He is also president of the R42 Group, which invests in and creates AI and longevity companies. Ronald Petty is the chair of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapters of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Internet Society, focused on the societal impact of emerging technologies. He is a technology consultant at RX-M and a member of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. A Technology & Society Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. Organizer: Gerald Anthony Harris  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China's president, Xi Jinping, has become the most all-powerful leader of the communist state since Mao, and his grip on the country has been strengthened by technology and China's growing economic and military might. The United States might have belatedly realized it was in a great-powers competition with the People's Republic, but we might still be failing to understand how Chinese people themselves are dealing with—and resisting—their authoritarian government.  Award-winning journalist Emily Feng, author of the new book Let Only Red Flowers Bloom, has documented China's state oppression of those who fail to conform to Xi Jinping's definition of who is “Chinese.” She has profiled nearly two dozen people who are pushing back. They include a Uyghur family, separated as China detains hundreds of thousands of their fellow Uyghurs in camps; human rights lawyers fighting to defend civil liberties in the face of incredible odds; a teacher from Inner Mongolia forced to make hard choices because of his support of his mother tongue; and a Hong Kong fugitive trying to find a new home and live in freedom.  Join us as Feng reveals dramatic human stories of resistance and survival in a country that is increasingly closing itself off to the world—even as it flexes its muscles on the world stage. Feng illustrates what it is like to run against the grain in China, and the myriad ways people are trying to survive, with dignity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the United States still the “indispensable nation,” former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's term to describe America's leading role in the world? Or is the world better off as the country turns inward and downplays its historic alliances?  Washington Post columnist Shadi Hamid has made his own journey, moving from opposition to America's role in the world to reluctantly embracing it. He says the alternative to American leadership isn't a morally perfect superpower—it's the brutal authoritarianism of countries like China and Russia. He explores this topic in his new book The Case for American Power, and he comes to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to make the case for America to embrace its power as the only moral option in a world beset by tragedy.  Drawing on his unique perspective as both an American and a Muslim who came of age in the shadow of the September 11 attacks, Hamid contends with the contradictions of American power: how a nation founded on moral purpose so often does not live up to its ideals. He also deals with America's failures, from the war in Iraq to support for authoritarian regimes across the Middle East. But he says that because America is a democracy, it has the ability to correct past mistakes and change for the better—and that part is up to all of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 3, U.S. forces captured Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, and flew them to New York to stand trial for drug trafficking and narco-terrorisim. At the same time, President Trump has not been shy about stating his other motivation for intervening in the country: Back in December, he said, “We had a lot of oil there. As you know they threw our companies out, and we want it back." So what are the geopolitical ramifications of these actions?  And in a world increasingly powered by renewable energy, could fossil-fueled conflicts become a thing of the past?  Episode Guests:  Luisa Palacios, Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University  Amy Myers Jaffe, Director, Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab, NYU  Bill McKibben, Founder, Third Act and 350.org For show notes, transcript, and related links, visit ⁠climateone.org/podcasts⁠. Highlights: 00:00 Intro 04:54 Luisa Palacios on growing up in Venezuela 08:59 Luisa Palacios on the risks in Venezuela's oil industry 15:15 Luisa Palacios on the climate impact of increasing Venezuela's oil output 18:01 Amy Myers Jaffe on her reaction to the Maduro's forced removal 21:08 Amy Myers Jaffe on what the military action is really about 28:32 Amy Myers Jaffe on the importance of the action in Venezuela 35:21 Amy Myers Jaffe on the national security aspects of clean tech 38:39 Bill McKibben on the military action in Venezuela 49:45 Bill McKibben on the “last gasp' of the fossil fuel industry 52:26 Bill McKibben on the US reversal on climate policy and clean tech ********** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please join us for a special film documentary screening of Epicenter:The Struggle for Black Studies in the Bay Area, followed by an intimate conversation with filmmaker Doug Harris, Douglas Harris Jr. and cast members.  The film examines the early student activism of the 1960s and 1970s, which brought the first Black studies departments to higher education in the entire country. The film is very timely, as African American studies programs at institutions of higher education are currently being targeted for closure around the country.  In chronological order, the documentary will feature segments about Merritt College (1966), San Francisco State (1968) and UC Berkeley (1970), as told by cast members of the film who were on the ground floor of the Bay Area struggles through protests, strikes and riots. The Bay Area stood at the forefront, taking the leap toward introducing the study of Black and other minority cultures that would eventually spread throughout the country. The Commonwealth Club of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. An Arts Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. Organizer: Robert Melton  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Balancing activism with personal life and relationships can be difficult. At this crucial time in our history, activists are burning out when we need them the most. That's why this event with Kitty Stryker, who has spent two decades as a direct activist and a street medic during radical actions, is so timely.  Stryker, author of Love Rebels: How I Learned to Burn It Down Without Burning Out, has both burned it down and burned herself out. Trying to "show up bravely" as a leader despite exhaustion, she almost destroyed herself.  But now she says, "Activism does not demand martyrdom to be effective ... it's important to have some fun together!" She'll show us how to build effective teams composed of people with different backgrounds, interests, and abilities, while managing the inevitable internal conflicts. She will discuss how to inspire powerful action while keeping the team safe, how to nurture yourself and others while staying in the fight, how to make your most effective contribution, and how to decide when you truly need to take a break.  About the Speaker Kitty Stryker is the author of Love Rebels: How I Learned to Burn It Down Without Burning Out, three books on consent, and articles about activism and politics. She founded the Ladies High Tea and Pornography Society in London and has been a radical activist since she was ten.  Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. A Personal Growth Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. Organizer: Eric Siegel  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans are confronted with a wealth of sources of often questionable information about how to live better and longer. From the “Wellness Industrial Complex” to weak health reporting to faddish influencers, there is a lot of information and misinformation confusing people about some of the most important things about their bodies. How do we know what really matters the most to our health and longevity? What is the most robust and actionable evidence? And what is the junk you can just skip? Join us for a return visit to the Club from Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D., Ph.D. Emanuel, a bioethicist, health policy expert, advisor to presidents, oncologist, professor, writer, cyclist and chocolatier, has assembled simple but high-impact and evidence-based guidelines for issues people ask about: Alcohol consumption, food and nutrition, sleep, mental acuity, exercise, and social engagement. That is the subject of his latest book, Eat Your Ice Cream, in which he guides people to what really matters for well-being. Emanuel says that life isn't a competition to live the longest; he also says that “wellness” should not be difficult. Come learn this doctor's prescription for a healthy, balanced life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as Bruce Henderson shares the previously untold history of a top-secret operation in the run-up to D-Day in which American flyers and Allied spies carried out some of the most daring cloak-and-dagger operations of the Second World War.  In 1943, the OSS—precursor to the CIA—came up with a plan to support the French resistance forces that were fighting the Nazis. The OSS brought some of the best American bomber pilots and crews to a secret airfield 20 miles west of London and briefed them on the intended mission. Given a choice to stay or leave, every airman volunteered for what became known as Operation Carpetbagger.  Their dangerous plan called for a new kind of flying: taking their B-24 Liberator bombers in the middle of the night across the English Channel and down to extremely low altitudes in Nazi-occupied France to find drop zones in dark fields. On the ground, resistance members waited to receive steel containers filled with everything from rifles and hand grenades to medicine and bicycle tires. Some nights, the flyers also dropped Allied secret agents by parachute to assist the French partisans.  Though their story remained classified for half a century, the Carpetbaggers ultimately received a Presidential Unit Citation from the U.S. military, which declared “it is safe to say that no group of this size has made a greater contribution to the war effort.” Along with other members of the wartime OSS, they were also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.  It's a story Henderson tells in his new book Midnight Flyboys: The American Bomber Crews and Allied Secret Agents Who Aided the French Resistance in World War II. Based on exclusive research and interviews, Henderson relates the story of the patriotism, courage and sacrifice of these heroic flyers—and of the brave secret agents and French resistance leaders they aided. A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. Organizer: George Hammond  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Wajahat Ali for a timely conversation on his insights into the fragility of democratic institutions, his work fighting racism and extremism, and how ordinary citizens can resist authoritarianism.  In his weekly podcast, Wajahat Ali, acclaimed writer and public speaker, urgently chronicles an American democracy “under assault from the forces of fascism and authoritarianism.” One way he copes is by building Star Wars Lego sets with his kids, “to instill in them a need for rebellion and hope against the Empire,” he recently joked with guest Heather Cox Richardson. It's Wajahat Ali's combination of insightful analysis, social critique . . . and humor . . . that has made him a leading public intellectual and frequent commentator on national television.  He'll also talk about his experiences growing up in Fremont as the child of Pakistani immigrants as told in his acclaimed memoir, Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American, which NPR called “biting and funny and full of heart.”  “We are all fortunate to be on the receiving end of not only his intellect, but his humanity and heart." —Katie Couric Presented in partnership with Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the planet warms, the story of climate change is increasingly becoming a story about human health. Rising temperatures, wildfire smoke, flooding, and shifting disease patterns are no longer distant threats; they are everyday realities. The climate crisis is reshaping health care systems, exposing inequalities, and forcing doctors and policymakers to rethink some of their practices. Medical schools are beginning to adopt climate as part of their curricula, yet such education is widely variable across the country. So what policy and system changes might help address both the climate and health crises at the same time? Episode Guests: Jeni Miller, Executive Director, Global Climate and Health Alliance Cecilia Sorensen, Director, Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Columbia University  Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO, PAI For show notes, transcript, and related links, visit climateone.org/podcasts Highlights: 00:00 – Intro 03:30 – Cecilia Sorensen on consulting for a Grey's Anatomy episode on heat 07:00 – Climate impact she's seen in the ER 10:00 – Medical education is variable across the country, including climate awareness 16:00 – Importance of public health and the role of preventive medicine 21:00 – Jeni Miller on interconnections between climate and human health 29:30 – Climate crisis puts pressure on global health systems 34:30 – Ways health care systems can better prepare for climate impacts 44:30 – Connection between climate change and reproductive/sexual health 51:30 – Climate change exacerbates existing inequalities for women and girls around the world 56:00 – Navigating efforts by the Trump administration to increase fertility and birth rate while cutting social services 58:30 – Climate One More Thing ***** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a time when some may feel divisiveness and isolation is pervasive, this year's Silicon Valley Reads theme explores the concept of belonging in unique ways.  Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with featured authors Keeonna Harris (Mainline Mama: A Memoir), Annie Harnett (Unlikely Animals: A Novel), and John Powell (The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong).  Hear more about how people find and build community in different ways. In-person attendees are encouraged to visit the Euphrat Museum of Art to enjoy the show A Sense of Belonging. Hosted with Santa Clara County Library District, Santa Clara County Office of Education, San José Public Library, and DeAnza College This program contains EXPLICIT language.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran's authoritarian government has faced widespread protests in recent weeks, marking the most extensive unrest the country has seen in decades. The demonstrations, which began at the end of 2025, were triggered by an economic crisis and plummeting currency values. Tehran has responded with a violent crackdown leading to thousands of deaths. President Donald Trump initially responded by threatening military action. Will he follow through? Join us for a conversation between Iran expert Banafsheh Keynoush and UCLA professor and fellow Iran scholar Dalia Dassa Kaye about the latest developments in the crisis, possible U.S. responses, and what it all means for the region.  They'll also discuss Dassa Kaye's new book Enduring Hostility, which explores how America's Iran policy is made, the people who make it, and the underlying ideas and perceptions that inform it. The book looks back at U.S. policy toward Iran over the past four decades to help us look ahead, offering wider lessons for understanding American foreign policymaking and providing critical insights at a pivotal time of heightened military tensions in and around the Middle East. Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. A Middle East Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. Organizer: Banafsheh Keynoush  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can a university ever truly be neutral in today's social and political climate? Pushing against the tide of universities increasingly pledging to stay neutral about contentious issues, law professor Brian Soucek argues that their promises are doomed to fail—universities can't help being opinionated.  Soucek says that neutrality is a myth, and he takes a deep dive into several prominent campus controversies of the day, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and restrictions on campus speech and protest. Each issue requires universities to choose a side in what they do, if not also in what they say. In everything from curricular and admissions decisions to their response to outside rankings and their evaluation of faculty, universities express the values at the heart of their mission. Soucek argues that those pushing for neutrality are only preventing universities from standing up for their values, whether in today's current moment of crisis or in periods of political calm.  Join us to discuss Soucek's timely and deeply engaging call for universities to dispense with neutrality as a governing principle and to focus instead on what their mission should be, and who should determine it. A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. In association with the American Constitution Society. OrganizerGeorge Hammond  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us on January 21, 2026, in San Francisco for a fact-based exploration of immigration and the future of the United States. Moderated by the Population Reference Bureau's Jennifer Sciubba, this conversation will cut through opinion and politics to reveal the real data shaping America's demographics, economy, and competitiveness. Hear from leading experts Dr. Giovanni Peri, Daniel Costa, and Dr. Russell Hancock on what's working—and what needs fixing—in U.S. immigration policy. Gain clear insights into how these forces will shape our businesses and communities for years to come.  This core learning event offers an intentionally apolitical and fact-based perspective on a politically, emotionally and culturally charged topic. Credible, fact-based information on immigration can be hard to discern from opinion and rhetoric. Amplifying the stakes for the United States, at a time of intense rivalry for leadership of large global industries of the future, the full scope and impact of federal policy actions is unknowable. Some are immediate, obvious and reported in mass media. Others will take years to be known, understood and reported. All businesses, communities and individuals will be affected. The Commonwealth Club of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. Program support provided by YPO Gold NorCal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us did not know about USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) until it came under scrutiny by the White House's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in its recent cost-cutting efforts. USAID is—or was—the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.  While the constitutionality of DOGE's actions effectively curtailing USAID's efforts work their way through the courts, we invite you to hear a personal perspective from someone whose work was primarily funded by USAID and who experienced first-hand the impact of USAID's rule of law programs around the world during the past 30 years.  Mary Noel Pepys will provide an overview of her pro bono work in former communist countries, where she served as the rule of law liaison for the American Bar Association's Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative. She will discuss the challenges of assisting nations in their transition from communism to democracy, including efforts to strengthen the rule of law and promote judicial independence.  Mary Noel Pepys is a senior attorney specializing in the rule of law, specifically international legal and judicial reform. Since 1993 she has helped emerging democracies develop justice systems that ensure the protection of citizens' human rights, equal treatment of all individuals before the law, and a predictable legal structure with fair, transparent and effective government institutions. You can learn more about Pepys's international work at pepysinternational.com, which will serve as a backdrop of her presentation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly every headline seems to warn of new crises, deepening divides or threats to the planet. Yet a very different story emerges when you widen the lens.  A new book, A Century of Plenty, takes a longer, historical and more hopeful view. Over the past 100 years, humans have made unprecedented progress, from longer lifespans to dramatically reduced poverty: “On average, people now live 40 years longer than they did. From Lagos to London, economic growth has hauled billions of people out of poverty and empowered them to lead rewarding lives.” The forthcoming book, by researchers at the McKinsey Global Institute, examines what powered the “progress machine” of the last century, while acknowledging that the gains were inconsistent and not shared equally. What would it take for all countries in the world to achieve the standard of living of, say, Switzerland by 2100? For one thing, the global economy would have to grow to eight times the size it is today. Is this realistic? Will the world have enough energy, food, metals and minerals? Can we keep innovating quickly enough? Can we deliver prosperity while protecting our planet?“This future is, in fact, possible and perhaps likely, even if progress is always fraught with challenge and humanity lives on the edge,” the book concludes. We'll talk with co-author Chris Bradley, economist Noah Smith, and other experts about the lessons from the past 100 years, and how they can be applied to ensure even greater future prosperity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have entered the second quarter of this century, and the general public's concern in regard to past, present and future relationships and alliances looms large on the horizon.Established practices, agreements, and alliances seem to be under review.  Are the accepted patterns of diplomatic, political and economic institutions wobbling and leaving the future uncertain?Our panel will have an open conversation among the consuls general of the United Kingdom and Ireland; the deputy consul general of Italy; and the honorary consul general of the Czech Republic about what we can expect. Will the established relationships of the past 25 years among the European nations and the United States dramatically change? The new year is a great time to review what we have all experienced and thought, with an eye on the present and the future. This should be a frank and open conversation. An International Relations Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. OrganizerFrank Price and Norma Walden  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, entrepreneur, and Fox News contributor Steve Hilton says he's running for California governor to address the housing crisis, high taxes and the “staggering incompetence of Democrat one-party rule." He's not embracing the Republican label, instead calling his campaign nonpartisan.  Born in the United Kingdom to Hungarian parents who fled communism, Hilton worked in politics, advertising, and business before becoming head of strategy for former British Prime Minister David Cameron. But he's probably best known in the United States for hosting the Fox News Channel show “The Next Revolution.” His books include Good Business: Your World Needs You and More Human: Designing a World Where People Come First.  Hilton joins Commonwealth Club World Affairs as part of our “Race for Governor 2026” series of candidate forums. Come meet the candidate, hear his vision for California, and ask your questions before you cast your vote for California's next governor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're only about a month into 2026, and already so much has happened — from the Trump administration's forcible removal of Venezuela's president to the US pulling out of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change… It's easy to get caught up in the headlines of the moment and lose sight of the big picture.  But important developments are happening in sectors like agriculture and renewable technology that don't break through the noise to the extent they deserve. So, what should we be watching in 2026? Guests:  Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer, Michigan Michael Grunwald, Journalist, Author, We Are Eating The Earth Jessie Bluedorn, Founder & Executive Director, The Carmack Collective For show notes, transcript, and related links, visit ⁠ClimateOne.org/podcasts⁠ Highlights: 00:00 Intro 05:33 Justine Johnson on the importance of mobility 08:48 Justine Johnson on the future of EV charging 11:20 Justine Johnson on the practicality of new EV charging technology 19:05 Justine Johnson on innovation in financing 22:52 Michael Grunwald on making more food with less land 30:17 Michael Grunwald on the new tech used to constipate beetles to death 37:24 Michael Grunwald on what to watch in politics 43:00 Jessie Bluedorn on the fossil fuel industry's control over cultural narratives 47:57 Jessie Bluedorn on the comedy in the climate crisis 56:36 Jessie Bluedorn on other areas to keep an eye on in the culture ***** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the past 20 years, one state after another has shuttered its youth prisons and stopped trying kids as adults, slashing the number of incarcerated children by a stunning 75 percent. How did this change come about? In the sequel to her 2014 award-winning book Burning Down the House, journalist Nell Bernstein dissects the forces that converged to move us from what she calls a moral panic about “juvenile superpredators” to a time in which the youth prison is rapidly fading from view.  In Our Future We Are Free begins and ends with the imprisoned youth who took a leading role in their own liberation. Through vivid profiles, Bernstein chronicles the tireless work of mothers, activists, litigators, researchers, and journalists to expose and challenge the “racist brutality of youth prisons”—as well as the surprising story of prison officials who worked from the inside to close their institutions for good. The descriptions of how communities are pursuing safety, rehabilitation, and accountability outside of locked institutions offers a model for how we might overcome our addiction to incarceration writ large.  Join Nell Bernstein and Chesa Boudin to learn how a coalition of parents, activists, and prison officials reformed what she calls a “racist and destructive institution,” and what other social movements can learn from that struggle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco politics is rarely dull, but 2026 is shaping up to be particularly eventful. Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman elected U.S. House speaker, has announced her retirement after nearly four decades serving San Francisco in Congress. The race to succeed her is wide-open, though State Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan have already thrown their hats in.  Meanwhile, Mayor Daniel Lurie starts his second year in office with high approval ratings and ambitious plans to boost housing construction and overhaul the City Charter. He's also still facing fallout from a bungled effort to appoint a supervisor in the city's Sunset District. His first pick, a former pet store owner with no political experience, resigned after allegations over unsanitary conditions and poor management at her small business.  We'll check in with some of the city's top political reporters to talk about Pelosi's legacy, what to expect from the Lurie administration, and how the city will cope with federal cuts and Trump's ongoing crackdown on Democratic cities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1861, abolitionist Wendell Phillips said, “I think the first duty of society is justice.” What, then, would he think about the current state of America's Department of Justice?  Pulitzer-Prize-winning reporters Carol Leonnig and Aaron C. Davis say that throughout his first administration, President Donald Trump did more than any other president to politicize the nation's top law enforcement agency, pressuring his appointees to shield him, to go after his enemies, and even to help him remain in office after his 2020 election defeat. They say the Justice Department has never fully recovered.  Decisions and actions by the Justice Department during the Trump and Biden presidencies demonstrate how much has changed. Leonnig and Davis explore what has happened in their new book Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department. They say the subversion of the Justice Department over the last decade threatens rule of law in the United States as we have long known it.  They put blame not only on Trump administration efforts to undermine the department but also the delays in investigating Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election under Biden's attorney general, Merrick Garland. Leonnig and Davis say a daily war was secretly waged for the soul of the department.  Join us for a special online-only discussion that will take you inside the rooms where fateful decisions were made—with fateful results. Hear Leonnig and Davis' jaw-dropping account of political partisans and enablers wrecking democracy, heroes who still battle to preserve the rule of law, and a call to action for those who believe in liberty and justice for all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political polarization has become a top concern for Americans, surpassing issues such as immigration, inflation or crime, according to an October 2025 poll by The New York Times and Siena University. This is a major shift from before the 2024 election, when it "barely registered" as an issue. Most voters now doubt the country's divisions can be overcome.  Still, Americans also say they want leaders to cooperate across party lines. So what should be done? Liam deClive-Lowe believes that part of the answer is to make it less risky for politicians to collaborate across the aisle. He's the president and co-founder of American Policy Ventures (APV), a nonpartisan organization that works with members of Congress, philanthropists and policy leaders to “de-risk cross-partisan collaboration and pragmatic governance.”  The APV team, including former Republican and Democratic staffers, seeks to achieve this by changing the incentive structures that deepen polarization. When politicians are seen working with the other side, they are often demonized by their own base. DeClive-Lowe wants cooperation to become something that is rewarded, not punished.  APV is just one of a number of recently formed groups in the nation's capital looking to promote bipartisanship and solve the polarization crisis. DeClive-Lowe will join Commonwealth Club World Affairs to discuss the growing movement, APV's efforts, and actions ordinary citizens can take. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Agriculture is directly responsible for 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and farmers and ranchers face growing climate impacts every day, from more severe storms to intense droughts, making it harder to grow food.  The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office ⁠estimates⁠ emissions from the agriculture sector will modestly increase over the next 30 years. Yet the Trump administration is ⁠slashing programs ⁠that help reduce emissions, feed people, protect farmworkers and animals and sensitive lands. In addition, the Trump administration's tariffs and trade wars have affected the cost of machinery and sales of major crops. What will these changes mean for our national food system? How are farmers weathering these impacts? And where are people building resilience regardless of federal policy?  Episode Guests: Lisa Held, Senior Staff Reporter and Contributing Editor, Civil Eats Megan O'Rourke, Congressional Candidate NJ07; Former USDA Scientist John Bartman, Illinois farmer Byron Kominek, Owner and Manager, Jack's Solar Garden Highlights: 00:00 – Intro 05:30 – Lisa Held on major climate and agriculture stories in 2025 07:30 – Climate change is making it harder to be a farmer 09:15 – Changes at USDA 15:00 – How SNAP cuts affect consumers and farmers/growers 18:30 – Trump admin penalizing efforts/grants that support DEI efforts in agriculture 24:00 – John Bartman shares his journey to regenerative agriculture 30:00 – Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities Program and cutbacks under Trump 34:30 – Trade war between China and US is hurting soybean sales and Amazon rainforest 37:10 – Byron Kominek on how he got into agrivoltaics and the benefits it offers 42:00 – Agrivoltaics is climate adaptation 51:20 – Megan O'Rourke on research around kernza, a perennial grain 54:00 – Most pressing challenges for agriculture right now 59:00 – Importance of food security at home and abroad, and role of US farmers 1:03:30 – Climate One More Thing For show notes , transcript, and related links, visit climateone.org/podcasts ****** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political resistance is as old as injustice itself, fighting with tools that span from civil disobedience (boycotts, strikes, sit-ins) to armed struggle, challenging tyranny, colonialism, racism, and inequality through both nonviolent or violent means.  Historically it has evolved from ancient community defiance to modern national movements like Black Lives Matter, utilizing culture, direct action, and grassroots organization. Key nonviolent strategies include passive noncooperation (e.g., sit-ins and boycotts) and active confrontation (e.g., U.S. Civil Rights Movement), with recent studies highlighting effective nonviolent strategies, like those seen in the Eastern European revolutions.  We will look at the history of political resistance in the United States and make some recommendations for the current tumultuous times. About the Speakers Dr. Michael Baker recently retired from a 40-year career in general, vascular, and trauma surgery. He also served 30 years in the uniform of his country and retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of rear admiral, having earned numerous awards including a Combat Action Ribbon and 3 Legion of Merit Awards. He currently teaches history, political science, and military affairs for the Osher LifeLong Learning (OLLI) Programs at UC Berkeley, Dominican University, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Channel Islands—and is on the Board of Governors of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. He teaches Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) to physicians in the United States, at military bases around the world, and most recently returned from his fifth tour in Ukraine teaching ATLS to physicians in that war-torn nation. Jack Funk graduated with a BA in political science from UC San Diego in 1977. He received his JD from Berkeley School of law in 1980. Following law school, he worked as a trial attorney in the Contra Costa County Public Defender's Office for 30 years. He has retired from the practice of law. He is currently president of the Martinez Education Foundation, which raises money to support schools in Martinez, and is also the chair of the Retiree Support Group of Contra Costa County, which is an organization created to protect retiree rights and interests. Since February of this year, he has been working with the Diablo Valley Resistance, which is focused on activities that push back against the Trump political agenda. An East Bay Chapter and Humanities Member-led Forum program. Chapters and forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, and they cover a diverse range of topics.  Organizer: Michael Baker  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a year since catastrophic fires tore through Los Angeles. For those who lived through them, the impacts are still being felt. Rebuilding in the aftermath of more frequent and severe fossil-fueled disasters is becoming a big business. Enter the disaster economy, powered by a grab bag of dedicated people helping communities rebuild, and by contractors who may overpromise, underdeliver, and profit from tragedy. Caught in the middle are the survivors, often left to navigate red tape, scams, and soaring costs just to rebuild their lives. In this episode, produced in collaboration with Grist, we explore the people and systems behind this booming, often exploitative multi-billion dollar industry, and share strategies to help listeners stay protected. Episode Guests:  Haley Geller, Photo Stylist; Mother Ayurella Horn Muller, Staff Writer, Grist Cricket Logan, Wastewater Management Mechanic, City of St. Petersburg, Florida Naveena Sadasivam, Writer and Editor, Grist For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit ClimateOne.org Highlights: 00:00 - Intro 05:06 - Haley Geller on her personal wildfire experience 07:22 - Haley Geller on how life has changed since the fire 11:04 - Haley Geller on navigating the recovery process 16:21 - Ayurella Horn Muller on covering recovery workers 18:39 - Cricket Logan on his disaster recovery work experience 24:16 - Ayurella Horn Muller on the mental health work of disaster recovery 28:25 - Ayurella Horn Muller on working conditions for recovery workers 38:03 - Naveena Sadasivam on talking to people who experienced disaster recovery 40:22 - Naveena Sadasivam on one person's experience with rebuilding after a fire 49:51 - Naveena Sadasivam on what regulations exist to help prevent fraud 53:41 - Naveena Sadasivam on steps people can take to protect themselves ******** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's not just governors and presidents who have to confront and overcome huge challenges; we all do at every stage of our life. Now Gretchen Whitmer shares advice and stories from her life, from her childhood to her current role as governor of the state of Michigan. When Gretchen Whitmer was growing up, her grandmother Nino taught her that you can always find something good in other people. “Even the meanest person might have pretty eyes,” she would say. That can be hard to remember when people are attacking you or literally plotting to kidnap you. Whitmer returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs on the occasion of the publication of the young adult edition of her best-selling memoir True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between. She shares the lessons that gave her strength during some of the most turbulent years in her state's history, from the COVID-19 pandemic to a massive flood to the rise of domestic terrorism and the fight over reproductive rights. “Big Gretch,” as she's known, offers an inside look at an American politician drawing on her family, resilience and humor to provide lessons for young people and anyone looking to make a difference in the world. * Note: This podcast contains explicit language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Those standing up to climate and environmental injustice face challenges they weren't seeing a year ago. But Gloria Walton, head of The Solutions Project, sees a bigger picture: “ The reality is that the same systems that created the climate crisis, whether that's colonialism, white supremacy, racism, and the patriarchy, those are the same ones that have harmed communities of color for generations,” she says. Her organization has channeled tens of millions of philanthropic dollars to grassroots efforts that build community resilience.  Black Girl Environmentalist founder Wawa Gatheru is helping more Black girls, women, and gender-expansive people enter and lead in the climate space. She says the climate fight has shifted from education to action, with over 70% of Americans now understanding that climate change is real. So what should this 'action phase' look like? Guests: Gloria Walton, President & CEO, The Solutions Project Wawa Gatheru, Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl Environmentalist For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org Highlights: 00:00 – Intro 05:30 – Gloria Walton on the impact of the Altadena wildfires 10:30 – Walton's work as an organizer in South Central LA 13:00 – Living with idea of abundance 19:00 – Finding and keeping your individual power within our democracy 21:00 – Work of West Street Recovery Project in Houston 22:30 – Developing local resilience hubs 24:00 – Reframing frontline communities as victors, not victims 27:00 – Channeling philanthropy to climate resilience and frontline communities 36:00 – Story of Hoʻāhu Energy Cooperative Molokai  42:00 – Wawa Gatheru's start in climate and environmental advocacy 44:00 – Not seeing herself in climate spaces 48:00 – Climate storytelling can offer nuance and move people  55:00 – Work and growth of Black Girl Environmentalist organization 59:00 – Climate One More Thing **** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At this moment, the cheapest way to create electricity is by pointing a solar panel at the sun. That's good news for the climate. It's also good news for communities who want to take control of their own electricity generation. In the heart of Brooklyn, UPROSE is helping to build a solar project that will be owned by the community, provide jobs, and help residents bring down their energy costs. In Puerto Rico, where hurricanes have devastated the power grid, community members are building solar microgrids to provide reliable electricity as the utility has proven they cannot. Meanwhile in conservative rural Virginia, Energy Right is helping farmers and rural communities adopt solar projects, touting a free market message about energy independence and security.  Guests:  Elizabeth Yeampierre, Attorney; Executive Director, UPROSE  Skyler Zunk, CEO and Founder, Energy Right  Arturo Massol-Deyá, Executive Director, Casa Pueblo de Adjuntas For show notes and related links, visit ⁠ClimateOne.org⁠. Highlights: 00:00 - Intro 4:11 - Elizabeth Yeampierre on the history of UPROSE 10:40 - Elizabeth Yeampierre on Sunset Park Solar 14:31 - Elizabeth Yeampierre on the GRID plan 20:46 - Arturo Massol-Deyá on the Origins of Casa Pueblo 23:43 - Arturo Massol-Deyá on providing solar power to the community 33:04 - Arturo Massol-Deyá on what other communities can learn from Casa Pueblo 38:08 - Skyler Zunk on the importance of reliable energy 47:06 - Skyler Zunk on dealing with resistance to solar projects 50:49 - Skyler Zunk on the Inflation Reduction Act  **** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election Day in the November 2024 presidential election was a pivotal moment in American history, and in his second term, President Trump has moved quickly to imprint his vision on the country and its policies. But before November 5, there was a whole campaign that was wild, unpredictable, fiery and violent. Jonathan Karl, ABC News chief Washington correspondent, calls it “the campaign that changed America.”  Karl, author of the bestsellers Tired of Winning, Betrayal, and Front Row at the Trump Show, returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs for a special online-only discussion of the issues raised in his newest book, Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America. Karl went behind the scenes to learn about what was happening in the White House and in the presidential campaigns during such shocking moments as President Biden's withdrawal from the campaign, assassination attempts, Vice President Kamala Harris' historic campaign, and more.  Don't miss this program featuring one of our leading political journalists explaining how we got here—and what to expect from American politics in coming years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Social Impact Holiday Mixer is an evening of celebration and connection bringing together philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, and changemakers from across the Bay Area. Hosted at Commonwealth Club World Affairs, the program blends festive warmth with civic purpose. Honorary chair and emcee Willie L. Brown, Jr., two-term mayor of San Francisco and former speaker of the California Assembly, opens the evening with reflections on leadership, philanthropy and community. He is joined by co-hosts Elisabeth Pang Fullerton, a philanthropist and impact investor studying Global Public Health Leadership at Harvard, and Eddy Zheng, founder of the New Breath Foundation and national advocate for cross-cultural healing and justice. Following brief remarks, the evening transforms into an interactive roundtable discussion, with microphones, held by the co-organizers, circulating among guests to share social impact success stories and lessons learned. The program concludes with an open reception, inviting continued conversation and collaboration. Wine and hors d'oeuvres by Vino Godfather. About the Speakers  Honorary chair and emcee Willie Brown was a two-term mayor of San Francisco, legendary speaker of the California State Assembly and is widely regarded as one of the most influential African-American politicians of the late 20th century. Mayor Brown has been at the center of California politics, government and civic life for more than five decades. Co-host Elizabeth Pang Fullerton is a philanthropist, early-stage investor, and startup veteran who leads a foundation advancing equity in health care, education and conservation. As general partner of her family office, she invests in mission-driven ventures addressing global challenges. Currently studying at the Global Public Health Leadership Program at Harvard, she focuses on building more just, inclusive, and human-centered systems. Co-host Eddy Zheng, president and founder of the New Breath Foundation, bridges Black, Asian American, immigrant, refugee, and formerly incarcerated communities. Featured in The New Yorker, The Guardian, PBS, NPR, and the award-winning film Breathin': The Eddy Zheng Story, he advances cross-cultural healing and justice through culture, history and identity. Moderator Dave Clark is an Emmy Award-winning television news anchor for KTVU Channel 2, a trusted Bay Area morning voice since 2007. With more than 50 years in broadcasting, his work has aired nationally and internationally. He now pairs journalism with community service, supporting Joshua's Gift and The Vibrancy Foundation alongside his wife, artist and entrepreneur Lucretia Clark (aka Livacious Lu). A Social Impact Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. OrganizerVirginia Cheung & Ian McCuaig  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BIG. ASIAN. ENERGY. is a Bay Area cultural force, elevating Asian power, women's leadership, and the unstoppable vitality of our AAPI communities. Through headline events and community activations, BAE champions economic recovery, public safety, and support for small businesses by bringing bold visibility to Asian stories year-round. It's a catalyst to celebrate, amplify, and activate the future of San Francisco.  Come and hear more about BAE and how you can join the force. Speakers: Dion Lim, our moderator, is an Emmy Award–winning journalist known for nearly two decades as a TV news anchor and reporter, most recently in San Francsico and the Bay Area. Marjan Philhour is managing director of Mercury's San Francisco office, bringing more than three decades of experience in government, politics, strategic communications and community advocacy to the firm. Nancy Tung was elected as chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party in April 2024. She previously served as an elected member of the party's local leadership for four years. She deeply understands the impact the Democratic Party has on our local elections and is guiding a new caucus of moderate Democrats in the party. Monica Gandhi M.D., M.P.H., is a professor of medicine and associate chief in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is also the director of the UCSF Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and the medical director of the HIV Clinic ("Ward 86") at San Francisco General Hospital. Kiki Lopez is a proud immigrant transwoman living with HIV. She is a program manager for the Stop the Hate Program and the California Reducing Disparities Project at San Francisco Community Health Center. She passionately advocates for people living with HIV, immigrant communities, and transgender folks, especially queer and trans Asian and Pacific Islanders. Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. See more  Michelle Meow Show programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California. 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

2025 has been a doozy in so many ways. And climate news has been no exception. Climate One hosts Ariana Brocious and Kousha Navidar look back at what the year has meant for climate progress: the good, the bad, the ugly — and the joyful. According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2025 will go down as one of the ⁠top three⁠ warmest years in the 176-year observational record. Climate-change-fueled extreme weather continues to wreak havoc on communities across the world. And yet, it's not all bad news.  As Bill McKibben points out, we now live on a planet where the cheapest form of energy basically comes from pointing a piece of glass at the sun. And globally, renewable energy surpassed coal for the first time ever. Despite the federal government's attacks on climate science and policy, local climate action is still happening across the country and globe, and each of us holds power to make change. Guests: Adrienne Heinz, Clinical Research Psychologist, Stanford University School of Medicine Roxanne Brown, Vice President at Large, United Steelworkers Pattie Gonia, Drag Queen and environmentalistFor show notes and related links, visit ⁠ClimateOne.org⁠ Highlights: 00:00 - Intro 02:00 – 2025 has been the year of AI 04:30 – Trump admin attack on science, climate and environmental regs and rules 06:45 – Good news on renewables and the rise of China as an electrostate 08:30 – New York implements congestion pricing 10:00 – US has removed itself from global climate negotiations 12:45 – Remembering Jane Goodall 15:30 – Adrienne Heinz on how to support yourself and others after a weather disaster 25:30 – Roxanne Brown on how Trump's pullback of IRA, BIL and CHIPS acts have hurt American workers and industry 34:00 – Growing threat of disinformation in climate conversations 36:30 – Pattie Gonia on how drag performance fits in with their climate and environmental activism 51:00 – How joy is strategic 53:30 – A look ahead at 2026 ***** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From patents to IPOs to international bridge titles, Vinita Gupta has navigated male-dominated arenas with clarity and courage. In this fireside chat with Nalini Elkins, she shares fresh takes from her new memoir on resilience, inclusion, and building durable success in a volatile world—plus what it takes to keep learning through every pivot. join us to hear her timely playbook for founders, operators and the curious. Vinita Gupta is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and the first woman of Indian origin to take a company public in the United States. Her memoir, The Woman in Deed: Road to IPO, Bridge Tables, and Beyond, traces a life of invention, leadership, and competitive bridge at the highest levels. She writes on innovation, integrity, and reinvention across the India–U.S. corridor. Nalini Elkins, the CEO and founder of Inside Products, Inc., is a recognized leader in the field of computer performance measurement and analysis. She is also the chief technical officer and co-founder of Outside the Stacks. An accomplished software product designer, developer and strategist, she has founded or co-founded three high-tech start-ups over the course of her career. In 2014, Nalini was awarded the prestigious AA Michelson Award by the Computer Measurement Group (CMG). An International Relations Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. Organizer: Frank Price  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author and noted historian Mark Shaw returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to discuss his latest research and his newest book. They strengthen his conclusion that New Orleans mafia don Carlos Marcello was the point person pulling the strings behind the murders of JFK and famed journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. And, for the first time, he also links Marcello to the murder of Robert Kennedy. In his previous books, Shaw established the connections between Marcello, Oswald, Ruby and Kilgallen and Marcello's use of Kilgallen's lover to silence her before she could expose Marcello's involvement in the JFK assassination. In his latest book, Abuse of Power, Shaw lays out compelling evidence that Marcello's pattern of using patsies to exact his revenge culminated in his setting Sirhan Sirhan up to take the fall for the assassination of RFK on June 6, 1968.  Shaw's new research includes his examination of the JFK assassination records recently released by the federal government. In those files is a December 1985 FBI transcript in which Carlos Marcello was taped “confessing” to his role in JFK's death: “Yeah, I had the son of a b---h killed. I'm glad I did. I wish I could have done it myself.”  Shaw investigates whether Marcello decided on a similar approach when it became clear in early 1968 that RFK could become president. Shaw says that since Robert Kennedy, as attorney general, had ordered Marcello deported in April 1961, charging him with racketeering, Marcello had no intention of allowing RFK to get in his way again and so had Bobby killed.  Shaw alleges that Marcello used his “associate,” mobster Mickey Cohen, who controlled the Southern California racetracks, including Santa Anita, and knew the layout of the Ambassador Hotel where RFK was killed, to “recruit” 24-year-old Sirhan just as the mafia don had recruited Lee Harvey Oswald to assassinate JFK. Evidence for Shaw's allegation is a never-before-published, eyewitness, video-taped account from John Shear, a celebrated paddock captain at Santa Anita Racetrack. He had hired Sirhan to work as a “hot walker” at the racetrack and considered him “easily manipulated.”  Shortly before RFK was killed, Shear noticed that Sirhan was all dressed up, had money and was hanging around nearby Hollywood Park Racetrack with “two hoodlums” despite being poorly paid and having gambling debts. Shaw says that shortly after RFK's murder, it was Shear who first identified Sirhan for the LAPD and the FBI from the photo of Sirhan being shown on TV—but Shear was never contacted by either the LAPD or the FBI about Sirhan, pointing to a cover up.  Then, just as twice before regarding JFK's and Kilgallen's deaths, the trail of evidence quickly and suspiciously went cold. Join us as Shaw makes sense of the newfound evidence and heats up his call for justice in the murders of JFK, Dorothy Kilgallen and Robert Kennedy. A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. OrganizerGeorge Hammond  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On November 7, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum, will host The Asian American Foundation's (TAAF) first-ever AAPI Youth Mental Health Summit. Under the theme “Sparking Solutions Together,” the summit will convene hundreds of experts, advocates, funders, and business executives to address the urgent and often overlooked mental health challenges facing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth. From 2018 through 2022, suicide was the leading cause of death among Asian Americans aged 15–24, and the second leading cause of death among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Yet despite being deeply impacted by the nation's mental health crisis, AAPI youth remain largely invisible in the national mental health conversation, and the data needed to understand their mental health is scarce at best. To fill the gap, TAAF released "Beyond the Surface" in December 2024, the most comprehensive study to date on AAPI youth mental health, which revealed: Nearly 1 in 2 AAPI youth screen positive for moderate depression; 1 in 3 have planned or attempted suicide; Stigma, family pressure, and silence keep many from seeking help; Only 53 percent feel comfortable talking with their parents; Just 1 in 4 have accessed formal care; and 46 percent have never seen a mental health provider. Building on these findings, the November 7 summit will bring together leading experts to spark dialogue on breaking stigma, closing gaps in care, and exploring how community partners and technology are reshaping the ways young people seek and receive support.  Join us online to hear from: Midori Francis, Actor, "Grey's Anatomy" Ryan Alexander Holmes Owin Pierson, Creator and Mental Health Advocate Lisa Ling, Journalist Noopur Agarwal, VP of Social Impact, MTV Norman Chen, CEO, The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) Philip Yun, Co-President and Co-CEO, Commonwealth Club World Affairs Rushika Fernandopulle, MD, Practicing Physician; Co-Founder and Former CEO, Iora Health; TAAF Board Member Juliana Chen, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Cartwheel Perry Chen,Director of Programs and Partnerships, Behavioral Health at Blue Shield of California Rachel Miller, Founder & CEO, Closegap Meena Srinivasan, Founding Executive Director, Transformative Educational Leadership Ayesha Meer, Executive Director, Asian Mental Health Collective Henry Ha, Program Director, Community Youth Center of San Francisco Anne Saw, PhD, HOPE Program Reid Bowman, MPH, CHES, Outreach & Program Manager, UCA Waves Rupesh Shah, COO of Crisis Text Line Tone Va'i, LCSW, Clinician, Samoan Community Development Center Amy Grace Lam, PhD, Chief Program Strategist, Korean Community Center of East Bay Christine Yang, ASW, Korean Community Center of East Bay Christina Yu, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor, Korean Community Center of East Bay William Tsai, PhD, Associate Professor, New York University Cindy H. Liu, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, BOBA Project, Harvard Medical School Tiffany Yip, Professor of Psychology, Fordham University Quynh Nguyen, TALA (Thriving AANHPI Leadership Accelerator) Fellow   This program is presented by The Asian American Foundation and Commonwealth Club World Affairs.   For full program, please visit:  https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/archive/video/youth-mental-health-summit-sparking-solutions-together Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can the United States advance its interests without abandoning its core values? Alexander Vindman, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former director for European Affairs on the White House's National Security Council, presents a discussion on the critical interplay between morality, values and power in the practice of geopolitics and national security.  After the collapse of the Soviet Union, six U.S. presidential administrations across both parties crafted policies for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia that unintentionally emboldened Russia and played into its imperialist, centuries-long mythos of regional hegemony, by pursuing short-term transactional policies. The result: military aggression and full-scale invasion. It was all too foreseeable.  Vindman will discuss the shifting U.S. foreign policy landscape, what a just peace and lasting end to the war in Ukraine might look like, the administration's increasingly transactional approach to international relations, and Trump's heavy-handed approach to national security and domestic politics. About the Speaker  Dr. Alexander Vindman, a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, was the director for European Affairs on the National Security Council. Before that, he served as the political-military affairs officer for Russia for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as an attaché at the U.S. Embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. While on the Joint Staff, he authored the National Military Strategy for Russia. He earned a Master's from Harvard University, where he served as a Hauser Leader, and a Master's and Doctorate from Johns Hopkins, where he is a senior fellow. Dr. Vindman leads the national security think tank Institute for Informed American Leadership, is the president of the nonprofit Here Right Matters Foundation, an executive board member for the Renew Democracy Initiative, a senior fellow at the Kettering Foundation, and a senior advisor to VoteVets. Dr. Vindman is the author of the "Why It Matters" Substack and the New York Times bestselling books Here, Right Matters and The Folly of Realism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Project Drawdown is the world's leading science-based guide to climate solutions. According to Jonathan Foley, Project Drawdown's Executive Director, they aim to be the Consumer Reports for climate change. “We synthesize every paper ever written in science, engineering, technical, economic literature, all the data, and bring it together and say, ‘Hey, does this actually work? And if so, how much would it cost? And how long would we have to wait for it?'”  Foley is not just an expert on the intricacies of hundreds of potential climate solutions; he's also the winner of the 2025 Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Science Communication, and an expert at explaining complex ideas in easily digestible terms. As he said on a past Climate One episode, “The great news about addressing climate change is we also build a better world in the process. Imagine going to the doctor and they're like, ‘Wow, you're really sick and I'm gonna give you this medicine, and its side effects are, you're gonna feel better.' Climate solutions are like that.” Episode Guests: Jonathan Foley, Executive Director, Project Drawdown Eliza Nemser, Executive Director, Climate Changemakers Highlights: 00:00 Intro 02:11 Jonathan Foley on Stephen Schneider 06:33 Jonathan Foley on balancing science and communication 13:09 Jonathan Foley on Project Drawdown 20:08 Jonathan Foley on less effective climate solutions 23:27 Jonathan Foley on the food industries effect on climate 26:22 Jonathan Foley on being attacked for speaking out about beef 34:20 Jonathan Foley on the need to stop doing “stupid” stuff 40:31 Greg Dalton on meeting Stephen Schneider 41:25 Greg Dalton on creating the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Science Communication 45:52 Greg Dalton on Stephen Schneider's legacy 47:14 Eliza Nemser on her journey to climate activism 49:12 Eliza Nemser on effective volunteerism  53:23 Eliza Nemser on finding your place in climate action ******* 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. Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the age of 83, Jesse Jackson has a long career behind him as one of the most influential Black activists of the past century. As a civil rights leader, activist, shadow senator, presidential candidate, and ordained Baptist minister, he has been at the center of the public eye and a thorn in his opponents' sides. Now CNN anchor and author Abby Phillip comes to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to share the story of Jackson, focusing on his presidential campaigns of 1984 and 1988. In both campaigns, he was initially viewed as a fringe candidate yet went on to surprisingly strong finishes—third place in 1984 and runner-up to nominee Michael Dukakis in 1988.  How did he do it? How did he build a coalition that appealed to urban working-class people, college students, and Southern Blacks? That coalition would go on to become a core part of many Democratic presidential campaigns in the decades following the 1980s. Drawing on his time working with Martin Luther King, Jr., his organization of the SLCC's Operation Breadbasket in Chicago and elsewhere, and his deep southern roots, Jackson mounted campaigns that gave hope to many people who had been overlooked by the major parties.  Join us in-person or online to learn more about the man Phillip explores in her new book Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a December program and celebration featuring youth speakers from San Francisco's LYRIC Center for LGBTQQ+ Youth. These young people will speak about today's important social issues affecting their lives. After the program, stick around for an appreciation reception with food and beverages. The Commonwealth Club thanks Gilead Sciences, Inc. for its generous support of The Michelle Meow Show.  See more  Michelle Meow Show programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.   This program contains EXPLICIT language.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Civic engagement is being redefined by members of a generation that is both deeply critical of the systems around them and deeply committed to shaping something better. Rather than relying solely on traditional channels such as electoral politics or government-backed programs, students and young leaders are turning to alternative forms of participation—mutual aid networks, campus resource-sharing, community coalitions, and peer-led initiatives—that center care, solidarity and local action. How can civic life can be sustained and strengthened even when public institutions appear stagnant or unresponsive? What does it mean to be civically engaged when government channels feel inaccessible? How can young people build community and foster accountability when the structures designed to support them fall short? And how can higher education remain a space for meaningful participation amid growing tensions around inclusion, access and speech? Through a conversation rooted in practice and reflection, this event highlights how civic engagement today is as much about relationships and shared responsibility as it is about politics or policy. It invites us to think expansively about how community, on campus and beyond, can serve as a foundation for democratic life, particularly when formal institutions struggle to meet the moment. At a time when many are asking where their voice fits into the broader civic landscape, this event offers space to consider new answers and new paths forward. This event is part of the Creating Citizens Speaker Series at UC Berkeley, an ongoing student-led series that provides opportunities for Berkeley students, faculty, and staff, and the surrounding community to interact with leading minds in politics, media and education as they learn how to become better, more involved citizens. We welcome community members and students from around the Bay Area to participate in this riveting conversation and to join us for future programs in the series. This program is part of The Commonwealth Club's civics education initiative, Creating Citizens. Produced in partnership with the UC Berkeley Vote Coalition and co-sponsored by the Mario Savio Social Justice Program at the UC Berkeley Public Service Center.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leading writers and researchers will discuss and explain the issues that arise in writing with the entrance of large language models into this space. Are they useful for fiction and nonfiction writers, and in what ways? Can their use be considered ethical? About the Speakers Nina Beguš is a researcher at UC Berkeley working in artificial humanities, an interdisciplinary approach she designed to understand the cultural, ethical and philosophical dimensions of AI. Focusing on language and literature, her work foregrounds our imaginary around AI. She lives in the West Coast's only residential college, Bowles Hall, with her husband, three sons, and 188 students. James Yu is a speculative fiction writer and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Sudowrite, the AI assistant for creative writers. His writing explores how technology mediates our everyday experiences. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, two kids, and a growing number of AIs (none sentient yet.). Ted Chiang is an American science fiction writer. His work has won four Nebula awards, four Hugo awards, six Locus awards, and the PEN Malamud Award. His novella “Story of Your Life” was the basis of the film Arrival (2016). His most recent short story collection, Exhalation (Knopf, 2019), was listed as one of the Top Ten Books of 2019 by The New York Times and was included in former President Barack Obama's 2019 reading list. In 2023, he was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in AI. A Technology & Society Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. OrganizerGerald Anthony Harris  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a special screening of the new documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka, followed by a conversation with acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker and war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov. From the Oscar-winning team behind 20 Days In Mariupol, 2000 Meters to Andriivka documents the toll of the Russia-Ukraine war from a personal and devastating vantage point. Following his historic account of the civilian toll in Mariupol, Chernov turns his lens toward Ukrainian soldiers—who they are, where they came from, and the impossible decisions they face in the trenches as they fight for every inch of their land.  Amid a failing counteroffensive in 2023, Chernov and his AP colleague Alex Babenko follow a Ukrainian brigade battling through approximately one mile of a heavily fortified forest on their mission to liberate the Russian-occupied village of Andriivka. Weaving together original footage, intensive Ukrainian Army bodycam video and powerful moments of reflection, 2000 Meters to Andriivka reveals, with haunting intimacy, the farther the soldiers advance through their destroyed homeland, the more they realize that, for them, this might never end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been ten years since Pope Francis issued his landmark encyclical on climate and caring for our common home, Laudato Si'. With the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, many are hopeful he will follow in Francis' path.  Three-quarters of the global population follow a major religion. And the Catholic Church is far from alone among religious institutions in its directives to care for creation. A few years after Laudato Si, Muslim leaders issued Al-Mizan, which restates principles from the Quran on protecting nature in terms of meeting current challenges. Organizations like Interfaith Power and Light, the Jewish group Dayenu, the Hindu Bhumi Project, and the Buddhist Climate Action Network demonstrate the universality of creation care as central to religions worldwide.  Especially at a time when governments are failing to take meaningful action on climate progress, can faith traditions provide new paths forward? Guests: Celia Deane-Drummond, Director, Laudato Si' Research Institute; Senior Research Fellow in Theology at Campion Hall, University of Oxford Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, Founder & CEO, Dayenu  Iyad Abumoghli, Founder, Former Director, Faith for Earth Coalition, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Founder and Chair, Al-Mizan For show notes and related links, visit ⁠ClimateOne.org⁠. Highlights:  00:00 – Intro 00:10 – Quick update on COP30 conclusions 03:40 – Celia Deane-Drummond explains importance of Laudato Si' 08:15 – Will Pope Leo continue Pope Leo's environmental legacy? 11:00 – Role of religion and ethics in climate conversations 17:45 – Rabbi Jennie Rosenn explains Jewish concept of Dayenu 20:30 – What religious leaders can do that political leaders can't 26:30 – Rosenn on deregulatory agenda of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin  37:45 – Iyad Abumoghli on how religion shapes human actions 40:30 – Al-Mizan's origins and approach 51:00 – Faith and political leaders meeting to discuss the role of faith and values in facing climate change and climate justice 54:40 – Climate One More Thing ******** 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. Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the HIV fight behind or ahead of us? On this World AIDS Day, we will have a panel with key players in the space. These doctors are working on clinical trials to develop drugs to prevent and treat HIV, they work on policies to help bring the interventions where they are needed, and they are also on the ground caring for the individuals needing the care. Join us to hear how they feel about where we are with the fight. Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. This program is sponsored by ViiV, along with the generous support of Kaiser Permanente.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can we reclaim control of our economy to make it work for everyone? What needs to be understood about the big tech platforms before that could even be attempted? Tim Wu has a plan. Wu, a scholar and the former White House official who coined the phrase “net neutrality,” has examined the rise of “platform power” and the risks and rewards of working within such systems. It's a topic he explores in his latest book The Age of Extraction. Drawing on lessons from recent history—from generative AI and predictive social data to the antimonopoly and crypto movements—Wu says the internet that was promised to be the provider of widespread wealth and democracy in the 1990s and 2000s instead created new economic classes and helped spread autocracy. Wu envisions a future in which tech advances can serve the greatest possible good, and he offers proposals for making a more balanced economy. Wu has been named one of Scientific American's 50 people of the year (2006), one of the “Politico 50” (2014 and 2015), one of The National Law Journal's “America's 100 Most Influential Lawyers” (2013) and one of 02138 magazine's 100 most influential Harvard graduates (2007). Put him on your list of people to see in-person when he returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs in November. This program is supported by the Ken & Jaclyn Broad Family Fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the multi-talented Jay Kuo for "political and legal analysis with a dose of humor." Jay will discuss issues ranging from the president's use of the National Guard, immigration, Supreme Court decisions and more. About the Speaker Jay Kuo is the chair-elect of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization with more than 3.3 million members. He currently leads its Public Policy Committee to help elect equality-focused candidates at the national, state and local level. Jay is the CEO and founder of The Social Edge, a digital publishing and social media company. As head of "Team Takei,” he built actor and activist George Takei's social media into an online juggernaut reaching more than 25 million fans. Jay writes a popular daily Substack on politics and law called "The Status Kuo," which has more than 5 million monthly reads. Bu that is not all. He is a two-time Tony winning co-producer for Hadestown and The Inheritance and is currently developing two new musical productions in the U.K. Jay is also a musician and composed the score for the Broadway musical Allegiance.  Jay is a partner in Gaingels, the nation's largest LGBTQ+ investing group. He has worked as an appellate litigator admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit, where he argued the first “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” challenge in 1996, and is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar. Jay has previously served on the boards of the Northern California ACLU and the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom. He currently lives in New York City, where he is a single dad with two beautiful infant children, Riley and Ronan. Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. See more  Michelle Meow Show programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California. 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

Dr. Melody Glenn was a burned-out emergency physician who had grown to resent the large population of opioid-dependent patients passing through her ER. While working at a methadone clinic, she realized how effective harm reduction treatments could be and set out to discover why they weren't used more broadly. That's when she found Dr. Marie Nyswander. In the 1960s, Dr. Nyswander defied the DEA and medical establishment to co-develop methadone maintenance as a treatment for heroin addiction. According to some addiction specialists, its discovery could be considered as monumental as the discovery of penicillin. Yet, it still carries a stigma today. As the United States continues to struggle with opioid and fentanyl use, Dr. Glenn shares Dr. Nyswander's legacy and important lessons that can be used in dealing with today's addiction crisis. Dr. Melody Glenn is an author and associate professor of addiction and emergency medicine at the University of Arizona. She graduated with her M.D. from The University of Southern California, completed her emergency medicine residency at Maricopa Medical Center, and earned her EMS fellowship from The University of California, San Francisco. Moderator Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History. She received a Bunting Fellowship from Harvard University and a Korean Studies Fellowship from the Korean Foundation in support of research for her book. Previously, she was an editor for the Books and the Arts section at The Nation magazine. Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. A Psychology Member-led Forum program. Forums 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. OrganizerPatrick O'Reilly  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices