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Commonwealth Club Radio Program Podcast

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Dan Walker: Comeback America

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility

David Walker, President, CEO, Peter G. Peterson Foundation; Former Comptroller General of the U.S.; Author, Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility

One of America’s foremost independent financial experts, former comptroller general of the U.S. and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office from 1998-2008, Walker will discuss a range of compelling ideas, including how to control spending, save Social Security, dramatically alter our health-care system, reform our tax system and re-engineer the base of the federal government – all taking into account the Obama administration’s efforts to-date to do the same.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 25, 2010.

Silicon Valley Reads: In Defense of Food

Michael Pollan, Author, The Ominvore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food

Mike Cassidy, Columnist, San Jose Mercury News

According to Pollan, the advent of “nutritionism� has vastly complicated how Americans see food, without doing very much for our health. Nutritionism arose to deal with genuine issues – addressing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and many cancers – but now seems to be obscuring and perpetuating the real problems of the American diet, says Pollan.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 27, 2010.

Robert Reich, Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, U.C. Berkeley; Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, The Work of Nations

Is the U.S. economy showing signs of recovery, as some indicators suggest, or are these assertions dangerously premature? He served in three administrations, wrote best-selling books and published articles in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 22, 2010

Bank Lending on the Hot Seat: What Lies Ahead?

Steve Buster, CEO, Mechanics Bank
Mike Walker, Northern California President, U.S. Bank

Perry Pelos, Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo National Commercial Banking
Tom Cleveland, Professor, St. Mary’s School of Economics and Business; Former Banking Executive – Moderator

Top executives from a range of national, regional and local banks will stand and deliver on the questions we all are asking: What is the future of credit and bank lending for businesses as well as for individuals?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 27, 2010.

Modern European Nationalism and the Fight to Control the Past

Patrick Geary, Professor of Medieval History, UCLA

Does history matter in the New Europe? Geary will explore the recent, dangerous resurgence of ethnocentric nationalism since 1989 in Europe, which makes an appeal to long-discredited but still powerful myths about the region’s deep past.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 20, 2010.

Failing up in Business

Barry Moltz, Author, Bounce!

In conversation with Cassandra Phillipps, Executive Producer, FailCon; Founder, WebWallflower Events

Conventional wisdom teaches us that the road to business success is a straight one – if you work hard you’ll win big, and if failure finds you at least there will be lessons to be learned. Not so, says entrepreneurship expert Barry Moltz, who regularly serves up unorthodox views on dealing with failure and defining success. In Bounce!, Moltz teaches that sometimes failure simply stinks. But if we recognize failure as a fixture of the business cycle and an opportunity for choice and change, we can build the business confidence needed to go the distance in a challenging economy.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on January 11, 2010.

Tom Campbell: What Government Must Do To Promote Economic Recovery

Tom Campbell: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate; Former U.S. Congressman; Former Dean, Haas School of Business; Former CA Director of Finance

Republican gubernatorial hopeful and economics Ph.D. Campbell says that his experience as state finance director in 2004-2005 (when California had a balanced budget) can help lead the state out of its current fiscal crisis.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 20, 2010/

Smart on Crime: Elevating the Discussion in Our City, State and Nation

Kamala Harris, District Attorney, San Francisco; Candidate, California Attorney General; Author, Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safe

Are corrections institutions failing their mission? Many people say that prisoners are leaving the system as increasingly hardened criminals, not rehabilitated citizens.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 14, 2010

Raj Patel

Author, Stuffed and Starved and The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy

If economics is about choices, who gets to make them? Activist and academic Patel says that prices often mislead us, and he reveals the "hidden costs" of goods. To demonstrate his argument that the free market and corporations distort price and value, Patel suggests that the true price of a hamburger would be $200 if we factor in the hidden environment and health costs.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on January 6, 2010.

Bill George: Seven Lessons for Leading in Crisis

Bill George, Professor, Harvard Business School; Former CEO, Medtronic; Author, Seven Lessons for Leading in Crisis

As the U.S. continues to feel the devastating effects of the economic meltdown and widespread job losses, George reminds us that it is precisely in times like these that leaders of organizations of all sizes must remember to “never waste a good crisis.�

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on December 2, 2009.

Pearls, Politics and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead

Madeleine Kunin, Former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland; Former Governor of Vermont; Author, Pearls, Politics and Power

The first woman elected governor of Vermont, Kunin held positions of power during the Bush Sr. and Clinton administrations, eventually taking her as a U.S. ambassador back to Switzerland, from which she fled with her family at the outbreak of World War II. She will share her views of the problems facing women in power in an insightful, candid discussion of what it means to become a leader.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on December 8, 2009

When Government Works and When It Doesn’t

William Eggers, Co-author, If We Can Put a Man on the Moon…Getting Big Things Done in Government

Frustrated by the growing list of high-profile failures, Americans have rarely expected so much from our government while also having so little public confidence in government’s ability to actually get things done.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on December 9, 2009

Captain Chesley “Sully� Sullenberger

Bay Area Pilot; Author, Highest Duty

In conversation KGO TV’s Dan Ashley

Sullenberger had less than three minutes to plan and execute the water landing hailed around the world as “the miracle on the Hudson� last winter. In a talk about work, priorities and challenges, Sully reveals how he’d spent his entire life preparing for those minutes in the cockpit of US Airways Flight 1549, when his actions would mean life or death.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco

Greg Mortenson

Co-founder, Central Asia Institute; Co-author, Three Cups of Tea; Author, Stones in Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003 and shares his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy. He discusses his relentless and ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan, his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after the horrific 2005 earthquake, and how he has managed to stay alive among feuding Afghan warlords and an eight-day abduction by the Taliban. The recipient of The Star of Pakistan, the country’s highest civil award, Mortenson also provides a candid look at the current social and political situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch in San Jose

My Life As an Experiment: A Year of Living Biblically and More

A.J. Jacobs, Author, The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life As an Experiment; Editor at Large, Esquire
David Ewing Duncan, Chief Correspondent, NPR’s "Biotech Nation"; Author, Experimental Man: What One Man’s Body Reveals About His Future- Moderator

An acclaimed journalist and a best-selling author, Jacobs takes journalistic commitment to a whole new level. His experimental and "experiential" undertakings have led him from conquering all 32 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica to outsourcing his entire life to India (yes, even his children’s bedtime stories). In the 2007 best-seller,

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 16, 2009

Andre Agassi

Professional Tennis Champion; Author, Open: An Autobiography

In conversation with Barry MacKay, Tennis Promoter and Broadcaster

During his exhilarating, epic 21-year professional career, Agassi captured eight Grand Slam championships and is the only man to win a career “Golden Slam� – adding an Olympic gold medal to his four Grand Slams. His new book reflects candidly on his life on and off the court, from pivotal matches with rivals Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer to his personal relationships with Brooke Shields and wife Stefanie Graf, and his role as an education advocate and philanthropist. As the founder of the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, he has raised more than $85 million for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, an acclaimed K-12 charter school for underprivileged children in his hometown, Las Vegas.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club's San Jose office on November 20, 2009

The Millennial Changemakers

Erica Fernandez, Stanford student; Grassroots Organizer Opposing Liquefied Gas and Pesticide Spraying in S. CA
Rachel Barge, Director and Founder, Campus InPower
Alec Loorz, Founder, Kids vs. Global Warming
May Boeve, Co-coordinator, 350.org

The Millennials and Generation Y are perhaps the most eco-savvy generations in U.S. history. Born between 1978 and 2000, 95 million youth are inheriting an ecosystem on the brink. The climate crisis is a key issue for them and has birthed a new branch of environmentalism – diverse in its leadership, global in scope, and youth-driven.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on November 23, 2009.

Distraction and Multitasking in the Modern Media World

Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Neuroscience Imaging Center, UCSF

Our brains, despite extraordinary complexity and remarkable capabilities, have distinct limitations – we misplace car keys, we confuse names, we forget phone numbers.

This Program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on December 2, 2009.

Minds for Sale

Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Law, Harvard University; Author, The Future of the Internet – and How to Stop It

In conversation with Amanda Congdon, Co-president, Oxmour Entertainment; Co-owner, Rocketboom; Independent Videoblogger, Starring Amanda Congdon

Imagine a future in which passengers on a subway stare into screens for a few minutes – and earn as much money in that time as their respective skills and stations allow. New projects like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and LiveOps are making the application of human brainpower as purchasable and fungible as additional server rackspace.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 18th, 2009.

Iran: My Prison, My Home

Haleh Esfandiari, Founder and Director, Woodrow Wilson Center’s Middle East Program; Author, My Prison, My Home: One Woman’s Story of Captivity in Iran

Renowned Iranian journalist and scholar Esfandiari was forced to leave the country and settled in the U.S. during the 1979 revolution. Over the years, she returned to visit family members, but during a 2006 visit she was told by officials that she was under investigation and could not leave the country. She later discovered that the Intelligence Ministry believed her scholarly work at the Woodrow Wilson Center was a cover by the U.S. government to overthrow the Iranian regime. What ensued was a Kafkaesque journey through the paranoid and repressive Iranian bureaucracy that left Esfandiari a prisoner for eight months.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 28, 2009.

The Future of Books

Kevin Hunsanger, Co-owner, Green Apple Books
Jared Friedman, Co-founder, Scribd
Brewster Kahle, Director and Co-founder, Archive.org
Dan Clancy, Engineering Director, Google Books
Pamela Samuelson, Distinguished Professor, Law and Information, UC Berkeley
David Hellman, Associate Librarian, San Francisco State University – Moderator

Will the printed word become obsolete? Access to information is constantly changing, and the popularity of e-books and online material is on the rise. To survive, publishing companies are trying to adapt to new forms of written media.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 16, 2009.

Old Solutions for New Problems: The Relevance of Traditional Chinese Medicine Today

John Nieters, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; Certified in Integrated Diabetes Care, Xin Hua Hospital

As the oldest professional integrated medicine in the world, traditional Chinese medicine has been recognized by the World Health Organization as the number-one treatment for stroke recovery and for many orthopedic pain syndromes. Acupuncture is considered evidence-based medicine and is recognized by nationwide organizations.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on

SuperFreakonomics with Steve Levitt and Stephen Dubner

Steve Levitt, Economics Professor, University of Chicago; Blogger, The New York Times; Co-author, Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics
Stephen Dubner, Journalist; Blogger, The New York Times; Author, Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics

In Conversation with Alan Murray, Deputy Managing Editor and Executive Editor Online, Wall Street Journal

With Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner revealed the good, bad, ugly and super freaky of the world around us. The freakquel is here.

This program was recorded in font of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 4, 2009.

How to Remake the Global Economy

John Perkins, Author, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and Hoodwinked

Economic hit man Perkins has confessed the sins of predatory politicians and analyzed the reasons for the current meltdown. A reformed economist, he warns that returning to our “normal� blueprints for the global economy would prove disastrous.

This program was recoded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 18, 2009.

Deepak Chopra

Author, Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create A New You

Lata Krishnan, Vice Chair, American India Foundation and Member of Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator

“You can’t change the body without changing the self, and you can’t change the self without bringing in the soul,� says Chopra, a renowned pioneer in holistic medicine. Chopra believes the highest choice is to reinvent your body and resurrect your soul. He will discuss aging, the many lifestyle diseases he says are the result of the steady loss of energy inside the body, and how awareness can reverse the process.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley office in San Jose, CA

Barbara Ehrenreich

Author, Nickel & Dimed and Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America

Alyssa Byrkit, VP of Advancement, American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley - Moderator

We’ve been told that optimism is the key to success and prosperity, but is that really the truth? Ehrenreich embarks on a myth-busting exposure of America’s history of forced positive thinking and its downside.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 24, 2009.

Tim Brown

CEO, IDEO; Author, Change By Design

One myth of innovation is that brilliant solutions leap fully formed from the minds of geniuses. In reality, we don’t simply realize solutions; we design them. Design thinking is now being applied to address a wide range of concerns, from delivering clean drinking water to improving airport security and microfinancing.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 9, 2009

Dispelling Health-Care Myths with Sally Pipes

Sally Pipes, President and CEO, Pacific Research Institute; Author, The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care: A Citizen’s Guide

Inundated with medical terminology and ill equipped to navigate the options available, most people probably could use a little health-care-system guidance. In this program, Sally Pipes offers her extensive experience in the field and an at-times controversial outlook.

This program was recorded in front of a live audence at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 26th, 2009.

What Americans Really Want… Really

Frank Luntz, Pollster; Political Consultant; Communications Expert; Author, What Americans Really Want…Really

Joseph Tuman, Professor of Political and Legal Communications, San Francisco State University; Political Analyst, CBS5 News and KCBS Radio - Moderator

Whether it’s health care, religion and the Bill of Rights, or the size of your retirement nest egg, Luntz answers the question of “what Americans really want.�

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 6, 2009.

Helen Thomas-Journalist; Author, Listen Up, Mr. President

In conversation with Phil Bronstein, Executive VP, San Francisco Chronicle

Learn the recipe for a successful presidency from a legendary journalist who has covered 10 administrations during her 60-year career. Thomas draws on more than 200 years of presidential history and her own experiences in the front row at White House press conferences in a discussion of what personal characteristics and choices contribute to memorable and powerful presidential administrations.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 12, 2009

Redefining Growth: Build It Green

Ed Mazria, Founder, Architecture 2030
Peter Calthorpe, Principal, Calthorpe Associates
David Assmann, Deputy Director, San Francisco Department of the Environment
Leslie Gueverra, Associate Editor, Greener World Media - Moderator

When it comes to pollution, it's easy to blame cars, but our buildings alone are responsible for nearly half of our nation's greenhouse gas emissions. That's why many people believe that successfully combating global climate change requires innovative land-use planning and structuring our cities to remove buildings as energy wasters. Mazria, the innovator behind the Architecture 2030 approach, has a plan for greener construction and better energy efficiency; renowned urban designer and architect Calthorpe has mapped out the strategies for most sustainable growth; and David grapples with the political implementation of these options to green our cities. Our speakers will give politicians, businesses and the average citizen tangible ways to join the mission of zero emissions.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 15, 2009

Ten Americans: The “Inconvenient Truth� for Environmental Health

Kenneth Cook, President and Founder, Environmental Working Group

We know there are harmful substances in everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe, but do we know how many industrial chemicals and carcinogens have already invaded our bodies? The Environmental Working Group will reveal the updated results of its body-burden study, which finds 287 toxins linked to cancer and other serious health problems in the blood of 10 Americans.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 2, 2009.

The Street Food Movement: SF Hearts the Cart

Anthony Myint, Mission Street Food
Brian Kimball, Magic Curry Kart
Steven Gdula, Gobba Gobba Hey
Charles Phan, Executive Chef, Slanted Door
Tamara Palmer, Contributor, Pavement Cuisine, SF Weekly – Moderator

These days you can barely walk down some streets without bumping into a taco truck, a sausage stand or the tamale lady. San Francisco just held its first-ever Street Food Festival, and the local Creme Brulee Man was recently written up in The New York Times, signifying that Bay Area street food has moved beyond pretzels and hot dogs and into the Twittersphere and beyond.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 26, 2009.

The Jungle Effect

Daphne Miller, M.D., Associate Professor, UCSF

Food is a powerful medicine, and what you eat and how can tell a lot more about your health than the supplements you take. Over the span of three years and tens of thousands of miles, Miller traveled to five locations where common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and depression were rare. While visiting Mexico, Crete, Iceland, Cameroon and Okinawa, Miller collected recipes and learned of indigenous foods that prevent chronic illnesses. Now she demonstrates her international diet guide.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 14, 2009

The CIA: Preparing for Tomorrow's Challenges

Leon Panetta, Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO , The Commonwealth Club - Moderator

Hear about challenges facing national security from the man at the helm of the nation’s largest intelligence agency. California native and longtime congressman Panetta has spent his life devoted to public service. He was chief of staff under President Clinton, a director of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights and a Budget Committee chairman during his final years in Congress.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 23, 2009

Watching Out for Your Financial Future:
How to make Americans more financially literate and fiscally safe

Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, President, Charles Schwab Foundation
Pam Erwin, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility Group, Wells Fargo
Michelle Greene, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Education, U.S. Department of the Treasury
José Cisneros, Treasurer, City and County of San Francisco
Susan Keating, President and CEO, National Foundation for Credit Counseling - Moderator

The Great Recession has occurred in part because some people in the U.S. are financially illiterate, making them vulnerable to too-good-to-be-true mortgage offers, derivatives and other financial schemes. When these schemes failed, the economy cratered, and with it many jobs, investments and retirement plans. Nationally and personally, we will be digging ourselves out of this economic hole for years. Financial illiteracy affects us all, and we won’t have a healthy economy until more American understand basic personal finance. A lively panel will debate this question and offer ideas about how to better educate and protect the average American, and the American economy as a whole.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 27, 2009

Taylor Branch

Historian; Author, The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President

Joseph Fink, President, Dominican University of California; Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Branch will share the confidential interviews he conducted with President Bill Clinton throughout his two terms in the White House. Clinton completed nearly 80 candid and informal sessions with Branch, most of which were held at night to minimize awareness within his staff.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 20, 2009.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: California - Carbon = A Cleaner World?

Governor of California

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will soon convene a global summit of governors from developing countries to advance the transition to a clean-energy economy. Before that happens, he visited Climate One for a discussion of California's role managing greenhouse gases, promoting green jobs and developing clean technology. Join us at the intersection of policy, politics and carbon for a conversation with the governor.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco as part of Climate One at The Commonwealth Club

ROBERT MUELLER, Director, FBI

The FBI’s Fight Against Cyber Crime, Espionage and Terrorism

The FBI’s top man tackles the Internet age. The web has changed the way we learn, work and communicate. But with that convenience we have compromised our security, and widespread use has also left us vulnerable to attack from hostile foreign powers, hackers, spies – and even terrorists. There are many adversaries who seek our protected information, and countless criminals use the web to harm consumers, corporations and private citizens. Mueller will discuss cyber threats to our national security and what the FBI is doing to meet these diverse dangers.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of California on October 7, 2009

Noam Chomsky: Philosophies of Language and Politics

Noam Chomsky, Professor, Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, MIT

Larry Bensky, Former National Affairs Correspondent, Pacifica Radio; Host, "Sunday Salon" KPFA; Professor at Stanford, California State University East Bay and Berkeley City College - Moderator

World-renowned intellectual Chomsky has been pushing change in language, politics and culture for decades.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 6th, 2009.

EPA + You = A Greener Future

Lisa Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

After winning higher auto fuel economy earlier this year, what are the EPA’s next big priorities? In her first visit to California as the country’s chief environmental regulator, Jackson will lay out her vision for cleaning up America’s air, water and land. What are her plans on toxics, mining and other hot-button issues? And with climate legislation winding through Congress, what is her view on a national renewable fuel standard and other drivers moving toward a clean energy future? How does she plan to “sell� environmentalism in minority communities? Join us for an evening with President Obama’s top green advisor.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco as part of Climate One at The Commonwealth Club on September 29, 2009

China at the Crossroads: Energy, Environment, Economy

Barbara Finamore, Director, Natural Resources Defense Council China Program, Beijing
Gao Jie, Staff Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council China Program, Beijing
Felicia Marcus, Western Director, Natural Resources Defense Council
Peter Liu, Founder and Vice Chairman, New Resource Bank

Twenty-first-century China is central to the resolution of the global economic downturn, environmental pollution and climate change. In 1996, foreseeing the importance of working with Chinese communities and leaders, NRDC opened its China office in Beijing. NRDC's efforts have resulted in diverse, varied experiences and observations, and a look into what the future may hold for China at the crossroads of economic and environmental sustainability.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 29, 2009.

Free-Conomics

Chris Anderson, Editor-In-Chief, Wired Magazine; Author, Free: The Future of a Radical Price

Apparently there is such a thing as a free lunch. Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails capitalized on offering their music for free, Google lets us search, e-mail and use all kinds of free applications, and AT&T will give you a cell phone gratis, if you just buy their monthly plan. These are only a fraction of the businesses that have helped to establish a full-fledged economy based on the concept of zero dollars down.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on September 23, 2009.

The Secret Lives of Parents Revealed: Bad Mommy Redefined

Ayelet Waldman, Author, Bad Mother
Po Bronson, Author, Nurture Shock
In conversation with Regan McMahon, Deputy Book Editor, San Francisco Chronicle; Author, Revolution in the Bleachers: How Parents Can Take Back Family Life in a World Gone Crazy Over Youth Sports

Though your kids may make you want to rip out your hair and scream bloody murder, must parents remain calm, forgiving and extremely patient? Not anymore, according to these two experts. Blogs and web sites like True Mom Confessions are revealing intimate truths about parenting and forcing us to reconsider what it means to be a "good parent."

This Program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 30, 2009.

David Wessel: Ben Bernanke vs. the Great Panic

David Wessel, Economics Editor, The Wall Street Journal; Author, In Fed We Trust: Ben Bernanke's War on the Great Panic

How did we find ourselves confronting the worst threat to the U.S. economy since the Great Depression? Wessel will explain what the Federal Reserve did right and did wrong, where the economy stands now and where it is headed.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of California on September 22, 2009

Doing the Impossible

Steve Hildebrand, Deputy National Campaign Manager, 2008 Obama Presidential Campaign
Sandip Roy, Host, "New America Now," KALW; Commentator, "Morning Edition," NPR - Moderator

Considered one of the premier political strategists in the nation, Hildebrand served as Barack Obama’s deputy national campaign manager during the historic 2008 campaign. When a rift appeared between the LGBT community and Obama last spring, Hildebrand mediated, explaining the position of many in the community. Hildebrand is now at the center of the movement to repeal Prop. 8 in 2010, serving as a senior political advisor.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 28, 2009.

What Is "the Economy" for Anyway?

Annie Leonard, Documentarian, The Story of Stuff
Colin Beavan, Author, No Impact Man
David Batker, Executive Director, Earth Economics
Chip Giller, Founder and President, Grist - Moderator

While the economy hums away in an uncertain environment, some people question the basic purpose of the capitalist market: to provide iPhones to the masses, or to provide food to the needy? What is the role of the government as trust in the free market falters?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 21, 2009

An Inside Look into America's Intelligence Apparatus

Admiral Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence

Each day, thousands of men and women in America's 16 different intelligence organizations go to work behind the scenes. Blair delivers an inside look at some of the unsung successes that rarely make it to the public eye and to discuss his key priorities and challenges.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of Califoria

How the 2008 Election Changed Politics Forever

Haynes Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist; Co-author, The Battle For America 2008

Dan Balz, Lead Political Reporter, The Washington Post; Co-author, The Battle For America 2008

Go behind the scenes of the 2008 election with Balz and Johnson.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on September 17, 2009.

An Evening with Michael Moore and His Latest Film, Capitalism: A Love Story

Who are we and why do we behave the way that we do? Writer, director and producer Moore has been trying to answer that question his entire filmmaking career. His latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story, investigates the powerful forces behind the calamitous predicament in which countless Americans are finding themselves: losing their homes, jobs and savings to foot the bill for past spending. What is the price that America – and the rest of the world – pays for its love of capitalism? From Middle America to the halls of power in Washington to the global financial epicenter in Manhattan, Moore takes filmgoers into uncharted territory as he tries to get to the heart of the matter.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at The Commonwealth Club of California on September 17, 2009

T.R. Reid: Can We Really Fix U.S. Health Care?

T.R. Reid, Correspondent, The Washington Post; Commentator, National Public Radio; Author, The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care

For 100 years, U.S. presidents have unsuccessfully strived to provide universal health coverage. When LBJ created Medicare in 1965, he thought the program would gradually be extended – to people over 60, then 55, then 45, etc., so that everybody would have government health insurance by 2000. Decades later, the Clinton plan failed. George W. Bush created Medicare Part D. Barack Obama says we have the best chance ever this year to fix our health-care system. Is he right? Reid weighs in and reveals what we can learn from health-care models across the globe.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on September 14, 2009.

Making It Legal with Frederick Hertz

Frederick Hertz, Attorney; Author

Fighting for the right to marry or register as domestic partners may be easy for many gays and lesbians to embrace, but deciding whether to legally partner your beloved raises far more personal questions.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California, on September 2, 2009.

China: Great Power Interrupted

Robert Horrocks, Ph.D., Chief Investment Officer, Matthews International Capital Management, LLC
Uldis Kruze, Associate Professor and Chair, History Department, USF

As we mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident, China seems stronger than ever. But the recent economic downturn may threaten the ability of China’s leaders to trade economic prosperity for political stability. Will the Communist Party be able to continue its precarious balancing act, or will reduced economic growth lead to greater internal opposition and a push for democracy? How should the United States balance its economic and security interests with its concerns for human rights in China? Where does China go from here? Experts debate the issues.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 20, 2009

How to Smell a Rat: The Five Signs of Financial Fraud

Ken Fisher, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Fisher Investments; Columnist, Forbes; Author, How to Smell a Rat: The Five Signs of Financial Fraud

In recent years, the public has been shell-shocked by some of the biggest financial frauds and scams in history. Fisher believes that nearly every investment scam ever perpetrated was actually easily detectable and avoidable. Hear his examples and timely advice on what investors need to look for - how to be sure investment choices are sound by asking the right questions, noticing the red flags and breaking down complicated jargon. This program is a must-see for anyone affected by the economic downturn.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 11, 2009

The Psychology of Building a Bulletproof Personal Finance System

Ramit Sethi, Author, I Will Teach You to Be Rich
Cathy Curtis, CFP, Curtis Financial Planning

Personal finance has traditionally been about “no�: No, you can’t buy that latte. No, forget those jeans. In conversation with Curtis, best-selling author Sethi shows how you can say yes – yes, you can spend on the things you love, if you cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on August 24th, 2009.

$10 (or Less) Wine

Doug Due, Director of Wine and Beer, Grocery Outlet
Chad Richard, Co-founder, Furthermore Wines
Dorian Kendal, Creator, BudgetVino Blog
Courtney Cochran, Founder, Your Personal Sommelier; Author, Hip Tastes: The Fresh Guide to Wine - Moderator

Are you wine-obsessed but afraid that being an oenophile will empty your pockets? Never fear, there’s more available than “two-buck Chuck�! Young wine lovers, makers and educators are breaking new ground in the way wine is created and enjoyed.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on August 26th 2009.

Bust a Myth: Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, Hosts of hit television series, "MythBusters"

In conversation with Moira Gunn, Host, NPR’s "Tech Nation"

Does the Bermuda Triangle defy the laws of physics? Are banana peels really as slippery as they are in slapstick comedy? Finally, a television show that makes science cool.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on August 6th, 2009

The Big Picture: What Happened and What’s Ahead

Gary Schlossberg, Vice President and Senior Economist, Wells Capital Management.

A timely update on the economic crisis that you can’t afford to miss. Wells Fargo’s senior economist takes a look back at the origins of the recession.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on August 19th, 2009.

Environmental Action through Eating: Best Bang for the Buck

Laura Stec, Chef, Co-author, Cool Cuisine
Eugene Cordero, Associate Professor of Meteorology, SJSU, Co-author, Cool Cuisine

Stec and Cordero will discuss the new economy through the eyes of the food system. Rather than expanding control and diminishing variations, this emerging new food economy is about expanding variety and building smaller yet efficient regional food systems. Cordero presents research on the energy efficiency of our food system and the relationship to our changing climate. A Taste of California cheese and vegetable platter, highlighting bee pollinator crops, will be served and discussed.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on August 10, 2009

Leading the Charge

General Anthony Zinni, Former Commander in Chief, United States Central Command; Author, Leading the Charge: Leadership Lessons from the Battlefield to the Boardroom

In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club

General Zinni applies leadership lessons learned on the battlefield to help us understand how to succeed in the new century.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on August 18, 2009.

Making the Web Work for Science

Tim O'Reilly, Founder, O'Reilly Media
Stephen Friend, Founder, Sage
Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia
John Wilbanks, VP, Science Commons

Digital technologies have greatly enhanced our ability to communicate and share information, but the scientific community remains largely untouched by these advances. Why doesn’t the web work for science the way it works for culture and for commerce? What will it take to make science digital? Please join us for a fascinating discussion of the movement to bring digital methods to the world of science.

This was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 28, 2009

$10 Philanthropy: Change for Change

Darian Rodriguez Heyman, Member, United Nations GAID High-Level Panel of Advisors; Trustee, Project Ahimsa
Jacob Colker, Co-founder and CEO, The Extraordinaries
Joe Engle, Sales Associate, Network for Good
Premal Shah, President, Kiva
Madeline Stanionis, CEO and Co-founder, Watershed – Moderator

President Obama’s election is believed by many to have reinvigorated the spirit of civic engagement and volunteerism. But how can younger, less affluent people do this while still paying rent, dealing with college loans and working multiple jobs to stay afloat? Come learn about nontraditional groups that are giving philanthropy a facelift with microloans, giving circles, time pledges and seed funding. Discover how doing good is cheaper than you think.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on August 12, 2009

The Next Big Thing in the Mobile World

Glenn Lurie, President, Emerging Devices Organization, AT&T
Alan Rambam, President, Mobile Behavior
Arun Bhikshesvaran, Senior Vice President of Multimedia and Infrastructure Solutions, Ericsson
Ali Diab, Vice President of Product Management, AdMob
Peter Hoddie, CEO, Kinoma
Tim Attinger, Global Head of Product Development, Visa Inc.
Jon Fortt, Senior Writer, Fortune - Moderator

With adoption of wireless handsets approaching 90 percent in the United States, companies are looking for new, innovative ways to connect people and their devices. What will this technology look like and what will it mean for consumers and businesses in terms of devices, network capabilities and integration? Industry experts will discuss the benefits and challenges facing companies as customers and businesses demand more content of higher quality and speed wherever they are and on any device.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club's Silicon Valley branch on August 5, 2009

Patty Duke Tells All

Patty Duke, Actress

In conversation with KCBS Entertainment Reporter Jan Wahl

Patty Duke is a star of stage and screen, from her role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker to playing Madam Morrible in San Francisco’s “Wicked.� Duke served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, hosted “The Patty Duke Show,� and continuously advances awareness in the field of mental health. Join us as Duke shares her stories from a life in the spotlight.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 27, 2009

Albert Maysles: The Godfather of Documentary Cinema

Maysles is considered the dean of documentary filmmaking. Along with his brother David, he pioneered the craft of making nonfiction feature films, including The Beatles in the USA, Meet Marlon Brando, The Gates, Gimme Shelter, Grey Gardens and three documentaries for HBO. Nominated for an Academy Award, the recipient of a Peabody, an Emmy and numerous other awards, Maysles will share his life’s work and stories from the front lines of filmmaking.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 28, 2009

Bill Gates Sr.

Co-chair, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Author, Showing Up for Life

In conversation with John Wood, Founder, Room to Read

“To me, global poverty is a humanitarian issue. People are dying, and we can save them – and that ought to be enough.� These words from the senior Bill Gates illustrate his commitment to “showing up� for his life and improving the lives of impoverished populations all over the world. Join us for this enlightening and inspiring discussion on values.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on June 17, 2009

Marijuana Economics: The Pros and Cons of California's Cash Crop

Richard Lee, Founder, Oaksterdam University, Founder, Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance
Chief Scott Kirkland, Chief of Police, El Cerrito
Eugene Schoenfeld, M.D., Court-Appointed Psychiatrist Panel Superior Court of Contra Costa County
Josh Richman, Politics and Legal Affairs, Contra Costa Times - Moderator

Marijuana is by some estimates California's largest cash crop, bringing in more than twice the revenue of vegetables, yet we don't tax this green. Legalizing and taxing pot could provide $1.3 billion to help our hemorrhaging economy, but it might also lead to additional problems and undermine anti-drug efforts. Is this crop just cash waiting to be reaped, or is it more complicated? Come hear advocates on both sides argue the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 30, 2009

Maintaining a Healthy Arts Organization: The Art of the Turnaround

Michael Kaiser, President, John F. Kennedy Center; Author, The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations
Cora Mirikitani, President and CEO, Center for Cultural Innovation

Author of the highly acclaimed The Art of the Turnaround, Kaiser helped major arts organizations move from trauma to triumph. He will discuss with arts leader Mirikitani how organizations can grow and thrive, even in troubling times. As the current president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Kaiser has expanded programming and led a major capital renovation effort.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 11, 2009

Christopher Hitchens

Contributing Editor and Columnist, Vanity Fair; Media Fellow, Hoover Institution; Author, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

Acclaimed writer and political scholar, Hitchens may just be the only writer to have recently visited Iran, Iraq and North Korea. Join us for this special program as he examines all three of those the countries.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club in Palo Alto, on July 9th.

World Bank: Driving Incomes Up, Carbon Down

Katherine Sierra, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank Group
Awais Khan, Lead, Clean Tech Venture Capital Practice, KPMG
Greg Dalton, Founder of Climate One at The Commonwealth Club

Are the world’s poor going to get shafted in the clean economy, just as they did in the dirty one? The World Bank is at the center of the great 21st-century challenge of reducing carbon while creating opportunity in emerging economies. When are those priorities in alignment? When do they conflict? How does the World Bank’s efforts relate to private capital and entrepreneurs?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 28, 2009

SF Micro-Brews: Get Wiser than Bud

Zak Davis, West Coast Regional Manager, Shmaltz Brewing Company
Shaun O’Sullivan, Co-founder, 21st Amendment Brewery
Griz, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, San Francisco Brew Craft
Forest Gray, Founder and President, Speakeasy Brewery
Bob Coleman, Co-founder, SF Brewers Guild - Moderator

The Bay Area is a hub for West Coast craft beer. Local brewers are winning national awards, converting wine people to beer people and bringing premier quality brews to the masses. Food pairing, tastings and the art of swirl, sniff and swish can be for more than just wine. Join pioneering figures in the craft beer movement as they discuss recent trends in the brewing world as well as what beers are new and noteworthy.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 21, 2009

San FranCyclo: The Wheel World

Andy Thornley, Program Director, San Francisco Bike Coalition
Timothy Papandreou, Assistant Deputy Director of Transportation Planning and Development, SFMTA
Tom Radulovich, Executive Director, Livable City
Steve Jones, Political Writer and City Editor, SF Bay Guardian - Moderator

San Francisco is becoming a beacon of biking public policy, yet there is much to do if we are to reach pedal perfection. Our experts will discuss how San Francisco can integrate bike policy into urban planning and become a cohesive, harmonious city for people on foot, bike and other non-car forms of transportation.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 20, 2009

Economics Without Ecocide: Building a Whole Earth Economy

Peter G. Brown, Professor, McGill University School of Environment; Co-author, Right Relationship

The economy is damaged and needs fixing. But Brown argues that we’re not asking the right questions to clarify what a healthy economy really is.

This program was recorded at in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on July 8, 2009

Censoring You

Paul Krassner, Author, Who’s Saying What’s Obscene?: Politics, Culture, and Comedy in America Today; Blogger, The Huffington Post
Brian Cuban, General Counsel, Mark Cuban Enterprises; Blogger, The Cuban Revolution
Peter Phillips, Director, Project Censored
Austin Heap, IT Director, Pacific News Service; Entrepreneur
John Wildermuth, Political Writer, San Francisco Chronicle Politics Blog- Moderator

If you google “Tianamen Square� in China, "no result" pops up. Stateside, the FCC doesn’t want you to hear George Carlin saying certain words on the radio or see Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunctions, whereas violent movies and video games have been generally tolerated. How does limiting access to information shape you? And, who’s watching the watchers? Our uncensored panel will discuss who decides what we hear, if they can be trusted, and what we can do about it.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 16, 2009

Preserving American Justice in Times of Economic Crisis and Controversy

H. Thomas Wells Jr., President, American Bar Association

What can we do to ensure our courts and judges are viewed as the gold standard for fairness? How will impending decisions on habeas corpus and due process at Guantanamo Bay shape the political landscape? Wells, noted for his outspoken concern regarding judicial independence, will explore these issues.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on July 9, 2009

Conscious Capitalism, Part Three

Rajan Dev, President, Hot Studio
Steve Pinetti, Senior VP Sales and Marketing, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants
Don Skeoch, Chief Revenue Officer, California Academy of Sciences
Kat Taylor, Founder, OneCalifornia Bank
Kevin O’Malley, President, TechTalk / Studio – Moderator

This Program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on June 23, 2009

Reforming Social Security and Health Care

George Shultz, Former U.S. Secretary of State and Former Secretary of Labor; Chairman, Governor of California’s Economic Advisory Board; Economist; Co-author, Putting Our House in Order: A Guide to Social Security and Health Care Reform
John Shoven, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Professor of Economics, Stanford University; Director, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research; Co-author, Putting Our House in Order: A Guide to Social Security and Health Care Reform

“Congress must get to work,� write two renowned economists and public figures. Come hear Shultz and Shoven explain exactly what work needs to be done. Outlining their perspective on the current status of Social Security and health care, they will share their expertise on alternative ways to fix these programs, and the choices available to enhance benefit levels. Shultz and Shoven introduce their own set of initiatives in an optimistic approach for achieving a brighter economic future.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on June 11, 2009.

Commonsense Principles for Troubled Times

Robert Frank, Professor of Economics, Cornell University; Columnist, The New York Times; Author, The Economic Naturalist’s Field Guide

A leading proponent of behavioral economics, Frank argues that nearly every decision we make is economic, our boundless desires constrained by our limited resources.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on June 24, 2009.

California Health Care and the Stimulus: The Promises, Possibilities and Pitfalls

Toby Douglas, Chief Deputy Director, California Department of Health Care Services
Elizabeth Imholz, Special Projects Director, Consumer’s Union
David Lansky, President and CEO, the Pacific Business Group on Health
Jim Dempsey, Vice President for Public Policy, the Center for Democracy and Technology

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California

Retirement: When and How to Start Planning

Carroll Estes, Ph.D., Founder, Institute of Health and Aging, UCSF
Gretchen Hollstein, CFP®, Investment Advisor, Litman/Gregory Asset Management, LLC
Esther Koch, C.P.A., Gerontologist and President, Encore Management
John Milford, Executive Director, San Francisco Towers - Moderator

By the year 2030, the U.S. population aged 65 and older will double, making roughly 20 percent of the population over the legal age of retirement. While some social net exists in America, the baby boomers are beginning to retire and each individual’s responsibility to save is more real now than ever before. As America continues to age, what does each person need to know and plan for?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 22, 2009

Dead Aid

Dambisa Moyo, Head of Economic Research for Africa, Goldman Sachs; Author, Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working, and How There is a Better Way for Africa

Smita Singh, Program Director for the Global Development Program, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation - Moderator

The current system of aiding Africa is not working, says Moyo, citing the fact that more than $1 trillion in aid has been given in the past 50 years, with no improvement in most Africans’ lives. Moyo proposes a complete overhaul in the way prosperous nations reach out to African countries in need, in an effort to end the cycle of corruption and co-dependence, and to alleviate the suffering that persists.

Madeleine K. Albright, 64th U.S. Secretary of State; Author, Memo to the President: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership

Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO of The Commonwealth Club - Moderator

Albright set a precedent as the first woman secretary of state when she served under President Clinton. Today, the Obama administration faces a multitude of foreign policy concerns on every front; economic, social, political, environmental. As Secretary Hillary Clinton – now the third female in this position – settles into her new role, what lessons can Albright impart from her tenure in the State Department?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California.

Making Social Media Work for You: Big Tools for Small Businesses

Jeremy Toeman, Founding Partner, Stage Two Consulting
Adam Lasnik, Search Evangelist, Google
Chris Lindland, Founder, Coradarounds
Ben Parr, Associate Editor, Mashable.com
Sarah Lacy, Valley Girl Columnist, BusinessWeek; Co-host, "Tech Ticker"; Author, Once You’re Lucky. Twice You’re Good - Moderator

Hey VCs, Can You Spare a Dime?

Rory O’Driscoll, Managing Director, Scale Venture Partners
Mike Buckley, Managing Director, Intel Capital
Dixon Doll, Co-founder and General Partner, DCM
David Tennenhouse, Ph.D., Partner, New Venture Partners LLC
Jennifer Fonstad, Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson
Michael V. Copeland, Senior Editor-at-Large, Fortune - Moderator

Banks aren’t lending and private equity is tight, but Silicon Valley keeps churning along. That doesn’t mean the money is easy to come by. More start-ups are bootstrapping, those in need of money are knocking on a lot more doors, and if your company is lucky enough to get funding, more than likely it’s tied to quantifiable benchmarks. Talk to some prominent Silicon Valley VCs and get the scoop on what types of companies they are investing in, how they are investing, what sectors are favored over others, and why.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 18, 2009

Chevron + Sierra Club: Drilling for Common Ground

Dave O’Reilly, CEO, Chevron
Carl Pope, Executive Director, The Sierra Club
Alan Murray, Deputy Managing Editor, The Wall Street Journal – Moderator

Chevron and the Sierra Club both see renewable fuels as a growing part of our future. Yet as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, they have different views on how that change should occur and who should bear the costs. Higher taxes? Voluntary conservation and efficiency? Government mandates? In their first-ever public conversation, O’Reilly and Pope discuss balancing energy and the environment in the 21st century.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 10, 2009

Tools for Good: Transforming Your Business Skills to Make a Difference in the World

Lisa Gansky, Co-founder, Dos Margaritas; Advisor, New Resource Bank; Founder, oFoto, GNN
Maria Giudice, Founder and CEO, Hot Studio
Lisa Nash, CEO, Blue Planet Run
Blair Shane, Chief Marketing Officer, California Academy of Sciences

Four powerful executive women give the nuts and bolts of cross-mapping your skills to current-day issues that have the greatest need – climate, culture, water, housing, education and beyond. Learn how to generate passion in your organization, your community and in the world, and how to repackage and reconfigure your own skill set to become a successful agent for change, no matter where you are.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 11, 2009

The Economic Case for Health-Care Reform

Christina Romer, Chair, President’s Council of Economic Advisers

President Obama has articulated an ambitious agenda for health-care reform ­seeking to stem cost growth while maintaining quality and choice, and providing affordable care for all Americans. On June 8, Romer, chair of President Obama¹s Council of Economic Advisers, will discuss a new CEA study on the economic case for health-care reform. She will highlight the potential economic gains from achieving significant reform, while also addressing the risks to the economy of maintaining the status quo or failing to achieve the goals of cost containment and coverage expansion.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 8, 2009

A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance

Sharon Kedar, Financial Consultant; Author, A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance

Cathy Curtis, Owner, Curtis Financial Planning – Moderator

We may dress in designer jeans and carry the latest handbag, but do we really have it all together? Even in today’s economy, many young women believe “money is for spending, not for saving.� Recognized for her financial acumen, Kedar will tell us how to reach savings goals, invest in stocks, use index funds, super-size retirement savings, finance a house and protect ourselves financially in a relationship.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 8, 2009

Cleve Jones

Founder, NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt; Human Rights Activist; Author

Meet one of the real-life stars of Milk. Jones’ career as an activist began in the 1970s when he was befriended by Harvey Milk. He also worked for Leo McCarthy and Willie Brown. He co-founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and he created the first panel of the NAMES Project, which today has more than 100,000 panels. Jones reflects on the decades he helped shape as we kick off Pride month.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 1, 2009

Reza Aslan

Author, How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of War on Terror

Aslan contends that religion is a stronger force today than it was a century ago. He provides further insight on the ideology of al-Qaida, the Taliban and other militants in the Muslim world and explores religious violence in Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Aslan hopes to start refocusing the country’s priorities. Rather than go to war, he says we should look at the grievances that push the disenfranchised into battle.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on May 16, 2009.

How Tiananmen Changed China

John Kamm, Founder and Executive Director, Dui Hua Foundation

Twenty years have passed since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, and demonstrators are still serving prison sentences for their involvement. Kamm examines how the government’s response to Tiananmen has affected China’s relationship with the world. He reviews his work to free prisoners, arguing for a pardon on the occasion of this year’s 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on June 3, 2009.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Michael Eric Dyson, Ph.D.; Professor of Sociology, Georgetown University; Author
Richard Thompson Ford, George E. Osborne Professor of Law, Stanford University; Author, The Race Card - Moderator

Named one of the 100 most influential black Americans by Ebony magazine, Dyson touches on politics, the arts and the personal, including justice, poverty, faith and spirituality. Known as the “hip-hop� intellectual, he examines issues of class, race and poverty, and political strife. Join us for an enlightening discussion.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 27, 2009

Why Fashion Still Matters: Vogue Features Director Sally Singer

Sally Singer, Fashion and Features Director, Vogue

Vogue is considered the world’s most influential fashion magazine, but what role does this publication play during this time of upheaval? When “recessionista� has replaced “fashionista� as the model to emulate, how can fashion magazines, designers and retailers stay relevant? Singer explains how her industry is adapting to the still-unknown trends of a new era.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 2, 2009

The Drunkard’s Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives

Leonard Mlodinow, Author, The Drunkard’s Walk

From economic disaster to Supreme Court rulings, pure randomness may explain life’s outcomes more than we realize. Mlodinow proposes that we tend to overestimate the control we have over our destinies. The best-selling author will explain how a better understanding of statistics might bring hope to a nation facing an onslaught of misfortune.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 1, 2009

Vincent Warren-Executive Director of The Center for Constitutional Rights

Neutralizing the Bush Legacy

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 12, 2009

Vicar of Baghdad

Canon Andrew White, Anglican Activist Vicar

In conversation with Gina Baleria, Literary Director, The Commonwealth Club

White, leader of St. George’s Church, the last Anglican Church in Iraq, has been described as the most distinguished Christian working in the Middle East. He works closely with the U.S. government and with Israel, the Palestinians and Iraq. Canon White, whose battle with multiple sclerosis has not deterred him from pursuing his activism, will discuss his work in Iraq, where he is also involved in the complex search for peace.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 7, 2009

Eliminating Education Inequality

Wendy Kopp, CEO and Founder, Teach for America; Author, One Day, All Children

Kathryn Baron, Journalism Fellow, Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Race, Ethnicity and Diversity, UC Berkeley; Past Host, "The California Report," KQED; Six-Time Winner, Education Writer Association’s National Awards for Education Reporting; Recipient, Armstrong Award for Radio Documentary - Moderator

Kopp wrote her thesis on the idea of creating a national corps of recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in the neediest communities and become education leaders. This vision has grown into Teach for America, reaching more than 400,000 students this year. Where does education fall on the list of the country’s priorities? Kopp provides thoughts on improving early education and expanding learning opportunities for children.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on May 6, 2009

Revolution in a Bottle

Tom Szaky, Co-founder and CEO, TerraCycle; Author, Revolution in a Bottle

Szaky was in his Princeton dorm room when he thought of an idea that would launch one of the most successful eco-capitalist companies in history. Selling products made from waste, TerraCycle is a leader of the eco-capitalist movement. Szaky shows that, even amid economic and environmental meltdown, it is possible to find solutions that are both financially and environmentally viable. Join Szaky as he offers his triple bottom-line view of our current economy.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 20, 2009

Carbon Exchange 101

Eileen Tutt, Deputy Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Justice, Cal EPA
Lawrence Goulder, Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, Stanford University
Josh Margolis, CEO, Cantor CO2e
Greg Dalton, Vice President, The Commonwealth Club – Moderator

Could carbon exchange be the best route to controlling emissions? Some argue that the cap-and-trade approach lets companies buy the right to pollute, while others see a way to encourage clean industry while boosting the economy. Is carbon exchange politically feasible in the United States? How does it compare to a carbon tax? Join a panel of experts to break down the details of this complicated scheme.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 27, 2009

Rethinking Buying and Building: A New Sustainability Chain

Andy Ball, CEO, Webcor Builders
Beth Springer, EVP, Clorox
Dave Steiner, CEO, Waste Management, Inc.
Greg Dalton, Vice President, Commonwealth Club, moderator

Companies and consumers are being asked to think more about the full life-cycle of the products they make and buy. Whether making consumer goods or constructing skyscrapers, companies are coming around to such a cradle-to-cradle mentality. This panel, which includes the CEO of the country’s largest recycler, $14 billion Waste Management, will discuss innovations in design, materials and marketing that are convincing people and companies that being green is good for business and the planet.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 12, 2009

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Mary Roach, Author, Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, Spook and Stiff

In conversation with Jeff Greenwald, Writer; Artist; Performer

Bestselling author Roach tackles the salacious, creepy and titilating fringes of science and ventures into topics where others fear to tread. In her new book, Bonk, Roach broaches an area of science not normally included in polite conversation. What is an orgasm? How is it possible for paraplegics to experience them? What does a woman want – and how can a man give it to her? With an eye and ear for the absurd, Roach is a riveting guide into the science of the bedroom.

Human Rights, Human Spirit and International Law

Thomas Buergenthal, American Judge, International Court of Justice in the Hague; Author, A Lucky Child

Buergenthal has been an influential voice in international and human rights law, shaped in large part by his experience as a survivor of Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Join us as he shares his experiences of that unforgettable time in history, and discusses the importance of international law and a worldwide commitment to human rights.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 22, 2009

Integrated Cancer Care

Donald Abrams, M.D., Integrative Oncology UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine; Chief, Hematology-Oncology, San Francisco General Hospital

Cancer patients and survivors frequently use complementary therapies as part of their treatment programs, often without informing their conventional oncologists. Many seek guidance from the new breed of integrative oncologists who strive to create a regimen that combines the best of conventional and complementary therapies. Abrams is one of the pioneers in this new field. He will discuss principles and practices of integrative oncology.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 27, 2009.

The Urgency of Action in the Age of Obama

Anthony Romero, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union.

The Club's new series focusing on threats to -- and defense of -- the U.S. Constitution kicks off with a timely speech by a constitutional expert. The first few months of Obama’s presidency have brought considerable change, but Romero says there is still much work to be done in the area of civil liberties. Romero, a pioneer figure in ACLU’s history, believes that the economic crisis and international pressure will force Obama to put potentially divisive issues on the back burner, such as gay rights, the future of Guantanamo, and the war on terror. Join Romero for a timely discussion about the important issues facing Americans and how people are working to protect or restore the rights embedded in this nation's founding document.

A New National Food Policy – But What About the Hungry?

A.G. Kawamura, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Paula Jones, Director of Food Systems, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Paul Ash, Executive Director, San Francisco Food Bank
Michael Dimock, Executive Director, Roots of Change
Amy Sherman, Food Blogger – Moderator

Michael Pollan, Alice Waters and other food activists have advocated for radical changes in U.S. food policy. But those changes could have a surprising impact on people living in poverty. According to the San Francisco Food Bank, 150,000 people in San Francisco (including one in every four children) are unsure where their next meal is coming from. This panel will examine the future of food in our city, state and country and the impact reforms may have on the hungry. How can we create a food system that is good, clean and fair for all?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 23, 2009

Is Peace Possible in the Middle East?

Joseph Cumming, Director of the Reconciliation Program, Yale Center for Faith and Culture

As the director of Yale’s Reconciliation Program, Cumming has met with leaders from around the world to discuss reconciliation between Muslims and Christians. Focused primarily on bridge-building research on the major theological, cultural, political, social and ethical issues that traditionally divide Muslims and Christians, Cumming will address the importance of establishing interfaith dialogue to help create awareness and understanding

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 30, 2009

PAUL EHRLICH

Bing Professor of Population Studies, Department of Biology, Stanford; Author, The Dominant Animal

In conversation with Moira Gunn, host, NPR's BioTech Nation

Ehrlich has famously sought to discover how humans and other species impact evolution, and how evolution impacts us. He co-founded the field of co-evolution and sounded alarms about the consideration of environment and population growth in creating public policy. Come hear a fascinating discussion on how we are affecting our environment and how we can positively impact our world.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 15, 2009

The Rosetta Project: Documenting All Human Language for the Next 10,000 Years

Alexander Rose, Executive Director, Long Now Foundation
Laura Welcher, Director, The Rosetta Project

It is estimated that 90 percent of existing human languages will become lost or endangered in the next century. The Rosetta Project, by the San Francisco-based Long Now Foundation, aims to document as many of these languages as possible for posterity. Rose and Welcher will tell the story of collecting and archiving the world’s languages on the web, so that they can last for millennia to come.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 13, 2009

Nancy Pelosi in conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club

Don’t miss a rare opportunity to hear speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi address some of the most important challenges facing the nation, including the economy, health care, and more. Hear the view from inside Washington in this frank and timely discussion. Pelosi, the highest-ranking woman in American politics, will also discuss her new book, Know Your Power, A Message to America's Daughters, in which she shares the life lessons she has gleaned from the pivotal moments on her unforgettable journey to success.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 15, 2009

Media Coverage of Proposition 8 and Its Aftermath

Rex Wockner, Gay Journalist and Blogger
Cynthia Laird, News Director, Bay Area Reporter
Cathy Brooks, Equality Camp, Founder, Other Than That Consulting
Sandip Roy, Host, “New America Now.� KALW; Commentator, “Morning Edition,� NPR
Scott Shafer, Host, “The California Report,� KQED – Moderator

A power-packed group of media insiders will look at coverage of Proposition 8 and the issues involved before the election and after, when several prominent LGBT journalists found themselves in a mediating role, taking leadership by soothing tensions between "No on 8" leadership and community organizers. Hear about the role LGBT press and activists played and the lessons learned from an unparalleled group of experts.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 15, 2009

Rethinking U.S. Russia Policy: A Way Forward in the Obama Era

Robert Legvold, Marshall D. Shulman Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, Columbia University
In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club

The international context for U.S. policy toward Russia has changed fundamentally from that of the 1990s. Further, Russia itself poses a dramatically different challenge for U.S. policy from that of the 1990s. The combined effect of this dual transformation requires significant adjustments in the U.S. approach toward Russia. Join Duffy and Legvold to discuss a new initiative of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to formulate a comprehensive, coherent and integrative U.S. policy toward this global superpower. For more information on the Academy's Russia initiative, visit http://www.amacad.org/projects/russia.aspx

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 30, 2009

Michael Mamas, MBA, DVM; Founder, The School for the Evolution of Humanity; Founder and CEO, The Center of Rational Spirituality; Author, Look Deeper, Live Better, The Golden Frog and How to Be Your Own Best Psychotherapist

In these tumultuous times, the world is effervescing with dramatic change. Is atheism destined to reign? Could current views on spirituality be revealed as bogus? Will one religion dominate in the future? The only Westerner to receive from India's Sanskrit College at the University of Gujarat the title "Spiritual Master," Mamas will share how he believes a spiritual upheaval will birth a new context for all fields of study, business and daily life.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 30, 2009

NewsHour with Legendary Journalist Jim Lehrer

Jim Lehrer, Executive Editor and Anchor, "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer"; Author, Oh, Johnny

In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club of California

Anchor of one of the most respected news programs in America, Lehrer has dedicated his life to reporting informative and unbiased news coverage of the nation’s most pressing issues. Though his journalistic accomplishments are numerous, Lehrer is most proud of his success as a novelist. Join us as he talks writing, reporting and telling America’s story.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 5, 2009

Innovation and Opportunity from Crisis: The Future Emerges

Paul Saffo, Technology Forecaster and Futurist
David Ewing Duncan, Contributing Editor and Columnist, Conde Nast Portfolio; Chief Correspondent, NPR's "Biotech Nation"; Director, UC Berkeley Center forLife Science Policy; Author, Experimental Man – Moderator
Drew Endy, Synthetic Biologist, Stanford University
Jonathan Wolfson, CEO, Solazyme
Richard Dare, CEO, Pacific Rim Partners

Even in the midst of economic freefall, there are signs of hope. As of January 2009, the United States has built a flying car, found ways to turn algae into fuel, synthetically reproduced organs, had face-to-face conversations with people on the other side of the planet, and built robots to do our house cleaning for us. Come find out how some of the smartest people in California are trying to innovate us out of disaster.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 6, 2009

Sophie Delaunay, Executive Director, Doctors Without Borders United States/Médecins Sans Frontières
Kori Schake, Research Fellow, Hoover Institution Stanford; Bradley Professor of International Security Studies, West Point
Fariba Nawa, Freelance Journalist
Sharad Joshi, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Monterey Institute of International Studies
Deborah J. Saunder, Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator

Will the Afghanistan war become a repeat of the crisis in Iraq? Obama has already pledged to send more troops into Afghanistan and is now in the midst of hearing from military commanders and advisors about how best to proceed. You’ll be paying for the war; wouldn’t you like to know why? Listen to an insightful discussion with experts on Afghan politics, society and culture and the implications of U.S. foreign policies.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 23, 2009

Gavin Newsom: San Francisco's Mayor in Conversation

In Conversation with Scott Shafer, Host, "California Report," KQED Radio

Facing a tumultuous economic climate and a massive city deficit, Mayor Newsom has tough decisions to make in 2009 in his quest to keep San Francisco a thriving center for commerce and a livable city. With a potential 2010 run for governor in his future, Newsom will sit down for a frank and candid discussion about the issues facing the city.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 11, 2009

Peace in Pakistan: Making Truce with the Taliban

Hamid Mir, Executive Editor, Geo TV; Osama bin Laden’s Authorized Biographer

Best known internationally as the sole journalist to have interviewed Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, Mir is a prominent Pakistani journalist who specializes in investigative reporting in Pakistan and abroad. Find out what this controversial reporter knows about the recent concession agreement between the Pakistani government and Taliban militants, the Obama administration’s recent covert missile strike on Taliban training camps, and the hope for peace in one of the most turbulent regions in the world.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on April 1, 2009

How the World Makes Love: Lessons from Honeymoon with My Brother

Franz Wisner, Author, Honeymoon with My Brother and How the World Makes Love

In conversation with H.D. Palmer, Deputy Director, California Department of Finance

When you’ve been jilted at the altar and forced to take your pre-paid honeymoon with your brother, it’s fair to say you could learn a thing or two about love. And that’s what Wisner sets out to do — traveling to Brazil, Egypt, India, the Czech Republic, Nicaragua, New Zealand and Botswana with a mission: to glean the planet’s most important love lessons and see if they can rescue him from the ruins of his own love life. While searching for the ideal love, could he have missed a bigger truth: that something unplanned and implausible could actually make him happy? Hear what Wisner discovered along his journey.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 26, 2009

Inside My Mind: The Science of Decisions

Jonah Lehrer, Author, How We Decide and Proust Was a Neuroscientist; Editor At Large, Seed Magazine; Blogger, The Frontal Cortex

Scientists are using the latest neuroscience tools to break open the black box of the mind to uncover the secrets of our decision-making process. From CEOs to firefighters, how does each person’s mind make decisions? And how can we make those decisions better? Noted author Lehrer will arm us with the tools to determine which part of the brain to lean on when we make decisions.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on February 19, 2009

This program was recorded live on January 9, 2007

This program was recorded live on January 16, 2007

PANEL:
Adam Werbach, Sustainability Strategist (Wal-Mart); CEO, Act Now Productions
Sheryl O’Loughlin, CEO, Clif Bar
Paul Rice, President and CEO, TransFair USA
Christine Arena, Corporate Strategist; Award-Winning Author, The High-Purpose Company
Max Schorr, Publisher and Founding Editor, Good Magazine – Moderator

This program was recorded live on February 1, 2007

PANEL:
Sasha Cagen, Author, Quirkyalone: Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics; Founder, quirkyalone.net
Ethan Watters, Author, Urban Tribes: A Generation Redefines Friendship, Family, and Commitment
Emily Morse, Host, “Sex with Emily�
Jane Ganahl, Singles Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle; Author, Naked on the
Page: The Misadventures of My Unmarried Midlife

This program was recorded live on February 14, 2007

Carol Lloyd, Columnist, “Surreal Estate,� San Francisco Chronicle – Moderator

This program was recorded live on February 26, 2007

This program was recorded live on March 13, 2007

This program was recorded live on March 20, 2007

The Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, genocide in Darfur, and controversies over recent celebrity adoptions have brought Africa back into Western headlines. However, the inner workings of the continent's politics are not widely known or understood. Drawing on his decade of journalistic experience in Africa, renowned international correspondent Jonathan Ledgard will shed light on current affairs and crises in the region and provide an in-depth analysis.

Marginal and impoverished stretches of the continent, from Mauritania to Somalia, are being pulled into tribal wars and fights over water, cattle, and land. Swelling populations, flood and drought cycles exacerbated by climate change, overgrazing, and the proliferation of guns and weaponry are fuelling the instability. Ledgard will explore the question of whether collapse is inevitable in Africa, as well as, suggest possible solutions for the problems in the poorest parts of the region.

This program was recorded live on March 22, 2007

This program was recorded live on April 18, 2007

This program was recorded live on April 24, 2007

This program was recorded live on May 16, 2007

This program was recorded live on June 14, 2008

This program was recorded live on May 23, 2007

This program was recorded live on June 5, 2007

Christy DuFoe, Sommelier Quinn's Restaraunt
Courtney Cochran, Owner, Your Personal Sommelier
Mark Bright, Wine Director, Oola
Leslie Sbrocco, Host, Check Please Bay Area – Moderator

This program was recorded live on June 5, 2007

This program was recorded live on July 18, 2007

Graphic Novels: Evolution of the American Comic Book

Scott McCloud, Author and Artist, Making Comics

Rory Root, Owner, Comic Relief

This program was recorded live on August 22, 2007

Recorded live on September 17, 2007

This program was recorded live on September 25, 2007

LITQUAKE, INFORUM AND GOODLIT TALK ABOUT SCIENCE AND RELIGION – ARE THEY IRRECONCILABLE?

This program was recorded live on October 9, 2007

This program was recorded live on October 23, 2007

This program was recorded live on October 25, 2007

Twenty-five-year-old video blogger and San Francisco mayoral candidate Wolf served 226 days in prison after refusing to turn over a collection of videos of an anti-G8 anarchist protest to a federal district court. Wolf, who was awarded the Journalist of the Year award by the Society of Professional Journalists in 2006, tackles the controversies between new media and old media and advocates for participatory and transparent journalism. Hear his thoughts on freedom of the press in an age of technology, what defines a journalist, and other issues.

This program was recorded live on November 1, 2007

TITLE: 2007: Is This 1984?

This program was recorded live on November 29, 2007

This program was recorded live on December 12, 2007

This program was recoded live on January 15, 2008

This program was recorded live on January 25, 2008

This program was recorded live on February 12, 2008

Jordan Kurland, Founder and Owner, Zeitgeist Artist Management; Co-founder, Noise Pop Music Festival

Kevin Arnold, Founder and Co-producer, Noise Pop; Founder, IODA

Melissa Goldstein, Arts and Entertainment Editor, 7 x 7 Magazine; Contributing Writer, Spin.com

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 3, 2008

This program was recorded live on February 28, 2008

This program was recorded live on March 10, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 10, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 22, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 14, 2008

In Conversation with Orli Cotel, Producer, Sierra Club Radio

Dead Lucky is the amazing story of Australian mountain climber Lincoln Hall’s rescue near the summit of Mount Everest, where he had been left for dead by the other members of his expedition. Lincoln Hall likes to say that on the evening of May 25, 2006, he died on Everest. And Hall, in fact, was pronounced dead, after collapsing from altitude sickness. Early the next morning, however, an American guide, climbing with two clients and a Sherpa, was startled to find Hall, sitting cross-legged on the summit ridge just staring at them. As featured in the Emmy-nominated Dateline NBC documentary “Miracle on Mount Everest,� Dead Lucky is Lincoln Hall’s account of this miraculous night atop Everest and the days and nights that led up to and followed this fascinating expedition. Hall’s story is inspiring on many levels.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 20, 2008

IT’S A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 22, 2008

John Perkins

Author, The Secret History of the American Empire: Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and the Truth about Global Corruption

It once could be said that "the sun never sets on the British empire," but in these post-colonial times, Perkins argues that a different type of global empire has replaced the British model. Perkins, a U.S. political insider and the author of the New York Times best-seller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, uncovers the American empire in his new book The Secret History of the American Empire. From the economic "hit men" of governments to global corporations, Perkins tells the story of an empire built through economics rather than military force, with effects no less brutal. He zeroes in on hot spots around the world and recalls the history of events that have contributed to the creation of American power and what he sees as the international corruption of today. Join John Perkins in conversation with INFORUM, as he unearths this history and discusses his plan for making a sustainable, stable, and peaceful world.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 3, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 11, 2008

Our private spaces--from boardroom to bedroom--reveal our personalities, whether we know it or not. Does what's on your desk reveal what's on your mind? Do those pictures on your walls tell true tales about you? And is your favorite outfit about to give you away? For the last ten years psychologist Sam Gosling has been studying how people project (and protect) their inner selves. By exploring our private worlds (desks, bedrooms, even our clothes and our cars), he shows not only how we showcase our personalities in unexpected--and unplanned--ways, but also how we create personality in the first place, communicate it with others, and interpret the world around us.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 16, 2008

Vincent Warren, Executive Director, Center for Constitutional Rights
Peter Scheidegger, Legal Director, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 19, 2008

Joseph Perkins, President and CEO, Home Builders Association of Northern California

Rich Arzaga, Financial Planner; Professor, Real Estate Investment, U.C. Berkeley Extension

Tom Davidoff, Assistant Professor of Real Estate, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business

Joske Thompson, Agent, Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate in San Francisco

Adam Koval, Founder and Editor in Chief, Socketsite.com - Moderator

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 1, 2008

GREEN FOR ALL

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 24, 2008

Peter Gosselin, National Economics Correspondent, Los Angeles Times; Fellow, Urban Institute; Author, High Wire: The Precarious Financial Lives of American Families
Brad G. Stroh, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Freedom Financial Network, LLC / Bills.com
Wayne A. Cameron, MBA and CPA, Wayne Cameron Associates
Jeremy Hoover, Vice President, Financial Consultant, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Kathleen Pender, "Net Worth" Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 10, 2008

Devin Nunes, U.S. Representative (R-CA)
Meredith Turney, Legislative Liaison, Capital Resource Family Impact
Nicholas Romero, Communications Director, California Young Americans for Freedom; Managing Editor, FlashReport
John Wildermuth, Political Repoter, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator

The bourgeoning neoconservative movement in the U.S. these days has the potential to either split the Republican Party in two or launch it into a new era, say some people. Having lost control of both the House and the Senate in the last election, the Republican Party needs to reassess its image and values to broaden its appeal to voters, according to some. Should the Party reinvent itself, or instead re-energize around its core values? Come hear GOP elected officials discuss the issues facing the party and their visions for its future.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 28, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on August 4, 2008

If just 1 in 10 new restaurants survives its first year, why is culinary know-how the new turn-on and are foodie reality shows scoring big ratings? We’ll host the San Francisco-based contestants from the most recent season of Bravo’s “Top Chef.� Hear them dish details of their cooking lives and “quick fire� your questions about how to heat up the kitchen.

This program was recorded live on August 20, 2008

Stuffed: Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and over 60 percent of us are considered overweight. Starved: Worldwide, nearly a billion people are starving to death, and 35 million Americans went hungry at some point last year. Moreover, Patel contends that the U.S.'s influence in organizations like the WTO and our trade policies on issues like corn ethanol fuel production have driven up food prices, and the issue of starvation must be addressed at home as well as abroad. Why is there such a large discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots for what we all need: food? Patel, author of Stuffed and Starved, strives to answer that question by telling the tale of the global food system.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on August 27, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on September 15, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on September 30, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 9, 2008

Human micro-chipping, FBI e-mail tracking or even just Googling yourself might make you murmur that America is becoming an Orwellian dystopia. But recently, with revelations of warrantless wiretapping, secret prisons, and the like, some people fear the hyperbole is becoming reality. In a time of increasing secrecy and fear, author and occasional Democratic political advisor Wolf dares to address the prospect of what she believes may be an increasingly fascist government. Wolf challenges what she perceives as affronts to freedom and how we can break free to protect our humanistic rights.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 14, 2008

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 23, 2008

This summer, Americans thought they were the victims of a mortgage crisis, but the ensuing financial collapse revealed that we are experiencing a global credit crisis. Now, the financial giants at the helm of business are facing massive losses and bankruptcies and asking Congress and taxpayers to save them. Even after a $700 billion bailout and support from abroad, the market is still suffering. How will the Treasury and the Federal Reserve try to solve this problem? What is our market going to look like by the end of the year? Experts will steer you through murky economic waters.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 3, 2008

Building Livable Streets: Gil Penalosa on Reclaiming Cities for People

How can major cities all over the world reclaim their streets for the people? Penalosa transformed Bogota, Colombia, with his Ciclovia project, which opens more than 70 miles of streets to 1.5 million people each week. Penalosa will discuss how the Ciclovia has promoted health, environmentalism, and increased economic vitality and competitiveness. Cities all over the world are following Colombia's lead and closing their streets to cars, allowing walkers, skaters and bicyclists to take over the streets. Hear Penalosa describe how he is helping cities become a part of this international phenomenon, and why he thinks it is important for more cities to follow this road less travelled.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 13, 2008

Bloggers, pundits and political insiders review the 2008 election and what it meant for the nation

As the dust from a historic election clears, INFORUM assembles leading pollsters, bloggers and pundits, each with a unique perspective on the election and voting trends. Was the YouTube effect truly as pivotal as the introduction of TV into the Nixon-JFK presidential race? Will the election of our first African-American president change the face of American politics and presidential races? How did other issues influence the outcome of the election? Come and find out what this historic election year means for us and for President-Elect Barack Obama.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 19, 2008

Tara Fields, Relationship Psychotherapist; Regular Radio and TV Commentator
Greg Ketchum, Clinical Physcologist; CEO, Talent Planet; “Workplace and Career� Segment Expert, KRON 4 News

The economy is down. Unemployment is up. Everywhere we turn, people are making drastic changes in their lives – switching careers, moving away. We’ve weathered difficult times before, but something about this seems different. At the same time, society is finally addressing climate change and the world is becoming flatter than ever. Will change really come with the end of the Bush era? Is the “it can’t get much worse� mantra worth banking on? Join us for a frank discussion about how Bay Area residents are reassessing their lives to suit a new society.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 5, 2009

Getting Your Green Dream Job

Want a green job? INFORUM will tell you how to get it. In an increasingly green society, eco-friendly jobs are popping up everywhere. You don’t have to be an eco-expert to take advantage of this new market. Whether you’re just entering the workforce or looking to transition into a green career, our panel of experts will give you the ins and outs of finding a green-collar job. Following the panel discussion, INFORUM’s job fair features a wide variety of businesses, organizations, government sectors and schools that can help you take the next step in the green job market.

The companies and organizations tabling at the job fair portion of the program are: Bay Area Air Quality Management District; Beautiful Communities; California Environmental Associates; California Public Utilities Commision; CleanTech Human Capital; Global Footprint Network; GoodGuide; Green Career Central; Green Jobs Network; Green MBA; ICF Jones & Stokes; Presidio School of Management; Saatchi & Saatchi S; San Francisco Department of the Environment; SF State University – Graduate Business Programs; Solar Living Institute; SolarStaff Inc; Solar Richmond; Sustainable Spaces; The Cassillon Group; TransForm; USGBC NCC - Emerging Green Builders.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 26, 2009

Cocktail Smackdown: San Francisco’s Best Mixologists

H. Joseph Ehrmann, Proprietor, Elixir
Jackie Patterson, Cocktailian and Bartender, Heaven's Dog
Jeff Hollinger, General Manager, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Co-Author, The Art of the Bar
Jon Gasparini, Co-owner, Rye on the Road, 15 Romolo, Rosewood
Jordan MacKay, Wine & Spirits Editor, 7x7 Magazine - Moderator

Mixologists are becoming the new top chefs, and INFORUM is bringing you the best of the bars. Part chef, part artist, these panelists know how to create something that is more delicacy than drink. Come listen to some of San Francisco’s top mixologists tap into this new trend, while divulging some tricks on how to mix it up with your own drinks at home.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 17, 2009

T. Boone Pickens,
Founder and Chairman, BP Capital Management; Author, The First Billion Is the Hardest: Reflections on a Life of Comebacks and America’s Energy Future

Energy: A Fool with a Plan Can Beat a Genius Without One

Recasting himself from an oil and gas tycoon to a leader in clean energy, Pickens wants to build the largest wind farm in the world. He reflects on a lifetime of comebacks and calls for an end to our foreign oil addiction by moving to natural gas, wind and solar energy.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 25, 2009

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 21, 2007

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 27, 2007

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 29, 2007

How Green is Your City? The SustainLane U.S. City Rankings.

Appearing with me will be the ever-entertaining Director of the Department of the Environment for San Francisco, Jared Blumenfeld--abandon your notions of a staid city bureaucrat--and Ian Kim from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, which is leading up a "green collar" jobs program for the city.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on May 2, 2009

FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE

LARRY BRILLIANT, Executive Director, Google.org
ANDREA GARDNER, Sustainable Solutions Manager, CH2M Hill
AD MELKERT, Undersecretary of the United Nations, Associate Administrator, United Nations Development Programme
NANCY PFUND, Managing Director, JPMorgan
GREG DALTON, Vice President, Commonwealth Club-Moderator

SINKING CARBON AND RAISING LIVING STANDARDS

While many Californians consider buying hybrid cars and unplugging
their computer, most of the world's 6 billion people covet having any
kind of car and can only dream of having a laptop one day. Yet
fighting global climate change will require lifestyle changes by
everyone. How can that happen without slamming the world's poor, who
are most vulnerable to the health and weather effects of global
warming? How can California's innovation in climate policy and
technologies help by decoupling carbon emissions from GDP growth?

This program was recorded live on November 27, 2007

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Brent Plater, Golden Gate University Environmental Law and Justice Clinic; RACE AGAINST TIME: The 2008 GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Wed, Jan 23, 2008

RACE AGAINST TIME: The 2008 GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year
Brent Plater, Golden Gate University Environmental Law and Justice Clinic

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Panel: Climate Change after Bali

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Feb 07, 2008

Ambassador RENO L. HARNISH III, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific
Affairs

DIANA FARRELL, Director, McKinsey Global Institute

KEN CALDEIRA, Scientist, Carnegie Institution Department of Global Ecology

Bush Administration Assistant Secretary of State and Climate Change authority Ambassador RENO L. HARNISH III headlines a panel of experts who will examine the next steps in addressing the crisis. This comes on the heels of last week’s conference in Honolulu that made global headlines. Later this year, Harnish will lead the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008), which will bring together government, civil society and private business leaders to deliberate the benefits and costs of a major and rapid scale-up in the global deployment of renewable energy technology. WIREC will specifically look at developing an overall policy towards reducing greenhouse gas intensity globally. The Honolulu event followed the much-publicized negotiations in Bali in December, which ended with an 11th hour, worldwide consensus on a roadmap for reducing carbon emissions. What happens next? Many tough issues are at stake, including which countries should reduce carbon emissions the most and how much they should rely on either market forces or government regulation.

Commonwealth Club V.P Greg Dalton who orchestrated this event said, “We are honored to assemble such a high profile and esteemed group to explore these critical and timely issues. Our hope is that this discussion will generate some viable solutions in this ongoing global dialogue.�

Ambassador Harnish previously led U.S. policy on scientific and environmental cooperation with the new independent states of the Soviet Union and was Environment, Science and Technology Counselor for the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Diana Farrell directs the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), an economics research arm of the international consulting giant. Ken Caldeira does extensive research on climate change at the Carnegie Institution Dept. of Global Ecology and is an op-ed contributor for the New York Times.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on February 7, 2008

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Gary Hirshberg, President and CE-Yo, Stonyfield Farm

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Wed, Feb 20, 2008

STIRRING IT UP: How to Make Money and Save the World. Gary Hirshberg, President and CE-Yo, Stonyfield Farm

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Panel: Winners of the Clean Tech Open

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Fri, Feb 22, 2008

PROPELLING CLEAN TECH IDEAS INTO CLEAN TECH BILLIONS

Progress Report from the Winners of the Clean Tech Open Winners tell their stories and display their products and technologies

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Peter Barnes, Tomales Bay Institute, Co-Founder of Working Assets

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Thu, Mar 13, 2008

HOW TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE WITHOUT SOAKING THE MIDDLE CLASS

Peter Barnes, Tomales Bay Institute, Co-Founder of Working Assets

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David Deppen, Environmental Architect-Anatomy of a Green Building

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Fri, Mar 28, 2008

ANATOMY OF A GREEN BUILDING

Dave Deppen, Environmental Architect

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 27, 2008

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Jay Inslee & Bracken Hendricks, authors of "Appollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Sat, Mar 29, 2008

Jay Inslee is a Representative in the United States House of Representatives, representing the First District of the State of Washington, in the Seattle area. He is a recognized leader in Congress on energy issues and is the prime sponsor of the New Apollo Energy Act, a comprehensive plan to build a clean energy economy in America.

Bracken Hendricks is a Senior Fellow with the Center for American Progress where he works on issues of climate change and energy independence, environmental protection, infrastructure investment, and economic policy, with a focus on broadening progressive constituencies and message framing.

Congressman Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks from the Center for American Progress discuss clean energy in the US, based on their new book Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on

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Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defese Fund

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Apr 24, 2008

Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defese Fund

Fred Krupp discusses his new book Earth: The Sequel - The Race to Reinvent Energy and Stop Global Warming.

The Environmental Defense Fund helped reduce acid rain in the 1990s by using market forces, and last year it played a role in the buyout of Texas utility TXU that reduced the number of planned coal-fired power plants. The advocacy group's president, Fred Krupp, believes business-friendly approaches such as carbon cap-and-trade systems are the best way to fight global warning.

His new book, Earth: The Sequel, highlights the entrepreneurs, scientists, and even a former bus driver on the Trans-Alaska pipeline, who are betting on the free market to create new wealth and build a post-carbon economy.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 23, 2008

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Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO, General Motors

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, May 02, 2008

Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO, General Motors

Can GM Really Be Green Motors?


“We are looking forward to hearing what Rick Wagoner has to say on energy diversity and security,� comments Greg Dalton, Club VP and Director of The Club’s new Climate One Program, who orchestrated the program. “A lot of Californians want to know if US automakers are finally turning the corner on the role of cars as a major source of global warming.�


Wagoner has held numerous high level posts at General Motors. Before becoming its CEO and Chairman in 2003, he was president and chief executive officer of what? A division?. Prior to this, he was its executive vice president of North American operations and chief financial officer. In his early years at GM, Wagoner helped bring the company back from a $30 billion loss over a three year period in 90’s. He is GM’s youngest CEO in history and was named executive of the year by Automotive Industries in 2001. He landed his first job at GM straight out of Harvard Business School as an analyst in their treasury department.


Wagoner holds an economics degree from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 1, 2008

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Panel: Climate Change and Computers

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, May 06, 2008

Bill Weihl, Green Energy Czar, Google

Chris Geiger, Municipal Toxics Reduction Coordinator, San Francisco Department of the Environment

Subodh Bapat, Vice President and Distinguished Engineer in the Eco Responsibility Office, Sun Microsystems

The digital age is improving the quality of our lives in many ways. But with advanced technology comes greater energy consumption and an impact on our environment. Bill Weihl, Google’s “Green Energy Czar,� and other energy experts will address the environmental impact of the digital age. The panelists will also explore how computers contribute to and can help solve today's most urgent environmental challenges.

Bill Weihl leads Google’s efforts in energy efficiency and the development and deployment of renewable energy. He is also a board member of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, a coalition of businesses and consumers committed to manufacturing and purchasing power-efficient computing products. According to Mr. Weihl, “The collective voice of our members, from companies to state governments, sends a strong message to manufacturers and retailers that there is real demand for energy- and cost-efficient computing solutions.�

As Vice President and Distinguished Engineer in Sun's Eco Responsibility Office, Subodh Bapat works across every business unit at Sun to drive greater energy efficiency into the company's products, from microprocessors, to hardware, to software. Bapat holds 16 patents and has served in numerous CTO positions throughout Sun. According to Bapat, "Technology is part of the solution to global warming, but it is also part of the problem. Computers are mapping global hot spots and allowing us to avoid auto emissions by ordering goods online -- but computers are also contributing to climate change because they use energy. With 12 million new people getting online each week, computing must become more eco friendly."

Chris Geiger has over twenty-two years of experience working on environmental issues. Geiger helped San Francisco become the first city in the nation to enact a law that requires the city to take public health and environmental stewardship into consideration when purchasing products. Geiger manages the Green Purchasing and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program for the City and County of San Francisco Department of the Environment. He has worked to find innovative ways to get 27,000 City and County employees to purchase SF Approved green products, such as computers that meet or exceed the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Silver standard.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 6, 2008

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Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chair of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); Director General, Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Sat, Jun 28, 2008

Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chair of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); Director General, Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi

Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board (CARB)

Ray Lane, Managing partner of venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins

Greg Dalton, Commonwealth Club Vice President, founder of The Club's Climate One Initiative

PANEL: Leading a transformation to a global low-carbon economy

Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Mary Nichols and Ray Lane will address questions concerning California’s leading role in the fight against dangerous climate change. What is the state of science on the causes and impacts of global warming? Can California consumers, corporations and policymakers facilitate systemic change and spur others to act? What are the costs and what are the opportunities? What role does innovation play?

“California's culture of innovation is helping to drive the world towards more sustainable ways of producing, consuming and being,� comments Greg Dalton, Club VP and Director of The Club’s new Climate One Program, who orchestrated the program. “The changes are profound and promising. And yet leading environmental scientists such as R.K. Pachauri say we all need to do more, much more.�

Pachauri, chair of the IPCC since 2002, is also the director general of the Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi, devoted to researching and promoting sustainable development. Selected by The United Nations Development Program as a Part Time Adviser in the area of Energy and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, Pachauri holds an M.S. in industrial engineering, a Ph.D. in industrial engineering, and a Ph.D. in economics from North Carolina State University.

Nichols, appointed chair of CARB by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2007, also served as CARB chair under Governor Jerry Brown. Her history includes serving as assistant administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air and Radiation, Secretary for California's Resources Agency, and Director of the University of California, Los Angeles Institute of the Environment. Considered one of California’s first environmental lawyers, Nichols has paved the way for greater air quality. She has her Juris Doctorate degree from Yale Law School and a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University

Lane, Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, has sponsored several investments for the firm in clean and alternative energy including Ausra (solar concentrator), Fisker Automotive (plug-in hybrid car), Th!nk NA (electric car), Luca Technologies (biologically enhanced gas recovery from fossilized hydrocarbons). Before joining KPCB, Lane was President and Chief Operating Officer of Oracle Corporation, the second-largest software company in the world. Lane received a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and an honorary Ph.D. in Science from West Virginia University (WVU).

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Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Sat, Sep 27, 2008

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California

In signing a landmark climate change law two years ago, Governor Schwarzenegger put California ahead of the parade to a low-carbon economy. “The global warming debate is over,� he declared. Public awareness has surged since then, but most of the hard work still lies ahead. How will California meet its goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases 25 percent by 2020? Will offshore oil drilling be resumed? Who will pay for the transition to sustainable energy? Will California’s energy and environmental laws become part of a national plan under a new president? The governor will provide an update and his vision of the road ahead.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on September 26, 2008

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Eric Schmidt, CEO, Google

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Where Would Google Drill?

Eric Schmidt, CEO, Google

Would “Drill, Baby, Drill� be part of Google’s vision for green energy? Yes, but not drilling for oil. CEO Schmidt says punching down into the Earth to capture natural and clean geothermal energy could help move the United States away from its dependence on petroleum. Google’s new energy plan also calls for a bold move into solar and wind power. It would cost $2.7 trillion through 2030. However, Schmidt says it would generate $2.1 trillion in energy savings. It would also create hundreds of thousands of jobs. And help fight global warming.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 1, 2008

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Rob Dunbar, Professor of Earth Science, Senior Fellow, Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Oct 09, 2008

Global Climate Change in the Decades Ahead: Fact Versus Fiction

Rob Dunbar, Professor of Earth Science, Senior Fellow, Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies

Dunbar takes a fresh look at the controversy surrounding the global warming crisis. He discusses unprecedented changes in the environment, focusing on air-sea interactions, tropical marine ecosystems, polar climate and the transfer of chemicals between organisms and environments.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 8, 2008

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John Hofmeister, Founder and Chief Executive, Citizens for Affordable Energy; Former President, Shell Oil Co.

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Oct 17, 2008

Is Big Oil Part of Our Energy Problem, or the Solution?

John Hofmeister, Founder and Chief Executive, Citizens for Affordable Energy; Former President, Shell Oil Co.

Big Energy is feeling the heat as skyrocketing oil costs and climate-change buzz fuel criticism from consumers and the media. But recently retired Shell chief Hofmeister will give a major speech addressing how the goals of consumers, the environmental movement and energy companies are actually closely aligned. He has just founded the not-for-profit nationwide membership association Citizens for Affordable Energy. This public-policy advocacy firm aims to promote sound U.S. energy security solutions for the nation, including a range of affordable energy supplies, efficiency improvements, essential infrastructure, sustainable environmental policy and public education on energy issues. Don't miss this groundbreaking event.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 16, 2008

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Renewable Energy for California: Challenges and Solutions

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Oct 22, 2008

Renewable Energy for California: Challenges and Solutions

Paul Douglas, Renewables Portfolio Standard Program Manager, California Public Utilities Commission
Roy Kuga, Vice President of Energy Supply, PG&E
Diane Fellman, Director of California Regulatory Affairs, FPL Energy
Carl Zichella, Regional Director for California, Sierra Club
Cliff Chen, Energy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists - Moderator

How fast should electric power companies change their game plans? Al Gore has challenged the nation to produce 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years, and the California legislature has directed the state's investor-owned utilities to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy by 2010. So, how are we doing so far? Only a small proportion of the utilities' contracts for clean energy have resulted in visible construction. What is causing the delay, and what are the solutions?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 21, 2008

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James Howard Kunstler, Author of "The Long Emergency" & "The Geography of Nowhere"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Fri, Jan 09, 2009

Author, The Long Emergency,

James Howard Kunstler is an author, social critic, public speaker, and blogger. He is best known for his books The Geography of Nowhere (1994), a history of American suburbia and urban development, and the more recent The Long Emergency (2005), where he argues that declining oil production is likely to result in the end of industrialized society as we know it and force Americans to live in localized, agrarian communities.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 19, 2007

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Stewart Brand, Co-founder and President, Long Now Foundation

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Fri, Jan 16, 2009

City Planet

Stewart Brand, Co-founder and President, Long Now Foundation

Brand will discuss how increasing urbanization is accelerating economic development with remarkable speed. The consequences will be profound, he believes. Are we prepared? Brand has focused on such subjects as digital media, education and architecture. He’s perhaps best known for founding the Whole Earth Catalog.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on June 14, 2007

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Energy Efficiency Unplugged. Chevron, NRDC, Wall Street Journal, Draper Fisher Jurvetson

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Wed, Jan 21, 2009

Energy Efficiency Unplugged

Jim Davis, President, Chevron Energy Solutions
Ralph Cavanagh, Co-director, Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
Tim Draper, Founder and Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson
Alan Murray, Deputy Managing Editor and Executive Editor Online, The Wall Street Journal – Moderator

Can we “save� our way to energy independence? Many energy companies contend the cheapest energy is unused energy. Changes in the construction and management of buildings help companies conserve, but is this a comprehensive strategy? What can we do in our personal lives to conserve, rather than consume? Turning off lights, pumping up tires and using the dishwasher’s “energy saver� mode are small, simple steps. Will they actually make a difference, or do we need more efficient technology to spur meaningful change? Join a panel of experts to discover what companies and consumers can do to become more energy efficient.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 13, 2009

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Climate Countdown: Can The World Cut A Deal? The Nature Conservancy, California Resources Agency

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Thu, Jan 22, 2009

Climate Countdown: Can the World Cut a Deal?

Tony Brunello, Deputy Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, California
Louis Blumberg, Director, CA Forest and Climate Policy, The Nature Conservancy
Aimee Christensen, Founder and CEO, Christensen Global Strategies
Greg Dalton, Vice President, The Commonwealth Club; Founder, Climate One – Moderator

In 2009, the world will try to craft the next comprehensive environmental treaty. To move forward, there must be multi-lateral consensus on the priorities in the global climate crisis. Recently, the UN Climate Change Conference convened 11,000 people from nearly 190 nations to focus on these challenges. How will governments, business and civil society come together to create plans for action and real solutions? What part will the U.S. play in the next protocol? This panel of insiders will give you the scoop and update you on what you need to know about the U.N.'s negotiations on climate change.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 15, 2009

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Cars: Clean Them or Crush Them. International Council on Clean Transportation, Clean Air Initiative (Asia), and UC Berkeley

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Mon, Feb 02, 2009

Cars: Clean Them or Crush Them?

Kate Blumberg, Research Director,International Center for Clean Transportation
Cornie Huizenga, Vice-Chair, Clean Air Initiative, Asia Center
Michael O’Hare, Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley
Lee Schipper, Project Scientist, Global Metropolitan Studies, UC Berkeley
Greg Dalton, Commonwealth Club Vice President, Moderator

The number of cars in the world may double in twenty years to 2 billion if the emerging middle
class in India and China get their hands on a new set of wheels. The global economic recession is causing some
countries to invest in rail and other cleaner modes of transportation. At the same time, the recession prompted China to
to relax regulations on autos to boost its economy.

What are the consequences for global climate and quality of life in Asia?
What are the alternatives for personal mobility? Will Asian cities choose the problematic western model?
How can the US improve its transportation policies and technologies? Is the answer cleaner cars or fewer cars?

This program was recorded at The Commonwealth Club on January 22, 2009

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Alan Weisman, Author of "The World Without Us"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Tue, Feb 10, 2009

Alan Weisman, Author of "The World Without Us"

Alan Weisman's reports from around the world have appeared in Harper's, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Orion, Wilson Quarterly, Vanity Fair, Mother Jones, Discover, Audubon, Condé Nast Traveler, and in many anthologies, including Best American Science Writing 2006.

In this far-reaching narrative, Weisman explains how our massive infrastructure would collapse and finally vanish without human presence; what of our everyday stuff may become immortalized as fossils; how copper pipes and wiring would be crushed into mere seams of reddish rock; why some of our earliest buildings might be the last architecture left; and how plastic, bronze sculpture, radio waves, and some man-made molecules may be our most lasting gifts to the universe.

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Letter To President Obama: Path to a Greener Future. Linda Adams (CalEPA), Carter Roberts (World Wildlife Fund), Jim Wunderman (Bay Area Council of Businesses)

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Fri, Feb 13, 2009

Letter to President Obama: A Path to a Greener Future

Linda Adams, Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency
Carter Roberts, CEO, World Wildlife Fund U.S.
Jim Wunderman, President and CEO, Bay Area Council
Greg Dalton, Vice President Commonwealth Club

Can President Obama heal the economy and turn it green at the same time? He says yes, he can – by pumping investment into modern infrastructure, renewable fuels and new technologies. Can he and his cabinet really do all that and also uphold promises to protect national parks, balance the needs for food and energy, and create new jobs? Perhaps he can if he develops a clearly defined roadmap that tackles today’s multi-faceted and intertwined problems of national and energy security, global poverty, and climate change. A leading policymaker, advocate and businessperson discuss what Obama should do to realize his vision for America, and what that means for California.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 12, 2009

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Two Billion Cars: Dan Sperling, Founding Director, Institute of Transportation Studies; Board Member, California Air Resources Board.

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Thu, Feb 19, 2009

Driving Toward Sustainability

Dan Sperling, Founding Director, Institute of Transportation Studies; Board Member, California Air Resources Board

By 2020, the number of cars on the planet will double to two billion. Without big changes to our cars, fuels and personal habits, the carbon footprint from transportation will rise above its current 25 percent of total emissions. Can we break the cycle of “shock and trance?� Join energy expert Sperling as he reveals what is at stake if we refuse to move quickly, and what opportunities exist if we act now.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 12, 2009

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Clean Tech for California: Winners of the Third Annual California Clean Tech Open 2008

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Wed, Mar 04, 2009

Clean Tech for California: Emerging Winners

Jennifer Billock, Founder, Over the Moon Diapers – Air, Water, and Waste Winner
Tuyen Vo, Founder and CTO, Viridis Earth – Energy Efficiency Winner
Michael Looney, CEO and President, BottleStone – Green Building Winner
Allen Bronstein, Founder and CTO, Focal Point Energy – Renewables Winner
Donnie Foster, CEO and President, Power Assure – Smart Power Winner
Fraser Smith, CEO, ElectraDrive – Transportation Winner
Betsy Rosenberg, Founder, EcoTalk - Moderator

Meet the winners of the Third Annual California Clean Tech Open 2008. This statewide competition focuses on keeping California the leader in commercialized green technologies. Learn about the progress that the six winning companies have made as they move their innovations from the lab into the marketplace, as well as the biggest challenges and opportunities for turning clean-technology concepts into viable business models.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 2, 2009

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Climate Security

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Climate One
Mon, Mar 16, 2009

Andrew Vincent Alder, Senior Fellow, Institute for Environmental Security
Holmes Hummel, Lecturer, Climate Policy, University of California, Berkeley
Tom Spencer, Vice Chair, The Institute for Climate Security
Greg Dalton, Vice President, The Commonwealth Club, Moderator

What is the geopolitical context in which the “Carbon Quad� – The United States, European Union, China and India –
are posturing regarding a global deal to reduce carbon pollution? What is the potential impact of the dwindling snow pack in the Tibetan plateau?
How does water stress factor into the climate equation internationally and in California? A fast and furious roundtable explores these issues and
touches on the lessons of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme, which is something of a model for the United States.

This roundtable discussion was recorded on March 13, 2009

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Stan Greenberg, Chairman and CEO, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner; Polling Advisor to National Campaigns; Author, Dispatches from the War Room

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Apr 01, 2009

War and Peace: Dispatches from the Campaign Front Line

Stan Greenberg, Chairman and CEO, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner; Polling Advisor to National Campaigns; Author, Dispatches from the War Room

Described as “the father of modern polling techniques,� Greenberg served as polling advisor to Bill Clinton, Al Gore, South African President Nelson Mandela, Britain’s Tony Blair, Israel’s Ehud Barak and many other leaders. Esquire named him one of the most important people of the 21st century. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a fly on the wall as Greenberg takes you inside the campaign war rooms of some of the most powerful people of our time.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on March 16, 2009

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Azadeh Moaveni, Contributing Writer, Time Magazine; Author, Honeymoon in Tehran: Two Years of Love and Danger in Iran

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Azadeh MoaveniContributing Writer, Time Magazine; Author, Honeymoon in Tehran: Two Years of Love and Danger in Iran

As one of the few American correspondents allowed to work continuously in Iran since 1999, Moaveni has reported widely on women’s rights, Islamic reform and youth culture. She will discuss her personal experiences living and working in Iran, including how, after facing the threat of arrest, she fled the country to protect her family’s safety.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 25, 2009

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Wallace Stegner Centennial-A look at the legacy of legendary author Wallace Stegner.

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/Good Lit
Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Wallace Stegner Centennial

Philip Fradkin, Author, Wallace Stegner and the American West
Page Stegner, Author; Professor of Literature, UC Santa Cruz
Nancy Packer, Writer; Professor Emerita of Creative Writing, Stanford University

“We need wilderness preserved – as much of it as is still left, and as many kinds – because it was the challenge against which our character as a people was formed,� said Wallace Stegner in a famous 1960 letter. He was a fervent admirer and advocate of nature, often writing about the West. He also started the creative writing department at Stanford. Join us to learn about a legend from those who knew him.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 18, 2009

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Frank McCourt-Author of "Angela's Ashes"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Nov 28, 2007

SPEAKER: Frank McCourt, author In Conversation with SANDIP ROY, Host, KALW's "Upfront"

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Angela’s Ashes Frank McCourt will discuss his inspirations as a writer and reflect on his life, the subject matter of many of his books. His new book Angela and the Baby Jesus elaborates on the childhood of his mother Angela from his previous book. The book comes in both adult and children’s editions, with different illustrators lending their interpretations to each edition. Angela’s Ashes sold over 4 million copies and won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography.

McCourt was born in New York to an Irish immigrant family in 1930. He spent much of his childhood in the slums of Ireland, finally returning to the U.S. in 1949. He served in the army during the Korean War, and afterwards received an education at New York University and Brooklyn College. He taught English and writing in New York Public School system for almost 30 years, before writing full-time.

This program was recorded live on November 28 2007

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Alice Waters, Eric Schlosser, Anya Fernald, Harold Goldstein, Bertram Lubin

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Thu, Jul 31, 2008

Alice Waters, Owner and Executive Chef, Chez Panisse; Author; Sustainable Food Advocate

Anya Fernald, Executive Director, Slow Food Nation

Harold Goldstein, Executive Director, California Center for Public Health Advocacy

Bertram Lubin, M.D.; President, Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute

Eric Schlosser, Investigative Reporter; Writer; Author, Fast Food Nation

James Beard Award-winning chef and author, Alice Waters, headlines this panel of experts on food and its intersection with health, agriculture, education and policy, all in conversation with Fast Food Nation’s Eric Schlosser.

Waters opened her renowned restaurant Chez Panisse in 1971 serving a fixed price menu that changed daily depending on seasonal produce and quality. The restaurant has developed a network of local farmers and growers who dedicate themselves to sustainable agricultural practices. Waters is dedicated to the slow-food movement, promoting the pleasure of eating, and encouraging the consumption of locally grown food. She is founder of the Chez Panisse Foundation which orchestrates cultural and educational programs such as nationally acclaimed Edible Schoolyard. Her ideas for “edible education� are used throughout the Berkeley public school system and have recently become even more popular because of rising childhood obesity rates. The winner of numerous awards, she has written over eight books, including Chez Panisse Vegetables. Waters lives in Berkeley, California.

Muckraking journalist and author Eric Schlosser best selling Fast Food Nation grew out of an article for Rolling Stone and was later turned into a film. He also produced the film “There Will Be Blood.� He started out as a journalist at The Atlantic Monthly and gained recognition for his two-part series on marijuana laws. There, he also won the Sidney Hillman Foundation award. He has contributed to The Nation, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and Rolling Stone. He wrote the books Reefer Madness and the children’s book Chew on This.

This is the first of The Commonwealth Club’s How We Eat Summer Platform Series.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 31, 2008

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Farnaz Fassihi, Iraq Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal; Author, Waiting for an Ordinary Day

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Mon, Sep 15, 2008

Farnaz Fassihi, Iraq Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal; Author, Waiting for an Ordinary Day

Iraq: Life Unraveling

In Conversation with Dory Culver, Associate News Director, KCBS All News 740 AM

Every day, we are inundated with images and talk of war in Iraq. But many of us in the U.S. do not see the human side of the conflict, says Fassihi, the everyday people living amidst the bombs, battles and fractured public services. Fassihi has lived with these people and discusses their plight from a rarely heard perspective.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on September 15, 2008

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Christopher Buckley, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes FYI magazine; Political Satirist; Author, Supreme Courtship

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Thu, Sep 18, 2008

Supreme Courtship

Christopher Buckley, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes FYI magazine; Political Satirist; Author, Supreme Courtship

Moderated by Doug Sovern, Reporter, KCBS; Political Correspondent; Blogger, Sovernnation.blogspot.com

Buckley has been called “the quintessential political novelist of his time� by Forbes magazine. Fellow novelist Tom Wolfe called him “one of the funniest writers in the English language.� Now, Buckley takes his razor-sharp wit and trains it on the U.S. Supreme Court for his 12th novel, Supreme Courtship. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear from an icon of the literary world.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on September 28, 2008

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Jacques Pepin, Chef; Host, “Fast Food My Way�; Author, More Fast Food My Way

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Tue, Oct 21, 2008

Exquisite Meals in a Few Simple Steps

Jacques Pepin, Chef; Host, “Fast Food My Way�; Author, More Fast Food My Way

In conversation with Joey Altman, Host, "Bay Cafe", "Appetite for Adventure" and "What’s Cooking with Joey Altman"

Pepin says you do not need to be a master chef to produce amazing dishes in your kitchen. The important thing, he believes, is to understand and use the basics. This legendary culinary expert served as chef to three French heads of state and won France's highest honor, but he disdains food snobbery, preferring instead to share his innovative techniques to keep food simple, fresh and tasty.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on October 21, 2008

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George Hamilton: Tales of Show Business and Life

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Tue, Oct 28, 2008

George Hamilton: Tales of Show Business and Life

In conversation with KGO Radio Host Ray Taliaferro

In this blockbuster event, Hamilton - famed for his acting skills as well as his perpetual tan - shares intimate stories about life in Hollywood, including his friendships with Cary Grant and Sammy Davis, Jr., among other stars. Hear about some of Hollywood's biggest secrets and scandals from this versatile actor, whose credits encompass everything from “Crime and Punishment� to “Dancing with the Stars.�

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on October 28, 2008

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Dorothy Allison & Amanda Hesser-Authors of "Eat, Memory"

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Fri, Jan 09, 2009

Eat, Memory

Dorothy Allison, Author, Bastard Out of Carolina and Cavedweller; Co-author, Eat, Memory
Amanda Hesser, Food Reporter; Columnist, The New York Times; Co-author, Eat, Memory

Cavedweller and Bastard Out of Carolina best-selling author Allison and well-known food writer Hesser pay homage to writers past in this collection of short stories, Eat, Memory. Honoring the food-inspired recollections of famous novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, poets and journalists, this collection focuses on the often humorous and always psychological relationship between people and food.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on December 3, 2008

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Brian Copeland, KGO Radio Host; Author, Not a Genuine Black Man

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Thu, Jan 29, 2009

2009 Silicon Valley Reads: One Book. One Community Kick-Off

Brian Copeland, KGO Radio Host; Author, Not a Genuine Black Man

When Copeland and his family moved to San Leandro in 1972, he immediately felt the effects of growing up as an African American in an otherwise all-white suburb. Copeland discusses his own experiences of racial identity, isolation and redemption, and provides a thoughtful examination of how our surroundings help shape who we are.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in Silicon Valley on January 13, 2009

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LItquake: CA History Panel. Scandal, Intrigue and Drama in California History

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Tue, Feb 03, 2009

Scandal, Intrigue and Drama in California History

Frances Dinkelspiel, Author, Towers of Gold
Ethan Rarick, Author, Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey
Rick Wartzman, Author, Obscene in the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath
Julia Flynn Siler, Author, House of Mondavi - Moderator

Truth really can be more intriguing than fiction. California was built on big personalities, intrigue, scandal and drama. Now, ripped from the headlines of our past, these shapers of our Golden State come to life in three groundbreaking new books. The authors reveal the new details they discovered to turn history into a great story.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on October 6, 2009

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Len Downie, Former Executive Editor, The Washington Post; Author, The Rules of the Game

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Wed, Feb 04, 2009

Len Downie-Former Executive Editor, The Washington Post; Author, The Rules of the Game
In Conversation with
Phil Bronstein, Editor at Large; San Francisco Chronicle

Downie is one of the leaders of the news world, heading up The Washington Post for nearly 20 years. Now, he turns to fiction, falling back on the topics he knows best: corruption, high-level cover-ups and other topics ripped from the headlines. He will discuss the tension between journalism and government, how to navigate those waters, and additional insights into how politics and the press really work.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 29, 2009

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Richard North Patterson, Author of Eclipse and Exile

Author: Commonwealth Club/Good Lit
Wed, Feb 04, 2009

Richard North Patterson, Author of Eclipse and Exile

Patterson has brought us 15 novels, 11 of them best sellers. His works deal with issues such as religion, the gun lobby, capital punishment and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Patterson’s newest novel is centered around the global lust for oil. Join us for a rare discussion with this great, best-selling author.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 2, 2009

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Ahmed Rashid, Pakistani Journalist and Writer; Author, Descent into Chaos: U.S. Policy and the Failure of Nation Building in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Mar 19, 2009

Descent into Chaos: U.S. Failures in Central Asia, and What Needs to Be Done

Ahmed Rashid, Pakistani Journalist and Writer; Author, Descent into Chaos: U.S. Policy and the Failure of Nation Building in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia

The conflict in Afghanistan and the skirmishes along the Pakistani border are only now getting increased focus from U.S. leaders and policy-makers. Rashid makes the case that failed U.S. policy has worsened the situation, and he has said the U.S. must take on the task of nation-building if there is any hope to strengthen the region.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on March 11, 2009

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David Sanger, Chief Washington Correspondent, The New York Times; Author, The Inheritance

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Mar 18, 2009

Obama Encounters the World

David Sanger, Chief Washington Correspondent, The New York Times; Author, The Inheritance

In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club

Sanger presents new directions for U.S. national security. As our new president inherits a country that has drastically changed its appearance both domestically and abroad, he faces huge challenges. Sanger delivers an intelligence briefing on the complexities of Obama’s transition. Citing previous changes of power and a number of issues, he explains why this transition may be the toughest yet.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 25, 2009

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Thomas Ricks, Pentagon Reporter, The Washington Post; Author, Fiasco, and The Gamble: General Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq 2006-2008

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Mar 06, 2009

Thomas Ricks,Pentagon Reporter, The Washington Post; Author, The Gamble: General Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq 2006-2008

In his follow-up to the number-one New York Times best seller Fiasco, considered a definitive account of the Iraq invasion, Pulitzer Prize-winner Ricks delivers his second number-one best-selling, news-breaking installment of the Iraq war story. This depiction of the war since 2005 draws from hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with top military officers, revealing that, though there may be a security plan in place, an exit strategy is still nowhere to be seen, says Ricks.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on February 23, 2009

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Fred Smith, Founder and CEO, FedEx Corporation. Keeping America Competitive: The View from "Commerce Street"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Mar 04, 2009

Keeping America Competitive: The View from "Commerce Street"

Fred Smith, Founder and CEO, FedEx Corporation

Everyone talks about Wall Street and Main Street, but no one talks about “Commerce Street,� the industrial economy in between. Smith will outline ways to build a foundation for a healthier, more sustainable U.S. business environment, one that he believes can create more good-paying jobs here in California and across the country. His solutions include energy independence, tax and accounting reform, and policies that grow business, trade and communities. Smith believes that in the challenge of this downturn is an opportunity to increase America's competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Smith is the CEO of one of the world's most successful companies. With more than 290,000 team members, FedEx serves more than 220 countries and territories around the world. Since founding FedEx in 1971, Smith has been an active proponent of regulatory reform, free trade and "open skies agreements" for aviation worldwide. He is a member of the Energy Security Leadership Council, a group of CEOs and retired military leaders who make policy recommendations on developing energy independence and alternative fuels for the United States.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 11, 2009

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Matt Miller, Contributing Editor, Fortune; Senior Fellow, the Center for American Progress; Host, Left, Right, and Center; Author, The Tyranny of Dead Ideas and The Two-Percent Solution

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 27, 2009

The Tyranny of Dead Ideas: How to Make Health Care More Efficient

Matt Miller, Contributing Editor, Fortune; Senior Fellow, the Center for American Progress; Host, Left, Right, and Center; Author, The Tyranny of Dead Ideas and The Two-Percent Solution

In the wake of President Obama's call for change, Miller proposes new ideas for health care and other sectors that he believes will ensure a safe and secure future for all Americans. A longtime advocate for re-evaluating our government's foundation, Miller’s reassessment of entrenched political conventions challenges the traditional wisdom of politicians. Miller outlines ways to combat these “dead ideas� and overcome the impediments to the ultimate goal of an accessible, affordable American health-care system. He served as an aide to President Clinton and is trusted on both sides of the aisle as a visionary with solutions.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 11, 2009

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Carol A. Fleming, Ph.D., Speaking Coach. A New Birth of Eloquence: What We Can Learn About Powerful Speaking from the Gettysburg Address

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 27, 2009

A New Birth of Eloquence: What We Can Learn About Powerful Speaking from the Gettysburg Address

Carol A. Fleming, Ph.D., Speaking Coach

What makes Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address the most admired speech in American history? In just two minutes (and 272 words), this speech changed a nation and the course of history. Fleming helps us learn the techniques of eloquence and inspiration from Lincoln in one of the most-quoted speeches in U.S. history.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 12, 2009

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Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director, Hayden Planetarium; Author, The Pluto Files, The Demotion of a Planet, and Hate Mail from Third Graders

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Feb 25, 2009

The Demotion of a Planet, and Hate Mail from Third Graders

Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director, Hayden Planetarium; Author, The Pluto Files

Brian Hackney, CBS5 Science Editor; Correspondent, "Eye on the Bay" - Moderator

In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted Pluto out of planet-hood. The man behind the quest to demote Pluto returns to The Club to discuss how and why Pluto lost its planet status, as well as the worldwide controversy generated by the move. Tyson says he received hate-mail from third graders for his assertion that Pluto was not a planet. He will break down how Pluto became part of the fabric of America’s cultural view of the cosmos.

This is part of the Evolve 2009 series, in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the publishing of Charles Darwin's book, Origin of the Species.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 5, 2009

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Bob Edgar, President and CEO, Common Cause. Helping Restore the Core Values of American Democracy

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Helping Restore the Core Values of American Democracy

Bob Edgar, President and CEO, Common Cause

In an era of scandals, bribery and extortion that goes all the way to the highest offices in politics, Edgar is on a mission to bring integrity back to politics. Edgar will underscore the importance of personal freedom and individual liberty and will discuss how his organization seeks to restore these rights. His role in Congress gave him an unparalleled view of issues of trust and justice within government.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 10, 2009

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Gwen Ifill, Managing Editor, "Washington Week"; Senior Correspondent, “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer�; Author, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 13, 2009

Gwen Ifill. Managing Editor, "Washington Week"; Senior Correspondent, “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer�; Author, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama

Journalist and 2008 vice presidential debate moderator Ifill offers profiles of the emerging generation of African-American politicians who are changing our political landscape. These leaders who are forging bold new paths include President Barack Obama, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Representative Arthur Davis. Ifill talks about her new book, her career in journalism, moderating the VP debates and more.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in our San Jose office on January 28, 2009

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James S. Turley, Chairman and CEO, Ernst & Young LLP. Driving Economic Growth in Turbulent Times

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Feb 10, 2009

Driving Economic Growth in Turbulent Times

James S. Turley, Chairman and CEO, Ernst & Young LLP

Turmoil in the financial industry has led to pain throughout the economy. Drawing on his firm’s global perspective, Turley reviews where things are and where they might be headed. Though the way forward is full of serious challenges, he explores strategies for dealing with risks and opportunities even in today’s uncertain world, thus building strength for the future and stimulating renewed economic growth.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on February 5, 2009

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Philip Lee Miller, M.D., Author, The Life Extension Revolution; Founder and Director, Los Gatos Longevity Institute. The Future of American Medicine: A Paradigm Shift

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Feb 10, 2009

The Future of American Medicine: A Paradigm Shift

Philip Lee Miller, M.D., Author, The Life Extension Revolution; Founder and Director, Los Gatos Longevity Institute

The perils of modern medicine are now widely appreciated. Miller says all solutions offered to mitigate "the health-care crisis" in America are economic – a zero-sum game. We are now at a critical juncture in the evolution of medicine, and Miller states that “transformation" is the needed approach to solving the problems that plague our medical system. Economic solutions lead to cost-shifting, which he says will not improve the underlying malady: the declining loss of quality of care. A newer model is evolving: antiaging/functional/longevity medicine. Miller asserts that national debate should be posed in terms of goals and aspirations for a new system, not simply universal methods of payment.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 15, 2009

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Rick Steves, Producer of "Iran: Yesterday & Today", Writer, Producer, Travel Host; Europe Through The Back Door

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 06, 2009

Rick Steves-Writer, Television and Radio Host, Travel Host; Europe Through The Back Door

After spending 10 days filming in Iran, Steves calls the country “the most poorly understood yet fascinating land� he’s ever visited. He will discuss his travels through Iran and his new special program airing on PBS. From Friday prayer in a leading mosque to anti-American murals, Steves presents his message and experiences to help us better understand a nation that continues to be shrouded in mystery and clouded by myths and mistruths.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 26, 2009

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Claire Kremen, Conservation Ecologist, UC Berkeley; 2007 MacArthur Honoree. Honey Bee Pollination Crisis: Can Native Bees Take up the Slack?

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Feb 03, 2009

Honey Bee Pollination Crisis: Can Native Bees Take up the Slack?

Claire Kremen, Conservation Ecologist, UC Berkeley; 2007 MacArthur Honoree

Monoculture farming leaves us highly dependent on honey bees, whose pollination affects 75 percent of fruits and vegetables and 30 percent of all food production. However, managed hives are being wiped out by colony collapse disorder at an alarming rate. Kremen will discuss how wild bees can boost the effectiveness of managed hives and play a critical role in pollinating the crops that keep California’s economy humming.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 13, 2009

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Problems with Progress: A Historical Perspective on the Presidency

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jan 30, 2009

Problems with Progress: A Historical Perspective on the Presidency

Leon Litwack, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Historian; Professor, UC Berkeley (retired); Author, How Free Is Free
James Taylor, Associate Professor of Politics, University of San Francisco
Richard Thompson Ford, George E. Osborne Professor of Law, Stanford Law School; Author, The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse

As the nation prepares to inaugurate its first African-American president, Americans wonder if our country can truly become colorblind. At its core, the story of America is the constant redefining of the ideas most central to the Constitution: liberty, freedom and equality. How will Obama’s victory shape American history? How far have we come as a result of this past election, and how much farther do we still need to go? Join some quintessential American historians as they unveil the pitfalls and triumphs this election has delivered upon the American psyche.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 15, 2009

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Robert Reich, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, The Work of Nations and Supercapitalism; Economic Advisor to President Barack Obama; Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, U.C. Berkeley

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jan 23, 2009

Annual Bank of America-Walter E. Hoadley Economic Forecast

Robert Reich, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, The Work of Nations and Supercapitalism; Economic Advisor to President-Elect Barack Obama; Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, U.C. Berkeley

As the economy nose-dives into a crisis of unknown depths, hear renowned economist and former Secretary of Labor Reich lay out his thoughts on what lurks around the financial corner in 2009. Drawing on his years of experience both in and out of the political sphere, and sifting through the mountain of financial data, fiscal indicators, and government spin, Reich – who has been rumored as a contender for a position in the Obama administration – will cut through the hysteria and hyperbole to reveal where we’re headed in ’09.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 14, 2009

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Zeke Emanuel, Chair, Dept. of Bioethics, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health; Author, Healthcare, Guaranteed

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jan 16, 2009

Health Care: Scrapping the System to Find the Solution

Zeke Emanuel, Chair, Dept. of Bioethics, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health; Author, Healthcare, Guaranteed

John Diaz, Editorial Page Editor, the San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator

No more Band-Aids or patches, says Emanuel; it's time for a complete overhaul of health care as we know it. America spends more than $2 trillion on health care, more than any other developed nation. But money does not guarantee a better system. Instead, 47 million Americans go without insurance. In addition, many people suffer poor health, and often suffer financial difficulties as a result. Emanuel offers a bold new proposal to completely restructure our system, which he says will save money, allow for choice and give all Americans health-care coverage.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on January 8, 2009

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Peter Greenberg, Author, Don't Go There! The Travel Detective's Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jan 09, 2009

What the Airlines, Hotels and Cruise Lines Won't Tell You

Peter Greenberg, Author, Don't Go There! The Travel Detective's Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World

An acclaimed travel guru, journalist and travel editor for NBC's “Today Show,� Greenberg focuses on navigating through red tape to get where you want. He provides tips for the increasingly savvy and demanding traveler, making sure to promote awareness of dismal destinations and idyllic places that don't deserve their reputations. In this follow-up to his New York Times best-seller, The Complete Travel Detective Bible, Greenberg offers advice in his latest work, Don’t Go There!

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on December 9, 2008

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Steve Fainaru, Reporter, The Washington Post; Author, Big Boy Rules: In the Company of America’s Mercenaries

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Mon, Jan 05, 2009

Mercenaries: Iraq’s Parallel Army

Steve Fainaru, Reporter, The Washington Post; Author, Big Boy Rules: In the Company of America’s Mercenaries

On the margins of the Iraq war, a parallel army of 100,000 has been doing the jobs unable to be tackled by an overstretched U.S. military, either because they cannot or will not take on these jobs. You may know them as “security contractors,� and they operate outside the rules of engagement. Fainaru traveled with several bands of “mercs� to find out why they have come to Iraq, revealing a brutally honest portrait of these individuals.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club on November 20, 2008

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Michael Kinsley, Columnist, Time Magazine; Founding Editor, Slate; Author, Creative Capitalism

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Dec 18, 2008

Creative Capitalism: Navigating Rough Waters on Wall Street and Main Street

Michael Kinsley, Columnist, Time Magazine; Founding Editor, Slate; Author, Creative Capitalism

It’s official. The U.S. has now been in recession for at least a year, and the markets show no signs of significant recovery in the near future. One of the most prolific and thoughtful commentators on the U.S. political scene today, Kinsley turns his razor-sharp intellect and dead-on commentary to our financial system. Kinsley, who served as editor of the New Republic and as the liberal half of the original “Crossfire� team, assesses the current financial crisis and the state of America’s markets, and discusses how the Obama administration can tackle the biggest economic challenge since the Great Depression. Don't miss this opportunity to hear how the political climate shapes the country’s economic future.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on December 9, 2008

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India: On the Road Toward Superpower?

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Dec 18, 2008

India: On the Road Toward Superpower?

Sabeer Bhatia, Co-founder, Hotmail and Arzoo.com; Entrepreneur
Rafiq Dossani, Ph.D., Senior Research Scholar; Executive Director, South Asia Initiative
Kanwal Rekhi, Managing Director, Inventus Capital Partners; Venture Capitalist; Philanthropist
Ananya Roy, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs International & Area Studies, UC Berkeley

As terror seizes Mumbai, the government of India stands on shaky political grounds. The authorities’ inability to protect the country from terror attacks has left the public outraged, and heated political debates over security policy have taken center stage for the coming election in May 2009. With the resignation of many top officials, can the ruling Indian National Congress survive this massacre? From the recent turmoil, India now faces several challenges as the country rises up as one of the main players in global affairs. As India’s population grows to more than a billion, it has much to offer. With a booming middle class, a strong military establishment, and increasing strides in technology, what is keeping India from achieving superpower status? Experts weigh in on the obstacles that stand in the way of this Asian giant emerging as a political, economic and military powerhouse.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on December 11, 2008

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Robert Baer, Former CIA Operative; Author, Sleeping with the Devil and See No Evil

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Dec 11, 2008

Iran’s Grip on America’s Future

Robert Baer, Former CIA Operative; Author, Sleeping with the Devil and See No Evil

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from and meet the man who was the basis of George Clooney's character in "Syriana" -- and find out why reality is even more riveting than film. Considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on the Middle East, Baer will explore the gap of information between what is going on in Iran and what Americans know. Bear visited Iran to interview suicide bombers, a grand ayatollah, the hard-line chief of staff of Iran’s military forces and the terrorist chief of Hezbollah. Baer will discuss how and why Iran will control the most vital oil and gas trade routes, how it became a hero to the Palestinian Sunnis, and how it plans to seize oil from the Persian Gulf.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 5, 2008

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Jane M. Hightower, M.D.; Author, Diagnosis Mercury: Money, Politics and Poison

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Dec 11, 2008

Diagnosis Mercury

Jane M. Hightower, M.D.; Author, Diagnosis Mercury: Money, Politics and Poison

Hightower will discuss the risk of consuming too much mercury when eating top predator ocean fish such as tuna, swordfish and sharks. She is a San Francisco doctor who discovered in 2000 that many of her patients had the classic symptoms of mercury poisoning, including nausea, trouble concentrating and tiredness, and she traced these symptoms to eating fish several times a week. Public health warnings are still inadequate, she says.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on December 9, 2008

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Ted Turner, Media Mogul; Founder, CNN; Owner, Atlanta Braves; Philanthropist; Author, Call Me Ted

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Dec 05, 2008

The Legendary Maverick Tells All

Ted Turner, Media Mogul; Founder, CNN; Owner, Atlanta Braves; Philanthropist; Author, Call Me Ted

In Conversation with Phil Bronstein, Executive Vice President and Editor at Large, San Francisco Chronicle

Turner’s life is the stuff of legend. But what drives him? Now, for the first time, the businessman shares his personal story. From his difficult childhood to his hard-partying college life, from the surprise success of CNN to the drama of the AOL/Time Warner deal, and how he went from being a billboard salesman to becoming the largest private landowner in the country, Turner spares no details.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 19, 2008

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Sumbul Ali-Karamali, Attorney; Author, The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media and that Veil Thing

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Dec 03, 2008

The Muslim Next Door

Sumbul Ali-Karamali, Attorney; Author, The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media and that Veil Thing

Ali-Karamali, self-described as “a Californian by upbringing, corporate lawyer by training, Stanford educated mum with degrees in English and Islamic Law,� presents a fresh perspective on Muslim beliefs and customs, and discusses the status and role of women in Muslim cultures.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 30, 2008

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Meet Human Rights Activists Bo Kyi and Umida Niazova

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Dec 03, 2008

Meet Human Rights Activists Bo Kyi and Umida Niazova

Bo Kyi, Co-founder, Burma’s Association for Assistance of Political Prisoners
Umida Niazova, Uzbek Journalist

This year, Human Rights Watch honors two former political prisoners for their relentless exposure of abuses and their tenacious support for justice for victims of human rights violations in their own countries. Meet these two courageous individuals, hear their stories, and discuss the future for Burma and Uzbekistan.

MLF: International Relations

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 20, 2008

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Guy Kawasaki, Co-founder and Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures; Author, Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Nov 26, 2008

Guy Kawasaki, Co-founder and Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures; Author, Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition

For nearly 30 years, Kawasaki has earned a notable reputation as a venture capitalist, entrepreneur and popular blogger. The former Apple evangelist will share his provocative insights and commonsense practices for succeeding in today’s business world. Kawasaki’s “no bull shiitake� approach is a reality check that covers everything from customer service to competition, innovation to marketing.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 17, 2008

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Mark Yudof, President, University of California; Former Law Professor; Expert, Education and Constitutional Law

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Nov 26, 2008

Proving the Value of Higher Education

Mark Yudof, President, University of California; Former Law Professor; Expert, Education and Constitutional Law

Hired to replace Robert Dynes in the aftermath of management changes, University of California’s newest president will discuss why he is so committed to accountability in higher education. Yudof is determined to lead a new UC imperative for demonstrating success, faculty achievement, and other benchmarks of quality to taxpayers who expect and deserve high performance from public universities. Come see what the future holds.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 17, 2008

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Offshore Oil: Drilling Ourselves into the Next Generation or an Environmental Catastrophe?

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Nov 25, 2008

Offshore Oil: Drilling Ourselves into the Next Generation or an Environmental Catastrophe?

Joe Sparano, President, Western States Petroleum Association
Michael Brune, CEO, Rainforest Action Network
Randall Luthi, Director, Minerals Management Service
Peter Schwartz, President, Global Business Network

Both sides of the political aisle agree: Dependence on foreign oil has become a dangerous game. They say energy independence is a must, but the best way to get there remains a big question. There has been much speculation about the effects offshore oil drilling will have on our economy and our environment. Will drilling off the U.S. coastline lower prices at the pump in the immediate future? What will the environmental impact be? Join a panel of experts to discuss both the short-term and long-term advantages and disadvantages of offshore oil drilling.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 13, 2008

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Neil Joeck, Senior Fellow, Center for Global Security Research, Lawrence Livermore National Labs. The U.S. and Pakistan: Next Steps for Troubled Friends

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Nov 25, 2008

The U.S. and Pakistan: Next Steps for Troubled Friends

Neil Joeck, Senior Fellow, Center for Global Security Research, Lawrence Livermore National Labs

Since 9/11, the U.S. and Pakistan have collaborated on regional security issues. However, the recent replacement of Pervez Musharraf by President Zardari and an impending change in the White House promise a new era of opportunities and challenges. Joeck, a leading expert on South Asian and nuclear issues who served on the White House staff, will examine the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 20, 2008

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The Electoral College and National Popular Vote: Changing the System?

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Nov 21, 2008

The Electoral College and National Popular Vote: Changing the System?

John Koza, Venture Capitalist; Founder, National Popular Vote
Dan Lowenstein, Professor of Law, UCLA
Clyde Spillenger, Professor of Law, UCLA
Doug Sovern, Political Correspondent, KCBS All News 740-AM

The Electoral College was developed by our founding fathers and enshrined in the Constitution as a system of checks and balances to ensure a fair outcome in the choosing of our presidents. However, the highly publicized 2000 presidential election results, in which Al Gore may have won the popular vote but lost the contest to George W. Bush, galvanized those who wish to see the Electoral College scrapped in favor of a national popular vote. Come hear our panel of distinguished experts discuss the merits and pitfalls of the two systems, and the wisdom of moving from a tried and true process to something new.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 24, 2008

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Philip Zimbardo, Psychologist; Author, The Lucifer Effect and The Time Paradox

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Nov 21, 2008

The Time Paradox

Philip Zimbardo, Psychologist; Author, The Lucifer Effect and The Time Paradox

What if your attitudes toward time could explain why you are chronically late, why you’re likely to fight for rainforest preservation, or why you might be predisposed to addictions? Zimbardo, renowned for his notorious 1971 Stanford Prison Experiments, will discuss how internal time perspectives determine every single one of our thoughts, feelings and actions. He even makes the case that attitudes toward time can influence national destinies.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 12, 2008

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Michael H. Shuman, Economist; Attorney; Entrepreneur; Author of The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global competition

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Michael H. Shuman,
Economist; Attorney; Entrepreneur; Author of The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global competition

The Club's Business & Leadership Member Led Forum welcomes Michael Shuman to discuss local economies and the buy-local movement.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on November 5, 2008

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Richard Kovacevich, Chairman, Wells Fargo & Company

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Nov 14, 2008

“Now and Then� with Dick Kovacevich: Leadership in a Time of Financial Crisis

Richard Kovacevich, Chairman, Wells Fargo & Company

Amidst one of the biggest crises to hit the international financial markets in modern history, Wells Fargo & Company has been an island of relative stability. Wells Fargo's chairman will discuss the evolution of banking and finance from WWII to the present and beyond in this latest installment of the "Now and Then" series. Kovacevich was the 2007 San Francisco Business Times chief executive of the year. Hear one of America's leading bankers share his thoughts on American culture, his industry and an iconic American company in this timely program.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 21, 2008

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Naomi Klein, Journalist, Syndicated Columnist; Author, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Oct 30, 2008

Disaster Capitalism

Naomi Klein, Journalist, Syndicated Columnist; Author, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

In conversation with Stephen Elliott, Author; Member, San Francisco Writers' Grotto; Former Wallace Stegner Fellow, Stanford University; Founder, The Progressive Reading Series

From the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to the unending war in Iraq, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Klein chronicles the rise of free-market policies and how they have been used to capitalize on disaster. Are the communities that have been struck by tragedy being manipulated by our current politics and economics for profitable gain? Klein challenges the ideology of the free market revolution and argues that it is not a peaceful global movement.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 16, 2008

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Frank Rich, Michael Tomasky, Thomas Powers, Martin Kettle, Bob Silvers-The Election: Experts Weigh in on the Big Issues

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Oct 28, 2008

The Election: Experts Weigh in on the Big Issues

Frank Rich, Op-ed Columnist, The New York Times; Contributor, New York Review of Books
Michael Tomasky, Editor, Guardian America; Contributor, New York Review of Books
Thomas Powers, Author, The Military Error and Intelligence Wars; Contributor, New York Review of Books
Martin Kettle, Writer, The Guardian
Bob Silvers, Co-founder and Editor, New York Review of Books - Moderator

Join some of the brightest intellectuals of our day as they break down what they see as the major issues steering this election season, and find out what they think you need to decide before you go to the polls in November. Our panel of writers and editors will also discuss what they believe are the issues the next president will need to address to move our nation forward.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 27, 2008

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America and the World: Presidential Candidate Advisors Speak on International Security

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Oct 24, 2008

America and the World: Presidential Candidate Advisors Speak on International Security

Hon. James Woolsey, Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Former Director of Central Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency (1993-1995); Advisor to Senator McCain
Michael McFaul, Deputy Director, Freeman Spogli Institute For International Studies and Professor of Political Science, Stanford University; Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Advisor to Senator Obama
Dr. Gloria C. Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club of California; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton - Moderator

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Dependence on expensive foreign oil. Challenging diplomacy with nuclear-armed countries. America's next president needs a strong vision and stronger will to tackle these formidable tasks and those that lie ahead. Which candidate is best equipped to meet these challenges? Our panel of top advisors to the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees will address each candidate's plan to improve our international security. Join us to listen and ask questions of these experts.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 14, 2008

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George Mitchell, Former U.S. Senator; Chairman, Global Board, DLA Piper

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Oct 23, 2008

Mitchell Reports

George Mitchell, Former U.S. Senator; Chairman, Global Board, DLA Piper

Moderated by Dr. Gloria C. Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club of California

Mitchell's mission is to ensure the U.S. remains a leader in brokering peace and ensuring the safety and viability of populations. As congressman, Mitchell was named most respected member six times. He helped broker peace in Northern Ireland and worked to discover a path to peace in the Middle East. Most recently, he led an investigation into the illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. He shares his thoughts on the direction our nation should be taking.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 22, 2008



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Colonel Peter Mansoor, Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq (2007-08); Chair of Military History, Ohio State University; Author, Baghdad at Sunrise

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Oct 17, 2008

Baghdad at Sunrise

Colonel Peter Mansoor, Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq (2007-08); Chair of Military History, Ohio State University; Author, Baghdad at Sunrise

Mansoor led the first Army brigade during the initial stages of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He was uniquely positioned to gain a firsthand, up-close view of what went right and what went wrong as the U.S. increased its presence in the region. His work gives us a detailed analysis of the operation and the lessons that military and political leaders should have learned.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on September 30, 2008

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Robert Reich, Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley; Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, Supercapitalism

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Oct 15, 2008

What's at Stake in the Election: Trickle-Down Versus Bottom-Up Economics

Robert Reich, Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley; Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, Supercapitalism

The state of the economy and the welfare of American jobs are pressing issues in the current election cycle. The former secretary of labor and author of multiple best sellers, Reich warns that democracy and capitalism are not fundamentally intertwined; there can be one without the other, he says. For this reason, he asserts that understanding the economic policies of the presidential hopefuls is of dire importance. Reich (who, it has been widely reported, is beginning to advise Barack Obama on economic matters) will discuss the repercussions of our economic options.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 1, 2008

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Panel: Paths to Zero-Striving Toward a Nuclear-Free World

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Mon, Oct 13, 2008

Paths to Zero: Striving Toward a Nuclear-Free World

Raymond Jeanloz, Professor of Earth and Planetary Science and of Astronomy, UC Berkeley

Sidney Drell, Professor Emeritus of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford University
Joseph Cirincione, President, Ploughshares Fund
Harold Palmer Smith Jr., Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley
Ivan Oelrich, Vice President of the Strategic Security Program, Federation of American Scientists
George Shultz, Former U.S. Secretary of State; Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution
Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club - Moderator

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) will honor Jeanloz, professor of Earth and Planetary Science and of Astronomy at UC Berkeley, with the Hans Bethe Award for his demonstration of the reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile in the presence of a moratorium on nuclear testing. Following the award presentation, hear an expert panel discussion on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the FAS project Paths to Zero.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on September 26, 2008

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California's Proposition One: Pros and Cons of High-Speed Rail

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Mon, Oct 06, 2008

Pros and Cons of High-Speed Rail

Quentin Kopp, Chairman, CA High Speed Rail Authority (Pro-Prop One)
Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (Anti-Prop One)
Norman Mineta, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation – Moderator

Plans to build a 200-mph bullet train route between San Francisco and Los Angeles will put California on the map as home to the nation’s first high-speed train. If Proposition 1A passes, will the billions spent be offset by operating revenues? Will private investment be available? Is the system a wise investment for the state?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on October 3, 2008

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The Future of Health Care: The Candidates’ Plans

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Sep 26, 2008

The Future of Health Care: The Candidates’ Plans

Daniel Kessler, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Professor, Stanford University Graduate School of Business; Health Policy Surrogate, 2008 John McCain Presidential Campaign
E. Richard Brown, Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research; Professor, UCLA School of Public Health; Health Policy Advisor, 2008 Barack Obama Presidential Campaign
Doug Sovern, Reporter, KCBS All News 740-AM - Moderator

Health care is a major issue in the current presidential campaign. Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have laid out very different visions, and each believes his plan is best for our nation’s citizenry. Come learn about each plan from the top policy advisors of each candidate, and take the opportunity to ask your own questions and get answers.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on September 16, 2008

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Dr. Dean Ornish, M.D., President and Director, Preventive Medicine Research Institute

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Sep 19, 2008

Dean Ornish, M.D., President and Director, Preventive Medicine Research Institute

Everyone has heard that diet and lifestyle have a profound, long-term impact on our health and well-being. But many people do not take the immediate steps to improve their long-term outlook. Ornish has dedicated himself to improving people’s health, by helping them better understand the choices that lead to a healthy life, through research, education of health professionals and collaboration. Come hear this leader in the field share his insights and knowledge.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on August 12, 2008

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Steve Forbes, Chairman/CEO, Forbes, Inc.; Editor-in-Chief, Forbes; Author, A New Birth of Freedom

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Sep 19, 2008

Elections and the Credit Crisis: What’s Next for the U.S. Economy

Steve Forbes, Chairman/CEO, Forbes, Inc.; Editor-in-Chief, Forbes; Author, A New Birth of Freedom

Leading economic prognosticator Forbes says the upcoming presidential election is the most critical since 1980. At that time, Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter, ushering in dramatic new policies that would set the course of this country for the next quarter-century. What course does Forbes believe the country should take to end the current credit crisis? Will he promote a flat tax, medical savings accounts and a new Social Security system as he did for his 1996 and 2000 presidential platforms? Join us as we discuss what’s next for the U.S. economy.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on August 7, 2008

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How We Eat Series: Panel-The Centralization of Our Food System

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Aug 22, 2008

The Centralization of Our Food System

Don Shaffer, President and CEO, RSF Social Science
Paul Frankel, Managing Director, Ecosa Capital
Michael Dimock, President, Roots of Change
Jeff Steen, CFO, Golden Valley Citrus
Naomi Starkman, Communications Director, Slow Food Nation - Moderator

Centralization of capital has an impact on every level of our food system, from the limited number of the crops we rely on to the limited number of corporations that process our food. Critics say that centralization hinders the creation of small alternative food businesses and for neighborhood- or city-based solutions to be developed by communities. The panel will explore how the American food system is shaped by centralization in production, consumption and economic cycles.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on August 14, 2008

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David W. Gill, Ethics Consultant; Professor, St. Mary’s College Graduate School of Business; Author, It’s About Excellence

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Aug 21, 2008

Building Ethically Healthy Organizations

David W. Gill, Ethics Consultant; Professor, St. Mary’s College Graduate School of Business; Author, It’s About Excellence

Too often, business ethics is a narrow exercise in damage control, says Gill. A looming indictment or a brand-tarnishing scandal activate the ethics folks. But this reactive approach will never be preventive. Gill argues that it’s better to proactively build ethically healthy organizations – not just for risk management but for competitive advantage and organizational excellence. He reviews his six vital components and four key processes.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on August 6, 2008

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Lawrence Lessig, Professor of Law, Stanford University Law School; Founder, Creative Commons

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Aug 15, 2008

Lawrence Lessig, Professor of Law, Stanford University Law School; Founder, Creative Commons

Is There a Solution to Corruption in the Political Process?

Just how corrupt is the U.S. political process? Is listening to money the only way to secure re-election? This year, Lessig and Joe Trippi launched the Change Congress Initiative, a movement to build support for basic reforms that would change the way our government functions. Lessig will discuss why he thinks the issue is so important and what can be done about it.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on August 13, 2008

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How We Eat Series: Panel-Eating The Right Way

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Aug 13, 2008

Eating the Right Way

Kevin Lunny, Owner, Drakes Bay Oyster Company
Jessica Prentice, Author, Full Moon Feast; Co-owner, Three Stone Hearth Community Supported Kitchen
Helene York, Director, Bon Appétit Management Company Foundation
Naomi Starkman, Communications Director, Slow Food Nation - Moderator

Consumers today have more selection and variety of healthy food choices than ever before. But with terms like organic, locally grown and sustainable becoming media buzzwords as much as important distinctions, the modern food market can be confusing. Many of us wonder what the differences are and what choices would be better for our families and the planet. Panelists will shed light on what it means to be eating the right way.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on August 6, 2008

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Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Aug 06, 2008

SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON, Ph.D., President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

YOU CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE: WHY THE U.S. NEEDS A GLOBAL ENERGY SECURITY ROADMAP

Prominent energy expert, Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., will discuss the restructuring of global energy markets now underway, and the risk of the U.S. being left behind because we lack a comprehensive global energy security roadmap. The former chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will outline her vision of the necessary components of a comprehensive U.S. energy plan that addresses both energy security goals and the linked concerns of climate change and sustainability.

Dr. Jackson says the U.S. needs an intensive focus on the problem, with leadership from the top to orchestrate participation across the board from government, corporations, universities, and individuals. She warns of a misplaced focus on "energy independence" rather than the correct goal of energy security and sustainability. Noting the importance of the energy issue in the context of the 2008 elections, she urges a national call to action, saying "global energy security is the ‘Space Race’ of this millennium."

Jackson views these issues from an unusual range of venues; as president of Rensselaer - a leading technological research university, as former chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1995-99), as co-chair of the Council on Competitiveness’s “Energy Security, Sustainability, and Innovation� initiative, as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Independent Task Force on Climate Change, and as a member of the Board of the NYSE-Euronext, Marathon Oil, FedEx, IBM, PSEG, and Medtronic. A theoretical physicist, she has held senior leadership and advisory positions in government, industry, research, and academe, with a particular focus on global energy security and the national capacity for innovation. She is “perhaps the ultimate role model for women in science in America,� according to Time Magazine.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 22, 2008

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Marwan Muasher, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Jordan; Author, The Arab Center

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Aug 01, 2008

Marwan Muasher, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Jordan; Author, The Arab Center


Finding Moderation in the Middle East

Marwan Muasher, Jordan’s first ambassador to Israel and former ambassador to the US, will discuss the viability and success of moderation in Arab politics today. Many international leaders and scholars agree that compromise and centrist policies are essential to peace and stability in the Middle East, but religious and political extremism has been growing. Muasher will assess how the middle road approach to reform is faring and explain why current tactics used by the West to deal with Islamic groups are doomed to failure. He will also discuss the importance of and the challenges facing moderates in the Arab world.


Marwan Muasher is the Senior Vice President of External Affairs for the World Bank. He recently published his first book, The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation. He served as Jordan’s first ambassador to Israel and was also ambassador to the United States, spokesperson at peace talks in Madrid and Washington, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister in charge of reform. Muasher began his career as a journalist for the Jordan Times. He then served from 1985 to 1990 at the Ministry of Planning and later as press advisor to the Prime Minister. He also served as Director for the Jordan Information Bureau in Washington, building understanding and support in Congress, the press, and civil society. Muasher holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from Purdue University.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 8, 2008

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David Akov, Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest region

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jul 30, 2008

Davvid Akov, Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest region

Consul General Akov will discuss rela-
tions between America and Israel on the
60th anniversary of the formation of the
state of Israel. He began his tour of duty
at the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco
in August 2004. A native of Israel, Akov
joined the Israeli Foreign Ministry in
1985 and was counselor for congres-
sional affairs at the Embassy of Israel in
Washington, D.C., for five years.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 25, 2008

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David Boaz, Executive Vice President, Cato Institute; Author, The Politics of Freedom

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jul 25, 2008

David Boaz,
Executive Vice President, Cato Institute; Author, The Politics of Freedom

A key figure in the libertarian movement, David Boaz will survey what he sees as the threats to freedom posed by the Bush administration and the current presidential candidates. Though he is frustrated with many of the candidates' positions, he remains optimistic about the future of civil and economic liberties. Boaz cautions that the future of freedom requires that Americans devote considerable effort to preserving and protecting these rights.


Boaz, the executive vice president of the libertarian U.S think tank, the Cato Institute, played a key role in its development. He is a frequent guest on ABC's Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, CNN's Crossfire, NPR's Talk of the Nation and All Things Considered, Fox News Channel, BBC, Voice of America, and Radio Free Europe on which he has discussed the gamut of topics from education choice to his support of drug legalization. His articles have also been published in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Review, and Slate. He is the author of Libertarianism: A Primer, the editor of The Libertarian Reader, and co-editor of the Cato Handbook for Congress (2003) and the Cato Handbook on Policy (2005). Boaz is the former editor of New Guard magazine and was executive director of the Council for a Competitive Economy prior to joining Cato in 1981. Boaz received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 9, 2008

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Lewis Schiff, CEO, Advanced Planning Group; Author, The Middle-Class Millionaire

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jul 23, 2008

LewiS Schiff, CEO, Advanced Planning Group; Author, The Middle-Class Millionaire

The Changing Face of American Wealth

Schiff reveals original research about
current American millionaires who have
earned rather than inherited their wealth.
He estimates 6 million U.S. households
have a self-made net worth over $1 mil-
lion. The research compares attitudes,
values and social contributions of the
traditional middle class to those of the
“middle-class millionaire.� Schiff also
examines the broader societal impact
this group has.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 8, 2008

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Alfred Regnery, Publisher, The American Spectator; Author, The Ascendance of American Conservatism

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jul 18, 2008

Alfred Regnery, Publisher, The American Spectator; Author, The Ascendance of American Conservatism


Upstream: The Ascendance of American Conservatism

Noted conservative and publisher, Alfred Regnery, will explain the rise of the conservative movement in the post-WWII era. Regnery will show how, in the years prior to and just following World War II, expanding government power at home and the growing Communist empire abroad inspired American conservatives to band together to fight these threats.

Regnery is President of Regnery Publishing, a right-wing publishing house founded in 1947 by his father, Henry Regnery. The company published William F. Buckley’s first book in 1951. Now, Regnery Publishing publishes works by Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, David Horowitz, Michelle Malkin, and Oliver North. The publishing company is known for publishing controversial works. Regnery is also the current publisher of The American Spectator, a conservative magazine. He is a practicing attorney and Of Counsel to the Washington law firm of Keller and Heckman.

In 1983, Regnery, appointed by Ronald Reagan, served as head of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. During this time, he also acted as the unofficial head of Ed Meese’s Commission on Pornography. Regnery also served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Land and Natural Resources Division between 1981 and 1986.

He received his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1971. Before that, he studied at Beloit College where he received his B.A. in 1965.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 2, 2008

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Mahvish Khan, Lawyer; Journalist, Author of "My Guantanamo Diary: The Detainees And The Stories They Told Me"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jul 16, 2008

Mahvish Khan-Lawyer; Journalist, Author of "My Guantanamo Diary: The Detainees And The Stories They Told Me"

Spurred by the detainment of prisoners
at Guantanamo Bay, American lawyer
Khan decided to offer help to the de-
tainees. Born to Afghan parents, she used
her language skills as a translator, and
from her time with these detainees she
has written a diary that provides insights
into the lives and families of those held
at Guantanamo.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on July 10, 2008

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Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of The U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Jul 10, 2008

Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of The U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The man who heads the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, will discuss the challenges facing his agency and facing consumers. With Congress pushing for faster approval of new medications and federal coffers shrinking, the FDA is facing tough challenges. Von Eschenbach will explain what lies ahead for the nation's premiere consumer protection and health agency and the future of consumer safety.

Von Eschenbach, M.D., was sworn in as the 20th Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on December 13, 2006. As the former Director of the National Cancer Institute (appointed in January 2002 by George W. Bush), he is a nationally recognized urologic surgeon and oncologist. He was also president-elect of the American Cancer Society at the time of his appointment to the NCI.

Prior to serving as Director of the NCI, Dr. von Eschenbach was Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he lead a faculty of more than 1,000 cancer researchers and clinicians. There, he also served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and held the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Clinical Research Distinguished Chair in Urologic Oncology. He was founding director of the Prostate Cancer Research Program at the University in 1996. He also served as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps from 1968 to 1971.

Dr. von Eschenbach, a cancer survivor himself, has been recognized by several organizations for his achievements and leadership. He has received numerous awards including the 2003 Carpe Diem Award from the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He was also chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people to shape the world in 2006.

He received his M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1967. The native Philadelphian earned a B.S. from St. Joseph’s University in 1963.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 10, 2008

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Now and Then: In conversation with Ambassador Jim Hormel

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jul 09, 2008

Now and Then: In conversation with Ambassador Jim Hormel

The inaugural program of the new Now and Then series features former Ambassador Hormel. Over the years, Ambassador Hormel has been a driving force for change, social equality and progress. He has created national and local institutions and broken down barriers by being the first openly gay U.S. ambassador. Don't miss this unique chance to hear him discuss his - and our - developments in recent history.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 25, 2008

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Scott McClellan, Former White House Press Secretary (2003-2006); Communication Strategist; Author, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House Washington's Culture of Deception

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jul 02, 2008

Scott McClellan,
Former White House Press Secretary (2003-2006); Communication Strategist; Author, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House Washington's Culture of Deception

On the heels of his testimony to the House Judiciary Committee former Bush administration insider, Scott McClellan, TELLS ALL about his experiences as White House press secretary during the first three years of the Iraq War. He will share his views on where he thinks the President and his top aides veered off course on Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, Washington’s bitter partisanship, and the last two contentious presidential campaigns. Reflecting on mistakes of the past, McClellan will look to the future and discuss the lessons Americans need to learn as they choose a new leader in the upcoming election.

McClellan served as White House Press Secretary from 2003-2006, and was a staunch defender of Bush policies during this time. In his new 2008 memoir What Happened, he strongly criticizes the Bush administration, accusing the President of "self-deception� and asserting that the administration relied on an aggressive "political propaganda campaign" instead of truth to sell the Iraq war. His book also criticizes the press for being too accepting of the President’s policy on Iraq.
As the 25th White House Press Secretary, McClellan was preceded by Ari Fleischer and succeeded by Tony Snow. He served as Bush’s traveling press secretary during the 2000 Presidential election. In addition to working as campaign manager for his mother, the Texas State Comptroller, McClellan served as the Chief of Staff to a Texas State Senator.
He received his B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on June 24, 2008

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Richard Fisher, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Jun 26, 2008

Richard Fisher, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas


Inflation and Debt: The Interaction of Fiscal and Monetary Policy

President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Richard Fisher, will give his assessment of the current economic climate at home and abroad. He will explain how central banking systems around the world have been working in overdrive in recent months to head off a global credit crisis and business slowdown. He will also expand on his years in government and discuss his concerns about the U.S. economy.


Fisher currently serves as a member of the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee, the Federal Reserve’s principle monetary policymaking group. While serving as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador, Fisher oversaw the implementation of NAFTA, negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, as well as various other agreements with Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Chile. He was also senior member of the team that negotiated the bilateral accords for both China and Taiwan's accession to the World Trade Organization. Fisher was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury during the Carter administration, working on issues related to the dollar crisis of 1978-79. Fisher is the former vice chairman of Kissinger McLarty Associates, a strategic agency firm chaired b former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.


Fisher earned his MBA from Stanford University, studied Latin American Studies at Oxford University, and received a BA in economics from Harvard.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 28, 2008

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George Lakoff, Co-founder/Sr. Fellow, Rockridge Institute; Author, The Political Mind

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jun 25, 2008

George Lakoff, Co-founder/Sr. Fellow, Rockridge Institute; Author, The Political Mind


Leading linguistic and political analyst, George Lakoff, will explain how language can be used as a critical tool in progressive politics, describing how our brains work in relation to society, why language is so important, and how Democrats can use this knowledge to their advantage to win the November elections. Lakoff believes that progressives have been fighting a losing battle in America for the last 30 years because, he says, the majority of citizens vote against their own self interests.


Lakoff is a professor of cognitive linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1972. He has published many scholarly articles and books including The Political Mind (2008) as well as the influential book, Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think (2002). Although some of his research involves questions traditionally pursued by linguists, he is best known for his ideas about the centrality of metaphor to human thinking, political behavior and society. He is particularly famous for his concept of the "embodied mind," which he has written about in relation to mathematics. In recent years he has applied his work to the realm of politics, exploring this in his books. He is the co-founder and senior fellow of the progressive think tank, the Rockridge Institute. He previously taught at Harvard University and the University of Michigan. He has been a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford and a Visiting Professor at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris (1995) and the Linguistics Society of America Summer Institute at the University of New Mexico (Summer, 1995).



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Fareed Zakaria-Editor, Newsweek International; Author, The Post American World and The Future of Freedom

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jun 20, 2008

FAREED ZAKARIA, Editor, Newsweek International; Author, The Post American World and The Future of Freedom


THRIVING IN A POST-AMERICA-CENTRIC WORLD

Editor of Newsweek International, ABC News analyst, and New York Times bestselling author, Farheed Zakaria will discuss a future where the U.S. no longer dominates the global economy, geopolitics, and culture. Rather, Zakaria will describe a growing international climate, predicting the rise of nations such as China, India, Brazil, and Russia and the development of a truly global era. Asserts Zakaria, the U.S. needs to learn to understand other nations and find a way to thrive in this rapidly shifting dynamic.


In addition to overseeing all of Newsweek’s editions abroad, Zakaria writes an international affairs column for Newsweek, which appears fortnightly in The Washington Post. He recently joined CNN to host a weekly foreign affairs show, set to air later this year. In the past, he has been a regular member of the roundtable on ABC News’ This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and hosted Foreign Exchange with Fred Zakaria on PBS. The award winning journalist has written several books, and penned numerous pieces for The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New Republic, The New York Times, and the webzine Slate. In 1999, he was named “one of the 21 most important people of the 21st Century� by Esquire Magazine.


Zakaria has taught international relations and political philosophy at Harvard, Columbia, and Case Western University. He received a Ph.D. from Harvard and a B.A. from Yale.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 27, 2008

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Mary Tillman, Author, Boots on the Ground by Dusk: The Life & Death of Pat Tillman

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jun 18, 2008

MARY TILLMAN, Author, Boots on the Ground by Dusk: The Life & Death of Pat Tillman



The Integrity of Truth

Mary Tillman, the mother of fallen solider Pat Tillman, NFL football star and summa cum laude graduate of Arizona State will chronicle her family’s harrowing journey through the maze of bureaucracy, red tape and cover-ups to learn the true circumstances of Pat’s death. She will also recount memories of him as a loving son, brother, husband, friend and teammate.


Mary Tillman has brought international attention to the war and its consequences after the horrifying discovery her son had died mysteriously while fighting in Afghanistan. He decided to enlist after the September 11th attacks and was killed in Afghanistan when he was shot multiple times by his comrades. The Tillmans believe partly because of the timing of Pat’s death, a week after the Abu Ghraib abuses became public, the army told them and the nation he had been shot by enemy fire. The army later told the family he was shot by “friendly-fire� but military investigations have given differing and incomplete reports. Tillman told the Washington Post, “This lie was to cover their image. I think there's a lot more yet that we don't even know, or they wouldn't still be covering their tails� (May 23, 2005). She and her family have accused the Army of lying to the country about her son’s death to create more patriotic sentiment.


Mary Tillman is a San Jose resident and teacher at a public junior high school. She recently co-authored Boots on the Ground By Dusk: The Life and Death of Pat Tillman with Narda Zacchino.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 18, 2008

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Arianna Huffington; Co-founder and Editor in Chief, The Huffington Post; Author, Right is Wrong

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jun 13, 2008

Arianna Huffington; Co-founder and Editor in Chief, The Huffington Post; Author, Right is Wrong


Right is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution and Made Us All Less Safe

Nationally recognized commentator and Huffington Post Editor in Chief Arianna Huffington will address issues crucial to this year’s presidential election. According to Huffington, the problem with the Republican Party is not that it is at odds with the views of progressives, but that its "lunatic fringe" has taken over the party and is at odds with the views of the American people. By significant majorities, Huffington asserts that Americans believe in the science of evolution, don't want Roe v. Wade overturned and don't want to ignore global warming. Moreover, they do want good health care for their children and do want to bring the troops home from Iraq. "Flashing back to the Reagan era is one thing," says Huffington, "but flashing back to the Dark Ages is quite another."


Since 1996 Huffington has penned her nationally syndicated on-line column focusing on key social, economic, and environmental issues, and is the co-host of NPR’s Left, Right, and Center, a political roundtable program. The former Republican has evolved into what she calls "a compassionate and progressive populist." Huffington is the bestselling author of twelve books on topics ranging from the changing roles of women, to the power of myths as guides, to forgotten dimensions of life and ourselves. In 2006, she was named one of the world’s one hundred most influential people by Time magazine, in addition to being dubbed one of Washington's most influential commentators by Newsweek and People magazine. Originally from Greece, Huffington received her M.A. in economics from Cambridge University.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 19, 2008

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Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow,Hoover Institution; Professor, Centeron Democracy, Development and theRule of Law, Stanford University

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jun 11, 2008

The Spirit of Democracy


Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Professor, Center
on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, Stanford University


In 1974, nearly three-quarters of all countries
were dictatorships; today, more than
half are democracies. Diamond contends,
however, that recent efforts to promote
democracy have stumbled and that many
democratic governments are faltering. He
explains that the desire for democracy
runs deep, even in very poor countries,
and proposes that even entrenched regimes
like Iran and China could become
democracies within a generation.
Produced by The Club's International Relations Memeber-Led Forum

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 7, 2008

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Panel: Conscious Capitalism, Part Two: Resolving the Conflict BetweenConsumerism and Progressive Innovation

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jun 11, 2008

Steve Diller, Partner, Cheskin; Co-author, Making Meaning: How Successful
Businesses Deliver Meaningful Customer Experiences

Nancy Dickenson, Senior Director of User Experience Design, eBay
Eric Ryan, Co-founder, Method

Nathan Shedroff, Program Chair, MBA in Design Strategy Program, California
College of the Arts

Join us for a further exploration of themes and questions raised in the sold-out earlier
program. A panel of leaders in business, design and innovation will debate why a deeper
understanding of human nature needs to be central to a 21st-century business strategy
– challenging the audience to assess their own consumerist tendencies.


Produced by the Busines & Leadership Member Led Forum

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 13, 2008

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Harry Reid, U.S. Senator (D-NV); Senate Majority Leader; Author, The Good Fight

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Jun 06, 2008


HARRY REID, U.S. Senator (D-NV); Senate Majority Leader; Author, The Good Fight

The Good Fight

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will no doubt offer his take on the current race for the U.S. Presidential seat. He will also discuss where he finds the resolve and ideals that power his political career and how he journeyed from a childhood of deep poverty in the tiny mining town of Searchlight, Nevada to his current place in Washington, D.C.


Reid, who was voted unanimously to represent the Democrats as Senate Leader in 2004, has led during a time of clashing ideologies. Known for his ability to bring together Republicans and Democrats in passing legislation, he was instrumental in orchestrating the Energy Bill, which promises to create new fuel economy standards for the first time in 30 years and increase production of biofuel. In 1998 Reid was re-elected to a third Senate term and was chosen as the Democratic “Whip�. As Nevada Senator he created the state’s only National Park, passed legislation to develop solar and alternative energy, and expanded health insurance to residents.

In 1967 Reid became a member of the Nevada State Assembly and then became lieutenant governor. He has also served as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission where he received multiple death threats and helped police stop high level bribery.


A son of Mormon parents who didn’t graduate high school, Reid is a graduate of Southern Utah State College, Utah State University and George Washington School of Law. While studying law, he worked as a U.S. Capitol police officer to support his family.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 29, 2008

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Hearing Miniseries #3: Dr. Rodney Perkins-M.D., Doctor of Otolaryngology, The Future of Hearing: A Sound Investment

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jun 04, 2008

The third in a series of 3 programs produced by The Commonwealth Club's Member-Led-Forums on the subject of Hearing & Speech, as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month in May 2008.

Dr. Rodney Perkins
M.D., Doctor of Otolaryngology, The Future of Hearing: A Sound Investment

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 28, 2008

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Hearing Miniseries #2: Dr. Lawrence Lustig-M.D., Division Chief of Otology, Nuerotology and Skull Base Surgery, UCSF, Cochlear Implants: Where Are We in 2008?

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jun 04, 2008

The second in a series of 3 programs produced by The Commonwealth Club's Member-Led-Forums on the subject of Hearing & Speech, as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month in May 2008.

Dr. Lawrence Lustig


M.D., Division Chief of Otology, Nuerotology and Skull Base Surgery, UCSF, Cochlear Implants: Where Are We in 2008?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 22, 2008

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Hearing Miniseries #1: Dr. Robert Sweetow-Ph.D., Director of Audiology, UCSF, How Hearing and the Brain Changes with Aging

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jun 04, 2008

The first in a series of 3 programs produced by The Commonwealth Club's Member-Led-Forums on the subject of Hearing & Speech, as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month in May 2008.

Dr. Robert W. Sweetow


Ph.D., Director of Audiology, UCSF, How Hearing and the Brain Changes with Aging

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 15, 2008

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Michael Eric Dyson-Author; Professor

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, May 30, 2008

Michael Eric Dyson, Author; Professor


APRIL 4, 1968. THE LEGACY OF MLK, Jr.

Radio personality and regular commentator on NPR, CNN, and the HBO program “Real Time with Bill Maher,� Professor Michael Eric Dyson – the man who challenged actor Bill Cosby for his attack on poor blacks – will examine the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and its impact on the past, present, and future of the country. Drawing on arguments presented in his book April 4, 1968, the best-selling author will discuss how Martin Luther King Jr. sacrificed his life 40 years ago for the sake of unity in an otherwise volatile environment. Reflecting on the progress of the last four decades, Dyson will address the merits and flaws of black leadership since King, from Jesse Jackson to Barack Obama.


Dyson is widely considered a role model and patriarch in the African American community – having grown up as a welfare recipient, he is now a professor at the prestigious Georgetown University. Known for framing the debate on race, he has coined the words "Afristocracy" and "ghettocracy,� culturally prevalent terms used to describe the separation of middle-class and low-income black Americans. Dyson is also one of the world's leading scholars on hip-hop music, its roots in African and African-American cultures, and its influence on American popular culture.


Dyson teaches Theology, English, and African American Studies at Georgetown University, where he is University Professor, the highest of faculty positions at Georgetown. He is the author of many books, including Why I Love Black Women; The True Martin Luther King, Jr.; Race Rules: Navigating the Color Line; Between God and Gangsta Rap; and Is Bill Cosby Right? He is also an ordained Baptist minister and holds a Ph.D. in Religion from Princeton University.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 29, 2008

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Marcus Conant-Physician; Medical Director, Presidio Pharmaceuticals; Chairman, The Conant Foundation

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, May 29, 2008

Marcus Conant


Physician; Medical Director, Presidio Pharmaceuticals; Chairman, The Conant Foundation


Why has AIDS not exploded in the heterosexual community during the last 25 years? What should we expect of AIDS rates among heterosexuals in the future? Since before AIDS had a name, Conant has been a leading clinician, researcher and advocate in this field. Come listen to this important discussion that could save your life or that of a loved one.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 31, 2008

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Janet Napolitano-Governor (D), Arizona

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, May 23, 2008

JANET NAPOLITANO,

Governor (D), Arizona

Immigration: Where Do We Go from Here?


Innovative Arizona Governor Napolitano was chosen by Time as one of America’s “Top Five Governors.� She is considered by many as a national leader in addressing the issue of illegal immigration and was the first governor to call for the National Guard at the border at federal expense. Napolitano previously served as Arizona’s first female attorney general and recently concluded her term as the first woman to chair the National Governors Association. A graduate of Santa Clara University, Napolitano returns to her alma mater to discuss the issues of ethics and immigration.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in our San Jose office on April 24, 2008

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Willie Brown, Former Mayor of San Francisco, author of Basic Brown: My Life and Our Times

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/INFORUM
Wed, May 14, 2008

WILLIE BROWN,
Former Mayor of San Francisco, author of Basic Brown: My Life and Our Times

Brown left an indelible mark in an assortment of political issues, ranging from civil rights to international trade. While mayor, he overhauled Muni and redeveloped the Embarcadero, among other accomplishments. And he was sought for advice from such prominent figures as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Brown served in the California State Assembly from 1964 to 1995, becoming the state’s first African-American speaker in 1980. He held the position for an unprecedented fifteen years, and was eventually termed out of office. In 1995, Brown left the State Assembly to run for Mayor of San Francisco against incumbent Frank Jordan. He was elected in a landslide and served from 1996 until 2004.


Since leaving office, Brown co-hosted a morning radio show with comedian Will Durst and produced a weekly podcast. Brown, whose dramatic style helped fuel an acting career, first appeared on the big screen as a politician in “The Godfather Part III � in 1990. Brown has also played himself in “George of the Jungle,� “The Parent Trap,� “The Wedding Planner,� “The Princess Diaries,� and “Hulk,� amongst others.


Brown earned a bachelor's degree in political science from San Francisco State University and a J.D. from Hastings College of the Law. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on May 7, 2008

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Adam Werbach, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi S

Author: Commonwealth Club of California/INFORUM
Fri, May 09, 2008

ADAM WERBACH

CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi


A lot has happened since Adam Werbach declared environmentalism dead in a speech to The Commonwealth Club three years ago. In 2007, Werbach's sustainability agency Act Now helped Wal-Mart engage its 1.3 million employees in one of the largest grassroots sustainability movements to date - the Personal Sustainability Project. In January 2008, Act Now was acquired by Saatchi & Saatchi, a hothouse for world-changing ideas with over 7,000 employees in 84 countries. Together they aim to become the sustainability agency of record for the world's leading corporations. Their purpose: help companies grow their businesses and preserve the planet through strategy, product and supply-chain innovation, workforce engagement and marketing. The mission: create a consumer revolution for social change.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 10, 2008

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Alexandra Harney, Former China Correspondent, Financial Times

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, May 07, 2008

The China Price: The True Cost of the Chinese Competitive Advantage


Alexandra Harney, Former China Correspondent, Financial Times


Harney, an acclaimed journalist and former correspondent for the Financial Times, will discuss her landmark expose of how China’s factory economy competes for Western business by selling out its workers, its future and the environment, creating a gold-rush atmosphere in the process, in which everyone is clamoring to get rich. Rampant corruption and under-funded regulatory mechanisms offer little accountability. She will tell the personal stories of its workers, including a look at how China’s economy has sparked the largest mass migration in human history

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 17, 2008

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Jeffrey Sachs-Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University; Author, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Mon, May 05, 2008

JEFFREY SACHS


Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University; Author, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet


Due to the growing realities of a crowded planet, Sachs believes our global economic system is in distress and discusses the need for a new economic paradigm, one that is global, inclusive, cooperative and environmentally conscious. Named by Time as one of the 100 most influential leaders in the world, Sachs has been a leading voice for economic development, environmental sustainability and poverty alleviation. He currently serves as a special advisor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and was the director of the UN Millennium Project and special advisor to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 9, 2008

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Richard Carmona-M.D.; 17th U.S. Surgeon General (2002-2006); Vice Chairman, Canyon Ranch; President, Canyon Ranch Institute

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Mon, May 05, 2008

RICHARD CARMONA

M.D.; 17th U.S. Surgeon General (2002-2006); Vice Chairman, Canyon Ranch; President, Canyon Ranch Institute

In conversation with Robert Mahley, M.D., Ph.D.; President, UCSF J. David Gladstone Institutes


Carmona describes the current health crisis as preventable and reversible. He notes that chronic disease accounts for 7 in 10 deaths and 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care in the United States. As 17th U.S. surgeon general, Carmona worked to revise the nation's approach to health by emphasizing the importance of increasing prevention, eliminating health disparities and improving health literacy. Carmona's rise to being "doctor of the nation" is particularly remarkable because of his disadvantaged childhood. He was homeless at age 6 and a high-school dropout at 17

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 2, 2008

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Joseph Nye-Professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Author, The Powers to Lead

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Apr 18, 2008

The Powers to Lead


JOSEPH S. NYE JR., Professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Author, The Powers to Lead


What characteristics must a leader possess to be successful in the 21st century? A prolific author, Rhodes scholar and one of America’s premier political scientists, Nye argues that leaders must combine the “hard power� of authority with the “soft power� of persuasion, thereby creating “smart power.� Nye’s analyses and strategies apply to leaders of all stations, from the world of small business to the international arena.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 28, 2008

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Richard Price-Author of Lush Life and the novels Clockers and Freedomland and a writer of the hit TV show "The Wire"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Apr 16, 2008

Richard Price


Author, Lush Life


The author of the blockbuster novels Clockers and Freedomland and a writer of the hit TV show "The Wire," Price now brings us another amazing tale set in New York, taking a closer look at the gentrification of that city. In addition to his many novels, Price has written critically acclaimed screenplays, such as “The Color of Money,� and is the recipient of a 2007 Edgar Award

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 27, 2008

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George Shultz & William Perry-Former Secretaries of State & Defense

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Apr 11, 2008

GEORGE SHULTZ & WILLIAM PERRY


George Shultz, Former U.S. Secretary of State; Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution

William Perry, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense; Senior Fellow, The Hoover Institution


A bipartisan team of George Schultz and William Perry discuss the spread of nuclear weapons and offer up a once-radical alternative: a world without nukes. The accelerated spread of nuclear weapons, nuclear know-how and nuclear material has brought us to a nuclear tipping point. Many people increasingly fear that the most destructive weapons ever created could fall into the hands of extremists or terrorists. Schultz, secretary of state under President Reagan, and Perry, secretary of defense under President Clinton, examine the world's ability to control the spread of these WMDs.
Hear two leading political and military strategists share their views on the potential for a nuclear catastrophe and discuss the possible elimination of these weapons

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on April 2, 2008

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Panel: Are Pesticides Poisoning Our Children's Future?

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Apr 09, 2008

Are Pesticides Poisoning Our Children's Future?


Donique Brumley, Activist; Arizona Resident

Tyrone Hayes, Ph.D., Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley

Susan Kegley, Ph.D., Pesticide Action Network North America, San Francisco

Gina Solomon, M.D., Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco


There is mounting evidence that man-made chemicals, notably pesticides, are accumulating in our environment, and that these chemicals may be far from benign Hear from a distinguished panel of experts about the nature and magnitude of the potential harm and what we can do about it.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 18, 2008

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Michael Mukasey-U.S. Attorney General

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Apr 04, 2008

Michael Mukasey

U.S. Attorney General


The new U.S. attorney General, Michael B. Mukasey, explains his priorities for the remainder of the Bush administration: addressing public corruption and public confidence in government. Mukasey took over leadership of the Department of Justice after a time of great turmoil and controversy. Coming in with support from both sides of the aisle, Mukasey has made it a priority to address issues of public corruption and the integrity of our government institutions. The Bush administration's legal point person addresses this and other hot topics.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 27, 2008

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William H. Overholt, Director, Rand Center for Asia-Pacific Policy

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Apr 02, 2008

The World Shifts East: What it Means for the United States

William H. Overholt, Director, Rand Center for Asia-Pacific Policy; Author, Asia, America and the Transformation of Geopolitics

Robert Scalapino, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, University of California at Berkeley - Moderator

Overholt argues that our relationships with Asian countries are based upon obsolete Cold War attitudes. Zbigniew Brzezinski describes Overholt’s new book as “a sweeping tour d’horizon of Asia’s profoundly changing geopolitical landscape, presented with zest and bold judgments.�

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 19, 2008

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Panel: Microwave Radiation-Shadow Side of the Wireless Revolution?

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Apr 02, 2008

Shadow Side of the Wireless Revolution

Cindy Sage, Co-facilitator, Collaborative for Health and the Environment

David Carpenter, M.D., Professor of Environmental Health Sciences; Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment, School of Public Health, University of Albany

Magda Havas, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent University

Camilla Rees, CEO, Wide Angle Health


The European Environmental Agency has called for immediate action to reduce exposure to radiation from Wi-Fi, mobile telephones and their masts, believing that delay could lead to a health crisis on par with the health side-effects of asbestos, lead poisoning and smoking. Despite this, cities in the United States and around the world are attempting to go “all wireless.� This panel of leading experts will discuss what is known about the biological effects of microwave radiation and its possible links with various illnesses.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on

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Dee Dee Myers, Former Press Secretary; Author, Why Women Should Run the World

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Why Women Should Run the World

Dee Dee Myers, Former Press Secretary; Author, Why Women Should Run the World

Hear Myers' fresh take on the achievements that women have made in all aspects of public life. At the age of 31, Myers was appointed as White House press secretary under Clinton. She holds the distinction of being the first woman and second-youngest person to occupy the position. Myers highlights the difficulties women faced throughout history as well as their collective battle to achieve a presence in areas once denied to them.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 6, 2008

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Joseph Stiglitz & Linda Bilmes-Authors of "The Three Trillion Dollar War"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Mar 21, 2008

JOSEPH STIGLITZ & LINDA BILMES


Globalization and The Three Trillion Dollar War


Joseph Stiglitz, Professor/Global Thought Committee Chair, Columbia University; Author, Making Globalization Work

Linda Bilmes, Finance Professor, Harvard's Kennedy School of Government; Author, Making Globalization Work



Nobel Prize-winner Joseph Stiglitz and budget expert Linda Bilmes discuss the economic impact of the war in Iraq. They discuss the actual costs of the war so far and compare it to the pre-war estimate submitted by the Bush administration. They examine the hidden and unforeseen costs of the war and the often-hidden methods of the funding process itself. “This war is totally financed by deficits, by borrowing,� say Stiglitz. He adds, “This is the first war since the Revolutionary War where we’ve had to turn to foreigners to finance our adventure.� Stilglitz and Bilmes examine the details of deficits, tax cuts, and wartime spending, and look at how U.S. foreign policy affects the economy.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 4, 2008

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Frank Wu, Co-chair, Chinese American Attitudes Survey; Dean, Wayne State University Law School

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Mar 19, 2008

Frank Wu, Co-chair, Chinese American Attitudes Survey; Dean, Wayne State University Law School


The Committee of 100 seeks to strengthen the ties between the U.S. and China. Its survey project tracks the shift in attitudes among Americans toward China. This year’s survey is unprecedented – a large-scale parallel polling of both Americans and Chinese about their opinions toward each other. Wu will explore the results and discuss the evolving relationship between these two world powers.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience on March 6, 2008

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Alphonso Jackson, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Mar 14, 2008

ALPHONSO JACKSON, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Building a Foundation for the Future

With more than 25 years of direct private and public-sector experience under his belt, HUD head Jackson will discuss the ongoing housing crisis and the current efforts to help families keep their homes. He will delve into how to stop predatory lending and explain how homeownership can still be a safe and affordable endeavor for every hard-working American. In January of this year, Jackson met with civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson to discuss solutions to the home foreclosure crisis as hundreds rallied in Washington, D.C.

Jackson was unanimously confirmed President Bush’s HUD Secretary by the U.S. Senate in March 2004. Prior to that, he worked as HUD's Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer. A longtime friend of President Bush, Jackson has counseled the President since his days as governor of Texas. He was in charge of the Dallas branch of the Texas Housing Authority until 1996. Before that, Jackson served as President of American Electric Power-TEXAS, a $13 billion utility company located in Austin. From January 1989 until July 1996, Secretary Jackson was President and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Dallas, Texas, which was considered one of the best-managed large-city housing agencies in the country.

Secretary Jackson also was Director of the Department of Public and Assisted Housing in Washington, D.C., and has served as Chairperson for the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency Board from January 1989 until July 1996. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science (1968) and a master's degree in education administration (1969) from Northeast Missouri State University now Truman State University and a J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 1973.

This program was recorded live on March 4, 2008

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Shelley Lapkoff, Ph.D., Demographer

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Mar 12, 2008

The Surprising History of the Pledge of Allegiance


Shelley Lapkoff, Ph.D., Demographer


We memorize it at an early age and repeat it at public gatherings, but few know the real story behind the Pledge of Allegiance. In this national election year, when words and phrases like “patriotism� and “under God� invoke heated discussion, Lapkoff provides an intriguing and insightful glimpse of our broader social, economic and political history through the lens of this enshrined collective oath.

This program was recorded live on February 27, 2008

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Panel: Climate Change After Bali

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Mar 11, 2008

Climate Change After Bali

Ambassador Reno L. Harnish III, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Diana Farrell, Director, McKinsey Global Institute
Ken Caldeira, Scientist, Carnegie Institution Department of Global Ecology
Greg Dalton, Commonwealth Club Vice President, Director of The Club's Climate 1 Initiative, Moderator

After a dramatic 11th-hour compromise, the recent climate talks in Bali ended with a global consensus on a roadmap for reducing carbon emissions. Now what happens? Hear insights on the Bali conference and discuss what lies ahead. Many tough issues are on the table, including which countries should reduce carbon emissions the most and how much they should rely on market forces or government regulation. Corporations are naturally wondering how much this is all going to cost, but the bite might not be as bad as some fear. For example, a new McKinsey & Co. study concludes that if carbon emissions are priced at $50 a ton, nearly half of abatement efforts would save money over their lifecycle.

This program was recorded live on February 7, 2008

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Thomas Fingar, Deputy Director, National Intelligence (Analysis), Chairman, National Intelligence Council

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 29, 2008

Thomas Fingar, Deputy Director, National Intelligence (Analysis), Chairman, National Intelligence Council

The debate over how to deal with Iran received a jolt late last year when the U.S. government’s intelligence report concluded that Iran ended its nuclear weapons program four years ago. Don’t miss this chance to hear from the intelligence expert who is the principal author of the report that “rewrote the book� on Iran.

This program was recorded live on February 14, 2008

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Frances Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Feb 26, 2008

Frances Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Partnership for the Earth

For nearly forty years, the Natural Resources Defense Council has
provided outstanding environmental leadership in the development of
sound public policies and programs. Beinecke will outline the new
"Partnership for the Earth" plan, NRDC's answer to the question, "What
will it take to ensure a sustainable future for life on earth?" Learn
about NRDC's vision of what can be done to preserve our future.

This program was recorded live on February 25, 2008

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Tom Campbell, Dean of the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley and Former Congressman (R-CA)

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 22, 2008

Tom Campbell, Dean of the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley and Former Congressman (R-CA)

Former Congressman and Dean of Haas Business School, Tom Campbell, will outline what is essential to know about our economy as we enter the New Year with a wobbly stock market and a real estate crisis. Campbell will help us navigate uncertain economic waters in this 2008 annual forecast. Campbell, who became Dean of the Haas Business School at U.C. Berkeley as a wave of corporate fraud was sweeping the nation, will also address issues of business ethics and corporate social responsibility.


Before coming to the Haas Business School, Campbell served five non-consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican. He was the youngest professor ever to be awarded tenure at Stanford University when he became a professor of law there in 1983. His public service also includes Director of the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission and White House Fellow to the White House counsel. Campbell earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago, where he also received his B.A. and M.A. He received a J.D. from Harvard University.

This program was recorded live on January 30, 2008

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Deborah Rodriguez, Director, Kabul Beauty School; Author, Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Feb 20, 2008

Deborah Rodriguez, Director, Kabul Beauty School; Author, Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil

In conversation with KCBS news reporter Jane McMillan, former hairdresser turned author, Deborah Rodriguez, will describe her journey shortly after the fall of the Taliban in 2001 in Afghanistan. As part of a group offering humanitarian aid to this war-torn nation, and amidst professional doctors, nurses and therapists, Rodriguez was surprised to discover that her skills and talents as a hairstylist were also sorely needed, and, in fact, in great demand, by both Westerners and Afghan women. With the help of corporate and international sponsors, in spite of language barriers and extreme cultural differences, she launched her Kabul Beauty School and taught her students to become their families’ breadwinners by learning the fundamentals of cosmetology.


A mother of two, Rodriguez has been a hairdresser since 1979 in her hometown of Holland, Michigan. She has directed the Kabul Beauty School, the first modern beauty academy and training salon in Afghanistan. Although she has lived in Kabul, she currently lives with her Afghan husband in the Bay Area

This program was recorded live on February 7, 2008

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Madeleine Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State; Chair and Principal, Albright Capital Management; Author, Memo to the President Elect

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Thu, Feb 14, 2008

Madeleine Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State; Chair and Principal, Albright Capital Management; Author, Memo to the President Elect

Memo to the President Elect

Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, will discuss the necessary steps our next president should take in order to rebuild our standing in the world and ensure a strong and secure future for our nation.

Albright currently heads The Albright Group LLC, a global strategy firm, which she founded in June, 2001. She is also the Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, the first Distinguished Scholar of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan Business School, and serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Stock Exchange.

As part of President Clinton’s foreign policy team for eight years, Albright’s accomplishments also include: the expansion and modernization of NATO and NATO's successful campaign to end ethnic cleansing in Kosovo; the promotion of peace in the Balkans; the reduction of nuclear dangers from Russia; the expansion of democracy in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America; the expansion of our relationship with China, including trade as well as human rights; and the growth of trade in the Americas and in Africa through the African Growth Opportunity Act.

A native to Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, Albright immigrated to America in 1948 where she received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her Masters and Doctorate Degrees from Columbia University.

This program was recorded live on January 24, 2008

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Gayle Pergamit, CEO and Founder, Agua Via

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Feb 13, 2008

Gayle Pergamit, CEO and Founder, Agua Via

Technology Solution for Fresh Water?

One of the biggest problems in the developing world is access to clean water for drinking and cooking. Water scarcity creates enormous human and economic costs in the developing world. Half of the projects to improve clean water in the developing world fail, mostly because of political, cultural, logistical, and educational barriers. Come to hear a pioneer in nanotechnology tell us about the potential technologies for purifying water including one that may have the potential to overcome these barriers.

This program was recorded live on January 9, 2008

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Ben Stein, Attorney, Professor, Author, Actor

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 08, 2008

BEN STEIN, Attorney, Professor, Author, Actor

HOW TO NOT RUIN YOUR LIFE

As someone who is more than just a celebrity, Ben Stein will offer his insights on the financial, political and social issues facing the world today. Mainly known for his deadpan delivery in the 1986 comedic classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and his offbeat, Emmy award-winning trivia TV show, "Win Ben Stein's Money," Stein is also an author with vast political knowledge dating back to his days as a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon.

Stein’s celebrity life includes appearances in several TV shows, including “The Wonder Years,� “Seinfeld� and “Full House.� He currently hosts VH1’s “America’s Most Smartest Model,� a lighthearted competition show that determines the smartest among a group of photogenic contestants.

Stein’s writings have mostly revolved around politics, economics and personal finance. His writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Barron’s Magazine, and The American Spectator. He is the author of more than a dozen books, with his latest entitled “The Real Stars: In Today’s America, Who Are the True Heroes?�

Stein is mainly politically conservative and an outspoken pro-life advocate. In 2003, he received the Pro-Life Award by the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund.

Stein, who was born in Washington D.C., worked as a lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission before working for Nixon, and later, President Gerald Ford. He is a Yale Law School graduate and was a professor at UC Santa Cruz and Pepperdine University.

This program was recorded live on January 24, 2008

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Dr. Steven West, Phd Near East Cultures and Languages , Fullbright Scholar to Turkey, BA in Gov't

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Feb 06, 2008

Dr. Steven West,
Phd Near East Cultures and Languages , Fullbright Scholar to Turkey, BA in Gov't

Islam: Towards A New Understanding

Despite 9/11, Dr. West proposes that the fundamental struggle is between
factions within Islam, and not with America. And, for the sake of world
safety, it is urgent that the 3 great Semitic religions reach
understanding and inclusiveness.

This program was recorded live on January 10, 2008

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Panel Discussion: Reflections on Ken Burns' "The War"

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Feb 01, 2008

PANEL:

LYNN NOVICK, Co-Director, The War

SASCHA WEINZHEIMER, Sacramento Witness

DAVID KENNEDY, Professor of History, Stanford University

BURNETT MILLER, Sacramento Witness; Participant; World War II Veteran

REFLECTIONS ON KEN BURNS’ “THE WAR�

Participants of the critically acclaimed documentary “The War,� including the co-director Lynn Novick, will discuss the making of the Word War II film and the stories that comprise the seven-episode series. The film, which took six years to make, looks at four towns—Mobile, Sacramento, Waterbury, Conn. and Luverne, Minn.—and interviews more than 40 men and women who recall how the war impacted these places.

The 15-hour documentary is considered the latest masterpiece of accomplished documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, whose credentials include “The Civil War,� “Baseball,� and “Jazz.� For “The War,� Burns joined Lynn Novick in directing it; Novick is a former researcher and associate producer for PBS’s Bill Moyers. Novick also co-directed with Burns the two-part documentary “Frank Lloyd Wright� and was a producer of “Baseball,� for which she won an Emmy Award.


David Kennedy is the Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History at Stanford University. He is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and a fellow at the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences. Sascha Weinzheimer and Burnett Miller, a World War II veteran, both were interviewed for “The War� from Sacramento’s perspective.

This program was recorded live on January 10, 2008

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Muhammad Yunus, Economist, Founder of Grameen Bank, Winner of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Author, Creating a World Without Poverty

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Mon, Jan 28, 2008

Muhammad Yunus, Economist, Founder of Grameen Bank, Winner of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Author, Creating a World Without Poverty

Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus will bring us the story of his success in the field of “microcredit.� His brainchild, the Grameen Bank, provides small loans to entrepreneurs too poor to apply for traditional loans with large interest rates. Since its founding in 1983, the Grameen Bank (Bengali for “Village Bank�) has helped millions of poor borrowers in Yunus’s native Bangladesh jumpstart their careers and escape from poverty. The bank operates through 1,084 branches today, with 94% of its loans going to women, and 98% of its loans paid back (the highest repayment rate of any banking system).


Yunus jointly received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize with his organization, Grameen Bank. He has been honored with numerous awards and citations for his work in ending poverty, ranging from the World Food Prize, to the King Abdul Aziz medal from King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, as well as 26 honorary doctorate degrees.


In 1969, Yunus received his Ph.D. in economics from Vanderbilt University, having previously studied at Dhaka University in Bangladesh. He joined the faculty of Chittagong University as the head of the Economics department and subsequently became involved in poverty reduction during the Bangladesh famine of 1974.


This program is part of the The Club’s new “A-ha! Series,� co-sponsored by global law firm Orrick, inviting leading thinkers from a broad spectrum of disciplines to share their knowledge and ideas and offer insights into tomorrow.

This program was recorded live on January 17, 2008

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Paula Kerger, President and CEO, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Tue, Jan 22, 2008

SPEAKER: Paula Kerger, President and CEO, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)


TITLE: CAN PBS SURVIVE IN A YOUTUBE WORLD?


What is public television's role in a YouTube world? How are Big Bird and Bill Moyers surviving in a crowded, yet increasingly consolidated, media landscape? What are the challenges of running a public service broadcasting company amidst sweeping change in both the media and philanthropic world, especially in light of periodic budget cut threats from Capitol Hill?
The CEO of PBS Paula Kerger will discuss her efforts to preserve and develop public television’s relevance as the virtual world of the Internet proliferates.


Kerger was already a veteran public television executive at the time of her appointment as president and CEO of PBS in 2006. She has served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the New York-based Educational Broadcasting Corporation, as well as vice president and station manager of Thirteen/WNET, two of the nation's largest public television stations. At WNET, she oversaw local program acquisition, broadcast scheduling, communications, and on-air promotion. She also directed the launch of four digital offshoot channels: ThirteenHD, Kids Thirteen, World and Create. The latter, launched in January 2006, is public television's first 24-hour lifestyle channel. Kerger is also an experienced and successful fundraiser. Most notably, she led the Campaign for Thirteen, a four-year effort which raised $79 million for WNET and became the largest endowment campaign ever undertaken by a public television station.


Previously, Kerger held management positions at the Metropolitan Opera and the U.S. Committee for UNICEF. She is a director of the PBS Foundation, an independent organization that raises private sector funding for PBS. In 2005, she was named to the Women's Forum, an organization of 300 prominent women in New York's arts and business arenas. Kerger received her bachelor's degree from University of Baltimore. She and her husband live in Washington D.C.

This program was recorded live on January 14, 2008

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Reconstructing Health Care Panel

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jan 09, 2008

Reconstructing Health Care Panel

E. RICHARD BROWN, Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
ANTHONY WRIGHT, Executive Director, Health Access California
JOHN KABATECK, Executive Director, National Federation of Independent Business
ARNOLD RELMAN, Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Former Editor, New England Journal of Medicine
JOHN DIAZ, Editorial Page Editor for the San Francisco Chronicle

This panel of experts will review lessons learned in other states about healthcare and the best way to address the issues of fair access, cost and quality here in California. They will also examine the pros, cons, benefits and pitfalls of Universal Coverage. Governor Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers are continuing to navigate their way through proposals in an effort to find the plan that works best for the public without bankrupting the Golden State.

Brown has studied the gamut of issues that affect the access of disadvantaged populations, ethnic minorities and immigrants to health care. His research focuses the effects of public policies, managed care, and market conditions on access to health services. Wright heads Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition working on behalf of the insured and uninsured. The organization is made up of over 200 organizations representing seniors, children, working families, people with disabilities, immigrants, people of faith, labor, and communities of color. Kabateck directs The National Federation of Independent Business, a nonpartisan group that helps small and independent business owners shape public policy. Relman, a former professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has written extensively on the economic, ethical, legal, and social aspects of health care for over two decades. He has focused on the present unhappy condition of the U. S. health care system, with particular attention to the role of private enterprise.

This program was recorded live on September 26, 2007

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Mike Gravel-2008 Democratic Presidential Candidate

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Jan 09, 2008

SPEAKER: Mike Gravel: 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidate


TITLE: Get To Know Mike Gravel

2008 Democratic presidential candidate and former United States Senator from Alaska, Mike Gravel, will lay out his plans for becoming the “Man for America.� From his advocacy for a universal healthcare system to the support of a guest worker program, Gravel will discuss the path he sees our country taking in the future and why voters should back him in the upcoming presidential election. Gravel, who served two Senate terms from 1969-1981, is known for fiercely opposing proposed legislation to renew the military draft during the Vietnam War and for playing a key role in the release of the Pentagon Papers in 1971.


As a presidential candidate, he has remained committed to the ideals of direct democracy, building his campaign around them. He led a Constitutional amendment effort modeled after the state ballot initiatives that would allow American voters to become “lawmakers� and introduce federal ballot initiatives. He opposes tax loopholes for the wealthy and believes that a progressive retail sales tax would be a better tax policy for the country. Gravel also supports the Fair Tax proposal, which calls for the abolition of the IRS, withdrawal from the war in Iraq within 120 days. He has recommended that carbon energy be taxed to help provide funding to develop energy alternatives and reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.


In the early 1950’s Gravel served as a special agent in the U.S. Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps. Following his stint in the Army, Gravel attended Columbia University’s School of General Studies where he received a B.S in economics. Gravel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to French Canadian immigrants. He attended French-speaking Catholic schools and helped his father and brothers in the house painting and construction business in his spare time. He also volunteered in local Springfield politics, developing an avid interest in government.

This program was recorded live on December 11, 2007

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Dr. Gloria Duffy-President & CEO, Commonwealth Club of California

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Dec 07, 2007

DR. GLORIA C. DUFFY

President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club

RELATING TO THE NEW RUSSIA


Duffy will describe the Russia that has emerged in the Putin era and offer some guidelines for how the United States can successfully relate to this country whose growing influence is fueled by petrodollars. Come hear Club President and CEO

This program was recorded live on November 27, 2007

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Imad Moustapha, Syrian Ambassador to the United States

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Nov 30, 2007

SPEAKER: Imad Moustapha, Syrian Ambassador to the United States

TITLE: THE U.S., SYRIA AND THE NEW OLD MIDDLE EAST: CONFRONTATION OR COOPERATION?

Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. Imad Moustapha will offer his insight into what it will take to achieve peace in the Middle East, with Syria being a key player in Middle Eastern politics. He will also explain how Syria’s strong diplomatic ties to the United States are critical in efforts to rebuild Iraq and improve the region's relationship with the West.

Moustapha has made numerous appearances on American, British, and Arab television to comment on the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, caused in part by his country’s withdrawal from Lebanon. He has had over 200 articles published in English and Arabic, appearing in such publications as The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Al-Hayat, and Newsweek.

Prior to being appointed Ambassador in 2004, Moustapha served as Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at the University of Damascus and as Secretary General of the Arab School on Science and Technology. He has been a consultant to a variety of international organizations having to do with science and technology, including UNESCO, UNDP, ESWA, and ALESCO. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Network of Syrian Scientists, Technologists and Innovators Abroad (NOSSTIA). He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Surrey.

This program was recorded live on November 7, 2007

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Anthony Bourdain, chef, author, TV host of “No Reservations�

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Wed, Nov 21, 2007

SPEAKER: ANTHONY BOURDAIN, chef, author, TV host of “No Reservations�

TITLE: NO RESERVATIONS: AN EVENING WITH ANTHONY BOURDAIN

Culinary "bad boy" and celebrated TV host Anthony Bourdain will describe his travels and share memorable culinary adventures. From Brazil, to China, to Las Vegas, Bourdain has sat down to eat at some of the world’s most famous and infamous tables. "Any schmo can grill a fancy steak," he says, but "it takes a cook to transform a humble pig's foot into something people clamor for.� From scrounging for eel in the backstreets of Hanoi, to chowing down on grilled piranha in Bahia, Bourdain will undoubtedly recall his more outrageous gastronomic forays, sharing his penchant and passion for edible oddities. On his current hit Travel Channel TV show “No Reservations,� the irreverent and always opinionated Bourdain visits exotic countries, cities worldwide, and even locales within the U.S., where hosts treat him to local foods and traditions that season the world’s cultures.

Bourdain is the author of 9 fiction and non-fiction books, including his newest, No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach, a collection of pictures and stories from his three years on the road searching for the perfect meal. Bourdain’s best-selling Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (2000), spent 14 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. He has written articles for New York Times, The Times, the Observer, Scotland on Sunday, the Face, Limb by Limb, Black Book and the Independent, and is a contributing authority for Food Arts magazine. His mystery novels include Bone in the Throat and Gone Bamboo.
The thirty-year veteran of professional kitchens is also the executive chef at Les Halles in Manhattan. Born in New York, Bourdain studied at Vassar College and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America before running kitchens at New York City's Supper Club, One Fifth Avenue and Sullivan’s.

This program was recorded live on November 19, 2007

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Lilia Shevtsova-Senior Associate at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Author of Russia: Lost in Transition, The Yeltsin & Putin Legacies

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Mon, Nov 19, 2007

Russian professor Lilia Shevtsova speaks to the Club about all things Russia. Her book is "Russia, Lost in Transition: The Yelsten & Putin Legacies"

This program was recorded live on October 16, 2007

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Paul Krugman, Columnist, New York Times; Professor of Economics and International Affairs, Princeton; Author, The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Mon, Nov 19, 2007

SPEAKER: Paul Krugman

Columnist, New York Times; Professor of Economics and International Affairs, Princeton; Author, The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century

LOSING OUR WAY IN THE NEW CENTURY: THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS?

Amid a growing gap between the wealthy and the middle-class, one of the most widely-read and provocative political columnists of our time, New York Times writer Paul Krugman, will address the state of the country’s economics and the future of America’s social and fiscal policy. He will specifically examine what happened to the middle class of the 20th century.


Krugman is a professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University, and has sparked passionate national debates through his New York Times columns since 1999. Krugman earned a PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977 and has published more than 200 scholarly papers and 20 books. In his national bestseller The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century, he heavily criticizes the economic policies of President Bush. He won the John Bates Clark Medal by the American Economic Association in 1991 and he was named 2002 Columnist of the Year by Editor & Publisher.


This is the first program in the “A-ha Speaker Series� being co-sponsored by the San Francisco based Orrick Law Firm. The ongoing series will feature leading thinkers from a broad spectrum of disciplines who will share their knowledge and ideas and offer insights into tomorrow.

This program was recorded live on October 30, 2007

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Wesley Clark, Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander; Author, A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country.

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Nov 02, 2007

SPEAKER: Wesley Clark, Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander;
Author, A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country.


TITLE: A Time to Lead

Former U.S. Democratic Presidential Candidate and Four-star General Wesley Clark, who served for thirty-four years in the United States Army and rose to serve as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, will share his experience, and his hope for restoring leadership in America. Clark, who led the peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, will offer a vision of a foreign policy that rests on negotiation, principles, and determination. He will tell us why he believes that hard work, responsible leadership and fortitude will ultimately turn the country around. Clark, a pro-choice and pro-affirmative action democrat, sought the presidency in 2004 hoping to bring a less hawkish perspective to the White House.


In September 2003, Clark’s campaign for the U.S. presidency won the state of Oklahoma and launched him to national prominence before his return to the private sector in February 2004. Since retiring from political and military life, Clark has been an investment banker, commentator, businessman, and author. In his most recent book, A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country, Clark describes what he thinks should be done to defeat terrorism, rebuild the economy and restore global leadership.


Clark served as commanding General of the Army's National Training Center during the Persian Gulf War. He later conducted three emergency deployments to Kuwait as the commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He was appointed an Army Captain at the age of 25 in Vietnam, returning home after receiving four gun shot wounds. At the age of 17, Clark entered West Point, where he graduated first in his class and became a Rhodes Scholar.

This program was recorded live on October 3, 2007

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Alan Alda: Award winning actor, director and writer, Author, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself.

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Oct 19, 2007

ALAN ALDA: Award winning actor, director and writer, Author, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself.


A Conversation with Alan Alda

Oscar, Tony and Emmy winning actor Alan Alda -- perhaps best known for his role as “Hawkeye Pierce,� the witty, charming and sympathetic doctor in M*A*S*H -- will share his life lessons and offer a candid account of what he considers some of the most significant moments in his life. He will discuss his early days in Hollywood, through the turbulent sixties, to his first Broadway play, “Only in America.�


Most recently, Alda portrayed the conservative Senator “Arnold Vinick� on TV’s “The West Wing� which earned him an Emmy. A career that has spanned television, film and theater, Alda is one of America's most beloved and prolific actors having starred with Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Aviator,� Woody Allen in “Crimes and Misdemeanors� and Ellen Burstyn in the Neil Simon classic “Same Time, Next Year.� He is the only actor ever who has also won an Emmy for writing, and directing. For M*A*S*H, Alda was nominated for 21 Emmy's and won a total of 5 as an actor, director and writer. He has won three Director's Guild of America Awards, six Golden Globe Awards from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and seven People's Choice Awards.

It was just two years ago, at the age of 69, as Alda was having a year he says most actors only dream of, that a near death experience left him reflecting on his personal adventures as an actor, husband, father, friend, and activist. He writes about this life changing episode in his new memoir Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself in which he examines some of life’s important life questions. In 2005, Alda published his first batch of memoirs, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: and Other Things I've Learned.

This program was recorded live on September 19, 2007

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John Dean, former Counsel to Richard Nixon; author, Conservatives Without Conscience

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Oct 12, 2007

With the perspective of a former Republican political insider, and experience in the Watergate scandal, Dean will address what he sees as the authoritarian influence of neoconservatives within his party. A self-proclaimed Goldwater conservative, he will lament how drastically the right has left behind their core values of libertarianism and small government. Dean will appeal to conservatives to find their consciences and to all Americans to take serious heed of what is going on in the nation.

From 1970 until 1973, Dean served as the White House legal counsel to President Nixon. He was the first official in Nixon’s Administration to accuse him of direct involvement in the Watergate scandal, also implicating himself. He was convicted of multiple felonies in connection with the cover-up, serving only four months due to his testimony for the prosecution.

Dean is currently retired, and now works as a lecturer, and columnist for FindLaw's Writ online magazine. He is the author of multiple books, including the recent, Conservatives Without Conscience, and Worse than Watergate, a book which calls for the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney for lying to Congress. Before working in Nixon’s Administration, he served as chief minority counsel for the House Judiciary Committee and as an associate deputy attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice. He received his B.A. from Colgate University and his J.D. from Georgetown University in 1965.

This program was recorded live on October 1, 2007

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General George W. Casey, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Former Commander, Multi-National Force in Iraq

Author: Commonwealth Club of California
Fri, Oct 05, 2007

SPEAKER: GENERAL GEORGE W. CASEY, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Former Commander, Multi-National Force in Iraq



TITLE: AN ARMY THE NATION NEEDS

General George W. Casey, former commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq and current Army Chief of Staff, will present his vision for the future of the U.S. Army and share his first-hand experience of the war in Iraq. He will argue that uncertainty and persistent conflict in the 21st century demand an Army that is adaptive, properly sized and balanced. Casey raised some eyebrows last winter with critical comments about the troop surge in Iraq, telling the New York Times, “it’s always been my view that a heavy and sustained American military presence was not going to solve the problems in Iraq over the long term."


Casey was confirmed by the Senate as Army Chief of Staff in February 2007, concluding a three year tenure as commander of the coalition in Iraq. He will be replaced by General David H. Petraeus. During his time in Iraq, Casey pushed for Iraqis to take ownership and responsibility for the security of their country, focusing on training Iraqi forces and limiting the role of American forces.


When Casey began as commander of the Multi-National Force, he replaced Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Sanchez. Casey, who served in senior staff positions at The Pentagon beginning in 2001, left his position as Director of The Joint Staff to head the coalition in Iraq. Deployed in 1996 to Bosnia Herzegovina, he also served as commander of the 1st Armored Division in 1999 during Operation Joint Endeavor there. Born in Japan, Casey is the son of George W. Casey, Sr., a Major General who served in World War II, Korea, and in Vietnam where he was killed on duty. Casey received his B.S. in International Relations from Georgetown University and his M.A. in International Studies from the University of Denver.