Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Join New York Times technology editor and renowned Silicon Valley journalist Pui-Wing Tam to discuss one of the thorniest issues in tech: how to build the next wave of industry leadership. What qualities do leaders need to move beyond an era of cultish corporate command to create fair and functional work environments? How do you keep workers and investors happy? Tam will talk about these and other concerns with: Bridget Frey, chief technology officer at Redfin—one of the few female executives in that role; Tina Sharkey, an American entrepreneur and advisor and co-founder of Brandless; Wayne Sutton, a long-time diversity and inclusion advisor and strategist; and Josh Reeves, chief executive officer and co-founder of Gusto and a longtime champion of bettering work life. NOTES In collaboration with The New York Times

In their 1968 book The Population Bomb, Paul and Anne Ehrlich warned of the dangers of overpopulation. These included mass starvation, societal upheaval and environmental ruin. This and other dire predictions about humankind earned Ehrlich a reputation as a prophet of doom, and fifty years later he doesn’t see much in the way of improvement. Harvard cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker, on the other hand, prefers to look on the bright side: people are living longer, extreme poverty has been decreasing globally, worldwide literacy is on the rise. Is the glass half empty, or half full?

Life is fraught with hard choices and decisions. How does one make them? Most of us are familiar with pros versus cons lists, which can be applied to everything from personal diet to public welfare. But that method only involves taking an existing understanding of the decision at hand, so it is limited by one’s imagination. The key to making a better decision is to see it with fresh eyes, to make imaginative leaps, and to discover new paths and potential outcomes. Over the past few decades, a field of research has emerged that will help us do just that. Spanning cognitive science, management theory and literary studies, its methods and procedures can help us make big decisions—and make them better. This science has been followed, explained and brought to life by best-selling author Steven Johnson in his 11th book, Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most. Please join us for a conversation with Steven Johnson, who will open up his toolbox and show us how to make better choices. By way of private anecdotes and political research, Johnson will take us through methods for generating alternatives and seeking options, resisting the pitfalls of groupthink, planning scenarios, storytelling and creating a “premortem”: a fascinating technique that asks you to project yourself months into the future and imagine that your decision has been carried out—with unforeseen and disastrous results. The final step in reaching a difficult decision, according to Johnson, involves creating a “value model”—a more nuanced and powerful version of the pros and cons list. Johnson, a former Marin County resident, is the author of 11 books, including Wonderland, Where Good Ideas Come From and The Ghost Map. Johnson is also host of the PBS series “How We Got to Now” and the podcast “American Innovations.”

Women, especially women of color, are underrepresented in business—from entry-level to the corner office, across corporate America—even as the number of women earning college degrees exceeds the number of men. As companies, leaders and those focused on diversity press ahead to make change, it’s become key to reflect on both data and stories to help define the problem and iterate on solutions. "Women in the Workplace," an annual report conducted by LeanIn.org and McKinsey on the state of women in corporate America, draws from more than 250 companies that together employ 13 million people. The report shares insights into the challenges women face across many industries and sectors and identifies concrete actions that companies can take to make lasting and significant change. Join co-author, Alexis Krivkovich, managing partner of McKinsey & Company’s Silicon Valley office and a leader in the Financial Services Practice, along with other corporate and cultural leaders, as they discuss the results of the report and how companies can evolve to reflect the times. This program is generously supported by Cisco Meraki

David Kaplan takes us inside the secret world of the Supreme Court and shows us how nine justices have subverted the role of the other branches of government—and how we’ve come to accept this at our peril. The court is so crucial that some voters in 2016 selected a presidential candidate based on who that candidate would likely appoint. Donald Trump picked Neil Gorsuch and now Brett Kavanaugh, both potential swing votes on social policies such as abortion, same-sex marriage, gun control, campaign finance and voting rights. Kaplan asks: Is that really how democracy is supposed to work? Based on exclusive interviews with the justices and their law clerks, Kaplan will provide fresh details about life behind the scenes—Clarence Thomas’s simmering rage, Antonin Scalia’s death, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s celebrity. Kaplan presents a sweeping narrative of the justices’ aggrandizement of power over the decades, and he demonstrates that the arrogance of the court isn’t partisan: Conservative and liberal justices alike are guilty of overreach. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

The eighth annual Lundberg Institute Lecture focuses on Gary Taubes' groundbreaking exposé, which makes the convincing case that sugar is the tobacco of the new millennium: backed by powerful lobbies, entrenched in our lives and making us very sick. Diabetes is more prevalent today than ever among Americans; obesity is at epidemic proportions. Nearly 10 percent of children are thought to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The excessive consumption of sugar is at the root of these and other critical health problems. Taubes delves into Americans' history with sugar: its uses as a preservative, as an additive in cigarettes, and more recently its overuse in the form of high-fructose corn syrup. He presents the arguments against sugar, corrects misconceptions about the relationship between sugar and weight loss, and provides the perspective necessary to make informed decisions about sugar as individuals and as a society. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

Production of oil and gas in the U.S. has surged to levels unthinkable a decade ago due to the revolution in hydraulic fracturing, which has helped the country surpass Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world's largest oil producer. In her latest book, Saudi America: The Truth About Fracking and How It’s Changing the World, Bethany McLean explores the past, present and future of fracking in America. Yet new development of fossil fuels is simply not consistent with the math of the Paris climate accord, leading us all to ask: What's next for fossil fuels?

With the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy and the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court is at a turning point. From privacy and free speech to affirmative action and immigration, how will the court and the Constitution change as a result? Join noted constitutional scholar Jeffrey Rosen for an examination of the most hotly contested constitutional questions of our time and what they bode for the future of the country. In addition to heading the National Constitution Center and teaching at George Washington University, Rosen is also a contributing editor of The Atlantic and former legal affairs editor of The New Republic. The Los Angeles Times has called him “the nation’s most widely read and influential legal commentator.”

Join us for a special noontime edition of Week to Week: Post-election day wrap-up. What happened? What will happen? We'll dig into the latest. We will discuss the biggest, most controversial and sometimes the surprising political issues with expert commentary by panelists who are smart, are civil and have a good sense of humor. Our panelists will provide informative and engaging commentary on political and other major news, and we'll have audience discussion of the week’s events and our live news quiz!

The concept of microsurgery is fairly new in the history of surgery. Microsurgery is a technique that allows the surgeon to repair one millimeter blood vessels and nerves using an operating room microscope and suture finer than the human hair. In the mid-1960s, Gregory Buncke’s father, Harry Buncke, M.D., recognized that, with the right tools, technique and equipment, he could replant amputated fingers, make a thumb from the big toe or reconstruct post traumatic or large defects. However, those tools and techniques did not exist at that time. Starting nearly from scratch, Buncke began designing and creating microsurgical instruments and microsurgical suture. Most of his early work was done at his home in San Francisco. He created a research surgical suite in his garage, performing rabbit ear replantation and toe to thumb transplants in the Rhesus monkey. Buncke was eventually given the title, “father of microsurgery,” for his commitment to educating thousands of surgeons. Greg Buncke has continued in his father's footsteps, advancing microsurgery both in training and innovation. His group has pushed the envelope in reconstruction of the mutilated hand, for example, restoring all fingers and thumbs with toe transplantation. Breast reconstruction after mastectomy can now preformed using only abdominal or thigh tissue, without the need for an implant. Facial reconstruction can happen as a one-stage operation immediately after cancer resection. Transgender males can undergo phalloplasty microsurgically and can obtain an erection, urinate and have sexual sensation. Limbs that were once amputated after trauma can be salvaged and restored to nearly normal function. Peripheral nerve injuries with large gaps can be microsurgically reconstructed with allografts, avoiding the need for sacrificing nerves from other parts of the body. The future of reconstructive microsurgery is wide open. New reconstructive indications are being created on a daily basis. Join us, and come learn more about these exciting advances. MLF Organizer Name Patty James Notes MLF: Health & Medicine

The mission of Dentists Organized for Veterans is to enhance lives by providing free, on-going, high-quality dental services in the first private, stand alone, full-service dental clinic in the United States wholly devoted to veterans who do not qualify for dental services from the Veterans Administration and who cannot afford dental care. a significant portion of veterans, many of whom cannot afford dental insurance, suffer through extremely poor oral health and dental neglect. The dental professionals at DOV, over seen by Clinical Director Angela Bayat, DDS, seek to address this appalling circumstance and provide the same standard of care and variety of services found in any modern, private practice at no cost to the veteran. Dr. Bayat has lived all over the world and brings a global perspective on patient care and health. Beginning her professional career as a Pharmacy student, Dr. Bayat eventually pursued dentistry as a field that would give her more personal contact with patients. Fluent in three languages, she has a natural talent not only as a practitioner but a trusted caregiver who listens to and addresses the specific concerns of her patients. MLF Organizer Name Patrick O'Reilly Notes MLF: Psychology

The Trump administration recently unleashed what's been criticized as another attack on transgender Americans by calling for the Department of Health and Human Services to redefine sex as biological under Title IX, which prevents gender-based discrimination. In response, LGBTQ communities and allies have mobilized community actions calling out the administration for what they're calling a blatant attempt to erase trans and gender nonconforming communities. Join us for an informational discussion with community experts on strategies to address this latest attack and the impact of the upcoming November 6 election. Learn more on what this memo means, what people can do next. See more upcoming Michelle Meow Shows at The Commonwealth Club link below. https://www.commonwealthclub.org/index.php/michelle-meow-show Additional information on the speakers: Honey Mahogany is a social worker, community advocate and known for her role on Season 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Named San Francisco's Best Drag by the B.A.R. and SF Weekly, Honey performs across the globe. Honey is also co-founder of the Compton's Transgender Cultural District, co-President of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, a member of the San Francisco Democratic Central County Committee, and co-owner of the Stud. Kris Hayashi has over 20 years of movement building, leadership and organizing experience. As a public transgender person of color, Kris has been a leader in movements for justice and rights for transgender and gender nonconforming communities for over 13 years. Kris became Executive Director at Transgender Law Center, one of the largest organizations in the country advancing the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people, in February 2015. Prior to that, he had served over a year in the role of Deputy Director at the organization. Clair Farley is Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives with the City and County of San Francisco. She is a human rights and transgender rights advocate who has worked across the county and internationally to promote visibility for marginalized communities. She also worked for over a decade at SF LGBT Center leading their economic development and employment programs. She received the Outstanding Voices Award from San Francisco Business Times and was recognized as a “Soldier of Social Change” by the San Francisco Magazine’s annual Women in Power issue. The event is hosted by The Commonwealth Club in partnership with "The Michelle Meow Show," the Office of Transgender Initiative’s Advisory Committee, TransCitySF, and TLC (Transgender Law Center) Have questions? Email TransCitySF@sfgov.org

Alexander Borodin (1833–87) was a famous Russian chemist who today is better known as one of the greatest Romantic composers of the 19th century. In the 1860s, he joined a group of composers, called "The Five," who were dedicated to promoting a national music that was distinctly Russian, in contrast to the traditions that prevailed in Germany and Italy. The Five did not compose many symphonies or works of chamber music, which they regarded as alien art forms, but Borodin nevertheless wrote two string quartets of great beauty and charm. The San Joaquin Quartet will perform his String Quartet No. 2 in D, which includes as its third movement the famous Nocturne. (In 1954, Borodin was posthumously honored with a Tony Award for the Nocturne and other music that comprised the score for the Broadway musical "Kismet.") The program will conclude with the famous Andante Cantabile from Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No. 1. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

If anyone can make provocative predictions about technology and its impact on business and our everyday lives, it is Tom Siebel. One of Silicon Valley's most successful entrepreneurs for more than four decades, he remains at the forefront of enterprise software, big data, cloud, the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning—formerly at Oracle and Siebel Systems and, most recently, as founder and CEO of C3. Siebel explores the far-ranging impact that AI and digital innovation will have on every aspect of life and how this step function change in technology—fueled by AI and IoT—continues to disrupt critical industries from agriculture, health care, manufacturing, defense, financial services and energy. Siebel will discuss the societal and ethical implications of AI, exploring both the dangers and the opportunities where AI can have the greatest impact. Given AI is being rapidly applied to virtually all societal domains, the urgency of working together to mitigate the adverse consequences has never been greater. Leading researchers suggest it is only a matter of time before rival states, criminals and terrorists use AI’s scale and efficiency to launch finely targeted and highly efficient attacks. In this rapidly evolving climate, Siebel argues that the benefits of AI are substantial, but the potential costs are significant. He advocates that the balance between the two lies in regulation, private and public sector collaboration, and a clear focus on issues such as privacy and cybersecurity to protect us—as consumers and citizens. Join one of technology’s most preeminent leaders for a night of insightful conversation on the shaping of society by the exponential—and unstoppable—rise of AI.

Photography has always had a special role in shaping the visual narratives that help us make sense of our world. Not only do we record, share and understand life through images, but these images also galvanize individuals to act. While the impulse for visual storytelling is as old as humanity itself, the tools, storytellers and mechanisms for sharing visual stories are now dramatically different. More than ever, photography has the power to transcend barriers, spark dialogue and promote understanding. But who is telling these stories today, and how can we take action to enable people to tell their own stories, widening the lens of storytellers everywhere? Three extraordinary leaders in photography will discuss their groundbreaking approaches to using the most powerful communications tools of our time, concurrently creating provocative work on their own and exposing diverse artists to opportunities to amplify their visual voices. Join us for a dynamic conversation about the exciting possibilities of a more nuanced and inclusive photographic lens to create a broader societal impact. *Shahidul Alam is currently being held by Dhaka police after criticizing the Bangladeshi government in an interview with Al Jazeera. His attendance at our Nov. 2 event is dependent on his release: https://www.catchlight.io/news-content/2018/10/2/update-shahidul-alam-at-widening-the-lens. In association with CatchLight.