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Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz argues that U.S. combat in Afghanistan and Iraq helped trigger 2008's economic collapse. According to Stiglitz, rises in oil prices, a culture of deregulation, and the housing bubble all stem from America's war involvement. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/03/27/War_and_the_Economy_The_True_Cost_of_Conflict Joseph Stiglitz discusses the hidden costs of U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Joseph E. Stiglitz was born in Gary, Indiana in 1943. A graduate of Amherst College, he received his PHD from MIT in 1967, became a full professor at Yale in 1970, and in 1979 was awarded the John Bates Clark Award, given biennially by the American Economic Association to the economist under 40 who has made the most significant contribution to the field. He has taught at Princeton, Stanford, MIT and was the Drummond Professor and a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. He is now University Professor at Columbia University in New York and Chair of Columbia University's Committee on Global Thought. He is also the co-founder and Executive Director of the Initiative for Policy Dialogue at Columbia. In 2001, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics for his analyses of markets with asymmetric information, and he was a lead author of the 1995 Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Author Raj Patel examines the conflicting messages coming from the White House surrounding First Lady Michelle Obama's commitment to health and exercise and her collaboration with Walmart.  Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/06/12/Raj_Patel_Haves_and_Have-Nots_of_the_Great_Food_Divide Half the world is malnourished, the other half obese. Why is there such a large discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots for what we all need: food? Patel conducts a global investigation to make sense of the world food crisis and charges that “the food system is filled with choices made by a handful of powerful people, in smoke-filled rooms, over the objections of the majority.” Hear a story of nefarious false choices and of international resistance movements that takes you from seed to store to plate.

Zite CEO Mark Johnson, journalist Chris Taylor, Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery, and Federated Media Publishing's chief community officer Laney Whitcanack discuss whether print media will still exist in 10 years. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/05/10/Digital_Publishing_The_End_of_Print The average San Franciscan is more likely to get their media from a screen than from a paper, so it’s no surprise that newspapers and magazines are shutting down all around us; the editorial space and the way we consume news has changed. What will editorial look like years from now? Will curated content really be king? Can non-digital publications stay afloat? Leading digital experts will share their experiences, honest thoughts and predictions for the future of publishing.

Willie Brown, political pundit and former Mayor of San Francisco, explains he wouldn't be surprised if Joe Biden doesn't have a job next year. He explains that President Obama might turn to Hillary Clinton to push him over the top in the 2012 election. Complete video available for purchase at http://fora.tv/2012/05/15/Willie_Brown_2012_Annual_Lecture_on_Political_Trends The inimitable former San Francisco mayor and renowned pundit gives his annual take on the political scene as we approach the presidential election.

Enjoy this excerpt from science comedian Brian Malow's routine from Wonderfest 2009. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2009/11/08/Science_Laughs_Science_Comedian_Brian_Malow Now an accomplished stand-up comic whose career has spanned more than a decade to include performances on CBS, A&E, TechTV, and the Discovery Channel, Brian Malow turns his sharp wit upon his first love: the world of science.

In the debate whether America's natural gas boom is doing more harm than good, the panelists argue whether finding a solution at home liberates the United States from conflict for oil in the Middle East. Complete video available for free at: http://fora.tv/2012/07/01/No_Fracking_Way_The_Natural_Gas_Boom_Is_Doing_Great_Harm Presented in partnership with The Aspen Ideas Festival Natural gas, touted for its environmental, economic, and national security benefits, is often thought of as the fuel that will “bridge” our transition from oil and coal to renewables. The ability to extract natural gas from shale formations through a method called hydraulic fracturing has unleashed vast, untapped sources—by some estimates, the U.S. now sits on a 100-year supply. But contamination from toxic chemicals used in the fracking process has been the source of increasing health and environmental concerns. Can natural gas be part of a clean energy solution, or is it a dangerous roadblock to a fossil-free future?

General Colin Powell, Secretary of State under the George W. Bush Administration, discusses the aftermath to his notorious weapons of mass destruction UN speech that helped incite war in Iraq. Despite the era of conflict, Powell argues that the Bush Administration brought some good to the world. Complete video available for purchase at http://fora.tv/2012/06/07/General_Colin_Powell_on_Legacy_and_Leadership Throughout his decades of service to the country, General Powell has kept his private life out of the limelight. Now, in his new book, "It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership", Powell is opening up to reveal the important principles that guided his journey from being the son of Jamaican immigrants to becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first African-American secretary of state. He will reveal the foundations for achievement and leadership that worked for him and can help make others' dreams come true, too. Gen. Colin L. Powell served as the 65th US Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. As a professional soldier for 35 years, Sec. Powell held many command and staff positions and rose to the rank of four-star general. From 1989 to 1993, he served as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the US Department of Defense. During this time, he oversaw many crises, including Operation Desert Storm. He served previously as National Security Advisor to President Reagan. His civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal.