Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Celebrate Women’s History Month with INFORUM and a conversation with local and national legend Betty Reid Soskin! At 96, she’s currently the oldest serving career park ranger with the National Park Service—just one chapter in a long life of public service and her active role in the social evolution of the United States. Reid Soskin’s remarkable resume ranges from clerking in an all-black trade union during World War II to political activism and songwriting during the Civil Rights Movement, from running a record store to working as a congressional field representative, and, finally, to her work as a historian. When the National Park Service began to plan the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, CA, Reid Soskin played a key role in shaping and designing the park, ensuring that the reality of history—including racism, segregation and sexism—weren’t left out of the narrative. The great-granddaughter of a slave, Reid Soskin’s life spans World War II to the Civil Rights Movement to the election of the first black president, and her experiences and observations allow for unique insight into our country’s history. The ultimate storyteller, she is the lead figure in a forthcoming documentary being made by Rosie the Riveter Trust detailing the African-American experience in the United States from World War II to the present day, and she was featured in a multi-part PBS special. She still regularly draws crowds to the park with her powerful presentations, blogs and writes regularly, and was even invited to officiate the White House Tree Lighting Ceremony with President Obama. Join us for insights into Reid Soskin’s full life and the backdrop of history of which she and her work are a vital part to this day.

Whether it comes in the form of bickering with an irritating co-worker, having a disagreement with a spouse or arguing with a close friend, interpersonal conflicts are an inevitable and frustrating part of our modern lives. But how can we eliminate the sense of helplessness and anguish that accompanies these conflicts? What must we do to find true contentedness despite the chaos we find ourselves surrounded by? Isa Gucciardi, director of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, says she has the solution, namely her conflict resolution method outlined in her new book, Coming to Peace. Gucciardi’s method builds on the wisdom of ancient meditation techniques and Buddhist traditions, encouraging us to come together and heal after a conflict while also acknowledging our own role in causing the conflict in the first place. Join Gucciardi for a transformational conversation about relationships, self-improvement and finding inner peace in a turbulent world.

Beach Blanket Babylon, celebrating more than 16,000 performances and seen by over six million people, is the longest running musical revue in the world. According to The New York Times, it’s “updated more often than your average smartphone software.” Renowned for its iconic hats and amazing costumes, this show is filled with political and pop culture parodies. Cast members will perform one of the show’s signature songs and answer questions from the audience. MLF Organizer Name Norma Walden Notes MLF: International Relations

Rick Steves has lived out of a suitcase for much of his life. He states that “travel is freedom.” Through travel, we can all learn how to appreciate different cultures and gain a broader perspective on the world. As the world seems more and more divisive, there has never been a more important time to explore. Steves shares some of his most memorable experiences trekking through Europe, Central America, Asia and the Middle East and explains how we have the power to change the world one trip at a time.

As President Trump heads into his second year in office, which issues are most critical for California residents and the nation? Representative Adam Schiff is on the front lines, leading the fight against Russian aggression and defending our democracy both at home and abroad. As the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff has become one of the nation's leading voices on national security and a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s policies. Now, he’s speaking out about America’s most important foreign policy issues. Join Schiff for a timely and important conversation about keeping America safe and defending freedom around the globe.

Have gas cars peaked? Last year, Volvo announced it would stop making gas-only cars by 2019. Then, India, France and the United Kingdom said they will phase out cars that run on petroleum in the next couple of decades. When China moved in the same direction, automakers put the pedal to the metal on bringing electric cars to market. With Detroit embracing plug-in cars, electric utilities sense an opportunity to grow their business as the age of oil sunsets. The industries of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison are getting together to take over the John D. Rockefeller industry. How fast will that happen? Will some oil companies go the way of Kodak and disappear from the mainstream? Join us for a conversation about the end of oil and the electrification of everything.

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Max Boot’s latest book, The Road Not Taken, discusses his contention that the Vietnam War could have been avoided if American leaders had listened to a visionary CIA Agent, Edward Lansdale, who called for a focus on hearts and minds, not bombs and body counts. Come hear a fascinating tale of spy craft, bureaucracy and combat. Boot is a military historian and foreign policy analyst who has been called one of the “world’s leading authorities on armed conflict” by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He’s a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard and the Los Angeles Times, a columnist for Foreign Policy, and a regular contributor to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Boot served as an adviser to U.S. commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also a senior foreign policy adviser to John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2007–08, a defense policy adviser to Mitt Romney’s campaign in 2011–12, and the head of the counterterrorism working group for Marco Rubio’s campaign in 2015-16. Boot was born in Moscow and grew up in Los Angeles. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in history from Yale University.

How are cities coping with political and climatic upheaval? Battles over immigration, sanctuary status, federal funding, and other hot-button issues are creating tension between local and federal government at a time when the impacts of climate change are hitting home. Miami and Houston are recovering from epic storms that were amplified by a climate destabilized by burning fossil fuels. Both cities have dynamic mayors advancing economic recovery in a time when the federal government - aside from disaster relief - is providing less money to cities for infrastructure and other projects that have traditionally facilitated civic development. Miami voters reached into their own pockets to fund $400 million in Miami Forever bonds to deal with rising seas and other climate impacts. Newly-elected Mayor Francis Suarez is now tasked with figuring out how to spend that money to prevent his city from more sunny day flooding. Houston is still waiting for Congress to finalize funds to help Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey, which brought unprecedented rain bombs down on a city that largely has been paved over. What is Mayor Sylvester Turner doing to restore its economy, create jobs and prepare for a volatile future? A Democratic mayor in one of the reddest states in the country, Steve Benjamin blasted Donald Trump for leaving the Paris climate accord and is spearheading a push for cities across the country to run on 100 percent renewable energy. As the new chief of the US Conference of Mayors, how does he think cities can advance a clean energy economy while also addressing housing, jobs, equity, and other pressing concerns.

The once poor, troubled country that struggled to implant a democracy after the fall of General Manuel Noriega in 1989 has come a long way. Direct flights from San Francisco to the isthmus started in 2016, just as the Panama Canal was dramatically expanded. The Panama crossroads has begun to truly rival Miami as the new hub of the Americas, and Panama is about to emerge as one of the countries with the highest per capita income in the region. Yet corruption scandals, unequal economic growth and increasing challenges to democracy across the hemisphere cloud the horizon as the Pacific continues to grow as the center of global commerce. Come join a discussion with Guillermo Cochez, the former ambassador of Panama to the Organization of American States, about the future of this country. MLF Organizer Name Norma Walden Notes MLF: International Relations

Wendy Pearlman has spent years living in the Arab world. She will discuss her latest book, We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria, a fierce and poignant collection of stories based on interviews with hundreds of displaced Syrians. MLF Organizer Name Celia Menczel Notes MLF: Middle East

Monday Night Philosophy explores what we can learn from history in order to preserve and strengthen democracy. In The Future of Democracy, Steve Zolno asks: What is democracy? Where did it come from? Where is it going? He considers whether democracy is a new development or whether it has always been present in human society. Zolno will also discuss: What are the historical trends that have promoted democracy over authoritarian governments? Where and why has democracy been the most and least successful? According to Zolno, our most important political task is clarifying what each of us can do, as politicians or as ordinary citizens, to bring the benefits of democracy more fully into our personal and political lives. Join us for a lively discussion! MLF Organizer Name George Hammond Notes MLF: Humanities

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Bill Minutaglio and Steven Davis have written a madcap narrative about Timothy Leary, the High Priest of LSD, who ran a gleeful campaign for California governor against Ronald Reagan but was sentenced to a ten-year prison sentence for possessing two marijuana cigarettes. On the moonlit evening of September 12, 1970, six months into his sentence, the ex-Harvard professor was aided in his escape from prison by the radical Weather Underground. They aimed at sparking a revolution, and President Nixon believed it, obsessing about tracking down Leary, whom he branded "the most dangerous man in America." Based on new primary sources and firsthand interviews, this American thriller takes readers along for the gonzo ride of a lifetime, spanning twenty-eight months of President Nixon's global manhunt for Leary among homegrown radicals, European aristocrats, a Black Panther outpost in Algeria, an international arms dealer, hash-smuggling hippies from the Brotherhood of Eternal Love and secret agents on four continents. MLF Organizer Name George Hammond Notes MLF: Humanities

Silicon Valley has an ugly secret. Behind the million dollar ideas and innovations, women in tech are vastly outnumbered and often face discrimination, sexual harassment and toxic work environments. In this powerful expose, Emily Chang reveals how Silicon Valley got so sexist despite its utopian ideals. Drawing on her deep network of tech insiders, Chang reveals just how hard it is for women to crack the Silicon ceiling and what companies and employees need to do to bring down the “brotopia” culture once and for all. Notes This program is generously supported by Bank of the West.

New research indicates current global conservation targets, which call for preserving 17 percent of land and 10 percent of oceans, are far too low. Instead, targets should be closer to 50 percent for land and 30 percent for oceans. This will protect the diversity of life on Earth and ensure human well-being and survival. Join panelists for this critical discussion on why we need to increase conservation targets in order to save the Earth. MLF Organizer Name Ann Clark Notes MLF: Environment & Natural Resources

As former managing editor of The Washington Post and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Ghost Wars, Steve Coll has spent years studying the forces that have impacted U.S. foreign policy. In his new book, Directorate S, he reveals how the war in Afghanistan was doomed because of the United States’ failure to apprehend the motivations and intentions of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Coll says ISI created a special branch, “Directorate S,” which covertly armed, trained and financed the Taliban, frustrating American forces at every turn. Come hear Coll’s startling explanation of how America came to be so badly ensnared in an elaborate, factional and seemingly interminable conflict.