Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Segment #3 of 3, 3–3:30 p.m.: Next Generation Connections - Working Together Join a discussion on how our shared history and the unique legacy of Fort Ross State Historic Park can be a platform for cooperation and exchange between Russians and Americans, even amid severe challenges in relations between Washington, D.C. and Moscow. The final panel looks towards the future by bringing four young Russians and Americans from different disciplines to discuss their bilateral work and ideas for the future. A native Californian, Margo Poda chose to study the Russian language as an undergraduate at Georgetown University—her interest in the language and region stemming from Russia’s unique history and culture. After graduating, Poda headed home to Silicon Valley and worked at a series of tech start-ups as a project marketing manager, focusing on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Now she has returned to school pursuing a joint MBA/MA in international policy and development at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey to further develop key business skills, concentrating on the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. Vladislav Chernavskikh is a graduate student in the dual degree in nonproliferation studies program of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). Angelina Davydova is director of the German–Russian Office of Environmental Information in St. Petersburg, Russia. Davydova received a degree in economics from St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance. Her nonprofit work focuses on developing environmental journalism in Russia and neighboring countries. She teaches at the School of Journalism at St. Petersburg State University and the Saint Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics. Jake Hecla is a graduate student at UC Berkeley in the department of nuclear engineering. He earned an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering at MIT, where he worked on techniques for zero-knowledge warhead verification and assisted in the development of an intraoperative radiation detector with the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute. In his spare time, he works with Clean Futures Fund, a nonprofit providing support to communities near the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Notes: In partnership with the Fort Ross Conservancy and the Kennan Institute Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Segment #1 of 3, How our shared history and the unique legacy of Fort Ross State Historic Park is a platform for cooperation and exchange between Russians and Americans, even amid severe challenges in relations between Washington, D.C. and Moscow. Panel 1—1–2:15 p.m. Panelists will discuss the current state of U.S.–Russia relations and assess whether and how enhanced communication, better crisis management and more fruitful cooperation between our countries may be possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Segment #2 of 3, 2—2:30–3 p.m.: Russian America and the Native California Collection at the Kunstkamera This panel will explore historic ties between Native California Indians and Russia by sharing images from a rare collection of Native California artifacts collected during the Fort Ross era. Ksenia Vozdigan, leading coordinator of exhibition department at the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, will describe how the largest collection of Native California artifacts came to reside in Russia. Jerry and Kaylee Pinola, from the Kashaya Pomo and Coast Miwok Tribes, will talk about their 2014 trip to the museum in St. Petersburg to see their ancestral artifacts for the first time, and they will describe how this connection with Russia remains relevant today. Notes: In partnership with the Fort Ross Conservancy and the Kennan Institute Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Kaplan has served as the 13th president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas since September 8, 2015. He also represents the 11th Federal Reserve District on the Federal Open Market Committee in the formulation of U.S. monetary policy. Prior to joining Harvard in 2006, Kaplan was vice chairman of the Goldman Sachs Group Inc., with global responsibility for the firm's investment banking and investment management divisions. Previously, he served as global co-head of the investment banking division. He serves as chairman of Project ALS and co-chairman of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, a global venture philanthropy firm that invests in developing nonprofit enterprises dedicated to addressing social issues. Come for a rare conversation with a representative of the Federal Reserve about international and national economies and U.S. monetary policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning journalist Lauren Duca is an unmistakable voice in the middle of a chaotic post-Trump political arena, famously penning the viral Teen Vogue op-ed “Donald Trump is Gaslighting America” just after Trump's election. Since the piece’s publication, she’s risen as a fresh voice in the millennial consciousness, often unafraid to challenge anyone who crosses her path … or her Twitter feed. In her new book, How to Start a Revolution: Young People and the Future of American Politics, she argues that Trump’s election sparked a political awakening in young people that does not seem to be waning anytime soon, and that it’s up to them to fix our ailing political system. Join Duca at INFORUM where she will discuss her sharp and funny guide to changing the world and empowering society towards real equality. Note: This program contains EXPLICIT language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Lizz Winstead is a sharp-witted truth-teller"—that was Ms. magazine's judgment of political satirist Lizz Winstead. From creating some of the most groundbreaking media to leading a reproductive rights organization, Winstead has succeeded in changing the media landscape, as well as fearlessly tackling serious political issues, including leading an abortion activist organization. Her record of accomplishments led Entertainment Weekly to name her one of its 100 Most Creative People. Join us for a conversation with this sharp-witted truth-teller—and probably a bit of political satire to put a smile on your face. This program contains EXPLICIT language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Security Agency (NSA) is both a member of the Defense Department and an Intelligence Community agency. NSA’s expertise is cryptology—making and breaking codes. The agency’s goal is to discover adversaries' secrets, protect U.S. secrets and outmaneuver adversaries in cyberspace, executing this mission while balancing the privacy rights of the American people. Jonathan Darby has been with the agency since 1983, when he was initially assigned as a Russian language analyst. Darby has served in a variety of field and operations positions at NSA/CSS, including currently as the director of operations. Previously, he served as the signals intelligence directorate deputy director of analysis and production and the deputy chief of cybersecurity operations. Darby will characterize the security threats to our nation, our primary adversaries and their objectives. He will also talk about the role of NSA and what they are doing about these threats, providing some basic guidance for actions the public can take. Join us for a rare public discussion with an individual at the forefront of America’s intelligence capabilities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Salmon is the keystone species of the Northern Rim. Their annual migrations support hundreds of species including bears, eagles and whales as well as dozens of indigenous groups and local fishing based economies that provide one of the last healthy sources of wild protein for humankind. Wild salmon runs are declining on both sides of the Pacific Rim, triggering multibillion dollar restoration efforts. Guido Rahr will describe the salmon’s fate and campaign to save critical stronghold rivers, from Japan to the wilds of the Russian Far East to Alaska, British Columbia and the U.S. Pacific Northwest, to focus on the battle to stop a massive open gold pit and copper mine proposed in the headwaters of Alaska's Bristol Bay—home to the greatest wild salmon runs left on Earth. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Ann Clark NOTES MLF: Environment & Natural Resources This program contains some EXPLICIT language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Georgescu arrived in this country as a penniless Romanian refugee and rose to prominence as the CEO of Young & Rubicam. It’s an American dream success story that could not play out in today’s economic environment—one that is plagued with disappearing jobs, flat wages and a shrinking middle class. In his latest book, Capitalists, Arise!, Georgescu argues that the stark reality of our current economic malaise and social breakdown can be attributed, in large part, to the short-term thinking spawned by shareholder primacy. With deeply sobering statistics and new research, Georgescu points the way toward a future that will only be possible with enlightened capitalism. The author will offer concrete steps forward. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Elizabeth Carney NOTES MLF: Business & Leadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Kinzer is the author of nine books, including: The True Flag, The Brothers, Overthrow and All the Shah’s Men. He is also an award-winning foreign correspondent and writes a world affairs column for The Boston Globe. His new book tells the astonishing story of the man who oversaw the CIA’s secret medical experiments of the 1950s and ’60s. Drawing on original interviews, survivors’ testimonies and documentary research, Kinzer brings to light this massive hunt for the secret of mind control that spanned several countries, including the work of Nazi scientists, and lead to experimentation on government employees (willing and unwilling), foreign politicians, children, prisoners, sex workers and anyone else the poisoner in chief deemed threatening or expendable. Come hear a startling tale of the most powerful unknown Americans of the 20th century and of government lies and deception. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices