Episodes

The rising generation of voters in the US - Gen Z and Millennials - as a very high proportion of independent voters. Unlike their Baby Boomer parents who register Democrat or Republican the younger generation refuses to be locked into that binary straight jacket of politics.

Jayne Mansfield was a movie star in the late 2950s and early 60s. But as her film career began to decline she made a series of choices in her personal life that added chaos to her professional life.

AI, Clean, cheap abundant energy and genetic engineering technology will spur a profound transformation of our lives over the next 25 years.

Extreme polarization in our politics can be addressed and reduced through Deliberative Polling, a technique developed by Professor Jim Fishkin of Stanford University.

Michelangelo the sculptor, famously painted 34 frescoes in the Sistine Chapel in two phases, over 30 years in the 16th Century. These masterpieces are regarded as one of the greatest artworks in European art. The Exhibition allows the public to see them up close, at their own pace and close to home.

Haiti 🇭🇹 was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery in 1801. Henry Christophe went to sea aged 12, rose through the ranks of the French Army to become General. He first served as President of the State of Haiti and then King.

Evolution is meeting the challenges of today’s environment by adaptation as it has done for 4 billion years.

Will over regulation of AI by the states hamstring development and hand a first place win in the AI stakes to China ?

The Independent Center focuses on the growing segment of voters who are Independents. And demographics indicates that Millennials and Gen Z are more than 50% Independents foreshadowing a tectonic shift in American politics.

Anti ICE riots in Sanctuary City Los Angeles prompted the Trump Administration to federalize the California National Guard. The Governor successfully sued to have the Guard reinstated under his command. The Trump Administration has appealed the decision and pending the outcome, the Guard will continue under the President’s command.

By pushing power down to the individual concentrating up to power brokers - Mayors, electeds etc it is harder to get big projects done. We have created a vetocracy where one person can stop a project that might have benefited the society as a whole. Individual over Society.

San Francisco was the site of two Antisemitic incidents in 2024, at UCSF, one of the nation’s leading medical research universities and SF Hillel at San Francisco State University. Antisemitism has spread through America’s universities like a plague.

Mayor Lurie is tackling the problems he inherited from London Breed who was defeated in her re-election bid. So far San Franciscans for the first time in 5 years say that San Francisco is on the right track.

Science Cuts will hurt the Silicon Valley Tech industry.

1925 was a major year for American Literature with the publication of Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” and Hemingway’s “In Our Time” among many other works. This book is a reference guide to the significant works of 1925.

Ambassador Sullivan served as the Deputy Secretary of State 2017-2019 and Ambassador to Russia 2019 -2022 in both the Trump and Biden Administrations. He played a pivotal role shaping US policy in the Ukraine War.

Today’s episode features a profile of the late Ambassador Bill Luers and his book “Uncommon Company”. Bill was a proponent of showcasing American artists and writers to promote our foreign policy goals.

A memoir that tracks Frank’s professional development in the White House and shares his personal impressions of the President and First Lady.

Citizen diplomats try to keep US Russian contacts alive.

The tumultuous 2024 presidential campaign based on 150 well informed sources, written as the history unfolded.

Mid Century Modern residential design in Los Angeles is exemplified by the Stahl House Case House Study #22. The optimism, exuberance and prosperity of the 1950s and 60s is evident in the design and still attractive in 2025.

Working to find a cure for Parkinson’s by fundraising for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Sailing as a physical therapy for people living with Parkinson’s.

SFUSD has over 50,000 students, a budget of $1.2 billion but still struggles to fund key programs. SparkSF, a non profit, was created 10 years ago to mobilize philanthropic and community donations to support our students.

Is Coercive Diplomacy as efficacious today as it once was ? Or have targets - like Russia - learned to hedge the risks from US economic, military and diplomatic sanctions.