Benoit Denizet-Lewis: The Promise and Price of Self-Transformation

Benoit Denizet-Lewis: The Promise and Price of Self-Transformation

Author: Commonwealth Club of California May 16, 2026 Duration: 1:07:54
On social media, in recovery meetings, through name-change petitions, deconversion blogs, and political conversion manifestos, we’ve been surrounded by stories of radical personal change. But what does it really mean to shed an old skin? Whose change narratives do we celebrate—and whose do we suspect are performance, reinvention as strategy, or even grift? Emerson College Professor Benoit Denizet-Lewis’s new book You’ve Changed offers a fresh and clarifying lens on how we arrived at this bewildering cultural moment marked by fractured truths, shifting identities, and a public dizzy in a world that seems to be changing too fast and not nearly enough.  Denizet-Lewis introduces us to an unforgettable array of people in flux—including psychedelic reality benders, sexual and gender transitioners, ideological shapeshifters, seemingly reformed murderers—as well as those working to engineer change: psychologists, neuroscientists, name-change specialists, even his own father, a breath and meditation teacher who once wrote a newsletter about “the art and science of transformation.” Intertwined with those portraits of change is Denizet-Lewis’s own reckoning—by turns painful, poignant, and hilarious—with his misfires and epiphanies. He shows us that profound, positive change is possible, but that it is rarely easy, linear or free of consequence. Denizet-Lewis’s message is aimed at anyone who’s ever tried to become someone new, fix what felt broken, drag someone else into changing, or wondered whether real transformation is more than a myth.  Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly a century, the Commonwealth Club of California Podcast has served as a vital platform for civic dialogue, directly from the nation's largest public affairs forum. Each episode captures live, thoughtful conversations with leading voices from across the political spectrum and various fields, all committed to exploring the most pressing issues of our time. As a nonpartisan and nonprofit operation, the Club’s priority is substance over soundbite, fostering a depth of discussion that is increasingly rare. You’ll hear authors, policymakers, scientists, and cultural figures engage in nuanced debates and detailed analyses, reflecting a genuine diversity of perspectives. This isn't just a recording of events; it's an ongoing, accessible chronicle of American and global thought. The audio you find in this podcast feed originates from the longest-running weekly radio broadcast of its kind in the United States, a tradition started in 1924, now shared with a modern audience. Updated frequently throughout the week, the feed ensures you have direct access to a forum where complex ideas about government, society, and current events are given the time and respect they deserve. Tune in for a consistently enlightening experience that challenges assumptions and provides context far beyond the daily headlines.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Axis of Instability: The U.S., Israel, Iran and the Gulf [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:25
What is the outcome of the escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, Iran and Gulf Arab nations? Join us for a conversation on this timely topic, focusing on the shifting regional balance of power among key…
How to Increase Your Luck, with Stanford’s Tina Seelig [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:58
Much of what we call luck is the result of deliberate actions and consistent efforts. As Stanford Professor Tina Seelig shared in her popular TED Talk, luck is like the wind—constantly blowing, often unpredictable, and a…
CLIMATE ONE: Protest and Beyond: Annie Leonard On What You Can Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:09
Protest is the ultimate in equal-opportunity political action. As Annie Leonard, former executive director of Greenpeace USA says, "Making change is like laying a stone path across the garden. Peaceful protest may be eve…
A World on Fire- the perspective from China [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:50
There is an ancient saying in China, or perhaps a curse: “May you live in interesting times.” We appear to be living right in the middle of very interesting times. From wars in Eastern Europe, to regime toppling in Latin…
In Conversation with Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:18
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian's new book, Food Is Medicine, is an urgent indictment of the food we eat, how it is making us sick, and the choices that led us here, and a call for a revolutionary new food system that can mend o…
Doris Kearns Goodwin: An Unfinished Love Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:49
Doris Kearns Goodwin is one of America’s best known and most popular historians, having told the stories of great American leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, Lyndon Johnson, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, and…
Italianity Program and Wine Tasting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:33
Italy’s vineyards stretch from Alpine peaks to volcanic islands, from rolling Tuscan hills to sun-drenched coastlines. Each glass of Italian wine carries not only the flavor of its land but also the imprint of centuries…
Cleo Wade: In a World of Sunrises [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:00
Bestselling author Cleo Wade returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs with a hug of a book—her latest, In a World of Sunrises, a collection of poetry, prose and inspirational quotes providing uplift and comfort for 365…