CLIMATE ONE: A Cancer Diagnosis Reframed How Ben Santer Thinks About Climate Science

CLIMATE ONE: A Cancer Diagnosis Reframed How Ben Santer Thinks About Climate Science

Author: Commonwealth Club of California August 7, 2026 Duration: 1:00:10
Atmospheric scientist Ben Santer pioneered the research that connects human activity to specific climate events. Now, pursuing treatment for a rare type of lymphoma, he sees his own diagnosis and his climate science as the same kind of detective work: using essential and basic science to conduct tests, read complex markers, and rule out every other cause. Even while ill, he's calling out efforts by the Trump administration to reject, defund and ignore the science we all depend on.  “If we leave basic science behind because the administration doesn't like the results of the science, then as Americans, we're not gonna thrive, and the planet isn't gonna thrive either,” Santer says. Guests:  Ben Santer, Atmospheric Scientist, University of East Anglia   Rachel Rothschild, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Law School Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction   2:24 – Ben Santer on how he’s doing amidst his health issues  6:43 – Ben Santer on having the motivation to keep going   11:21 – Ben Santer on what it means to find human fingerprints on climate disruption  16:52 – Ben Santer on the importance of climate measuring  20:23 – Ben Santer on persevering through personal attacks and credible death threats 31:01 – Ben Santer on the effect of Trump administration funding cuts 33:43 – Ben Santer dealing with grief  38:54 – Rachel Rothschild on how state superfund laws work 42:26 – Rachel Rothschild on having her personal communication targeted 47:40 – Rachel Rothschild on the personal tax of doing her work  51:45 – Rachel Rothschild on what surprised her    For show notes and related links, visit ⁠⁠our episode page⁠⁠ at ClimateOne.org *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. ⁠⁠Sign up today⁠⁠. *** Ad sales by ⁠⁠Multitude⁠⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠⁠ 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: 50

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast
Podcast Episodes
CLIMATE ONE: It’s Too Damn Hot… So What Can We Do? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:09
We all complain about the heat, yet it's a climate threat we routinely underestimate. In the U.S., extreme heat kills more people each year than floods, fires and hurricanes combined. About 16,000 excess deaths were reco…
Ninety-Two: The Silent Revolt No One Saw Coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:43
Join us for an evening of film, data and dialogue exploring one of the most consequential workforce questions of our time, featuring the documentary Ninety-Two: The Silent Revolt No One Saw Coming. Black women are among…
Tremendous Telescopes: The Future of American Space Observation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:16
For 500 years, telescopes have opened windows on the cosmos with increasing power and precision. Beginning with the historic telescopes funded by Andrew Carnegie and built by George Ellery Hale atop Pasadena’s Mount Wils…
Investing in a Resilient Future: From Climate Finance to Human Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:56
Natural and human-made extreme weather events are disrupting food systems worldwide, threatening the long-term economic stability and health of already vulnerable populations. Across the globe, 80 percent of the poorest…
Ecocivilization: Making a World That Works for Al [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:59
It has been said that it is easier to imagine the end of the world than it is to imagine the end of capitalism. Yet Jeremy Lent says that is what this historical moment urgently calls for. As climate chaos, inequality an…