CLIMATE ONE: Mother is Mothering

CLIMATE ONE: Mother is Mothering

Author: Commonwealth Club of California May 8, 2026 Duration: 58:00
Sometimes mothers are biological; other times, they’re chosen. But often, they're the fiercest people you can have on your side. In this special Mother’s Day episode, we’ll hear stories about the vital role mothers and caregivers play in confronting the climate crisis. From a midwife providing essential healthcare in one of the most climate-stressed regions on the planet to an organizer who leads a network of over a million caregivers demanding cleaner air and a healthier future — these women show what it means to protect people in a changing world. Guests:  Dominique Browning, Co-Founder and Director, Moms Clean Air Force Neha Mankani, Founder, Mama Baby Fund; Climate Advisor, International Confederation of Midwives Shohreh Karimipour, Former Regional Water Engineer, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation; Kousha Navidar’s Mom For show notes and related links, visit ⁠ClimateOne.org/podcasts⁠. Highlights: 00:00 Intro 00:25 Shohreh Karimipour on instilling care for the environment 07:49 Dominique Browning on founding Moms Clean Air Force 12:36 Dominique Browning on framing climate around children’s health 15:10 Isla and Levi on what their mom has taught them 18:28 Dominique Browning on leading and dealing with federal rollbacks 23:47 Dominique Browning on how her approach is different 29:44 More mom stories 34:06 Neha Mankani on midwifery as a climate resilience strategy 35:54 Neha Mankani on connecting reproductive care to the climate crisis 38:39 Neha Mankani on the healthcare system in Pakistan 45:30 Neha Mankani on how climate impacts men and women differently 49:15 Neha Mankani on being able to serve in her role ********** 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 at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  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: 100

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Nancy Pelosi Reflects on 40 Years on Congress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:22
When House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced her retirement last year, USA Today called her “the most powerful woman in the history of the United States.” The first woman to become speaker and one…
CLIMATE ONE: Two Stories That Prove Change Is Possible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:18
We are living through a time where big positive change seems unachievable, but there are two instances from the recent past that prove change is possible. For over a century, Indigenous people along the Klamath River fou…
CLIMATE ONE: Press Start: Video Games and the Climate Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:40
About half the global population spends some amount of their leisure time playing games, whether it’s a board game after dinner with friends or online role-playing experience through an alternate world. While many video…
Dr. Ibram X Kendi: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:05
What is “great replacement theory” and how did it come to be a powerful fuel for right-wing nationalist groups in the United States and around the world? When white marchers in Charlottesville, Virginia, chanted “You wil…
Gov. Josh Shapiro: Where We Keep the Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:59
Join us in-person or online to hear a grounded and intimate portrait of life by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. His new book, Where We Keep the Light, is the story of public service and personal faith. From an early…
Taeku Lee: The Billionaire Backlash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:12
How can corporate scandals—from Enron to the Facebook privacy controversy—change the way the world works for the better?Political scientists Pepper Culpepper and Taeku Lee have drawn on a decade of research on policymaki…
When Justice Isn’t Enough, With D.A. Brooke Jenkins and Dion Lim [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:22
Join Emmy Award–winning journalist Dion Lim and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins for a timely conversation on justice, accountability and community impact. They will examine two tragic cases—Grandma Yik Oi…
CLIMATE ONE: Benji Backer: Nature is Nonpartisan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:49
In a moment when nearly everything feels polarized, Benji Backer is trying to carve out a different path, one where caring about the natural world isn’t a partisan issue. As the founder of Nature Is Nonpartisan, he’s bri…
Women Leading Change: Power, Policy & Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:01
Change does not begin with institutions. It begins with people. In honor of Women’s History Month, Commonwealth Club World Affairs convenes an extraordinary panel of women whose leadership has shaped San Francisco’s civi…