Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and diver Greg Louganis will discuss thriving as LGBTQ+ athletes, the evolution of inclusion in sports, and future advocacy. Kenworthy, an Olympic silver medalist and

Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and diver Greg Louganis will discuss thriving as LGBTQ+ athletes, the evolution of inclusion in sports, and future advocacy. Kenworthy, an Olympic silver medalist and pioneering openly gay skier, made history competing for the U.S. in the Winter Olympics. He also founded the Worthy Foundation, supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Learn more about Gus here.

Louganis, a diving legend with 5 Olympic medals and unbroken records, continues his legacy as a coach, author, and activist for HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+, and human rights. Learn more about Greg here. The discussion is moderated by Marcos Pérez-Ogilvie.

WeWork, once revolutionary in workspaces, education, and housing, ultimately faced financial turmoil. WSJ reporters Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell chronicle this journey in The Cult of We,

WeWork, once revolutionary in workspaces, education, and housing, ultimately faced financial turmoil. WSJ reporters Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell chronicle this journey in The Cult of We, examining tech startup triumphs and failures.

Join co-authors Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell (WSJ reporters, experts in venture capital and IPOs) with moderator Charles Duhigg (The New Yorker) to uncover startup culture's gripping reality. Presented with INFORUM.

The Commonwealth Club of California, the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum, hosts over 400 annual events. Explore more: Videos | Events | Membership | Watch/Listen | Facebook | Twitter.

Foreign policy expert Fiona Hill, from a coal-mining town, served under three presidents. Her book, "There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century," warns of

Foreign policy expert Fiona Hill, from a coal-mining town, served under three presidents. Her book, "There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century," warns of America's socioeconomic collapse and authoritarian shift, advocating for expanded opportunity.

Hill discussed these insights with Ellen Nakashima (The Washington Post) on October 12, 2021. This program is part of the Good Lit series by The Commonwealth Club, the nation's oldest public affairs forum.

More from The Commonwealth Club: YouTube | Events | Membership | Donate | Watch & Listen | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter.

Microplastics, tiny particles from broken-down plastics, pose a significant environmental and health threat, accumulating in waterways and bodies. Cellugy offers an eco-friendly solution:

Microplastics, tiny particles from broken-down plastics, pose a significant environmental and health threat, accumulating in waterways and bodies. Cellugy offers an eco-friendly solution: cellulose, derived from plants and bacteria. This natural substance, produced at scale for cosmetics and personal care, safely replaces plastic-based ingredients, effectively trapping water, oils, and vitamins while combating plastic pollution.

Cellugy participated in the Biomimicry Institute’s 2023 Ray of Hope Accelerator, a program supporting nature-inspired startups that scale systemic solutions to global environmental challenges. These innovators leverage nature's wisdom to address critical issues. Learn more: Ray of Hope Accelerator | Biomimicry Institute | Cellugy | Cellugy on AskNature

The Biomimicry Institute's Ray of Hope Accelerator empowers early-stage, nature-inspired startups to develop regenerative solutions. Ten recent graduates from the six-month program showcased their

The Biomimicry Institute's Ray of Hope Accelerator empowers early-stage, nature-inspired startups to develop regenerative solutions. Ten recent graduates from the six-month program showcased their biomimicry innovations, addressing urgent global challenges in energy, materials, water, and biodiversity. These founders leverage nature's strategies to shape the future.

Applications for the 2026 Cohort open in early March. Learn more and ask questions at our Ask Us Anything Session on March 18 at 9:00 AM PT: https://biomimicry.org/events/ray-of-hope-accelerator-ask-us-anything-session/.

The food industry significantly drives biodiversity loss and accounts for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. The Big Food Redesign Challenge envisions designing food systems that

The food industry significantly drives biodiversity loss and accounts for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. The Big Food Redesign Challenge envisions designing food systems that regenerate nature rather than harming it.

In a special episode of The Circular Economy Show, guest host Lucy Parker explores how learnings from the Challenge can create a food system better for people, nature, and climate. Featured speakers include Jonquil Hackenberg of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Wendy Schmidt of the [Schmidt Family Foundation](https://tsffoundation.org/) discussing philanthropy, and Michelin-starred chef Douglas McMaster of [Silo](https://www.silolondon.com/) on innovative approaches.

Learn more about the [Big Food Redesign Challenge](https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/the-big-food-redesign-challenge/overview?utm_campaign=drumbeat-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=ce_show_podcast&utm_content=&utm_term=) and its participants, or watch the full [episode on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cjJv3LQGD4&list=PLXT_ozykGVakhZv7xI3VVcTPjM51prIi7&index=5).

This episode features Joe Iles, Head of Design Activation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, who delves into practical circular design. He explains it's not merely about durable products, but

This episode features Joe Iles, Head of Design Activation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, who delves into practical circular design. He explains it's not merely about durable products, but reflects the complex, interconnected systems of our world. Joe explores why innovative circular design ideas often struggle to scale.

He highlights crucial design competencies for transitioning to a circular model, including systems thinking, prototyping, and collaboration. These skills are essential for moving beyond buzzwords to effective implementation.

Explore related resources: The Circular Design Guide, The Jeans Redesign, The Circular Buildings Toolkit, and From ambition to action: an adaptive strategy for circular design.

Companies developing lightweight structural materials seek sustainable alternatives. Strong By Form, a 2022 Ray of Hope Prize participant, offers a solution by applying the natural intelligence of

Companies developing lightweight structural materials seek sustainable alternatives. Strong By Form, a 2022 Ray of Hope Prize participant, offers a solution by applying the natural intelligence of tree structures to engineered wood. Their design-to-manufacturing technology combines digital design, structural optimization, and fabrication to produce lightweight, wood-based composite parts. This innovation replaces high-CO2 materials like concrete and steel across diverse applications.

For instance, their Woodflow-composite slabs can reduce concrete use by 30% and wood by 70% compared to conventional timber-concrete slabs. Strong By Form is also developing optimized wood-based connectors to eliminate metal in frame joints, creating lighter, 100% wood-based, and lower-CO2 structures.

Learn more: Strong By Form, AskNature Innovation, and Biomimicry Institute.

The textiles industry's linear "take-make-waste" model has a significant environmental impact. To counter this, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation proposes universal circular economy policy goals. A

The textiles industry's linear "take-make-waste" model has a significant environmental impact. To counter this, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation proposes universal circular economy policy goals. A key objective is to "make the economics work," fostering circular business models (resale, rental, repair) through incentives and regulations to make them the norm.

An April 27th episode explored how policy can enable this transition in fashion and textiles. Experts from the European Commission, European Environment Agency, and Swedish EPA shared perspectives on increasing circular business model adoption.

Watch the full episode, learn more about the Universal Policy Goals, or explore more episodes and our work.

Inspired by the Venus flower basket's efficient cellular architecture, Metavoxel Technologies has developed 3-D modular building materials. This innovation addresses the environmental impact of

Inspired by the Venus flower basket's efficient cellular architecture, Metavoxel Technologies has developed 3-D modular building materials. This innovation addresses the environmental impact of traditional construction, which consumes vast resources and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

Engineers design cellular blocks from materials like wood and biocomposites. These can be robotically assembled into strong, ultra-lightweight metamaterials for diverse applications, including buildings and vehicles. This revolutionary approach reduces raw material use and carbon footprint, embodying nature's principle of "doing more with less."

Learn more: Metavoxel Technologies, AskNature (Sponge Innovation), Biomimicry Institute, AskNature.