The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

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439

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Jun 2026

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EN-US

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Podcast of The City Club of Cleveland's Friday Forum and other City Club events.

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June 12, 20261 hr 0 min

The Salk Legacy: Vaccines and the Future of Public Health

The name \"Dr. Jonas Salk\" is synonymous with one of the greatest public health achievements of all time: The Polio Vaccine. The arrival of Salk\'s vaccine in 1955 was a beacon of hope and reinforced the role science can play to serve the public good. When asked who owned the patent for the vaccine, Salk famously replied, \"There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?\" In 1994, and just one year before Dr. Salk passed, polio was considered eliminated in North and South America. Today, vaccine hesitancy - driven by a host of reasons - has eroded childhood immunization rates in some parts of the country, and reignited a debate over vaccines as a stress test for public trust in science.\r\n\r\nContinuing the work of Dr. Jonas Salk is his son, Dr. Peter L. Salk. A graduate from Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he would go on to work in his father's laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies from 1972 to 1984, and again from 1991 to 1995. Together, they would research the biology and immunotherapy of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and develop an inactivated vaccine for HIV infection. Nowadays, Dr. Salk spends his time educating the public regarding his father's life and work and exploring approaches to reducing the severity of various public health problems. Since 2009, Dr. Salk has served as president of the Jonas Salk Legacy Foundation in La Jolla, California. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public Health, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology.\r\n\r\nIn partnership with the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation, join us as Dr. Peter L. Salk sits down in conversation with Dr. Arthur Lavin, retired pediatrician and Co-Founder of Grandparents for Vaccines. Together, they will discuss the Salk legacy, the state of public trust in science, and the future of public health.

June 8, 20261 hr 0 min

The Tyranny of False Choices

We are no doubt navigating an incredible age of disruption. Technology, algorithms, politics, and societal pressures have changed the way we both think and work. But how do we break free from a system that was created to manipulate independent thought? In his latest book, The Tyranny of False Choices: A Guide To Authentic Decision-Making, author Rey Ramsey provides a timely and practical guide for modern leaders to better manage through tumultuous times. Using methods to support critical thinking, moral compass navigation, and resilience, Rey provides a roadmap to reclaiming courage and personal agency required in leadership in these times.\r\n\r\nRey Ramsey is President and CEO of the Nathan Cummings Foundation and a social justice entrepreneur who brings more than three decades of C-suite experience in the non-profit, public, and private sectors. Previously, Rey has served as Oregon's Director of Housing and Community Services, President and COO of Enterprise Community Partners, and Chairman of Habitat for Humanity International-to name a few.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as Cleveland Foundation\'s Lillian Kuri sits down with Rey Ramsey for a candid conversation about leadership in these times, and what it takes to reclaim independent thought in a world designed to manipulate it.

June 5, 20261 hr 0 min

Leadership, Culture, and the Power of People

When Tricia Griffith joined Progressive in 1988 as an entry-level claims representative, her job often required crawling under cars to assess damage. Decades later, she remains committed to doing whatever is required as she leads one of the largest and most successful property and casualty insurers in the country. In fact, she still plays an active role in onboarding new employees at every level of the organization.\r\n\r\nProgressive's growth has been fueled not only by its recognizable brand and memorable advertising-Flo, Dr. Rick, and an additional cast of characters-but by a deeply intentional approach to company culture for which it recently earned the #1 spot on The Forbes America's Best Employers for Company Culture list. The same values that shape Progressive's public presence guide how the company recruits, develops, and empowers its people. Since 2016, Progressive has doubled its market share of the U.S. auto insurance market, growing to more than 18 percent and generating over $81 billion in earned premium, a testament to a culture that treats its workforce as a strategic advantage rather than a cost center.\r\n\r\nBefore becoming CEO, Griffith held several key executive positions including leading human resources for the insurer, giving her a leadership perspective shaped as much by talent development and organizational design as by operations and strategy. In this year's Leadership for the Greater Good forum, she joins us to reflect on what it takes to lead at scale without losing sight of the individuals who make growth possible.

June 4, 20261 hr 0 min

Building Resilience: How the Red Cross is Saving Lives Here and Across the Country

While the Red Cross is known primarily for blood drives and disaster relief, some of its most important work keeps people out of the hospital. The Home Fires Campaign has installed more than 3 million smoke alarms in homes across the country, saving thousands of lives. Emergency and disaster preparedness campaigns help communities ready themselves for weather related disasters. And CPR and First Aid training are critical to providing care at the moment people in crisis need it.\r\n\r\nMike Parks has been leading the Northern Ohio Region since 2015, after he retired as Rear Admiral from the U.S Coast Guard. In his role, Parks oversees five American Red Cross Chapters covering 31 Northern Ohio counties, serving 5.3 million people. In addition, he is frequently called on to lead disaster relief efforts, deploying for weeks to Maui to respond to the Lahaina fires, and to North Carolina after the flash floods from Hurricane Helene.\r\n\r\nJoin us for the next forum in the City Club\'s Local Heroes series, as we hear about the organization keeping blood in the blood banks, and our communities and neighbors safe from disaster.

June 2, 20261 hr 0 min

A Conversation with Cleveland Federal Reserve President Beth Hammack

Established more than 100 years ago to address stresses in the banking system, the Federal Reserve is the U.S. central bank. It comprises the Board of Governors, a federal agency located in Washington, D.C., and 12 Federal Reserve Banks around the nation.\r\n\r\nOne of these banks is the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, which serves the Fourth Federal Reserve District.\r\n\r\nThe Fourth District encompasses Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. Its mission is to ensure banks are trustworthy and secure, to keep the financial system running, and to represent Fourth District priorities on the national stage.\r\n\r\nCleveland Fed President and CEO Beth Hammack has led the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland since 2024. This year, she is one of 12 voting members of the Federal Open Market Committee, which is responsible for setting monetary policy.\r\n\r\nHammack has more than 30 years of experience in finance, capital markets, and risk management. Before joining the Cleveland Fed, she was cohead of global financing at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., where she was also a member of the management committee.\r\n\r\nAs president and CEO, Hammack oversees 1,100 employees in the Bank\'s Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh offices who conduct economic research, supervise banking institutions, and provide payments services to commercial banks and the U.S. government.

May 29, 20261 hr 0 min

The Rise of Women in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship has surged in the wake of the pandemic, and it hasn\'t slowed. Leading the way are women who have turned to entrepreneurship for better opportunities, flexible work schedules, and wealth creation. According to a 2026 report by Wells Fargo, women-owned businesses grew 12% from 2022 to 2025, nearly double the growth rate for businesses owned by men. These women-led enterprises now employ 12.6 million people and generate $2.8 trillion in revenue.\r\n\r\nThe same report ranked Cleveland sixth among the nation\'s Top 10 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in 2025 for its ability to foster the long-term growth and success of women-owned businesses. What sets Cleveland apart from its peer cities in terms of growth and opportunity? And what partnerships and initiatives are finding success in ensuring every woman has access to the capital, training, networks, and mentorship they need to achieve their dreams?\r\n\r\nAisha Childers is a Cleveland-based entrepreneur and operator leading multiple organizations across early childhood education, food service, and community-based event spaces.\r\n\r\nNathalie A. Dibo is the Founder and Managing Partner of Dibo Law, LLC, where she leads a team of attorneys focused on business litigation, real estate and business law, and estate planning and probate.\r\n\r\nNitina Francis is the Director of the Women's Business Center of Central Ohio at ECDI, where she leads programs that support and grow women-owned businesses across the region.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as Huntington Bank\'s Roshonda Smith leads a candid conversation on the current challenges, opportunities, and landscape of women in entrepreneurship across Northeast Ohio.

May 28, 20261 hr 0 min

Unlocking the Potential of the Public Realm

New York\'s Bryant Park was established in 1847, but by the 1970s, the 9.6 acres behind the New York Public Library just a block off Times Square had become an open air drug market, with muggings there cited as the reason companies were leaving Manhattan. Enter Dan Biederman, founder of the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation. Beginning in 1980, Biederman led a series of initiatives remaking the park into a destination for visitors and residents seeking respite and recreation. After a complete restoration and reimagining programing of the space in the early 1990s, Bryant Park had become a emblem of midtown Manhattan\'s rebirth. Today, with caf?s, a performance stage, ping pong tables, and ample tree canopy, it has become one of the most welcoming public parks in New York City.\r\n\r\nBiederman went on to launch a private consultancy, helping government agencies, private developers, sports teams, non-profit agencies, and communities reclaim and reimagine the public realm, with self-sustaining parks and urban spaces that contribute to community and economic development. He has worked in Green Bay, Dallas, San Francisco, Nashville, El Paso, and Seattle, among dozens of other cities.

May 27, 20261 hr 0 min

A Free and Fair Press in Cleveland

Essential-and foundational-to our democracy is the promise of a free and fair press. Civic life thrives when the relationship between media and government remains strong, transparent, and accountable. This is especially true at the local level, where access to trusted journalism directly shapes meaningful community engagement.\r\n\r\nIn Cleveland, the City is working to modernize operations and reassert its legacy in industry, growth, and innovation. Lakefront and downtown development have dominated recent headlines, alongside major initiatives focused on public safety and neighborhood stabilization.\r\n\r\nJoin the City Club, in partnership with The Press Club of Cleveland, for a timely conversation with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and WKYC's Russ Mitchell on the role of journalism in civic life-and what we can learn from the City's efforts to build what has been called "The Cleveland Era.\"

May 20, 20261 hr 0 min

Can We Talk? The Importance of Human Connection in the AI Era

Work is full of communication. Slack messages. Zoom calls. Meetings stacked on meetings. But many teams still struggle to do the one thing that matters most: connect in ways that build trust, insight, and better thinking together. It's like we're starving at a buffet.\r\n\r\nAnn Kowal Smith, founder and CEO of Reflection Point, will argue that a successful future (at work and beyond) depends not only on new technology, but on enduring human capacities: listening, empathy, curiosity, challenging assumptions, and disagreeing respectfully. Reflection Point helps organizations develop these five skills through shared discussions about literature, using stories as a practical tool for culture building and stronger collaboration.\r\n\r\nJoining Ann is Randell McShepard, Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Talent Officer at RPM, who will discuss why his company sees these critical capacities as essential to leadership, culture, and performance.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club for a unique forum featuring a live Reflection Point demonstration using a provocative short story. Together, the conversation will show how stories can help teams think more deeply, relate more honestly, and work better together.

May 15, 20261 hr 0 min

America 250 Ohio: Tradition, Innovation, and the Future of Opera

Part of The Cleveland Orchestra\'s Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Opera and Humanities Festival\r\n\r\nThroughout 2026, and in partnership with the America 250-Ohio Commission, the City Club will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States by exploring all the ways that Ohio has contributed to U.S. history for 250+ years. In May, our state will recognize Ohio Creates: Arts, Culture, and Literature.\r\n\r\nFor decades, The Cleveland Orchestra has consistently ranked among the very best orchestras in the world. Their excellence has kept Northeast Ohio in global arts and culture conversations and as a place where world-class art can thrive. Beginning in 2023, The Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director Franz Welser-M?st launched the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival-a new tradition of innovative opera presentations that tackles themes like \"Reconciliation,\" \"Power,\" and \"The American Dream.\" The festival's inaugural edition was praised by The New York Times as a "compelling proof of concept" and "an ambitious achievement." This year, the festival will explore the theme of \"Courage.\" It centers Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, which serves as a testament to courage and human nobility.\r\n\r\nYet, what does opera mean today, and what might it become? At the heart of the Festival is a new creative partnership with American jazz trumpeter and opera composer Terence Blanchard. He will be joined on the City Club stage by tenor David Butt Philip, who appears as Florestan in Beethoven's Fidelio, and Emmy-winning soprano Adrienne Danrich.