Where technology meets the examined life.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in San Francisco, USA — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: August 10, 2026
Prof. Shoshana Zuboff · San Francisco Main Library · August 27, 2026
Harvard Business School professor Shoshana Zuboff explains how tech giants have created a new economic order based on the commodification of human experience — and what individuals…
Kate Raworth · SFJAZZ Center · September 29, 2026
Economist Kate Raworth challenges the foundational assumptions of mainstream economics — growth, GDP, rational man — and presents her visual framework for an economy that meets hum…
Sen. Adam Schiff · San Francisco · August 10, 2026
Sen. Adam Schiff discusses the political and societal impacts described in his talk on the 'cost of corruption' under Donald Trump and how Americans are affected.
Ian Bremmer · The Commonwealth Club of California - Club Auditorium · August 11, 2026
Political scientist Ian Bremmer analyzes shifting geopolitical fault lines and the economic and security risks facing democracies in the next decade. A moderated discussion will co…
David Christian · Long Now Foundation — The Interval · August 11, 2026
Historian David Christian presents an updated overview of Big History and its implications for long-term planning and stewardship of planetary systems. He will connect deep-time pe…
Steve Hilton · San Francisco · August 11, 2026
Steve Hilton speaks about the closing phase of the 2026 gubernatorial race and the political dynamics shaping the final stretch.
Steve Hilton · San Francisco · August 11, 2026
Steve Hilton speaks about the final phase of the 2026 gubernatorial race, offering analysis and predictions. The event features commentary on campaign dynamics and voter considerat…
Atul Gawande · The Commonwealth Club — San Francisco · August 12, 2026
Surgeon and public-health writer Atul Gawande examines end-of-life care, medical decision-making, and systemic reforms to support dignity in aging. He will discuss practical policy…
Kate Crawford · SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) · August 12, 2026
AI scholar Kate Crawford explores the intersection of large-scale machine learning and contemporary artistic practice, focusing on ethical and aesthetic implications. The talk will…
Rebecca Solnit · San Francisco Public Library — City Arts & Lectures · August 12, 2026
Rebecca Solnit reads from her forthcoming essays and discusses the role of history and narrative in social movements. She will take audience questions about civic imagination and p…
Anne Applebaum · The Commonwealth Club of California (San Francisco) · August 12, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Anne Applebaum examines the global challenges to liberal democracy and the rise of authoritarian tactics. She will discuss historical precedents an…
Shoshana Zuboff · San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) · August 12, 2026
Shoshana Zuboff presents a new analysis of digital surveillance and its effects on public life and democracy. The lecture includes time for moderated questions from the audience.
Naomi Klein · The Commonwealth Club · August 12, 2026
Journalist and author Naomi Klein addresses the intersection of climate justice, corporate power, and grassroots movements in the current political moment. She will present recent …
Fei-Fei Li · San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) · August 12, 2026
AI researcher Fei-Fei Li examines intersections between artificial intelligence and visual art, focusing on perception, curation, and creative collaboration. The talk includes exam…
Paul Krugman · The Commonwealth Club of California — Forum Hall · August 12, 2026
Nobel laureate Paul Krugman offers a timely analysis of post-pandemic economic trends and the policy choices that shape inequality. The talk will be followed by a moderated audienc…
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie · City Arts & Lectures at Nourse Theatre · August 12, 2026
Pulitzer-finalist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reads from her new work and examines contemporary questions of identity, gender, and narrative authority. She will join interviewer Micha…
Kate Crawford · The Interval at Long Now (Fort Mason Center) · August 12, 2026
AI researcher Kate Crawford examines the material and social costs of large-scale AI and proposes frameworks for more equitable technologies. The talk situates contemporary AI with…
Michael Pollan · Long Now Foundation - The Interval (San Francisco) · August 12, 2026
Author Michael Pollan discusses plants, agriculture, and the moral dimensions of food choices in a changing world. The talk is geared toward long-term thinking about food systems a…
Kara Walker · San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) — Phyllis Watts Reading Room · August 12, 2026
Artist Kara Walker discusses her large-scale installations and the politics of historical representation in contemporary art. The program pairs a slide lecture with a moderated dis…
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie · City Arts & Lectures at Nourse Theatre · August 12, 2026
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses narrative, migration, and the politics of identity in a conversation about her newest novel. The event includes a moderated Q&A and a post-talk b…