About

Host Anna Lappe with Mother Jones magazine’s Tom Philpott and Janaki Jagannath.

Imagine that you could be part of a conversation with best-selling journalist and author Michael Pollan; watch interviews with integrative physicians like Rachel Naomi Remen and Donald Abrams; and hear “spiritual biography” conversations with social change-makers like Nipun Mehta and Orland Bishop.

Imagine that you were a member of a community that formed around these gatherings, that learns together about the changing world we live in. What if we looked, together, at how to build more resilience, for body, soul, and community? Imagine that—and you have discovered The New School at Commonweal.

The New School presents conversations, readings, and performances with thought- and action-leaders of our time. Our community—more than 6,000 people in the Bay Area and around the world—gathers for conversations, book signings, art, and lectures. Most of our events are free, and so are our podcasts and videos—more than 300 on iTunes, Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, and our website Library. You can search our recording library by keyword, speaker, host, series, or subject, or check back on our Curated for You page, where we curate collections of recordings we love.

Host Victoria Santos at The New School in July 2021

The New School focuses on the emergent, seeking out those who are bringing dialogue, beauty, and change to the world. We present events in many areas: arts and sciences, health and the environment, and the inner life. We follow streams of inquiry, including Community Resilience, Archetypal Psychology, Spiritual Biography, Healing Circles, and Enneagram. There are no required beliefs or perspectives, and we aren’t afraid to ask the difficult questions. Whether it is grief, or joy, or wonder, we are enriched by sharing the exploration together.

Welcome to The New School at Commonweal.

The New School was founded and is directed by Michael Lerner and coordinated by Kyra Epstein.

Top photo: Host and Director Michael Lerner in conversation with Author Michael Pollan.