Thursday, December 5, 2019, 8pm Zellerbach Hall

Dan Pfeiffer with Lauren Schiller

Cal Performances’ 2019–20 season is sponsored by Wells Fargo.

21 ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dan Pfeiff er is a former White House commu- the public. In addition to his campaign and nications director, noted political and digital White House experience, Pfeiff er is a former strategist, Pod Save America co-host, CNN con- vice president of communications and policy tributor, and best-selling author. His New York at GoFundMe. He is a graduate of Georgetown Times No. 1 best-seller, Yes We (Still) Can: Poli- University. tics in the Age of Obama, Twitter and Trump is a Combining, wit, humor, inspiration, spot-on colorful account of how politics, the media, and political instincts, and formidable storytelling the internet changed during the Obama presi- abilities, Pfeiff er takes audiences inside Wash- dency alongside the evolution of social media. ington politics, the experience of working in the Along with fellow White House veterans Jon White House, and the adrenalin rush of high- Favreau, , and , he is stakes political campaigns. A self-described co-host of the popular progressive Pod “process truster,” Pfeiff er infuses all of his talks Save America, a self-described “no-bull**** with his energizing optimism for America’s po- conversation about politics” with more than litical system and the importance of getting in- 300 million downloads. Pod Save America also volved. As Pfeiff er’s Pod Save America co-hosts became a series of popular live HBO specials have said, “Dan is one of the most brilliant ob- that provided coverage of the 2018 midterm servers of politics and media in America, and elections. he has never lost faith in the idea that activism One of President ’s longest and public service are noble, worthwhile pur- serving advisors, Pfeiff er joined his presidential suits—especially for young people who want to campaign at the outset, serving fi rst as travel- make a diff erence.” ing press secretary and, eventually, as the cam- paign’s communications director. He entered Lauren Schiller is the the White House as Deputy Communications creator and host of In– Director and, by the end of 2009, had risen to fl ection Point, a nation- Communications Director. Pfeiff er held that ally syndicated public post until his appointment as Senior Advisor radio show and podcast in early 2013. In this role, he focused on com- from KALW and PRX munications, political, and digital strategy. about how women rise Pfeiff er is credited with breaking new ground up, social change, and utilizing social media like Twitter, Facebook, the quest for equality. Medium, and Instagram, helping to transition She hosts in-depth conversations with her guests the communications apparatus into the dig- that include stories, inspiration, and actions you ital age. From interviews by YouTube stars to can apply to your own life. Schiller can also be the famous “Between Two Ferns” video with seen moderating live events at INFORUM, the Zach Galifi nanakis, Pfeiff er was a key force in Commonwealth Club, the Uncharted Berkeley expanding the range of nontraditional venues Festival of Ideas, the Bay Area Book Festival, the that the President used to communicate with JCCSF, and Zellerbach Hall.

22 PLAYBILL