Burner Podcast

Ten Years: A Burner Podcast Memoire Arash reflects on a decade of Burning Man, the Burner community and Burner Podcast Arash recorded the interview portion of the very first episode of Burner Podcast before attending his first Burning Man. With the transformative nature of Burning Man baked into the show, Arash reflects on a decade of growth, adventure and community. Unlike any previous editions of the show, this milestone episode features a solo scripted memoire by the host in six chapters: The Call, The Refusal, The Road, The Abyss, The Change and The Return. Recorded in Las Vegas, NV, April of 2024 Additional recording at Proper Concept Studio in Long Beach, CA, March 2024   Closing set by Christian Goodell soundcloud.com/christiangoodell soundcloud.com/bureauofhindsight Hear the full set at https://on.soundcloud.com/SPr4s5jrrVXqNB4d7 Recorded at Burning Medellin on 2-9-24 at Heard From in El Poblado, Medellin, Colombia   Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley (ra.co/dj/patrickdylan)   Read the compendium

Scientifically Proven Quantum Manifestation? Dr. Kim Perkins and Arash talk spirituality and science For the first new episode of 2024 Arash welcomes back one of the Kims (from episode 140) for a fun conversation about the intersection of spirituality and science. In addition to holding the honor of being Arash’s previous housemate, Dr. Kim Perkins is an organizational psychologist with a PhD in positive psychology. Arash and Kim dive into topics often brushed off as 'hippie stuff,' exploring their academic backing and practical applications. The episode closes with a portion of DJ Maxx Polishuk's full vinyl set from BRCU at Burning Man 2013. Recorded January of 2024 at Philtopia in Pasadena, CA Kim Perkins' Website More Episodes Featuring Kim Perkins DJ Max Polishuk's Vinyl Set Live at BRCU Burning Man 2013   _____________________________________   About the Show: Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and Hosted by founder (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional au

Episode 148: Christmas in Vegas A Dispatch from Las Vegas with Snarky Santa Arash gets to know a different side of Las Vegas with Randy Winsett AKA Snarky Santa. A father, anarchist, cancer butt kicker and host of Shouting Fire’s SIR Radio, Randy brings a mix of deep insight and irreverent humor to this episode, serving as the de facto co-host for Arash’s Las Vegas adventure. In a conversation at least five years in the making, we'll explore Randy’s roots in Oklahoma, nerd out on that #radiohostlife, explore the Las Vegas Burner community and dissect the existential lessons of cancer. Expect a a fairly even blend of serious emo crap and snarky giggle fests. Also a lot of Christmas crap.   Rerecord in Las Vegas, December 2023   snarkysanta.com - The Official Home for all things Randy shoutingfire.com/members/snarky-santa-aka-randy-winsett - Randy’s ShoutingFire landing page dashboard.transistor.fm/shows/the-snarky-santa-show - Archives of past shows facebook.com/snarkysantalv facebook.com/randytales - Facebook

Episode 147: Sarge’s Orders Torrey Pines Smith of Sextant fame goes full tech bro Join Arash for a delightful reunion with Torrey Pines Smith, affectionately known as Sarge from Sextant camp. Life's taken some turns for Torrey since his last appliance on Episode 72. He's embraced being family man and launched into entrepreneurial life with his startup, Endiatix. From the dust of BRC to shaping a venture capital firm, Arash explores with Torrey topics of transformation and evolution, wrapped in the spirit of the Burner community. Delve into the world of 'liquid smooth, organic robotics,' a metaphor for the seamless blend of technology and human experience as Torrey shares his insights on ego, intuition, and life’s surprises. Interview recorded in Hayward, CA in November of 2023 Post production recordings at The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in San Diego, CA Episode 72 with Torrey Smith endiatx.com/team The Dropout Podcast About the Show: Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers an

Episode 146: Black Astronaut Kamal X on love, rage and photography Dive into the world of photographer Kamal X. In this episode, host Arash sits down with Kamal in after as showing of one of his pieces to discuss his powerful book, "Black Astronaut," a culmination of three years of deep work capturing America’s chapter of protest. Kamal shares his experiences of global travel and how these adventures have influenced his approach to photography. The turning point in Kamal's career came from a moment of clarity at Burning Man, which profoundly impacted his life’s direction. The conversation explores how Kamal's personal experiences, including childhood trauma, have informed his work, creating a unique blend of intensity and empathy in his images. This episode offers a glimpse into Kamal's perspective as a photographer, revealing how his art narrates powerful human stories and emotions. Interview recorded in San Francisco, November 2023 Post production recordings at The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation

Episode 145: Stupider Than Burning Man Bat Country blazes a trail of mischief through Black Rock City Gather for a summit with the infamous Bat Country, a camp that emerged from the dust and has grown into a global community. Arash is joined by Handful, Begley, and Kip as they embark on a journey back to their crew’s beginnings, from the Mad Max-esque early days of Burning Man to the current LED-infused Black Rock City. We’re treated to an array of stories, including their participation in New Mexico’s SunBurn and the founding of West Virginia’s Frostburn. The conversation begins with Bat Country’s gathering at the La Jolla Playhouse for The Untitled, Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical and eventually delves into the infamous "Flat Gate" incident from Burning Man 2019 before wrapping with some enchanting playa magic stories. Join us for an insider's perspective on the dynamic world of Bat Country and the captivating tales of their journey through the Burner community. This episode was produced by Ferrell

Episode 144: The Burn You Need The Super Official Post Burning Man 2023 Official Recap with Halcyon Mud Man, Raining Man, Mud Burn or whichever other remix of the name you’re into, it is pretty much collectively agreed that Burning Man 2023 was a doozy! Arash and Halcyon reunite for their annual post Burning Man recap. Topics include the privilege of getting to attend Burning Man, dealing with mud in the portos, Diplo-gate and how it was definitely better next year. This interview was recorded on September 9, 2023 in San Diego, California hugnation.com Photo by Mark Fromson @autobiographica The Mud Burn You Need

Episode 143: From Austin to Black Rock The Burning Man 2023 Pre-playa Planner with Monday and Maria Gotay Arash is joined by Monday and Maria Gotay to geek out about Burning Man 2023. Monday, a member of the Placement Committee for Burning Man, and Maria, co-leading the massive art project called 1000 Hands, share their anticipation and excitement for the upcoming “Big Burn.” This special annual episode is a must-listen for burners on their way to Burning Man, as Arash, Monday, and Maria exchange ideas on how to make this year's Burn unforgettable with art projects they’re eager to see and valuable survival tips. This episode was produced by Kim Loop and recorded in Austin, Texas mariagotay.com artislandatx.com 1000handsart.com burnernetwork.org burnerpodcast.com/roadtrip2023

Episode 142: Candids and Consent With Texas-based Photographer Mike Whitten Join Arash for a captivating conversation with photographer Mike Whitten, as the two explore the culture of photography at regional Burns and Burning Man. Having recently resettled in Austin, Texas, Mike shares his experiences shooting since the film days and reflects on his 20-year fascination with Burning Man before finally hitting the playa. In this candid discussion (pun a little intended), Arash and Mike delve into the emotional impact of photography and explore some ethical frameworks photographers could potentially implement both on and off playa. Arash and Mike share insights into the nuances of taking candid photographs and the paramount importance of obtaining consent, highlighting the intersection of creativity, respect, and community values when capturing moments at Burns like Freezerburn and YOUtopia. This episode was produced by Kim Loop and recorded in Austin, Texas instagram.com/michaelhwhitten fzbtx.com burningman.or

Episode 141: A Particular Set of Skills SDCAP Board President Cable King In this episode, Arash delves into an insightful conversation with Cable King, the board president of San Diego Collaborative Arts Project (SDCAP). As the non-profit organization behind YOUtopia, San Diego's regional Burning Man event, and CoLab, the region's Burner maker space, SDCAP plays a crucial role in fostering the local creative community. With 16 years of playa experience, Cable shares his life journey and offers valuable insights into navigating the challenges of local community leadership. From YOUtopia's peak attendance of 3500 people to its current size of around 1200, Cable candidly reveals the trials and triumphs of working with a new generation of participants dedicated to reigniting the event's spirit. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the evolutions of the gay community and queer cultures, the importance of embracing authenticity, the significance of volunteership, and the transformative power of

Episode 140: Addiction to Certainty Psychologists Dr. Mayra Gomez Padua and Dr. Mia Sarno on Burner life and mental health Arash sits with psychologists Dr. Mayra Gomez Padua and Dr. Mia Sarno to explore a Burner community perspective on personal mental health. The discussion taps into just some of the challenges and obstacles folks often face when attempting to access therapy and considers both the providers’ and recipients’ perspectives. Dispelling common misconceptions about what therapy and working with a therapist entails, the trio share some practical ideas with a common theme emerging on the importance of daily proactive individual mental health practices. In the second half of this episode, listeners are treated to an uplifting melodic House set by Umee Dee, a Berkley-based psychiatrist who integrates music into her metal health profesison. As part of her unique approach, Umee plays solo DJ sets for her ketamine therapy patients, further highlighting the powerful connection between music and mental we

Episode 139: A Conversation on Commodification with business owners Jon Ray, Dawn Sardinas and Francisco Serna Arash is joined by a group of talented business owners who are passionate and active contributors to the Burning Man community. Entrepreneurs Jon Ray, Dawn Sardinas, and Francisco Serna share their perspectives and reflections on how to balance thriving in their respective businesses while upholding the ten principles of Burning Man. This roundtable discussion offers tips and reflections on how to integrate these two important aspects of life while staying true to oneself. Episode 139 also features a Deep House Yoga set from a friend and supporter of the Burner Podcast team, Kennos. The DJ set recording, which took place at Miki Beach during Burning Man 2016, is a captivating mix of percussion and flowing energy that will transport you back to a late morning on the playa. Don't miss this fun and inspiring episode that offers practical tips and wisdom on how to pursue professional goals while staying

Emmy Award winner Terence Pratt always has a camera with him For episode 138, (mr)Arash interviews Terence Pratt, a two-time Emmy Award-winning director of cinematography and co-founder of Profiles in Dust. Terence shares his fascinating experiences filming art projects and docuseries in far-flung locations ranging from magical fire-lit nights in Black Rock Desert to mystical experiences under the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. In this thought-provoking interview, he shares some of his stories working in Alaska and the Deep South and offers unique perspectives on exploration and art-making. And to add to the magic, another episode of the Burner Podcast ends with a mesmerizing Robot Heart sunrise DJ set by New Zealand-based The Scumfrog, this time from 2016. Marked as a milestone episode for the host of Burner Podcast, this episode is a must-listen for those interested in docuseries filmmaking and the artistic and cultural significance of Black Rock City. Visit terenceprattdop.net and check out his Em

Internationally renowned photographer Trey Ratcliff and a Robot Heart sunrise set from The Scumfrog Arash catches internationally renowned photographer Trey Ratcliff in Hollywood on one of his recent visits to the United States. Trey’s iconic travel photos have made a lasting impact on the international photography community and his images of Black Rock City and the desert have served as pillars of the storytelling around Burning Man. A pioneer in HDR photography and a multi-disciplinary artist making waves in the NFT space, in this episode we delve into Trey's unique perspective on photography and art, as well as his journey to becoming a self realized artist in conjunction with his exploration of Burning Man. After the interview we are treated to a sunrise DJ set from The Scumfrog, recorded live at Robot Heart in 2015. This electrifying mix includes a track that was used in Trey's Machine Elf 98, making this episode a super fun one for those interested in the intersection of photography and dance music. Vis

An interview with the legendary designer and architect Gregg Fleishman followed by a Robot Heart sunrise set by the legendary Lee Burridge In the latest episode of Burner Podcast, Arash has a captivating conversation with artist Gregg Fleishman, the highly influential designer, architect and inventor whose creations have played a significant role in shaping the aesthetic of Burning Man. We follow Fleishman's journey from his early life creating play structures to his rise in the furniture design world and his explosion onto the Burning Man scene with iconic structures such as the Temple of Whollyness, Camp YOUniversal's Persian Teahouse and various Burners Without Borders installations. The episode offers a wealth of insights into Fleishman and his work, as well as an epic three hour DJ set by All Day I Dream’s Lee Burridge, recorded at sunrise atop Robot Heart at Burning Man 2022. Kicking off the new year with a show jam packed with multiple universally beloved symbols of our community, Gregg’s hour long int

Buck AE Down ponders this question in his viral Medium think piece Artist, musician, writer, one of the gate perimeter and exodus managers and 24 year Burning Man veteran, Buck AE Down, might be the first of us to seemingly be able to answer the question that's been gnawing at all our craws since the 2022 exodus: What the #$%& just happened back there?? Get to know the talented and delightful writer of the Medium op-ed that any burner worth their salt is still talking about. Closing set by The Mutaytor (Gigsville) https://buckdown.medium.com/what-the-fuck-just-happened-at-burning-man-fd5e5b95e011 buckdown.net *** Hosted by (mr)Arash instagram.com/mrarash youtube.com/mrarash mrarash.com Producers instagram.com/muloka and instagram.com/lolmonday Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

Halcyon and Arash reflect on the first official Burning Man since The Before Times Pink Heart founder John Halcyon joins Arash for their almost annual tradition of recapping the year leading up to and their annual pilgrimage to Burning Man. This year's chat includes the obligatory wining about how hard this year was, exploring consent and photography best practices on playa and the amazing work First Saturdays is doing with brining Burning Man principles to the default. Closing set by Nicole Cayenne (Temple Of Fluff) youtube.com/hugnation withkoji.com/@halcyon hugnation.wixsite.com/zoom/1stsaturdays soundcloud.com/nicolecayenne facebook.com/TempleofFluff soundcloud.com/nicolecayenne/nicole-cayenne-burning-man-2022-on-the-smile-high-art-car *** Hosted by (mr)Arash instagram.com/mrarash youtube.com/mrarash mrarash.com Producers instagram.com/muloka and instagram.com/lolmonday Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

Athena Demos, Ginger Fox and Haley Who geek out about Waking Dreams The annual Pre-playa Planner returns after a two year hiatus. Athena Demos, Ginger Fox and Haley Who share which art projects they're eager to see, some thoughts on what they're excited about experiencing at Burning Man 2022 and a few insider tips and tricks on elevating the whole experience. No closing set this time! But what we do have is a bunch of links to explore and music to jam out to on your trip to Black Rock City. Visit BurnerPodcast.com/roadtrip2022 for playlists, music and more. ***** Some (most?) of the camps and projects referenced in this episode... facebook.com/BRCvr.org facebook.com/LamplighterLounge facebook.com/DustCityDiner instagram.com/sunrisedeepisland instagram.com/chomp_guide instagram.com/badlands_camp playajazz.com facebook.com/PlayaJazzCafe facebook.com/CelticChaosCommunity facebook.com/TheUnicornsCA instagram.com/divadanielle facebook.com/bigimaginationfoundation facebook.com/AREA15LasVegas facebook.com/group

A Physical Health Rundown with the founder of RGX Medical It's been almost 15 years since Richard Gottlieb aka Wolverine found himself working in the festival medical space. It was a passion for people that brought him here. We get to know Wolverine a bit for the first half hour of the show before getting into a quick and dirty primer on this year's big buzz: Narcan. The final third of the conversation gets into various physical health and safety notes including hydration, drug interactions, and the importance of washing our hands. Spoiler alert: There are no magic pills. Closing set by Pumpkin. rgxmedical.com soundcloud.com/pumpkin instagram.com/libfestival Pumpkin's full set: soundcloud.app.goo.gl/coueen9AVJMdZ26Z6 ***Resources*** endoverdose.net rollsafe.org dancesafe.org www.erowid.org Learn CPR in four minutes: youtu.be/1lwRQTGzKcw?t Or if you just can't even do four minutes, this one is amazing and it's a minute. Wolverine notes that this one is a bit dated as we normies aren't supposed to check

Dr. Kim Perkins and Kim Eisenberg LCSW   Organizational psychologist Dr. Kim Perkins and sex-positive therapist Kim Eisenberg join Arash for a chat about various mental health topics and how they pertain to the Burner community. Subjects of exploration include depression, suicide, organizational psychology, consent culture and dealing with potentially problematic participants in our Burning Man camps. Closing Set by Dances With Goats (The Mystikal Misfits) kimperkins.com kimeisenberg.com instagram.com/kimeisenberglcsw facebook.com/DancesWithGoats soundcloud.com/danceswithgoats **Resources** National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 San Diego Access & Crisis Line: (888) 724-7240 Call Black Line: (800) 604-5841 LGBT National Hotline: (888) 843-4564 The California Peer-Run Warm Line: (855) 845-7415 Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386 or text TREVOR to (202) 304 1200 Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860 General Support (Not 24-hours) SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (877) 726‑4727 National Alliance on Mental