Burner Podcast

Born on the South Side of Chicago and based in Seattle, Chris Offutt (aka Black Velveteen) is a pillar of the Pacific Northwest creative community and the founder of the Sage Rites record label. Her musical foundation, built on a childhood range of Motown to Mozart, manifested in a career navigating the cultural textures of San Francisco and Seattle, including her 2011 London-based radio show Progressions in House. This session, recorded at sunrise on ¡AXOLOTL! Art Car, Burning Man 2024. Black Velveteen first appeared on Burner Podcast with the closing set for Episode 88 (Post Burning Man 2018 Chat with Halcyon). Currently a resident at Habitat Seattle, Caravan, and Reflect, Chris continues to capture the heart-centered truth of the community through her sound and commitment to community building and collaboration. Burner Podcast Presents: Alkaline The Soundtrack to Your Burn [4/12/26] Session a069 Connect & Learn More Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/blackvelveteennow/burning-man-sunrise-on-axolotl-art-car-2024Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/djblackvelveteenProton Radio:https://www.protonradio.comAirpusher Collective:https://www.instagram.com/airpushercollectiveaxolotlartcar.cominstagram.com/axolotlearthguardian Standard Boilerplate Burner Podcast is an independent gift to the community, not a PR wing for the Org. We are an artist-documentarian project dedicated to capturing the stories and heart-centered truth of our global population. Reality is a conversation, and the conversation must continue. The project serves the community through three distinct channels: Burner Podcast:interview showaudio memoirsAlkaline:DJ mix showthe soundtrack to your Burn.The Dispatch: About the Host Arash Afshar (aka Miraḡe the Pluronaut) is an Iranian-American, SoCal-based artist and oral historian. He champions Artist Consciousness and views his mission as facilitating radical humanization through the medium of recorded conversations, written words, and photography. 🔗 Explore projects: arashafshar.com 📸 Instagram: @mrarash Support the Gift This show is a decommodified project. We grow only through your word-of-mouth—if this story resonates with you, please share it with a friend. You can also support the continuation of this conversation on Patreon. 🔗 Patreon: patreon.com/c/mrarash

Ben Haldeman is backing up our collective memories across the stars Published [3/31/26] Ben Haldeman is an engineer, explorer, and the visionary founder of LifeShip — designing pyramids filled with DNA archives and cultural time capsules to send to the Moon and beyond. A former early employee at Planet Labs, Ben left to follow a calling that crystallized during a vision quest through the forests of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. In this conversation, Arash and Ben look past technical specifications to explore the existential heart of why we document ourselves as a species. If the Burn is an exercise in the ephemeral, building a temporary city only to let it go, Ben's work represents the ultimate counterbalance: a community-driven effort to ensure the human story survives among the stars. From his hippie parents' Volkswagen van in Nova Scotia to landing a pyramid on the Moon in March 2025, this is an audio memoir of a man following the signs through ayahuasca ceremonies, dusty sunrises at Robot Heart, and asteroid missions - dedicated to preserving the seeds of Earth and spreading life into the cosmos. Episode Info Burner Podcast | Episode B161Recorded at Emerald Village on 3/19/26Featuring: Ben HaldemanLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhaldemanBlack Velveteenhttps://linktr.ee/blackvelveteen https://soundcloud.com/blackvelveteennow/burning-man-2025-airpusher-on-the-playaAirPusher Collectivehttps://www.instagram.com/airpushercollective/ Connect & Learn More LifeShiphttps://lifeship.comPlanet Labshttps://www.planet.comFirefly Aerospacehttps://fireflyspace.comAstroForgehttps://www.astroforge.ioAstroLabhttps://astrolab.space Places & Events Burning Manhttps://burningman.orgLA Tech Weekhttps://www.tech-week.com/laSvalbard Global Seed Vaulthttps://www.croptrust.org/work/svalbard-global-seed-vault/ Key Topics & Concepts LifeShip Moon Pyramidhttps://lifeship.com/pages/mission-updatesAsteroid Mininghttps://www.astroforge.io/missionEgypt Solar Eclipse 2027https://www.eclipse2027.org 🌟 Standard Boilerplate About the Show Burner Podcast is an independent gift to the community, not a PR wing for the Org. We are an artist-documentarian project dedicated to capturing the stories and heart-centered truth of our global population. Reality is a conversation, and the conversation must continue. The project serves the community through three distinct channels: Burner Podcast:interview showaudio memoirsAlkaline:DJ mix showthe soundtrack to your BurnThe Dispatch:remote check-inshttps://jomanmusic.com https://soundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/sets/burner-podcast-closing-sets About the Host Arash Afshar (aka Miraḡe the Pluronaut) is an Iranian-American, SoCal-based artist and oral historian. He champions Artist Consciousness and views his mission as facilitating radical humanization through the medium of recorded conversations, written words, and photography. 🔗 Explore projects: http://arashafshar.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrarash Support the Gift This show is a decommodified project. We grow only through your word-of-mouth—if this story resonates with you, please share it with a friend. You can also support the continuation of this conversation on Patreon. 🔗 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mrarash

Alkaline A068: Shamiran (Camp YOUniversal) 📅 [3/18/26] The Soundtrack to Your Burn In this session, we welcome a true sonic ambassador of the global community. Born in Iran and based in Los Angeles, Shamiran is an artist, musician, and sonic selector who has become a mainstay at Camp YOUniversal, known for their Persian Tea House (designed by the legendary Gregg Fleishman). A community activator and human rights activist to the bones, Shamiran can usually be found on playa with the sound and production team for Distrikt and coordinating Woman Life Freedom events in the default world. If she sounds familiar, it's because she was a part of Burner Podcast's 2025 Pre-Playa Planner crew. This set, recorded on Wednesday at Camp YOUniversal in Black Rock City during Burning Man 2022. Full Set: https://on.soundcloud.com/BaFGFP6y4cbj3yhRWr 🌎 Connect & Learn More Instagram: instagram.com/shamiran_sateriSoundCloud: soundcloud.com/shamiransateriCamp YOUniversalDistrikt: instagram.com/distrikt_org 🎧 Listen & Context Hear Shamiran in conversation: Burner Podcast Episode 159The Alkaline Archive: burnerpodcast.com/alkalinesoundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/136-accidentally-spiritual 🌟 Standard Boilerplate Burner Podcast is an independent gift to the community, not a PR wing for the Org. We are an artist-documentarian project dedicated to capturing the stories and heart-centered truth of our global population. Reality is a conversation, and the conversation must continue. The project serves the community through three distinct channels: Burner Podcast:interview showaudio memoirsAlkaline:DJ mix showthe soundtrack to your Burn.The Dispatch:remote check-ins About the Host Arash Afshar (aka Miraḡe the Pluronaut) is an Iranian-American, SoCal-based artist and oral historian. He champions Artist Consciousness and views his mission as facilitating radical humanization through the medium of recorded conversations, written words, and photography. 🔗 Explore projects: arashafshar.com 📸 Instagram: @mrarash Support the Gift This show is a decommodified project. We grow only through your word-of-mouth—if this story resonates with you, please share it with a friend. You can also support the continuation of this conversation on Patreon. 🔗 Patreon: patreon.com/c/mrarash

Burner Podcast Presents: Alkaline A067: Piccaya at Afrikaburn 2025 Welcome to the all new, all different (but mostly the same same) Burner Podcast Presents Alkaline — the soundtrack to your burn. Our new season opener welcomes back Piccaya, last featured in episode 90 of Burner Podcast, this time sharing one of his many sets from Afrikaburn 2025. Piccaya is a sonic traveler and storyteller based between Brussels and Barcelona, known for deep, organic, tribal-infused soundscapes that bridge the spiritual and the dancefloor. This mix captures a warm, glowy, hip-shaking journey recorded Friday morning at Bubbles & Bass in the Karoo Desert. Additionally, let it be said that your Persian Podcast host appreciated Piccaya casually dropping a Persian tune into the mix. Links piccaya.com → https://www.piccaya.com/about Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/piccaya/ Kosmozoo → https://www.kosmozoo.org/ Camp & Event Bubbles & Bass → https://www.bubblesandbass.com/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bubbles.and.bass/ Listen & Context Full mix → https://on.soundcloud.com/mFvDaw1BqKK9lJOK7s Previous appearance (Burner Podcast Episode 90) → https://www.burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/episode-90-rise-of-the-regionals Curated by Burner Podcast host Arash (aka Miraḡe the Pluronaut), Burner Podcast Presents: Alkaline showcases mixes by DJs active across the global Burning Man community. New episodes now drop on the same feed as Burner Podcast. Explore the original Alkaline archives (Sessions A001–A066), hosted and produced by Navjeet Sarna: https://www.burnerpodcast.com/alkaline

A Post-Burning Man 2025 chat with 20-year veteran & camp lead Rand Pate The dust has barely settled, and Arash is still shaking it out of his hair—and maybe out of his brain. In this post-Burning Man 2025 debrief, he sits with Rand Pate, a 20-year veteran and long-time camp lead of Bubble Lounge, to unpack what might have been the roughest year on record. From hurricane-force whiteouts and shattered shade structures to an unexpected birth, a tragic homicide, and the most international population in playa history, 2025 pushed the community to its edge. They talk about the evolution of playa culture, the loss of Center Camp Café, camp leadership under pressure, and why radical inclusion sometimes has limits. Rand shares lessons from two decades on the dust and how Bubble Lounge held its spirit through chaos. The conversation closes with gratitude, gallows humor, and a new DJ set by Todd Spero, recorded at Slut Garden in 2017*.* Episode Links / Resources Bubble Lounge Camp history – https://www.thebubblelounge.net/ Burning Man 2025 overview (news, weather, stats) – https://burningman.org/event/ Burning Man+1 2025 event incidents (weather, birth, homicide) – • Dust storm & weather: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/aug/26/burning-man-weather-storms The Guardian • Unexpected birth (Baby Aurora): https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2025/08/29/baby-born-at-burning-man-mother-didnt-know-she-was-expecting/85895911007/ Reno Gazette-Journal+1 • GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-burning-man-baby-girl-2025 GoFundMe Film Dust (Short Film) – YouTube search: “Dust Burning Man short film” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQABv8jgVSw Film Ignite (Documentary Short) featured on Burner Podcast episode 96: The Wind Whispers – burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/episode-96-the-wind-whispers Film Charlie Goes to Burning Man – YouTube search: “Charlie goes to Burning Man documentary” DJ Set – Todd Spero @ Slut Garden 2017 – soundcloud.com/todd-spero/instereo-night-burning-man-2017-friday-night-slutgarden Burner Podcast Presents Alkaline – burnerpodcast.com/alkaline Follow Mr Arash – instagram.com/mrarash Show Credits Burner Podcast Episode 160 Recorded in Los Angeles 10/24/25 Host / Producer: Mr Arash Guest: Rand Pate Contributing Producer: Public Menace Music: Todd Spero – Slut Garden 2017 Set Theme: “Horse With No Name (Remix)” by Joman Call to Action Share this episode with three friends whom you’d like to talk out of going to Burning Man. Use hashtag #DontGoToBurningMan and #burnerpodcast when posting. More at burnerpodcast.com. About Burner Podcast Hosted by (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Independently produced and focused on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 160ish conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-born (and sometimes Vegas-based) professional photographer. You can learn more at arashafshar.com and reach out directly at mrarash.com/hello. Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

Roadtrip to Burning Man 2025 The Annual Pre-Playa Planner™ It’s that time again, kids! The Pre-Playa Planner is the yearly tradition where Arash delegates all the actual research to his way-more-responsible guests. This year’s dialed-in crew to help you mentally prepare for your adventures ahead: EsquireBubble LoungeSaffron aka Sara Barnettinstagram.com/cornepeliShamiraninstagram.com/saterishamiran The crew breaks down some of the 2025 art projects we're excited to see, rituals we’re bringing back, new surprises we're bracing for, and logistics that separate the veterans from the sparkle ponies. Burner Podcast Episode 159 Recorded in Los Angeles on August 2, 2025 📅 playaevents.burningman.org 🌀 2025 Art Installations: burningman.org/event/2025-art-listings 🎧 Here Shamiran’s full set here: https://on.soundcloud.com/26hAaDXocNpuuuMIWU 🛻 Your Pre-Playa Audio Toolkit: burnerpodcast.com/roadtrip 🗃️ Previous Pre-Playa Planners: burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/category/pre-playa-planner Contributing Producer: Public Menace of Bubble Lounge 🏹🪽✂️ Hosted by (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Independently produced and focused on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 150+ conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-born (and sometimes Vegas-based) professional photographer. You can learn more at arashafshar.com and reach out directly at mrarash.com/hello. Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

And on his seventh Burn, Tyler Williams truly came Home For his first six Burns, musician and professional Las Vegas community builder Tyler Williams attended Burning Man the millionaire way — flying in late, partying big, and heading out before the Temple burn. After the tragic death of his friend and boss, Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, Tyler returned to the playa — this time sober and with a deeper sense of intention. In this interview memoir, Tyler shares his story of growing up in the church, landing in Las Vegas with his band, and eventually working alongside Tony during the Downtown Project’s legendary revitalization of Fremont Street. Along the way, Arash and Tyler explore the lows of Ketamine and the real highs found in purpose, community, and creative contribution. Burner Podcast | Episode 158 Recorded on Bicycle Day of 2025 in Las Vegas, NV 🔗 Tyler’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tyler-williams-53089b20 🔗 Tyler’s music: reverbnation.com/theoryofflightmusic If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend, and if you're feeling extra generous, check out BurnerPodcast.com for ways to support the show. 🌟 About the Show Featuring in-depth conversations with artists, leaders, and visionaries shaping Burner culture year-round, Burner Podcast is the longest-running traditional audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Ranked among the top 5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes, it has been exploring international Burner culture for over a decade. 🎧 Dive into the archive at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes 📲 Follow @BurnerPodcast on Instagram and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates 🌟 About the Host Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American, SoCal-born, and Las Vegas-based cultural strategist, creative director and professional photographer. 🔗 Explore his projects at arashafshar.com 📸 Follow him on Instagram: @mrarash 💌 Send love (or hate) mail: mrarash.com/hello

Anthony Bondi refuses to let Las Vegas’s arts history disappear For over two decades, Anthony Bondi has been a living archive of Las Vegas’ arts and counterculture movements. From his large-scale tactile installations at Burning Man to his massive independent archive, Las Vegas Arts in Print Media, 1990–2015, Tony has tirelessly documented the ephemeral and forgotten corners of creative expression in Sin City. In this conversation, Tony and Arash explore the nature of cultural memory and the role of artists and storytellers. Tony guides Arash through an experiential journey into the hidden history of Las Vegas and its underground arts scene. Burner Podcast | Episode 157 Recorded in Las Vegas on March 28 and published March 31, 2025 🔗 Las Vegas Arts in Print Media LasVegasArts.org 🔗 anthonybondi.com 📺 Anthony on Parts Unknown 🎧 DJ Set Featured: Tomothy Bee aka Tasty Tim 🎵 soundcloud.com/tastytim

Burner Podcast Presents The Dispatch Joseph Mancuso, better known as Joman, is the producer behind the Burner Podcast theme song, a remix of America’s “Horse With No Name.” In this Dispatch, Arash and Joman catch up about dance music culture, his move from Denver to Austin, and his latest evolution as a video content creator. From viral bootlegs to Beatport charts, Joman’s journey weaves through Denver’s underground, Burning Man, and beyond. 🎧 Featured Tracks: “Distance and Time (for Allie)”“Drunk in 1999”“Footwear” (feat. Kaya) 🔗 More from Joman: Website | YouTube | Instagram

The Dispatch – Episode 002: Rat Lady Guest: Rat Lady Recorded on: 2/28/25 Arash hops on a call with Rat Lady of Mobility Camp to discuss practical ways we can all practice Radical Inclusion by making our Burns more accessible for participants with disabilities—and how to bring that mindset into the default world. Fun takeaway: No one gets to be a sparkle pony, not even at Mobility Camp! We don't have to be perfect but a little effort goes a long way. mobilitycamp.org About Burner Podcast Presents: The Dispatch Quick-bite conversations with Burners around the world. Featuring past guests and new voices, The Dispatch keeps the signal alive with check-ins to keep the seat warm between full episodes of Burner Podcast, which go live at the end of each month.

The Dispatch – Episode 001: Public Menace Guest: Jonny aka Public Menace Recorded on 2/25/25 Jonny, also known as Public Menace, shook up Reddit with his independent 180-page audit of Burning Man. In the inaugural episode of The Dispatch, Arash and Menace hop on a call to chat about some takeaways. Reddit: @Public__Menace Email: jonny@thealvara.com thealvara.com *** About Burner Podcast Presents: The Dispatch Quick-bite conversations with Burners around the world. Featuring past guests and new voices, The Dispatch keeps the signal alive with check-ins to keep the seat warm between full episodes of Burner Podcast which go live at the end of each month.

📅 2/29/2025 The importance of physical community spaces has never been greater. In this episode, we dive into the story of CoLab, San Diego’s maker space—where it started, what it took to get to where it is now, and why spaces like this are essential for the future of our communities. The go-live day of this episode marks CoLab's 11th birthday! CoLab’s lease began on March 1, 2014—making it the perfect time to reflect on how it came together and why having a dedicated space for creators, builders and community matters more than ever. 🎙 Episode Info 🎧 Burner Podcast | Episode 156 📍 Recorded on January 23, 2025, in San Diego 📝 Featuring: Jon Ray, Diane Hoffoss, Cecile Pham, Vic "Jolly Rancher" Liao, J-Good 🌎 Connect & Learn More 🔗 CoLab: sdcolab.org 🔗 Jon Ray: facebook.com/jondray 🔗 Diane Hoffoss: dianehoffoss.com 🔗 Cecile Pham: instagram.com/cecileqpham 🔗 Vic "Jolly Rancher" Liao: instagram.com/jollyrancher28 🔗 J-Good: continuum-designs.com 🎧 DJ Set Featured: Tomothy Bee aka Tasty Tim 🎵 soundcloud.com/tastytim 📍Tim’s DJ set was recorded live at Disorient, Burning Man 2024 📷 Cover photo by Justin Wojdula If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend, and if you're feeling extra generous, check out BurnerPodcast.com for ways to support the show. 🌟 About the Show Featuring in-depth conversations with artists, organizers, and visionaries shaping Burner culture year-round, Burner Podcast is the longest-running traditional long-form audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Ranked in the top 5% of podcasts globally by Listen Notes, it has been exploring Burner culture for over a decade. 🎧 Dive into the archive at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes 📲 Follow @BurnerPodcast on Instagram and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates 🌟 About the Host Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American, SoCal-born, and Las Vegas-based professional photographer and community-building addict. 🔗 Explore his projects at arashafshar.com 📸 Follow him on Instagram: @mrarash 💌 Send love (or hate) mail: mrarash.com/hello

Arash reconnects with Halcyon for a lively and candid conversation about Burning Man 2024. In this episode, they kick off by reflecting on Burner culture at large and frustrations with the growing toxicity in online spaces like the Facebook group. From there, they dive into some favorite art pieces, highlights from the playa, and a bit about attendance. They also chat about e-bikes and why having a ‘sparkle pony year’ brings some unexpected advantages. Episode number 154 Recorded in San Diego, CA on October 12, 2024 Contributing Producer: John Halcyon - hugnation.com @halcyon Photo by Mark Fromson @autobiographica About Burner Podcast: Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and hosted by founder ‘Mister Arash,’ Burner Podcast has been a fixture in the global Burning Man community since 2013. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, it ranks in the top 5% of podcasts worldwide (Listen Notes). Discover a decade of meaningful conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: soundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/sets/burner-podcast-closing-sets Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based(ish) professional photographer, writer, and community-building addict. Find him at arashafshar.com For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s manager and Burner Podcast Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley at properconcept.us/contact-us.

The Annual Pre Playa Planner™ For this year’s annual Pre Playa Planner, Arash joins Dusty Bottoms, Fantastic Sam, Nikki Darling in Long Beach, CA to geek out about all things Burning Man 2024. As always, this is the episode where Arash outsources all the real work to the his guests. The group chats about art projects we’re eager to see, dance floors we love and experiences we’re looking forward to diving into as well as some semi-valuable survival tips for your so called ‘vacation’ in the inhospitable Nevada Black Rock Desert. Episode 153 Recorded in Long Beach, CA on July 13, 2024 Learn more about the 2024 Temple: burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/an-ego-cant-build-a-temple Your playa roadtrip audio toolkit! burnerpodcast.com/roadtrip Previous Pre Playa Planners: burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/category/pre-playa-planner The Unofficial Mini-Encyclopedia BURN-tanica Kindle Edition by Karnitas Talk-oh - https://a.co/d/01toZnja Contributing Producer: Dusty Bottoms of Camp Acorn Oasis About Burner Podcast: Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and hosted by founder ‘Mister Arash,’ Burner Podcast is the longest-running traditional podcast in the global Burning Man community and is listed among the top 5% of podcasts globally. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore a decade’s worth of conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: soundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/sets/burner-podcast-closing-sets Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based(ish) professional photographer, writer, and community-building addict. Find him at arashafshar.com For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s manager and Burner Podcast Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley at properconcept.us/contact-us.

A collection of voices recorded at Burning Man 2016 Cabina Exuro was a Burner Podcast-sponsored art project designed by Ramiro Martinez Jr. that went to Black Rock City in 2016. Externally, it appeared as a triambic icosahedron sculpture, adorned with intricate laser-cut patterns and LED lights. Upon closer inspection, participants discovered an entryway that transported them into a 1940s-era radio station set, where they were invited to become radio guests and answer prompts which were recorded and saved to be shared someday in the future. About 100 Burners stumbled upon this unique project and recorded their voices, sharing personal stories, reflections, and experiences. These recordings were never shared publicly—until now. In this very special episode of Burner Podcast, we bring you some of those voices from Burning Man 2016. ramarchdesign.com/#/burningman2016 mrarash.com/cabina-exuro Episode 152 Recorded at Black Rock City, Nevada, during Burning Man 2016 Additional recording in Laguna Niguel, CA, 2024 Some sound effects courtesy of Zapsplat.com This episode was produced by all the folks who helped bring Cabina Exuro to Burning Man, including (but not at all limited to) Ramiro Martinez Jr., Tori Massie, Navjeet Sarna, Little Bear, Sam Godar, Amber Rose, Paul McCarthy, Arthur Roehr, Joseph Plummer, and Denise M. Lozano. About Burner Podcast: Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and hosted by founder ‘Mister Arash,’ Burner Podcast is the longest-running traditional podcast in the global Burning Man community and is listed among the top 5% of podcasts globally. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore a decade’s worth of conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: soundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/sets/burner-podcast-closing-sets Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based(ish) professional photographer, writer, and community-building addict. You can find him at arashafshar.com. For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s manager and Burner Podcast Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley at properconcept.us/contact-us.

An Ego Can’t Build a Temple Glitter Kitty embraces community and shadow work in her vision for Burning Man 2024’s Temple of Together Lebanese-bred and Brazil-born Caroline Ghosn learned to place a high value on deep connections from an early life lived in a larger variety of cities than your average childhood. The “activist entrepreneur” became Glitter Kitty in 2015 and has brought to the playa the sculptures Do Not Cross and Disturb My Slumber, paving the way for arguably her greatest feat, Burning Man’s 2024 Temple of Together. Arash interviews Caroline in April 2024, just as the temple team begins their transition from individual fundraising to the next phase of their efforts. Their conversation explores multi-generational trauma, the spiritual compulsion that is art-making, and multiple geek-outs about Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Chapter One: Highly Sensitive Chapter Two: When You’re in Hell, Keep Walking Chapter Three: Tiny Cute little Human Ego Chapter Four: Why Temple Chapter Five: The Gardner and the Architect Chapter Six: Gratitude Links: https://www.instagram.com/carolineghosn https://www.2024temple.com https://www.glitterkitty.art https://journal.burningman.org/2024/01/black-rock-city/building-brc/introducing-the-2024-temple/ Recorded at Robot Heart Residency chill space at all The Loom makerspace in Oakland, California, on April 20, 2024. (theloom.net) https://robotheart.secretparty.io https://www.robotheart.org https://www.instagram.com/robotheartfoundation Additional recording at Dome Asylum in Ramona, CA hipcamp.com/en-US/land/california-dome-asylum-hippie-homestead tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32937-d16645997-Reviews-Dome_Asylum-Ramona_California instagram.com/domeasylumramona This episode was produced by Kelly Smith (kellysmithcassidy.com) Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley (ra.co/dj/patrickdylan) About Burner Podcast: Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and hosted by founder ‘Mister Arash’, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional podcast in the global Burning Man community. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore a decade’s worth of conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: soundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/sets/burner-podcast-closing-sets Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based(ish) professional photographer, writer and community building addict. Send him love or hate mail directly at mrarash.com/hello and follow his writing on Substack at yesterdayiwasclever.com, where he publishes new pieces on culture, Art and identity every Friday. For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s management at properconcept.us/contact-us

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 to this episode: Sometimes Just [censored] It About Burner Podcast: Independently produced by a revolving team of contributing producers and hosted by founder ‘Mister Arash’, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional podcast in the global Burning Man community. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore a decade’s worth of conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: soundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/sets/burner-podcast-closing-sets Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based(ish) professional photographer, writer and community building addict. Send him love or hate mail directly at mrarash.com/hello and follow his writing on Substack at yesterdayiwasclever.com. For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s management at properconcept.us/contact-us

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 audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 140+ episodes at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and community builder. Connect with him directly at mrarash.com/hello. Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

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 home for #RandyTales Watch Randy’s #CancerTales Live At Burning Man 2018 - youtu.be/2lHizUiMdvg Listen to Iris’s full funky Christmas set here: soundcloud.com/iris_refractions/on-the-friday-before-christmas-there-was-funk-in-the-house Iris’s has tons music up at soundcloud.com/iris_refractions And follow Iris at instagram.com/iris_refractions Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and Hosted by founder (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the extended international community of Burning Man. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 140+ episodes at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and community builder. Connect with him directly at mrarash.com/hello. Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.