Burner Podcast

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.

Blame Halcyon - The Burning Man 2024 Recap Episode 10/23/2024

Roadtrip to Burning Man 2024 07/13/2024

A Burning Man Audio Time Capsule 07/13/2024

A Burning Man Audio Time Capsule 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. Episode 152 Recorded at Black Rock City, Nevada, during Burning Man 2016 Additional recording in Laguna Niguel, CA, 2024 Some sound effects courtesy of 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 . DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: Follow and 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 . For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s manager and Burner Podcast Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley at . /episode/index/show/burnerpodcast/id/32119362

An Ego Can’t Build a Temple 05/14/2024

An Ego Can’t Build a Temple 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: Recorded at Robot Heart Residency chill space at all The Loom makerspace in Oakland, California, on April 20, 2024. () Additional recording at Dome Asylum in Ramona, CA This episode was produced by Kelly Smith () Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley () 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 . DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: Follow and 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 and follow his writing on at , where he publishes new pieces on culture, Art and identity every Friday. For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s management at /episode/index/show/burnerpodcast/id/31292382

Ten Years: A Burner Podcast Memoire 05/09/2024

Scientifically Proven Quantum Manifestation? 01/23/2024

Christmas in Vegas 12/31/2023

Sarge’s Orders 12/19/2023

Black Astronaut 12/10/2023

Stupider Than Burning Man 10/19/2023

The Burn You Need 09/19/2023

From Austin to Black Rock 07/29/2023

Candids and Consent 07/29/2023

A Particular Set of Skills 07/20/2023

A Particular Set of Skills 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 rekindling joy in a regional event once thought to be fading away. This episode serves as a part of Burner Podcast’s mission to celebrate those who work tirelessly throughout the year to keep the flames burning in our vibrant international community. Recorded in San Diego, CA Cable’s art project - Morrissey Temple of Sad: Hosted by (mr)Arash, the original Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional format audio podcast in the extended international Burning Man community. Independently produced and focused on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 140 previous episodes at . Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and founder of Justified Hype creative collective. Reach out directly at . Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of Burners including , , and among many others. Follow and for wildly irregular updates. /episode/index/show/burnerpodcast/id/27520332

Addiction to Certainty 06/20/2023

Addiction to Certainty 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 wellness. This episode serves as a part of Burner Podcast’s mission to normalize mental health. Mia’s website houses a very impressive directory of mental health resources including a robust list of Mental Health Crisis & Phone Support numbers, Psychedelic Information & Education links as well as various Therapist Directories to help on your search for a provider with whom you may feel a more personal connection. You’ll easily spend a couple of hours poking through . Mia highly recommends The Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy nationally and hosts an excellent directory of resources. Please also consider donating if you so happen to be in the financial position to do so. Learn more at . Mayra (as well as multiple listeners of Burner Podcast who messaged us privately) recommend taking a look at Open Path Collective, a nationwide network of mental health professionals who offer in-person and online therapy at reduced rates. They have a directory of therapists in California who provide services on a sliding scale basis. Here are some more resources Dr. Gomez Padua recommends… Many universities with psychology or counseling programs have training clinics where graduate students provide therapy under the supervision of licensed professionals. These clinics often offer affordable services on a sliding scale. Some examples include: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Psychology Clinic San Francisco State University Psychology Clinic California State University, Long Beach Psychology Clinic Additionally, California has various community mental health centers that provide low-cost or free mental health services to individuals in need. Some centers offer sliding scale fees based on income. You can search for community mental health centers in your specific area for more information. One example is the San Francisco Mental Health Association and County Mental Health Departments which may provide services on a sliding scale. See if your local county has a mental health department as a possible avenue. Some nonprofit organizations in California offer mental health services at reduced rates or on a sliding scale. Examples include: The Women's Therapy Center in Berkeley and The LGBT National Help Center in San Francisco. is another online therapy platform that offers affordable counseling services. They have licensed therapists who provide therapy via text, audio, and video. The DJ set featured in this podcast can be found at . Follow Ümee Dee and her blog at . And if you’re curious about Arash’s “dopamine reset thingy” check out this interview over at NPR: . Hosted by (mr)Arash, the original Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the extended international community of Burning Man. Independently produced and focused on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 139 previous episodes at . Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and founder of Justified Hype creative collective. Receive monthly very personally written email blasts from him or reach out directly at . Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of burners including , , and among many others. Follow and for wildly irregular updates. /episode/index/show/burnerpodcast/id/27218754

A Conversation on Commodification 04/25/2023

A Conversation on Commodification 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 true to the principles of being a good burner. A lot of links for this episode! This episode was recorded at Mid Century Store, owned by Blake and Dan Reeves. Dan was the lead artist of The Journey Project and served on the SDCAP board. He also appeared on episodes 59 and 123 of this podcast. Mid Century Store, owned by Blake Macaluso and Dan Reeves: The Journey Project: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=887157681432583 Burner Podcast episodes with Dan: Paint Green: Jon Ray's business, Paint Green, is a local San Diego company that provides environmentally safe painting services. Previous Burner Podcast episode featuring Jon Ray: Outfits and Oddities: Check out the Outfits and Oddities Facebook page for some wild fashion inspiration. The Punkin Project: Dawn Sardinas, along with her partner Wylie, created The Punkin Project, which features a 15+ passenger 4WD steampunk pumpkin stagecoach with rock crawler suspension. SD Fabrication Solutions: Check out Wylie Weldy's business, SD Fabrication Solutions. Yes, his name is really Wylie Weldy. Dome Asylum - Dawn and Wylie’s property in Ramona, CA "Phoenix Syndrome" photography show, which show supported by Dan Reeves and Blake Macaluso. And Arash's own freelance photography gig, an example of business referred through the community: Kennos Soundcloud page featuring the set played in this episode: The massive photo of Kennos referenced was a part of the Black Burner Project by visionary artist Erin Douglas ** Miki Beach: and Miki Beach: Finally, we'd like to give a shoutout to Miki Beach, who provided the location for Kennos' Deep House Yoga set. Check out their Soundcloud page for some more amazing music. And finally… The video of Master Dawn Sardinas breaking boards in high heels back when she was a taekwondo instructor: "A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all" -Rumi Hosted by (mr)Arash, the original Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the extended international community of Burning Man. Independently produced and focused on burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore over 130 previous episodes at . Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and founder of Justified Hype creative collective. Receive monthly very personally written email blasts from him or reach out directly at . Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of burners including , and among others. Follow and for wildly irregular updates. /episode/index/show/burnerpodcast/id/26651547

Profiles in Dust 04/01/2023

Profiles in Dust 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 and check out his Emmy award winning stuff at . Watch Terry’s powerful participation in our community at . Pop over to to hear a ton of amazing music and hear the whole set from this episode at . And another massive thank you to for all the years of amazing participation in our community! <3 Hosted by (mr)Arash, the original Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the extended international community of Burning Man. Independently produced and focused on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore over 130 previous episodes at . Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and founder of Justified Hype creative collective. Receive monthly very personally written email blasts from him or reach out directly at . Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of burners including , and among others. Follow and for wildly irregular updates. /episode/index/show/burnerpodcast/id/26409903

Episode 137: Stuck in Customs 02/09/2023

Episode 137: Stuck in Customs 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. Visit and to explore Trey's spectacular art and photography. Watch Machine Elf 98 at , and you can find more of these creations at . Trey's new podcast can be found at . Pop over to to hear a ton of amazing music. Learn more about Burning Man's regional network over at and these previous episodes of Burner Podcast: And a massive thank you to for all the years of amazing participation in our community! <3 Hosted by (mr)Arash, the original Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the extended international community of Burning Man. Independently produced and focused on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore over 130 previous episodes at . Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and founder of Justified Hype creative collective. Receive monthly very personally written email blasts from him or reach out directly at . Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of burners including , and among others. Follow and for wildly irregular updates. /episode/index/show/burnerpodcast/id/25884318