Update: BURNING MAN confronts GLOBAL ISSUES
THE INTERSECTION
As the media portrays 2023's Burning Man as a hellscape, revists the work of a group of Burners at the 2019 event. They felt that the overwhelmingly white community wasn't living up to its self-proclaimed principle of Radical Inclusion. Find out what has changed and what hasn't. And, as you are bombarded with online click bait about 70,000 people being stranded in the desert, I encourage you to listen to the nine-episode season of . You’ll hear the stories of an insanely creative, giving, conscious, and unconventional community. ----- Go to to learn more about the series. To...
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S03 E09 - BLACK LIVES MATTER meets BLACK ROCK CITY
THE INTERSECTION
A guiding principle of Burning Man is "Radical Inclusion." Basically, all are welcome. But, the temporary city that Burners build in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert has never been racially diverse. Just 1% of Black Rock City self-identifies as Black. In this episode, we explore why there's been a disconnect between racial and radical inclusion, and what some Burners like Favianna Rodriguez are doing to change that.
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S03 E08 - PRESENT meets PAST at Burning Man
THE INTERSECTION
Burning Man is known for a lot of things: The art. The parties. The wooden man that’s set on ablaze every year. But most Burners don’t know much about the history of the land or its original inhabitants: the Pyramid Lake Paiutes. In this episode, reporter Lucy Kang explores the tribe's relationship to Burning Man.
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S03 E07 - REVELRY meets REVERENCE at Burning Man
THE INTERSECTION
Deep in the Black Rock Desert, beyond the theme camps and the effigy that gives Burning Man its name, there’s another wooden structure: it blends art and architecture, inside and out. Arguably, it’s the sacred and spiritual center of the event. Why is there such attachment to a temporary structure that’s little more than wood and nails? Reporter Jonathan Davis went in seatch of the answer.
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S03 E06 - DESERT meets DEFAULT at Burning Man
THE INTERSECTION
Burning Man is known for its massive, Instagram-friendly art installations that are a stark contrast to the beige, desert backdrop. There are also many smaller projects, labors of love that can easily get lost. In this installment, we discover one of them. To the naked eye, it looks like an old phone on a dusty table. What awaits those who pick it up? Find out.
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VIDEO / S03 E04 - WILL meets WAY at Burning Man
THE INTERSECTION
What's it like to be in a wheelchair or have mobility issues on the playa? Photojournalist Morgan Lieberman spent the week with Rat Lady and Mobility Camp. And if you haven't listened to the full episode — S03 E04 — consider this a teaser.
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S03 E05 - PARTY meets PRAYER at Burning Man
THE INTERSECTION
Burning Man is pagan at its core with a hell-ish aesthetic. It's understandable that many evangelical leaders condemn the event. But why do so many devout Christians attend each year? And what do they do once they're there? We meet the priests and apostles of Religous AF camp, who are on a mission to help other Burners heal their spiritual wounds.
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VIDEO / S03 E02 - ART meets MOTION at Burning Man
THE INTERSECTION
From our family to yours: a bonus video that adds visuals to Episode 02 about a family of first-time art-car makers at Burning Man. Turns out, the ups and downs of Eileen the Pearl Peacock were photo-documented by one of the makers — Robin Damore — who is also a portrait artist. Enjoy! (And if you haven't listened to the full episode, consider this a teaser.)
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S03 E04 - WILL meets WAY at Burning Man
THE INTERSECTION
Burning Man is guided by the so-called "10 Princples," one of which is radical inclusion. What does that mean for people with disabilities? Especially at an event that spans seven-square miles of cracked desert, and the most common forms of transit are biking and walking. We meet a Burner with limited vision and a camp for people with mobility issues.
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S03 E03 - CHAOS meets CONTROL at Burning Man
THE INTERSECTION
1996 was a turning point for Burning Man. It was also the last year co-founder John Law attended. Two people were run over in their tents. And another person died in a head-on collision right before the gates opened. The next year, organizers tried to tame the chaos with a bunch of new rules and a grid of streets. It was too much of a compromise for Law. So, he walked away. We talked about that and more at his office in Tribune Tower in Oakland.
info_outlineWhat will Googleville look like in 2030? And why did it take almost a decade for Mountain View's city council to decide? In the season finale, we explore how a city crafts a plan for the future while dealing with a housing shortage, a transportation crisis—and the demands of one of the powerful companies in the world. Ever wonder how local governments work? Go on, press play.
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Producer: David Boyer
Editor: Ben Trefny
Engineer: Chris Hoff and David Boyer
Music: Erik Pearson
Associate Producer: Lucy Kang
Associate Editor: Ashleyanne Krigbaum
Launch Guru: Megan Jones
Special thanks to Lisa Morehouse and Lizzie Donahue.
Produced with the technical and emotional support of KALW, and the financial support of SF Arts Commission and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the NEH.