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

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

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.

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.

• Transparency, Transparency, Transparency
• Burners are usually 10 years ahead on everything—why not this?
• How do we as Burners want to be governed?

Reddit: @Public__Menace

Email: [email protected]

thealvara.com

***

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.

🎧 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

🔗 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.

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

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

Dispatch from the LA Fires

In this episode, we take a very personal look at the devastating LA fires, Burners stepping up to help, and the way our community shows up in moments of crisis. Today’s episode features a conversation with Burner Podcast regular Dr. Kim Perkins and her husband Ranger Philtopia, both Black Rock Rangers, as they reflect on their experience living just around the corner from the the Altadena burn perimeter.

Before that, you’ll hear a 15-minute call with Efrain Vega De Varona, who has been working tirelessly on the front lines, coordinating direct relief efforts for those impacted by the fires. Efrain shares how he found himself in impromptu disaster relief, what’s happening in real-time in Los Angeles from his perspective, and how you can help support those affected.

While Kim and Phil’s home was spared, many others were not. Our primary incentive for getting this episode out ASAP is the show notes. Below you’ll find a list of fundraisers, GoFundMe pages, and direct action efforts that you can support.

🔥 Contact Efrain: Efrain Vega De Varona on Facebook

🔥 Support efforts via Debs: Debs on Facebook

🔥 Full list of fundraisers and resources: Google Drive

🛠️ facebook.com/BurnersWithoutBordersLosAngeles

🛠️ burnerswithoutborders.org

🎙️ burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/episode-75-to-build-a-better-tomorrow

🎧 Episode 155

📍 Recorded in Pasadena, CA

📝 Contributing Producer: Kim Perkins

Burner Podcast is independently produced and fueled by a rotating crew of amazing contributors. 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.

Love, light, and all that other crap. 💜

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.

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

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