Burner Podcast

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.org/event/participate/volunteering/teams/media-mecca

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

sdyoutopia.com

SDcap.org

instagram.com/sdcolab

Cable's art project - Morrissey Temple of Sad: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204980940944873&type=3

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 burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.

Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and founder of Justified Hype creative collective. Reach out directly at mrarash.com/hello.

Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of Burners including instagram.com/darthjfizz, instagram.com/muloka, instagram.com/lolmonday and instagram.com/leehemingway among many others.

Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

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 https://www.drmimipsyd.com/resources.

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 thelovelandfoundation.org/therapy-fund.

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. openpathcollective.org

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.

talkspace.com 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 https://soundcloud.com/umeedee/declare-your-freedom-melodic-house-dj-mix-with-positive-affirmations-4mood.

Follow Ümee Dee instagram.com/umeedeemusic and her blog at umeedeemusic.com.

And if you're curious about Arash's "dopamine reset thingy" check out this interview over at NPR: npr.org/transcripts/1090009509.

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 burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.

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 mrarash.com/hello.

Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of burners including instagram.com/darthjfizz, instagram.com/muloka, instagram.com/lolmonday and instagram.com/leehemingway among many others.

Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

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: https://www.midcenturystore.com/
  • The Journey Project: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=887157681432583
  • Burner Podcast episodes with Dan: http://www.burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/category/dan-reeves
• Paint Green: Jon Ray's business, Paint Green, is a local San Diego company that provides environmentally safe painting services.
  • https://paintgreen.com/
  • Previous Burner Podcast episode featuring Jon Ray: http://www.burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/episode-46-the-road-to-youtopia
• Outfits and Oddities: Check out the Outfits and Oddities Facebook page for some wild fashion inspiration.
  • https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075664578038
• 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.
  • https://www.facebook.com/thepunkinproject/
• SD Fabrication Solutions: Check out Wylie Weldy's business, SD Fabrication Solutions. Yes, his name is really Wylie Weldy.
  • https://www.sdfabricationsolutions.com/
• Dome Asylum - Dawn and Wylie's property in Ramona, CA
  • https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32937-d16645997-Reviews-Dome_Asylum-Ramona_California.html
• "Phoenix Syndrome" photography show, which show supported by Dan Reeves and Blake Macaluso.
  • https://mrarash.com/ps/
• And Arash's own freelance photography gig, an example of business referred through the community:
  • https://mrarash.com/rain-on-your-wedding-day/
• Kennos Soundcloud page featuring the set played in this episode: https://soundcloud.com/earofkennos/mikimau-deep-house-yoga
• The massive photo of Kennos referenced was a part of the Black Burner Project by visionary artist Erin Douglas
  • https://www.blackburnerproject.com/
  • **https://www.erin-sha.com/**
• Miki Beach: https://soundcloud.com/mikimaumusic and https://www.mikimaumusic.com/
• 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msLnmAGbNL4

"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 burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.

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 mrarash.com/hello.

Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of burners including instagram.com/muloka, instagram.com/lolmonday and instagram.com/leehemingway among others.

Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

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 Emmy award winning stuff at nationalgeographic.com/tv/shows/life-below-zero.

Watch Terry's powerful participation in our community at profilesindust.net.

Pop over to thescumfrog.com to hear a ton of amazing music and hear the whole set from this episode at https://on.soundcloud.com/dxHPwupt31Bz8T1J7.

And another massive thank you to Robotheart.org 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 burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.

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 mrarash.com/hello.

Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of burners including instagram.com/muloka, instagram.com/lolmonday and instagram.com/leehemingway among others.

Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

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 treyratcliff.com and stuckincustoms.com to explore Trey's spectacular art and photography.

Watch Machine Elf 98 at facebook.com/watch/?v=524959878713396, and you can find more of these creations at the-machine-elf.com.

Trey's new podcast can be found at podcasts.treyratcliff.com.

Pop over to thescumfrog.com to hear a ton of amazing music.

Learn more about Burning Man's regional network over at regionals.burningman.org/about-the-regional-network/history-of-regionals and these previous episodes of Burner Podcast: burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/category/regional-network

And a massive thank you to Robotheart.org 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 burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.

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 mrarash.com/hello.

Burner Podcast is produced by Arash and a rotating team of burners including instagram.com/muloka, instagram.com/lolmonday and instagram.com/leehemingway among others.

Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

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 interview is prefaced with an eight minute intro and two minute outro from Arash, followed by Lee Burridge's epic three hour set.

greggfleishman.com

alldayidream.com

robotheart.org

facebook.com/GreggFleishmanStudio

facebook.com/djleeburridge

instagram.com/greggfleishman

instagram.com/djleeburridge

instagram.com/robotheartfoundation

soundcloud.com/leeburridge

soundcloud.com/robot-heart

youtube.com/channel/UCvxKBfk4mRlU4XWeuC-1FNg

soundcloud.com/robot-heart/lee_burridge_robot_heart_burning_man_2022

Hosted by (mr)Arash

mrarash.com

instagram.com/mrarash

Producers

instagram.com/muloka

instagram.com/lolmonday

instagram.com/leehemingway

Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

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.