Black Astronaut

Episode 146: Black Astronaut

Kamal X on love, rage and photography

Dive into the world of photographer Kamal X. In this episode, host Arash sits down with Kamal in after as showing of one of his pieces to discuss his powerful book, "Black Astronaut," a culmination of three years of deep work capturing America’s chapter of protest. Kamal shares his experiences of global travel and how these adventures have influenced his approach to photography.

The turning point in Kamal's career came from a moment of clarity at Burning Man, which profoundly impacted his life’s direction. The conversation explores how Kamal's personal experiences, including childhood trauma, have informed his work, creating a unique blend of intensity and empathy in his images. This episode offers a glimpse into Kamal's perspective as a photographer, revealing how his art narrates powerful human stories and emotions.

Interview recorded in San Francisco, November 2023

Post production recordings at The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in San Diego, CA

Kamal X's Instagram | instagram.com/iamkamalx

Kamal X's Website | iamkamalx.com

Amazon link to his book: https://a.co/d/abGm1W5

jacobscenter.org

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Hosted by (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the extended international community of Burning Man. Independently produced, it focuses on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest. Discover over 140 previous episodes at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.

Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer. Connect with him directly at mrarash.com/hello.

Produced by Arash and a team of burners, including instagram.com/darthjfizz, instagram.com/muloka, instagram.com/lolmonday, and instagram.com/leehemingway among others.

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