Burner Podcast (Art & Culture)
Episode 52: Shepherding Virgins

Peter, Ally and Keinen tell stories about heralding noobs to the playa and lessons they’d pass down from their own inaugural BRC adventures. Peter overshares about his personal life almost as much as Arash.


Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio or SoundCloud.

Direct download: episode_52_virgins_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 1:40am EST

Episode 51: Return From Darkness

 

Charles won a battle with heroin addiction with the assistance of Ibogaine and founded Samsara Aftercare; a sober living facility focused specifically on helping recovering addicts who have also undergone plant medicine treatment.  


Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio or SoundCloud.

Direct download: aftercare_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 8:24pm EST

Episode 50: SDCAP Board Candidate Roundtable 2017

 

Featuring an all-star cast of leaders, movers and shakers in the San Diego Burner scene, this episode serves as a platform to get to know some (most) of the candidates running for the three open seats on the board of the San Diego Collaborative Arts Project. The elections do close soon after this episode posts but the topics and interactions document are timeless.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio or SoundCloud.

Direct download: 50_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 12:43am EST

Episode 49: Our Friend, the Kambô Frog

A Conversation with Practitioner Edward Deull About the Amazonian Healing Ceremony

Arash talks with Story Consortium founder, Edward Hillard Deull, about his personal journey with shamanism and how the Kambô has become such a large part of his practice. After learning about the frog poison’s healing potential, Arash talks with ceremony participants, Charles and Rebekah, who share their own experiences with the frog.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio or SoundCloud.

Direct download: episode_49_kambo_frog_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 9:55pm EST

Episode 48: Tantra

Practitioners Shawn and Amy help to explain the history and modern day application of Tantra spirituality and philosophy. Arash shares so much TMI he may never get a date again.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio or SoundCloud.

Direct download: episode_48_tantra_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 8:45pm EST

Episode 47: Road Warrior

Tina-Nomad shares her life experiences, a passion for volunteerism and what went into building a team culture that made parking cars sexy. Arash rants on and on about a buffalo chicken quesadilla.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio or SoundCloud.

Direct download: road_warrior_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 8:22pm EST

Episode 46: The Road to YOUtopia

Jon chronicles his move to San Diego, fundraising efforts for Burners Without Borders, the creation of YOUtopia and the development of Colab. Arash drinks Jon’s beer.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio or SoundCloud.

Direct download: jon_ray_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 11:00pm EST

Episode 45: To Build a Temple

Arash gets into the back story of all the blood, sweat and tears that went into building the YOUtopia 2016 Temple with Martin and Katie. Topics covered include what goes into building things, how community grows as a result and how Arash lost his voice again after YOUtopia.

Direct download: temple_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 2:13am EST

Episode 44: God in Drag

Arash sits with community organizers, Adam and Kara, to wax philosophic about all things gender including how it relates to sexuality, the transgender journey, the flaws of binary thinking and the incredibly silly questions people ask. Arash desperately tries not to ask incredibly silly questions.

Direct download: gender_pops_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 11:24pm EST

Arash chats with three seasoned veterans about the 2016 Burn on a variety of topics including bike theft, the evolving culture of an expanding city and the White Ocean scandal. Also, Fred wears a red dress.

 

Direct download: episode_43_post_buring_man_2016_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 7:08pm EST

Episode 42: Burning Man 2016 Pre-playa Planner

Arash gathers the Burner Podcast team to share their recommendations for what you should check out at the Burn this year. Pretty much one can remember what their official title is.   

Direct download: Pre_Playa_Planner_Final_Final_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 3:19am EST

Episode 41: Perky Parts

 

Arash uses the podcast as an excuse to travel to Orange County to get drunk with the Perky Parts crew. Topics covered include what it’s like to attend the Burn with a priest, lessons learned from getting screwed by unacclimated Burners and building a village with Carl Cox’s camp.

Direct download: perky_parts_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 12:12am EST

Episode 40: Shangri-Lawless

Arash follows the tribe as they gather in Coachella, connect with the Super Kids and end up on playa. The crew also shares some wisdom about creating a village and lessons learned from fundraisers.  

Direct download: Burner_Podcast_-_Episode_40_-_Shangri_Lawless.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 5:38pm EST

Episode 39: Halcyon. Finally.

John Halcyon tells Arash all about his rise to fame from the early days of the internet, the experiences that inspired the development of Hug Nation as well as how his adventures with Bat Country lead to the formulation of Pink Heart.

Direct download: halcyon_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 1:43am EST

Episode 38: West Coast Weekender

Arash sits down with the team behind the event and they get into the backstory of how United by Bass, Siesta, The Deep End and I’ll House You joined forces to tap into San Diego’s House Music scene in order to make the West Coast Weekender such a wild success.

Direct download: west_coast_weekender_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 8:40pm EST

Episode 37: The Maker Movement

 

In the first segment of this episode, Arash talks to veteran Burner/Maker Dave Cox about his decade long history with the Maker community. In the second segment, we get some background information about what goes into producing a Maker Faire with event producers Cody Nelson and Bob Syfrett.

Direct download: episode_37_the_maker_movement_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 9:36pm EST

Arash visits Russell’s creator, Lindsay, and follows his life story from childhood through his discovery of the Burner community and finishes with a nail-biting climax as he takes the Electric Giraffe to the White House lawn. Also in this episode, tons of advice for those considering building an art car.

Direct download: russell_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 11:38pm EST

Episode 35: Lee Reynolds

Arash follows Lee’s journey through competitive sports, the House music scene and the explosion of Desert Hearts. Lee might be the “World’s Most Interesting Man.”

Direct download: lee_r_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 2:05pm EST

Arash and the Triptych kids go through their crew’s history, the formation of their camp, the challenges they’ve faced in the past year and their future plans. Arash’s car gets towed.

Direct download: tryptich_mixdown2.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 1:57pm EST

Arash visits Burning Man headquarters in San Francisco and sits with Iris to discuss the Regional Network and the upcoming Global Leadership Conference (GLC). It takes all his willpower not spend the whole time he’s been given whining about his love life.

Direct download: iris_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 1:17pm EST

Episode 31: Scientists in the Dust

Arash joins the CTO and Datamancer of 3Scan in San Francisco to discuss how they cultivate burner culture in the office and their next-level work in microscopy and biotech. We also get the full story that of “Playa Time: Dust to Dust,” the famous time-lapse from 2011.

Direct download: scientists_in_the_dust_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 11:29pm EST

Episode 30: Dusty Poon Saloon

Three of DPS’s founders bring some whiskey to the studio and tell Arash about the camp’s humble origins, philosophy and atmosphere. Arash tells them about chakras.

Direct download: dusty_poon_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 7:38pm EST

Episode 29: Lovers Without Borders

Greg Young and Amanda Joy school Arash on a variety of options available to people on how to experience love and partnership. Arash tries more desperately than usual to sound like he knows what he’s talking about.

Direct download: poly_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 7:32pm EST

Episode 28: An LA Burn Story

 

Los Angeles’s sensational Regional Contact guides Arash through the LA Burn scene, the history of LA’s decom and sheds some light on the region’s recent permitting challenges. She also shares her adventures in leaving Texas, stripping and becoming a scream queen.

Direct download: athena_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 1:31am EST

Episode 27: Love, Light and Lithium

Producer Meg, Regional Contact Fin and Arash chat about depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, child molestation, medication and other mental health topics... And somehow manage NOT to make it the most depressing episode ever!

Direct download: love_light_lithium_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 8:05pm EST

Episode 26: Entering Black Rock City

Knotty Boy drops by the studio to talk with Arash about Burning Man Gate’s build, logistics and all that goes into getting Burners out of the default world and into Black Rock City. Also discussed: Bugs!!!

Direct download: gate_mixdown_corrected.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 11:23pm EST

Episode 25: A Sober Burn

On her birthday, she made the decision to spend her entire 30th year without any substances. Arash follows our anonymous guest’s life and journey through drug culture, culminating with what she experienced at Burning Man.

Direct download: sober_burn_4_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 12:49am EST

Episode 24: Interview with Gaia

Gaia and Arash talk Kidsville, relationships and neurochemistry over a beer. She also tells the backstory of her migration to San Diego and attending her first burn with a kiddo in tow. Arash drinks all her beer.

Direct download: episode_24_Gaia_2_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 12:33am EST

 

In this extra large episode, two returning guests drop by the studio to talk even more about that San Diego regional you might be mildly sick of Arash talking about all the time. The conversation gets into Bob and Colin’s back stories, the founding of the Waldos, challenges faced and successes celebrated after all the dust settled.  

Direct download: episode_23_youtopia_recap_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 9:04pm EST

Episode 22: Chad Deal

Arash and his man-crush discuss writing, the creative process, sleeping on rooftops and traveling through South America while reading Rumi. Chad also talks tent-tripping and reads us a poem about his home, Tijuana.

Direct download: episode_22_chad_deal_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 4:41pm EST

Episode 21: Post Burning Man Roundtable

Producer Meg, Online Editor Thanasi, Music Editor Nav and Borderline Useless Arash recap their Burn experiences. Highlights include dust, emotional breakdowns and vodka.

Direct download: episode_21_staff_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 7:49pm EST

Episode 20: Dr. Thomas Kingsley Brown

 

Producer Meg sits in as Dr. Brown (a.k.a. Kingsley) swings by the studio to cling beers with Arash and tell the story of his lifelong relationship with psychedelics, culminating with his MAPS funded research of ibogaine and its potential for treating drug addiction. Arash predictably screws up the acronym in the intro.

Direct download: episode_19_Kingsley_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 10:32pm EST

Episode 19: Kim Eisenberg

Kim sits with Arash to talk career counseling, professional inspiration and theme camp planning logistics. The final third of the show is all about Consent Culture and plays like a pilot for the Kim and Arash Morning Hour.

Direct download: episode_19_Kim_eisenberg_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 3:03pm EST

YOUtopia, San Diego’s regional Burn which takes place in October, has been described as “Burning Man 15 years ago in a jungle setting.” Arash, Bob and Jake get into all the things YOUtopia including art, Native American tribal council politics, event logistics, previous years’ lessons learned and oh so much more geekery.

Direct download: episode_18_youtopia_mixdown5.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 4:59pm EST

Episode 17: Curt Benedetto

 

Curt takes Arash through his upbringing in San Diego, not being a fan of camping, the art of going against the construct and his experiences with the more challenging aspects of volunteerism. Arash then whines about being hazed.

Direct download: episode_17_curt_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 5:15pm EST

Arash and Tom talk about all that went into creating one of the most talked about pieces of art on the playa, the Black Rock Observatory. They also get into what’s happening in the coming year including doing more of whatever you want and the Carl Sagan connection.

Direct download: episode_16_major_tom_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 11:54am EST

Episode 15: Ell Kay

Ell Kay flies all the way down from Vancouver with the sole purpose of talking to Arash about the art of cooking, the Canadian burn scene and the joy of being a recovering vegan. Ell Kay had no other reasons to come to San Diego. We swear.

Direct download: episode_15_ell_kay_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 4:38pm EST

Episode 14: Jenn Giddens

Fully prepared for Arash’s cheap red wine offering, Jenn sneaks good white wine into the studio as the two discuss Jenn’s life, adult giftedness and all that goes into performing as part of the Fire Conclave.

Direct download: episode_14_jenn_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 8:08pm EST

Episode 13: Electric Poncho

Payam, Jake and Eoghan show up to Arash’s studio and proceed to get wasted. At some point, Arash remembers to hit record and something that might be called an “interview” is conducted about the history, culture and execution of Electric Poncho.

Direct download: episode_13_Electric_Poncho_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 4:39pm EST

Episode 12: Camber Hollywood

Camber and Arash talk consent culture, gay polyamory and how nice people in Portland are. There is also a beautiful moment of shared tears followed promptly by Arash whining about his ex again.

Direct download: episode_12_Camber_Hollywood_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 4:29pm EST

Mikey and Arash move through some of the backstory of San Diego’s techno scene, the rise of Desert Hearts and Wu Tang Clan. Yeah that last bit was a surprise to us too.

Direct download: episode_11_Mikey_Lion_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 4:45pm EST

Episode 10: Sean Natural Nash

Sean Natural Nash sits with Arash to talk San Diego’s burner home, colab, as well as some Rangering stories and his adventures with Rainbow Family. Arash also attempts to get some dating advice from Natural, who is a married man.

Direct download: episode_10_Sean_Natural_Nash_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 7:44pm EST

Episode 9: Lisa Dewey

 

Lisa Dewey fights for the title of “most woo woo guest” as she talks to Arash about the spiritual side of health, her experiences as a death doula and the status of women, both in and out of the Burner community. Also, Arash attempts not to be all whiny about his ex-girlfriend.

Direct download: episode_9_dewey_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 8:27pm EST

Episode 8: Hill Young

 

Arash and Hill talk about her painting, the spiritual side of artistry and all kinds of other artsy fartsy stuff. And if that's not enough to make you gag, Arash gets all super woo woo about all the magical crap that happened surrounding the recording of this episode.

Direct download: episode_8_hill_young_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 5:22pm EST

Episode 7: Jake Anderson

Arash and Jake fan the flames of a budding bromance with talks of theghostdiaries.com, atheism and robot sex. Plus Arash may or may not totally perpetuate a lie about Jake.

Direct download: episode_7_jake_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 2:28pm EST

Arash leads a roundtable discussion with five candidates running for open seats on the San Diego Collaborative Arts Project's board of directors. Chaos ensues. 

Direct download: episode_6.5_bonus_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 6:56pm EST

Episode 6: Marc Leglise

 

Arash gives Marc a lot of jealous side-eye because of his awesome radio voice while they chat about fire-spinning safety, sky-diving into Black Rock City and that feeling of invincibility you get after your first burn.

Direct download: episode_6_marc_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 5:54pm EST

Episode 5: Taz

 

Taz talks to a very nervous Arash about crashing a satellite into the moon to create a new crater, fire safety and the regret that comes with spray-painting one’s entire naked body on the playa.

Direct download: episode_5_taz_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 8:22pm EST

Episode 4: Nicole Hickman

Powered only by her will and name brand cough drops, Nicole talks to Arash about Burning Man bureaucracy, turnkey camps, playa politics and what exactly constitutes a "burner."

Direct download: episode_4_nicole_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 3:39pm EST

 

Arash and Aliss get tipsy and discuss the emotional process of changing one's self, the business of life coaching and not quitting film production even after all your stuff gets jacked in Egypt.

Direct download: 20141217_episode_3_aliss_wang_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 11:44am EST

Arash and Thanasi chat about TED Talks, community building tactics and the differences between New York burners and Southern California hippies.

Direct download: full_episode_2_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 4:23pm EST

Episode 1: Brady Mahaney

For our first messy, bairly duct-taped together show, it only felt right to have a chat with Brady: A man who has been a quiet force behind transforming San Diego's little decompression to the full-on regional burn it is today. Arash and Brady also talk politics, Facebooks and Texas. 

Direct download: Episode_One_take_4_mixdown.mp3
Category:Art & Culture -- posted at: 12:44pm EST