EP 10 "Playa" Pete

This episode of The Shadow of the Man podcast features an interview with Playa Pete, a veteran burner preparing for his thirtieth consecutive year at the Burning Man event. Pete shares his origin story from 1995, recounting how a chance meeting with founder Michael Mikel (Danger Ranger) led to his long-standing role printing official apparel for the organization and the DPW (Department of Public Works). The conversation explores the culture of the desert city, detailing the construction of the Monaco art car and the shift from the event's early, anarchic days to its current, more bureaucratic reality. Ultimately, Pete reflects on the transformative impact the festival had on his personal confidence and family life, while announcing his plan to return to his roots by camping solo as a "first-time burner" to rediscover the event's original spirit.