Burning Man LIVE

This culture started in dust and ephemerality. We build metropolises of art and fire, then we leave no trace. How do we translate that inspiration into a rhythm for everyday life? What happens when a temporary autonomous zone puts down roots? The Borderland is Scandinavia's largest and longest running Burning Man Regional event. It’s "working out loud" culture fosters radical trust, allowing the community to create its own world where no one is in charge. The community also crowd-funded land that serves as the permanent home for their Regional event, and year-round collaborations of all kinds. How does the Borderland commit to the risk and reward of community buy-in? How does trusting that someone will have the answer lead to resiliency? How do the 10 Principles balance aspects of Scandinavian culture differently than US culture? Hear Andie set it up, then Stuart talk with Liselotte Norman and Hampus Lindblad. Hear about the act of letting go to stay together.  Photo: Annie Locke Scherer talk.theborderland.se/main burningman.org/global-events-groups/burning-man-regional-network alversjo.land burningman.org/global-events-groups/burning-man-regional-network/sweden burningman.org/global-events-groups/find-a-burning-man-event www.alscherer.com/the-temple-of-tokamak cobudget.com LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/irkEajUVRgI Most people in Black Rock City live together in placed camps (theme camps), the most unique aspect of this unique event. BRC has 1400 camps. Theme Camps = Communal Effort + Intimacy + Self-Expression Theme campers gift a uniquely decommodified ‘third place’ of offerings and ambiance. At this annual symposium, staff and volunteers share how they gift their interactive camps to the participants. It’s an art. It’s a science.  Andie Grace: Senior Producer in the Philosophical Center  Andrew Lowe: Senior Software Developer, Burning Man Project  Bryant Tan (aka Level Placerman): Head of Placement for BRC  Christopher Breedlove: Director of Civic Engagement / BWB Camp Lead  Marian Goodell: CEO of Burning Man Project  Michael Vav: Technical Producer in the Philosophical Center and a keen crew Fowler of Gate Magpie of Gate Neon Glimmer of PEERS Papa Bear of Placement Razzmatazz of Placement Rex on the Radio of DMV T-Fire of Bureau of Erotic Discourse Vesper Bell of the Camp Support Team Wild Wes of Burners Without Borders Hear about the seen and the unseen, from behind the scenes to the obscene. Hear the Burners who create and integrate these interactive passion projects that are the heart of Burning Man events. Camps and Placement | Burning Man Placement: About Us & Volunteering Camp Support Team | Burning Man Burners Without Borders Green Theme Camp Community Gate, Perimeter & Exodus Department of Mutant Vehicles PEERS: Placement’s Exploration & Engagement Research Squad Bureau of Erotic Discourse WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/irkEajUVRgI LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Remember that whiteout in deep playa? That prepared you for a NASA mission to space, maybe. Andie Grace talks with Samuel M. Coniglio, aka Ranger Cosmonaut, and Spaceman Sam. He isn't just a ten-year Black Rock Ranger and a veteran of the legendary Neverwas Haul (that three-story Victorian house on wheels)... He’s a writer, inventor, and futurist who worked on the Space Shuttle and the ISS. From his Zero-G cocktail glass, to his book about making offworld living worth living, he studies creature comforts in extreme environments.  Stuart Mangrum opens the show with a look at the Lunar Codex, an ambitious project placing the art of 50,000 Earthlings (including Burners!) into permanent archives on the Moon. Then, Sam and Andie spacewalk into why "civilizing a barbaric situation" is a human need, whether its serving fancy tea in a mud storm, or grilling chicken on a space station. Hear about radical self-reliance, orbital infrastructure, and why—if we’re going to Mars—we’d better bring decent coffee… and a bucket. "Burning Man is just like going to Las Vegas on Mars. You have to learn how to live on Mars first before you enjoy the parties. It’s survival first, party second… The Burning Man org learned we have to have toilets, roads, and support systems. NASA probably should learn from you guys." retro-futurist.com spacemansam.substack.com obtainiumworks.net nss.org/book-review-creature-comforts-in-space youtube.com/@spaceman.sam.coniglio LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

George Paap, a pioneer of the Burning Man Regional network, talks with Andie Grace. He founded Burning Flipside in Texas, the first-ever Burning Man sanctioned event beyond the desert. What inspired him? Black Rock City 1997. He found freedom there, and it sparked a lifelong mission. Hear his adventures of building a culture from scratch, and why, as a futurist, he believes Burners are steady & ready to handle the societal shifts ahead. Collaborating to create local community without a blueprint Celebrating Burning Man culture is a backstop for a polarized world Finding resilience under pressure in the art of radical integrity "Don't wait. You have to jump in and do it. You can't wait for something to happen. You’ve gotta provide the motivation... the inspiration... the vision, and bring people along." — George Paap BURNING MAN LIVE ON YOUTUBE www.burningflipside.com burningman.org/global-events-groups www.trippingly.net/burning-man-musings/tag/George+Paap   LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

There’s a world of civic hacking where "making cool stuff" meets "making useful stuff."Hear tinkerers, gearheads and other makers share about the inventions that won them Burners Without Borders Civic Ignition Grants. These grants are little sparks that fire up the next level of open-source technology for all of our community, and for all the world.Colin Jemmott and MJ Brovold of YOUtopia, the San Diego Regional event, share about their low maintenance light source that’s sturdy, solar-powered, and buildable by anyone. They're also building a huge steel pop-up book! Sam Smith and Squirtle of SOAK, the Portland Regional event, share about their deployable solar shade pavilion made of star-shapes and scissor linkages. Trash eating robots are involved, and 3D printed ‘precious plastic’ art.This is not about the party. This is about practicing for a future where we won't need to poison the planet to self-express. These stories are a recipe:One part ‘for the love of it’ spiritOne part skills we already haveBlend until smooth.Enjoy what new ideas can happen when we all put our heads together.burnerswithoutborders.org/2025-regional-event-grantwww.luxcapacitor.artsdyoutopia.comsdcolab.orgwww.precipitationnw.org/burnonsoakpdx.com LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Insightful. World-Building. Spit-take inducing.Mark Day’s videos serve as a digital gateway for many thousands of Burners, capturing that blurry edge where the default world ends and the playa begins. From his early days building tripper trappers and doing stand up comedy, to his controversial tinkering with AI art (think Dalmatians made of donuts), Mark has put 10,000 hours into his “24 Hours at Burning Man” videos.Andie Grace talks with this unique content creator to explore thresholds and multitudes. They discuss how to capture the moment and also experience it. They dive head first into the touchy subjects of consent, the ethics of documentation, and how “acculturation is an everybody thing.”He shares his sociology of being a Greeter in BRC. He talks creative process. He brings clever curiosity to open-ended self-expression and the freedom to be your favorite version of yourself.https://journal.burningman.org/author/mark-dayhttps://www.youtube.com/markdaycomedyhttps://www.instagram.com/burner_videos LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

It's absurd.It perturbs.It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (And boy has it been a year!)Following in the footsteps of show-biz luminaries like Stephen Colbert, Jon Stuart, and the cast of Star Wars, we hosted a (non-denominational) holiday show in front of a live online pseudo-studio audience in 2020.Broadcasting from their snowed-in virtual holiday cabins, Stuart and Andie entertained guests:· Santa Zero - originator of the now-infamous SantaCon phenomenon· Mrs. Claus - founder of Burning Man’s first theme camp, Christmas Camp· Tubatron and his Flaming Tuba playing a Hanukkah song (David Silverman)· Reverend Billy and Savitri D of the Stop Shopping ChoirAnd it wouldn’t be the holiday season without Caveat Magister selling us on Decommodification.Join us for · how Krampus cramps us· how COVID is an 8-foot-tall dominatrix· how “Gifting” is so close to “Grifting” · how the Cacophony Society is sooo Kumbayain the 5th anniversary of our Holiday Special that is indeed SPECIAL. Portland SantaCon 1996 / “You’d Better Watch Out”santarchy.com/youd-better-watch-out-portland-santacon-96Cacophony Society: Santasm, Santacon, Santarchy, ad nauseumtalesofsfcacophony.com/santasm-santacon-santarchy-kringle-klot-etc-ad-nauseum/Tubatron (aka David Silverman)burningman.org/podcast/david-silverman-so-thats-how-that-startedReverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverend_Billy_and_the_Church_of_Stop_Shopping LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

His huge steel sculptures have graced Black Rock City for decades, then found forever homes in cities, festivals, and private collections around the world.Hear veteran structural sculptor Michael Christian go deep and wide about his Burning Man art, from a tree of bones to a 65-foot tall tower.He shares about his installation "Down the Drain," a commentary on human alignment, or misalignment... or maybe it’s about toilets blowing kisses at each other!He talks with Stuart about the shift from a "lone artist" mindset to community collaboration, and how to get everything done despite a storm or a lost box of bolts.They tinker with the qualities of hubris and humility. They get real about why they keep returning to the collective happening in the dust.How does Michael follow intuition more than a thesis?How does he discover the meaning of his art only after he has built it?How did ‘out of the box’ thinking become a 30 year career?These questions are answered with more questions in this episode right here.https://www.michaelchristian.com LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

RootHub (aka Aloha) weaves the core values and shared struggle of building Black Rock City and his work in Hawai‘i. He draws inspiration from the Hawaiian people’s concept of kuleana (responsibility to the land and community).When he’s not building BRC with DPW, or playing music to amplify people’s stories, he’s diverting food waste from landfills and incinerators into much needed, nutrient-dense soil for growing food. He does this through his companies. The names say it all:· Full Circle Solutions Hawaii· Leftover Love Company ("We love your leftovers")Hear how ingenuity learned on the playa—along with a sense of humor—allows him to overcome hurdles and create meaningful change in BRC and in Hawai’i, even with the naive tourists.Through sweet story and song, he shares how to combine innovation with tradition, to lift the stone without lifting the weight of the stone.roothub.comleftoverloveco.comfullcirclesolutionshi.comburningman.org/black-rock-city/infrastructure/dept-of-public-works LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

He brought theme camps and art installations to Black Rock City, and yes, he DJed!Now he brings the spirit of kindness and collaboration (and Do-ocracy) into creating public policy.He co-founded a Burning Man Regional nonprofit.He directed a cultural arts center.He collaborated on cultural policy for racial equity, social justice, and creative sustainability.He ran the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.He now creates affordable housing through community development projects.He says that nonprofit and public sector work is open source, “so take it, learn from it, use it, adaptively reuse it.”Hear Andie Grace ask him how we can make it work where we live.“When you go to the playa and you're in this decommodified environment, all you have is how you show up... I've learned how to approach community-building through collaboration and kindness, and a real spirit of genuine curiosity. As long as you stay curious, a lot can be possible.”thirdwaycreative.com/teamwatershedcommunity.org LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

“I think therefore I am.” ~DescartesJohn Jennifer adds: I care therefore we are… and you cannot think your way to ‘we’He is a poet, an architect, and a cultural instigator. He helped create The Museum of No Spectators which includes Burning Man art of snark and social justice, but no velvet ropes.He’s a paradox embracer. In a world of binaries, he asserts that between black and white is not a gradient of gray; between black and white is all the conceivable colors.Hear him philosophize about different styles of art and artists, from avant garde to architecture, from Salvador Dalí to Frank Lloyd Wright.He and Stuart explore how a glittery clothespin alligator and a museum-grade sculpture both share the humanity of the giver.They explore playa art — genre-defying, genre-defining — and the value of both fine art and participatory art at Burning Man.They explore how creative expression went from being seen as a hobby to a human need, and how creative community proliferates.Listen in on their profound and playful chat. 🎙️🔥form4inc.com/person/johnmarxmuseumofnospectators.com   LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

She’s a longtime senior leader of the Black Rock Rangers and the principal of the Gerlach K-12 School. Keeper lives year-round in Gerlach, one of the smallest and most remote towns in the US, and the closest community to Black Rock City.In this storytelling episode, she shares her unique perspective on blending the worlds of Burning Man and rural life.She tells the tales of keeping the town’s school open after the local mine closed, transforming it into an all-ages institution of families. She shares about how locals offer a year-round outpost for helping townsfolk and visitors stay safe and thrive.Keeper’s dual roles—Ranger and Principal—are deeply informed by the principles of Gifting, Civic Responsibility, and Radical Inclusion. Woven in is the philosophy of building supportive environments where everyone feels they “belong here.” How? And how does a school that is barely on the map support its kids to be local ambassadors and worldly humans?Hear how now! And in the words of Ranger Keeper (and Bill & Ted), be excellent to each other!Black Rock RangersIf you’re curious about Ranger learnings, check out the publicly available Ranger Conflict Resolution and De-escalation Training on Burning Man Hive.gerlach.washoeschools.netRanger Takes Gerlach School from Remote Town to National Stage (Burning Man Journal)Class Trip to Black Rock City (Burning Man Journal)burningman.org Gerlach Black Rock Station LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Black Rock City has an airport, a hospital, a post office... and yes, an observatory! For a decade, the Black Rock Observatory has served as a portal to the cosmos, bringing deep space to the desert.Father-and-son Zoom and Robin Newhouse are at the helm of the observatory that houses several telescopes for viewing planets, galaxies, and even our sun. They offer a museum of meteorites that are billions of years old, and they even have custom tarot cards. The Observatory's theme camp serves as an expert nexus: It is home to Space Talks with physicists and professors who are usually only available within academic halls or behind NASA’s walls. And they even have Space Deck tarot cards!They bring these offerings to Burning Man Regional events, festivals, and eclipses worldwide, but they save the observatory structure itself for Black Rock City.Hear them share stories of science and spirituality, and how they garner shared humanity from the cosmic perspective that is viewable through this lens. They explore awe and expand perspective. It’s the hard work of building and running a theme camp made worthwhile in that single moment of cosmic connection.Listen in and look up!www.blackrockobservatory.comyoutube.com/@Black-Rock-Observatory LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Recorded in Black Rock City, you can hear the grainy gravitas of their voices...For decades now, Jon Sarriugarte, Kyrsten Mate, their daughter and their team build mobile art. From a meter maid cart turned space shuttle, to a custom copper retro fire snail on wheels, their creations make up part of BRC's moving landscape. They built a trilobite to ride, a gilded golden zeppelin car, and a noir submarine buggy.Then there are the Serpent Twins. Back in 2011, when the playa glowed with now outdated EL wire, these 50-foot long slithering dragons rippled with color from a touch of their LED skin.What about this green insect rocket?Project: EMPIRE returned to BRC with more sights, sounds, and stories. It’s a NASA spaceship and a giant bug, a bewildering blend of art, engineering, and a delightfully conspiratorial backstory…On playa we tracked down Jon and his daughter Zolie who has been Burning her entire life. They shared stories of the absurd early days, and the adventure of navigating the desert in a two-ton masterpiece. We talked about bringing radical self-reliance to the default world, and the mechanics of a legacy built, piece by painstaking piece, in the name of art.formandreform.com/empire-of-dirtwww.jonsarriugarte.comprojectempire.orgoilpunk.com20 Years of Mutant Vehicles (Burning Man Journal) LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Hear the stories of the art and artists. Black Rock City hosts 400 artworks from around the world. This episode features 12 of them, and this year’s Temple. This is a sonic journey of artist's recordings and chats with Burning Man Project's Director of Art, Katie Hazard. Desert Arts Preview is your chance to step behind the scenes and listen to the process of creating interactive, collaborative, community-built artworks.This episode explores: The Sphinx Gate - Mareesa Stertz & Tania AbdulSinksphere - Scott (Scottysoltronic) WhitakerAfterlife Reincarnate - Adrian (Blitzy) TayResilience - Whitney WebbMoonlight Library - James Gwertzman (Moonlight Collective)Desert Air Oasis: BreathCore 7 - Elnara Nasirli (MXNZM)One Tin Soldier - Mark Deem (Misfit Toy Crew)Black Rock City Chicken Ranch - Rob Brown, Alysha Cypher, & Aviva KinokoDisco Snail - Alyssa Oliveira (Alpine Artists Collective)DROP - Auli UiboupinPillar of Po Tolo - Antwane Lee (Solar Shrine Collective)Rose Wonders - Thomas DamboTemple of the Deep - Miguel ArraizDesert Arts Preview 2025 (burningman.org)Desert Arts Preview 2025 FULL LENGTH (YouTube)Temple of the Deep (Burning Man LIVE podcast) LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

REMASTERED FOR 2025: Our most popular episode of all time. Listen in as longtime Burners talk about the dynamic aspects of thriving in Black Rock City: mental, physical, material, and relational.Andie, kbot, Molly, Stuart, and Vav explore:socks secretsFOMO variantssaying yes and saying nogiving and accepting helpNo Friends Mondayand much more and other and new!Featuring cameos from longtime Burners: Anjelika, Chef Juke, Crimson Rose, DA, Dave X, Halcyon, KJ, and Lulu Lurine.They discuss doing it all, doing it right, and doing it wrong, as access to being real.Don’t just pack. Prepare. Here’s how to have BRC overwhelm you in a good way.Black Rock City 2025Burning Man JournalJohn Craigie (YouTube) LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Zander was the executive director of The Long Now Foundation, dedicated to long term thinking. He also helped build their library, a book club for the end of the world, with all the titles we would want to rebuild civilization, if needed. He is one of the brains behind the 10,000-Year Clock, designed to tick off the years, and chime the centuries. He’s now co-creating the future of the web at Automattic. He and his team are bringing a library to Black Rock City, to the World’s Fair pavilion under The Man. It’s a refreshing opposite. Like his theme camp inside a refrigerator truck NOT being hot, this library is about NOT being burnt. It’s an ephemeral manual for civilization. We the participants will choose what books to save from burning.Zander shares stories on the effects of books, websites, and rituals, as well as Burning Man’s past, present, and future.This episode is on YouTube here.rosefutures.comBRC Honoraria Art (Burning Man Journal)A group for those who want to participate (Facebook)https://longnow.orgA Pavilion for Tomorrow Today (Burning Man Journal)wikipedia.org/Clock_of_the_Long_NowKevin Kelly: Optimists Create the Future (Burning Man LIVE)Photo by Brendon Hall LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

AI is a context changer, a shaker upper, and a force multiplier to what our human minds can do.Andie says that AI is a major philosophical shift in humanity, and when this kind of thing happens, the first people she goes to are artists and academics.Andie and Stuart talked with a few artists and academics about their AI infused art coming to Black Rock City. They share their dreams and nightmares, and how to 'go beyond.' · Chad Elish — Verse-O-Matic · Kate Greenberg, Deva Temple, Eric Vicenti — "Out the Other" · Dr Jukka-Pekka Heikkilä, Kiana Kaiser, Michael Zeltner — Burning Stories & Burner AIThis is transforming personal stories, creating unique dialogues between humans and the machines that reflect us, the good, the bad, and the ugly… and the beautiful… and the surprising. Here is how artists conjure creativity and empathy using AI at Burning Man, a home for art to push against and learn from.Burning Man LIVE: Dr Heikkilä and the Science of Participatory CultureBurning Man Journal: Burning Stories Research Team LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Kevin Kelly is a leading thinker of the digital age. The founding editor of Wired Magazine, he helped produce the Whole Earth Catalog, and an early internet pillar called the WELL. He is a journalist, an artist, and a longtime member of the Burning Man community.He is a radical optimist.The future is a construct of the collective imagination. We see utopian stories as too pie-in-the-sky. We have a morbid curiosity for dystopian stories. What’s in between? Iterative improvement. Protopia.Delve into this conversation on cultural narratives, the transformative potential of AI, and the context shift into lifelong-learning."It’s not that our problems are smaller than we thought, it’s just that our capacities to solve them are greater than we thought."wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Kelly_(editor)kk.org LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Black Rock City's soundscape is a wild ride from Afro-punk to Zydeco. This episode explores the why and how of two styles: the thumping electronic dance music that makes BRC a DJ's Meccathe anything-goes improv of jazz, a dusty mirror to the Burner spiritStuart, a self-proclaimed EDM newbie, gets a crash course from a DJ in the know. He chats with a legendary DJ about how Burning Man transmogrifies DJ culture into something utterly unique. It’s a refreshing deep dive for aficionados!Then, Allie spins the radio dial through BRC's sonic smorgasbord and tunes into jazz. For decades, the Playa Jazz Cafe has been hosting live musicians in a dreamy, pop-up club. Camp lead and "hack” jazz musician Neil Kelly shares stories of serendipity, alchemy, and in-the-moment vibes of jazz at Burning Man.What's the harmony between a big-name beat-dropper and a jazz flow pro? BRC magic cannot be bottled without a loss of taste and potency. You just gotta be there.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scumfrogcampsite.bio/thescumfrogplayajazz.com/tunesinstagram.com/playajazzcafefacebook.com/PlayaJazzCafezingari.com/niel-kelly.html LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Leo is a pioneering light artist, bringing teams and tech together to activate buildings, bridges, and bastions. He started Burning in 1994, founded Disorient camp, and is part of Black Rock City every year.Here he shares his journey from crafting a single beacon at his tent to leading monumental art projects that reshaped skylines. He illuminated the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, the historic bridges of London, and projects everywhere from NYC to Tokyo.Join Leo and Stuart on how the open-source innovation of BRC impacts the default world. Leo shares his process for conjuring tech, from customizing LED fixtures to coding sequences. He describes how artists can engage with their communities outside of their comfort zones. He tells stories of the convening power of photons as an artistic medium, as a digital campfire for all.Hear him flip the switch, and stay until the brilliant end.villareal.net/biovillareal.net/urban-scale-artworksburningman.org/about/board-of-directors/#LeoVillarealdisorient.info LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Thunderdome has been part of Black Rock City for 25 years. Marisa Winter has led it for most of that time. One need not experience it to benefit from the wisdom of a high-profile, high-intensity theme camp.Marisa and Stuart talk through the leadership structure and community practices that result in Thunderdome's chaotic harmony of performance, showmanship, and cathartic “consensual violence.” Marisa shares insights gleaned from decades of theme camp operation, like· Letting people make non-permanent mistakes allows them to own the lessons· Prioritizing community is never the wrong answer· Making hard decisions ASAP attracts quality people· How to schedule your crying day!Listen in on their laughter, and tolerate the cringe stories (that prove Thunderdome is not cosplay), and you will be rewarded with the inspiration and institutional knowledge of the infamous Death Guild Thunderdome.www.divamarisa.comwww.deathguildthunderdome.comjournal.burningman.org/author/diva-marisaplayaevents.burningman.org/2024/playa_event/48007https://burningman.org/programs/philosophical-center LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Most people in Black Rock City live together in placed camps, aka theme camps, the most unique aspect of this unique event. BRC has 1200 camps.At the intersection of Communal Effort, Self-Expression, and Immediacy, theme camps gift a uniquely decommodified ‘third place’ of offerings and ambiance.At this annual symposium, staff and volunteers share how they gift their interactive camps to participants. There’s an art and a science to it. These highlights are about the art of it.Bryant Tan (aka Level Placerman): head of PlacementAndie Grace: Producer in the Philosophical CenterCharlie Dolman: Director of Event OperationsDA (aka Dominic Tinio): Environmental Restoration ManagerHarley K Dubois: Founder & Chief Cultural OfficerStuart Mangrum: Director of the Philosophical Centerand a keen crew of Placement Team volunteers BravoCosmicGovernessHepkittenHuntressKGBRazzmatazzHear how it started, how it’s going, and how Burners create these unique and interactive passion projects. Camps and Placement | Burning ManPlacement: About Us & VolunteeringCamp Support Team | Burning ManDe-bureaucratizing Your Burn (Burning Man LIVE 2025)Charlie Dolman · The Dust is in the Details (Burning Man LIVE 2022)Dark Angel of Black Rock & Restoration Destiny (Burning Man LIVE 2020) LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Solar power is simple now, thanks in part to Burners who gift the power of the sun. The Burners in this episode also gift steamed rolls with savory fillings, called bao — so much delicious bao.The theme camp “Bao Chicka Wow Wow” has been a part of Black Rock City for a decade. Its campmates share the prosperity of bao with artist groups, volunteer teams, and participants lucky enough to find their camp or their pop-up “restaurant row,” all powered by custom solar kits.David Hau (Chairman Bao), Marcus De Paula (Next Level), and their campmates also refined their solar systems to power a charging station for EVs and e-Mutant Vehicles. They share their learnings with neighboring camps, the Temple Builders Guild, and us right here in this episode.This is how to wean off gas generators, or bring more power to your offerings at BRC, your Regional event, your home, or even the collapse of civilized civilization. This conversation is lively and informative. It’s a feel-good story set for foodies and those of us growing into gifting and solar energy.BaoChickaWowWow.comGoGridSystems.comBurning Man 2025: Tomorrow TodayBurning Man Inspires Sustainable Solutions Worldwide (Burning Man Journal)Net Zero Black Rock City 2022 LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Explore the magic monuments of Black Rock City 2025.Katie Hazard, Director of Art, leads the selection, placement, and installation of artwork,  and she leads Burning Man's art grant selection committees. The ARTery is in the center of Black Rock City, slightly offset like the human heart. It’s the epicenter of art support for nearly 400 art pieces, from towering sculptures to immersive environments.Before these art projects are sourced, crafted, and assembled with everything from hot glue to heavy equipment, they are first conceptualized by artists and engineers. Burning Man’s Honoraria project grants 76 of these art projects about half of the funding they need, a total of $1.3 million.  Katie and Stuart explore how to foster accessibility and agency in artist groups. They describe some of the installations coming this summer, from interactive Sphinxes to a sphere of sinks, from a lost troll of sustainability to a fire-spinning pigeon. Some of the experiences include:an inflatable black cloud from Ukrainean Indigenous deer destined for ceremonial landan Afrofuturist pillar with an ancient modern secreta screaming booth that displays visual reactions to sounda woman with a merry-go-round crown, jump rope dreadlocks, and swing earringsListen in on this sonic journey of how Burner art is co-created and curated, and how BRC’s surreal skyline is taking shape.Introducing 2025 BRC Honoraria Art (Burning Man Journal)Black Rock City Honoraria ProgramARTery (Art Services)The ARTery Volunteer TeamsKatie Hazard (Burning Man Journal)2025 Art Theme: Tomorrow TodayBurning Man Art Installation Archive LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Legend whispers of a time when Burning Man was a lawless Eden, a fiery playground of unbridled do-ocracy; no rules, just pure creative chaos. But as Black Rock City has grown into a thriving metropolis, so has the need for structure. We've gone from jokey forms for an ‘artistic license’ to complex permit obligations. We’ve gone from giving ourselves permission to taking on a system that can feel overwhelming.How can we better balance radical self-expression with the necessities of a city? How can we purge bureaucracy, or are all those old rules essential for safety and sustainability?This episode delves into the "agonizing reappraisal" within the Burning Man Project, a movement to streamline processes and discard red tape.Stuart explores the dusty trail from Black Rock City's anarchic origins to the sign marked 2025. He talks with Louder Charlie, the Operations Director of the whole place. He also talks with Chef Juke of the DMV Council, and Level Placerman, Manager of the Placement team.Here’s a sneak peek behind the scenesters who are preserving the unique magic while navigating the complexities of growth, and how they ensure that the spirit of creation remains accessible to all.Is it possible to balance the wild heart of Burner culture and the grown-up practices of a city? We’re about to find out.The Camp Symposium - March 22, 2025Camps and PlacementThe Department of Mutant Vehicles2025 Ticket Info The 10 PrinciplesBureaucracy (Burning Man Journal) LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Mutant vehicles! Theme camps! Art experiences! It all emanates from the community… overlapping circles of people who are everywhere between being newcomers and seasoned, local and global, young and old. Andie Grace talks with next-gen Burners Taylor Andrews, Kat Ebert, Mani Senthil, and Whitney Wilhelmy about how to find your crew like you never thought possible. They break down barriers and clear pathways through an initiative called “Rising Sparks” which demystifies BRC and Regional events, and guides Burners to get more from the magic. They explore the art of participation:  seeing the sweet spot between being unmoored and overdoing it balancing of survival and self-expression finding fresh takes on mentorship Hear how they claim their place and shape the future.  "Rising Sparks is a grassroots collective fostering intergenerational collaboration, connection, and cultural continuity within Burning Man. We cultivate community-driven spaces where emerging leaders, newcomers, and seasoned Burners can connect, dream big, and contribute to the future of Burning Man—both within Black Rock City and globally. Our mission is to inspire participation, address barriers to entry, and cultivate leadership across generations by providing mentorship, community-driven tools, and creative collaboration opportunities. We are igniting the next generation of artists, leaders, and changemakers by stewarding an accessible, culturally diverse, and evolving Burning Man culture."  linktr.ee/therisingsparks burningman.org/about-us/who-we-are/rising-sparks LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Hundreds of people create the temple in Black Rock City. It’s a community intent on creating a work of art that is a space for people to grieve and revive.For the first few years of Black Rock City we didn't have a temple. Now, people can't imagine living without it. Each year, participants create messages, tributes, and altars for who and what they want to release. The event culminates with the burning of the temple in what organically evolved to be a silent Burn.Listen to Stuart talk with Miguel Arraiz García, the lead artist for this year’s “Temple of the Deep.” Hear stories about how a temple is built, from crew selection to fundraising, from chances taken to lessons learned. This poetic and playful conversation exemplifies how this year’s temple is already healing.Miguel says, “We are always looking for the answers above us. I was trying to make something just to look for the answer between us or among us. So it is not that much building a temple, it is more building like a shelter for emotions, a safe space where you can be with people.”Burning Man Journal: Introducing the 2025 Templewww.2025temple.comwww.miguelarraiz.comTempleGuardians.burningman.orgRenaixement: Burning Man 2016Burning Man Journal: Tomorrow Today  LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Disasters happen. Communities come together to recover and rebuild. Governments and NGOs help however they know how.  Will Heegaard sees every disaster as a chance to build back greener. His non-profit provides power and water from nature.· power from the sun – instead of gas generators· water from the air – instead of plastic water bottlesHe helped with disaster relief from hurricanes in Florida, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico.He helped in West Africa, in the Philippines, and with the Maui Fires.He helped with the LA Fires.And he taught himself to create power and water from nature while serving as a paramedic in Black Rock City.These adventure stories include laughter and levity in learning.FootprintProject.orgBurnersWithoutBorders.orgBurning Man Project: Philosophical Center LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Back again by popular demand: more tales from Burning Man’s oral history project, an ambitious endeavor to track down and talk with people who helped shape the culture as we now know it.Hear stories of early technology on the playa, in Silicon Valley, and on the internet. · Andie Grace, aka Actiongrl, interviews from the vantage of having co-created Burning Man’s world of communications, from Media Mecca to this very podcast. · Brian Behlendorf - technologist and open-source software pioneer. He developed Burning Man’s online presence and connected people through the Venn diagram of luminaries from SFRaves to Wired Magazine to the Apache Software Foundation. · David Beach - designer, creative director, and instigator of the impossible with early dynamic content on the web. He helped create Burning Man’s first live streaming and web presence. · Scott Beale - documentarian, founder of Laughing Squid, subculture super-connector of various tentacles of the meta-scene. · Stuart Mangrum - zinester, cacophonist, billboard liberator, Minister of Propaganda, Director of the Philosophical Center, publisher of the first on-site newspaper of Burning Man (the Black Rock Gazette), and always in the same place at the same time as Burning Man’s media experiments.Andie GraceBrian BehlendorfDavid BeachScott BealeStuart MangrumLaughing Squid: Burning Man 1996 Netcastdispatch2023.burningman.orgjournal.burningman.org/philosophical-centerburningman.org/programs/philosophical-centerBurning Man Live: A People’s History of Burning Man - Volume 2Burning Man Live: A People’s History of Burning Man - Volume 1 LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

He is a celebrated author, entrepreneur, leadership maven, and a founding Board Member of Burning Man Project. He’s a serial contributor to the culture and the cause.In this episode, Chip and Stuart explore how to use the 10 Principles to make conversations interesting and how a description of Black Rock City always becomes a riddle.They resist the urge to quiz newbies on the 10 Principles, while they also say that Burners should not take themselves too seriously. They try on the notion that nothing matters and everything’s humorous.They make sense of big ideas like collective effervescence, emotional equations, and the need for aesthetics and beauty.They talk about a deep diversity of ritual gatherings around the world, and the influence of the global community emanating from Regional Burns.They tell stories about all this and more, and somehow it all flows. wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Conleychipconley.comwww.meawisdom.com LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Burners often speak about the work it takes to prepare their art, art car, or camp for Black Rock City, but for many, it doesn’t end there. A project sparked in the desert or at Regional Events can take on a life of its own, continuing year-round in surprising ways.What happens when a camp or mutant vehicle takes a break from Black Rock City? After all the Communal Effort devoted to their playa project, do they even know how to stop? Apparently not... and the world benefits.kbot and Stuart speak with people who pressed pause on producing in Black Rock City, only to put their time, imagination, and heart into projects that build a better world.Leon & Patrizia of New York Dangerous discuss how their resource rescue nonprofit fosters a ‘pay it forward’ form of altruism.Leo & Catarina of Jaguara share how their mutant vehicle has become a vehicle for education and expression in Columbia.Zoe (aka “Jeff”) of Camp Starbarf tells how a year off for her camp spawned a voter support initiative and a punk rock band!Their stories share a theme: the 10 Principles (and playa-born fortitude) inspire their year-round endeavors.https://nyd.nychttps://jaguara.coStarBarf (instagram) LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Tom Price co-founded Burners Without Borders, Black Rock Solar, and a company that gifts clean-burning kitchens to people in Kenya.Tom talks about the weather, specifically hurricanes, and how Burners Without Borders started and grows despite extreme circumstances because Burners are extreme!Tom’s tales of adventure include paperwork pranks and ad hoc Cajun catharsis. If Burning Man is a permission engine, giving people agency in their lives, he says the lesson of Burning Man is finding out what is too much and then finding the sweet spot.Note: The company names they joke about in this episode are NOT sponsors, because if we don't have Decommodification, we don't have Burning Man!Burners Without BordersBlack Rock SolarTom Price: Burning Man JournalBurning Man LIVE: Tom Price and the Benefactor’s Dilemma (2022)Burning Man LIVE: Creative Solutions to Mass Destruction (2020)TEDx Black Rock City: Tom Price: Beyond Burning Man (2011)ecosafi.com LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Academics from everywhere experiment, collaborate, and even interpret our stories of "This one time at Burning Man."In this episode, Stuart talks with people from Burning Nerds, an annual gathering of academics in Black Rock City. They keep it light, though; not too many unnecessarily fancy words. Dr Jukka-Pekka Heikkilä describes the technique used by the Burning Man Project that gives more power to the people. Bryan Yazell and Patricia Wolf of the University of Southern Denmark use Flash Fiction in BRC to develop a new subgenre of sci-fi called climate fiction (‘cli-fi’), stories that are less dystopian, even less utopian, more protopian (fancy word) — not good or bad, but progress.Professor Matt Zook of the University of Kentucky extols Black Rock City's unique aspects, from temporality to being a place apart. He and Stuart explore the interplay between digital and physical spaces, and what about community actually makes it good.Then Jukka-Pekka Heikkilä returns with how the Burning Stories project, now in its 6th year of tracking tales, is a cultural repository and is training a gifted AI on how Burners be Burning.jukkapekka.comsdu.dk/en/persons/yazellsdu.dk/en/persons/pawogeography.as.uky.edu/users/zookburningman.org/programs/philosophical-center/academicsregionals.burningman.org/european-leadership-summitburning-stories.comkk.org/thetechnium/protopiasdu.dk/en/publications/enacting-hopeful-climate-futures-at-burning-man-2024Bjørn S. Cience - Founding Board Member at Institute of Performative Inquiry LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Everywhere? Regional events actively align with Burning Man's 10 Principles. 85 official events happen in 30 countries, with collectively more participants and more art grants than the original Nevada event.After 25 years, the combined regional presence is huge, diverse, and evolving, and it all started in one place: Black Rock City. Whether you're Burning in New York or New Zealand, all backroads lead back to BRC.We called a bunch of the Regional leaders to see how things are going out in their other homes away from home. We heard from Argentina, China, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, and even the far-flung realms of Texas and Kentucky.Play this mixtape of people sharing stories from everywhere in the world.regionals.burningman.orgAnd here's a related episode from 2022: burningman.org/podcast/burning-man-is-not-a-place LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Thousands of people volunteer each year in Black Rock City, for days, weeks, or months. Add to that the volunteers at the many Regional events around the world and it’s more than can be counted on fingers and toes. Why do we volunteer?Is it because we feel we received a gift and we want to pay it back, or pay it forward?Is it the meditation of hard work in a hard place adding a dimension to our experience?Is it the chance to do something different, for a pixel pusher to build an object, an engineer to cook for artists, a project manager to manage a different kind of project?The answer seems to be YES.We interviewed a few longtime citizens of Black Rock City about why they volunteer with the Greeters, with DPW, and with the Man Base to hear the stories of Topless Deb, Tamsin, Ruin, Terra, and a guy named Fuckyeah.Listen to the stories of Topless Deb, Tamsin, Ruin, Terra, and a guy named Fuckyeah.https://burningman.org/event/participate/volunteering/teams LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Burning Man doesn't make itself. The people who share their time and treasure, they create this weird wonder. Each of these people have stories about how Burning Man influenced their lives and how their lives influenced Burning Man. The Flaming Tuba Guy is one of these people. His name is David Silverman aka Tubatron. Andie Grace talked with him about how his animation career started, how his musical career started, how the Mansonian Institute started, how his career with The Simpsons started, and how that influenced his involvement with Burning Man and vice versa. He also volunteers at BRC with the DPW at the Man Pavilion. They recorded this at Burning Man and you can hear in their voices the phonic patina of the playa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Silverman_(animator)https://x.com/tubatronDavid shares more of his story in Episode 27 from 2020: https://burningman.org/podcast/holiday-special-santacon-from-home LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Allow us to introduce you to the people who called the Black Rock Desert “home” way before we did. This is your backstage pass to the original Burners of the Great Basin: The Pyramid Lake Paiute. Strap in for a road trip that's part history lesson, part cultural exchange, and essential listening for when you wonder, "Who lived here before we showed up in tutus?"We're not just passing through, we're digging deep with…Billie Jean Guerrero: Director of the Pyramid Lake MuseumMervin Wright: Environmental ManagerJames Phoenix: Former ChairmanSteven Wadsworth: Current ChairmanDean Barlese: Elder and Spiritual Leader"Double D": A tribal member at at the Golden Spike CeremonyFind this episode wherever podcasts prevail, and on YouTube: Helpful links:A Message from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe to All BRC Citizens 2023 (Burning Man Journal)Donate your leftover, non-perishable food to the Pyramid Lake Paiute. Drop it off at Bunny’s Tacos in Nixon! Here are Google Map Directions from playa to Bunny’s. Camp or recreate at Pyramid Lake. Buy a permit here.Volunteer at the Pyramid Lake Visitor Center and Museum. Help build out the new medicine garden or improve the museum’s new haba (traditional Paiute shade structure). Contact Billie Jean Guerrero at [email protected] to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. Stop by the Pyramid Lake Museum and Visitor Center. You can donate in person! Gifting! You can also write to the Tribal Secretary at [email protected] with which program, department, or tribal office you’d like to direct your donation. LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Marian Goodell, CEO of Burning Man Project, talks with a lively audience as part of Robot Heart’s Residency in Oakland, California. She is joined by Candace Locklear (aka Evil Pippi), Erin Douglas of the Black Burner Project, and Robot Heart’s Justin Schaffer and Satya Kamdar.It’s casual. It’s layered. It’s a room of Burners.What constitutes culture jamming? Where does Burning Man bridge the divide to bring people together? How have pillars of our culture evolved from awkward beginnings?They swap stories about the perks of unbranding. They joke about gifting and regifting, and the spectrum between talismans and swag. They go off the rails into how mainstream culture plays with Burning Man tropes.Then they go beyond making a party in the desert, out into the world, to the Regional Network as a living embodiment of ‘Each One Teach One.’ They show how collaboration creates the community. They explore actually active inclusivity, and the question “Who are we?”www.theother51weeks.comMarian Goodell: Burning Man Project Board of DirectorsBlack Burner ProjectThe Future of Burning Man (video version on youtube) Burning Man LIVE: The Evolution of Robot HeartBurning Man LIVE: Candace Locklear on Culture Jamming and Welcoming LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Take a trip through the puzzle of porta-potties at a free-range event, highway happenings, and the new news about prep. This is deeper than “What is MOOP?” This is the ART of Leaving No Trace.It’s part of the Burning Man ethos, and it’s why Black Rock City is the world's largest Leave No Trace event. Now nearly 100 other Burning Man events around the globe adhere to this attitude, this mindset. It’s an ongoing quest to leave less and less of a trace. As the principle is written, it invites us to leave spaces in better shape than we found them.The 75,000 citizens of BRC pick up after themselves. It’s miraculous. And we can do more.Those of us who take on the challenge, we see it as a process, a practice, a stretch goal. We look at ways to get closer to that zero point. Each of us is at a different point on the LNT learning curve. The next level is to develop techniques to do it collectively. It is a set of behaviors to be cultivated.In this episode, we talk with some of the unsung heroes: blue: DPW Logistics & Project Manager of Recycle CampBarbarella: Resto’s Highway Clean-Up ManagerDA: Playa Restoration ManagerHazmatt: Associate Director of BRC Business OperationsWe look at what gets left behind, so we can grok our cumulative impact, and make a better choice, a better cascade of choices, to teach good citizenship. Plus, eh, there may be a few poop jokes.There’s an old saying in Black Rock City: “It was better next year.” Let’s leave no trace so that there will be a next year.burningman.org/about/10-principlesRecycle Camp2023 MOOP MapDA on Restoration Destiny (Burning Man LIVE) LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Burning Man culture brings people together across all kinds of divides, yet we’re seeing an uptick of intolerance toward art and experiences in our community. The default world is often divided by ideology, religion, and politics. Could that division seep into this culture that aspires to welcome everyone?How can we navigate the turbulent waters between, say, Radical Self-expression and Radical Inclusion? How do we walk the line between free speech and hate speech? How do we keep our global community together in times of outright war?Listen in on a roundtable discussion about concerns that don’t have easy solutions. A few folks explore how the act of conversation changes what might otherwise seem controversial or divisive:• Stuart Mangrum is Burning Man Project’s Director of the Philosophical Center so he directed some philosophers to center around a microphone to discuss.• Caveat Magister debated and discussed Burning Man philosophy, then wrote books about it.• Kay Morrison is a veteran Black Rock City artist, active in the Global Network, and a Burning Man Project board member.• Steven Raspa is Associate Director of Community Events for Burning Man Project, and a co-founder of the Regional Network Committee.This conversation concerns art, yes, and behavior — as participants, as people. It’s about being open-minded and open-hearted, even when it’s difficult to do. What is a safe space? What is a brave space? How can jackassery be respectful? What’s with all the questions? Tune in for the answers that lead to more questions.burningman.org/about/10-principlesTurn Your Life Into Art with Caveat Magister (Burning Man LIVE)Kay Morrison and the Overall Wonderment Quotient (Burning Man LIVE)Remember How to Burning Man with Steven Raspa (Burning Man LIVE)Stuart Mangrum’s Serious Philosophy of Shenanigans (Burning Man LIVE) LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Tony “Coyote” Perez may be the best at thriving (and not dying) at Burning Man. He is the Black Rock City Superintendent, the Burning Man OSHA Instructor, and the 26-year Burner whose job it is to put himself in harm's way and then get out of his own way!Sit in on a chuckling conversation between Stuart and Coyote. They put the wisdom in wise-crack. It’s not because they’re so smart; it’s because they’ve made every mistake and then asked why and how. This is not a list of tips and tricks—those are in the Survival Guide. This is a refreshing penumbra of practices held by the one who is having the most fun.They debunk fallacies such as "The Hero Factor" and "The playa provides."They share stories about curious topics, including: The culture of safety (Becoming involved in your own rescue)Situational awareness (Choosing to immerse into your new world)Serious self-care (and caring for your people)You may find that the challenges of your campmates and your camp build (and camp strike) become easier, simpler, and special-er (new word). You may just find that you banish bad luck. journal.burningman.org/author/tperezburningman.org/news/books-about-burning-man/built-to-burnburningman.org/about-us/staff/TonyCoyotePerezsurvival.burningman.org LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

400 works of art don’t just appear as if in a desert mirage. Well, they do, but not without a lot of people, tools, and funds. Planners are planning. Makers are making. Art grants are granting! Crews all over the world are creating installations for Black Rock City. Katie Hazard, Director of Burning Man Project’s art department curates some artist's tales for us. Hear their stories in their voices. Hold onto your headlamp: We’ve got an interactive Man Base that looks like an octopus or a fjord or bothWe’ve got a larger-than-life omniscient prankster traffic coneWe’ve got the insider intentions of this year's temple buildersWe’ve got artists sharing cultural riches from China, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the US.Desert Arts Preview 2024 (burningman.org)Desert Arts Preview 2024 (YouTube)Introducing the 2024 Honoraria Burning Man Journal)The Burning Man Theme: Curiouser & Curiouser LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

“While there are many beloved mutant vehicles out there, El Pulpo, in both of its incarnations, is the most ‘beloved.’” ~Chef Juke, Communications lead for the Department of Mutant VehiclesEl Pulpo Magnífico is a 28-foot tall giant octopus, a demented windup toy, a mobile kinetic sculpture with articulating legs, eyes, and mouths. It spews fire from its extremities and has been stealing the limelight for a decade now, first at Black Rock City, then everywhere from LoveBurn to EDC.It’s merely the newest and largest expression of artist Duane Flatmo and his team of engineer artists. Years ago, he gave up music to pursue art and pursued it from New York to London, China, and back again. Duane shares how his influences inspired his innovations and how his resourceful team creates surprises for people worldwide.Hear the stories of El Pulpo’s predecessors, origins, and adventures!www.elpulpomecanico.comkineticgrandchampionship.comBurning Man LIVE: Chef Juke’s Wild Art Car R.I.D.E. LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Back by popular demand, more stories from Burning Man's oral history project, an ambitious endeavor to track down and talk with people who helped shape the culture as we now know it.Stuart and Andie remember to remember the most memorable parts. Here’s a fresh batch:Chris Radcliffe, artist, con artist, prankster, and shadow founder of Burning Man (perhaps), shares stories of how the Cacophony Society would prank the media and how the Black Rock Desert drove up his fears, then dispelled them. He also hints at the larger-than-life impact of the Billboard Liberation Front.Candace Locklear, aka Evil Pippi, a perturber and social experimenteer (new word) shares how she helped Burning Man manage the mainstream media in the late ‘90s. She also talks about cutesy culture jamming as a scary clown.Summer Burkes was the DPW's media liaison. She sees the early days of Black Rock City as the love child of comically aggressive punk rockers and air-kissy techno industrialists, and she embraces their uneasy peace.Steve Heck brought 88 pianos to Burning Man in 1996, stacked them in a tall circular “piano bell.” People beat it into a cacophonous soundscape until he burned it. That was after he almost died wandering the desert. Then he cleaned it up, and did it the next year, and the next year, and taught the BRC teams the art of packing and moving big stuff.Dr. Hal Robins is a beloved Renaissance Man of stage and story, a Cacophonist, an Uber Pope of the Church of the Subgenius, and a mellifluous philosopher of sesquipedalians. He shares about the inventiveness and serendipity of Burning Man and why it matters in the world.Part 1 of this series: burningman.org/podcast/a-peoples-history-of-burning-manjournal.burningman.org/category/philosophical-centerburningman.org/programs/philosophical-centerwww.cacophony.orgThe What Where When Guide is here.The 1996 Helco commercial is here. LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Burners from around Europe gather to teach and learn and to conjure ideas for the future. Burning Man’s 7th European Leadership Summit just happened, and we recorded some conversations for you.Passionate people from the corners of Europe share with Stuart and kbot what they get from Burning Man culture and what they gift back to it. Hear a cultural spice drawer of stories about how they persevere through politics and pandemics to bring their flavor of Burning Man to their homeland. Baroch - IsraelErin Kiez - GermanyGabriel Muscalu - RomaniaLinus Höök, Caroline Bergmann, and Britta Kronacher - SwedenPille Heido - EstoniaVinegar Joe - Portugal“Burning Man started with the fire. For me, that is a strong ritual. And it’s a harmonious ritual. And it’s true. And then you have the gifting, because someone built that fire, someone made it with no expectations. Someone made that fire only to warm up other people. From this idea, everything grew exponentially, but that’s the essence. Creating something for you and for others and expressing yourself through your creation. And that can be in all the directions magnified. It’s something that creates you. It’s a thing that you create and creates you. It’s like this beautiful spin.”~Gabriel Muscalu - Romaniahttps://regionals.burningman.org/european-leadership-summithttps://regionals.burningman.org/regionals LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

There are a whole lot of military veterans in Burning Man’s history and Black Rock City’s neighborhoods. Combat veterans Dr Raymond Christian (Army) and Samuel Williams (Marines) share stories with Stuart Mangrum (Air Force) about transitioning into civilian life, bringing survival skills and leadership chops to BRC, and finding tribal camaraderie… and a party.They explore how hackneyed clichés of the military can wither in an environment of love and authenticity. PTSD, though, that’s still a thing. BRC can be like a military operation: the sights, the sounds, the smells... meeting interesting people, and finding forever friendships.“Being in combat, you experience the worst of humanity… It pulls the veil off and you no longer care about the facade. You get raw about it because you've seen the extreme. Burning Man is the opposite of that. It is also extreme, but it is the very best that humanity has to offer. You're not going to experience anything more stimulating, more accepting, more exciting than Burning Man, because everybody there has coalesced and converged on this area to express their art and their love for the celebration of the human experience.” ~Samuel WilliamsLinktr.ee/RaymondChristian LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Robot Heart started with a simple sound system on an old double-decker bus at Black Rock City. Over the years, it has evolved into a bespoke sound system, light arrays, iconic art, and an all-star lineup of musical talent performing to massive crowds at sunrise on Playa.… all on that same old double-decker bus. Robot Heart also expanded its support of arts and artists beyond the playa, including New York’s Central Park, Miami’s Art Basel, and their residency program in Oakland, California. For the 2nd year, the team brings together various Burning Man camps, artists, and musicians from April 25th to May 18th.A few years ago, Robot Heart created a 501c3 Foundation to make all this happen. Stuart talks with President Gary Mueller and Board Members Clare Laverty and Justin Shaffer. They trade tales from developing a foundation, collaborating with creatives, and taking pleasure from other people's pleasure.robotheart.orgrobotheartfoundation.orgwww.theloomoakland.comfareforward.comwww.artbasel.com/miami-beachhttps://brandtbrauerfrick.dewikipedia.org/wiki/MuditaLee Burridge - Robot Heart - Burning ManRodriguez Jr. (Live) Featuring Liset Alea  - Robot Heart - Burning Man LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Moshe Kasher has lived many lives as a subculture vulture - a hearing child of deaf parents, an addict at 15, in recovery at 16, a raver, a culturally Jewish standup comedian, an old school Burner and a longtime Gate volunteer. With Andie Grace and Stuart Mangrum he explores how Burning Man is a waterboard of wonder where weirdos go to feel normal, and norms go to feel weird, and that the sweet spot is when you experience something that makes you say “Wait, What?!?”They talk through how Black Rock City has evolved, from subcultures like the rave scene and AA meetings, to the transitional realm from the default world, the infamous Gate. Listen in on their playful tales of culture-jamming and utopia-tizing. Moshe Kasher (wikipedia)Gate, Perimeter & Exodus (burningman.org)Subculture Vulture: Penguin Random HouseSubculture Vulture: New York Times Book Reviewwww.cacophony.orgThe Endless Honeymoon Podcast LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

This is one of those full-circle stories that makes our dusty hearts glow a little brighter. It’s the tale of big art that emerged from a fossil-filled trash heap, came to life in Black Rock City, then returned to its source as a proud symbol of what a community can accomplish together.Tahoe Mack, a Las Vegas artist, tells the story of the Black Rock City Honoraria art piece she started when she was 15 years old. Her final Girl Scouts project became, oh, so much more. Over a few years, she learned to weld, fundraise, and work with acclaimed artists Dana Albany and Luis Varelo-Rico.Her vision drew attention to an urban park with a rich archaeological history. Built from metal detritus that had accumulated there, “The Monumental Mammoth” dazzled Burners in Black Rock City 2019, and is now a permanent installation at a trailhead near the fossil field that inspired it all, and forged new connections between dozens of people.https://www.tahoemariemack.com/themounumentalmammothhttps://protectorsoftulesprings.org/monumental-mammoth-projecthttps://www.danaalbanyart.com/mammothhttps://burningman.org/podcast/dana-albany-dreaming-in-metal-and-glass LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG