Burner Podcast Burner Podcast Network

An Ego Can’t Build a Temple Glitter Kitty embraces community and shadow work in her vision for Burning Man 2024’s Temple of Together
Lebanese-bred and Brazil-born Caroline Ghosn learned to place a high value on deep connections from an early life lived in a larger variety of cities than your average childhood. The “activist entrepreneur” became Glitter Kitty in 2015 and has brought to the playa the sculptures Do Not Cross and Disturb My Slumber, paving the way for arguably her greatest feat, Burning Man’s 2024 Temple of Together.
Arash interviews Caroline in April 2024, just as the temple team begins their transition from individual fundraising to the next phase of their efforts. Their conversation explores multi-generational trauma, the spiritual compulsion that is art-making, and multiple geek-outs about Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way.
Chapter One: Highly Sensitive
Chapter Two: When You’re in Hell, Keep Walking
Chapter Three: Tiny Cute little Human Ego
Chapter Four: Why Temple
Chapter Five: The Gardner and the Architect
Chapter Six: Gratitude
 
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/carolineghosn
https://www.2024temple.com
https://www.glitterkitty.art
https://journal.burningman.org/2024/01/black-rock-city/building-brc/introducing-the-2024-temple/
 
Recorded at Robot Heart Residency chill space at all The Loom makerspace in Oakland, California, on April 20, 2024. (theloom.net)
https://robotheart.secretparty.io
https://www.robotheart.org
https://www.instagram.com/robotheartfoundation
 
Additional recording at Dome Asylum in Ramona, CA
hipcamp.com/en-US/land/california-dome-asylum-hippie-homestead
tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32937-d16645997-Reviews-Dome_Asylum-Ramona_California
instagram.com/domeasylumramona
 
This episode was produced by Kelly Smith (kellysmithcassidy.com)
Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley (ra.co/dj/patrickdylan)
 
About Burner Podcast:
Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and hosted by founder ‘Mister Arash’, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional podcast in the global Burning Man community. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore a decade’s worth of conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.
DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: soundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/sets/burner-podcast-closing-sets
Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.
Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based(ish) professional photographer, writer and community building addict. Send him love or hate mail directly at mrarash.com/hello and follow his writing on Substack at yesterdayiwasclever.com, where he publishes new pieces on culture, Art and identity every Friday.
For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s management at properconcept.us/contact-us

Ten Years: A Burner Podcast Memoire Arash reflects on a decade of Burning Man, the Burner community and Burner Podcast
Arash recorded the interview portion of the very first episode of Burner Podcast before attending his first Burning Man. With the transformative nature of Burning Man baked into the show, Arash reflects on a decade of growth, adventure and community. Unlike any previous editions of the show, this milestone episode features a solo scripted memoire by the host in six chapters: The Call, The Refusal, The Road, The Abyss, The Change and The Return.
Recorded in Las Vegas, NV, April of 2024
Additional recording at Proper Concept Studio in Long Beach, CA, March 2024
 
Closing set by Christian Goodell
soundcloud.com/christiangoodell
soundcloud.com/bureauofhindsight
Hear the full set at https://on.soundcloud.com/SPr4s5jrrVXqNB4d7
Recorded at Burning Medellin on 2-9-24 at Heard From in El Poblado, Medellin, Colombia
 
Executive Producer Patrick Dylan Riley (ra.co/dj/patrickdylan)
 
Read the compendium to this episode: Sometimes Just [censored] It
 
About Burner Podcast:
Independently produced by a revolving team of contributing producers and hosted by founder ‘Mister Arash’, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional podcast in the global Burning Man community. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore a decade’s worth of conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.
DJ sets featured on Burner Podcast can be found here: soundcloud.com/burnerpodcast/sets/burner-podcast-closing-sets
Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.
Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based(ish) professional photographer, writer and community building addict. Send him love or hate mail directly at mrarash.com/hello and follow his writing on Substack at yesterdayiwasclever.com.
For bookings and inquiries, contact Arash’s management at properconcept.us/contact-us

Scientifically Proven Quantum Manifestation?
Dr. Kim Perkins and Arash talk spirituality and science
For the first new episode of 2024 Arash welcomes back one of the Kims (from episode 140) for a fun conversation about the intersection of spirituality and science. In addition to holding the honor of being Arash’s previous housemate, Dr. Kim Perkins is an organizational psychologist with a PhD in positive psychology. Arash and Kim dive into topics often brushed off as 'hippie stuff,' exploring their academic backing and practical applications. The episode closes with a portion of DJ Maxx Polishuk's full vinyl set from BRCU at Burning Man 2013.
Recorded January of 2024 at Philtopia in Pasadena, CA
Kim Perkins' Website More Episodes Featuring Kim Perkins DJ Max Polishuk's Vinyl Set Live at BRCU Burning Man 2013  
_____________________________________
 
About the Show:
Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and Hosted by founder (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 140+ episodes at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.
Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and community builder. Connect with him directly at mrarash.com/hello.
Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

Episode 148: Christmas in Vegas
A Dispatch from Las Vegas with Snarky Santa
Arash gets to know a different side of Las Vegas with Randy Winsett AKA Snarky Santa. A father, anarchist, cancer butt kicker and host of Shouting Fire’s SIR Radio, Randy brings a mix of deep insight and irreverent humor to this episode, serving as the de facto co-host for Arash’s Las Vegas adventure. In a conversation at least five years in the making, we'll explore Randy’s roots in Oklahoma, nerd out on that #radiohostlife, explore the Las Vegas Burner community and dissect the existential lessons of cancer. Expect a a fairly even blend of serious emo crap and snarky giggle fests. Also a lot of Christmas crap.
 
Rerecord in Las Vegas, December 2023
 
snarkysanta.com - The Official Home for all things Randy
shoutingfire.com/members/snarky-santa-aka-randy-winsett - Randy’s ShoutingFire landing page
dashboard.transistor.fm/shows/the-snarky-santa-show - Archives of past shows
facebook.com/snarkysantalv
facebook.com/randytales - Facebook home for #RandyTales
Watch Randy’s #CancerTales Live At Burning Man 2018 - youtu.be/2lHizUiMdvg
Listen to Iris’s full funky Christmas set here: soundcloud.com/iris_refractions/on-the-friday-before-christmas-there-was-funk-in-the-house
Iris’s has tons music up at soundcloud.com/iris_refractions
And follow Iris at instagram.com/iris_refractions
 
 
Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and Hosted by founder (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the extended international community of Burning Man. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 140+ episodes at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.
Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and community builder. Connect with him directly at mrarash.com/hello.
Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

Episode 147: Sarge’s Orders
Torrey Pines Smith of Sextant fame goes full tech bro
Join Arash for a delightful reunion with Torrey Pines Smith, affectionately known as Sarge from Sextant camp. Life's taken some turns for Torrey since his last appliance on Episode 72. He's embraced being family man and launched into entrepreneurial life with his startup, Endiatix. From the dust of BRC to shaping a venture capital firm, Arash explores with Torrey topics of transformation and evolution, wrapped in the spirit of the Burner community. Delve into the world of 'liquid smooth, organic robotics,' a metaphor for the seamless blend of technology and human experience as Torrey shares his insights on ego, intuition, and life’s surprises.
Interview recorded in Hayward, CA in November of 2023
Post production recordings at The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in San Diego, CA
Episode 72 with Torrey Smith
endiatx.com/team
The Dropout Podcast
About the Show:
Independently produced by a revolving team of volunteers and Hosted by founder (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the extended international community of Burning Man. Focused on year-round Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 140+ episodes at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes.
Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-based professional photographer and community builder. Connect with him directly at mrarash.com/hello.
Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

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