Burner Podcast

Burner Podcast Network

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.

  1. 12/26/2025

    Alkaline: Piccaya (Afrikaburn 2025 / Bubbles & Bass)

    Burner Podcast Presents: Alkaline A067: Piccaya at Afrikaburn 2025 Welcome to the all new, all different (but mostly the same same) Burner Podcast Presents Alkaline — the soundtrack to your burn. Our new season opener welcomes back Piccaya, last featured in episode 90 of Burner Podcast, this time sharing one of his many sets from Afrikaburn 2025. Piccaya is a sonic traveler and storyteller based between Brussels and Barcelona, known for deep, organic, tribal-infused soundscapes that bridge the spiritual and the dancefloor. This mix captures a warm, glowy, hip-shaking journey recorded Friday morning at Bubbles & Bass in the Karoo Desert. Additionally, let it be said that your Persian Podcast host appreciated Piccaya casually dropping a Persian tune into the mix. Links piccaya.com → https://www.piccaya.com/about Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/piccaya/ Kosmozoo → https://www.kosmozoo.org/ Camp & Event Bubbles & Bass → https://www.bubblesandbass.com/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bubbles.and.bass/ Listen & Context Full mix → https://on.soundcloud.com/mFvDaw1BqKK9lJOK7s Previous appearance (Burner Podcast Episode 90) → https://www.burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/episode-90-rise-of-the-regionals Curated by Burner Podcast host Arash (aka Miraḡe the Pluronaut), Burner Podcast Presents: Alkaline showcases mixes by DJs active across the global Burning Man community. New episodes now drop on the same feed as Burner Podcast. Explore the original Alkaline archives (Sessions A001–A066), hosted and produced by Navjeet Sarna: https://www.burnerpodcast.com/alkaline

    2h 1m
  2. 10/25/2025

    Don't Go to Burning Man

    A Post-Burning Man 2025 chat with 20-year veteran & camp lead Rand Pate The dust has barely settled, and Arash is still shaking it out of his hair—and maybe out of his brain. In this post-Burning Man 2025 debrief, he sits with Rand Pate, a 20-year veteran and long-time camp lead of Bubble Lounge, to unpack what might have been the roughest year on record. From hurricane-force whiteouts and shattered shade structures to an unexpected birth, a tragic homicide, and the most international population in playa history, 2025 pushed the community to its edge. They talk about the evolution of playa culture, the loss of Center Camp Café, camp leadership under pressure, and why radical inclusion sometimes has limits. Rand shares lessons from two decades on the dust and how Bubble Lounge held its spirit through chaos. The conversation closes with gratitude, gallows humor, and a new DJ set by Todd Spero, recorded at Slut Garden in 2017*.* Episode Links / Resources Bubble Lounge Camp history – https://www.thebubblelounge.net/ Burning Man 2025 overview (news, weather, stats) – https://burningman.org/event/ Burning Man+1 2025 event incidents (weather, birth, homicide) – • Dust storm & weather: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/aug/26/burning-man-weather-storms The Guardian • Unexpected birth (Baby Aurora): https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2025/08/29/baby-born-at-burning-man-mother-didnt-know-she-was-expecting/85895911007/ Reno Gazette-Journal+1 • GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-burning-man-baby-girl-2025 GoFundMe Film Dust (Short Film) – YouTube search: "Dust Burning Man short film" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQABv8jgVSw Film Ignite (Documentary Short) featured on Burner Podcast episode 96: The Wind Whispers – burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/episode-96-the-wind-whispers Film Charlie Goes to Burning Man – YouTube search: "Charlie goes to Burning Man documentary" DJ Set – Todd Spero @ Slut Garden 2017 – soundcloud.com/todd-spero/instereo-night-burning-man-2017-friday-night-slutgarden Burner Podcast Presents Alkaline – burnerpodcast.com/alkaline Follow Mr Arash – instagram.com/mrarash Show Credits Burner Podcast Episode 160 Recorded in Los Angeles 10/24/25 Host / Producer: Mr Arash Guest: Rand Pate Contributing Producer: Public Menace Music: Todd Spero – Slut Garden 2017 Set Theme: "Horse With No Name (Remix)" by Joman Call to Action Share this episode with three friends whom you'd like to talk out of going to Burning Man. Use hashtag #DontGoToBurningMan and #burnerpodcast when posting. More at burnerpodcast.com. About Burner Podcast Hosted by (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Independently produced and focused on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 160ish conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-born (and sometimes Vegas-based) professional photographer. You can learn more at arashafshar.com and reach out directly at mrarash.com/hello. Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

    1h 60m
  3. 08/03/2025

    Roadtrip to Burning Man 2025

    Roadtrip to Burning Man 2025 The Annual Pre-Playa Planner™ It's that time again, kids! The Pre-Playa Planner is the yearly tradition where Arash delegates all the actual research to his way-more-responsible guests. This year's dialed-in crew to help you mentally prepare for your adventures ahead: Esquire, founder of Bubble Lounge Saffron aka Sara Barnett, repping Art Support Services (A.S.S.) instagram.com/cornepeli Shamiran, artist, musician, sonic selector and Camp YOUniversal mainstay instagram.com/saterishamiran The crew breaks down some of the 2025 art projects we're excited to see, rituals we're bringing back, new surprises we're bracing for, and logistics that separate the veterans from the sparkle ponies. Burner Podcast Episode 159 Recorded in Los Angeles on August 2, 2025 📅 playaevents.burningman.org 🌀 2025 Art Installations: burningman.org/event/2025-art-listings 🎧 Here Shamiran's full set here: https://on.soundcloud.com/26hAaDXocNpuuuMIWU 🛻 Your Pre-Playa Audio Toolkit: burnerpodcast.com/roadtrip 🗃️ Previous Pre-Playa Planners: burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes/category/pre-playa-planner Contributing Producer: Public Menace of Bubble Lounge   🏹🪽✂️   Hosted by (mr)Arash, Burner Podcast is the longest running traditional audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Independently produced and focused on Burner consciousness and topics of intracultural interest, explore 150+ conversations at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes. Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American SoCal-born (and sometimes Vegas-based) professional photographer. You can learn more at arashafshar.com and reach out directly at mrarash.com/hello. Follow instagram.com/BurnerPodcast and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates.

    1h 57m
  4. 05/19/2025

    Welcome Home

    And on his seventh Burn, Tyler Williams truly came Home For his first six Burns, musician and professional Las Vegas community builder Tyler Williams attended Burning Man the millionaire way — flying in late, partying big, and heading out before the Temple burn. After the tragic death of his friend and boss, Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, Tyler returned to the playa — this time sober and with a deeper sense of intention. In this interview memoir, Tyler shares his story of growing up in the church, landing in Las Vegas with his band, and eventually working alongside Tony during the Downtown Project's legendary revitalization of Fremont Street. Along the way, Arash and Tyler explore the lows of Ketamine and the real highs found in purpose, community, and creative contribution. Burner Podcast | Episode 158 Recorded on Bicycle Day of 2025 in Las Vegas, NV 🔗 Tyler's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tyler-williams-53089b20 🔗 Tyler's music: reverbnation.com/theoryofflightmusic If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend, and if you're feeling extra generous, check out BurnerPodcast.com for ways to support the show. 🌟 About the Show Featuring in-depth conversations with artists, leaders, and visionaries shaping Burner culture year-round, Burner Podcast is the longest-running traditional audio podcast in the global Burning Man community. Ranked among the top 5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes, it has been exploring international Burner culture for over a decade. 🎧 Dive into the archive at burnerpodcast.com/previous-episodes 📲 Follow @BurnerPodcast on Instagram and facebook.com/burnerpodcast for wildly irregular updates 🌟 About the Host Burner Podcast host Arash Afshar is an Iranian-American, SoCal-born, and Las Vegas-based cultural strategist, creative director and professional photographer. 🔗 Explore his projects at arashafshar.com 📸 Follow him on Instagram: @mrarash 💌 Send love (or hate) mail: mrarash.com/hello

    2h 14m
4.9
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

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.