As the media portrays 2023's Burning Man as a hellscape, THE INTERSECTION at Burning Man revists the work of a group of Burners at the 2019 event. They felt that the overwhelmingly white community wasn't living up to its self-proclaimed principle of Radical Inclusion. Find out what has changed and what hasn't. And, as you are bombarded with online click bait about 70,000 people being stranded in the desert, I encourage you to listen to the nine-episode season of THE INTERSECTION at Burning Man. You’ll hear the stories of an insanely creative, giving, conscious, and unconventional community. 

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Go to THE INTERSECTION.FM to learn more about the series. To learn more about Erin Douglas, founder of @blackburnerproject and the lead artist of Black! Asé, check out the project's website.  For all things Favianna Rodriguez, head to Favianna's website.

The photo that accompanies this episode was taken by Erin Douglas. a.k.a. @aphotochick

One of the principles guiding Burning Man is "Radical Inclusion." Basically, all are welcome. But, the temporary city that Burners build in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert has never been racially diverse. Just 1% of Black Rock City self-identifies as Black. In this episode of THE INTERSECTION at Burning Man, we explore why there's been a disconnect between racial and radical inclusion, and what some Burners, like Oakland Activist and Artist Favianna Rodriguez, are doing to change that.  

This episode was edited by Lisa Morehouse. And engineered for your listening pleasure by Gabe Grabin with music from Erik Pearson and Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Jenee Darden, Jonathan Davis and Jessie Weiner. And of course to the folks at Que Viva and the Burning Man Project.

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Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM

Burning Man is known for a lot of things: The art. The parties. The wooden man that’s set on ablaze every year. But most Burners don’t know much about the history of the land or its original inhabitants: the Pyramid Lake Paiutes  In this episode of THE INTERSECTION, reporter Lucy Kang explores the Piautes and their relationship to Burning Man. 

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You can support the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe through Comfort & Joy's fundraising campaign on Facebook. ---

This episode is a co-prodction of KALW and KPFA. It was edited by David Boyer and engineered by Gabe Grabin with theme music from Erik Pearson. Songs from the album Circle Dance Songs of the Paiute and Shoshone by Judy Trejo ARE courtesy of Canyon Records. "Sweet Betsy From Pike" was performed by Zelmer Ward and Vester Whitworth. 

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Deep in the Black Rock Desert, way beyond the theme camps and the effigy that gives Burning Man its name, there’s another elaborate wooden structure: it blends art and architecture, inside and out. And, arguably, it’s the sacred and spiritual center of the event.Burners simply call it “The Temple.” “Grief” is perhaps the most apparent emotion expressed and experienced here. That specific grief that comes with losing a loved one and the more diffuse grief that can come with simply being alive on this planet at this moment. 

Why is there such attachment to a temporary structure that’s little more than wood and nails? Reporter Jonathan Davis went in search of the answer.

Burning Man is known for its massive, Instagram-friendly art installations that are a stark contrast to the beige, desert backdrop. There are also many smaller projects, labors of love that can easily get lost. In this installment, THE INTERSECTION discovers one of them. To the naked eye, it looks like an old phone on a dusty table. Curious folks at Burning Man pick up the receiver. What awaits them on the other end is totally unexpected.

Thr project is The Phone Experiment™; it's the creation of David Cooper, a coder-slash- comedian who lives in San Francisco. He was kind enough to give us access to more than 24-hours of recorded conversations.

Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM

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Producer: David Boyer Editors: Ben Trefny, Lisa Morehouse, Gabe Grabin Engineer: Gabe Grabin Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Jonathan Davis

Special thanks to the Pigmalions, Versed, BMIR and all the peeps who shared a moment and/or a story.

Produced with the technical and emotional support of KALW, and the financial support of SF Arts Commission and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the NEH.

What's it like to be in a wheelchair or have mobility issues on the playa? Photojournalist Morgan Lieberman spent the week with Rat Lady and Mobility Camp. And if you haven't listened to the full episode, consider this a teaser.

Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM

Burning Man is pagan at its core with a hell-ish aesthetic. It's understandable that many evangelical leaders condemn the event. But why do so many devout Christians attend each year? And what do they do once they're there? We meet the priests and apostles of Religous AF camp, who are on a mission to help other Burners heal their spiritual wounds.

Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM

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Producer: David Boyer Editor: Ben Trefny Engineer: Gabe Grabin Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Jonathan Davis

Special thanks to the Pigmalions, Versed, BMIR and all the peeps who shared a moment and/or a story.

Produced with the technical and emotional support of KALW, and the financial support of SF Arts Commission and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the NEH.

From our family to yours: a bonus video that adds visuals to the Episode 02 about a family of first-time art-car makers at Burning Man. Turns out, the ups and downs of Eileen the Pearl Peacock were photo-documented by one of the makers — Robin Damore — who is also a portrait artist. Enjoy! And if you haven't listened to the full episode, consider this a teaser.

Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM

Burning Man is guided by the so-called "10 Princples," one of which is radical inclusion. What does that mean for people with disabilities? Especially at an event that spans seven-square miles of cracked desert, and the most common forms of transit are biking and walking. We meet a Burner with limited vision and a camp for people with mobility issues.

Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM

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Producer: David Boyer Editor: Lisa Morehouse Engineer: Gabe Grabin Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Jonathan Davis

Special thanks to the Pigmalions, Versed, BMIR and all the peeps who shared a moment and/or a story.

Produced with the technical and emotional support of KALW, and the financial support of SF Arts Commission and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the NEH.

1996 was a turning point for Burning Man. It was also the last year co-founder John Law attended. Two people were run over in their tents. And another person died in a head-on collision right before the gates opened. The next year, organizers tried to tame the chaos with a bunch of new rules and a grid of streets. It was too much of a compromise for Law. So, he walked away. We talked about that and more at his office in Tribune Tower in Oakland.

Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM  // Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION 

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Producer: David Boyer Engineer: Gabe Grabin Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Jonathan Davis Tracking Guru: Jenee Darden

Special thanks to the Pigmalions, Versed, BMIR and all the peeps who shared a moment and/or a story.

Produced with the technical and emotional support of KALW, and the financial support of SF Arts Commission and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the NEH.

We begin where art meets motion. Burning Man hasn’t officially started but there’s plenty going on: Camps are being set up, art is being erected and a family of first-time art car makers is hustling to finish up their vehicle. But they can’t actually drive it until it’s approved by the DMV. As in the Department of Mutant Vehicles.

Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM

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Producer: David Boyer Editor: Lisa Morehouse Engineer: Gabe Grabin Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Jonathan Davis Tracking Guru: Jenee Darden

Special thanks to the Pigmalions, Versed, BMIR and all the peeps who shared a moment and/or a story.

Produced with the technical and emotional support of KALW, and the financial support of SF Arts Commission and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the NEH.