Marian Goodell et al: Inside Burning Man’s Worst Case Scenario

Sep 15, 2023

Katie Bain reflects on the media's portrayal of Burning Man 2023, Katrina Gordon discusses camp management and resilience, Emily Collins challenges the ethics of a large-scale event in the face of climate change, Matt Sundquist talks about sustainability, and Marian Goodell shares real-time experiences during the storm at Burning Man.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Slow Burn to Sustainability

01:56 • 5min

Transformative Growth and Community at Burning Man

06:46 • 12min

Finding Delight in Challenging Situations

18:46 • 18min

Building Community Resilience

36:30 • 12min

Rave Revolution and Climate Protests at Burning Man

48:54 • 13min

The Effectiveness of Protests on Tribal Land

01:02:21 • 11min

Exploring Sustainability and Stewardship at Fly Ranch

01:13:49 • 3min

Experiences during a storm at Burning Man

01:16:40 • 1min

Black Rock City: An Open-Source Experiment for Climate Change

01:18:10 • 11min

Land Stewardship and Sustainability

01:29:36 • 12min

Cats and Other Animals at Burning Man

01:41:20 • 1min

The Evolution of Burning Man

01:42:50 • 5min

Meeting with Agencies and Organizations

01:48:04 • 4min

Embracing the Storm: Rain at Burning Man

01:52:09 • 25min

The Power of Burning Man and Building a Stronger Community

02:17:24 • 3min

Burning Man 2023 was many things, most of which were not accurately portrayed in the media. We experienced a weather event that united us, tested our resilience, and sparked a renewed sense of purpose while also accelerating a critical examination of where Burning Man stands in the broader context of sustainability.

Today on the show, I've asked five different guests to help craft a comprehensive picture of the 2023 event, the state of our culture, and the future of Black Rock City.

(01:00) - Eamon's Intro
(12:00) - Part 1: Katie Bain (Billboard): "Whimsy Is Reliance" | Katie Bain, Director of Billboard Dance, cuts through the media noise with her balanced and playful perspective on this year's Burning Man.
(28:00) - Part 2: Katrina Gordon (Camp KISS): The Grasshopper Prepares | Katrina Gordon, one of the leads of my own Camp KISS, gives the nitty-gritty of camp management and resilience.
(51:00) - Part 3: Emily Collins (Seven Circles): Burners of the World Unite! | Emily Collins, an environmental protester, challenges us to consider the ethical implications of such a large-scale event in the face of climate change.
(1:14:00) - Part 4: Matthew Sundquist (Fly Ranch): A Slow Burn to Sustainability | Matt Sundquist, director of Fly Ranch, discusses the 2030 Sustainability Roadmap and using a Theory of Change approach to sustainability.
(1:41:00) - Part 5: Marian Goodell (Burning Man Project): The Storm is our Portal to the Future | Co-founder and CEO of Burning Man shares her real-time decision-making and unique insights into Burning Man's evolution and its role in the broader climate conversation.

Whether you're a seasoned Burner or a curious onlooker, today's episode promises to be a rollercoaster of emotion, insight, and, yes, a bit of whimsy. Because at the end of the day, we're all asking the same questions: In an age of climate uncertainty, should we be gathering for events like Burning Man? Or is it precisely these communal experiences that teach us resilience and keep our spirits high?

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