BONZAAR Podcast

In this episode we review the 2026 Kiwiburn: A Work of Heart event with a panel of kiwiburners (Hippathy, Kym, & Shelley) to talk about the burn from their own perspectives. The panel reflects on the muddy yet magical Kiwiburn 2026, aptly themed "A Work of Heart". Despite the unpredictable weather and persistent rain, the challenging conditions actually fostered deep community solidarity by forcing participants to hunker down in shared spaces, eventually rewarding kiwiburners with spectacular rainbow displays. The discussion highlights the beautiful duality of the burner experience: the poignant, collaborative effort behind a faceted heart temple that provided a vital space for collective grief and healing, contrasted with the hilarious chaos of interactive telephone art, a dramatic Effigy lift malfunction, and the perennial Argentinian-style BBQ cookup that brings-in community. Ultimately, the episode captures the community's profound resilience and creativity, while candidly acknowledging ongoing logistical challenges like volunteer burnout and the need for future leadership.
 
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guest: Hippathy Valentine, Kym ‘Buggy’ Skelton, Shelley Watson
Produced by PY Wong & Stevan Lay
Theme music by Will & Kate
 
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Intro theme music
[00:00:30] Panel intro
[00:03:29] Less art this year
[00:05:11] Rainbow year
[00:08:15] Community coming together
[00:10:46] A Work of Heart theme
[00:12:00] Temple build
[00:24:07] Temple burn
[00:27:37] Effigy burn
[00:37:50] No burn plan
[00:42:06] Fire element at kiwiburn
[00:45:32] Interactive telephone art
[00:48:39] Other art this year
[00:51:37] Town planning
[00:53:16] Kiwiburn events
[01:00:43] Intercamp shenanigans
[01:03:55] Outstanding theme camps
[01:06:37] Food camps
[01:10:40] Memorable moments
[01:15:00] Population threshold
[01:18:53] Kiwiburn AGM
[01:29:34] Path forward
[01:39:36] Regional NZ burns
[01:43:46] Shoutouts & outro
[01:51:03] Kym's temple pitch
[02:00:50] Outro theme music
 
Useful Links:
Kiwiburn: https://kiwiburn.com/
Ignition Festival: https://ignitionfestival.co.nz/
Raglan Burn: https://raglanburners.wixsite.com/raglan-burn
Northern Burn: https://www.northernburn.org/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Common Arts Victoria: https://commonarts.org.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Bonza Community: https://bonzacommunity.org/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
Burning Man: https://burningman.org/
Kym's Kiwiburn 2026 temple pitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-G44636J6g
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.netEmail us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 17 March, 2026

In this episode, PACT (People’s Art Collective of Tasmania) founding members Lara, Kat, and Karl share the origin story and success of Tasmania’s inaugural regional burn, Aurora 2025. Driven by a desire to establish a localised event rooted in Burning Man principles, the group successfully navigated the challenges of forming a democratic non-profit organisation focused on consent, safety, and decommodified community art. The inaugural November event, held on a stunning conservation property, drew around 250 attendees and featured unique Tasmanian elements, including a beautiful Thylacine (also commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger)  effigy. Looking ahead to Aurora 2026, the collective remains dedicated to sustainable, grassroots growth, fostering skill-sharing with other Australian burns, and preserving the profound, co-created spirit of their emerging community.
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guest: Karl Malakoff, Kat Traill, Lara ‘Squeeky Queen’ Warren
Produced by PY Wong & Stevan Lay
Theme music by Will & Kate
 
Timestamps:
[00:00:31] PACT panel intro
[00:01:42] Squeeky Queen’s origin story
[00:02:54] Kat’s origin story
[00:04:08] Karl’s origin story
[00:06:08] Formation of PACT
[00:11:02] Naming of PACT
[00:11:56] Sparkadia 2024
[00:15:56] Aurora 2025
[00:21:47] Regional collaboration
[00:25:04] Burner voice messages
[00:26:48] Description of Aurora burn
[00:29:24] Survival guide
[00:35:49] Aurora at aurora
[00:37:36] Effigy burn
[00:39:23] Temple burn
[00:42:19] Aurora highlights
[00:49:01] Sound issues
[00:51:02] Learning and improvements
[00:55:34] Burner voice messages
[00:57:32] PACT structure
[01:00:59] BM regional status
[01:02:55] Knowledge and skills sharing
[01:05:06] Tasmanian burner community
[01:10:37] Southern lights quiz
[01:16:52] Aurora 2026 event
[01:21:36] Shoutouts
[01:26:50] Burner voice messages
[01:27:46] Outro theme
 
Useful Links:
Aurora burn: https://auroraburn.org.au/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Common Arts Victoria: https://commonarts.org.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Bonza Community: https://bonzacommunity.org/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Modifyre: https://www.modifyre.org/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
Burning Man: https://burningman.org/
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.netEmail us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 3 March, 2026

In this special conversation episode about the regional burning man network around the world we have invited a knowledgeable, long-time burner and community contributor, Jarred Taylor, to talk about their recent think-piece titled “Is it time for Burning Man Regionals to Glow Up?”. We unpack and do a deep dive into this well-received write-up; chat about the key ideas and themes of the article; and take an anthropological look at festival and burner culture – underlining the philosophical, behavioural, psychological, and spiritual aspects of the burn experience. Drawing on their own extensive experience attending and organising international burns, Jarred explains how the global network of over 110 official and unofficial regional events has outgrown its dependency on the central Nevada-based Burning Man organisation.
 
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guest: Jarred ‘Space Elf’ Taylor
Produced by PY Wong & Stevan Lay
Theme music by Will & Kate
 
[00:00:30] Intro
[00:01:51] Space Elf's origin story
[00:05:41] Orphanage theme camp
[00:07:36] Volunteering
[00:12:05] Changes in scene
[00:13:57] Bonza community
[00:15:45] Regional cultural flavours
[00:17:23] Korea burn
[00:19:50] Afrikaburn
[00:23:46] Title of article
[00:32:12] Are regionals ruining burning man?
[00:33:37] Target audience
[00:40:14] Franchise effect
[00:44:34] Burning man no longer the centre
[00:46:32] Infrastructural and scale
[00:49:48] Paradoxical
[00:52:24] Gentrification
[00:56:09] Burner adjacent events
[00:58:43] End of an era
[01:04:03] Symbolic vs fiscal pressures
[01:11:42] Regionals are salvations
[01:22:56] Criticisms
[01:27:52] Continuation of BMP
[01:31:51] What comes next?
[01:32:51] Regional burns around the world trivia
[01:43:48] Shoutouts
[01:46:44] End notes
[01:48:29] Outro theme
 
Useful Links:
Article by Jarred Taylor - Is it time for Burning Man Regionals to Glow Up?: https://jarredtaylor.substack.com/p/is-it-time-for-burning-man-regionals
Sunburnt Arts: https://sunburntarts.org.au/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
Kiwiburn: https://kiwiburn.org/
Korea Burn: https://burningmankorea.weebly.com/korea-burn.html
Burning Man: https://burningman.org/
Bonza Community: https://bonzacommunity.org/
Nowhere: https://www.goingnowhere.org/
Borderland: https://www.theborderland.se/
Regional BM: https://burningman.org/global-events-groups/
Burns Around the World 2026: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19LLXY1Om77p6UG4Y9wEVw3uaYXSn23xj1yW3s3j8O5g/edit?gid=1618287697#gid=1618287697
Article by Wired Magazine: https://www.wired.com/story/burning-man-regional-burns-around-the-world/
Article by CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/24/health/burning-man-radical-self-expression-wellness
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.netEmail us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 15 February, 2026

In this candid and spirited podcast episode, community leaders Marcelo, Tereasa, and TJ (who insists on the title "King Dingaling") reflect on the turbulent but deeply rewarding evolution of Australia's Burning Seed community into its new organisational entity, Sunburnt Arts. Driven by personal artistic awakenings - from Tereasa's community-supported "mystical music box" to TJ's humorous appreciation for the board's tax benefits and dry finger biscuits - the trio highlights the vital shift away from the former privately-owned "Red Earth City" structure toward a collaborative, membership-based model. Following the unfortunate cancellation of the 2025 "Metamorphosis" event, which was derailed by poor ticket sales and a structural governance disconnect between Sunburnt Arts and Sunburnt Events, the newly elected seven-member board is now focused on radical accountability and addressing volunteer fatigue. By streamlining chaotic infrastructure and championing transparent, bottom-up decision-making, this dedicated team is determined to learn from past missteps and sustainably reignite the magic of the East Coast burn. This podcast episode focuses on the pivotal SBA/Burning Seed community townhall meet back in July 2025.
 
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guests: Marcelo ‘Tripping Jaguar’ Araujo, Tereasa ‘Kinkabelle’ Trevor, & TJ ‘Hotwire’ Wier
Produced by PY Wong & Stevan Lay
Theme music by Will & Kate
 
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Intro theme music
[00:00:30] SBA panel intro
[00:01:51] Kinkabelle's origin story
[00:04:56] Tripping Jaguar's origin story
[00:07:03] King Dingaling's origin story
[00:09:54] Why did you join the SBA board?
[00:14:17] SBA community-led membership
[00:18:26] SBA current board volunteers
[00:20:26] SBA townhall meet
[00:24:01] SBA & SBE
[00:27:57] Burning seed debrief & critical issues
[00:32:26] Community sentiments
[00:36:39] Townhall topics discussed
[00:46:38] Community consultation
[00:55:08] Cultural projects
[00:56:40] SBA milestones
[01:02:05] Potential sites
[01:09:52] Burner voice message
[01:12:11] SBA future plans
[01:25:54] How to get involved
[01:32:21] Outro theme
 
Useful Links:
SBA/Burning Seed Townhall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xWIX78z4iU
The Third Degree: https://the3rddegree.org/
Sunburnt Arts: https://sunburntarts.org.au/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Common Arts Victoria: https://commonarts.org.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Flaming Galah: https://galah.burningseed.com/
Red Earth City: https://redearthcity.com/
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.netEmail us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 3 February, 2026

This episode we review the 2025 Underland Pop! event with a panel of burners from varied experiences. The conversation features host Stevan speaking with four guests - Dylan, Jenny, Sacha, and Lydea - who share their experiences from different roles at the event. The discussion covers Dylan's journey as a first-time burner who designed and built the serpent effigy, Jenny's role leading the Artery art grants program, Sacha's work at Center Camp and civic infrastructure, and Lydea's involvement with gate, sanctuary, and the Toad Hall theme camp. Key themes include the importance of participation and volunteering, the inclusive family-friendly atmosphere with 10% children attendance, the powerful ritual of the temple burn, the growth of theme camps and art installations, and the community's values around consent, radical expression, play, and creative collaboration. The podcast also explores topics like onboarding new burners, future planning considerations including an extra event day, photography etiquette, AI's role in artistic expression, and concludes with gratitude for the volunteers and community members who made the event possible.
 
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ LayGuests: Dylan Brady, Jenny ‘Red’ Davidson, Lydea ‘Lady Greythorne’, & Sacha ‘Snugfuzz’ FawkesProduced by PY Wong & Stevan LayTheme music by Will & Kate
 
Timestamps:[00:00:00] Theme music intro[00:00:30] Panel intros[00:04:08] Thoughts on Underland 2025[00:07:42] Artery[00:10:49] Effigy build[00:17:32] Snugfuzz's origin story[00:21:16] Urban planning[00:26:56] Burner voice messages[00:32:12] Sound camps[00:35:52] Theme camps[00:39:59] Naked hippie fire run[00:44:39] Contrast of effigy and temple[00:51:03] Burnable art[00:56:24] Food camps[00:59:07] New burners[01:05:39] Burner voice messages[01:09:59] Onboarding[01:14:12] Participation[01:21:44] Civic infrastructure[01:25:45] Snake effigy[01:29:24] Extended day[01:38:42] Burner voice messages[01:44:03] Future thoughts[01:53:15] A.I. art[01:56:52] Shoutouts[02:00:57] Burner voice messages[02:09:23] Theme music outro
 
Useful Links:
The Third Degree: https://the3rddegree.org/
Sunburnt Arts: https://sunburntarts.org.au/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Capital Incendiary Authority: https://capitalincendiaryauthority.org.au/
Modifyre: https://www.modifyre.org/
Aurora Burn: https://auroraburn.org.au/
Common Arts Victoria: https://commonarts.org.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
Interstellar Groove: https://www.interstellargroovefestival.com.au/
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.netEmail us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 15 January, 2026

This episode features four board members of The Third Degree - Ruth, Dale, Caer, and Tyne - to explore the NSW Central Coast's family-friendly regional burn. Discover how this intimate 400-person event evolved from a pandemic-era one-off at a scout camp into an intentional experiment in radical inclusion and in accessible burner culture. The conversation covers the event's distinctive features - running water, hot showers, radical inclusion for families and disabled participants, and mandatory volunteer shifts that transforms attendees into active participants - while exploring how their innovative approaches to consent culture (piloting the BED framework), burnout prevention (three-year rotation system), and accessibility (low-income tickets, disability accommodations), and the challenges of building elaborate temple and effigy structures under tight timelines. Board members also share personal burner origin stories, discuss the post-COVID fragmentation of Australia's burn community, and explain how The Third Degree serves as an incubator for testing innovations like emergency pager systems and consent protocols that can scale to larger events, all while maintaining a collaborative (magic of participatory culture), transparent governance structure focused on sustainable growth and making burner culture welcoming for newcomers who might find the overwhelming intensity of larger events or larger-scale burns intimidating.
 
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guests: Cairi “Caer” Duncan, Dale “Pillar” Matthews, Ruth “Happy/Turtle” Tetley, Tyne “Tynamo” Arnold
Produced by PY Wong & Stevan Lay
 
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Theme music intro
[00:00:30] Panel intros
[00:04:46] Wilderness productions
[00:07:58] Descriptions of 3rd degree
[00:14:15] Effigy & temple
[00:24:59] Growth of 3rd degree
[00:28:41] New burners
[00:32:02] Burner voice messages
[00:34:44] Ruth's origin story
[00:38:16] Dale's origin story
[00:40:20] Caer's origin story
[00:44:46] Tyne's origin story
[00:47:09] Burnout
[00:49:09] 3-year rotation
[00:54:06] Organising 3rd degree
[00:57:51] Board structure of 3rd degree
[01:05:20] Name & theme
[01:07:54] Site
[01:17:23] Burner voice messages
[01:20:01] SASS EEMO
[01:25:37] Theme camps & art
[01:32:31] Shenanigans & fuckery
[01:39:27] Five ingrediants for perfect burn
[01:49:10] Pilot programs
[01:56:15] Burner voice messages
[01:58:35] 3rd degree fifth element
[02:01:48] Future of burns
[02:10:35] 2026 burn calendar
[02:14:34] Shoutouts
[02:18:01] Outro
[02:19:55] Outtake 333
[02:23:44] Theme music outro
 
USEFUL Links:
“The Recipe For The Perfect Burn” - Peter Simpson-Young: https://thirddeg-ch66tb.manus.space/
The Third Degree: https://the3rddegree.org/
Kiwiburn: https://kiwiburn.org/
Sunburnt Arts: https://sunburntarts.org.au/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Common Arts Victoria: https://commonarts.org.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Aurora Burn: https://auroraburn.org.au/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
Burning Man: https://burningman.org/
Miss Peaches Theme Camp: https://theartfulbea.com.au/
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.net
Email us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 12 January, 2026

This podcast episode features a conversation with Lumos, a well-known participant in the Australasian Burning Man community. The discussion covers Lumos's experiences at various regional burns, including Modifyre in Australia and Kiwiburn and Raglan Burn in New Zealand. Lumos shares stories about the unique traditions, such as bug-themed effigies, role-playing, and the "naked hippie fire run". The episode highlights the importance of community, volunteerism, and adaptability in organising and sustaining these events. It also explores the benefits of using established campgrounds, the evolution of burner culture in the region, and the close ties between New Zealand and Australian burner communities. The conversation concludes with reflections on art, inclusivity, and the ongoing growth of regional burns.
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guest: Pete ‘Lumos’ Wyatt
Produced by Stevan Lay
Theme music by Will & Kate
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Intro theme
[00:00:31] Bug king
[00:13:48] Third degree
[00:32:00] Raglan burn
[00:47:12] Ignition festival
[00:54:32] Lumos origin story
[01:01:02] Kiwiburn 2008 documentary
[01:05:04] Lumos
[01:05:53] Regional contact
[01:07:24] boNZA
[01:10:10] Burning man
[01:13:56] Kiwiburn
[01:17:50] Naked hippie run
[01:26:09] Other regionals
[01:30:01] Open-source community
[01:34:28] Kiwiburn site
[01:38:25] Outro theme
USEFUL Links:
kiwiburn 2008 • kiwiboom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMB8gpEH8c
Combust In Unity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21fslxiXEQQ
Bug King: https://www.modifyre.org/post/modifyre-2018-review-reflections-from-the-bug-king
Raglan Burn: https://raglanburners.wixsite.com/raglan-burn
Ignition Festival: https://ignitionfestival.co.nz/
The Third Degree: https://the3rddegree.org/
Kiwiburn: https://kiwiburn.org/
Modifyre: https://www.modifyre.org/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.net
Email us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 7 September, 2025

In this episode we chat about the 2025 Underland event with a panel of community volunteers and crew members from Centre Camp, Site Planning And Maintenance, LNT, and the Sandfolks. We discuss some of our highlights; the shenanigans; the effigy and temple burns; offer some improvements for the next event, and provide some behind-the-scenes after reports with heaps of ranger and volunteer talks and ingishts.
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guests: Rebekah ‘Space Cake’, Miles Whiticker, PY ‘Double Shot’ Wong, & TJ ‘Hotwire’ Wier
Produced by PY Wong & Stevan Lay
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:01:03] Hotwire intro
[00:03:17] Miles intro
[00:06:29] Space cake underland thoughts
[00:08:11] Hotwire underland thoughts
[00:13:37] PY underland thoughts
[00:16:11] Crew feedback
[00:20:51] First time burners
[00:25:02] Underland voice messages
[00:30:40] Effigy
[00:40:52] Centre camp workshops
[00:45:00] Dark side of the rainbow
[00:49:34] Roving art
[00:52:17] SPAM
[00:54:41] Extending underland
[01:01:55] Underland decompression
[01:07:32] Underland voice messages
[01:14:19] Temple
[01:31:10] K-sub and camp kraken
[01:35:38] New theme camps
[01:39:09] Post office
[01:42:07] Saloon
[01:46:05] LNT
[01:48:46] Lost property
[01:53:34] Underland voice messages
[01:59:30] Hotwire underland highlights
[02:03:54] Sustainable handover and shadowing
[02:12:59] Ranger shoutouts
[02:16:33] Kids at underland
[02:22:20] Improvements
[02:24:26] Burn-a-lot
[02:28:59] Underland summary
[02:31:20] Shoutouts and closing
[02:35:43] Underland voice messages
USEFUL Links:
Common Arts Victoria: https://commonarts.org.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Sunburnt Arts: https://sunburntarts.org.au/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Modifyre: https://www.modifyre.org/
Confest: https://confest.org.au/
Dark Side of the Rainbow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Rainbow
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.net
Email us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 21 October, 2025

This episode of the podcast features a discussion with members of the Brisbane and Queensland burner community about the Simplifyre event, a scaled-down, community-driven version of the traditional Modifyre burn. The hosts and guests reflect on the event’s origins, challenges, and successes, highlighting the importance of rebuilding community after pandemic disruptions and burnout, the influx of new participants, and the evolution of organisational structures. They discuss the logistics of the event, including its new location, simplified format, and focus on inclusivity and sustainability, as well as the significance of art, theme camps, and the effigy burn. The conversation also explores the broader history of the Modifyre and Australian burner scene, the value of regional and national collaboration, and the ongoing efforts to foster engagement, learning, and resilience within the community.
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guests: Angela ‘Rainbow Anj’ Farrar-Tilley & Jeff ‘Chau’
Produced by Stevan Lay
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:00:35] Roles in community
[00:01:29] Simplifyre ideas
[00:05:03] Highlights of simplifyre
[00:07:11] Post-pandemic
[00:09:00] Simplifyre event
[00:12:00] Arts and grants
[00:13:17] Site
[00:15:29] Effigy
[00:16:50] Weather
[00:18:33] Tickets
[00:21:23] New burners
[00:25:29] Rainbow Anj origin story
[00:30:00] Chau origin story
[00:32:24] Wonky queenslander
[00:34:23] Burn Arts Inc.
[00:39:18] Previous locations
[00:42:33] Winter burns
[00:46:54] Modifyre quiz
[01:03:36] Brisbane burner community
[01:08:53] Generational burn
[01:19:51] Shoutouts
USEFUL Links:
Modifyre: https://www.modifyre.org/
The Third Degree: https://the3rddegree.org/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Kiwiburn: https://kiwiburn.com/
BoNZA Community: https://bonzacommunity.org/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
Aurora: https://peoplesartcollectivetas.org.au/
Capital Incendiary Authority: https://capitalincendiaryauthority.org.au/
Common Arts Victoria: https://commonarts.org.au/
Wonky Queenslander: https://www.facebook.com/TheWonkyQueenslander/
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.net
Email us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 17 September, 2025
 

This episode explores the Independent Burning Advisory Group (IBAG) and the NSW Burns Community Survey. The conversation covers the background, methodology, findings, and implications of the survey, as well as related community insights. Hosts discuss how the survey was created to understand the needs and challenges of the local burner community after the Burning Seed event was cancelled. Key findings reveal an aging, neurodiverse, and highly committed community, but one at risk of burnout. The survey identified five main community personas and highlighted a desire for future events to be accessible, inclusive, and community-focused. Challenges include event timing, site selection, and balancing volunteer and paid roles. The episode ends on an optimistic note, with hopes for a large, inclusive event and continued community engagement.
IBAG NSW Burns Community Survey results: https://independentburneranalyticsgroup.github.io/NSWBurnsCommunitySurvey/
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guests: Peter Simpson-Young & Rowan Kos
Produced by PY Wong & Stevan Lay
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:00:43] Background to iBAG survey
[00:07:21] iBAG team
[00:09:17] Methodologies and limitations
[00:17:50] Burner voice messages
[00:18:54] Survey findings
[00:29:33] Community motivations and personas
[00:33:19] Preferences on site and location
[00:37:06] Preferences on dates and seasons
[00:42:11] Importance of a burn
[00:48:19] Accessibility needs
[00:50:36] Burner voice message
[00:50:59] Rowan origin story
[00:55:22] Theme camp interviews
[01:06:57] Searching for sites
[01:14:46] Paying crew
[01:22:45] Ticket pricing
[01:25:41] SBA leadership
[01:27:58] Looking ahead
[01:35:45] Shoutouts
USEFUL Links:
IBAG NSW Burns Community Survey results: https://independentburneranalyticsgroup.github.io/NSWBurnsCommunitySurvey/
SBA Townhall Meet (27 July, 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xWIX78z4iU
Sunburnt Arts: https://sunburntarts.org.au/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
The Third Degree: https://the3rddegree.org/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Kiwiburn: https://kiwiburn.org/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
Burning Man Survey: https://burningman.org/about/history/brc-history/event-archives/2025-event-archive/black-rock-city-2025-surveys/
 
Bonzaar Podcast website: https://bonzaarpodcast.net
Email us: mailbag@bonzaarpodcast.net
 
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 1 September, 2025