The Bardo Podcast

Marc Salmon is joined by Buddhist teacher, activist and author Lama Rod Owens for a conversation about Buddhism, love, anger and how we can change the world without losing our compassion for one another. Author of Love and Rage and The New Saints , Lama Rod brings together Buddhist practice, social justice and community work to explore what liberation might actually look like. Together they talk about systemic collapse, finding hope through community, performative goodness, accountability without punishment, masculinity, spiritual abolition, boundaries, grief and why laughter and joy are important to creating change. Support the podcast: If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want to help keep it independent and ad-free, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: Lama Rod Owens Buddhism and social justice Love, rage and compassion Systemic collapse and hope Performative goodness Accountability and restorative justice Spiritual abolitionism Masculinity and patriarchy Boundaries and authenticity Community and collective liberation Grief, humour and joy The New Saints Guest: Lama Rod Owens is a Buddhist teacher, activist and author whose work explores the relationship between spiritual practice, social justice and liberation. Lama Rod's website: https://www.lamarod.com/ Patreon Community: I also run online meditation sessions on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is hosted by comedian Marc Salmon. Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her comedy special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by comedian, poet and writer Rob Auton for a conversation about creativity, comedy and finding wonder in ordinary life. Known for his Edinburgh Fringe shows about subjects like yellow, water and time, as well as The Rob Auton Daily Podcast , Rob's latest show, Jupiter , tells the fictional story of an estate agent on Jupiter. Together they talk about childhood, seagulls eating pigeons, crows, Buddhism, gratitude, writing, Ivor Cutler and how to hold on to a sense of wonder when the world feels overwhelming. Support the podcast: If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want to help keep it independent and ad-free, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: Rob Auton Stand-up comedy and poetry Creativity and curiosity Childhood and imagination Finding wonder in everyday life Buddhism and mindfulness Gratitude and hope Nature, seagulls and crows Writing and storytelling Ivor Cutler and Bob Dylan The Rob Auton Jupiter Show Guest: Rob Auton is a comedian, poet, writer and performer from Yorkshire, known for his distinctive Edinburgh Fringe shows, books and award-winning Rob Auton Daily Podcast . Rob's website: https://www.robauton.co.uk/ Rob’s special on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifAnxeFXO2g Patreon Community: I also run free online meditation sessions on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 10:30 am UK time. You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is hosted by comedian Marc Salmon. Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her comedy special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE

Marc Salmon is joined once again by writer Gabriel Kennedy, author of Chapel Perilous: The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson , for a conversation about the ideas of Robert Anton Wilson and what they might have to offer us now. Together they explore non-zero-sum politics, anarchism, power and hierarchy, violence and nonviolence, reality tunnels, the eight-circuit model of consciousness, psychedelics, intelligence, AI and the question of who gets to programme the programmers. Gabriel first appeared on Episode 5 of The Bardo Podcast for a wider introduction to the life and work of Robert Anton Wilson. This time, we get deeper into the ideas themselves, where they still feel useful, and where they might need questioning or updating. Support the podcast: If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want to help keep it independent and ad-free, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: Robert Anton Wilson Non-zero-sum politics Anarchism Power and hierarchy The SNAFU principle Violence and nonviolence Reality tunnels The eight-circuit model of consciousness Psychedelics Intelligence AI Who programmes the programmers? Buckminster Fuller Buddhism Colonialism Guest: Gabriel Kennedy is a writer and the author of Chapel Perilous: The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson , a biography of the writer, philosopher and countercultural figure Robert Anton Wilson. Gabriel's website: https://chapelperilous.us/bio Gabriel's Substack: https://gabrielpatrickkennedy.substack.com/ Gabriel's Medium: https://propanon99.medium.com/ Mentioned in the episode: Decadent Action Manifesto: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/decadent-action-decadent-action-manifesto Patreon Community: I also run online meditation sessions on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is hosted by comedian Marc Salmon. Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her comedy special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Hello there. The Bardo Podcast is back! New episodes are starting next week, with some very interesting conversations with some very interesting people. I'm really happy to be back! Follow the podcast wherever you're listening and I'll see you next week.

In this solo episode I explore why so many of us postpone happiness until some future version of ourselves finally arrives. Inspired by the surreal Japanese film Mind Game , I reflect on ambition, creativity, Buddhism, meditation, comedy and clowning. Along the way I explore the friction between desire and burnout, the weight of social comparison, and what it actually means to just stop trying so hard to become 'somebody.' I'll be taking a short summer break while I'm performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, but I'll be back later this year with more conversations and solo episodes. Support the podcast: If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want to help keep it independent and ad-free, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share the podcast and leave a rating or review. It really helps more people discover the show. Topics include Happiness Ambition Buddhism Meditation Identity Creativity Success Desire Karma Awareness Comedy Philosophy Burnout Personal growth Also Mentioned in this episode Films Mind Game (Masaaki Yuasa) Good Fortune Books Promethea - Alan Moore The New Saints - Lama Rod Owens The Bhagavad Gita Thinkers Jacques Lacan Jiddu Krishnamurti Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche David Loy Mingyur Rinpoche John Higgs Tsering Paldron Patreon Community: I also run online meditation sessions on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is hosted by comedian Marc Salmon. Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her Comedy special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by writer, magician and occult thinker Lionel Snell (also known as Ramsay Dukes) for a wide-ranging conversation about magical thinking, magic, Buddhism, uncertainty, creativity, stories, play and the models we use to understand reality. Together they explore belief systems, scepticism, Robert Anton Wilson, reality tunnels, the Western esoteric tradition, conspiracy theories, identity, and why taking our models too seriously can become its own kind of spell. Support the podcast: If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want to help keep it independent and ad-free, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: Magical thinking Magic Belief systems Buddhism Robert Anton Wilson Reality tunnels Models of reality Scepticism Western esotericism Occult philosophy Creativity Stories Play Identity Uncertainty Guest: Lionel Snell (also known as Ramsay Dukes) is a British writer, magician and one of the most influential contemporary authors on magic and the Western esoteric tradition. His work explores magic, psychology, creativity, belief and the models we use to make sense of reality. He is the author of: S.S.O.T.B.M.E My Years of Magical thinking Little book of Demons Lionel's Website: https://ramseydukes.co.uk/ Lionel's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-NwOu0WV5Qd_U4zOP33sw Patreon Community: I also run online meditation sessions on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is hosted by comedian Marc Salmon. Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her Comedy special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by Aboriginal scholar and author Tyson Yunkaporta for a wide-ranging conversation about Indigenous knowledge systems, Aboriginal culture, comedy, Buddhism, ecology, power, and the stories that shape the worlds we live in. Together they explore why humour keeps power in check, right story versus wrong story, high and low context cultures, animism, serpent lore, meme magic, and how stories can become either medicine or curses. Support the podcast: If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want to help keep it independent and ad-free, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: Storytelling Aboriginal knowledge Comedy Buddhism Animism Ecology High and low context cultures Power and hierarchy Right Story, Wrong Story Serpent lore Meme magic Decolonisation Systems thinking Guest: Tyson Yunkaporta is an Aboriginal scholar, arts critic and author from the Apalech Clan in far north Queensland. His work brings together Indigenous knowledge systems, complexity theory, ecology and systems thinking to explore how stories shape culture, identity and our relationship with the living world. He is the author of: Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World https://www.booktopia.com.au/sand-talk-tyson-yunkaporta/book/9780062975621.html Right Story, Wrong Story: Adventures in Indigenous Thinking https://www.booktopia.com.au/right-story-wrong-story-tyson-yunkaporta/book/9781922790439.html Snake Talk: How the world’s ancient serpent stories can guide us https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/snake-talk-9781923058460 Indigenous Knowledge System Lab Website: https://ikslab.deakin.edu.au/ Patreon Community: I also run online meditation sessions on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is hosted by comedian Marc Salmon. Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by comedian, writer and illustrator Marty Gleeson for a conversation about creativity, perfectionism, stand-up comedy, artistic competition and staying playful. Together they explore how drawing competitions changed Marty's relationship with art, preparing a debut Edinburgh Fringe show, getting an agent, comedy writing, synchronicities and why the funniest ideas often arrive when you stop trying so hard to make sense. Support the podcast: If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: Creativity Perfectionism Stand-up comedy Comedy writing Edinburgh Fringe Artistic competition Illustration Getting an agent Synchronicities Creative confidence Guest: Marty Gleeson is an Irish comedian, writer and illustrator based in London. She's a BBC New Comedy Award finalist, Channel 4 Sean Lock Award finalist, Pleasance Comedy Reserve alumni, and this year she's bringing her debut show Dog Ear to the Edinburgh Fringe. Edinburgh Fringe: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/marty-gleeson-dog-ear Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martygleeson Patreon Community: I also run online meditation sessions on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is hosted by comedian Marc Salmon. Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by Buddhist teacher, author and meditation instructor Tsering Paldron for a conversation about Buddhism, anxiety, burnout, compassion, ageing, identity and what actually matters in life. Together they explore why we create stories that make us suffer, the difference between empathy and compassion, how Buddhist practice can help us respond to uncertainty without becoming overwhelmed, and what it really means to let go. Support the podcast: If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: Anxiety and overthinking Letting go Burnout and activism Empathy vs compassion Meditation and Buddhist practice Identity and insecurity Social media outrage Aging and mortality Self-worth What really matters in life Guest: Tsering Paldron is a Buddhist teacher, meditation instructor and author of several books including Aging Body, Ageless Mind and Grow Your Own Happiness. Website: https://tseringpaldron.com/eng/ The Empty Cup Podcast: https://tseringpaldron.com/eng/the-empty-cup-podcast/ Mentioned in this episode: Aging Body, Ageless Mind - Tsering Paldron Grow Your Own Happiness - Tsering Paldron Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism - Chögyam Trungpa Patreon Community: I also run online meditation sessions on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is hosted by comedian Marc Salmon. Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by author John Higgs for a wide-ranging conversation about David Lynch, Robert Anton Wilson, reality tunnels, creativity, synchronicity and the challenge of making sense of modern life. Together they explore meditation, humour, Discordianism, the KLF, the internet, subjective experience, certainty, and why questioning our own stories might be one of the best protections against dogma. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: David Lynch and meditation Reality tunnels Robert Anton Wilson Synchronicity Discordianism The KLF Counterculture and the internet Creativity and subjective experience Humour and dogma How not to fall for your own bullshit Guest: John Higgs is the author of The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band Who Burned a Million Pounds, William Blake vs The World, Stranger Than We Can Imagine, The Future Starts Here, Watling Street, Love and Let Die and Lynchian. John's website https://johnhiggs.com/ John's Substack: https://johnhiggs.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: • Lynchian: The Spell of David Lynch - John Higgs • The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band Who Burned a Million Pounds - John Higgs • Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity - David Lynch • Cosmic Trigger I: Final Secret of the Illuminati - Robert Anton Wilson • The Bumper Book of Magic - Alan Moore & Steve Moore Suggested documentary • Who Killed The KLF? (2021) Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. Message Marc on Instagram to join. About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is a podcast about comedy, philosophy and spirituality, and new ways of thinking in uncertain times. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon, the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers and other curious minds, not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. Episodes explore comedy, meditation, philosophy, creativity and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by comedian and clown Lawrence Dodd for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, Buddhism, sobriety, neurodivergence, political despair and the search for connection in confusing times. Together they explore clowning, autism, masking, intrusive thoughts, addiction, spirituality, organising, identity, and how play, community and vulnerability might help us stay human when certainty starts to fall apart. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include: Comedy and vulnerability Sobriety and Buddhism Autism and masking Intrusive thoughts and overwhelm Spirituality and uncertainty Clowning and play Political despair and connection Identity and belonging Community and organising Staying open in difficult times Guest: Lawrence Dodd is an alternative comedian and clown whose work blends performance art, chaos and emotional honesty. His new show This Can’t Be It is directed by friend of the podcast Lara Ricote with Rachael Dobbie on tech. Lawrence @ Soho Theatre - June 4th https://sohotheatre.com/events/lawrence-dodd-this-cant-be-it/ Lawrence instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleaselozplease/ Lara Ricote new special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVDk4MFVkeM Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. Message Marc on Instagram to join. About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is a podcast about comedy, philosophy and spirituality, and new ways of thinking in uncertain times. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon, the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers and other curious minds, not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. Episodes explore comedy, meditation, philosophy, creativity and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by writer and philosopher Emily Herring for a wide-ranging conversation about Henri Bergson, time, freedom, memory, intuition, laughter and why modern life can feel increasingly mechanical. Together they explore Bergson's philosophy of lived experience, the difference between clock time and lived time, habit and freedom, élan vital, mysticism, Bergson's debates with Einstein and Bertrand Russell, and what his ideas can still teach us about living well today. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include Henri Bergson explained simply Lived time vs clock time Freedom and free will Memory and the hidden self Intuition beyond fixed concepts Why laughter matters Bergson vs Einstein Bergson vs Bertrand Russell Élan vital and creativity Technology, algorithms and modern life Guest Emily Herring is a writer based in Paris. She studied philosophy at the Sorbonne and received her PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Leeds. She is the author of Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People — the first biography of Bergson in English. Website: https://www.wellreadherring.com/ Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. Message Marc on Instagram to join. About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is a podcast about comedy, philosophy and spirituality, and new ways of thinking in uncertain times. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon, the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers and other curious minds, not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. Episodes explore comedy, meditation, philosophy, creativity and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by award-winning comedian Rob Copland for a wide-ranging conversation about stand-up comedy, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, creativity and the reality of life as a comedian. Together they explore writing, performing, the pressures of the Edinburgh Fringe, success, anxiety, ego, and why external achievements don't always bring the relief we expect. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include Imposter syndrome in comedy Writing vs performing Edinburgh Fringe and the industry Success, ego and self-doubt Belonging and comparison Meaning, kindness and how to live Guest Rob Copland is an award-winning comedian and clown. His show Gimme (One With Everything) won the Victoria Wood Award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024, following his debut Mainstream Muck , which won Best Show at the Comedian’s Choice Awards. Rob Copland (@robertdcopland) • Instagram profile Things mentioned Eddie Pepitone – For the Masses Chögyam Trungpa – Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism Nick Nemeroff – stand-up special - The Pursuit of Comedy has Ruined My Life Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. Message Marc on Instagram to join. About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is a podcast about comedy, philosophy and spirituality, and new ways of thinking in uncertain times. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon, the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers and other curious minds, not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. Episodes explore comedy, meditation, philosophy, creativity and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by Dr Steve Todd and Cesare Saguato for a wide-ranging conversation about the Buddhist idea of the bardo, death, impermanence, consciousness and learning to live with uncertainty. Together they explore Tibetan Buddhism, the Six Bardos, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, awareness, change, and why the bardo might not just describe what happens after death, but how we experience life itself. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. In this episode we explore: The bardo as everyday experience, not just death The Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Six Bardos Death, impermanence and the nature of change Buddhist perspectives on consciousness and mind Letting go, grasping and emotional reactivity Compassion, karma and responding to difficulty Meditation and awareness in daily life The “in-between” as an opportunity for transformation Texts referenced The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol) The Six Bardos (Root Verses of the Six Bardos – Karma Lingpa) https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/karma-lingpa/root-verses-six-bardos The Tibetan Book of the Dead A Way of Life (1994) Narrated by Leonard Cohen https://youtu.be/VyPwBIOL7-8?si=SeVsZCZg61nKdD_o Guests Steve Todd is a theoretical physicist with a PhD in high-energy particle theory and a long-time Buddhist practitioner within the Drukpa Kagyu tradition. He explores the intersections of science, Buddhism, and Western esotericism. Steve’s Meta-Modern Rosicrucian Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/464647772026730/ Cesare Saguato is a Buddhist practitioner, psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher, and clinical supervisor. He works in private practice, education, and organisational settings, and is Chair of Bodhicharya UK. Cesare’s work: https://www.cesaremindfultherapy.com/ https://bodhicharya-kent.org/ Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. If you're interested in joining, send Marc a message Support the show If you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing, rating or sharing genuinely helps. Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheBardoPodcast The Bardo Podcast is a podcast about comedy, philosophy, spirituality and new ways of thinking in uncertain times. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon, the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers and other curious minds — not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. Episodes explore comedy, meditation, philosophy, creativity and alternative ways of living. https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by storyteller, director and screenwriter Fer Rodil for a wide-ranging conversation about cancer, comedy, philosophy, mortality, love and the search for meaning. Together they explore what a cancer diagnosis can teach us about attachment, relationships, creativity, happiness and the mind, drawing on Buddhism, William James, Nietzsche and the power of storytelling to transform suffering into something meaningful. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. In this episode we explore: Cancer diagnosis and living with uncertainty Comedy and the limits of humour Love, heartbreak and attachment Turning illness and grief into storytelling Acceptance, compassion and forgiveness Consciousness and philosophy of mind Rebirth and Buddhist ideas of continuity William James and altered states Nietzsche, samsara and the search for meaning Art, bitterness and emotional transformation Guest Fer Rodil is an Argentinian director, storyteller and screenwriter. He has written series for HBO, Amazon Prime and Disney+, and now lives in the Netherlands where he teaches storytelling and performs comedy and theatre. His show Fer Is On A Deadline is a storytelling performance about his cancer diagnosis and the search for meaning when facing mortality. Fer also writes reflections on storytelling, philosophy and creativity on Substack: Fer is on a deadline | Substack English Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fer.rodil/ Hispanic Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unperrovegano/ Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. First session begins 22 March. If you're interested in joining, send Marc a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcsalmoncomedy/ About the podcast The Bardo Podcast is a podcast about comedy, philosophy and spirituality, and new ways of thinking in uncertain times. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon, the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers and other curious minds, not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. Episodes explore comedy, meditation, philosophy, creativity and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Why does activism sometimes feel miserable? And how could politics feel joyful again? In this solo episode of The Bardo Podcast, comedian Marc Salmon reflects on activism, community, and why movements trying to change the world can sometimes lose their sense of humour. Through stories from activist meetings, reflections on anarchist philosophy, and everyday examples of mutual aid, Marc explores ideas like worker cooperatives, universal basic income, and solarpunk futures. But the real question might be simpler. What if the revolution starts with something smaller. Like knowing your neighbours again. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Some resources: Build the village, Starve the empire https://www.instagram.com/p/DQIM44jkmEW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Libcom - How to Organise https://libcom.org/article/organise Cooperation Jackson https://cooperationjackson.org Democracy Collaborative https://democracycollaborative.org Solidarity Economy Network https://solidarityeconomy.us The Anarchist Library https://theanarchistlibrary.org Book Recommendations: Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution - Peter Kropotkin Bullshit Jobs - David Graeber The Dispossessed - Ursula K. Le Guin About the podcast The Bardo Podcast explores alternative ways of thinking, inner and outer change, and what happens in the space between. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon , the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers, and other curious minds, not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. New episodes explore comedy, philosophy, Buddhism, creativity, and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special on YouTube

Marc Salmon is joined by writer and researcher Gabriel Kennedy, author of Chapel Perilous: The Life & Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson , for a wide-ranging conversation about Robert Anton Wilson, uncertainty, belief systems, anarchism, humour and the art of not knowing. Together they explore model agnosticism, reality tunnels, Chapel Perilous, the SNAFU Principle, conspiracy culture, synchronicity, grief, forgiveness, self-metaprogramming, and why learning to hold our beliefs more lightly might be one of the most important skills of modern life. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. In this episode we explore: Robert Anton Wilson and the art of not knowing Model agnosticism and reality tunnels Chapel Perilous and synchronicity Anarchism and the SNAFU Principle Humour, play, and laughter as tools for sense making Grief, forgiveness, and transformation Guest Gabriel Kennedy is a writer and researcher, and the author of Chapel Perilous: The Life & Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson . https://chapelperilous.us Reading mentioned in this episode RAW's obituary in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/jan/18/guardianobituaries.usa Gabriel Kennedy – Chapel Perilous: The Life & Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson Robert Anton Wilson – Cosmic Trigger Robert Anton Wilson – Prometheus Rising Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea – The Illuminatus! Trilogy Robert Anton Wilson – Everything Is Under Control About the podcast The Bardo Podcast explores alternative ways of thinking, inner and outer change, and what happens in the space between. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon , the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers, and other curious minds, not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. New episodes explore comedy, philosophy, Buddhism, creativity, and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

Marc Salmon is joined by writer, performer and comedian Abby Wambaugh for a wide-ranging conversation about vulnerability, creativity, comedy, sincerity and what it means to make honest work. Together they explore trauma, responsibility, contemporary clowning, audience care, humour as a force for social change, and Abby's acclaimed show The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows , produced by Hannah Gadsby. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. In this episode we explore: Bodies, illness, embarrassment, and telling the truth Vulnerability on stage and the risks of sincerity When openness becomes unsafe, and how to care for audiences Creativity as compulsion rather than performance Metaphor, repetition, and “rats in the wall” Comedy, compassion, and responsibility Imagination, hope, and the idea that another world is possible Writing, practice, and learning to stay with what we resist Guest Abby Wambaugh is a multi award-winning American comedian, writer, and improviser based in Copenhagen who regularly performs in the UK. Their debut show The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows won Best Newcomer at the Jones ISH Comedy Awards, Best Show at the European Comedy Awards, and Best Comedy at the Theatre Weekly Fringe Awards. 🔗 Follow what Abby’s up to: https://www.abbywambaugh.com/ About the podcast The Bardo Podcast explores alternative ways of thinking, inner and outer change, and what happens in the space between. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon , the show features thoughtful conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers, and other curious minds, not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. New episodes explore comedy, philosophy, Buddhism, creativity, and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&

In this solo episode of The Bardo Podcast , I reflect on what accountability looks like for me in practice. This is a more personal and reflective episode than usual. I talk about sobriety, spiritual identity, ego, mixed motives, and the discomfort of speaking publicly while still figuring things out. I discuss Buddhist ideas like samsara, beginner’s mind, and confession without self-punishment as a way of thinking about accountability as something lived and ongoing. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE& About the show The Bardo Podcast explores Buddhism, philosophy, comedy, and alternative ways of thinking through reflective conversations and solo episodes. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon, the show is not about certainty or expertise. It is about questioning assumptions, noticing habits of mind, and sitting with ambiguity, often with humour, in the space between inner and outer change. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/

Marc Salmon is joined by award-winning comedian Mark Simmons for a conversation about stand-up comedy, joke writing, confidence, failure, timing, creativity and the philosophy of laughter. Together they explore what really happens when a joke lands or fails, how audiences respond to confidence on stage, why the same material can work in one room and bomb in another, and what comedy can teach us about creativity, perspective and human connection. Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. In this episode we explore: Dying on stage and losing the fear of failure Confidence, belief, and audience perception Fun as a skill in stand-up comedy Joke writing, wordplay, timing, and structure Audience trust, taboo, and tension The philosophy of laughter Guest Mark Simmons is an award-winning one-liner comedian known for his sharp jokes and meticulous approach to joke writing. He has toured internationally, appeared on television and radio, and hosts the podcast Jokes with Mark Simmons . Mark’s is on tour now here's his website: https://marksimmons.co.uk/ Mark’s stand-up special on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRn6iEuZvPU Reading List Emily Herring - Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People Sigmund Freud - Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious Zoe Brownstone's new Stand-Up Special (Go check this out now!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE The Bardo Podcast explores Buddhism, philosophy, comedy, and alternative ways of thinking through fun philosophy conversations with comedians, philosophers, and Buddhist thinkers. The show brings together exploring Buddhism with playful, thoughtful discussions about creativity, meaning, inner and outer change, and what happens in the space between. Hosted by comedian Marc Salmon, the show features conversations not about certainty or expertise, but about questioning assumptions and sitting with ambiguity together. Find updates and more information at: https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/ Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJkF4QSNPmE&