THE INTERSECTION

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

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 --- 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 --- 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 --- 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  -- 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 --- 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.  

Host David Boyer has been going to Burning Man since 1996. This time, he's heading back with a mission: to capture the event before it's over or loses all connection to its origins. In this episode, we enter the temporary city and are welcomed by a man in a He-Man™ merkin — the first many of kooks and creatives, activists and artists we'll meet this season.    Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM --- Producer: David Boyer Editor: Lisa Morehouse Engineer: Gabe Grabin, Tarek Fouda and David Boyer 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.

The city is temporary and the intersections are conceptual. We are heading to Burning Man — deep in the Nevada desert. Are you ready for a new season of THE INTERSECTION? NStarting October 28, we'll meet a desert filled with artists and activists, creatives and kooks. New episodes every Monday. In the meantime, subscribe: goo.gl/k1uP8S Or learn more about the podcast: www.theintersection.fm Photo by Tagine & Tonic  

What will Googleville look like in 2030? And why did it take almost a decade for Mountain View's city council to decide? In the season finale, we explore how a city crafts a plan for the future while dealing with a housing shortage, a transportation crisis—and the demands of one of the powerful companies in the world. Ever wonder how local governments work? Go on, press play.     Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM --- Producer: David Boyer Editor: Ben Trefny Engineer: Chris Hoff and David Boyer Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Lucy Kang Associate Editor: Ashleyanne Krigbaum Launch Guru: Megan Jones Special thanks to Lisa Morehouse and Lizzie Donahue.  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.

When Google bought the land under the Sports Page Bar, the property tax skyrocked from less than $10K to more than $100K. And, technically, it's the bar owner's responsibity. What happens next just may shape the future of Googleville. In this episode, hear what it's like to negotiate with one of the largest, most powerful companies in the world...when that company also happens to be your landlord. Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM --- Producer: David Boyer Engineer: David Boyer Music: Erik Pearson 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.

Google accounts for 1 in 5 jobs and owns more land than anyone else. So, is Mountain View a new version of the old company town? In this episode we talk to locals, experts, journalists and officials about the rise of Google—and what would happen to the town if the company falls. Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM   --- Producer: David Boyer Editor: Ben Trefny Engineer: Chris Hoff and David Boyer Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Lucy Kang Associate Editor: Ashleyanne Krigbaum Launch Guru: Megan Jones Special thanks to Lisa Morehouse, Heidi Dorow, Diana Greiner, Sam Zalutsky, Ed Boland and Doni Gewirtzman. 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'll head back to Googleville in the New Year. But first, THE INTERSECTION has a gift for you. It's the story of a San Francisco drag bar known for two things: owner Marlena (a.k.a. Gary) and her Christmas display of 1400 Santas. That is, until the bar closed in 2013. We captured the final days as fans and regulars grappled with the end of an era at this drag institution at the corner of Hayes & Octavia in the now upscale Hayes Valley neighborhood. "Marlena's Curtain Call" originally aired on KALW in June 2013.  Donate: paypal.me/THEINTERSECTION  // Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  // Twitter: @IntersectionFM // Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM --- Producer: David Boyer Editor: Ben Trefny Engineer: Chris Hoff and David Boyer Special thanks to Claire Schoen, who guided a newbie producer through the making of his first audio piece. 

This week, while you're buzzing all over the country, THE INTERSECTION is digging into our archive and presenting the story of a corner that originally aired on KALW in 2014. It's about 3rd & Jerrold in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. The corner is home to a Black Baptist church, a KFC/Taco Bell, a tutoring non-profit (started by Steve Jobs' widow) and an organic pizza joint. Enjoy the trip back to a simpler time...when change was welcomed by some longtime residents.  Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  Twitter: @IntersectionFM  Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM --- Producer: David Boyer Editor: Ben Trefny Engineer: Chris Hoff and David Boyer Music: Erik Pearson Produced with the technical and emotional support of KALW.

Home, Sweet...RV? More than 100 Mountain View residents are living in their vehicles. Meet three of them, who are parked just steps away from our corner: a Google engineer in a deluxe RV parked on campus, an older Google shuttle driver in a leaky trailer on the street, and a guy living in a van while he's on the outs with his family. Plus, hear how the city of Mountain View is responding.  Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  Twitter: @IntersectionFM  Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM --- Producer: David Boyer Editor: Ben Trefny Engineer: Chris Hoff and David Boyer Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Lucy Kang Associate Editor: Ashleyanne Krigbaum Launch Guru: Megan Jones Special thanks to Lisa Morehouse, Alex Brown, Jessie Weiner, Above & Beyoncé, and the folks of Sullivan & Company. 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.

Global warming may have some hyper-local consequences at our intersection. Journalist Kevin Stark writes about the impact of climate change on the San Francisco Bay, especially low-lying areas in Silicon Valley that are being developed as land becomes scarcer and more valuable. He explains why Google’s plan to develop North Bayshore may be risky in the long-term, as well as what the city and developers should be considering now—before they put a shovel in the ground. Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  Twitter: @intersectionfm  Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM --- Producer / Engineer: David Boyer Music: Erik Pearson   Launch Guru: Megan Jones Special thanks to Michael Stoll, Noah Arroyo and the San Francisco Public Press. 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.  

It's Googleville's only housing. And it's a mobile home park built 50 years ago. Here, Googlers live alongside their blue-collar neighbors, new immigrants and seniors on fixed incomes. But when rent increases and a greedy owner threaten their quirky utopia, the residents of Santiago Villa Mobile Home Park band together and take action. Hear more: www.theintersection.fm  Twitter: @intersectionfm  Facebook: fb.com/IntersectionFM --- Producer: David Boyer Editor: Ben Trefny Engineer: Chris Hoff and David Boyer Music: Erik Pearson Associate Producer: Lucy Kang Associate Editor: Ashleyanne Krigbaum Launch Guru: Megan Jones Special thanks to Alex Brown, Bee Hanson, Lisa Morehouse and the folks of Sullivan & Company. 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.