Afleveringen
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How do we let go of things we can't control?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, Marc Salmon is joined by Buddhist teacher, author and meditation instructor Tsering Paldron for a conversation about anxiety, burnout, compassion, aging, identity and what actually matters in life.
Together we explore why so many of us struggle to let go, why we often create stories that make us suffer, the difference between empathy and compassion, and how Buddhist practice can help us respond to uncertainty without becoming overwhelmed by it.
We discuss anxiety, activism, social media outrage, self-worth, aging, meditation, ego, insecurity and finding peace in an unpredictable world.
A thoughtful and practical conversation about letting go, finding perspective and learning to live with uncertainty.
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 overthinkingLetting goBurnout and activismEmpathy vs compassionMeditation and Buddhist practiceIdentity and insecuritySocial media outrageAging and mortalitySelf-worthWhat 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 PaldronGrow Your Own Happiness - Tsering PaldronCutting 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&Leftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
How do you stay open to mystery without becoming trapped by your own beliefs?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, Marc Salmon is joined by author John Higgs for a conversation about David Lynch, Robert Anton Wilson, reality tunnels, synchronicity, creativity and the challenge of making sense of reality in confusing times.
John's books explore many of the strange thinkers, artists and movements that sit at the edges of culture, from William Blake and Timothy Leary to Discordianism and the KLF. Together we explore subjective experience, meditation, humour, certainty and why some of the most interesting ideas begin by questioning the stories we tell ourselves about the world.
We discuss David Lynch and transcendental meditation, Robert Anton Wilson's reality tunnels, synchronicity, the internet, the KLF, and why humour might be one of the best protections against dogma.
A thoughtful, funny and wide-ranging conversation about uncertainty, imagination and how not to fall for your own bullshit.
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/thebardopodcastPlease 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 bullshitGuest:
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&Leftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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How do you stay human in a world that constantly pushes you towards fear, certainty and overwhelm?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, Marc Salmon is joined by comedian and clown Lawrence Dodd for a conversation about comedy, Buddhism, sobriety, neurodivergence, political despair and the search for connection in confusing times.
Lawrence’s work blends clowning, existential confusion and performance art into something vulnerable, chaotic and unexpectedly hopeful. Together we explore what happens when certainty stops working, why play might matter more than ever, and how to stay open-hearted when the world feels like it’s closing down.
We discuss autism and masking, intrusive thoughts, addiction, organising, spirituality, identity and why community still matters.
A funny, strange and emotionally honest conversation about uncertainty, vulnerability and learning to remain human.
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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
Topics include:
Comedy and vulnerabilitySobriety and BuddhismAutism and maskingIntrusive thoughts and overwhelmSpirituality and uncertaintyClowning and playPolitical despair and connectionIdentity and belongingCommunity and organisingStaying 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=jVDk4MFVkeMOnline 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&Leftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
Why do so many people feel rushed, rigid and disconnected from themselves?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, Marc Salmon is joined by writer and philosopher Emily Herring to explore the life and ideas of Henri Bergson, once the most famous philosopher in the world.
We discuss Bergson’s ideas on time, freedom, memory, intuition, laughter and why modern life can feel increasingly mechanical. Emily explains how we often mistake clock time for lived experience, habit for freedom, and concepts for reality.
We also explore Bergson’s clashes with Einstein and Bertrand Russell, the meaning of élan vital, mysticism, and whether technology is advancing faster than our moral development.
A thoughtful and surprisingly relevant conversation about how to stay human in an increasingly mechanical world.
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/thebardopodcastPlease 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 lifeGuest
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&Leftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
What happens when things start going well… and you still feel like a fraud?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, Marc Salmon is joined by award-winning comedian Rob Copland for a conversation about imposter syndrome, self-doubt and the reality of life as a stand-up.
Rob shares what it’s actually like behind the scenes, from writing and performing to the pressures of the Edinburgh Fringe, and why success doesn’t always bring the relief you expect.
A funny, honest and reflective episode about creativity, ego, anxiety and trying to find something real underneath it all.
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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
Topics include
Imposter syndrome in comedyWriting vs performingEdinburgh Fringe and the industrySuccess, ego and self-doubtBelonging and comparisonMeaning, kindness and how to liveGuest
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 MassesChögyam Trungpa – Cutting Through Spiritual MaterialismNick Nemeroff – stand-up special - The Pursuit of Comedy has Ruined My LifeOnline 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&Leftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
What happens between moments of change, loss and uncertainty?
In this episode, Marc Salmon is joined by Steve Todd and Cesare Saguato to explore the Buddhist idea of the bardo, often associated with death, but also something that may be happening all the time.
Drawing on Tibetan Buddhist teachings, including The Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Six Bardos, the conversation explores death, impermanence, consciousness and how we respond to change in everyday life.
This is a thoughtful and grounded conversation about death, Buddhism, awareness and how to live with more presence in the in-between.
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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
In this episode we explore:
The bardo as everyday experience, not just deathThe Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Six BardosDeath, impermanence and the nature of changeBuddhist perspectives on consciousness and mindLetting go, grasping and emotional reactivityCompassion, karma and responding to difficultyMeditation and awareness in daily lifeThe “in-between” as an opportunity for transformation
Texts referencedThe 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_oGuests
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 SessionsSecond and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. If you're interested in joining, send Marc a message
Support the showIf you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing, rating or sharing genuinely helps.
Support on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheBardoPodcastThe 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 - Marc and Robert Fuller
Art - Zoe BrownstoneLeftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
What happens when a cancer diagnosis forces us to confront death earlier than expected?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, comedian Marc Salmon is joined by storyteller, director and screenwriter Fer Rodil for a wide-ranging conversation about cancer, comedy, philosophy and the search for meaning.
Fer shares what a cancer diagnosis taught him about love, mortality and happiness, and how facing death changed the way he thinks about relationships, creativity and the mind. The conversation moves between lived experience and philosophy, touching on ideas from Buddhism, William James and Nietzsche while reflecting on how art and storytelling can transform suffering into something meaningful.
A thoughtful, candid and often funny episode about mortality, attachment, forgiveness and how confronting death can reshape our understanding of love and letting 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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
In this episode we explore:
Cancer diagnosis and living with uncertaintyComedy and the limits of humourLove, heartbreak and attachmentTurning illness and grief into storytellingAcceptance, compassion and forgivenessConsciousness and philosophy of mindRebirth and Buddhist ideas of continuityWilliam James and altered statesNietzsche, samsara and the search for meaningArt, bitterness and emotional transformationGuest
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 | SubstackEnglish 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 podcastThe 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&Leftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
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/thebardopodcastPlease 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/organiseCooperation Jackson
https://cooperationjackson.orgDemocracy Collaborative
https://democracycollaborative.orgSolidarity Economy Network
https://solidarityeconomy.usThe Anarchist Library
https://theanarchistlibrary.orgBook Recommendations:
Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution - Peter Kropotkin
Bullshit Jobs - David Graeber
The Dispossessed - Ursula K. Le GuinAbout 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 YouTubeLeftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, comedian 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 uncertainty, belief systems, and the art of not knowing.
They explore the life and work of Robert Anton Wilson, including ideas like model agnosticism, reality tunnels, Chapel Perilous, and the SNAFU Principle, and why his thinking feels especially relevant in an age of conspiracy culture, political anxiety, and collapsing narratives.
The conversation moves through anarchism, humour, synchronicity, grief, forgiveness, and self meta programming, looking at how play and uncertainty might offer more honest ways of relating to ourselves and the world.
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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
In this episode we explore:
Robert Anton Wilson and the art of not knowingModel agnosticism and reality tunnelsChapel Perilous and synchronicityAnarchism and the SNAFU PrincipleHumour, play, and laughter as tools for sense makingGrief, forgiveness, and transformationGuest
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.usaGabriel Kennedy – Chapel Perilous: The Life & Thought Crimes of Robert Anton WilsonRobert Anton Wilson – Cosmic TriggerRobert Anton Wilson – Prometheus RisingRobert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea – The Illuminatus! TrilogyRobert Anton Wilson – Everything Is Under ControlAbout 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 YouTubeLeftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
What happens when honesty becomes risky, and how do we care for ourselves and others when we tell the truth?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, comedian Marc Salmon is joined by writer, performer, and comedian Abby Wambaugh for a wide-ranging conversation about vulnerability, creativity, and honesty in performance.
They discuss comedy, sincerity, trauma, and responsibility, with Abby reflecting on making work that risks truth without causing harm. The conversation explores humour and social change, contemporary clowning, audience care, and Abby’s acclaimed show The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows, produced by Hannah Gadsby.
A thoughtful and often funny episode about comedy, ethics, imagination, and what it means to make honest work while staying connected to ourselves and others.
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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
In this episode we explore:
Bodies, illness, embarrassment, and telling the truthVulnerability on stage and the risks of sincerityWhen openness becomes unsafe, and how to care for audiencesCreativity as compulsion rather than performanceMetaphor, repetition, and “rats in the wall”Comedy, compassion, and responsibilityImagination, hope, and the idea that another world is possibleWriting, practice, and learning to stay with what we resistGuest
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 podcastThe 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 YouTubeLeftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
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.
Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her comedy special here
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/ -
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, I’m joined by Mark Simmons, award-winning one-liner comedian, for a focused conversation about stand-up comedy, confidence, failure, and the philosophy of laughter.
We explore what really happens when a joke lands or fails, how audiences perceive confidence on stage, and what “dying on stage” actually means. The conversation covers joke writing, wordplay, timing, audience trust, taboo, and why the same material can succeed in one room and fail in another.
Rather than offering formulas for being funny, this episode looks at comedy as a practice shaped by surprise, tension, perspective shifts, and shared meaning, and what humour can teach us about confidence, creativity, and relating to others with more lightness.
This episode of The Bardo Podcast is a thoughtful and funny conversation with a stand-up comedian, exploring comedy, philosophy, confidence, and failure, and what laughter reveals about creativity, meaning, 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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
In this episode we explore:
Dying on stage and losing the fear of failureConfidence, belief, and audience perceptionFun as a skill in stand-up comedyJoke writing, wordplay, timing, and structureAudience trust, taboo, and tensionThe philosophy of laughterGuest
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=RRn6iEuZvPUReading 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=xJkF4QSNPmEThe 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 BrownstoneLeftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
What happens when the stories we’ve relied on no longer work, and certainty itself starts to feel like part of the problem?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Steve Todd and Cesare Saguato for a wide-ranging conversation about the so-called meta-crisis, the overlapping crises of meaning, ecology, politics, and mental health shaping modern life.
Drawing on Tibetan Buddhism, physics, psychotherapy, and Western esotericism, we explore how rigid worldviews can collapse into despair, and how uncertainty, plurality, and play might open up new ways of relating to ourselves and the world. Rather than searching for final answers, this conversation stays with mystery, groundlessness, and re-enchantment.
This episode of The Bardo Podcast is a long-form philosophical conversation exploring Buddhism, meaning, uncertainty, and the meta-crisis, bringing together spirituality, psychology, and cultural reflection without offering fixed answers.
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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
The meta-crisis and why modern solutions no longer seem to workMeta-modernism and the idea of ironic sincerityBuddhism, groundlessness, and living without fixed narrativesScience, magic, and the limits of a mechanistic worldviewRhizomes, decentralised action, and collective change without blueprintsActivism as transformation rather than oppositionRe-enchantment, play, and finding agency in uncertain times
In this episode we explore:Guests
Dr 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/
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 BrownstoneLeftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
What happens when we stop trying to get everything right and allow ourselves to be seen as we are?
In the first episode of The Bardo Podcast, I’m joined by award-winning comedian and actor Lara Ricote for a thoughtful conversation about uncertainty, play, and living without pre-approval in art, politics, and everyday life.
We explore clowning as a philosophy of life, the fear that shapes creativity and politics, and why joy and silliness are so often dismissed as naïve. Along the way, we talk about abundance, work, education, and what becomes possible when we stop trying to crush the mystery and learn to stay with it instead.
This episode of The Bardo Podcast is a thoughtful and often funny conversation with a comedian, exploring creativity, play, uncertainty, and how humour and philosophy can open new ways of relating to ourselves, politics, and everyday 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/thebardopodcastPlease also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
In this episode we explore:
Play as a way of living, not just performingClowning and the practice of “try, check, change”Fear, anger, and why joy rarely shows up in politicsAbundance vs scarcity (and what hunter-gatherer societies can teach us)Work, automation, and imagining life beyond constant optimisationWhy being seen, and failing, might be essential to freedomGuest
Lara Ricote is an award-winning Mexican-American comedian and actor. She has performed internationally and works across stand-up, sketch, and screen, with a growing interest in play, presence, and risk as creative practices.
🔗 Follow what Lara's up to here.Reading mentioned in this episode
Marshall Sahlins -The Original Affluent SocietyPeter Gray - Play as a Foundation for Hunter-Gatherer Social ExistenceBob Black -The Abolition of WorkDavid Graeber - Bullshit Jobs: A Theory
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 BrownstoneLeftist Comedy Night - London JUNE 25th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1990986827196?aff=ebdssbdestsearch -
The Bardo Podcast is a podcast about 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. Episodes cover philosophy, Buddhism, counter-cultural ideas, and the messy, often funny business of being human. This is not about expertise or certainty, but about questioning assumptions, sitting with ambiguity, and thinking differently together.
New episodes launch in January.
If you are interested in philosophy, Buddhism, or conversations that explore ideas with curiosity, subscribe now so you do not miss the first episodes.
Find updates and more information at:
https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/
