Explore every episode of the podcast The Bardo Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trailer: The Bardo Podcast - Alternative Ways of Thinking with Marc Salmon | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:00:55 | |
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: | |||
| Ep.1 - Lara Ricote: Why Play Might Be Radical | 06 Jan 2026 | 01:36:06 | |
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. In this episode we explore:
Guest 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. Reading mentioned in this episode
Support the show If you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing or sharing genuinely helps. You can also support the show financially on Patreon:
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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Ep.2 - Dr Steve Todd & Cesare Saguato: The Meta-Crisis - Science, Buddhism and Meaning | 20 Jan 2026 | 01:30:45 | |
What happens when the stories we’ve relied on no longer work, and certainty itself starts to feel like part of the problem?
Guests
New episodes explore comedy, philosophy, Buddhism, creativity, and alternative ways of living. Find updates and more information at: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Ep.6 - Fer Rodil: Comedy, Cancer, Love and Letting Go | 17 Mar 2026 | 02:18:10 | |
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. In this episode we explore
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: English Instagram Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. If you're interested in joining, send Marc a message on Instagram:
If you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing, rating or sharing genuinely helps. Support on Patreon:
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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Solo: How Do We Make the Left Fun Again? | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:27:03 | |
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. Some resources: Cooperation Jackson Democracy Collaborative Solidarity Economy Network The Anarchist Library Book Recommendations: Support the show | |||
| Ep.5 - Gabriel Kennedy: Robert Anton Wilson and the Philosophy of Maybe | 03 Mar 2026 | 01:55:12 | |
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. In this episode we explore:
Guest Gabriel Kennedy is a writer and researcher, and the author of Chapel Perilous: The Life & Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson. Reading mentioned in this episode
If you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing, rating, or sharing genuinely helps. You can also support the show financially on Patreon: 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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Ep.4 - Abby Wambaugh: Vulnerability, Comedy, and Social Change | 17 Feb 2026 | 02:08:42 | |
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. In this episode we explore:
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: Support the show If you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing, rating, or sharing genuinely helps. You can also support the show financially on Patreon: 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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Solo: What Accountability Looks Like (For Me) | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:13:56 | |
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: | |||
| Ep.3 - Mark Simmons: The Philosophy of Laughter and Dying on Stage | 03 Feb 2026 | 01:10:47 | |
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. In this episode we explore:
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: Mark’s stand-up special on YouTube: Reading List Emily Herring - Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People Support the show You can also support the show financially on Patreon: 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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Ep.10 - Lawrence Dodd: The Buddhist Clown Trying to Stay Human | 19 May 2026 | 01:42:07 | |
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.
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. If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. 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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Ep.9 - Emily Herring: Henri Bergson | Why You Feel Less Free Than You Think | 28 Apr 2026 | 01:31:00 | |
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. Topics include
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/ If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. 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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Ep.8 - Rob Copland: Why Being Funny Doesn’t Fix You | 14 Apr 2026 | 01:28:34 | |
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. Topics include
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
Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. 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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Ep.7 - Steve Todd & Cesare Saguato: Death, Change and What Comes Next | 31 Mar 2026 | 02:25:10 | |
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. In this episode we explore:
The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol) 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.
Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. If you're interested in joining, send Marc a message If you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing, rating or sharing genuinely helps. Support on Patreon: 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/ | |||
| Ep.11 - John Higgs: Reality Tunnels, David Lynch and the Cosmic Joke | 02 Jun 2026 | 01:18:24 | |
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. Topics include: David Lynch and meditation 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/ Support the podcast If you enjoy The Bardo Podcast and want it to keep going, the best way to support it is on Patreon: Online Meditation Sessions Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. 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: Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||