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 Actually Be Radical | 06 Jan 2026 | 01:36:06 | |
Marc Salmon is joined by award-winning comedian and actor Lara Ricote for a conversation about creativity, uncertainty, clowning, politics, play and learning to live without certainty. Together they explore why joy and silliness are often dismissed, how fear shapes both art and politics, and what becomes possible when we stop trying to control life and learn to stay with mystery instead. Support the podcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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
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 - Why We Lost Our Shared Reality | 20 Jan 2026 | 01:30:45 | |
Marc Salmon is joined by Dr Steve Todd and Cesare Saguato for a wide-ranging conversation about the meta-crisis, Tibetan Buddhism, Western esotericism, psychotherapy, physics, uncertainty, and the overlapping crises shaping modern life. Together they explore how rigid worldviews collapse into despair, why certainty can become dangerous, and how play, plurality and mystery might offer new ways of relating to ourselves and the world. Support the podcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
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: What Cancer Taught Me About Love and Letting Go | 17 Mar 2026 | 02:18:10 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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:
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: Has the Left Forgotten How to Have Fun? | 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. Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Some resources: Cooperation Jackson Democracy Collaborative Solidarity Economy Network The Anarchist Library Book Recommendations: About the podcast | |||
| Ep.5 - Gabriel Kennedy: Robert Anton Wilson and the Philosophy of Maybe | 03 Mar 2026 | 01:55:12 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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
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: Can You Be Too Honest for Comedy? | 17 Feb 2026 | 02:08:42 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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:
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. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller 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 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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 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 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include:
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. 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 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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/ 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 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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
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 - Dr Steve Todd & Cesare Saguato: What Happens After Death? | 31 Mar 2026 | 02:25:10 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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 | |
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 Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. 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/ 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.12 - Tsering Paldron: Finding Peace in an Anxious World | 16 Jun 2026 | 01:29:35 | |
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: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include:
Website: The Empty Cup Podcast: Mentioned in this episode:
You can join as a free or paid member on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebardopodcast
Conversations with comedians, mystics and philosophers trying to make sense of it all. Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller | |||
| Ep.14 - Tyson Yunkaporta: Indigenous Knowledge and the Power of Story | 07 Jul 2026 | 01:16:36 | |
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: Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include:
Guest: 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: Right Story, Wrong Story: Adventures in Indigenous Thinking Snake Talk: How the world’s ancient serpent stories can guide us Indigenous Knowledge System Lab Website: Patreon Community: About the podcast | |||
| Ep.13 - Marty Gleeson: Why Do We Lose Our Weirdness? | 30 Jun 2026 | 01:15:25 | |
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. Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps.
Guest: Edinburgh Fringe: Instagram:
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| Ep.15 - Lionel Snell: Why We All Think Magically | 21 Jul 2026 | 01:49:46 | |
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: Please also subscribe, share and leave a review. It genuinely helps. Topics include:
Guest: His work explores magic, psychology, creativity, belief and the models we use to make sense of reality. He is the author of: About the podcast | |||
| Solo: You're Waiting for Your Life to Begin | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:26:38 | |
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: Please also subscribe, share the podcast and leave a rating or review. It really helps more people discover the show.
Also Mentioned in this episode Films
Books
Thinkers
Patreon Community: About the podcast | |||