Remember that whiteout in deep playa? That prepared you for a NASA mission to space, maybe.

Andie Grace talks with Samuel M. Coniglio, aka Ranger Spacecat, and Spaceman Sam. He isn't just a ten-year Black Rock Ranger and a veteran of the legendary Neverwas Haul (that three-story Victorian house on wheels)...

He’s a writer, inventor, and futurist who worked on the Space Shuttle and the ISS. From his Zero-G cocktail glass, to his book about making offworld living worth living, he studies creature comforts in extreme environments.

Stuart Mangrum opens the show with a look at the Lunar Codex, an ambitious project placing the art of 50,000 Earthlings (including Burners!) into permanent archives on the Moon.

Then, Sam and Andie spacewalk into why "civilizing a barbaric situation" is a human need, whether its serving fancy tea in a mud storm, or grilling chicken on a space station.

Hear about radical self-reliance, orbital infrastructure, and why—if we’re going to Mars—we’d better bring decent coffee… and a bucket.

"Burning Man is just like going to Las Vegas on Mars. You have to learn how to live on Mars first before you enjoy the parties. It’s survival first, party second… The Burning Man org learned we have to have toilets, roads, and support systems. NASA probably should learn from you guys."

retro-futurist.com

spacemansam.substack.com

obtainiumworks.net

nss.org/book-review-creature-comforts-in-space

youtube.com/@spaceman.sam.coniglio

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George Paap, a pioneer of the Burning Man Regional network, talks with Andie Grace.

He founded Burning Flipside in Texas, the first-ever Burning Man sanctioned event beyond the desert. What inspired him? Black Rock City 1997. He found freedom there, and it sparked a lifelong mission.

Hear his adventures of building a culture from scratch, and why, as a futurist, he believes Burners are steady & ready to handle the societal shifts ahead.

• Collaborating to create local community without a blueprint
• Celebrating Burning Man culture is a backstop for a polarized world
• Finding resilience under pressure in the art of radical integrity

"Don't wait. You have to jump in and do it. You can't wait for something to happen. You’ve gotta provide the motivation... the inspiration... the vision, and bring people along." — George Paap

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www.burningflipside.com

burningman.org/global-events-groups

www.trippingly.net/burning-man-musings/tag/George+Paap

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There’s a world of civic hacking where "making cool stuff" meets "making useful stuff."

Hear tinkerers, gearheads and other makers share about the inventions that won them Burners Without Borders Civic Ignition Grants. These grants are little sparks that fire up the next level of open-source technology for all of our community, and for all the world.

Colin Jemmott and MJ Brovold of YOUtopia, the San Diego Regional event, share about their low maintenance light source that’s sturdy, solar-powered, and buildable by anyone. They're also building a huge steel pop-up book!

Sam Smith and Squirtle of SOAK, the Portland Regional event, share about their deployable solar shade pavilion made of star-shapes and scissor linkages. Trash eating robots are involved, and 3D printed ‘precious plastic’ art.

This is not about the party. This is about practicing for a future where we won't need to poison the planet to self-express.

These stories are a recipe:

• One part ‘for the love of it’ spirit
• One part skills we already have

Blend until smooth.

Enjoy what new ideas can happen when we all put our heads together.

burnerswithoutborders.org/2025-regional-event-grant

www.luxcapacitor.art

sdyoutopia.com

sdcolab.org

www.precipitationnw.org/burnon

soakpdx.com

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