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 bardo as everyday experience, not just death
• The Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Six Bardos
• Death, impermanence and the nature of change
• Buddhist perspectives on consciousness and mind
• Letting go, grasping and emotional reactivity
• Compassion, karma and responding to difficulty
• Meditation and awareness in daily life
• The “in-between” as an opportunity for transformation

Texts referenced

The 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_o

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.
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/

Marc's WIP - We’ve Got to Do Something 2nd April - London

A work-in-progress comedy show about trying to respond to a world that feels politically and emotionally unstable and not always knowing how.
🎟️ Tickets:
https://wegottickets.com/f/17538/

Online Meditation Sessions

Second and fourth Sundays at 10:30am UK time. If you're interested in joining, send Marc a message

Support the show

If you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing, rating or sharing genuinely helps.

Support on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheBardoPodcast

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/

Music - Marc and Robert Fuller
Art - Zoe Brownstone

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

• Cancer diagnosis and living with uncertainty
• Comedy and the limits of humour
• Love, heartbreak and attachment
• Turning illness and grief into storytelling
• Acceptance, compassion and forgiveness
• Consciousness and philosophy of mind
• Rebirth and Buddhist ideas of continuity
• William James and altered states
• Nietzsche, samsara and the search for meaning
• Art, bitterness and emotional transformation

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:
Fer is on a deadline | Substack

English 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/

Leftist Comedy Night (London)

📍 Little Nan’s Bar 2.0, Deptford
📅 26 March

Tickets:
Leftist Comedy Night | Stand Up, Drag, Clown & Sketch | London

Support the show

If you’re enjoying The Bardo Podcast, subscribing, rating or sharing genuinely helps.

Support on Patreon:
The Bardo Podcast | Patreon

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

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.

Leftist Comedy Night:
This episode was inspired by a new comedy night Marc is starting with comedian Celine Kuklowsky

A night of stand up, drag, clown and sketch exploring how humour and community can bring politics back to life.

📍 Little Nan’s Bar 2.0, Deptford, London
📅 26 March

Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leftist-comedy-night-stand-up-drag-clown-sketch-london-tickets-1984751610495?aff=oddtdtcreator

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/organise

Cooperation Jackson
https://cooperationjackson.org

Democracy Collaborative
https://democracycollaborative.org

Solidarity Economy Network
https://solidarityeconomy.us

The Anarchist Library
https://theanarchistlibrary.org

Book Recommendations:
Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution - Peter Kropotkin
Bullshit Jobs - David Graeber
The Dispossessed - Ursula K. Le Guin

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:
👉 https://www.patreon.com/TheBardoPodcast

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:
https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/

Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller
Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special on YouTube