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

• Imposter syndrome in comedy
• Writing vs performing
• Edinburgh Fringe and the industry
• Success, ego and self-doubt
• Belonging and comparison
• Meaning, kindness and how to live

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

• Eddie Pepitone – For the Masses
• Chögyam Trungpa – Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
• Nick Nemeroff – stand-up special - The Pursuit of Comedy has Ruined My 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:

The Bardo Podcast | Patreon

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&

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/

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/

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

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:

• Robert Anton Wilson and the art of not knowing
• Model agnosticism and reality tunnels
• Chapel Perilous and synchronicity
• Anarchism and the SNAFU Principle
• Humour, play, and laughter as tools for sense making
• Grief, forgiveness, and transformation

Guest

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.usa
• Gabriel Kennedy – Chapel Perilous: The Life & Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson
• Robert Anton Wilson – Cosmic Trigger
• Robert Anton Wilson – Prometheus Rising
• Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea – The Illuminatus! Trilogy
• Robert Anton Wilson – Everything Is Under Control

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

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:

• Bodies, illness, embarrassment, and telling the truth
• Vulnerability on stage and the risks of sincerity
• When openness becomes unsafe, and how to care for audiences
• Creativity as compulsion rather than performance
• Metaphor, repetition, and “rats in the wall”
• Comedy, compassion, and responsibility
• Imagination, hope, and the idea that another world is possible
• Writing, practice, and learning to stay with what we resist

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:
https://www.abbywambaugh.com/

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

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.

In this episode we explore:

• Dying on stage and losing the fear of failure
• Confidence, belief, and audience perception
• Fun as a skill in stand-up comedy
• Joke writing, wordplay, timing, and structure
• Audience trust, taboo, and tension
• The philosophy of laughter

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:
https://marksimmons.co.uk/

Mark’s stand-up special on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRn6iEuZvPU

Reading 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=xJkF4QSNPmE

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

You can also support the show financially on Patreon:
👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheBardoPodcast

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:
https://www.marcsalmoncomedy.com/

Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller

Artwork by Zoe Brownstone