BUDDHA AND THE SLUT

How Lord of the Rings, Psychic Dreams, and Fatherhood combine to (retroactively) give birth to a treasured children's story. Oh...and cats :) Feat. and original story written and performed by yours truly, w/ music by Stillness3 and Owl Cave Dreams.

The irony when you search and dream and pretty much BEG for profound connection with others...but that same intensity of longing only pushes people away. Uggh. As a middle-aged male in a society that puts little value on men's need for deeper bonds and friendships, is it any wonder there's a troubling loneliness and mental health epidemic?  All I ever wanted was a 'best friend'. And maybe, just maybe, my prayers were answered...

Yes, it's true: I WAS cast on Survivor.   But, as is often the cast in my Charlie Brown football-kicking history..? CBS execs changed the format plan last minute, and I got the call to UNpack my bags   With the new season 41 out now after a LONG pandemic hiatus, it feels like the right time to dish on this crazy dream (almost) come true = 90MIN of dirt dishing on the whole wacky process, from audition tape right through to finals week.   Buckle up, children - THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN!

A heartfelt 25MIN Pre-Covid Revelation heralds the surprise premiere of SEASON 3! New art + tweaked title = new Daddy! Finally, it's crystal clear who's the Buddha...and who's the S**t =) HUGE thanks to all you amazing listeners for keeping the show in the Top 5% of podcasts globally, even in my absence

https://dadbodthealbum.com — my new DADBOD album is on FIRE, so we're doing a shameless nod to Sean Evans' interview high-bar HOT ONES to celebrate! From Best Friend funk to Little Guy folk to hip-hop autobiography in BUMPY w/ Chrystal Leigh (Sons of Daughters), co-composer extraordinaire TOBIAS TINKER is in the house from Berlin to conquer 8 wings from Hell and share tales of creating this massive 20 song and 20 video epic for my young prince. And we finish off with a HUGE video preview for 80's homage ONE & ONLY in full Genesis/Gabriel style. Get your swoon on! https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bro... - for album samplers, the BEST FRIEND video, and links to Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Tidal, Amazon, and more! Wanna skip straight to the good stuff? Wing 1 - 3:00 Aardvark Habanero Wing 2 - 5:30 Heartbeat Hot Sauce Wing 3 - 9:00 Christian's Cherry Bomb Wing 4 - 14:00 Dawson's Hot Sauce Wing 5 - 15:00 Christian's Tomato Haste Wing 6 - 17:30 Bravado Black Garlic Reaper DA BOMB! - 21:00 WE'RE GONNA DIE!!! Wing 8 - 26:12 Burn After Eating MUSIC VIDEO PREVIEW — 29:30 ONE&ONLY BUY THE ALBUM w. TONS OF EXTRAS: https://brookeburgess.bandcamp.com

A bite-sized ep where I harness a creative technique to ask a timely question:  if MASKS are the modern symbol for our social and emotional WALLS...then what does YOUR 'wall' look like?

When a good friend pulled me aside to share that they were Googling 'most painless ways to kill self'...? WelI...that triggered a powerful revelation about the trials and tribulations of the past year. 2020, people. We're all in it together. And there IS a way out

Take a DEEP dream-dive with me for 20MIN! Featuring music by OWL CAVE DREAMS:   Happy Halloween one and all! It's the season of the witch, so I'm bringing you a fresh DREAMTIME journey — this is where I walk you (and myself, let's be honest) through the strange symbols and trippy moments and flickers of lucidity to try to get at the root of what a particular dream was trying to communicate. If you've got any hunches, inklings, or ideas, please pass 'em on! (And yes - I DO believe that dreams are important messages from the subconscious...and that the ones we remember upon waking are remembered for a REASON)

I've been a game writer and interactive narrative guy, in some capacity or another, since 1997.  23 YEARS. Let that sink in for a minute. And even with all of that storytelling experience, heaps of professional accolades, high-level game writer recommendations, and some acclaimed self-created indie projects? I still get asked, more often than not these days, to do a test story or provide an exclusive 'sample' for game writer gigs. Seriously.  In this age of Covid-19 and the (re)rise of remote work? I've been batting .500 on these 'auditions', which ain't bad. Especially when said gig ends up being fun, creatively challenging, and networking boon, and wallet steroids. But that still means that there were a handful of game writer jobs I applied for and didn't hit the bullseye. Ones where — after the headhunter or studio HR got my CV and reviewed my past work samples and learned of my (modest but fair?) salary expectations — I was asked to spend 1-2 weeks on a game writer 'assessment'. A test that would most certainly be based, at the very least tangentially, on the design parameters for an upcoming title they had in development.  And they'd expect it for FREE. And, like a schmuck, I'd deliver. Buyer's market, and all that. But consider the math for a second; they knew my salary range and industry history, which made them painfully aware of the real-world value of my time. (at least 2K per week, being frank...or...well...Brooke). And yet, even after delivering more than expected and ahead of schedule and always with a thank-you note peppered with gratitude and genuine interest in their project moving forward, whatever their choice..? I'd get a three-line form letter rejection. At best. Which is kinda shitty, especially in these uncertain and heavy-hearted times. For everyone. But since I tend not to sign NDAs until there's real contract tact, I'm more than comfortable sharing a recent example with you here. Embedded audio, too! I've taken the liberty of omitting some potentially incriminating chunks of design-related stuff; that's probably why I'm not posting from the massive game writer test I sank two weeks of my life into for that now-infamous IP that rhymes with SHMARY SMOTTER). Instead, this is one I whipped up for a AAA Chinese developer back in July. And after weeks of badgering their headhunter for any post-submission feedback whatsoever? 'Sorry, but you were overqualified.'   Thanks for the ass-smoke, lady...I hope you enjoy the freebie.

Closing time Time for you to go back to the places you will be from. Closing time This room won't be open 'til your brothers or you sisters come. So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits I hope you have found a Friend. Closing time Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's End, yeah.   YouTube Channel, Yo. Facebook Page, homie. Instagrammin', slammin'.

It’s the 10th anniversary of my creepy AF graphic novel BECOMING — published by ARCANA Comics — so what better way to celebrate in remote lockdown than a suitably spooky reading + hypnotic new music by Owl Cave Dreams? SKIP TO 4:10 to dive straight into the narrated goodness of the first act of the story. If you like what you’re hearing? Then drop me a line and maybe…just maybe…we can figure out a way to get an HD PDF of all 98 pages into your grubby virtual paws! Here’s the summary, along with an embed of the original trailer for the comic: At a remote university, an angry young student faces the harsh realization that he has nothing to show for years of study. When he threatens his professor to teach him something real, he is drawn into a horrifying game of life and death. Soon, he will learn that the only rule is pain, and that true knowledge only comes when everything you believe…has burned away. Written by Brooke Burgess — the award-winning creator of Broken Saints — with art by Dane Cypel.  

This is # 2 in a 'DREAMTIME' series I've been recording live and unfiltered, where I share profound 'visions' downloaded in sleep. Prophecies? Well...that's for YOU to decide. You can find VIDEO of the first—a super emotional symbol dream on the eve' of my 50th— over on my FB and Youtube pages (5000 FB views and counting!)  Featuring hypnotic new tunes by OWL CAVE DREAMS.

With all the buzz surrounding the Snyder Cut, 'deep fakes', the spectre of advanced AI, and the entertainment industry leaning on animation to survive the Covid-19 pandemic? I had a thought.  Or two ;-) Feat. original music by Tobias Tinker and Owl Cave Dreams.

Jesus H Christmas...it's true...I'm turning 50.  And with just a few weeks left to brace before the 'oldometer' rolls me into flattened obsolescence? I wanted to reach out to my most loyal and loving listeners with a request. You see...after 3 years of giving this show away for zip, nada, bupkis, nothing, FREE...I figured it was fair time to hit you up for some sweet b-day charity. Fiscal love. Cash-cash-money, y'all. And if just 5% of you send me a little somethin-somethin'? Then this Southeast Asian Lockdown mid-life nightmare might just transform into this storyteller's creative dream...

It's FREE AUDIOBOOK BINGE TIME, folks! For the next 30 DAYS I'm giving away copies of our HD deluxe bells-and-whistles #audiobook extravaganza The Cat's Maw to any and all who want it — that's 8+ HOURS of award-winning storytelling, FREE! Listen to the latest ep for how to snag it (of course there's a catch, but it's mere minutes of effort) — if you're still on the fence, I've included THE pivotal chapter in the story for your listening pleasure! So spread the good word, get those headphones ready, and be sure to set your Audible account to HD Downloads — I promise you are in for a feline-lovin' trip

You want it? You got it! No razzle dazzle required, my friends — by popular request, here's my TOP 10 BUCKET LIST, in honour of 2020 and the painful birthday milestone I'm destined to hit, coronavirus permitting =))) Feat. original music by STILLNESS 3

This month's 20min Q&A edition asks: WHO ARE THE WORST KIND OF TRAVELLERS YOU'VE MET, WITNESSED, OR PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED? Whooooo-boy. Fasten those safety belts, kidlets. It's about to get nasty. (FEATURING MUSIC FROM STILLNESS3)

If there’s anything I've learned in my near 5-decades wandering the plains and crags of this waterlogged rock spinning in the deep, deep dark, for God Knows What Purpose before this soul of mine pops off like the last bubble in a dirty kid’s bathwater..? It’s this: though the essence underneath it is the same, the human act of LOVE represents something different to everyone. And here's what it means to me... (Featuring original music from OWL CAVE DREAMS)  

  I've been teasing it forever, and now the show is one step closer to reality — time for a deep dive into BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA: The Musical, with nearly half the original soundtrack for your listening pleasure! Wanna skip the yada-yada preamble and get straight to the goods? We got ya timecode covered, you sons o' bitches: 7:40 - (It's All In The) REFLEXES  16:00 - THE STORMS (Part 1) 18:00 - THE STORMS (Part 2) 19:00 - HE'S A DEMON! 23:20 - MAN'S WORLD 27:00 - GREEN EYES 35:30 - BURNING BLADE (Somebody to Love) 42:30 - EPIC RAP BATTLE (In Little China) 48:45 - ???    

Tobias Tinker He's the man behind the music behind the show. And we take this hour before ringing out the old and ringing in the new to chat everything under the sun, including his two new albums of jazz and ambient, OK BOOMER, and much much more!

When I look back at the stories that had a lasting effect on me — the ones that shaped, inspired, and frankly blew the roof off my basic storytelling sensibilities — I'd have to say that one of the defining tales was a 12-issue DC comics epic. For a hick kid with a second-rate movie theatre, a laughably small local library, and six channels on cable? My storytelling could pretty much be summed up as BC and AC: Before Crisis on Infinite Earths...and after it.  

This month, a longtime listener asks: If you could turn back time in your creative career, what would you do differently? Do you have any regrets? I thought this'd be the SHORTEST Q&A yet...but free-styling is akin to public therapy, I reckon.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/buddha-and-the-slut/id1239333963 SUBSCRIBE, Review, and spread the good word! (25MIN) 27 Years Ago, this happened in an abandoned warehouse on Halloween night in Windsor, ON, Canada. Think Jacob's Ladder meets Twin Peaks w a dash of Twilight Zone on top. Oh...and strippers and weed. FOR MATURE LISTENERS.

I've been asked a lot of questions in my (nearly) half-century on this rock... But when I put the call out for fresh Q&A material, one listener hit me with the coolest Q imaginable... "If you could be asked anything that you've never been asked before, what would the question be, and what's the answer?" Time to get metaphysical, bitches. (Feat. new music from Tobias Tinker and Stillness3)

As I plunk away on the next volume in The Shadowland Saga during rare moments of 'free time' (HA!), I began to think: What if I narrated the audiobook edition myself? I was truly spoiled with the great David Kaye's contributions on The Cat's Maw, but let's face it — he's a busy (and expensive) man. And if I've learned anything during this podcast romp the past two years, it's that maybe, just maybe, my voice doesn't suck as much as I thought it did. Think of it being akin to body dysmorphia, but for vocal chords — I clearly can't trust my opinion, 'cause I have nearly five decades of bias. So here we are...the first draft prologue for Book 2 for your greedy little ears, and me behind the mic. Some classic TT tunes as well. And I honestly want to know what you think... SHOULD I DO THIS OR NOT?   

NEW MONTHLY FEATURE! One episode a month just ain't enough, my friends. But I just don't have the bandwidth to crank out 2+ original stories, edit them, and set it all to cool new music. The solution..?  FAN-SUBMITTED Q&A RETURNS! One question a month gets a 10-15 answer. Anything YOU want. Easy peasy. And the first Q from Michael Davis doesn't hold back: What's the hardest thing to confront about yourself?  

Ever been tempted to trash all your spiritual brownie points for one moment of gloriously justified VENGEANCE..? I was. And here's what happened. Featuring ALL NEW MUSIC from acclaimed jazz trio STILLNESS3

Exactly 30 years ago, there was a brash, foul-mouthed, overcompensating, girl-obsessed, and woefully immature version of yours truly spending his summer nights in Windsor, ON and Motor City Michigan doing stand...up...comedy. So, Chris Spirit Brown? This one’s for you, by special request. One night only. I'm coming out of retirement. And you're not gonna like it. 

The roots of creativity go deep, tangled around our formative years and adolescence. For me, one of those dark tendrils snaked its way into my pre-teen thoughts with a simple roll of the dice... Role-playing. Escapism. Power fantasies. Call it what you want. The rest of us called it...D&D. Dungeons & Dragons showed me something about myself that I still treasure (and struggle with) to this day. It also revealed how bogglingly deep the rabbit hole of my young mind could really go. And that's what this show is about.  

30 years ago, I first heard of the legendary 900km pilgrimage across Spain — the Way of St James. 10 years ago, I walked it after reading The Alchemist.  This is how it changed my life.  Featuring music by TOBIAS TINKER and the Stillness3. www.brookeburgess.com  

As Notre Dame burns and much of the world mourns, I can't help but wonder — have we lost the ability to feel the suffering of those UN-like ourselves? *includes the reading and examination of an article by author Hanna Rosin on NPR titled 'The End of Empathy', and featuring original music by TOBIAS TINKER.

Men. Women. Relationships. Conflict. A Divine Comedy...or is it all just a curse in the f#$%ing stars?  Got 20min? Here's an 'End of Mercury Retrograde' freestyle rant on the whole 'manhood' conundrum, featuring a lesson learned at the end of my longest relationship — a lesson that put me on the path to reconciling what masculinity could (and I feel SHOULD) mean, culture and hormones bedamned...

At some point in your life, you're gonna hear the words: I DON'T LIKE YOU. They could be said cruelly, or critically, or even from a claimed place of 'constructive kindness'. In fact, for me, it happened just one week ago. It wasn't the first time. Not by a long shot. But this time..? I was READY.

Some New Year freestyle storytelling where you get to laugh (and cringe) at my expense. Vulnerability! Body image! Shameless Germans! Cold water anatomy lessons! It's the first Buddha and the Slut of 2019!!!

  Happy Holidays, loyal listeners, and apologies for the veritable silence around these parts. Been swamped with work and travel and the expected holiday chaos, but I wanted to share something a bit sweet and soulful (and perhaps even revelatory) to close out 2018. It's a short ep, featuring my entry for the National Poetry Contest this year. And since everything I do and make draws from a hefty pile of personal truth, I fully expect you to draw some wide-eyed conclusions from this one... Stay tuned, stay safe, and stay YOU, my friends. B

As we approach the merge on the latest season (Davids Vs Goliaths) of SURVIVOR, I wanted to take a closer look; why does the show endure? How does the Hero's Journey apply to non-fiction? And what the hell happens now that CANADIANS CAN PLAY, TOO?!? It's another 30min+ freestyle ep of Buddha and the Slut, so pop in those buds and bask in my nerdishly honeyed tones and the soundtrack sweetness of Tobias Tinker and Stillness3.

Hey Kittens and Cats, Here's a 23min freeform rant on gender politics — where things are at between men and women right now and where (according to some wacky evolutionary biologists) it may have all started. Rampant OPINIONS, theorizing, inflammatory thoughts (drawn from some pretty compelling science) AND yes...an earnest plea for mutual compassion.  Is there a chance for us to hug this one out...bitch?    

Hey kittens and cats — the summer series continues with something a little bit different on Buddha and the Slut. You see, I get asked a ton about the whole ‘digital nomad’ working remote thing. A lot of you still seem to have NO idea what I actually ‘do’... So here's a short suspense narrative I recently did for a game client as a 'storytelling test': three sections of prose (200 words or less per section), along with two TEXTING sequences (8 lines or less) to gauge my ability to quickly establish character and stakes from the get go. Lemme know your thoughts, and thanks as always for listening and spreading the good word!

Raw, authentic, and with a splash of vodka... Just the way he would've liked it. #RIPAnthonyBourdain

In this Q&A Bonus Ep, I talk about WHY I write from a personal and spiritual perspective, and answer the age-old debate of Animals v People! #writing #amwriting #animals #podcast #QandA

(25min) It’s been almost a year since I posted the first episode.  I cranked ‘em out, bi-weekly, all wild-eyed and eagle-eared. Shared tales I hoped would lift and inspire and make the hard roads a bit easier to tread. But I also dug in the muck…you know…in case you dared make the mistake of holding yours truly in too high a regard. Because if history has taught us anything, it’s how quickly a pedestal can get torn down, and turned into a crucifix. And to think…I didn’t even plan this as an Easter show. FEAT. Music the music of TOBIAS TINKER

  At year's end, a client asked me to whip up a text-based adventure game writing sample in Twine software. I happily obliged.  Lots of folks enjoyed the creepy mystery, to the point of suggesting I do a show where someone plays through the game in a live setting.  I decided to go one better. I'd visit my composer cousin in Berlin —from EP4's The Piano Man Cometh — and have him play through with me while creating a LIVE SOUNDTRACK!!! We hope you enjoy the silliness that follows =)))  

In this episode, I return to Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia after 40 YEARS with the plan of scattering my beloved cat Quinn's ashes in the colonial graveyard by my childhood home. And then something magical happens... (Feat. Original Music by Stillness3 + a free audiobook exclusive from The Cat's Maw, starring David Kaye)

  After a recent twitter poll (and to honour the magic of the season) I am delivering unto you a story of a mystical nature. Otherworldly, even. And it’s a doozy, ‘cause it’s the first time I have publicly shared the details of these events…ever. Twas a night in late autumn, and all through the place…something was stirring…something from…outer space. You’re listening to Buddha and the Slut. And this unbelievable yet utterly true tale is called... FIRE IN THE SKY.

Time for another true tale of digital nomad debauchery and Third World mid-life madness from the shores of Southeast Asia! This one revolves around my discovery of a (then) little-known island oasis in the Andaman Sea -- a Muslim island, in the land of Buddhists. After resisting the lures of 'Sexual Disneyland' for most of my adult life, it's little wonder I longed to flee the sordid culture shock of three winters in Phuket. Little did I know that destiny would be waiting for me on undiscovered shores... Recommended for MATURE listeners.  (featuring more original music from TOBIAS TINKER)

It’s been a while, friends, but we’re back with more wild and wacky Q&A goodness. But this time? Things are gonna be a bit different…because these questions were submitted with AUDIO! And not just the voice of any old inquisitive gal or fella, faithful listeners. Today is a real treat, as my not-so-old friend, acclaimed singer songwriter, and all-around heartbreakin’ sassy pants CHRYSTAL LEIGH - of Nashville sensation SONS OF DAUGHTERS - is the one on the mic. So get ready for revelations on everything from: my coolest DRUG experience! fav SEX position! girls w/mommy vs daddy issues! Blondes V Brunettes!!! And then we’ll finish off with the hot track Catching Feelings from her duo’s dope new album. It’s SONS OF DAUGHTERS meets the world’s sexiest brother and sister on Episode 15...of Buddha & the Slut.

  On this show, I tell stories. Strange ones. Scary ones. Sweet and sad and difficult ones. These are true tales of my experiences with travel and culture, magic and mysticism, and all things dirty - both good and bad. But now? Now I’m going to tell a story about love. It’s been a year, almost to the day, that she left. And I first wrote this piece to deal with the grief. But now, I’m sharing it to honour her. And to remind people that a soulmate can come in many forms…and inevitably leave us…but if our lives were changed by them, then the bond was not in vain. It’s a long one…so I hope you’ll set aside 35min for the journey. Who knows…maybe, just maybe, you’ll be changed a little by knowing her, too. You’re listening to Buddha and the Slut. And this one is called: TIL DEATH DO US PART.

There’s truth in the old saying, ‘It’s not where you are, but who you’re with, that makes the journey worthwhile.’ And with 7 years of the nomad life under my well-worn belt, I tend to agree. I’ve been to some amazing places, and seen some incredible things, but it’s the people I’ve met on the path that made it memorable. That opened me up. Taught me the big lessons. Call them good, or bad, or rockin’ the middle way… ALL of them were teachers. All of them were mirrors. This is a story about one of them — a gorgeous French girl I met on a bus back in the spring of 2013, on a visa run to the Myanmar border. Headphones and HD are highly recommended. And even though it ain't 50 Shades of Grey bullshit (IE: it doesn't SUCK), it is Rated R.  Featuring original music by Tobias Tinker. #NSFW #travel #digitalnomad #sex #relationships #thailand #women #girls #seduction #dating #lessons #hunter #prey 

Back in Spring 2004 I hadn’t been sleeping well for months. Not to mention zero exercise, and heaps of junk food. Something had to give. Turns out my breakdown wouldn't happen in the waking world... A few weeks after I adopted my cat, Quinn – the little Maine Coon goddess who would watch me each night from the foot of the bed with something akin to ‘annoyed concern’ — there was a fateful evening when I finally sank into slumber. And I mean it like it sounds – sank. Like a boat with a hole in it. Like movie quicksand. Like dinosaurs in tar. I sank until I found myself trapped in the dark. And I was scared. Because I knew all about lucid dreaming… ...but how could a nightmare could be this real??? (Based on a TRUE story, and featuring original music by Tobias Tinker and guest narration by DAVID KAYE, from The Cat's Maw audio experience)

Time for another juicy Q&A on Buddha and the Slut!! This ep, your questions covered everything from: multitasking + body-swapping meditation tips + coping with solitude being a lesbian in a man’s body my Top 3 picks for a Living or Dead Dream Dinner Hope you enjoy it — be sure to share and comment if you do — and don't be too shy to send in Q's of your own!!    

Last time we took a trip to frontiers both strange and psychedelic. Whereas today…we’re gonna stay a bit closer to home…especially if you happen to live in France. But it’s still Buddha and the Slut, my friends — which means we got some travel, some embarrassing truths, a little weirdness, and a special kind of narcotic.  This is Episode 10, and it’s called…MY SECRET DRUG. (Feat. Music by Stillness3)