The Downward Facing Spiritual Spiral

David De Sola

When I was growing up, i was obsessed with Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and of course, Alice in Chains. I saw Alice in Chains opening up for Van Halen and I was immediately in awe. The drums and guitars, the melodies and soaring harmonies coupled with Layne's powerful voice left me mesmerized. The Seattle grunge scene was also one of the reasons why I picked up the guitar and started writing my own songs. Suffice to say, I am thrilled to welcome author David De Sola to the podcast and talk about his amazing book, Alice in Chains : The Untold Story. Be sure to click HERE to buy the book on Amazon and if you have no idea who Alice in Chains is, I highly suggest you go check out some of their music. I was immediately impressed by all the details David uncovers in this powerful story. David and I talk about what inspired him to write the book in the first place. We discuss the Seattle grunge scene and what the Seattle culture was like at the time this story took place. David shares stories about the band, Layne's battle with heroin addiction and I wonder if a music scene like grunge could ever exist again. David also shares some of the hurdles he faced writing a book despite not having support or involvement from the band. If you enjoy the show, there are a few things you can do that would be incredibly helpful. Please click HERE to subscribe to the show on Youtube. Please share the shows with your friends or head on over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by visiting my Patreon page at patreon.com/eddiecohn. As always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. 

Steak Umm, No DMs And This Can't Be Normal

Instead of trying to find answers or get facts, people are numbing out and scrolling. Sending DMs on Facebook. The world is literally spending a record amount of time on social media. Meanwhile, very few people are even questioning the government or whoever is behind the draconian response as Americans are forced to stay home. No one can leave their house and the government is even asking people to report fellow citizens for breaking the "rules." It sounds like a science fiction movie. Is anyone questioning what's happening? Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I continue to examine the dystopian world I see around me. When I go to Whole Foods, not only do I see people wearing masks, but I see people filled with fear, terrified to walk within six feet of one another and if anyone coughs or sneezes, the immediate thought is, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" People are so caught up with the rolling count of Covid -19 deaths that no one is thinking about the financial, sociological or psychological impact of being forced to stay home. I also share thoughts on Steak Umm's Twitter Feed, the disconnection created from DMs and I talk about a fantastic article by David Brooks in the New York Times where he discusses the psychological impact created by social distancing. If you enjoy the show, there are a few things you can do that would be incredibly helpful. Please click HERE to subscribe to the show on Youtube. Please share the shows with your friends or head on over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by visiting my Patreon page at patreon.com/eddiecohn. As always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. 

Adam Mesnick (Visit #2)

Can the restaurant industry possibly survive another month - long lockdown? Every single day, we see a running count of new deaths from the coronavirus, but what about the emotional and long run societal effects from a complete shut down. Today on the Spiritual Spiral Podcast, I am happy to welcome back Adam Mesnick to the show. Adam is the  owner of Deli Board, a lunch only sandwich shop based in San Francisco. I've been a firm believer that America's shut down is going to have a much graver impact on society than the actual virus. I wanted to have Adam back on the show and talk about how the coronavirus and lockdown have personally impacted his business. Adam never holds back and shares personal stories about the measures he's taken at his restaurant and he talks about his own day to day anxieties dealing with the virus. Many scientists now believe the coronavirus probably hit California a few months ago and Adam wonders if there's a chance he contracted the illness at the end of 2019. If you enjoy the show, there are a few things you can do that would be incredibly helpful. First off, I am going to start streaming my shows Live on Youtube. Please click HERE to subscribe to the show on Youtube. Please share the shows with your friends or head on over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can message me on Instagram or Twitter @eddiecohn and say hello  or you can also support the show by visiting my Patreon page at patreon.com/eddiecohn. As always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. 

Chris Webster

Is there anything that can stop the mad rush of content being made specifically for cell phones? With Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney, Apple Plus and now Quibi, we have more quantity of shows but is there actually more quality? Will movie theaters ultimately be a thing of the past? Today on the Spiritual Spiral Podcast, I am thrilled to welcome actor/writer Chris Webster to the show. I met Chris about 18 months ago when he started taking my yoga classes. We always spoke after class and I was struck by Chris' intellect, passion for the arts and his curiosity towards the creative process. He and I talk about his new TV show "The Dangerous Game" which was just released on a brand new service called Quibi. Quibi, which stands for "quick bites," offers movies, TV shows and reality TV all delivered in short ten - minute clips directly to your cell phone. Chris and I talk about what it was like working on this latest show. We talk about the creative process, being an actor in Los Angeles and how he is handling the day to day emotional rollercoaster from Covid -19. If you enjoy the show, there are a few things you can do that would be incredibly helpful. First off, I am going to start streaming my shows Live on Youtube. Please click HERE to subscribe to the show on Youtube. Please share the shows with your friends or head on over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can message me on Instagram or Twitter @eddiecohn and say hello  or you can also support the show by visiting my Patreon page at patreon.com/eddiecohn. As always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. 

Anxiety, No Hugs And Get A Second Opinion

I think back to when I was diagnosed with a major health condition. I've certainly had my share - skin cancer, arthritis, gall bladder surgery, ulcers and anxiety. After my original diagnosis, it was always suggested I should get a second expert opinion to confirm the diagnosis. That always seemed logical and sensible however it feels like we now live in a day and age where second opinions don't matter as much anymore. Unless it merely reinforces what you already think or want to hear, people seem less tolerant than ever to hear a "second opinion." Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I talk about the value of being open to different perspectives especially if it makes you question your own belief system or makes you feel a little uncomfortable. I talk about my own personal issues with anxiety and I wonder if people will ever feel comfortable giving a stranger or a new friend a hug without thinking about the coronavirus. I also share some expert opinions from highly recognized physicians from around the world who question the worldwide reaction to the coronavirus. I'm not saying any of them are correct but in my mind, it reinforces the value of being open to various opinions especially in a time of crisis. You can read the article in the Guardian by clicking HERE. If you enjoy the show, there are a few things you can do that would be incredibly helpful. Please share the shows with your friends or head on over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can message me on Instagram or Twitter @eddiecohn and say hello which I love or you can also support the show by visiting my Patreon page at patreon.com/eddiecohn. As always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show.

Yancey Strickler

I think one of the greatest issues we face as human beings is cultivating more self-awareness. Being in touch with who you truly are as an individual with acceptance, yet with social media and the copious amounts of distractions we face, it may be harder than ever to achieve that goal. Bentoism is meant to help us combat the noisy and chaotic world in order to achieve more clarity and live life on a higher frequency. "Bentoism is a guide to self-coherence." On today's episode of the Spiritual Spiral, I am thrilled to welcome author and entrepreneur Yancey Strickler to the show. Yancey may be best known for co-founding Kickstarter, but I was introduced to Yancey when I recently heard him on the Ezra Klein show talking about his book, "This Could Be Our Future." Yancey talks about Bentoism, living in a capitalistic society and I think his book also serves as a guide on how to live a more meaningful life. Yancey and I talk about technology and social media and Yancey tells us why he believes social media is merely a mirror of what's happening in our culture. We also talk about creativity, the music industry and why the film industry may be stuck in the cycle of manufacturing sequels. Be sure to visit Yancey on his website where you can sign up for his newsletter and be sure to purchase his fantastic new book on Amazon. If you enjoy the show, there are a few things you can do that would be incredibly helpful. Please share the shows with your friends or head on over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can message me on Instagram or Twitter @eddiecohn and say hello which I love or you can also support the show by visiting my Patreon page at patreon.com/eddiecohn. As always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show.

Dr. Gerald Minniti (Visit #2)

You probably know by now how I may have the tendency to question what's been happening lately with our culture. The way our society simply embraces technology and social media as these wonderfully positive additions to our lives when in fact they may be creating more harm than good. I'm also slightly perplexed by the way our country has pretty much completely shut down thanks to Covid-19. Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I welcome my friend, Beverly Hills based plastic surgeon, Dr. Gerald Minniti back to the show. I wanted to hear how the Covid -19 virus has impacted Gerald's practice as well as get his perspective on the contagiousness and seriousness of the coronavirus. Gerald also gives us some simple reminders on how we can protect ourselves from contracting the virus and he tells us why more than likely, Covid-19 may be one of many more pandemics to come. Just what you wanted to hear. :o) If you enjoy the show, there are a few things you can do that would be incredibly helpful. Please share the shows with your friends or head on over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can message me on Instagram or Twitter @eddiecohn and say hello which I love or you can also support the show by visiting my Patreon page at patreon.com/eddiecohn. As always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show.

Shut Down And The Strange Connection

You can't just tell Californians to stay home. That's impossible. Or it's not possible without some sort of a realistic plan. How about the government also closes banks and puts a freeze on all bill payments while the government tries to find a more reasonable solution? Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I talk about the government's feeble attempt to grab a handle on the Covid-19 situation. Over ninety percent of the population lives paycheck to paycheck. Millions of people have two jobs, work in the food and beverage and ride-sharing industry. What about small business owners, yoga teachers or personal trainers or anyone who works in the creative arts? You can't just tell these people to stay home without having a realistic plan or discussion about how that's going to impact their day to day life. Did anyone think about the ramifications that would happen if people are forced to stay home? I also share a story from the New York Times that further proves my point that Italy may have never been fully prepared for the virus. If you enjoy the show, there are a few things you can do that would be incredibly helpful. Please share the shows with your friends or head on over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can message me on Instagram or Twitter @eddiecohn and say hello which I love or you can also support the show by visiting my Patreon page at patreon.com/eddiecohn. As always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show.