The Downward Facing Spiritual Spiral
Social media and technology are dramatically impacting the world, shifting people‘s values and turning human beings into robots. The Spiritual Spiral is here to inspire you to turn off your phone so you can appreciate a more ”analog” lifestyle. Join musician, writer and yoga teacher Eddie Cohn as he discusses the impact of tech and shares personal stories from his own life while also interviewing musicians, yoga teachers and artists to talk about how social media affects the world and what we can ALL do to be more creative, more present and less distracted.
Episodes
Episodes
Friday Jun 23, 2023
Why Music May be Losing its Cultural Relevance
Friday Jun 23, 2023
Friday Jun 23, 2023
I LOVE MUSIC! You probably knew that already. As a DJ and songwriter, music has always been a huge outlet for me but I also love to listen to music. There are certain records that left a HUGE impact on me; Superunknown, Dirt, Parachutes, Wildflowers, Sea Change and of course OK Computer. And not to mention some of the incredible concerts I've been to which left me spellbound. Sure, I may be a BIT biased, but I believe the effects of music on our body and mind, can be deeply profound, inspiring and even healing. So what changed? Why does it appear, at least to me, and many of my contemporaries, that music has lost the cultural relevance and impact it once had on our lives. Sure you may be hooked on some new playlist on Spotify but how often do you find yourself transfixed by music? Where a song or a band piqued your curiosity to the point where you HAVE to learn more about this artist, maybe even go to their show, or talk to friends about them. Doesn't it feel like music may be losing its impact on our culture? ( I realize Taylor Swift is killing it across the country right now but I consider her an anomaly.) Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I explain why I think music has lost its stronghold on our society and why it may be because of our cultural's obsession with dopamine. I'm currently deep in the process of recording and writing my fifth record, so I begin by talking about my own process as a songwriter. It's a truly euphoric experience that fills my system with joy and even...dopamine. There's also something almost scientific about recording music. Writing the lyrics, recording all the different parts and singing the vocals and then somehow making it all sound like a coherent song. I bring all this up because I just finished listening to a new Rick Rubin podcast where he is speaking to one of my heroes, Trent Reznor. You can listen to that fantastic podcast by clicking HERE. Trent is the lead singer and creator behind NIN and it was deeply inspiring to hear not only his process as an artist but also his perspective on music and how its evolved in our culture. Back in the day, music seemed to be "the thing" that could catapult our culture in so many directions but now it feels like music has been diminished to simply "background noise" or a side dish. It's hard not to feel a bit discouraged as I prepare to release more new music into a culture that may be losing its appetite for fresh new music. Have you noticed this trend? Do you ever find yourself looking for new music or do you simply allow the algorithms of Spotify to do the investigative work for you? As always, thanks so much for listening to the show and being so incredibly supportive. I appreciate YOU! Remember, my new book SSAFY can be purchased by visiting SSAFYoga.com or on Amazon by clicking HERE and if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, PLEASE subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. It's also always helpful if you share the show with your friends or maybe head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and I'd love to hear from you so please reach out on IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks again for listening.
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Larissa Corso (Visit #2)
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Money-money-money. Not necessarily the most exciting talking point but maybe one of the most important topics for us to be discussing these days. Today on the show, I'm excited to welcome back to the show...drumroll please... Larissa Corso! This is Larissa's second appearance on the show. Since our first chat, Larissa has continued to grow her thriving business as a Junior Broker for World Financial Group. She continues to advise clients on financial literacy and retirement savings AND she even moved to upstate New York. Oh wait, she also got engaged. Suffice to say, we have a lot to cover in this episode. After a quick hello and a chat about cats, we move on to money and the importance of saving money. We discuss planning for your financial future and what we can all do to spend money more wisely. We also talk about being an entrepreneur, taking risks, finding your voice, managing your calendar and the show includes an important reminder about listening to your voice and being selfless. It's a good one folks. You can find Larisa on IG @larissameryn or click HERE or find her on LinkedIn by clicking HERE where you can even set up an introductory consult with her about managing YOUR finances. As always, thanks so much for listening to the show and being so incredibly supportive. I appreciate YOU! Remember, my new book SSAFY can be purchased by visiting SSAFYoga.com or on Amazon by clicking HERE and if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, PLEASE subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. It's also always helpful if you share the show with your friends or maybe head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and I'd love to hear from you so please reach out on IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks again for listening.
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Did Smartless Become Cha-Ching and Pointless Gobbledygook
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Tuesday May 30, 2023
For today's episode of the Spiritual Spiral, I welcome back actress/writer Polly Humphreys as we continue our chat about the world of Hollywood. In part one, we discussed the brilliance of Succession and for part two, we talk about the brand new documentary, Smartless on the Road. I TOTALLY understand the mass appeal of the Smartless podcast when it came out almost three years ago. Jason, Will and Sean have fantastic charm and charisma. They're often witty and thanks to their massive rolodex, they've interviewed some of Hollywood's elite. So when I saw a new documentary came out about their show going on the road, of course I was initially intrigued. But about 15 minutes into the first episode, the show felt pointless, contrived and boring. Jason, Will and Sean bicker, lie on the couch and stare at their phones. They ride Bird scooters, fly on private jets, work out and eat overpriced room service at the Four Seasons. They talk about poop AND there's even a minor food fight. So of course I ask myself, who in the heck thought this was a good idea? Is this self-indulgent nonsense or is this considered entertainment? Polly definitely disagrees with my take which of course leads to a wonderful and at times heated chat about whether or not the Smartless documentary is or isn't quality entertainment. As always, thanks so much for listening to the show and being so supportive. I appreciate YOU! Remember, my new book SSAFY can be purchased by visiting SSAFYoga.com or on Amazon by clicking HERE and if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, PLEASE subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. It's also always helpful if you share the show with your friends or maybe head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and I'd love to hear from you so please reach out on IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks again for listening.
Sunday May 28, 2023
Why Succession is so Important to the Art World
Sunday May 28, 2023
Sunday May 28, 2023
Are you just as excited as I am to watch the series finale of Succession? Who's going to succeed? Roman? Kendall? Tom? With arguably the greatest TV show coming to an end, it felt appropriate to welcome my friend Polly Humphreys back to the show as we celebrate the masterpiece that is Succession. This is Part One of two episodes I recorded with Polly, and while Part Two will be a look at the Smartless documentary, for this episode, Polly and I revel in the mastery of Succession. How did the creators create such a brilliant show and will we ever see a show this poignant and powerful again. See, when art is as masterful as Succession, one of its ripple effects is it inspires even better art. That's why I hold shows like Succession in such a high regard and it's why it's paramount that artists find a way to tune out the distractions and create brilliant pieces of work. Good art can make the world better. As always, thanks so much for listening to the show and being so supportive. I appreciate YOU! Remember, my new book SSAFY can be purchased by visiting SSAFYoga.com or on Amazon by clicking HERE and if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. It's always helpful if you share the show with your friends or maybe head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and I'd love to hear from you so please reach out on IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks again for listening.
Friday May 19, 2023
Your Brain Could be Fried Chicken
Friday May 19, 2023
Friday May 19, 2023
It's been about a month since I recorded a podcast. Did you miss me? Did you even realize I was gone or did a sexy algorithm feed you something else to consume? I just got back from a weeklong vacation in the French Polynesia but even before my vacation, I was feeling like I needed a break. Not necessarily a break from podcasting but a break from the golden age of consumerism. Everything is being spoon fed directly to our brain stem. We can watch Youtube videos, shows, new movies all day long but when is enough enough? Does your brain need a break from the non-stop rush of consumerism? Are you spending your days sucking up non stop content all day? I also share a new poem I wrote for Medium entitled Your Brain is Fried Chicken which you can read by clicking HERE. As always, thanks so much for listening to the show and being so supportive. I appreciate YOU! Remember, my new book SSAFY can be purchased by visiting SSAFYoga.com or on Amazon by clicking HERE and if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. It's always helpful if you share the show with your friends or maybe head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and I'd love to hear from you so please reach out on IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks again for listening.
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Triangle of Sadness, Rick Rubin and Protecting Your Process
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Do you feel like you need to protect your creative process? Like the moment you "share" a part of your work, does the work lose some of its relevance or meaning? On today's episode of the podcast, I talk about the intimate process of creativity and how social media and "sharing" often tears down the unique qualities of art. I've been in the midst of working on my fifth record and while I'm eager to "share" my process, more often than not, I often feel like my art loses meaning once it's been put out on social. I know so many people rely on social for relevance, but for me, it often has the opposite effect. So instead, I've been surrounding myself with movies, music and podcasts that make me feel MORE connected to the uniqueness of my own creative process. I just re-watched Pulp Fiction and saw the incredible new movie Triangle of Sadness. I listened to a brilliant interview with the Edge on Rick Rubin's podcast and I've been reading Rick Rubin's inspiring new book. If we're not careful, the significance of our own work can become diluted if we're not keenly aware of how certain "content" can effect our own process. As always, thanks so much for listening to the show and being so supportive. I appreciate YOU! Remember, my new book SSAFY can be purchased by visiting SSAFYoga.com or on Amazon by clicking HERE and if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. It's always helpful if you share the show with your friends or maybe head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and I'd love to hear from you so please reach out on IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks again for listening.
Sunday Mar 12, 2023
The Mesmerizing Yet Unwatchable World of Everything Everywhere...
Sunday Mar 12, 2023
Sunday Mar 12, 2023
Split screens. Fancy effects. Loud overbearing surround sound, but does this fancy movie have a heart? Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I felt compelled to talk about this year's darling at the Oscars, Everything Everywhere All at Once. I'm not trying to be contrarian here when i say i couldn't watch more than 20 minutes of this movie. Sure the effects and the editing were fast and furious, pummeling my senses, but after 20 minutes, I had a headache and felt zero connection to the characters on screen. I know, I probably sound like a curmudgeon old man sitting on my door step yelling at the kids but seriously, did you actually enjoy this movie? Everything Everywhere to me represents the growing shift in the art world. An imperious attention to the visuals, the sounds, the 3D and the extravagant effects yet very little devotion to a compelling story. And if you strip all that tech and spice away, you're left with a meaningless mess of a story void of any heart. Do you want to check out a GREAT movie with a gorgeous score, rich characters and a powerful story that demands your attention? Go watch David Fincher's SEVEN. I watched it this past week and WOW, what a movie. As always, thanks so much for listening to the show and being so supportive. I appreciate YOU! Remember, my new book SSAFY can be purchased by visiting SSAFYoga.com or on Amazon by clicking HERE and if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. It's always helpful if you share the show with your friends or maybe head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and I'd love to hear from you so please reach out on IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks again for listening.
Monday Feb 27, 2023
What is Your Text Threshold?
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Monday Feb 27, 2023
So one of your close friends was just admitted to the hospital for an emergency surgery. Will you be calling them on the phone to wish them good luck? Or will you opt for a text? Maybe a close friend of yours just scored a new acting gig on TV. Will you congratulate them with a phone call or instead choose a rapid-fire text? I know. I can sound so curmudgeon as I hammer my point home about texts but here I go again. On today's episode of the Spiritual Spiral, I examine the world of texting VS. making a phone call and I wonder if anyone is worthy of a phone call? At one point does something compel you to make an actual phone call? Maybe a wedding, a graduation, a new job or a health scare. Does anything call for a phone call or does everything fall into the soupy abyss of never-ending texts. I also begin the show by playing a brief clip from a recent Sam Harris podcast where one of his guests discusses the impact of algorithms. As always, thanks so much for listening to the show and being so supportive. I appreciate YOU! Remember, my new book SSAFY can be purchased by visiting SSAFYoga.com or on Amazon by clicking HERE and if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. It's always helpful if you share the show with your friends or maybe head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and I'd love to hear from you so please reach out on IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks again for listening.
About the Spiritual Spiral
Social media and technology are dramatically impacting the world, shifting people‘s values and turning human beings into robots. The Spiritual Spiral is here to inspire you to turn off your phone so you can appreciate a more ”analog” lifestyle. Join musician, writer and yoga teacher Eddie Cohn as he discusses the impact of tech and shares personal stories from his own life while also interviewing musicians, yoga teachers and artists to talk about how social media affects the world and what we can ALL do to be more creative, more present and less distracted.