The Downward Facing Spiritual Spiral

The Algorithmic Battle Against Your Free Time

This past week, a friend of mind asked me, "How do you do it?" He wondered how I managed to finish writing a book, produce and release a new record and three music videos while continuing to release more podcasts?  The answer was pretty simple... I value my free time. Today on the Spiritual Spiral, as I reflect back on 2021 and look ahead to 2022, I felt compelled to remind listeners about the value of free time. Our lives are seemingly busier than ever or is it simply that we don't utilize and make the most of our free time. Are we merely distracted by the trivial aspects of life promulgated by social media? In a world where the tech giants are creating more sophisticated algorithms that cleverly distract us, what can we do to stay disciplined and make the most of our free time. I play a powerful clip from a recent Bari Weiss podcast where her guest, Abigail Shrier, reads a speech about how our minds are perniciously being stripped away by algorithms. I end the show by talking about criticism and play a clip from a recent Marc Maron podcast where one of his guests forgets to turn off the "notifications" during their interview. Remember, if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. Consider sharing the show with your friends which is also a huge help or head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by becoming a subscriber at www.patreon.com/eddiecohn where you can access full episodes and exclusive content only available to subscribers. You can also purchase my new record at eddieconn.bandcamp.com or visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and newsletter and as always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. Please reach out on Twitter or IG @eddiecohn with any questions. 

Ali Owens

Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I welcome yoga teacher and wellness coach, Ali Owens, to the show. Ali has been teaching yoga classes and leading retreats and workshops for over 12 years. She has been featured in Yoga Journal and created programs for GLO and Udaya. Ali and I begin the show by talking about the value of a yoga and meditation practice and Ali explains why her yoga practice has been so valuable over the last two years. Ali shares some personal stories about being a new mom and talks about some of the hurdles parents may face while raising children in this fast paced and tech driven world. We talk about anxiety and the power it can hold over our lives and Ali speaks about how anxiety has impacted her own life especially in the world of dance. Ali also shares the story of why she left the "corporate world" and navigated into the world of yoga, ultimately becoming a yoga teacher. You can find Ali on IG @aliomyoga or you can stay up to date with any new information from Ali by visiting her website, aliomyoga.com. Remember, if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. Consider sharing the show with your friends which is also a huge help or head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by becoming a subscriber at www.patreon.com/eddiecohn where you can access exclusive content only available to subscribers. You can also purchase my new record at eddieconn.bandcamp.com or visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and newsletter and as always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. Please reach out on Twitter or IG @eddiecohn with any questions. Thanks for listening. 

The Fleeting Moment & Do They Really Care

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how lucky I am. The ability to walk, breathe, talk, think freely and make music; all of these wonderful gifts can often be taken for granted. For today's episode of the Spiritual Spiral, I begin by talking about the enormous gift of life and share a quick story about going to the Santa Monica Stairs this past week.  I play a clip from the Joe Rogan show where Jordan Peterson is talking about the pernicious wrongdoing that stems from our political leaders. I read an excerpt from a powerful new story out of the New York Post where they talk about the crumbling of children's mental health thanks to the lockdown. I also play a clip from Robin Roberts' Masterclass where she is talking with Selma Blair. It's a powerful conversation that got me to think about this idea of empathy vs. fake empathy. Do the leaders of the world and the people in your life, who often share their "concern", do they truly care about you and your health? I also end the show by briefly talking about Jussie Smollett and why he may represent a new breed of narcissistic behavior thanks to our adoration of social media. Remember, if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES or Spotify. Consider sharing the show with your friends which is also a huge help or head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by becoming a subscriber at www.patreon.com/eddiecohn where you can access full episodes and exclusive content only available to subscribers. You can also purchase my new record at eddieconn.bandcamp.com or visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and newsletter and as always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. Please reach out on Twitter or IG @eddiecohn with any questions. 

Can Creativity Be Taught and the Hysteria Continues

With a new record done and my first book coming out early next year, lately I often ask myself, "What's next?" I've recently been writing poems, demoing new songs and watching instructors on Masterclass to try and help spur on some of the creative juices. Then I wonder, can creativity be nudged out of us or do we have to patiently wait for the muse? Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I felt inspired to talk a little bit about the mystery of the creative process. I talk about some of my struggles with creation and I share some new lyrics I wrote for a new song. I play a clip from a recent Joe Rogan podcast where he talks about the value of creativity. I share some thoughts about Masterclass, U2 and Adele and how happy I was when Adele spoke out against Spotify's sneaky algorithm that automatically "shuffles" records. I discuss the potentially hyperbolic response to the new variant and I also share a few words about the news media's attempt to perniciously get people to feel a particular way about Alec Baldwin and the "virus." Remember, if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES. Consider sharing the show with your friends which is also a huge help or head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by becoming a subscriber at www.patreon.com/eddiecohn where you can access exclusive content only available to subscribers. You can also purchase my new record at eddieconn.bandcamp.com or visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and newsletter and as always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. Please reach out on Twitter or IG @eddiecohn with any questions. 

Joanne Gerstner (Return Visit)

Today on the Spiritual Spiral Podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome writer, journalist and college professor, Joanne Gerstner, back to the show. I was introduced to Joanne about a year ago and I've become a huge fan of her writing. Joanne has a brand new newsletter which you can find at opencourt.bulletin.com where she not only writes about sports but she also shares a nuanced and honest perspective about topics ranging from the news-media, swimming, music, the Olympics and women's sports. With some of the recent criticism the news media has been facing, it felt like an appropriate time to invite Joanne back to the show. Joanne and I talk about the news media, the dwindling value of finding the truth and the impact social media has made on journalism. We discuss the inspiration behind her new newsletter and why she felt compelled to write about various topics that go beyond sports. We talk about the creative craft, finding inspiration and the obstacles artists and creators are facing in this new age of media.  We also talk about Aaron Rodgers, BTS and our mutual love of cats and swimming. You can find Joanne on IG @joanneg313 and be sure to subscribe to her newsletter at opencourt.bulletin.com. Remember, if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES. Consider sharing the show with your friends which is also a huge help or head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by becoming a subscriber at www.patreon.com/eddiecohn where you can access full episodes and exclusive content only available to subscribers. You can also purchase my new record at eddieconn.bandcamp.com or visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and newsletter and as always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. Please reach out on Twitter or IG @eddiecohn with any questions. 

Shrinkage and an Airplane Story

Will there ever be a finish line? It's something I ask myself pretty regularly as the world continues to shift and look more like a pernicious version of a science fiction film. Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I begin the show by reading a poem I wrote over the last week. It's entitled Shrinkage and you can find it on Medium by clicking HERE.  I travelled home to Cleveland about a week ago and share a funny story about someone I met on the airplane. Let's just say, there's a good chance he isn't much of a fan of the subject matter of my podcast. And I end the show by playing a new song off my new record and talk about some of the inspiration behind the song. The song is called What Do You Want from Me and it's available on all streaming platforms. Remember, if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES. Consider sharing the show with your friends which is also a huge help or head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by becoming a subscriber at www.patreon.com/eddiecohn where you can access full episodes and exclusive content only available to subscribers. You can also purchase my new record at eddieconn.bandcamp.com or visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and newsletter and as always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. Please reach out on Twitter or IG @eddiecohn with any questions. 

Nicole Cifani

What happens to the raw intimacy of the creative process thanks to technology and social media? Can they co-exist or is the intoxicating and addictive allure of tech a dark cloud that ultimately dampens the creative process? Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I'm thrilled to welcome growth marketer, writer and teacher, Nicole Cifani to the show. Nicole is the Senior Director of Growth Marketing at Thistle, she is a fiction writer and she is also a teacher at The Writers Studio. For years, Nicole has written about the arts and the impact of technology on our culture. Her writing has been featured in Thrive and Flavorpill and she is also a fervent fan of music. Nicole and I talk about the intimacy of the creative process, the ups and down that come in the midst of writing a book and she shares personal anecdotes about how she stays disciplined as a writer. We chat about her love for music and to this day why music has been such a valuable part of her life. We talk about finding "value" in creativity, where inspiration comes from and we talk about finding ways to allow tech and creativity to peacefully intermingle with one another. Nicole talks about what to expect from her class at the Writer's Studio, she shares stories about her own creative process and what inspired her to begin writing fiction. It's a wonderful and inspiring talk and be sure to find Nicole online at nicolecifani.com or consider taking her writing class by visiting writerstudio.com Remember, if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES. Consider sharing the show with your friends which is also a huge help or head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by becoming a subscriber at www.patreon.com/eddiecohn where you can access full episodes and exclusive content only available to subscribers. You can also purchase my new record at eddiecohn.bandcamp.com or visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and newsletter and as always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. Please reach out on Twitter or IG @eddiecohn with any questions. 

Kristi Leigh

Many journalists have become increasingly tired of the mainstream news media. With conglomerates less interested in truth and investigative journalism, news reporters and journalists are leaving the big news corporations and curating their own path on either Substack or Youtube. Today on the Spiritual Spiral, I'm thrilled to welcome independent news journalist, Kristi Leigh, to the show. After spending close to 20 years in journalism, Kristi is forging her own path outside of traditional media. As the founder of Kristi Leigh TV on Youtube and IGTV, Kristi hopes to bring truth, nuance and a bipartisan perspective back to the news.  Kristi and I talk about censorship, being politically "independent" and the profound impact social media has made on the news media. She shares stories about what it was like working in local news and how producer's often didn't care about finding the truth but instead about satisfying their advertisers. She tells us why she may never go back to mainstream media and why she felt empowered to create her own news channel on Youtube. We also talk about the dangers of mandating masks with children, we discuss God, religion and why her faith is such a valuable part of her life. It's a wonderful talk and be sure to follow Kristi Leigh TV on Youtube or IG @kristileightv. Remember, if you enjoy today's episode and you want to support the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTUNES. Consider sharing the show with your friends which is also a huge help or head over to iTunes and write a quick review. You can also support the show by becoming a subscriber at www.patreon.com/eddiecohn where you can access full episodes and exclusive content only available to subscribers. You can also purchase my new record at eddieconn.bandcamp.com or visit my website www.iameddiecohn.com and sign up for my email list and newsletter and as always, thanks so much for listening and supporting the show. Please reach out on Twitter or IG @eddiecohn with any questions.