The Resilient Beat: Drumming, A Brain Tumor, Adversity and Creativity with Renown Drummer Alex Cohen
The Resilient Beat: Drumming, A Brain Tumor, Adversity and Creativity with Renown Drummer Alex Cohen  
Podcast: Silver Disobedience® Perception Dynamics with Dian Griesel: How People Think, Lead and Succeed
Published On: Tue May 26 2026
Description: Drummer Alex Cohen on Resilience, Brain Tumor Recovery, and “Eldritch” Rhythms In this SilverDisobedience Perception Dynamics podcast, host Dian Griesel interviews renowned drummer and educator Alex Cohen about drumming, resilience, and how a seizure led to the discovery of a brain tumor and life-saving surgery at Duke. Alex shares how he started drums at 12 as a bullied kid with little natural talent, practiced relentlessly for years, then experienced a sudden, dramatic jump in rhythmic ability after the seizure, including complex limb independence and advanced tuplets that drew millions of views online. He describes the fear of a possible glioblastoma, the support of his mother, a connection to Duke through a childhood friend lost to glioblastoma, radiation and pill-form chemo, loss of right peripheral vision, and family hardships. Alex documents his journey in his book “Rhythms of Resilience,” discusses teaching through step-by-step methods, and explains balancing extreme rhythmic concepts with serving the music in bands.Learn more about Alex here: Alex's Website: https://www.alexcohendrums.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexcohendrumsnyc/Rhythms of Resilience by Alex Cohen: https://amzn.to/3RuxN7YPlease SUBSCRIBE! I’m Dian Griesel, Ph.D. aka @SilverDisobedience to my hundreds of thousands of monthly blog readers. You can learn more about me here:   ⁠https://diangriesel.com⁠ But for starters…I am a perception analyst, counselor, hypnotherapist, author of 16 books and a Wilhelmina model. For 30 years I have helped my clients to achieve greater understanding as to how perceptions impact everything we do whether personally or professionally."Raw, truth-driven conversations with fascinating guests — from business & psychology to careers, pop culture & the B.S. in between." Expect bold questions. Unfiltered insights. A few laughs. Real growth. Subscribe & Join the Conversation.SHOW RUN:00:00 Meet Alex Cohen00:29 Bullied Kid to Drummer03:10 Seizure and ER Scare07:02 Duke Lifeline and Biopsy09:12 Lightning Strike Drumming13:22 Surgery Leap of Faith16:14 ICU Practice and Treatment19:03 New Home New Chapter19:49 Music Before and After21:27 Cosmic Horror Tumor Twist22:42 Choosing Surgery23:23 Practice Makes Teacher24:48 Accidental Double Bass28:02 Drumming Asterisk Model29:47 Five Plane Thinking32:23 Classical Drift Concept34:33 Eldritch Rhythms Reaction37:38 Counting The Limbs39:45 Back To Bands43:36 Serve The Song44:07 Wrap Up And Links