Episode description
Frommm Wessssst Philadelphia, Ezra Cohen, raised in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, initially pursued a career in animation inspired by the Dire Straits' video "Money for Nothing." He attended the University of the Arts where he delved into various artistic mediums but found his true passion in metal sculpture, particularly artisanal blacksmithing. However, after graduation, a lack of resources and studio space led him and his friend to shift their focus towards graphic design. They established themselves in Philadelphia and New York for their work in Flash animation, featuring in the Macromedia 5 Flash Bible. However, the dot-com crash led to a significant downsizing of their operations, with Cohen transitioning to remote work and ultimately relocating to Prague in 2004.
In Prague, after a considerable period of inactivity, Cohen took on a project for AOL following a mass layoff at the company, leading to a year of intensive work. The successful completion of this project resulted in a shift in his career trajectory. He moved to Olomouc, where he began to transition from Flash to open-source CMSs like WordPress and Drupal. This organically evolved into enterprise-level CMSs, custom software development, and eventually a return to front-end design. Cohen's success in his career, as he asserts, largely stemmed from effective networking, an aspect he continues to utilize extensively in his professional pursuits.
On a personal note, around a decade ago, Cohen began focusing on his health in preparation for starting a family. He adopted a regular workout routine, reduced alcohol and coffee intake, and started following a flexitarian diet. Inspired by a documentary about longevity featuring Chris Hemsworth, he also explored various wellness practices such as cold therapy and microdosing. Furthermore, Cohen envisions opening a mega art studio equipped with everything from glassblowing to metalworking tools, designed to serve as a creative space for aspiring artists who lack resources, reflecting his own struggles as a young artist.
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