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Current events 8 Joni Mitchell Joins in Protest Against Spotify

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Vaishnavi Peyyety Contributing Writer

The Joe Rogan Experience, available

Accomplished singer-songwriter Neil Young has decided to remove his music from the popular streaming service named Spotify. In solidarity with his decision, Canadian singer Joni Mitchell removed her music from Spotify as well. These events were in response to Spotify’s decision to host Joe Rogan whose podcast has “been criticized by doctors and scientists for spreading misinformation regarding the coronavirus and vaccines” (Cills). Mitchell also promoted the “Open Letter to Spotify” that was signed by “over a thousand doctors and scientists speaking against Rogan’s false statements regarding vaccine safety and coronavirus precautions” (Cills). In the letter, they explain how they hope to implement a misinformation policy because Spotify is allowing media to “damage public trust in scientific research and sow doubts in the credibility of data-driven guidance by medical professionals” (“Joni Mitchell Library - an Open Letter to Spotify: JoniMitchell.com, January 28, 2022”). Joe Rogan’s podcast has discouraged vaccination in young adults, falsely stated that mRNA vaccines are “gene therapy,” encouraged use of baseless treatments for COVID and many other untrue theories (“Joni Mitchell Library - an Open Letter to Spotify: JoniMitchell.com, January 28, 2022”). Additionally, Rogan’s listeners average around 24 years old and according to Washington State data “unvaccinated 12-34 year olds are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who are fully vaccinated,” an alarming statistic (“Joni Mitchell Library - an Open Letter to Spotify: JoniMitchell.com, January 28, 2022”). According to Neil Young, the listeners of this podcast can be easily swayed and convinced of statements that are simply untrue because generally young people do not believe that Spotify would promote false information. In response, Spotify issued a statement in which they claimed they “removed over 20,000 podcast episodes related to COVID since the start of the pandemic” (Cills). Spotify states they are not “editorially responsible” and can not control what Rogan believes or says on their platform.

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How Mindfulness Training Can Give Athletes a Mental Edge

A sprinter takes off from blocks with determination.

Courtesy Patrik Giardino, Getty Images Courtesy Patrik Giardino, Getty Images US Olympic athlete, and mental-health advocate, Simone Biles during competition

Lauren Phillips Staff Writer

While many elite-level athletes are viewed as icons of physical fitness in society, their mental health may still fall by the wayside. These athletes can face extreme amounts of stress, not only because of performance pressure, but also due to grueling training schedules and difficulty managing relationships and life events. During the recent Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles faced backlash due to withdrawing from five out of six final events, attributing this decision to mental blocking. Viewers were left wondering: how could one of the most famous professional gymnasts crack under pressure? What’s rarely discussed, though, are the dangers of competing while experiencing mental blocks. For many athletes like Biles, a simple slip-up on the bars or a misplaced flip can lead to substantial injury and even death.

When observing the mental health of athletes compared to the general public, rates of depression and anxiety disorders were similar. Eating disorders were also observed to be higher amongst athletes. Knowing this, prioritizing the mental health of elite athletes becomes complicated, especially because of the stigma that these athletes should be pushing themselves well beyond their breaking point. Luckily, several studies conducted over the past few years have shown that mindfulnessbased training is one method that can alleviate some of this pressure and lead to better performances overall.

Mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can be combined to teach individuals to accept difficult thoughts and feelings, as opposed to trying to get rid of them entirely. By labeling self-doubt or intrusive thoughts as a facet of an emotion, athletes can feel more in the moment during their games or routines. This is crucial in allowing athletes to access “the zone,” or simply feel as though they are fully present in each and every moment.

Experts recommend a minimum of twelve minutes of mindfulness practice daily to build mental “muscles.” This can vary from person to person, but includes tasks such as deep breathing, self-compassion and self-acceptance. Knowing how much stress and poor mood can disrupt focus, these twelve minutes are a great start for the general public and elite athletes alike to begin on a path of mental-health improvement and awareness.