A year ago today, July 28, 2025, I landed in London after finding an insanely cheap British Airways flight ($237) to perform in the largest entertainment festival on the planet. My flight was purchased the week of, as I was not supposed to play more than 6 shows during the 79th annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival. However, when you are offered to play the full run for free in a space as prestigious as The Royal Society, you take it.
Above: Departing PDX International Airport in Portland, Oregon
Below: Official show description of "Ignorant American" for the 78th annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Initially, I was slated to be gone for 5 weeks. Then, it was supposed to be 8 weeks. As of this writing, I have been out of America for a year. After 3 European tours, I still haven’t been to Tate Modern nor seen the Mona Lisa; however, I have met some of the most wonderful people and had experiences that were beyond what I thought stand-up would ever bring me. From sharing stages to sharing homes, the endless joy & wonder that people have brought to me cannot be overstated. I haven't been to The Globe, but I have had a pint with some of the loveliest people in Dublin who refused to let me stand alone out back at a 1/2 pub, 1/2 Korean joint called The Shakespeare.
I've learned so much about myself and the world both on stage and off. I've laid my head in some of the most sought after post codes and shared hostels with just people from civil servants, students, and folks going through a tinge of psychosis. While some days were very challenging, I am grateful for all of them. As I write, it is impossible to dismiss the tears forming as I think about the souls I have been blessed to meet and those who have allowed me to entertain them along the way. Mile after mile, the people were always the best part of every city.
The highs of sold out rooms, getting booked to run my hour in London's Soho, and having a Friday night residency in Paris were juxtaposed with silent walks hand-in-hand with my grief. Each step I take, is a step on the path that those who have loved me and are no longer here would wish to see me on today.
Above: Official Artwork for "Ignorant American" Paris residency, Winter 2025.
Below: Handwritten working setlist for "Ignorant American", Summer 2025.
During this time, all of my fears around touring found their way to the surface. I have experienced emotions that I have tried to out plan, out run, out train, and control inside my tiny world. I am thankful for the opportunity to suffer with air in my lungs while I live a life rooted in my purpose: to bring joy to others.
On the occasion that I might plant a seed that encourages one to reflect upon the chains of their indoctrination or consider how their view of someone across the world could use a lens adjustment, I am in the sweet spot of my existence. I am even luckier to call that "work". While I have something most people spend their lives trying to define, many never being able to do so, those closest to me have heard me say on more than one occasion that sometimes having a purpose isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Below: Coor Cohen at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, August 2025.
I thank you for reading this and invite you on my journey through a mix of journaling and photo essays. I’ll show you the making of "Ignorant American,” a better me, and how I went from losing all of my income in 4 days to getting offered my first leading role in a film. I'll take you from landing in London to winter in Paris, performing in multiple international comedy festivals, falling in love with Lisbon, dancing in Ibiza, and refining an hour of comedy before filming the special. It has been one hell of a ride and it is my pleasure to share it with you. 😎❤️🙏
Above: Sunset along the River Thames in London, Fall 2025.