Hello, everyone, and welcome to “The Jim Kroft Podcast,” where I explore creative life, the digital economy, and how we can grow as individuals in this bonkers modern world.
Today, I’m buzzing to share a special episode—my first podcast recorded in New York City—with legendary music producer and psychedelic troubadour Gordon Raphael.
Gordon's groundbreaking work with The Strokes helped define the sound of the early 2000s, and his influence still resonates in the music world today.
I've known Gordon since 2007, and this conversation was recorded right after he produced my new song "Wicked Things" at Mercy Sound Studios.
Gordon is a true maverick with a journey that spans the cultural hubs of New York, Berlin, and London. His life has seen incredible highs and lows, but through it all, he's remained guided by the North Star of his creativity.
In this episode, Gordon holds nothing back, sharing insights on:
- 🎧 Bringing out the best in musicians in the studio
- 🌍 How musicians can break through in the social media age
- 💡 Navigating addiction and recovery
- 📱 His "secret sauce" for surviving in the arts
- 🎙️ Living life on life’s terms
On a personal note, this episode is significant for me—not just because it’s my first recorded in New York but also because it follows an epic day in the studio with Gordon at Mercy Sound Studios in the East Village. It’s the culmination of a long-standing friendship that began in Berlin in 2007 and has seen us through many creative projects, including the “Boat for Sarah” project during the Refugee Crisis.
Okay, it’s time to meet the one and only Gordon Raphael. Are you ready? Then, let’s dive in!
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What is The Creative Life — with Jim Kroft?
🎙️ The Creative Life — with Jim Kroft
This podcast is for creatives who’ve chosen the long road.
Each week, I take one aspect of the creative life — a breakthrough, a challenge, or a tool that’s helping me — and share what I’m learning from the inside.
I started the show because I couldn’t find what I needed: a companion for the real challenges of making art while building a life around it.
The podcast swings between the psychological traps we face and the practical tools that keep me going. It moves between mindset and method — but always comes back to how we keep showing up.
I’m Jim, your host. I’ve lived a long life in the arts — full of meteoric highs and humbling lows.
Here are a few stops from the journey:
🎸 Released 7 records — from major labels to van tours
🎥 Filmed 6 feature docs, screened at 200+ festivals
🧠 Built a creative business in Berlin since 2013
✍️ Top 1% on Substack for weekly consistency
📈 Raised nearly €100K for refugee & Ukraine war efforts
🎧 The Creative Life has hit the Apple Podcast charts
Thanks for being here,
Jim
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