The Creative Life — with Jim Kroft

Welcome to "The Jim Kroft Podcast" where we explore the intersection between Entrepreneurship and the Arts.

In this week's episode, I'm thrilled to introduce celebrated busker Reuben Stone, an artist who has risen from the streets to global recognition.

Reuben’s is a story of reckless courage, burning artistic ambition and warrior spirit.

During our conversation, we explore:
  1. Investing every scent in your purpose
  2. Rising from financial ruin
  3. Performing at your highest level
  4. Building a career street by street
  5. Finding your creativity 
  6. Overcoming the need to punish yourself
Whether from the rubble of surviving the Christchurch earthquake or coming back from financial ruin in the pandemic, he invites us into the place where song is born and where resilience is forged.

Today’s podcast is a reminder that the musical path, and indeed our lives, are as much a struggle as a symphony of growth.

Finally, on a personal note, thank you all for the continuing support, and as ever, if you enjoy the Podcast, please take a moment to rate and write a review.

Are you ready? Then let’s dive in!

Your host, Jim

REUBEN STONE LINKS

- Instagram
- links

JIM KROFT LINKS

- Jim on Twitter
-  Jim's Substack
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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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