🎥 New! Watch the Podcast on YouTube
I’ve just launched a dedicated YouTube channel for The Jim Kroft Podcast—where you can watch the episode and follow the key moments as they unfold. It’s brand new and shared only with listeners for now.
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🎯 One Clear Purpose Per Day
How I’m building a creative life without burning out.

In this episode, I share a breakthrough that’s reshaped how I work, create, and stay sane as a one-person business.

We all know the pressure: create content, stay visible, market yourself. But in a world where Alex Hormozi is spending millions a month on content and ad teams—and Gary Vee is shouting "post 24/7"—what does that mean for the rest of us?

The ones without teams. The ones juggling freelance work, family, burnout—and still trying to make something meaningful.

This episode isn’t about rejecting content. It’s about finding a rhythm that respects your limits and moves the needle.

I talk about:

• How I structure my week across newsletter, podcast, and YouTube
• The principle of “One Clear Purpose Per Day”—and how it’s helped me regain focus and protect my energy
• The story of almost quitting post-pandemic, and what pulled me back
• The deeper cost of hustle culture—and how to build a sustainable path as a creative

If you’re a creator, artist, or indie builder feeling overwhelmed or behind—this is for you. Not a masterclass. Just a fellow traveller sharing what’s working right now.

🎧 Your host,
Jim Kroft

Find me here:
YouTube | Newsletter | Spotify | Instagram

🎥 New! Watch the Podcast on YouTube
I’ve just launched a dedicated YouTube channel for The Jim Kroft Podcast—where you can watch the episode and follow the key moments as they unfold. It’s brand new and shared only with listeners for now.

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How to Keep Going When Life Loses Meaning
🎙 The Jim Kroft Podcast

Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things—showing up, staying creative, staying committed—yet the meaning behind it all quietly disappears?

This episode is for every artist, writer, and maker who’s hit that invisible wall. When the results don’t come. When your energy drains. When you wonder, what’s the point of any of this?

I walk you through that space—not with quick fixes, but with hard-won insight from years on the creative path. This is about how to stay connected to your “why” when you’ve lost the thread, how to face the inner voices that sabotage you, and how to keep going—especially when it feels like no one’s watching.

Whether you're in a creative burnout, doubting your purpose, or simply trying to stay inspired in a world full of noise—this episode offers a way back to the work that matters most.

Here’s what we explore:

🔥 Face the Voice in the Dark: Why the thoughts you fear most might just be here to help you grow.

🛑 The Courage to Stop: How stopping is often the beginning—not the end—of creative movement.

✨ Break the Mould: Why the version of yourself you’ve outgrown is blocking your way forward.

🌌 Meaning Is the Work: Not something you wait for—but something you practice, daily.

🪞 Forgive the Shame, Catch the Cynic: How to stop projecting your pain—and begin transmuting it.
🌀 Stuckness Precedes Breakthrough: Why the feeling of being stuck is part of the cycle—not a sign you’ve failed.

This is a personal, scripted reflection on how to keep going—especially when everything in you is asking whether it’s still worth it.

—
 🎧Your host, Jim Kroft

Find me here:
YouTube | Newsletter | Spotify | Instagram

Should I Finish It or Let It Brew?

Hello and welcome back to The Jim Kroft Podcast.

This episode is for anyone caught in that timeless creative tension: should you finish what you’ve started, or let the idea simmer?

I take you inside the creative process behind making my new album—grappling with writer’s block, navigating false starts, and learning to keep going without the help of a label, rival, or sparring partner.

But this isn’t just about music. It’s about how we all move through uncertainty in creative life, and how finishing something often begins with simply showing up.

Because sometimes, waiting is the block. And moving is the muse.

Highlights from this episode:

• 🧠 Writer’s Block Real Talk — What it feels like, and how I faced it head-on
• 🎯 Self-Deadlines That Work — Why booking the studio in advance changed everything
• 🪞 The Imaginary Collaborator — A mind trick that helped me finish songs
• 🔥 Healthy Rivalry — How comparing myself to my heroes sharpened my edge
• 🌀 Emptiness & Inspiration — Why they’re not enemies, but dance partners

Thanks for being here. And wherever you are in your creative process—keep going.

Your host, Jim Kroft

Jim Kroft links:
YouTube | Newsletter | Instagram | Spotify 

Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Jim Kroft Podcast"

Do you have the courage to write badly?

In this episode, I dive into the messy, liberating truth that to create something meaningful, you first have to give yourself permission to be bad.

Inspired by comedian Steve Martin's playful approach to songwriting, we'll explore how embracing imperfection can free your creativity—and why intentionally writing badly might unlock your best work yet.

Questions we explore:

• How can deliberately creating 'badly' overcome creative blocks?
• Why does embracing imperfection lead to authentic creativity?
• How can playful experimentation rejuvenate your artistic spirit?

Highlights:

• 🎲 Courage in Imperfection
• 🎭 Rediscovering Levity
• 📈 Kaizen for Creatives
• 💔 Forgiving Yourself
• 🎨 Ritualising Play

Thanks for the support as always, everyone! Jim

YouTube | Newsletter 

Hello, and welcome back to The Jim Kroft Podcast—a space where every setback is a setup for a creative breakthrough.

In this episode, “The Curious Catalyst of Being Trolled,” I get real about a moment when harsh YouTube comments turned into unexpected fuel for my dream to play live again.

Ever felt that sting of criticism or doubted whether you’re good enough? I share my raw journey of meeting my inner demons head-on, embracing the chaos, and transforming negativity into a driving force for growth. If you're a creative navigating the twists and turns of self-doubt and the pressure to be perfect, this episode is for you.

Highlights:

• 🎤 Facing the Trolls: How harsh criticism became the spark for creative renewal.
• 💥 Turning Negativity into Fuel: Transforming online vitriol into a powerful impetus for change.
• 🎸 Chasing the Live Dream: Embracing the challenge of playing live, even when the odds seem stacked.
• 🔄 Dancing with Demons: Learning to partner with your insecurities instead of fighting them.
• 🚀 Growing Beyond Comparisons: Overcoming comparison traps

Let's dive in!

Your host, Jim Kroft

All the music today is my own, available on Spotify 

Jim Kroft links:

YouTube | Newsletter | Spotify | Instagram | X

Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Jim Kroft Podcast"

Ever felt like you’re waiting forever to be ready to start a project?

Sometimes an idea or seed can live with us for years and, despite our best efforts, we just can't seem to kick-start it. 

In this episode, I share the personal story behind the writing and recording of my new single "Vampires" which is out on the 31st of January on Spotify. Here's the PRESAVE!

It is a journey of overcoming writer's block, slaying the demon of self-doubt, having a reckoning with one's own "talent" and determining to move forward, irrespective of what price must be paid.

Sometimes you have to do something because the price of not doing it will be that it haunts you forever - that is the Vampire.

Questions we explore:

• How do you overcome the fear of starting when you don’t feel ready?
• What strategies can help maintain your creative momentum amidst life's demands?
• How can embracing imperfection unlock your true creative potential?

Highlights:

• 🎬 Start Somewhere: Beginning your projects without having everything figured out.
• 🤝 Trust in Collaboration: How trusting your team can lead to magical creative outcomes.
• 🧠 Overcoming Self-Doubt: Strategies to battle the internal demons that hinder your creativity.
• 🔄 Embracing a New Process: Innovate your creative workflow side stepping on what you've done before
• 🌱 Sustainable Creativity: Unlock ways to maintain and grow your creative spirit in a hectic world.

Today is a journey through the messy, beautiful process of creation and - and the realisation that if we are going to live with ourselves we are going to need to find not just deeper courage - but to start somewhere.

Your host, Jim Kroft

If you'd like to connect or comment on the Podcast, drop me a line!

YouTube | Newsletter | Spotify | Instagram | X

Release News:
The first single of my new album drops on January 31st.
Save it here on Spotify!

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Jim Kroft Podcast – you’re so very welcome here!

In this podcast, I explore the insights, breakthroughs, pitfalls, and eureka moments I experience as I navigate creative life. Whether it's through my film and photography work, as a podcast host and avid Substack writer, or this year – as I pursue my desperate dream of returning to music.

In Today’s Episode:
I explore the pivotal moments of writing my new album – overcoming writer’s block, embracing a DIY spirit, and adopting a self-reliant attitude. I’ll also share how I’m releasing the music after a year writing and recording (while juggling freelance life!)

Recognizing the chapter I’m in within my story has been instrumental in overcoming the demons of self-doubt and questioning that plagued me during the early stages of this project. This realization inspired me to deepen the concept of viewing our lives as stories, with each project representing a unique chapter.

I've noticed that much online life advice is AI-sanitized, stripping away individuality, the authentic mistakes that make one's life story believable, and the foundation for creating a meaningful impact.

It’s crucial to recognize the chapter we’re in and ensure we’re telling our authentic stories – if the world is going to listen. Each chapter has a purpose – what is that purpose, and how do we reach it?

Themes:
🌀 Overcoming Creative Blocks
🎸 Evolving Your Process
🚀 Embracing Independence
🌱 Reimagining Projects
⚖️ Balancing Art and Administration

Thank you for joining me, everyone!

Your host, Jim Kroft

(Connect with Me: YouTube | Newsletter | Spotify | Instagram | X)

Hello, and welcome back to "The Jim Kroft Podcast."

Many of us struggle with pre-Christmas exhaustion during December - just as we are manically trying to finish our year's work.
Low energy vs mountainous work is a bad equation.

This collision course can trigger emotional black holes.

Remember:
This is the season to embrace the dip rather than resist it.

What if, instead of criticizing yourself for not being where you want to be, you chose to be grateful for how far you’ve come?

This week’s podcast explores the tools we have at our disposal to guard against the illusions our minds sometimes play on us—especially when we get trapped in a moment:

• 🕳️ Battling Black Holes: Confront the negative thoughts that drain your energy.
• 🔄 Reclaiming Agency: Techniques to regain control over your emotions and life.
• 🌿 Embracing Seasons: Navigate your emotional landscape's natural ebb and flow.
• 💡 Sustainable Well-being: Practices that support long-term growth and resilience.
• 🌟 Mindset Shifts: Transform your perspective to thrive during challenging times.

We often criticize ourselves for bad moods instead of recognizing that they carry messages.
Can you listen to what they’re saying?

In an emotional black hole:

1. Your past is not erased
2. Your future remains unwritten
3. You can choose how to approach the present

Today, I share everything I've learned about this space and pass on the tools I've developed from 20 years in the arts and a long journey in psychoanalysis to overcome these challenges.

“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” — Chuang Tzu

Let’s dive in!

Your host, Jim Kroft

Follow me: YouTube | Newsletter | Spotify | Instagram | Twitter

(All music is original and available on Spotify under "Jim Kroft")

Hello, and welcome back to "The Jim Kroft Podcast."

Ever find yourself grappling with the final stretch of a creative project?

In this episode, I delve into why the last 20% often feels the toughest and share the strategies that help me push through. From reverse-engineering my schedule to implementing practical solutions, I offer actionable insights tailored for creatives striving to complete their visions.

Throughout the episode, I draw on my journey this year as I've worked to complete my goal of writing and recording 12 songs for a new album. At this point in the year, when it's easy to feel burnt out or exhausted, here are some strategies to help you cross the finish line.

Remember: Completing things builds a bridge between who you were and who you are becoming. It may be a tough period, but we will get there!

Key Points:

🎯 Embrace Fatigue: Recognize that feeling tired is a natural part of pushing through the final stretch.

🗓️ Reverse Engineer Your Timeline: Break down your project to manage heavy workloads and stay accountable.

✨ Resist Shiny Distractions: Stay committed to your current project without getting sidetracked by new ideas.

🏁 Be a Completer: Prioritize finishing what you start to build trust in your creative journey.

🧩 Find Value in Boredom: Turn mundane tasks into meaningful rituals contributing to your project's success.

(All the music featured in this podcast is my original work, available on Spotify.)

Ratings and reviews of the podcast very appreciated!
Let's dive in,
Jim

Connect with me:
YouTube | Newsletter | Spotify | Instagram | X

Hello, and welcome back to "The Jim Kroft Podcast."

Ever feel torn between your creative projects and life's endless demands?

This episode reveals a personal breakthrough: embracing chaos to uncover and learn from the patterns that sustain our creativity. Identifying these patterns is essential to keeping your artistic spirit alive in the whirlwind of modern life, where we juggle multiple roles and endless demands.

Questions we explore:

• How do we keep going when everything encroaches on our creative time?
• How do you find the courage to carve out this time when it’s the least financially rewarding?
• Can we keep our spirit alive during those long, invisible periods of creative work?

As creatives, we often juggle multiple roles, dreams, and anxieties, making it hard to prioritise what truly matters.

Today, I delve into how embracing the messiness of creative life can reveal meaningful structures, helping you navigate and thrive amidst the chaos.

Highlights:

• 🌀 Embracing Chaos: Discover how diving into chaos uncovers your unique creative patterns.
• 📝 Embracing Templates: Learn how simple frameworks can streamline your creative process.
• 🎨 Balancing Passion & Work: Strategies to prioritise what truly matters to you.
• 🔄 From Chaos to Clarity: Transform the chaos of modern life into a supportive, creative environment.
• 💡 Sustainable Creativity: Unlock methods for long-lasting creative growth and fulfilment.

Let's dive in!

Your host, Jim Kroft

(All the music today is my own, available on Spotify)

Jim Kroft links:

YouTube | Newsletter | Spotify | Instagram | X