The Key to Building a Creative Career That Actually Lasts with Stewart Cohen

“People want to feel heard. If you don’t create a collaborative space, they won’t come back.” — Stewart Cohen

How do you build a long, successful creative career when you are the brand?

In this episode, Rain sits down with director and visual storyteller Stewart Cohen to explore the balance between artistry and entrepreneurship. With decades of experience in commercial production, photography, and branded storytelling, Stewart has mastered the dance of creating great work while sustaining strong client relationships—and still making time for passion projects.

They discuss how personal work often leads to professional opportunities, the importance of trust and collaboration, and how to get authentic performances from real people.

Stewart shares how his curiosity drives his creativity, why connection is the true metric for success, and why making stuff just for fun might be the smartest business decision you ever make.

If you're a storyteller trying to make it in a noisy world, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Balance creative work and client relationships by focusing on trust, collaboration, and communication.
• Use curiosity and personal projects to fuel professional growth and keep your creative spark alive.
• Make non-actors feel comfortable on camera by creating a safe, relaxed environment that encourages vulnerability.
• Understand how story-first branded content builds stronger emotional engagement than traditional marketing.
• Recognize the long game of creative careers and why real relationships outperform short-term wins.

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