Nick Onken is a creative entrepreneur and world-renowned photographer. He has photographed many celebrities and personalities including, Justin Bieber, Jessica Alba, and Tom Hanks, as well as global campaigns for international brands such as Coca-Cola and Nike. But that’s not why I invited him to the show: I wanted to have a deeper understanding of Nick’s life as a “creative alchemist” whose mission is to help other people live their most fully expressed life. A true multi-hyphenate, Nick also hosts his own podcast, Onken Radio, and designs hats under the Onken Hat brand. And, like the alchemist that he is, Nick has transformed everything he does - whether it’s photography or hats - as means to share his life’s philosophy.

Nick joins me today to share his life, work, and philosophy as a creative alchemist and what it means to live your fullest expression. He discusses what “identity alchemy” is and describes the steps we can take to purposefully curate the different containers of our lives. He explains what our white rabbits are, what it takes to follow it down their rabbit hole, and why so many people do not respond to the calling of their highest selves. He also describes his journey with plant medicines and mushrooms, the wisdom he has learned along the way, and highlights how we can design spaces to let magic flow into our lives.

“Finding your truth takes deconstruction and creation. We constantly shapeshift our identities: it is an on-going process.” - Nick Onken

This week on Rebel Souls:

• Why rebelling for a grand vision comes with rebelling against what society has taught you
• What ‘white rabbits’ are and what it means to follow them
• What prevents people from following the calling of their higher self
• Nick’s “creative alchemy” and how his art, mission, and vision have evolved over the years
• Owning alchemy for ourselves and the process of identity alchemy
• How we constantly shapeshift our identities and the importance of being committed to the evolution of our identities
• What it means to curate our containers in life
• How curating a space makes it easier to do the things you want to do
• Curating the people you’re spending time with and how much value you bring into your relationship with them
• How Nick helps his photography subjects tap into their highest and most authentic selves
• Lessons Nick learned from his life behind the camera and the relevance of vulnerability in Nick’s photography and art
• The relationship between emotions and disease
• The difference between knowledge by description and knowledge by experience
• The role of magic in our lives and how to cultivate it

Resources Mentioned:

• Gene Keys
• Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior by David Hawkins
• Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender by David Hawkins
• How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
• The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferris
• Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferris

Connect with Nick Onken:

• Nick Onken Website
• Onken Radio Podcast
• Onken Hat
• Onket Hat on Instagram
• Nick Onken on LinkedIn
• Nick Onken on Instagram
• Nick Onken on Twitter

Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.