Identity Alchemy & Becoming the Artist of Your Life with Nick Onken
In this rich and expansive episode of The Coached Podcast, I continue our Coaching Masters series with someone whose work and worldview bridge creativity, consciousness, and the courage to reinvent oneself again and again. I sit down with Nick Onken—celebrated creative entrepreneur, portrait photographer to icons (including my beloved Beebs), host of the NION Radio podcast, and author of The Philosophy of Identity Alchemy—to explore the deeper spiritual and psychological journey behind personal branding, creativity, and becoming who you truly are.
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Nick’s story is a masterclass in individuation. Raised in a conservative religious environment and cultivated inside belief systems that never quite fit, he describes the slow, seven-year process of disentangling himself from inherited identities that had been embedded in the subconscious since childhood—something Carl Jung wrote about powerfully, and something so many high achievers, creators, and leaders will recognize in their own story. From that unraveling came a path into the arts, travel, photography, and eventually a profound internal collapse that forced him into what he now recognizes as multiple “dark nights of the soul”—those initiatory periods where everything you thought you were disintegrates so a truer self can emerge.
We talk about limiting beliefs, upper limits (thank you, Gay Hendricks), and the psychological fusion many of us experience between our identity and our work—especially in an era when industries are shifting overnight and reinvention is not a possibility but a mandate. We discuss the collapse of the commercial photography world, the arrival of social media, the shock of going from securing Nike-level campaigns to three years of crickets, and the ego death that followed.
Most importantly, we explore the philosophy that grew from those ashes: Identity Alchemy—Nick’s framework for consciously deconstructing who you were, curating who you want to become, and creating a personal brand and life expression that is intentionally crafted rather than unconsciously inherited. His premise is simple and extraordinarily potent: your identity is your greatest work of art.
We get into:
- How early religious conditioning can embed subconscious fears that sabotage adult self-expression
- The seven-year unraveling that led Nick out of inherited belief systems and into true creative agency
- How burnout, imposter syndrome, and industry shifts catalyze reinvention
- Why personal brands are more essential than ever in the age of AI
- How to consciously design your identity, your space, your aesthetic, and your creative expression
- Why reinvention is no longer optional—and how to pivot with enthusiasm
- The magic thread that pulls all of us toward the next iteration of our becoming
If you are in a season of transition, reinvention, or re-evaluation—if you have ever wondered, “Who am I now?” or “What will I create next?”—this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
Enjoy this masterful, soulful dialogue and prepare to walk away with an entirely new lens for seeing your life as your most powerful creative medium.
Links to Nick’s work:
https://photographedbyonken.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nickonken/
Connect with Coach Keren:www.KerenEldad.com
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Gilded: Breaking Free from the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More
Coached Show Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Coach Keren or With Enthusiasm. Nothing shared should be taken as an endorsement of specific advice, teachings, or opinions. This series is intended to showcase a range of teaching styles and business methodologies for educational and informational purposes only.
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