Nion Radio With Nick Onken

I had no idea how it would evolve, I just went all in and I had no expectations, and I think that’s the best way to do it. In this week’s Nion highlight, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine that I met in Antarctica last year, Mark Van Der Heijden. When we met in Antarctica, Mark was doing a really cool project called The Backpacker Intern. For two years, Mark traveled around the world trading his copywriting skills for room & board. He got to see so many incredible places and has some amazing stories. If you’re a creative and want to travel more, Mark has some great advice. Plus he has just launched a new company called Wanderbrief that allows anyone to do what he did. I love this concept because, as you know, I’m a huge fan of travel and of interning, and combining these two things to adventure around the world while gaining work experience is such an incredible idea. Listen in to hear how Mark started his journey, how he ended up in Antarctica where we met, and why you have to think less and do mo

My work is in this what’s called connectivism, it’s all about this intersection of art and networking. Today I want to introduce you to Gareb Shamus. Gareb is currently an artist but is also the creator of Wizard World Comic Con. He has since stepped away from the publishing and event business to focus on his art. But he carried his amazing business sense from his previous career over into his art career, which has really helped his art business grow. He’s an amazing guy and I think you’ll really enjoy our conversation about how your business works with your art, the importance of building relationships and networking, and lots of tips about the creative process. Being from the outside is the only way to change the inside. Some things we learn in this podcast: How he fell in love with comics [3:30] What the first Comic Con was like [4:40] How the magazine expanded [8:20] The importance of creating a unique personal brand [13:50] How he predicted that events would become popular [21:40] The chal

It takes hard work to let things go but I think when we do, we’re a lot better off. Today I’m talking about something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately: letting go. I hate having anger or resentment on my plate, and I’ve been thinking about why that is. I love to feel free, to be present without negative thoughts weighing me down or holding me captive. When I hold onto things, it eats me up and keeps me from making progress in my life and in my art. Why? I think it has to do with creative resonance, and the role that being present plays in that process. You can’t be present and do your best work if you’re holding onto resentment or negativity. Plus if you’re holding onto that negative energy, that’s what you’re putting out into the world and therefore attracting into your life. I don’t know about you, but I would rather attract positive energy, people, and work into my life and business. So today I’m sharing with you three thoughts that have helped me let go of negativity and embrace positivity. The way

The less stress you have in your body the better able you are to perform in your waking state, and I really believe that that’s the point of meditation. A year ago I took a class with Emily Fletcher of Ziva Meditation and started my daily meditation practice. The results have been amazing: jet lag affects me less, I’m able to focus better throughout the day, and am more calm and less reactive overall. It has really taken my creativity and productivity to the next level. Today I’m bringing you a new series called Nion Spotlights, where we’re highlighting people who are doing and making things that you should know about. I had Emily on the show a year ago to talk about meditation and her business Ziva Meditation, but today she’s talking about Ziva Mind, her online course that allows you to learn her meditation practice no matter where you are in the world. We’re talking about how to use meditation to boost your productivity, reduce stress and anxiety, and to change your brain chemistry. And if you’re listenin

For me the biggest key to success is being able to master your mind. Today I’m bringing you the first episode of NION Radio, formerly ShopTalk Radio. With the help of my girlfriend Stacy London, we’re turning the tables as she interviews me about how I got to where I am in my creative career, why I’m starting my own brand, and what NION is all about. Starting from my childhood outside of Seattle, we are talking about all of the gritty details: my design career, when I first picked up a camera, how traveling has opened my eyes, the highs and lows of my career, how I found my own identity despite the confines of my environment, and how learning about emotional intelligence has helped me along the way. Listen in to learn where the name of my brand NION came from, why I’m passionate bout living a vibrant life with your eyes open, and why I want to continue interviewing fascinating people that are creating great art and leading highly productive, rich, and fulfilling lives. Thank you for your support of this po

"It’s a space for them to be who they are instead of who they think they’re supposed to be." It’s almost time. If you’ve been following ShopTalk Radio for a while, you’ve seen us evolve. We still have the same mission, and we’ve brought some incredible guests onto the show to help keep you inspired. It’s time to take the next step in building our empire, and that step is Nion. Nion represents a vibrant vision to help creative entrepreneurs live their lives in color. With Nion we’ll be bringing you a series of tools and experiences to empower and inspire you. We are relaunching ShopTalk Radio as Nion Radio, the podcast arm of the Nion brand. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more news from Nion coming soon. Now onto today’s guest, Emily Greener! Emily is the co-founder of I Am That Girl, an organization that works with mostly girls (but also boys) to teach them emotional intelligence and how to interact in positive ways. With chapters around the world, they are empowering young women to become leaders in the

I had to build everything that I have built now now from the ground up on my own. I often get asked what advice I would give my 20 year old self, so I thought I would put it in a podcast. There are definitely some things I wish I had a better grasp on when I was younger, things that I think would’ve upped my game earlier in life. Truly, there are more than five things I would tell my younger self, but these five are definitely a good start. I’m so excited to be coming up on episode 100! This has been an awesome journey the past couple of year to be on. Remember, at episode 100 we are switching the name of the show to Nion Radio to go along with my new brand that I’ve been developing. Nion is all about living your life in color and creating your moments, and I think you’ll love it. Wherever you’re at it’s about giving and the energy that surrounds that. Some things we learn in this podcast: How far technology has come since I was 20 [2:30] Why studying graphic design launched me into photography [4:00]

I’m excited today to bring back Amber Rae, who was a guest about a year ago. Amber explores creativity from the inside out and today we’re talking about wonder over worry and how to quiet your worry and look for the wonder in your creative life. Amber has been diving deep into the idea of wonder over worry, giving talks on it, gameifying it, and doing all kinds of awesome projects to help her audience find their wonder. She also just launched her new website, where you can sign up for daily clues to help you explore yourself and your creativity. I truly believe that life is always providing us what we need to take that next step forward. Some things we learn in this podcast: Why she chooses wonder over worry [3:15] How Amber grounds herself [4:20] What are clues [8:50] How to keep a clue notebook [11:45] What is the goal of creating clues [15:45] The difference between wonder and awe [20:40] How creating a character for your worry can distance it [23:05] The value of quieting your worries [

Because I didn’t fit in and no one pressured me to fit in, I could be different and I could do art. I’ve been wanting to get today’s guest on the show for quite a while now, and I’m excited it’s finally happening. Shantell Martin is an amazing artist that I met at Summit Series last year. She has a very distinct style, and you’ve probably seen her work as murals and on walls and in lots of different places. Shantell gets commissions all over the world to draw on all kinds of things, from walls to cars and more. One of the things I love most about Shantell’s work is that it’s very thought driven and thought provoking. All of this aligns very much with her mantra, “You be you.” She is all about helping people discover through they are through a creative and analytical process. Listen in as we talk about Shantell’s upbringing, her creative process, the time she spent in Japan, why you have to believe in your art, how to make money with art, and so so much more. Does progress really exist or are we just changin

Creating your sandbox is about creating the structure and time to play. This week on the show, I’m talking about your sandbox. I’ve mentioned the sandbox on the show many times before, and it’s something that I got from my good friend Elle Luna. Your sandbox is a space where you can play with your art without boundaries or expectations, where you can experiment and try new techniques or subjects. Listen in as I tell you how to create your sandbox in three steps. Creating your sandbox takes capital, sacrifice, and discipline. Some things we learn in this podcast: What creating a sandbox means [1:30] How to practice your craft [2:00] Why you need capital to create your sandbox [2:50] The importance of having discipline [4:30] What sacrifices you’ll have to make [5:30] Links mentioned: Check out my ShopTalk Radio episode with Elle Luna Read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Music Credit: For You by Mercy

"I realized that if I wanted to do big things in this world that I needed to associate myself with good people." Today’s guest is the youngest guest I’ve ever had on the show. At the age of 20, Jared Kleinert has already don’t a TEDTalk, been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Huffington Post, and published a book called 2 Billion Under 20. Jared is on a mission to find the millennial superstars of this world and shine the spotlight on them. Listen in as we talk about the power of connecting people, building value and relationships, and how we can use technology to create platforms and communities. Learn how he has connected to some of the most powerful people in the business and creative world at such a young age and how he’s using those connections to his advantage. And remember, Nion is coming! Keep your eyes and ears peeled as we get ready to change the name of the show to Nion Radio. Nion is my new lifestyle brand, and it’s all about living life in color and optimizing the creative lifestyle while sharin

"It helps me crunch and get some work done and helps me focus because we all know that sitting in front of a computer can be very distracting." I mentioned this on a previous episode, but it’s official: Nion Radio will be the new name of the show! We’ll be talking a lot about the same stuff we’ve always talking about here - creativity, life, business - but it’s going to really focus on creating your moments and living life in color. We’ll be making the switch on our 100th episode, which is coming up! We’ve been doing this podcast for two years now, and I really just wanted to thank you guys, the listeners, for keeping us going. This episode is about digital productivity tools; Some of them are apps and some of them aren’t. I wanted to share them with you because they’ve made my life easier and more fun, and I hope that they can do the same for you. "It makes your iPhone photos look pretty awesome and you can adjust different exposures and highlights and other things." Some things we learn in this podcast:

"I wanted to sing like Barbra Streisand and dance like Martha Graham." I’ve got a really exciting and special guest for you guys today. Donna Karan is an icon in the fashion industry, and the creator of her companies Donna Karan and DKNY, which are two of the largest fashion brands in the world. Her latest project, Urban Zen, is a fashion brand that embodies holistic living and also has a philanthropic side. Donna graduated from Parsons School of Design, worked for Anne Klein, and has won multiple awards from the CFDA, and is truly a rockstar in the fashion world. She writes about the many ups and downs of her extraordinary life in her new book My Journey. Donna is a wonderful human being who is doing a lot of good for the world, and I’m so honored that she came on the show. Listen in as we discuss her thoughts on education in the field of fashion, her passion for philanthropy, and more. I also want to tell you about the 8 App, co-founded by my friend Sonja Nuttall. 8 is a mobile media platform where users

It’s important for us to be grateful for the things we do have in our lives, all the way down to the very breath we’re breathing. I just got back from trip to Guatemala where I was shooting for Pencils of Promise. I also was lucky enough to see pictures of the school that I raised money to build, and it’s incredible know that I made that happen. Giving back to the world is super important, and it has to do with the topic of today’s podcast episode: 10 tools for mental greatness. We’re nearing the 100th episode of this podcast, and the timing is perfect because I’m also working hard on my new brand Nion. As I’ve been working hard on this new project, I’ve been thinking a lot about creating a movement that’s all about creating your life by creating every moment. I want you to create your ideal life, so today I’m giving you tools to help you achieve mental greatness. By telling yourself positive things every day, you’ll begin to believe them. Some things we learn in this podcast: The difficulty of separatin

Photography is such a great thing, to be able to capture the moment and have it live past the actual moment. Today on the show you’ll hear part two of my interview with Cal Fussman. Cal is an expert interviewer and the writer of a great series in Esquire called What I Learned. He’s an all around great guy and is just fascinating to talk to. This half of the interview is definitely a little different, as Cal flips the script and interviews me for a while. It’s a great peek into his interviewing skills, plus you get some perspective into my views on photography, meditation, and more.  You’ll also get to hear his amazing story of interviewing one of his idols Muhammad Ali. Listen in to hear this entertaining and inspiring man talk more about his journey and his art. If you grow up without the internet, it’s much harder to inspire people. Some things we learn in this podcast: What it was like interviewing Muhammad Ali [04:40] The risk of meeting your hero [21:50] What inspired Cal to take pictures at Cen

You can palm the basketball, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be a great basketball player - you’re gonna have to work at it. I was lucky enough to hear today's guest Cal Fussman speak about the art of the interview on the Summit at Sea boat. Cal is an amazing storyteller, interviewer, and speaker. Having interviewed people like Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy, Richard Branson, Robert DeNiro, George Clooney, Muhammad Ali, and so many more, he has some amazing stories to tell. Cal is an animated character filled with passion for life and an enthusiasm for looking forward instead of back. We had such a great time talking that I actually had to split this interview into two episodes. In today’s episode we’re talking about finding your niche and your passion, how he transitioned from being more of a writer to being a speaker, and how fame, photography, and knowledge are different now in the age of the internet. Nobody’s going to get to the top of the mountain by sitting on the couch. Some things we learn in this pod

In personal branding it’s really about the people; It’s the person at the center, it’s the people that influence their lives, it’s the people that they touch. Being a creative entrepreneur can be a challenge, especially when it comes to branding and marketing yourself as a business. It’s important to be able to identify the things that you value, and to weave those into your mission. Today I’m talking to OG ShopTalk Radio guest Matthew Loyd, an expert brand strategist. As a creative entrepreneur, I appreciate Matthew’s take on the power of personal branding. He has some great advice as to how you can create that brand by identifying the pillars and the stories that are important to you, refine your sound bite, and pay attention to what makes you happy while also making you unique. The more you have to say in the world, the more you’re producing, that story can be consistent across all your channels. Some things we learn in this podcast: Why he started his own branding company [1:45] The power of person

It’s one thing to want to do something and it’s another thing to just do it, whether or not anyone’s asked you to. Today I’m talking to one of the funniest guys I know, someone I’ve known since my Seattle days, Nick Thune. Since our time in the Northwest, he has moved down to Hollywood where he has become a big time comedian. He has had specials on Comedy Central, has been on tour all over the world, and is writing and acting in movies and TV. Today we’re talking about how he got his start in comedy and his growing career. Listen in to hear Nick talk about the importance of branding and social media, his writing process, and his advice for new comedians. Most people have a tenacity and a drive that really pushes them to reach the top of their game, and Nick certainly has that. His passion for comedy really shows, and I think that has been a huge part of how he’s gotten the success that he has today. You have to be a maniac to think that you’re going to make it. Some things we learn in this podcast: What

Your self worth doesn’t equal what, how much, and who you’re working for. I’d be lying if I said the freelance entrepreneurial life was easy. There’s definitely phases of feast and famine, slow times and busy times. I go through dry spells with work, and I wanted to share what I’ve learned through these times. I’ve been talking to a lot of people lately about these different periods in their careers, so I thought I’d do an episode about it. Today I’m giving you 6 tips on what to do during the in-betweens. These tips take work, they take proactivity, and I’m not always the best at doing them. But I think they’re important if you want to grow in your career and your journey. It definitely takes a conscious choice to be proactive and to create when you’re not doing anything. Some things we learn in this podcast: Why you can’t get into a funk [1:25] The value of reading books and taking classes [2:25] The law of attraction [3:15] Why you have to change your outlook [3:35] Get inspired [4:15] Create

Since I’ve started making work it always feels like whatever idea I’m delving into in the present is the last good idea. Art is all about people’s expectations. Some artists represent the world as it is, and some artists have a goal of manipulating that representation. Daniel Arsham aims to do just that with his futuristic artwork, which ranges from large scale architectural pieces, to castings made of ash, to paintings, and more. I recently discovered Daniel’s art through my friend Usher, and he does some truly amazing work. He has shown his work all around the world at places like the MoMA PS1 and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami. Daniel has begun using his art for social justice, which I think is really awesome. He also created the architecture firm Snarkitecture, as well as a film production company called Film the Future. In my conversation with Daniel we talk about how he started his own exhibition space to catalyze his career, how he started making money with his art, and what his experimentat