TATTOO TALES

93. RACHI BLACK THRONE - Powerful tattoos from Australia

Rachel has been tattooing for over 20 years, and she’s one of those people I really enjoy talking tattooing with. She has a lot of experience, a strong point of view, and

92. ALEJANDRO MONEA - Japanese tattooing, the importance of draftsmanship, navigating the spectrum as an artist

Alejandro Monea is an incredibly talented artist, a prolific painter, a great draftsman, and, on top of all that, a very sweet human and a friend. I’ve always had a lot o

91. LIL B - From Chicano to Japanese traditional tattooing

Today I sit down with Lil B to trace the global journey, artistic evolution, and mindset shift behind his achievements. From his roots doing graffiti in France and learn

90. CLEMENS HAHN - American traditional tattooing, diligent practice, creating memories

As the owner of Truly Yours Tattoo in Mannheim, Germany, and organizer of the Truly Yours Tattoo Fest, Clemens is a tattoo artist respected for his bold, powerful, and cr

89. RAFA DECRANEO - American traditional tattooing and fun as creative engine

In this open conversation at Chica Pantera, a new landmark for tattooing in Barcelona,I got to know Rafa a bit more. The creative sources he taps in for his countless pro

88. How to navigate a crisis

Burnout. Loss of spark for what we used to love. Lack of motivation and creativity. I have had this conversation a few times recently, this is what I would recommend to g

87. AMELIA OSTERUD - The 388 Tattoos of Captain George and the 389 Tales of How He Got Them

With a master’s degree in History and Library Science, Amelia Klem Osterud is recognized as a leading scholar in tattoo history and 19th-century sideshow performers. Auth

86. ESCODA - A labour of love

Escoda is a third-generation family business and an industry icon, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a testament to true craftsmanship, community, and, above all, a p

85. ECKEL - Neotraditional tattooing and the artistic journey

Eckel’s name speaks for itself. Over the years he inspired countless artists with his drawings, tattoos, and paintings, establishing himself as a main reference in the ne

84. JASON KUNDELL - The elusive mastery of Japanese tattooing

Today we sit down with Jason Kundell, a veteran tattoo artist with an inspiring 30-year career. We trace his journey from his roots in Southern California’s skateboarding

83. MANAMI OKAZAKI - Japan’s tattoo underworld and artisanal heritage

Welcome into a captivating journey through the hidden and historical world of Japanese tattooing with journalist, author, and cultural expert, Manami Okazaki.   In this

82. ‘HORIBUDO I’ ROBERTO BORSI - Traditional Japanese Tattooing, Tebori, and Lifelong Mastery

Step into a humbling reflection on dedication that echoes the slow, deliberate rhythm of the traditional Tebori techniques we discuss. In this episode, I sit down with R

81. RUETHLESS IRONS - How corporations are taking over tattooing

Today, I’m sitting down with Rue from Ruethless Irons for a conversation that gets right to the heart of things. Rue has been in the game since the late 90s, coming up i

80. PINO CAFARO - Struggle, balance and the importance of letting go in Japanese tattooing

In this episode of Tattoo Tales, I sit down with a man who has spent over three decades navigating the deep waters of our craft with utmost dedication: Pino Cafaro.   T

79. TERRY MCKENNA - The Karuizawa Mokuhanga School of woodblock printing

Curious about how to make woodblock prints?   In this episode of Tattoo Tales, I’m joined by Australian artist Terry McKenna, known by his artist name Toraku ("Fun Knif

78. The Seven Tengu scrolls

Get ready for another very nerdy episode into Japanese Folklore. This time we explore the figure of the Tengu, as portrayed in medieval chronicles and scrolls. Not what y

77. TABBY BOOTH - Create for the sake of creating

Today I sit down with the wonderful artist Tabby Booth to pick her brain on her evolution as an artist, how she balances creativity with parenthood, and the intuitive way

76. MICHELLE VESTERGÅRD - Art, healing, and legacy

Welcome back. Our guest today is Danish tattoo artist Michelle Vestergård, whose story touches on something we can all relate to: the search for authenticity.   We talk

75. BILL CANALES - Challenge yourself

Join us in a compelling conversation with the legendary Bill Canales. Bill charts his entire professional journey, from discovering tattooing in a magazine in 1991 to bec

74. LUKE ATKINSON - Japanese tattooing at its finest

Live from the 2025 Aachen Tattoo Convention—one of the world’s finest tattoo gatherings—we bring you a conversation with the legendary Luke Atkinson. A master of Japanese