Inky Thoughts

Hello everybody and welcome to the 56th episode of your favourite nerdy tattoo podcast 

This time, we are once again continuing our latest sub-series "Reclaiming the Self", and I am joined by one of the most charismatic and funny guests I have ever had on the podcast, and she might even be my favourite weather girl ever (if you know, you know, or you need to check out her socials) 

I have the pleasure of sitting down with the lovely Miss Missy, tattoo model, online creator who is also living a sober lifestyle, due to her own long history with drugs and alcohol (which we also get into in the episode). 

Not only does Missy have a knack for pushing back against the hate many women face on social media and online in general, with her own trademark humour, where she will famously dress up as the things people have called her online for example. But she has also bet on herself through her tattoos, saying no to conformity and the men that would say women should not be tattooed, by going all in. Not only that, but a few of her tattoos have also become a way to anchor her sober lifestyle in her skin, as well as a way to reflect on her past. 

There is a lot ot get and learn from in this episode, and we had a lot of fun along the way (so much so, my mic may have gotten fried now and then from laughter) 

I hope you enjoyed it and should you want to learn more about my guest, please use the info below: 

Guest: Miss Missy 
Social media (all): @misss_missy

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Hello everyone, and welcome to the 55th episode of your favourite nerdy tattoo podcast 

Let me get ahead of this at first, there were a lot of technical difficulties when this episode was recorded, on my part and not my awesome guests, which has made the audio of me (the host) poor quality for part of the episode, and we lost video for the last 10 minutes or so for the guest. 

But there is still a lot of amazing stuff to enjoy in this episode, and I myself also felt like a kid going back to school and learned so much from my amazing guest Te-Haunui, about modern Maori tattooing, both regarding ancient traditions, and how it mixes at times with modern sensibilities 

You can learn much more about that, and my guest's amazing backstory and journey with tattooing as a Maori native and artist, by enjoying the full episode. I can't thank Te-Haunui enough for coming on the pod, and sharing his experiences and insights. 

If you want to learn more about Te-Haunui, and what he does, please use the info below.

Guest: Te-Haunui
Instagram: @tehaunuiart
website: tehauinuiart.com
His podcast: Creative Curiousity Podcast (find it on YouTube)

As always, thank you to the audience for your support, love and attention!

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

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Welcome back to the Inky Thoughts Podcast! 

This time we are continuing our newly started sub-series called "reclaiming the self", a series focused on healing and regaining a sense of self, through tattoos, claiming and reclaiming a sense of self, so to speak. 

This time around I am joined by the lovely and awesome Apryl Katrina, and I could not have asked for a better guest. Not only is Apryl a proud mother, a passionate artist, and skilled business and property manager, she has also been through the ringer. 

From becoming a mother out of nowhere at a time when she was not ready, to suffering through sexual trauma and other forms of abuse, Apryl has been through more than her fair share. But, throughout it all, tattoos were a way for her to anchor her sense of self and not lose sight of who she is throughout it all. They also became a way for her to heal through the trauma she suffered through, helping her reflect on and regain a lost sense of self. 

But if you want to learn more, I highly recommend that you enjoy the full episode, and a massive thank you goes out to Apryl for coming on the podcast, being vulnerable and sharing her experiences, and insights. 

If you want to learn more about Apryl, please use the information below: 

Guest: Apryl Katrina (aka Ayotola) 
Instagram: @aprylkatrina
She can also be found on TikTok

Thank you for enjoying the episode and all your support!

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

linktr.ee/inkythoughtspodcast

Happy halloween fellow tattoo lovers, from your favourite nerdy tattoo podcast to you! 

This year is an especially good one, as I finally, thanks to my awesome guest, managed to put together a genuine halloween episode for you guys (only took me 2 years). 

There also could be no one better to get into it with during spooky season, than my guest on this special episode. The horror enthusiast and incredible tattoo artist Anders Grucz, who not only has had a lifelong fascination with horror and dark art, but also found his passion for tattooing again through it, after losing it. 

A veteran of both horror and tattooing, as well as a lovely and thoughtful guy, I can't recommend enough that you enjoy the full episode when you get the chance

I promise, the only real fear, is that you might learn something 

If you want to learn more of my guest Anders, please use the information below: 

Guest: Anders Grucz
Instagram: @anders_grucz_tattoo
Link for everything Anders: linktr.ee/gruczart

Big thank you to Anders, and you the lovely audience!

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

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Welcome back to the Inky Thoughts podcast 

This time, for the 2 year anniversary of the podcast!!! (can you believe it?!) 
We are starting a new sub-series that I have long been wanting to get into, focused on how tattoos can assist people in healing after trauma as well as reclaiming a lost sense of self/identity, in the face of (perhaps also despite of) prejudice, stigma, and big life-changing events. 

And who better to start this new series off with than the awesome Evan Dusvalt, a tattoo collector, proud father, and actor, who has been through the wringer. But through everything from a recent motorcycle accident to his divorce and other life events, focusing on his embodiment through tattoos and body-building, has helped him regain and maintain a sense of who he is, throughout it all. 

But to learn any more, I highly encourage you to enjoy the full episode. 

Thank you to Evan and anyone who supports the podcast. 

Should you want to learn more about the guest, please use the information below: 

Guest: Evan Dusvalt
Instagram: @edusvalt
Model insta: @ram_wylder

He also wrote a poignant article for CO:CREATE about his tattoo journey
https://www.cocreate.ink/articles/survival-and-self-expression-evan-duswalt

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

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Welcome to episode 51 of your favourite nerdy tattoo podcast! 

This time around we are welcoming back CeeJ and continuing to dive into the topic on tattoo artist mental health, that we started on a few weeks back together with Xia Tattoos. 

Now, CeeJ is not only a tattoo artist herself and as discussed when she was last on the pod, she also has an academic background (masters degree) in mental health and coaching, and has long done work to try and shed more light on how tattoos and indeed tattooing ties into mental health.

Together, we get into everything from artist burnout, the effects of social media, client interactions and much more. But, you will need to enjoy the full episode to learn more 

BIg thank you to CeeJ for coming back on, and an even bigger thank you to anyone showing support for the podcast and this episode, by liking, subscribing, commenting and of course enjoying the episode! 

For more info on the guest, please check the details below

Guest: CeeJ 
Instagram: @ceejtheartist
TikTok: @ceejtheartist

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

linktr.ee/inkythoughtspodcast

Welcome to episode 50 (can you believe it?!) of your favourite nerdy tattoo podcast! 

This time I am diving deep and letting my nerd flag fly proudly, as we are discussing anime tattoos, whether they are a genre of their own or possibly even their own sub-culture within tattooing, and indeed why manga and anime makes for such great tattoo material. 

I am of course not alone, and for the 50th episode I am joined by the legend that is Matthew Larkin aka Matsy. A tattoo artist hailing from the emerald isle also known as Ireland, who specializes in anime and pop-culture tattoos, which he has perfected with his own vibrant style 

Please enjoy the episode and don't forget to like, follow and subscribe etc. 

Should you want more info regarding the guest of the episode, read below

Guest: Matthew Larkin
Instagram: @Matsy__
Studio: Legendary Tattoo Studio, Dublin, Ireland. 
Studio Insta: @legendarytattoostudio

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

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Ethics in the tattoo industry, a topic that comes up more and more over the years, but what does it actually entail? 

For many, when they think of Ethics, they probably think mainly of making the space hygenic and making sure no physical harm befalls the client or the artist. However, as you will come to find out during episode 49 of the podcasat (this episode), it entails much more than that... 

As always, I am not alone, and together with the lovely and passionate tattoo artist Lozzy Bones, who also co-owns the studio Heart of Glass in the UK, we discuss why ethics are so damn important in modern tattooing and exactly how much of the tattoo process it touches upon (spoiler, it is all of it)

Lozzy has been passionate about ethics in tattooing ever since her own apprenticeship and even more so now that she runs her own studio, from client interactions, to how you treat the studios apprentice and more, we get into it in this episode. 

main lesson being, "don't bite the hand that feeds you"

Should you want to check out more from Lozzy and her studio, you can use the details below

Guest: Lozzy Bones
Instagram: @lozzybonestattoo
Further links: linktr.ee/lozzybonestattoo

Studio: Heart of Glass, Sussex, UK. 
Instagram: @heartofglasstattoo
Further links: linktr.ee/heartofglasstattoo

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

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Tattoo artist mental health 

More often than not, when discussing mental health and tattoos, we focus on that of the clients and collectors, and the positive benefits to their sense of self that tattoos can have. 

But far too often, we neglect to talk about the mental health of the providers of the artform we love so much, the tattoo artists. 
After an enlightening discussion with Xia Tattoos about this topic, I could not help but invite her back on the podcast, to talk more about tattoo artist mental health. 

What are some of the stress factors tattoo artists face today, how does one balance a wish to create with the wishes of the clients, and what can be done to improve tattoo artist mental health? 

those are some of the questions we discuss and try to answer in this episode, and I can't thank Xia enough for coming back on the pod and sharing her insight and experiences. 

Please like, comment, follow and subscribe! 
And if you want more of Xia, please use the details below

Guest: Xia Tattoos
Location:  Australia 
Instagram: xia_tattoo
Find more info at: bit.ly/xiatattoolinks

Thank you all for enjoying the episode!

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

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Studio owners and tattoo industry education! 

Episode 47 is chuck full of information, regarding both tattooing and how it may be improved through education, as well as the role tattoo studio owners play in improving the tattoo experience, and much more!

Together with my guest Colton James, one half of the Eden Body Arts Studio  power couple, and CEO of said studio. A man who wears many hats, and has more than a little experience with owning a high profile tattoo studio. 

But with Eden EDU and their podcast, he has also thrown himself into improving the tattoo industry, especially regarding how studios are run and the role owners should take in that, trying to lead the way through education (seminars, conferences and the like).

As promised to Colton when I met him at Gods of Ink 2025, this episode got very nerdy, but rest assured, we had a lot of fun along the way too and I can't thank him enough for coming on the podcast!

Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe, and if you want more info on my guest and their business, look below! 

Guest Colton James
Studio owner at Eden Body Arts Studio (@edenbodyartstudios) 
Podcast: Eden Pod (@Eden.pod) 
Education platform: Eden EDU  (@eden.e.d.u) 
Personal Insta: @colt.ure
Website: www.edenbodyartstudios.com

*Apologise for audio problems with this episode, hopefully it odes not ruin peoples enjoyment of the episode

Find more Inky Thoughts using the following link:

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