Your Ink Story

Welcome to the final episode of Your Ink Story Podcast! In this episode, host Ande Lyons reflects on the INKspirational conversations that have been shared throughout the miniseries. From deeply touching tribute tattoos to full body ink journeys, each guest has brought their unique ink story to light, revealing the significance of tattoos in their lives. Ande highlights some memorable moments from...

Welcome to another INKspirational conversation on Your Ink Story! Meet Dr. Mo (Melissa Dittberner), a passionate advocate and educator in the field of addiction counseling and prevention, and hear the deeply personal stories behind her tattoos, from her roller derby origins to her journey through academia and recovery. During our conversation we explore the connection between body art, personal em...

Greetings Inklings! Welcome to Your Ink Story Podcast, where personal sagas come alive through the power of storytelling. On this episode we dive into an extraordinary journey of resilience and transformation. Our remarkable guest, Kendra Petty, has withstood the kind of hardships most people can't even imagine. From surviving a mafia hit and escaping the clutches of an abusive cult to the ha...

Welcome to Episode 27, a fascinating tattoo odyssey filled with empowering ink stories. Our guest, Mia Voss – a mouthy and opinionated brand ambassador, live streamer, podcaster and building inspector – reveals her ink journey, starting with her first tattoo in the early 90s during the outlawed tattoo parlor days of NYC to her latest profound and captivating tattoos she got in Guadalajara, Mexico....

Welcome back to Your Ink Story Podcast! Our guest, Andrew, is a PhD scientist working in the field of genomics, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the founder of Third Ward Jiu-Jitsu, a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ+ Community Self-Defense in Houston, TX. Andrew began his ink journey at the age of 18, with two panda tattoos on his calves. He had to leave his home state to get his first body art...

Welcome to Episode 25 of Your Ink Story! You’ll love meeting Raja Mawad, a successful entrepreneur who shares his remarkable ink stories, from knuckle tattoos, tribal tatau tattoos using whale bones as needles, a pointillism tattoo in his ear, to his full body legacy, including a tear-drop size tattoo shaped as the state of Texas at the corner of his eye. Raja talks about his incredible transforma...

This episode of Your Ink Story is an intimate conversation about navigating grief and the healing one can find from tattoo art. Our guest, Dr. Megan Daley, is a trauma and somatic informed mindset and burnout coach, who uniquely aids high-achieving women in male-dominated fields. Doctor, podcaster, and author, Dr. Megan takes us on an intimate journey through her life story, punctuated and symboli...

Welcome to Episode 23 of Your Ink Story! Our guest, tattooed trailblazer Whitney Knox Lee, is a voice for civil rights and social justice. A former civil rights attorney now involved in social justice and DEI facilitation, Whitney is also the host of the Impostrix Podcast , where she brings listeners impactful conversations about what it's like to navigate the professional world as a person o...

“My passion these days is to simply be a reflection of what I'm working on, and that’s kindness, compassion, and love. That's where I live.” In this INKspirational episode, we chat with Melissa Rivera, whose ink story showcases the power of body art and how it can symbolize strength, healing, personal expression, and resilience in the face of life's most challenging moments. Melissa...

On this episode of Your Ink Story our guest, Savanna Poirier, shares her fascinating tattoo stories and takes us on an INKspirational journey through the art that adorns her body. We dive into the meaning and significance behind each tattoo, uncovering the personal experiences and connections that have shaped Savanna's ink journey. From her first tattoo that symbolizes a mantra she lives by,...

Welcome to Your Ink Story Podcast, where we dive into the personal stories behind people's tattoos.  In this episode we meet Amy Fagan, a passionate and inspiring individual hailing from Brunswick, Maine, and the proud owner of Amy's Garden Jam, a delicious jam business. She is also the host of the weekly podcast, Grounded in Maine, where she shares stories about how small, sustainable c...

“My tattoos look quite sinister and scary, but when you actually get to know me, I have a completely different personality to the imagery reflected in my tattoos.” Do you love horror movies? Are you a fan of the macabre and the mysterious? Well, get ready to be fascinated by the dark and twisted world of horror tattoos! Welcome to a spine-tingling conversation with Scott Michel from Guernsey, Chan...

Welcome to an INKspirational conversation with Jaime Salcedo – a talented tattoo artist, a firefighter, a Brooklyn native, and the founder of an innovative numbing cream product he just launched called Painless Picasso. Jaime is dedicated to using all his talents to serve others. With 13 years of experience as a tattoo artist, seven years as a New York City firefighter, and the founder of a produc...

If someone's thinking about getting a tattoo, ignore everybody. There's no right or wrong way to get a tattoo. Do what makes you happy. If you want to get it, get it. Welcome to Episode 17, where you’ll meet C.C. Chapman, an author, a brilliant marketing strategist, and a Professor at Wheaton College, where he prepares and educates the next generation of marketers, business students, thi...

“As an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and individuals facing addiction and mental health challenges, my tattoos have become conversation starters. They provide an opportunity for me to share my story and create a safe space for others to open up about their own experiences.” Welcome to Your Ink Story Podcast, where we explore the fascinating world of tattoos and the stories behind them. On Epis...

“I call it ink therapy because there’s something therapeutic about getting a tattoo. And the tattoo becomes a constant reminder for me to stay motivated and to love myself." Meet Jasmine Godbolt, an extraordinary entrepreneur who is making a difference in the world with her startup company, Nesting Nannies . Each of her 8 tattoos are touchstones that remind Jasmine to pause and calmly reflect...

"I want us as a society to stop assuming and stop leading with negative intent. If we all lead with good intent, and we look to understand a story behind someone's motivation for getting a tattoo and the journey of what it means to that person personally, then we're moving in the right direction." On this INKspirational episode our guest, Stephen Vellecca, takes us on a profoun...

Welcome to Episode 13! Our guest, Lynn Abaté-Johnson, is an international bestselling author and a passionate speaker, with a strong background in marketing and branding. Lynn never planned on getting inked, but when her mother passed in 2017 from a 7-year battle with ovarian cancer, she joined her nephew in getting her first tattoo. The tattoo is her mother’s name in Arabic, honoring her Chaldean...

“There’s so much stigma around addiction. How can we look at addiction as the disease it is, and yet still treat folks the way we do?” Welcome to Episode 12, where our guest, Eliza Foltz, takes us on a journey of personal growth, recovery, and the transformative power of tattoos. As she approaches her fourth year of sobriety on October 16, Eliza reflects on her arduous journey of being in and out...

"I used to think I had to tuck in my personality to fit into the corporate world. But now, my body art truly represents who I am. It's the visual manifestation of embracing myself and my passions." Jennifer Cassara always knew she wanted to get a tattoo, but she constantly struggled with embracing her true self and expressing it outwardly due to a fear of judgment and rejection, esp...

Tattoos are more than just designs on skin. They are powerful expressions of who we are, our experiences, and our heritage. Welcome back to Your Ink Story! Our guest on Episode 10 is Kale Liam Hobbes, and he shares fascinating tattoo stories and the deep symbolism behind his ink. Kale hails from Edmonton, Alberta, and his tattoo journey began with a small name tattoo on his shoulder. However, when...

“For me, tattoos are more than just decorative art on the body. They serve as powerful mantras that anchor me to gratitude, mindfulness, and the present moment.” We’re tapping into the power of gratitude with guest Irina Jordan's beautiful body art. Each of her five tattoos are mantras that keep Irina anchored and connected to gratitude, while amplifying female empowerment and her beloved Rus...

“I’m forever free – mentally, physically and spiritually – no matter what.” In this episode you’ll find an abundance of INKspiration from our guest Christian Thomas, the Founder and CEO of Royal T Fitness. A former inmate turned personal trainer and online coach, Christian takes us on a journey through his body art, beginning with the powerful story behind his first tattoo at the age of 18. Christ...

Welcome back to Your Ink Story ! In this episode we chat about tribute tattoos with Preeti Adhikary, founder of the Great Nepali Diaspora , a community of global Nepali professionals. As she reflects on her past, the impact of loss, and the importance of finding something meaningful to commemorate through ink, Preeti shares her personal journey, highlighting the importance of staying connected to...

Welcome back to another INKspiring episode that dives deep into the world of self-expression through body art. Our guest is Dr. Jae Williams, an award-winning educator who has spent over a decade supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in K-12 and at the college and university levels. With almost his entire body adorned in ink, except for his back and stomach, Dr. Jae reminds us th...