Honest Tattooer Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Jon Mesa, Matt Truiano, Gabe (“G Money”), and guests Michael L. and Matt Buck play Heads Up Tattoo artist edition hosted by Vega to identify tattoo-related “personalities” taped to their foreheads—some real tattooers and some decoys. They debate messy rules, points, and whether questions should be strictly yes/no, while correctly landing names. Afterward they discuss how to refine...

Send us Fan Mail Jon Mesa and Matt Truiano talk with special guest Bunny about her path through tattoo culture from the early 1990s to New York City. Bunny recalls getting a first hand tattoo at 14 in Milan, then finding a safe community working around a Milan shop as a teen alongside misfits and bikers. She describes moving to Scotland and London, returning to Milan to see tattooing dramatically...

Send us Fan Mail The Honest Tattooer podcast welcomes  guests David and Dat discussing their backgrounds, preferred styles, and the realities of long back-to-back tattoo sessions, including managing skin trauma and the mental side of sitting. They talk about building deep client relationships through honest conversation, navigating fear of judgment around politics and religion, and the importance...

Send us Fan Mail The hosts interview Ses about how tattooing was harder to enter in the early ’90s without the internet, leading him to start underground as a “scratcher,” build a mail-order tattoo supply/flash hustle, and eventually learn by hanging around Fat Mike’s biker shop, where he began tattooing with a homemade machine and later inherited clients after Fat Mike died. Ses describes the imp...

Send us Fan Mail On the Honest Tattooer podcast, Jon, Matt, Ermes, and Pony read listener letters about common tattoo shop problems: shops favoring artists with big social followings, two artists dating and bringing relationship tension into the workplace, and a shop owner whose talented friend drives away managers and staff through harsh communication. They discuss balancing shop promotion across...

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Send us Fan Mail We back guest Joshua Bowers about a year after his last appearance, this time with show-and-tell including the Steel Driver rotary that emulates a coil stroke, the Heavy Hand weighted pencil grip (plus an Apple Pencil prototype), and a battery adapter that turns a battery into a power supply and can shift weight off the machine. They discuss foot switches vs wireless/constant-on s...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, tattooer and fine artist Vincent Castiglia explains how he began using blood as a medium, describing its unique kinetic energy and personal connection. He details the technical process—collecting blood (initially via diabetic lancets), preventing clotting, storing it refrigerated in airtight vials, diluting only with water, and using decomposition stages t...

Send us Fan Mail This week we welcome guests Stevie “Crazy Stevie” Wells and Phil Luck. They discuss the overhead of large shops, a global slowdown in tattooing, and how social media has changed community and communication. The conversation contrasts street shops and private studios, arguing tattooers should educate clients and that younger generations struggle with in-person communication and exp...

Send us Fan Mail On the Honest Tattooer Podcast, we talk with special guest Jeremy Schad from Syracuse, New York, who started tattooing in 2019 during COVID through an informal mentorship that drilled clean linework and helped him become known for fine, crisp lines. Jeremy shares his background in digital art and music, how a blown-off tattoo appointment led him to meet his mentor Michael Conklin...

Send us Fan Mail The hosts celebrate Matt Buck’s birthday and apprenticeship “graduation day,” reflecting on his years tattooing and how his perspective changed after realizing the medium’s limitations and longevity needs. Buck discusses his fine art training, the value of academic realism fundamentals, and why tattooing often requires breaking painting “rules” (like avoiding outlines) to embrace...

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Send us Fan Mail This week we talk with realism and biomechanical pioneer Roman  Abrego, who has tattooed for about 25 years, including in prison and on the streets. Roman shares his early life as a standout baseball athlete, his roots in San Bernardino and time in Wisconsin, and how meeting artists like Mike Cole, Carson Hill, Nick Baxter, shaped his path into hyperrealism and biomech. He reflect...

Send us Fan Mail This week we  talk with realism tattooer Nico Negron from Northport, New York, about starting tattooing with an eBay kit in 2006, how tattoo culture has changed, and the opening of his new shop, Icon Tattoo. The group reacts to viral tattoo “hot takes,” arguing that “bold will hold” still matters, fine line can last when tattooed correctly, and different styles often attract diffe...

Send us Fan Mail The hosts welcome Las Vegas tattooer Nick Bones, who has tattooed for 20 years in a traditional-ish pop culture style and plans to spend the next two years traveling in a self-built camper van doing guest spots, promoting stops like a band on tour, and starting a van-recorded podcast, “Between Appointments,” about what tattooers do outside tattooing and their favorite local spots....

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Send us Fan Mail The hosts discuss a shift back to Instagram from TikTok for tattoo discovery,  debating new Instagram features like trial reels and follower-only early release posts. They critique content-first tattoo marketing, low engagement on strong tattoo work versus casual videos, and the use of shirtless “hooks.” Conversation turns to cultural and economic forces behind minimalist/fine-lin...

Send us Fan Mail Joe Capobianco returns to discuss how business has been slow and how social media algorithms, influencer culture, and corporate consolidation are warping tattooing, client expectations, and pricing. The conversation critiques low-quality “content” tattoos, oversharing trade knowledge for likes, and companies using AI imagery for tattoo conventions and product ads, while noting AI...

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Send us Fan Mail The Honest Tattoo Podcast recaps this year’s Philadelphia Tattoo Convention with returning guest Maggie, comparing it to last year’s poorly reviewed event. Maggie reports the convention was moved into a smaller, more manageable room with fewer booths, and despite a major snowstorm weekend the energy and turnout on Friday and Saturday were good, with Sunday largely emptied out thou...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Honest Tattooer Podcast,  we dive deep into the world of social media with Vicky Stoner as she  shares her journey from managing a tattoo shop to becoming a proficient tattoo artist, emphasizing the importance of social media. We explore the challenges and successes of maintaining an authentic online presence and how it impacts client relationships. Get insi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss why talent alone doesn't build a successful tattooing career. The conversation explores the importance of handling business basics, such as communication, timeliness, and follow-up, and how these simple practices can greatly enhance a tattoo artist's career longevity. We delve into the current and future landscape of the tattoo industry, compa...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this episode as we sit down with Roy Singh, an experienced Japanese style tattoo artist based in New York City. Roy shares deep insights into the art, history, and cultural significance of Japanese tattooing, highlighting his personal journey and experiences. We discuss the nuances of designing tattoos that flow with the human form, the importance of backgrounds in Japa...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on this week's episode of the Honest Tattooer Podcast as we dive deep into the enigmatic world of blackout tattoos with Philadelphia-based tattoo artist Hoode. Specializing in black work, Hoode shares his journey from hand poking tattoos in 1992 to becoming a master of blackout sleeves. We discuss the craftsmanship, pain, and misconceptions surrounding blackout tattoo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the hosts discuss their extensive podcast statistics for 2025,  The conversation then shifts to tattooing, where the hosts share details about their recent works, including handling cover-ups, merging different tattoo styles, and reflecting on their techniques. The episode wraps up with insights into visualization techniques for enduring pain during tattoo session...