Piercing Wizard Podcast

179 - Lola gets to reopen + Aftercare Discussion

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lola Slider gets to reopen her shop in Glasgow today! Exciting times for the UK piercing industry as they are back to work after a lengthy lockdown. W...

178 - Hidden Gems: 1993 UK Piercing Article

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lola Slider found a hidden gem for you. Select Pop Babylon (a music magazine from the UK) published a piece all about body piercing in February of 199...

177 - Stuart Hofman - APP Benelux

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stuart Hoffmann comes on the show to talk about the APP Benelux, a new piercing organization in Europe. We discuss how a group of piercers in lockdown...

176 - Pandemic Communication Anxiety & Online Side Projects

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Lola and Ryan talk about how we communicate online, particularly during a pandemic. As we all slowly descend into trauma induced anxiety and...

175 - How much work goes into not working

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lola Slider is back as co host this week. We talk about how much work goes into not working. Lola is currently on her third lockdown but still puts in...

174 - 2020: the worst year ever, in review

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Goodbye 2020. This was a terrible year for most of us. I recap the good, the bad, and the ugly from 2020 and look forward to the next year. Thank you ...

173 - Ask Us Anything with Ryan & Lola part 3

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan and Lola return for another episode answering your questions. Acupuncture and piercing, is there a therapeutic benefit? Time management in the st...

172 - Ryan & Lola's new normal part 2, by appointment only

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Enjoy another discussion with Scottish piercer, studio owner, UKAPP President, APP member (and also my girlfriend) Lola Slider. Lola leads a conversat...

171 - Monica Sabin, APP updates from the President

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Monica Sabin, current President of the Association of Professional Piercers, comes on the show this week. The APP has gotten so much work done in 2020...

170 - Ryan & Lola's new normal part 1

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Well, I'm back. I won't be doing weekly episodes, but I will post new content as I make it. For now enjoy a conversation with Scottish piercer Lola Sl...

169 - Ask Us Anything with Ryan & Lola part 2

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of a 2 part series with Lola Slider. We are back with more questions submitted by you, the listener, on another variety of topics. We cover; ou...

168 - Ask Me Anything with Ryan & Lola part 1

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of a 2 part series with Lola Slider. We answer your questions on a variety of subjects including; How does the APP work, How to be a leader in ...

167 - Vivi Madero explains digital waiver forms and online booking

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Vivi Madero of Fox Labyrinth in El Paso, Texas comes on the show this week to give me a lesson about online logistics. I've had to relearn several asp...

166 - John Robberson

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

John Robberson comes back to the show to talk about how reopening is going in west Florida. We talk about the challenges face masks pose to both new a...

165 - I can't do nostril piercings?! feat. Lee Horton

29 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ontario piercer Lee Horton comes on the show to discuss reopening limitations and PPE requirements many of us are dealing with. While restrictions aga...

164 - Back to work with Christina Blossey

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Christina Blossey of Atlanta's Piercing Experience returns to the show, this time as a newly elected APP Board member. Georgia was one of the earliest...

The COVID Chronicles 04: back in business

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After three months of uncertainty I am back to work offering piercing by appointment. I talk about some of the protocols and changes I am operating un...

163 - Black Lives Matter (Piercers of Color roundtable)

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In support of Black Lives Matter this week will be a Piercers of Color panel discussion featuring Cameron Solo, Trevor Thomas, Shwayze, Victoria Rothm...

162 - Feeling some piercer normalcy with Rogan Eric Watral

01 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Honestly, I kind of forgot what it felt like to just be a normal piercer and not have to spend my days focusing on a global pandemic. I am so glad I h...

161 - Piercings by Tenn: support your local black piercer

25 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week I chat with Deron (@piercingsbyTenn), one of this year's Piercers of Color scholarship recipients. We discuss his start in the industry, the...

160 - Nahuel Burgos shares his Needle Vision

18 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nahuel Burgos is a Spanish piercer working in London. He was also selected as one of the Al D. Scholars before the 2020 APP conference was cancelled. ...

159 - Zoom & online piercer hangs with Stray Johnson

11 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Zoom and other video conferencing tools have been an important part of social interaction for piercers during the closures. Piercer and jeweler Stray ...

158 - The APP conference is cancelled (with Aaron Pollack)

04 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Well, most of us expected this announcement. The Association of Professional Piercers' annual conference in Las Vegas has been cancelled for this year...

157 - Jef Saunders: lets get this bread

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jef Saunders comes on the show this week to discuss the Association of Professional Piercers' suggested protocols for COVID-19. We discuss reopening i...

156 - Lola Slider on crafting a reopening strategy

20 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Current UKAPP President, APP member, studio owner, and professional piercer Lola Slider comes on the show this week to talk about how much the closure...

155 - Checking in with Leo Ziebol of Mint Piercing

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week I check in with Leo Ziebol, owner of Mint Piercing in Iowa. We talk about what we're doing to support our staff during the closure, how we'r...

The COVID Chronicles 03

06 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

No guest this week. I'm just giving some updates on COVID issues and talking about the classes I'm working on. I share some news on benefits for peopl...

154 - Mental Health & Self Care for the Career Piercer with Kelsi Siefert

30 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week I talk with Kelsi Siefert about mental health focused on the career piercer and their clientele. Kelsi shares her tips and experience on how...

153 - California love with Ciera Baker & Desi Arellano

23 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I know things are rough for a lot of you right now, so lets just pop back a few weeks and sit in on breakfast with two California piercers named Ciera...

The COVID Chronicles 02: time to close up

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welp, I just can't see any argument against it anymore. Its time for us to voluntarily close our shops for the time being. The decision will be taken ...

The COVID chronicles 01

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I'm going to post some supplemental episodes to discuss COVID-19 information and tips to stay productive and healthy during this crisis. First is an e...

152 - Coronavirus COVID-19 Preparedness with Cale DiFrancesco

16 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID-19 Coronavirus has caught many of us off guard. I talk with Cale DiFrancesco of the Association of Professional Piercers Board of Directors ...

151 - Barry Blanchard, Anatometal CEO

09 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On a recent trip to California I got to spend a day at the Anatometal facilities in Santa Cruz. Founder and CEO Barry Blanchard gave me an extensive t...

150 - Brooke Bittens, piercer wanderlust

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

APP member-at-large Brooke Bittens comes on the show to talk about travelling guest piercer life. Brooke got her start piercing in Connecticut, but no...

149 - TJ & The Bear in the morning

24 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Get your fix of morning drive time banter with your hosts TJ & The Bear. TJ Kruger & William Barron come on the show to discuss a day of class...

148 - 25 years of Infinite, with James Weber

17 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Check out this jawn. James Weber comes on the show to discuss the 25 year history of Infinite Body Piercing in Philadelphia. Many of the industry's to...

147 - Talking shop with Cozmo

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I went to Atlanta for some National Wrestling Alliance shows and while I was there I sat down with a piercer named Cozmo to chat. We talked about work...

146 - Kevin Jump: keep piercing sacred

03 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I recently held a seminar in Phoenix, Arizona. While I was there I sat down to talk with my host, Kevin Jump. Kevin is one of the people keeping ritua...

145 - NeoMetal news with John Kittell

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

NeoMetal body jewelry recently made waves by announcing a new corporate partnership, and the piercing community imploded. I asked NeoMetal's John Kit...

144 - Ryan Caruana talks about his APP scholarship experience

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

2019 Association of Professional Piercers conference scholar Ryan Caruana comes on the show this week. He gives insight to the application process, wh...

143 - Getting through the slow season with John Balk

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

John Balk is a busy guy. In between videography projects he sat down to talk about something most of us deal with annually, the slow season. We talk a...

142 - Shadowing, with Alicia Lowe

06 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to 2020! My first guest of the year is Canadian piercer Alicia Lowe. On New Year's day we happened to both be in the same city so we sat down ...

141 - 2019 Year in Review + Lili Cathenod

23 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

2019 was a big year for the body piercing industry. I recap some of the year's news, give some updates on future projects, and say some thank you's. I...

140 - Talking Scarification with Temi Fet'era of MAE-Africa.org

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I was invited to speak at an event called SCARRED by MAE-Africa.org recently. The event focused on cultural body art practices in Africa, mainly body ...

139 - Livin' the dream with Zakk Boyer

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In need of some inspiration? I met a piercer named Zakk Boyer at the first private seminar I did, back in 2017. He told me he was sleeping in the trai...

138 - Kyla Scrivener on Australia's new piercing organization.

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Piercing down under is looking up! Australia and New Zealand piercers now have an organization to call their own, the Australasian United Professional...

137 - William Barron, movin' on up.

25 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the few short years that I've known William Barron I have seen him rise through the ranks of APP volunteering and committee work, become a public s...

136 - Erica Martin on scholarships and piercer growth

18 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Former APP conference scholar Erica Martin joined me for a podcast while I was in Florida recently. We talked about the scholarship application proces...

135 - Guest host Lynn Loheide interviews Margo Dellaquila about piercer ethics

11 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lynn Loheide; professional piercer, writer for Sacred Debris, and previous guest is hosting this week. She’s interviewing Margo Dellaquila, a new fa...

134 - Mikele Tre: from Italy to Japan

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mikele is an interesting guy. An Italian piercer living in Japan. He works with Anatometal both in the US and Japan. He distributes Kiwami piercing ne...

133 - Cale interviews Ryan

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There's a new Wizard in town. Cale DiFrancesco (Belford) takes over this week to show Ryan who's the boss. First the board position and now this! Hear...

132 - Goldsmith Danila Tarcinale

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Multiple award winning jewellery designer and Vice Chairman of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths, Danila Tarcinale, comes on the show this week...

131 - Piercing Bible author Elayne Angel

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Elayne Angel is one of the most tenured and experienced piercers in the industry, she is also one of the most generous with her information. Her book ...

130 - The case of Dr. Evil

06 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A body modification practitioner performs work on a consenting adult, that work heals without complication, and the client never makes a complaint. Th...

129 - Getting ready for the UKAPP conference with Kim Hutchinson

30 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Vice President of the United Kingdom's Association of Professional Piercers, Kim Hutchinson, comes on the show. We sat down to talk about their 2019 U...

128 - Rob Hill & Woodstock Bader

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After my seminar in Dubuque, Iowa I sat down for burgers and chats with Rob Hill and Woodstock Bader. We talked about piercer motivation and how routi...

127 - Shorty on sterile gloves & septum piercings + PoC scholarship

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Florida man comes on piercing podcast. Shorty joins us this week to discuss studio layout ideas, sterile gloves as a minimum standard, and why he choo...

126 - On the road again

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to do 4 seminars in 8 days. It kicked my butt, but I recorded some fun stuff along the way. In betwe...

125 - Nici Holmes (UKAPP) interviews Jim Ward

02 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week is a special episode with guest host Nici Holmes (UKAPP President) interviewing Jim Ward. Jim is the founder of the world's first body pierc...

124 - Guest Spotting and Learning with Lynn Loheide

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Travelling piercer Lynn Loheide comes on the show this week. We discuss what it is like transitioning from one full time shop to going on the road and...

123 - Piercing in Southeast Asia with Huaii

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I was contacted by a Malaysian piercer named Huaii on instagram (ig: bodymodsbyhuaii), and he asked if he could come shadow at my shop after attending...

122 - The magic of customer care with Kristina Outland

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Kristina Outland comes on the show to discuss an often overlooked part of our jobs, customer service. How do you help calm nervous clients, or give yo...

121 - John Joyce & Kaitlin Raison (Scarab Body Arts)

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I can't fit all the nice things I could say about these two into a podcast description. John and Kaitlin are fantastic piercers and fantastic people. ...

120 - Zak DuBois + lil bits

29 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is your attention span tiny and small? Then why don't you come to a Lil' Bits where the segments are tiny it looks like regular podcasts but really ti...

119 - Skin prep update + Branislav "Branko" Isteze

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week features an interview with Slovakian piercer and 2019 Al D. conference scholar Branislav "Branko" Isteze. We talk about Branko's conference ...

118 - Gentian Violet news + Darrin Walters

15 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Darrin Walters of Blue Star Tattoos comes on the show to discuss a career that started in the 1980's, watching the APP grow from inception, conference...

117 - Lola Slider, the rematch

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lola Slider returns to the show for the third time! 2019 was Lola's first year at the APP conference. We talk about her experience in Las Vegas, her p...

116 - Laura Jane (Gamma Piercing)

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Shop owner, mother, student, piercer, and rock star. Laura Jane of Gamma Piercing in Ann Arbor, Michigan comes on the show this week. We sat down at t...

115 - RuAPP 2019 (Russian piercing conference)

25 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I was invited to instruct in Russia for the 2019 RuAPP conference, come along with me. I recap some of my classes and have a chat with Vlad Bodmodov a...

114 - Jacob Spjut (Elite is not a dirty word)

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob Spjut from Prysm body piercing in Iowa comes on the show to talk about the difference between "elite" piercers, and "elitist" piercers. Jacob al...

113 - Jason King (23rd St.) + Jess Rose

10 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Would you think that one of the busiest studios in the US would be in Oklahoma City? 23rd Street Body Piercing routinely performs more piercings in on...

112 - TJ Kruger

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago area piercer TJ Kruger comes on the show to talk shop. We discuss the "how" aspect of developing your confidence and competence as a piercer. ...

111 - Loreia Bürgen & Jane Absinth (V.P.P.)

27 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Loreia Bürgen & Jane Absinth of the Verband Professioneller Piercer (V.P.P.) come on the show to discuss Germany's piercing organization, their g...

110 - In Gus We Trust (Gus Diamond)

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Come along with Smee on a voyage across 24 years at conference! Gus Diamond was literally the first person I talked to at my first APP conference way ...

109 - APP Conference 2019!

14 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Enjoy this (very rushed) episode from the first few days of the Association of Professional Piercers' conference 2019. I'll be capturing plenty of ful...

107 - Alex Wilkins

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For the third year in a row I flew to England for the Dream Tag Team Invitational, and for the third year in a row Alex Wilkins met up with me for it....

106 - APP conference prep 2019 with Barron

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Association of Professional Piercers' annual conference is almost here! I talk with William Barron about what we are doing to get ready for the we...

105 - Boston Tattoo Convention 2019 + Piercer Intimidation

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week I condense a few of the questions I've gotten lately into one subject, newer piercers feeling intimidated by the industry. I share my strugg...

104 - Eleanor Boyd (working with physical impairments)

09 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of a 3 part series on impairments / disabilities in the studio. This week I talk with Pittsburgh area piercer Eleanor Boyd. Eleanor had spinal ...

103 - Maree Fowler (working with hearing impairments)

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of a 3 part series on impairments / disabilities in the studio. Scottish piercer Maree Fowler of Reb3l Studios in Aberdeen comes on the show to...

102 - Brandon Downs (working with visual impairments)

25 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week starts a three part series on disabilities / impairments in the studio. Brandon Downs comes on the show to discuss his visual impairment, th...

101 - Aaron Solomon (piercer meet up groups)

19 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Solomon of Velvet Elvis in Oregon comes on the show to talk about piercer meet up groups. How to nurture a community and keep the conversations ...

100 - Brian Moeller (social media is awful)

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 100(!) with Brian Moeller from the Boston Tattoo Company. Like, share, subscribe, validate, consume, obey. Does social media make our lives be...

99 - Jef Saunders from Scotland

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I spent a few days in Glasgow with APP president Jef Saunders drinking whiskey, being tourists, and talking about piercing. After our seminar we sat d...

98 - Body Jewelry Q & A

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week I answer questions on different jewelry topics submitted by listeners. First I talk about artisan accountability in a time when several pier...

97 - Michelle Katzelnick (Communication in the studio)

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Michelle Katzelnick comes on the show to talk about how important communication is to the customer experience. Bedside manner, professional presentati...

96 - Chris Myers (Steelwerks Extreme)

10 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode isn't exactly about body piercing. For sensitive listeners this may not be an episode for you, especially if you don't like the phrase "d...

95 - John Robberson (peer review and online retailers)

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I went down to Tampa to see my favorite band play a show, and my Florida piercing buddy John Robberson came with me! Before the show (and before the p...

94 - Matt Buonantuono (opening a new studio)

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Piercer (and now studio owner) Matt Buonantuono returns to the show to talk about making the jump from piercing in someone else's tattoo shop to openi...

93 - Kelly Carvara

21 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Body piercer, arm wrestler, and shop owner Kelly Carvara comes on the show this week. We talk about starting her career with an apprenticeship at Rock...

92 - Vishal Rose

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Every rose has its thorn, unless you're talking about my guest this week. Body piercer Vishal Rose is newer to our industry than some, but has made qu...

91 - Tanner Bennett (cyber bullying in the piercing industry)

07 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Body piercer Tanner Bennett comes on the show to discuss an all-too-familiar negative aspect of our industry, cyber bullying. It is really frustrating...

90 - 2018 year end show

30 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

2018 was quite the year for the body piercing industry. I say some thank yous, recap some highlights from the year, and answers questions submitted by...

89 - John Balk (Friendship is Magic)

18 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

John Balk from On Point body piercing in Gillette, Wyoming comes on the show to talk about making connections in the industry. Facebook groups are a h...

88 - Tanai Devine (advice for newer piercers) + APP election news

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tanai Devine comes on the show to discuss how a piercer can make connections, gain access to information, and use it to grow. Tanai came out to shadow...

87 - Victoria Rothman on equality

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Victoria Rothman comes on the show to discuss an important topic. Racial and gender equality (and inequality) in the body piercing industry. We speak ...

86 - Jared Karnes, Logan Wright, Joeltron, & Coyote Black

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Piercer Potpourri for you this week. I've got a few shorter interviews I captured at the APP conference this past summer. Jared Karnes from OneTribe j...

85 - Daniel Thomas (how to win clients and influence piercers)

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Thomas is an Australian piercer working in Canada. Interesting journey and an interesting piercer. After my Ontario seminar was over I met up w...

83 - Sharon Looy (Dare 2 Wear Amsterdam) + Behind the scenes of the APP

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

While I was in Amsterdam (and before I went to the coffee shops) I sat down with Dutch piercer Sharon Looy at her studio Dare 2 Wear. Sharon owns thre...

82 - Mic Rawls (from Gauntlet to Cold Steel)

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I got the opportunity to sit down at Camp APP with Mic Rawls. Mic has such a great perspective of the piercing industry from a career that started in ...