TATTOO TALES
Episodes
81. RUETHLESS IRONS - How corporations are taking over tattooing
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
80. PINO CAFARO - Struggle, Balance and the importance of letting go in Japanese tattooing
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
79. TERRY MCKENNA - The Karuizawa Mokuhanga School of woodblock printing
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 n...
78. The Seven Tengu scrolls
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
77. TABBY BOOTH - Create for the sake of creating
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, a...
76. MICHELLE VESTERGÅRD - Art, healing, and legacy
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back. Our guest today is Danish tattoo artist Michelle Vestergård, whose story touches on something we can all relate to: the search for auth...
75. BILL CANALES - Challenge yourself
01 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us in a compelling conversation with the legendary Bill Canales. Bill charts his entire professional journey, from discovering tattooing in a mag...
74. LUKE ATKINSON - Japanese tattooing at its finest
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Live from the 2025 Aachen Tattoo Convention—one of the world’s finest tattoo gatherings—we bring you a conversation with the legendary Luke Atki...
73. PRIMORDIAL MAGAZINE - A new project in the tattoo community
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Primordial Magazine is an exciting new project brewing within the tattoo community that blends sci-fi, fantasy, comics and tattoos. Personally I love ...
72. PAUL SIMO ‘KELU’ - Go to the roots, not to the fruits
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest, Kelu, takes us on an inspiring journey that begins in Romania, where he first picked up a tattoo machine, and winds through the vibra...
71. DIAMANTE MURRU - Meaningful connections
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Diamante is a tattoo artist well known for her black work and ornamental style. She also created her own line of clothing and a tattoo supply focused ...
70. ISAAC NICHOLS - The Water Margin: 108 heroes
21 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest is Isaac Nichols, a tattooer from Alaska that just finished this commendable project which celebrates folklores, tattooing, and painting...
69. Learn to draw and paint like a Japanese master: the Kanō school method
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a fan of Japanese traditional painting and tattooing? In this episode I share my findings on the rigorous training methods of Japanese pain...
68. COREY MILLER - We’re all glorified carnies
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Corey is well known worldwide—he’s been tattooing for over 40 years, and his technique and experience are widely respected. Over the course of his...
67. ALEX RUSTY - Japanese tattooing at Lighthouse Tattoo in Sydney (part 2)
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of Australia’s top artists, Alex is one half of the iconic Lighthouse Tattoo in Sydney, alongside Ryan Ussher. Well known for his striking large...
66. JOSHUA FRYDMAN - Japanese mythology and folklore
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Would you like to learn more about Japanese character like yōkai, Buddhist deities and Kami gods? Are you interested in finding out where the orig...
65. CLEVER - Focus on what matters
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clever doesn’t need much introduction, his career is well known, as his collaborations with artists of the caliber of Juice Wrld, Post Malone and Ju...
64. MAURO CARDOSO - Honoring Japanese tradition
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mauro Cardoso, better known as “Mario from the hills”, is a Brazilian tattooer specialized in traditional Japanese tattooing. Also a high level BJ...
63. RYAN USSHER - Japanese tattooing at Lighthouse Tattoo in Sydney (part 1)
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Ussher is one of Australia’s top artists. Together with Alex Rusty he runs Lighthouse Tattoo in Sydney, a shop that established itself as a ref...
62. CHRIS FERNANDEZ - American Traditional in NY
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Fernandez is a tattooer specialized in American Traditional with a solid, distinctive style. He’s not only incredibly productive but, as every...
61. TAMMY KIM - True to yourself
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tammy Kim is an Australian tattoo artists who worked and lived in Toronto for the last 15 years, and is now transitioning into an exciting new phase o...
60. CLAY DECKER - The death of a craft, the birth of an industry.
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Clay has been tattooing for 35 years, crossing path with some of the biggest names in tattooing. His passion for the craft brought him to explore ever...
59. PAULA CASTLE - Simplifying everything is the way forward
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Paula is an experienced British tattooer that I’m lucky to call a friend. She’s sensitive, intelligent, driven and curious, a beautiful mix. We ha...
58. ALEX ’KŌSEI’ REINKE - The Kokoro spirit
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Another great live episode from the Aachen Tattoo convention, one of the best shows on the planet. Today’s guest is Alex Reinke: Horiyoshi III forme...
57. DAVE REGAN - Horimono
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re into Japanese tattooing, especially in relation to its cultural connotations, you’re gonna love this one. Dave is a tattooer special...
56. CAPEX - Never give up
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I have know Capex for about 15 years now, we clicked right away at a show in Finland, as we come from the same place in Italy. With his 30+ years of...
55. HORITEN - Living by the Bushido
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Horiten the 1st is a female traditional tattooer from Nara, Japan. In this honest and enlightening talk she shed some light on what creates authentic ...
54. ZAC SCHEINBAUM - The magic of books
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I love Zac. We met years ago during one of his guest spots and I remember him having the same qualities that characterize him today: well articulate, ...
53. BIG MEAS - Lettering and work ethic
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes up a successful career? It takes vision, courage, confidence and a few more ingredients. Today Big Meas, a global reference in the world o...
52. CREZ - Japanese tattooing
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With 30 years of tattooing under his belt and an intimate knowledge of Japanese culture, Crez is a reference in Italy for Japanese tattooing. What...
51. CLAUDIA DE SABE - The fight is within
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a privilege to sit down with Claudia De Sabe in this beautiful autumn afternoon to listen to her story and pick her brain on her own proce...
50. SWASTHIK IYENGAR - Indian tradition meets western tattooing
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m really happy to have had the chance to chat with Swasthik, she is such a beautiful presence in the tattoo world. Known as gunga_ma, for Swasthik...
49. Dr. SOPHIE MORT - Taking care of your mental health
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever struggled with feelings of inadequacy? Self-doubt? Do you set impossible standards that bring anxiety when unmet? Dr. Sophie Mort is...
48. MARCUS PACHECO - Inventing Newschool
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Influential. “Pioneer”. “Contribution”. These are the words that you see most commonly associated with Marcus’ name in books, magazin...
47. LORENA MORATO - Connecting with your roots
22 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lorena Morato is a Brazilian tattooer specialized in neotraditional. Well known not only for her tattoos but also her beautiful paintings, Lorena shar...
46. JORDAN SIGNORELLI - How to deal with pain from tattooing
09 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had problems with your neck, lower back, tingling fingers that lose sensitivity, wrist or elbow? Especially as tattooers we all had to d...
45. KELLY ANNE POWERS - Learn to paint
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you like to paint? Have you ever struggled with any part of the process and wish you had some sort of guidance? This week’s episode features ...
44. PASCAL BAGOT- The Tattoo Writer: Akimitsu Takagi
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pascal Bagot is a French journalist who’s been writing for specialized press for twenty years. His passion for Japanese culture led him to get a ful...
43. RINTO - A good story
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rinto celebrated this year his 40 years career. In Holland he’s well known as one of the old timers but, if you met him, you know that his humblenes...
42. TIMOTHY HOYER - Beyond formalism
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Like many of you I have been following Timothy’s career for many years, getting lost in his beautiful impossible worlds. I’m naturally fascinated...
41. EDDY DEUTSCHE- The dream of a kid in Detroit
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Eddy has been part of the tattoo Renaissance in the San Francisco area in the 90’s, together with other key figures like Freddy Corbin, Juan Puente,...
40. SHANE TAN- Chewing gum & Gangsters
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you follow Shane you’re familiar with his work: bold, striking, elegant in its simplicity. His painting a reference in the industry. I recommen...
39. MICHELLE MYLES- NYC Tattoo history
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you interested in tattoo history? Get your pen and notebook because this episode is packed with goodies. Once again live at the Aachen’s tat...
38. ANDREW STORTZ & NICK SWARTZ- Tattoo podcasts
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do podcasts bring to the tattoo world? What to do with haters? Will Andrew produce Nick’s new career into the videoverse? And will I ever try N...
37. RYAN ROI- The spiritual side of money
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For tattooers and creatives the artistic side is not the only factor in running a successful business and giving life to our vision. Money is often a ...
36. MICHAEL MORILD- Art supplies: why it’s better to invest in quality
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Michael is a Danish abstract painter that has been represented at the Van Gogh Art Gallery and the danish Creative Mind Art&Design. I’ve know Michae...
35. RUSS ABBOTT- Innovation within tradition
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tattooing and everything connected to it changed profoundly in the last years: the rise of social medias; the opening of a once underground world to a...
34. BERNIE LUTHER- The smile of a kid in an old timer
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode we found ourselves in Aachen at the Kaiserstadt Tattoo Expo, as always flawlessly organized by Andreas Coenen. The show opened wit...
33. FREDDY CORBIN -When kindness meets talent
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There is a reason if everybody likes Freddy Corbin. His experience and contribution made him well known all over the world but that only doesn’t br...
32. NICK COLELLA & ROBERT RYAN- The Off The Wall Project
26 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of the OFF THE WALL project, an initiative to put the spotlight back on flashes as foundation of traditional tattooing. Learn m...
31. OMAR EDMISON & BOBEUS- The Off The Wall Project
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of the OFF THE WALL project, an initiative to put the spotlight back on flashes as foundation of traditional tattooing. Learn...
30. LAL HARDY & DR. OLE WITTMAN- The Off The Wall Project
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of the OFF THE WALL project, a new art project within the tattoo community to celebrate the flash as foundation of traditional ta...
29. DAVID SPEED from Creative Rebels
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
David Speed is the co-host of the Creative Rebels podcast. His rich personal experience in the creative world(David has tattooed for a few years and h...
28. HOLLY ELLIS, CHAD KOEPLINGER, ROBERT RYAN, ANDREAS COENEN- American Traditional
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to introduce you to a new series that I’m incorporating in what we normally do in the podcast. This series of extra episodes is called ...
27. SHOTSIE GORMAN- Larger than life
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shotsie Gorman is a character larger than life. One of those old timers that, you know, “they just don’t make them anymore”. Behind his 4+ decad...
26. DANA BRUNSON- There’s more than a pretty picture
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I could introduce Dana Brunson mentioning all his accomplishments and all the majorly influential artists he crossed path with in his 50 years tattooi...
25. GOOD TIME CHARLIE- The birth of fine line
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Cartwright is a living legend. Crossing paths with some of the most influential American tattoo artists(Bert Grimm and Owen Jensen, to name a ...
24. FRANK ROSENKILDE- A big heart in Danish tattooing
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Frank Rosenkilde is a walking piece of Danish tattooing history. From a country with a very rich tradition, Frank has been tattooing for over four dec...
23. TAMARA SANTIBAÑEZ- Social justice and the political potential of tattooing
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tamara is a talented and respected member of the tattoo community. There’s much more than what meets the eye tho. Artist, Anarchist, Teacher… a s...
22. KARI BARBA- Continue to learn
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Kari talks about tattooing, a rare quality strikes you right away. The fresh sparkle in her eyes tells you, better than a thousand words, that he...
21. C.W. ELDRIDGE- The importance of history
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
C.W. developed a passion for tattooing very early on. His service in the Navy in the 60’s brought him across the world, collecting tattoos in exotic...
20. ALEX BINNIE- Nothing is perfect
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Binnie needs no introduction. Founder of the legendary Into You in London and unanimously considered one of the most influential artists for more...
19. DEB YARIAN- The strength of a woman
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
40 years tattooing and going strong. That’s the word that I think can describe Deb best, Strong. She’s well known in the community for her kindn...
18. TONY COHEN- Tattooing since 1967
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tony has been tattooing for over 50 years, longer than many of us have been alive. Just for that he deserves huge respect. A tattoo godfather in Au...
17. JASON TYLER GRACE- The answer is within
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I have a lot in common with Jason, most of all a restless spirit that brought us both to travel the world for years in search of that ”something” ...
16. MEHAI BAKATY- It’s all about the people
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In New York the name Bakaty and Tattooing are two sides of the same coin and the city knows it well. A second generation tattooer, Mehai watched hi...
15. CHAD KOEPLINGER- The difference between a traveler and a tourist
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When you lose yourself into different cultures of distant countries you re-emerge with a newly found appreciation for the people you met and for all ...
14. VIRGINIA ELWOOD & STEPHANIE TAMEZ- Two beautiful souls
05 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Two creative souls that found each other, this is the beautiful story of Virginia and Stephanie. They both gained their reputation through years of...
13. ROBERT RYAN- Spirituality, traditional foundations and contract killers
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Some people keep traditions alive, some people push boundaries, others implement their own vision in within a well understood and processed style. Rob...
12. SHAWN BARBER- Life through the eyes of a painter
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I remember how I used to look at Shawn’s paintings 10yrs ago, amazed by his masterful use of color, composition and personal interpretation of the s...
11. TERRY MANTON- The history of Scottish Tattooing
17 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why is important to learn about the past? Studying where we come from allows us to understand where we’re at today, to develop appreciation for wha...
10. SHANE ENHOLM- All you gotta be is real
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tattooer, punk rocker, bank robber, surfer, musician... it’s hard to put Shane in a box. His life could be a movie, a good one, made of passion, def...
9. HANNAH WOLF- Knowledge is power
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a bit different from what you’re used to. Dense and informative, it shines a light on a new publication, “The science of tattooing...
8. YUSHI HORIKICHI- Japanese working longevity
11 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On a beautiful New Zealand summer night in Tapua, with the background of the crickets chirping, I had the pleasure of having a nice chat with Yushi. H...
7. GORDON TOI- The Maori pride of a native
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve been really looking forward to this episode. This year I came back to New Zealand and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to interview a tattooer...
6. DEAN SACRED- New Zealand tattooing and Nicholas Cage
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
At the other very end of the world, Auckland New Zealand, I’ve met with Dean for an honest, refreshing chat. Dean is one of the finest tattooers thi...
5. ANDREAS COENEN- Giving back to the trade
08 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An honest talk with a dedicated man who found his purpose over a long career and puts his heart in front of every decision he makes. This is Andreas i...
4. RAMBO- Old school and memorabilia
04 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This time I ended up in Manchester to meet up with local legend Rambo, owner of what has become one of the city’s landmarks, the historical RAMBO’...
3. SCOTT ELLIS & OMAR EDMISON- Apprenticeships and bears’ wrestling
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode I ended up in Montpellier, France, where I’ve met the colorful American duo Scott Ellis and Omar Edmison. In between croissants and...
2. HANKY PANKY- The Dutch pirate
30 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Henk Schiffmacher is the true living legend of Dutch tattooing. Over his 40+ years career he represented the true spirit of this craft, once belonged ...
1. LAL HARDY- British Tattooing at its best
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Natural born storyteller, living encyclopedia of tattooing history, unique character with a big heart. There couldn’t have been a more appropriate ...