Overview
66 Episodes
Ed Hardy is the most impactful tattooer of our time. Now that he no longer working, does his influence end?
Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2024
Andrew catches up with tattooer and musician, Dan Smith, backstage in Boston before Dan takes the stage with Eighteen Visions.
Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2024
The legendary king of tribal tattooing, Leo Zulueta, was tricked into becoming a tattooer by Ed Hardy. Is there another tattooer with an origin story as crazy as that?!
Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2024
Adam Shrewsbury went all-in on pottery after a hiatus from tattooing, and has never looked back. Andrew visits Adam's pottery studio.
Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2024
Hold on tight, you are about to enter the mind of Julian Bast, and I don't think you are ready.
Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2024
Kicking off the new season with a Q+A addressing all of your important questions. Is tattooing dead? Are there too many shops? Is it a time for a new career? Nothing like doom and gloom to get back into the groove with the show!
Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2024
Andrew heads to Savannah, Georgia to sit down with tattooer Zack Spurlock to discuss how he ruined his life for tattooing, which bands your favorite tattoos sound like, and why he strives for individuality in his work. Andrew also shares the story about his close encounter with his dream guest, Fred Durst.
Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2023
Legendary tattoo artist, Filip Leu, sits down to discuss why he is excited to share his work with friends without seeking validation from social media, why no one is a “natural artist,” AI’s impact on making art, and why tattooing done with care is what it’s all about.
Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2023
Legendary tattoo artist, Filip Leu, sits down to discuss what a lifetime of tattooing can do to a person, the lessons his tattooer parents, Felix and Loretta, gave him over the years, and how tattooing is getting too darn detailed.
Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2023
NYC tattooer, Kati Vaughn, joins Andrew along with his first and only tattoo apprentice, Kenley, to discuss what it looks like to learn how to tattoo today.
Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2023
Australian tattooer, Onnie O'Leary, joins the show this week to chop it up about smut, art inspiration and unwanted face tattoos.
Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2023
This episode, Andrew is joined by tattooer and reluctant podcast guest, Justin Olivier. They discuss growing up in New Orleans, escaping hurricanes, the benefits of traveling, and why he likes to keep his head down and focus on his work.
Transcribed - Published: 10 August 2022
Coming at you from a big historic mansion this episode, Andrew sits down with Juli Moon and Erick Lynch to talk about tattoo history, collecting tat stuff, and how their pasts inform their futures.
Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2022
Thank you for tuning again after an extended hiatus! This episode is somewhat of a "drawing room discussion" that happens often at my shop. I thought it would be fun to record it and make it into an episode after being radio silent for a while. Lots of room for discussion on this one since we are mostly just spinning our wheels from one topic into another.
Transcribed - Published: 10 June 2022
Tattoo artist, Sharky, talks about how travels and adventures have prepared her for almost anything, how that same spirit played into the start of her tattoo career, and about her friendship with Lyle Tuttle.
Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2021
The past year has been riddled with shutdowns and uncertainty in tattooing and the rest of our lives. Andrew takes a look back at some unpublished interviews from last May, as well as some current stories from a couple tattooers who are still feeling the effects of the pandemic in different ways.
Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2021
Nikko Hurtado is one of the biggest names in the tattoo industry. We discuss the path that lead him there, side effects of the pandemic, new trends in social media, and what's up with Fred Durst?
Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2021
Tattoo artist Hanna Sandstrom talks about her career that has brought her around the world, and how she has slowed it all down to focus on her health and what is truly important after getting a cancer diagnosis.
Transcribed - Published: 8 March 2021
Have you heard about the ink ban in Europe? After seeing some conflicting information online, I talk to Selina Medina about what is really going on. What does it mean for tattooers? Will the US follow suit and start regulating tattoo pigment?
Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2021
In this episode, I talk to Chicago tattoo artist, Faith (@americanflesh), about how she walked away from tattooing for over 2 years to undergo conversion therapy through a church, what it was like coming back to tattooing afterward, and her inspiration to open her new shop Wish Me Luck Tattoo.
Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2021
Best buds Paul Dobleman and Austin Maples sit in for the show and talk about the state of California tattooing amidst the lockdown, how they've curated focused clientele, and each reveal a deep dark secret. This is a fun one!
Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2021
What happened to tattoo magazines? Tat-journalist, James Musker (@toadhell___), joins Andrew this week to talk about his experiences writing for various online and print publications, being there for the end of Skin Deep magazine, and what the future may look like for those who write words about pictures on skin.
Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2020
Is tattooing a performance art? What if the performance is more highly regarded than the tattoo itself? Bill Rocha (@billychop) sits in for this episode to discuss one of the most unique tattooers on Instagram: @rixardtattoo
Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2020
Steve Byrne joins the show again to talk about the legal battle between Sailor Jerry’s widow and a big liquor company, art ownership, intellectual property, and why he wants bootleggers to eat their copies of his work.
Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2020
Work/life balance for tattooers is a never ending challenge. Since it was just Valentine's Day, let's talk about relationships with the most special of guests...my wife, Rachel. We also hear from Greg Christian and Cindy Stroemple about what it's like when two tattooers tie the knot.
Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2020
Hannah Wolf drops some knowledge about tattoo ink and Billy White tells us why he will always cover racist tattoos for free.
Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2020
I talked to Alex Kass and Zac Scheinbaum, a couple tattooers who pursue tattoo related projects in addition to their day to day work.
Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2020
Didn't get enough on Ep 032? Here is more with Doreen Garner.
Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2020
Tamara Santibañez talks about what it is like to be stretched between two "worlds" within tattooing, and the weight of tattoos on those who get them and those who do them. Doreen Garner shares what drew her to tattooing, and the positive effect that increasing diversity can have on the industry.
Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2020
Nick Colella joins the show this week to talk about how much of the old school mentality can realistically be applied in today's tattooing.
Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2020
Let's talk about apprenticeships with Tim Hendricks.
Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2019
(Pt. 2) This is a special episode of BOOKS CLOSED! Listen to a never-before-heard interview from 2004 between Taki Kitamura and the legendary tattoo artist, Lyle Tuttle.
Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2019
(Pt. 1) This is a special episode of BOOKS CLOSED! Listen to a never-before-heard interview from 2004 between Taki Kitamura and the legendary tattoo artist, Lyle Tuttle.
Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2019
Didn't get enough on Ep 028? This is the full interview with Gunnar
Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2019
Issues of mental health are as prevalent in tattooing as anywhere. NYC tattooer, Virginia Elwood, guest co-hosts this week, along with a segment with Ohio tattooer, Gunnar.
Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2019
Debra Yarian, Freddy Corbin and Henry Lewis are the guests this week on a special LIVE episode of the show!
Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2019
Andrew responds to some listener feedback, and a conversation with Ep 026's guest co-host Bradley Farrell, after the camera turned off.
Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2019
This episode of the BOOKS CLOSED Podcast features guest co-host, Bradley Farrell, and tattooer, Zack Hunter "Southpaw."
Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2019
Didn't get enough in Ep 025? Here are some bonus clips to hold you over until next episode!
Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2019
Welcome to Season 3 of BOOKS CLOSED! We are joined by tattoo artist Justin Weatherholtz (Kings Ave Tattoo, NYC) this week to discuss a handful of tattooing's industry disruptors.
Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2019
Andrew digs into the offerings of tattoo business guru, Dax McClellan. Does tattooing need online courses about how to post on Instagram? This investigative report tells a story of self-discovery.
Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2019
Legendary tattoo artist, Juli Moon, joins the show this week to discuss traveling with a carnival, attending some of the first ever tattoo conventions, expanding her skill set into cosmetic tattoo through trial and error in the 80's, and why she wears her own tattoos as "psychic armor."
Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2019
This episode features a group panel of tattooers Shawn Barber, Matthew Knopp, Beau Brady and Robert Ryan discussing tattoo TV shows, internet fundraisers, sharing tattoo stories and more!
Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2019
Tattoo artist Lindsey Carmichael joins the show this week to talk about what tattooing for 27 years means to him, what it's like to watch his son now become a tattooer, and how the quest for knowledge has become a totally new beast.
Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2019
In response to Episode 015, Andrew talks to Lee Roller, owner of Custom Tattoo Design.
Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2019
Tattooer and painter Robert Ryan discusses reluctantly being encouraged to start tattooing, the important of humility, symbolism in tattooing, and how he holds it all together with meditation.
Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2019
Tattooer Russ Abbott joins the show this week to talk about being at the forefront of digital design in tattooing, how he turns his ideas into reality, and proves that a tattooer CAN organize their time successfully to make the most of it.
Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2019
Is there life after tattooing? Bradley Farrell sits down to talk about his tattoo career working alongside some of the greats, and then giving it all up to pursue other passions. Film making, developing a social network and marketing are just a few of the hats Bradley has worn in his lifetime and it all started with the skills he learned from tattooing.
Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2019
Tattooing has become an "industry" whether we like it or not. This week, friend of the show, Jason Scott, sits in to discuss a business that wants to provide clients custom tattoo designs before they even set foot in a tattoo shop. Then, Andrew tries to figure out what is up with Soundwave Tattoos by talking to their creator, Nate Siggard.
Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2019
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