Best Andrew Stortz Podcasts (2025)

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059 - Who Can Carry the Torch for ED HARDY? ft. Taki & Molly Kitamura, Ethan Dodge 1:08:27

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about a year ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Ed Hardy is the most impactful tattooer of our time. Now that he no longer working, does his influence end? [Watch this episode on YOUTUBE] Ed's legendary San Francisco shop, Tattoo City, closed its doors for good yesterday. His publishing company, Hardy Marks no longer has him at the helm. Does his influence end now that these two huge vehicles fo…

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058 - Dan Smith 44:43

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about a year ago44:43

44:43

Andrew catches up with tattooer and musician, Dan Smith, backstage in Boston before Dan takes the stage with Eighteen Visions. They talk about the way music and tattooing can feed each other, Dan's experience with being featured on reality TV, and why he is enjoying slowing things down now. Find Dan at Captured Tattoo in Tustin, CA THIS EPISODE IS …

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057 - Leo Zulueta 1:08:10

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about a year ago1:08:10

1:08:10

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?! [This episode has a huge visual component, watch here on YouTube] Leo talks about how the high contrast punk rock show posters he made in his younger years set the stage for the hea…

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056 - Adam Shrewsbury 47:33

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about a year ago47:33

47:33

Adam Shrewsbury went all-in on pottery after a hiatus from tattooing, and has never looked back. Andrew visits Adam's pottery studio to see what he has been working on and what's next. Also, Adam discusses the clarity he has gained for his tattooing through taking a break, how tattooing suffers from a lack of outside influence, and a story about th…

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055 - Julian Bast 34:02

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about a year ago34:02

34:02

Hold on tight, you are about to enter the mind of Julian Bast, and I don't think you are ready. (You can WATCH this video on YOUTUBE) Julian is a tattooer and artist who is focused on letting an unstructured process steer the ship. Modeling his approach after the freedom he saw his children have when making art, he keeps the idea of "play" at the f…

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054 - Is This The Tattoo Apocalpyse? 1:00:06

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about a year ago1:00:06

1:00:06

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! Andrew discusses listener submitted questions with his crew at Worship Tattoo. Bill Rocha, Kayleigh Rae, Kenley Darling a…

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053 - Zack Spurlock 1:28:06

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about a year ago1:28:06

1:28:06

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. Watch THIS EPISODE on YouTube Find Zack at…

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052 - Filip Leu (Part 2) 1:37:55

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about a year ago1:37:55

1:37:55

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. This is part 2 of this conversation. Part 1 can be found on Ep 051. Watch THIS E…

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051 - Filip Leu (Part 1) 1:37:20

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about a year ago1:37:20

1:37:20

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. Watch THIS EPISODE on YouTube Watch the BEHIND THE SCENES of this episode Find Filip at The Leu Family's Family Iron i…

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050 - Kati Vaughn 1:20:38

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about a year ago1:20:38

1:20:38

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. Then they dive down the rabbit hole of AI tattoos, getting large scale work done while under anesthesia, and TATTOOGATE. What a world! You can watch this episode on YOUTUBE Find Kati at Good Lu…

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049 - Onnie O'Leary 1:27:02

2 years ago1:27:02

1:27:02

Australian tattooer, Onnie O'Leary, joins the show this week to chop it up about smut, art inspiration and unwanted face tattoos. You can find Onnie at TLD Tattoo in Sydney, Australia Get your limited BOOKS CLOSED "Tattooings Not Dead" T-shirt designed by Taki (@stateofgracetaki) This episode is sponsored by GoReminders BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by An…

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048 - Justin Olivier 44:07

3 years ago44:07

44:07

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. Recorded at Worship Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz Music by SAKURA @sakura.bea…

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047 - Loud, Naked, & In Three Colors ft. Juli Moon & Erick Lynch 1:04:41

3 years ago1:04:41

1:04:41

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. This conversation was made possible by Historic New England and their exhibit “Loud, Naked, & In Three Colors.” It traces the popularization of tattooin…

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046 - I'm Back! ft. Bill Rocha 47:09

3 years ago47:09

47:09

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 …

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Searching with Holly Ellis 1:00:48

4 years ago1:00:48

1:00:48

Holly Ellis is the owner of Idle Hand Tattoo in San Francisco, an infamous shop known the world over. But she is so much more than that, she is a powerhouse, a force of nature, an incredibly talented, driven and independent woman who lives with a great sense of purpose and determination. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/…

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Searching with Mariano Castiglioni 1:35:05

4 years ago1:35:05

1:35:05

Mariano looks like Antonio Banderas and is one of my favorite people in the world. He is a tattoo artist in Buenos Aires, Argentina and owns a shop named Well Done Tattoos. He shared his experience of growing up in Argentina and travelling the world to learn his craft, what he finds most important in his life and how he resents me eating his empana…

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Searching with Andrew Stortz 2:18:21

4 years ago2:18:21

2:18:21

Andrew Stortz is the host of the podcast Books Closed and star of various YouTube videos. Andrew and Jason had a wide ranging conversation about tattooing, creativity, creating content, transparency, public opinion and much more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-grace68/support…

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Searching with Porous Walker 1:44:50

4 years ago1:44:50

1:44:50

Porous Walker is one of Jason's favorite artists and creative people. This interview provides a peek inside the mind of The artist and how he approaches life and does his best to make a game out of everything and how he does his best to make art out of every moment in life --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-grac…

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Searching with Yutaro 1:26:11

4 years ago1:26:11

1:26:11

Yutaro hails from Japan and currently tattoos in London at Red Point Tattoo. He is a Tattoo Warrior. He is a thoughtful and endearing man, who shares his experiences in this life and some of the philosophy he's picked up along the way. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-grace68/support…

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045: Sharky 47:45

4 years ago47:45

47:45

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. Find Sharky at Classic Tattoo in San Marcos, TX. Catch her new IGTV show live every Monday night at 9pm EST, “Welcome To The Backroom” and wa…

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044: The Year That Tattooing Stood Still 47:13

4 years ago47:13

47:13

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. This episode's guests: Lauren - Diamond Mind Tattoo …

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Searching with Hanna Sandstrom 2:04:14

4 years ago2:04:14

2:04:14

Hanna is a talented tattoo artist who was born in Sweden, who spent many of her years living and tattooing in the US. She was kind enough to sit and talk with us about her battle against stage 4 cervical cancer. Hanna is a thoughtful warrior. She omits so much light and grace in her attempt to live with and observe this disease she has been fightin…

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Searching with Naza 1:12:24

4 years ago1:12:24

1:12:24

Jason sits down to talk with Naza, one of the worlds finest black work tattoo artists. They talk about his upbringing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his travels, and how he ended up living and working in Barcelona, where he owns A1BCN.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-grace68/support…

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043: Nikko Hurtado 1:19:07

4 years ago1:19:07

1:19:07

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? Find Nikko at Black Anchor Collective in Hesperia, CA and Black Anchor Gallery in Hollywood, CA. This episode is sponsored by: DOS-M Digital Optimizations…

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Searching with Claudia De Sabe 1:56:46

4 years ago1:56:46

1:56:46

On Episode 3 we sit down withClaudia De Sabe, a brilliant tattooer and a highly skilled artist. She is based in London and works at Red Point Tattoo, a shop she owns with her partner Yutaro Sakai, where they also run their brand Deco Boco. We had a deep and wide ranging conversation, stretching from her growing up in Italy and learning to tattoo, t…

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042: Hanna Sandstrom 57:21

4 years ago57:21

57:21

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. Follow Hanna's work here and find more current info about her here BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz (@andrewstortz) Music by SAKURA…

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Searching with Chuco Moreno 1:53:28

4 years ago1:53:28

1:53:28

In this episode we sit down with Chuco Moreno a tattoo artist from Merced California. Chuco specializes in black and grey chicano tattoos but has used his platform of tattooing to spread a larger message. He shares his story of growing up in California and what he's learned along the way.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/…

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041: Ink Banned in Europe ft. Selina Medina 44:51

4 years ago44:51

44:51

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? Check out the resources that Selina shared with me HERE. Get your copy of "The Science of Tattooing" Read t…

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Searching with Austin Maples 57:15

4 years ago57:15

57:15

On the first episode of Searching with JTG, Jason Tyler Grace sits down with Austin Maples a tattoo artist and entrepreneur who works out of Los Angeles, to talk about what Austin has learned in his time here on planet earth. They cover the craft of tattooing, making plans, achieving goals, love, loss, failures, accomplishments and lessons learned.…

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040: Faith (@americanflesh) 1:25:43

4 years ago1:25:43

1:25:43

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. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (00:17) Do you know Fred Durs…

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039: Paul Dobleman & Austin Maples 1:17:03

4 years ago1:17:03

1:17:03

Best buds Paul Dobleman (Blackheart Tattoo, SF) and Austin Maples (Enjoy Tattoos, LA) 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! Timestamps: (00:01) Intro (00:38) Do you know Fred Durst? (02:02) California tat…

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038: Remember Tattoo Magazines? 43:19

4 years ago43:19

43:19

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. BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew St…

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037: Performance Art 55:57

4 years ago55:57

55:57

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 Links to the videos discussed in this episode: Bicycle Feet/Head tattooing Fencing Drone Cello Trampoline BOOKS CLOSED is hos…

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036: Who Owns Your Tattoo? 48:08

5 years ago48:08

48:08

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. Steve works at Rock Of Ages Tattoo in Austin, TX. Buy his book Non Stop Tattooing from Atonement Books BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by An…

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035: Let's Talk About Relationships 1:27:21

5 years ago1:27:21

1:27:21

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. I have always felt the pressure of keeping my obsession with tatt…

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034: Scientific Tattooing 1:12:17

5 years ago1:12:17

1:12:17

Hannah Wolf drops some knowledge about tattoo ink and Billy White tells us why he will always cover racist tattoos for free. Hannah Wolf works at Occult Tattoo in Oakland, CA. Check out her book The Science of Tattooing Billy White works at Red Rose Tattoo in Zanesville, OH. Watch the documentary he is featured in: Beneath The Ink BOOKS CLOSED is h…

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033: Extracurricular Tattooing 58:42

5 years ago58:42

58:42

I talked to Alex Kass and Zac Scheinbaum, a couple tattooers who pursue tattoo related projects in addition to their day to day work. Alex runs the instagram page @tattoogear4sale, which has become the top place to buy, sell and trade (yes, you guessed it) tattoo gear. We talked about how he started the page, and some of the challenges that come wi…

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032: Extended ft. Doreen Garner 38:08

5 years ago38:08

38:08

Didn't get enough on Ep 032? Here is more with Doreen Garner. Doreen works at Saved Tattoo in Brooklyn, NY. This extended episode is sponsored by: GoReminders Eliminate no-shows, save time & increase revenue with GoReminders. It is simple, automatic appointment reminders via text messages and email. This service pays or itself with just ONE avoided…

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032: Progressive Tattooing 1:40:49

5 years ago1:40:49

1:40:49

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. Tamara's Informed Consent and Trauma-Aware Tattooing brochure can be found here. Doreen Garner shares what drew her to tattooing, and the positive effect that increasing diversit…

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031: Tattoo Evolution 1:32:38

5 years ago1:32:38

1:32:38

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. Should we really be trying to blindly celebrate the past? You can find Nick at Great Lakes Tattoo in Chicago, IL. BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz Books Closed Voicemail Lin…

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What's up with tattooing in Oregon? 47:26

5 years ago47:26

47:26

What's up with tattooing in Oregon? Portland tattooer, Olivia Britz-Wheat, gives us the lowdown on the state mandated tattoo schools, and talks about the work she does with the group, Reform Oregon Tattooing. After the interview, Andrew shares an email from a tattooer who attended an Oregon tattoo school.…

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030: Tattoo Diploma-cy 1:25:06

5 years ago1:25:06

1:25:06

Let's talk about apprenticeships with Tim Hendricks. We respond to an article about a tattooer from Dallas, TX who is developing a program to teach arts high school students about tattooing as a part of their school curriculum. Then we hear from Olivia Britz-Wheat, a tattooer from Portland, OR, and a part of the organization, "Reform Oregon Tattooi…

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029: Extended - Lyle Tuttle: The Lost Tapes (Pt. 2) 1:44:21

5 years ago1:44:21

1:44:21

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. For more info about Lyle: Lyle Tuttle Collection And follow his only official IG page: @lyletuttlecollection This was all made possible by Taki (@stateofgracetaki)! Make sure to follow him…

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029: Lyle Tuttle: The Lost Tapes (Pt. 1) 1:14:48

5 years ago1:14:48

1:14:48

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. For more info about Lyle: Lyle Tuttle Collection This was all made possible by Taki (@stateofgracetaki)! Make sure to follow him and let him know how much you enjoyed this tape. BOOKS CLOS…

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028: Extended ft. Gunnar 1:31:48

5 years ago1:31:48

1:31:48

Didn't get enough on Ep 028? This is the full interview with Gunnar that you heard a segment from in this week's full episode. He discusses mental health in tattooing and his own personal journey with it through his career. Ep 028 Extended is brought to you by: GoReminders Eliminate no-shows, save time & increase revenue with GoReminders: Simple, a…

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028: Psychological Tattooing 1:32:53

5 years ago1:32:53

1:32:53

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. Virginia talks about her entrance into tattooing, and about how she has worked to balance her mental health, career and life in general. Gunnar discusses why he is interested in…

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027: LIVE in San Francisco 1:09:34

5 years ago1:09:34

1:09:34

Debra Yarian, Freddy Corbin and Henry Lewis are the guests this week on a special LIVE episode of the show! Recorded at the Bay Area Tattoo Convention, 10/19/19. Follow: Deb Yarian Freddy Corbin Henry Lewis Watch this episode on YOUTUBE BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz (@andrewstortz) Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz Books Closed Voicemail Line…

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026: Extended 43:21

5 years ago43:21

43:21

Andrew responds to some listener feedback, and a conversation with Ep 026's guest co-host Bradley Farrell, after the camera turned off. Check out Ep 026: Adaptive Tattooing if you haven't yet. It'll give a bit more context for this bonus episode.By Andrew Stortz, Bradley Farrell

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026: Adaptive Tattooing 1:08:48

5 years ago1:08:48

1:08:48

This episode of the BOOKS CLOSED Podcast features guest co-host, Bradley Farrell, and tattooer, Zack Hunter "Southpaw." I found a handful of parallels between these two conversations, and this episode weaves the two together to tell a larger story. Bradley was a guest on the show last season as a retired tattooer, and his since started tattooing ag…

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025: Extended 17:24

5 years ago17:24

17:24

Didn't get enough in Ep 025? Here are some bonus clips to hold you over until next episode! Includes unaired segments with Justin Weatherholtz and Shanzey Afzal! @andrewstortz @justinweatherholtz @inkminxtattooBy Shanzey Afzal, Andrew Stortz, Justin Weatherholtz

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