Best Stef Bastian Podcasts (2024)

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57. DAVE REGAN - Horimono 1:10:50

3d ago1:10:50

1:10:50

If you’re into Japanese tattooing, especially in relation to its cultural connotations, you’re gonna love this one. Dave is a tattooer specialized in Americana and Japanese with extensive international experience. His passion for gardening - he works with the Denver Botanic Garden on cultivating their renowned Japanese garden program, as well as ma…

1
56. CAPEX - Never give up 45:14

2M ago45:14

45:14

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 experience he’s one of those characters from a different time in tattooing, with working ethics, humor, resilience and love for the craft at the forefront of everything he does. I’m happy to introduce …

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55. HORITEN - Living by the Bushido 43:30

4M ago43:30

43:30

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 Irezumi, the qualities that can help in this path and the value of Horikyo’s legacy. Her words are a beautiful manifesto about the way art relates to the core identity of the culture that produced it.…

1
54. ZAC SCHEINBAUM - The magic of books 58:47

5M ago58:47

58:47

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, talented, dedicated, always trying to make every word count. The difference between then and now is that, apart from increasing even more his artistic abilities and experience, he created a publishing…

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53. BIG MEAS - Lettering and work ethic 1:08:20

6M ago1:08:20

1:08:20

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 of lettering, shares with us what brought him where he is today. He talks about the importance of cultivating not only the tecnical aspect but also, and perhaps more importantly, the human connection. Y…

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52. CREZ - Japanese tattooing 1:21:55

7M ago1:21:55

1:21:55

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 I like about him the most, beside his expertise, is his genuine honesty and coherence, uncommon values that I personally treasure. In this cozy December afternoon we talked about what shaped him into the…

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51. CLAUDIA DE SABE - The fight is within 1:03:50

9M ago1:03:50

1:03:50

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 process. Over the course of this interview we learn how the beautiful work we all love her for is second only to her mindset. Unweavering work ethic, resolve and dedication are the foundations of her success…

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50. SWASTHIK IYENGAR - Indian tradition meets western tattooing 1:02:04

10M ago1:02:04

1:02:04

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 tattooing runs deep in her blood. Her grandma, called Paccai Kutta Ma (tattoo mama), has been sticking and poking tattoos for over 40 years. Together with the spiritual practice she inherited growing u…

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49. Dr. SOPHIE MORT - Taking care of your mental health 58:22

11M ago58:22

58:22

Have you ever struggled with feelings of inadequacy? Self-doubt? Do you set impossible standards that bring anxiety when unmet? Dr. Sophie Mort is here to help. Sophie is a clinical psychologist with a master’s in neuroscience, Her work with the science of habit has helped many understand the patterns of behaviour that get you in your own way. In t…

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48. MARCUS PACHECO - Inventing Newschool 1:03:39

11M ago1:03:39

1:03:39

“Influential. “Pioneer”. “Contribution”. These are the words that you see most commonly associated with Marcus’ name in books, magazines and when talking to veteran tattooers. A great influence, Marcus started experimenting in the 90’s, with a few others, to find a new take on subject and tecnique in tattooing. And so, Newschool was born. An innova…

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47. LORENA MORATO - Connecting with your roots 1:00:01

12M ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Lorena Morato is a Brazilian tattooer specialized in neotraditional. Well known not only for her tattoos but also her beautiful paintings, Lorena shares with us how she came to reinvent herself, rediscovering a new sense of authenticity which is well transmitted in her art. I have personally found great value in her journey and I’m sure you can der…

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46. JORDAN SIGNORELLI - How to deal with pain from tattooing 1:01:49

1y ago1:01:49

1:01:49

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 deal with some of these at some point and in the worst cases we have been forced to take time off due to the pain. As with many other things, knowledge is power. If we want to keep doing what we love f…

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45. KELLY ANNE POWERS - Learn to paint 48:17

1y ago48:17

48:17

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 Kelly Anne Powers, third generation artist and host of the Learn to Paint podcast. In her show Kelly talks to some of the best painters in the world, sharing with her audience their process, systems and ins…

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44. PASCAL BAGOT- The Tattoo Writer: Akimitsu Takagi 1:08:19

1y ago1:08:19

1:08:19

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 full backpiece by Horitoshi I and cross paths with other legends such as Horiyoshi III, Gifu Horihide, Horitada and more. In 2017 he decided to venture into the world of Akimitsu Takagi, a journey that wil…

1
43. RINTO - A good story 1:07:13

1y ago1:07:13

1:07:13

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 humbleness matches his experience and dedication. Natural born storyteller, Rinto shared with us some grounding words, valuable especially to young tattooers in this age where the digital medias shape the distri…

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42. TIMOTHY HOYER - Beyond formalism 54:03

1+ y ago54:03

54:03

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 by good draftsmanship, but Tim’s paintings go beyond that. Apart from the privilege of peeking into his studio, filled with sketches, artworks and painting supplies, I feel grateful for his insights about…

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41. EDDY DEUTSCHE- The dream of a kid in Detroit 54:55

1+ y ago54:55

54:55

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, Scott Sylvia, Marcus Pacheco… it’s because of him that a whole trend started and evolved in countless interpretations. As the motto of this show says, “Go to the roots, not to the fruits”, we want to h…

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40. SHANE TAN- Chewing gum & Gangsters 1:25:27

1+ y ago1:25:27

1:25:27

If you follow Shane you’re familiar with his work: bold, striking, elegant in its simplicity. His painting a reference in the industry. I recommend you to meet him and his crew if you cross them at some convention, you won’t be disappointed. What I like most of Shane is his ethics and his contagious energy, which make his tattooing 100 times better…

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39. MICHELLE MYLES- NYC Tattoo history 53:01

2y ago53:01

53:01

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 tattoo convention, I had the pleasure of sharing an afternoon with Michelle Myles from Daredevil Tattoo. Her professional journey goes all the way back to the days of New York’s ban on tattooing. As she crosse…

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38. ANDREW STORTZ & NICK SWARTZ- Tattoo podcasts 1:09:39

2y ago1:09:39

1:09:39

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 Nick’s power barbecue? I sat with Andrew Stortz and Nick Swartz, hosts of the two best tattoo podcasts around, to answer these and other deep philosophical questions. Find Nick’s podcast on Instagram and…

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37. RYAN ROI- The spiritual side of money 49:02

2y ago49:02

49:02

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 painful note that can stress us out and rob us of creative and productive energy. Ryan, tattooer and financial advisor, teaches us that it doesn’t have to be. What I find particularly valuable in Ryan…

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36. MICHAEL MORILD- Art supplies: why it’s better to invest in quality 1:07:52

2y ago1:07:52

1:07:52

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 Michael for over ten years, through his previous job managing one of Copenhagen best art supply. I’ve always believed that if you really wanna know more about specific paints, brushes and paper you just have …

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35. RUSS ABBOTT- Innovation within tradition 46:10

2y ago46:10

46:10

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 wider audience, with a controversial spectrum of consequences; the distribution of information. These and more aspects of this art form are being redefined and one of them is particularly present in …

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34. BERNIE LUTHER- The smile of a kid in an old timer 49:27

2y ago49:27

49:27

For this episode we found ourselves in Aachen at the Kaiserstadt Tattoo Expo, as always flawlessly organized by Andreas Coenen. The show opened with a pre-party exhibiting the life work of Bernie Luther, a mind-blowing array of flashes produced over four decades of traveling the world. On the following day I had the pleasure of recording this inter…

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33. FREDDY CORBIN -When kindness meets talent 48:16

2y ago48:16

48:16

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 bring you that type of respect. His kind personality makes him connect joufully with people, instantly making you feel at ease. Even from a brief chat you can sense that he cares. Needless to say it was an…

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32. NICK COLELLA & ROBERT RYAN- The Off The Wall Project 29:18

2+ y ago29:18

29:18

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 more at @stef_bastian_presents Today’s guests are Nick Colella and Robert Ryan. Two veterans of traditional tattooing, these artists give us an insightful look on what it means to immerse yourself in the…

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31. OMAR EDMISON & BOBEUS- The Off The Wall Project 43:47

2+ y ago43:47

43:47

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 more at @stef_bastian_presents In these interviews we talk with Omar and Bobeus about their own personal approach and experience and how to make the most of flashes in the learning process. We mention ta…

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30. LAL HARDY & DR. OLE WITTMAN- The Off The Wall Project 37:43

2+ y ago37:43

37:43

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 tattooing, while raising money for those families affected by the war in Ukraine. In this series of short interviews we ask our guests a little bit about tattoo history and the origin of the flash, what…

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29. DAVID SPEED from Creative Rebels 54:54

2+ y ago54:54

54:54

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 has been a graffiti artists for two decades) enabled him to understand what it takes to build the best version of yourself and your business, often one being a reflection of the other. What gave birth …

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28. HOLLY ELLIS, CHAD KOEPLINGER, ROBERT RYAN, ANDREAS COENEN- American Traditional 51:17

2+ y ago51:17

51:17

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 PANEL, and it will feature multiple guests at once, breaking down a specific topic. Each artist with their own unique experience and perspective. For the first panel, I sat down with four of the most in…

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27. SHOTSIE GORMAN- Larger than life 1:13:28

2+ y ago1:13:28

1:13:28

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+ decades of tattooing there is a deeply routed drive for Art, with capital A, and perhaps a la even deeper appreciation for Life and the people he crossed path with. In this episode we talk about his start in tat…

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26. DANA BRUNSON- There’s more than a pretty picture 44:23

2+ y ago44:23

44:23

I could introduce Dana Brunson mentioning all his accomplishments and all the majorly influential artists he crossed path with in his 50 years tattooing, Huck Spaulding, Paul Rogers, Cliff Raven, Don Nolan, Crazy Eddie… but we won’t do that. The aspect that I feel best describes Dana is his wonderful heart and genuine love for tattooing and the peo…

1
25. GOOD TIME CHARLIE- The birth of fine line 45:10

2+ y ago45:10

45:10

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 few), he’s been tattooing for six decades now. Together with Jack Rudy and his team of artists, he developed in the 70’s what we call today “fine line”, bringing tattooing from 3-6 needles to just one…

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24. FRANK ROSENKILDE- A big heart in Danish tattooing 55:54

2+ y ago55:54

55:54

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 decades, crossing paths with some of the most significant tattooers of his time. Tato Ole, Mike Malone, Tato Svend and Henning Jorgensen, to name a few. His passion, burning today as forty years ago, mad…

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23. TAMARA SANTIBAÑEZ- Social justice and the political potential of tattooing 59:01

3y ago59:01

59:01

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 spirit that transcends and breaks the boundaries of one specific field. Tamara’s work in the field of social justice highlights the potential that tattooing carries with the concept of trauma-informed care …

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22. KARI BARBA- Continue to learn 46:17

3y ago46:17

46:17

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 her 42 years in the business haven’t diminished her passion. If anything they distilled it into a deep, humble appreciation for what this represents. Personal growth, meaningful friendships, craftsmansh…

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21. C.W. ELDRIDGE- The importance of history 40:59

3+ y ago40:59

40:59

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 parlors like Pinky Yun’s in Hong Kong. After getting tattooed by Ed Hardy he got offered the opportunity of learning tattooing and from there he crossed paths with pillars of modern tattooing. Paul Jef…

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20. ALEX BINNIE- Nothing is perfect 44:07

3+ y ago44:07

44:07

Alex Binnie needs no introduction. Founder of the legendary Into You in London and unanimously considered one of the most influential artists for more than one generation of tattooers, Alex shares his invaluable take on art, the creative process and the unique relationship between artist and client. Find Alex on Instagram @abinniepaperandskin @1770…

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19. DEB YARIAN- The strength of a woman 1:03:42

3+ y ago1:03:42

1:03:42

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 kindness, authenticity and genuine love for tattooing. That type of old school lifelong love, matured in times when you often had to swallow your pride to belong to this world, especially as a woman. Beside that…

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18. TONY COHEN- Tattooing since 1967 35:01

3+ y ago35:01

35:01

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 Australia, he’s well known in the community worldwide, crossing paths over his long career with institutions of this craft such as Lyle Tuttle, Cliff Raven, George Bone, Lal Hardy, Doc Price, Terry Wrigley…

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17. JASON TYLER GRACE- The answer is within 1:24:13

3+ y ago1:24:13

1:24:13

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” we couldn’t name. Years down the line Jason is a more mature man and artist with a newly found sense of purpose. With this interview I wanted to get you to see what I see in him, that special sensitivity …

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16. MEHAI BAKATY- It’s all about the people 56:05

4y ago56:05

56:05

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 his father Mike, respected and loved legend in the Lower East Side, practicing the craft since he was four years old. At the age of 11 he was making needles for the family business that operated undergroun…

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15. CHAD KOEPLINGER- The difference between a traveler and a tourist 53:34

4y ago53:34

53:34

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 the beautiful nuances that characterize them. A deeper sense of wonder and acceptance. This is the difference between a traveler and a tourist. As a consequence your daily reality takes on a different …

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14. VIRGINIA ELWOOD & STEPHANIE TAMEZ- Two beautiful souls 1:04:17

4y ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Two creative souls that found each other, this is the beautiful story of Virginia and Stephanie. They both gained their reputation through years of hard work and dedication at the highest levels of this profession, shoulder to shoulder with the best. What sets them apart tho is their unique sensitivity, perhaps matured overcoming all the obstacles …

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13. ROBERT RYAN- Spirituality, traditional foundations and contract killers 54:04

4y ago54:04

54:04

Some people keep traditions alive, some people push boundaries, others implement their own vision in within a well understood and processed style. Robert is one of the latter. He absorbed the foundations of American Traditional over a long career, crossing paths with some icons such as Dan Higgs and Scott Harrison, translating that beautiful codifi…

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12. SHAWN BARBER- Life through the eyes of a painter 40:00

4y ago40:00

40:00

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 subject. A fresh voice in the tattoo world. It’s beautiful to have witnessed his personal artistic trajectory which reflects his own journey of growth and self discovery. Today Shawn is a mature artist w…

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11. TERRY MANTON- The history of Scottish Tattooing 41:18

4y ago41:18

41:18

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 what we have and to treat it with respect, going beyond short-sighted personal interests in the eyes of a bigger picture. Today we have Terry Manton, a retired tattooer from Glasgow that took on the mission…

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10. SHANE ENHOLM- All you gotta be is real 1:15:37

4y ago1:15:37

1:15:37

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, defeat, revelations and love. Love for what life is, for the good and for the bad. In his words there is the honest portrait of a man who learned the most precious lessons the hard way and that is never af…

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9. HANNAH WOLF- Knowledge is power 1:04:37

4y ago1:04:37

1:04:37

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”, and those questions not many of us are really able to answer to. The author Hannah Wolf is an American tattooer with almost two decades of experience who took on the task of answering those questions. …

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8. YUSHI HORIKICHI- Japanese working longevity 55:44

4+ y ago55:44

55:44

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. He’s on a world tour with his beautiful family and for a coincidence(is there such a thing?) we happened to meet at Gordon Toi’s house, sharing insights on his over 20yrs career and Japanese working et…

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