Gatekeeping in tattooing — is it protecting the craft, or just protecting egos?

In this solo episode, Ricardo breaks down the real layers behind gatekeeping:
the toxic “you don’t belong here” mentality,
the protective version that keeps clients safe,
and the necessary level of filtering that tattooing desperately needs.

From the trauma-driven “suffer like I suffered” approach
to the rise of fast-track dreamers, plug-and-play machines, and self-taught sofa-tattooers,
this episode asks the uncomfortable questions:

• Why does toxic gatekeeping still exist?

• What skills should an apprentice actually have before touching skin?

• Is removing all gatekeeping irresponsible?

• And what does healthy, meaningful gatekeeping look like today?

This is an honest talk about standards, mentorship, accountability, and respect — and a reminder that a good gatekeeper isn’t a bouncer…

it’s a guardian of the craft.

If you care about the future of tattooing, this episode is for you.

Stay connected — follow us on Instagram: @under_the_skin_podcast

toxic tattoo gatekeeping, fake tattoo artists, tattoo influencers exposed, fast-track tattoo scams, kitchen tattooing debate, dangerous tattoo machines, tattoo industry controversy, bad tattoo education, tattoo culture problems, tattoo apprenticeship crisis, untrained tattooists, plug-and-play tattoo machines, tattoo industry meltdown, should anyone tattoo, tattoo gatekeeping debate, stop self-taught tattooers, tattoo industry red flags

In this episode of Under the Skin – The Tattoo Podcast, I sit down with Aaron Sewl, a realism and cover-up specialist with 19 years in the craft, to talk about something many people avoid: not everyone should be tattooing — and the industry is paying the price for pretending otherwise.

We dive straight into the problems shaping tattooing today:
• Tattoo schools promising shortcuts and selling dreams
• Why real apprenticeships matter more than ever
• The loss of respect for tattoo history and foundations
• Why new generations enter tattooing for the wrong reasons
• The decline of standards through trends and social media
• The coming wave of regulations — and why artists need a voice
• Real talk about longevity, design responsibility, and client education
• Aaron’s unique approach to cover-ups as camouflage, not “coloring over mistakes”

This conversation goes deep into what tattooing used to be, what it’s becoming, and what needs to happen if the craft is going to survive the next decade. If you care about tattoo culture, real education, and the future of the industry, this one will hit home.

Follow Aaron:👉 https://www.instagram.com/aaronsewltattoos/

Follow the podcast:👉 https://www.instagram.com/under_the_skin_podcast/

tattoo podcast, tattoo apprenticeship, tattoo schools, realism tattooing, cover-up tattoos, tattoo industry problems, tattoo education, tattoo regulations, tattoo culture, tattooing truth, professional tattooing, tattoo history, old school tattooing, modern tattoo trends, longevity in tattooing, tattoo standards, tattoo gatekeeping, Reno tattoo artist

Pym Avery — Part 2

In Part 2 of my conversation with Pym Avery, we pick up right where we left off — so if you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, start there first.
This second half only hits the way it should if you’ve heard the beginning of her story.

Here we keep going through decades of tattoo history, culture, and lived experience. From conventions and community to the realities of staying in the craft for so many years — this episode is another unapologetically honest chapter from one of tattooing’s most authentic voices.

If you care about the culture, the craft, and where tattooing actually comes from, this one belongs on your list.

📚 Pym Avery’s Book — Show Time

Official website: https://pymavery.com/
Available as paperback, ebook, and audiobook everywhere books are sold.

📸 Find Pym Online

Instagram: @pymtattoo
https://www.instagram.com/pymtattoo

📣 Follow the Podcast

Instagram: @under_the_skin_podcast
https://www.instagram.com/under_the_skin_podcast

🔗 Listen to Part 1

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YRIctM0EkJBOoBq5FbkwD?si=h1nhTBG4S4q7QRqYoQzE4w

In this first part of my talk with Pym Avery on Under the Skin – The Tattoo Podcast, we rewind the clock: from her DIY beginnings in 1980s Europe — van life, sourcing machines, hand-making needles — to the raw energy of ’90s tattoo conventions.

We dig into gatekeeping vs. access, why hygiene became non-negotiable, and the difference between a tattooer and a tattoo applicator. Pym breaks down how TV shows and social media reshaped the craft (for better and worse), the fine line debate and long-term healing, numbing-cream risks, and why client education matters more than ever. We also talk shop realities — apprenticeships, percentages, ego, and why some studios close fast.

If you care about where tattooing came from — and where it’s headed — this one’s for you.

👉 Part 2 drops next Thursday, November 20th.
👉 Follow, rate, and share the show with a friend who loves tattoos.

Connect with Pym Avery:
📖 Show Time – pymavery.com
📸 Instagram – @pymtattoo

Follow the podcast:
🎧 Under the Skin – The Tattoo Podcast – @under_the_skin_podcast

#UnderTheSkinPodcast #PymAvery #TattooPodcast #TattooHistory #TattooConventions #TattooCulture #TattooerVsTattooArtist #TattooApprenticeship #TattooEducation #TattooHygiene #FineLineTattoos #RealismTattoos #CoilVsRotary #TattooMachines #TattooNeedles #ClientEducation #TattooIndustry #OldSchoolTattoo #90sTattoo #TattooCommunity #SocialMediaAndTattooing #TattooEthics #StudioOwnerLife #MakeTattooingCount

In this episode, I sit down with Rob Smead—founder of Electrum Tattoo Supply and host of The Business of Tattooing. We get into the real origin story (yes, the Kryptonite/DC saga), solving the “lost stencil” problem with chemistry, and why so many stencil/aftercare products feel like copycats.

We talk about the post-COVID boom turning into a slowdown, shops closing, artists changing jobs, and what a ~50% hit means for suppliers. We also dig into AI & Procreate as time-savers (not shortcuts), apprenticeships and education, and how TIMA + Inktegrity are pushing industry-led standards so regulators don’t write our future without us. REACH in Europe, looming FDA rules, ISO/GMP compliance, shop hygiene—the whole safety & business side of tattooing.

If you care about craft, safety, and longevity, this one’s for you.

Keywords: Electrum Tattoo Supply, stencil primer, tattoo inks, TIMA, Inktegrity, tattoo regulation, REACH, FDA cosmetics, ISO/GMP, tattoo education, tattoo safety, AI in tattoo design, shop hygiene.

Go check Rob Smead:

• Rob Smead (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/noflashninja/ Instagram+1

• The Business of Tattooing (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/business_of_tattooing/ Instagram+1

• The Business of Tattooing (Podcast page): https://thebusinessoftattooing.podbean.com/ thebusinessoftattooing.podbean.com

#UnderTheSkinPodcast #TattooIndustry #ElectrumTattooSupply #TattooSafety #TattooRegulation #TIMA #Inktegrity #TattooEducation #TattooBusiness #StencilGame #TattooInks #ProcreateArt #AIDesign #TattooCommunity #TattooPodcast

From Northeast Brazilian closed tattoo scene to Berlin’s multicultural studios, Leo Branco shares a story of growth, adaptation, and artistic identity. In this episode, we dive into what it means to evolve — as a tattooer and as a person — when culture, tools, and expectations change around you.Leo talks about learning to tattoo in Brazil, where gatekeeping and limited access shaped his early journey, and how moving to Germany opened new doors: better materials, deeper understanding, and a new way to see the craft.

We explore the differences between tattoo cultures in Brazil and Europe, the importance of patience and discipline, and how experience shapes your eye for what truly lasts.We also get into style — how New School and Graffiti to Neo-Traditional and Japanese influences shaped Leo’s artistic voice, why large-scale compositions demand maturity, and how the rules of tradition help you know when to break them.

A conversation about growth, cultural perspective, and finding your place in the ever-changing world of tattooing.

Follow Leo:Instagram: @leo.branco.tattoo

Berlin Ink: @berlininktattoo

Follow the podcast:Instagram: @under_the_skin_podcast

#tattoopodcast #tattooculture #tattooartist #tattoostyle #tattooevolution #tattooinspiration #tattooeducation #tattooing #neotraditionaltattoo #japanesetattoo #braziliantattooartist #berlintattoo #tattooartistry #tattoocommunity #undertheskinpodcast

Miami legend Gabe Jaksich (@tattooingcraft) — owner of SB Custom Tattoos (@sb_custom_tattoos) — joins Under The Skin for a raw, no-filter talk about the state of the tattoo industry.

In this comeback episode, Gabe breaks down why he started the Make Tattooing Great Again movement (www.maketattooinggreatagain.com), what’s been lost at tattoo conventions, and why honoring the origins of tattooing matters more than ever.

We get into:

• Conventions then vs. now: connection, community & making a living

• “Tattooer” vs. “tattoo artist” and producing art on demand (Ed Hardy)

• Respecting pioneers: Joe Capobianco, Paul Booth, Bob Tyrrell, Nico Hurtado

• New York’s historic roots (Samuel O’Reilly & the Bowery)

• Why “bold will hold” — realism vs. longevity on skin

• The “tattoo apocalypse” and what a real comeback looks like

  
  

🎧 This is Part 1 of our conversation. Part 2 drops next week and dives into education, social media, and AI in tattooing.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, rate it, and share it with a friend who loves tattoo culture.

Guest: Gabe Jaksich — @tattooingcraft | @sb_custom_tattoos
Movement: www.maketattooinggreatagain.com

#tattoo #tattooing #tattooindustry #tattooconvention #tattoohistory #tattooculture #tattooartist #tattooer #oldschooltattoo #traditionaltattoo #boldwillhold #maketattooinggreatagain #miamitattoo #newyorktattoo #bowery #edhardy #paulbooth #joecapobianco #bobtyrrell #nicohurtado #samueloreilly #inked #tattoopodcast #undertheskin #skinart