mrkd

Paul Talbot

Pirate Radio for the Tattooed & Restless Pronounced 'marked' - MRKD™ is a tattoo related podcast all about the passions, the marked men and women of tattooing pursue beyond the tattoo machine. The stuff that keeps us inspired, balanced, and ultimately makes us better tattooists - and how these interests feed into our creative processes, perspectives, and careers. They’re professional-but-personal conversations that I hope will inspire, educate and most importantly entertain you.

Episodes

  1. 18 HR AGO

    Double Shift: Joe Swanson on the Badge, the Needle, and Tactical Resilience

    "You can't outwork the stress of that kind of job." In this engaging conversation, Joe Swanson, a former California Highway Patrol officer and tattoo artist, shares his unique experiences and insights on the intersection of law enforcement and tattooing. He discusses the challenges of stress and mental health in law enforcement, the evolving perceptions of tattoos in the profession, and the importance of tactical resilience training. Joe emphasizes the need for personal responsibility and growth, both in law enforcement and tattooing, and highlights the significance of community and connection in overcoming mental health challenges. The conversation also touches on the changing business models in the tattoo industry and the potential for mental health resources tailored to tattoo artists. -- joeswansontactical.com @joeswansontactical

    58 min

  2. 25 JAN

    Do the Work, Make It Awesome: Liam Hunter on Growth, Craft & Mindset

    In this episode of MRKD, Paul and Liam Hunter go deep into the realities of being a tattoo artist. From physical health and yoga to mastering techniques and color theory, they cover the grind that keeps tattoos looking real and artists staying sane. They tackle imposter syndrome, online criticism, and sponsorships, exploring how authenticity, humility, and ongoing learning define success in the industry. Every tattoo deserves the same care, every artist deserves support, and personal growth is key — this episode is about thriving in tattooing, not just surviving it. Honest, gritty, and solution-focused, if you’re an artist looking to level up your craft and mindset, this one’s for you. FIND OUT MORE: paulfuckintalbot.com -- @paultlbt @liamhuntertattoos

    58 min

  3. 11 JAN

    Tattooing vs The Algorithm: Dave Little on Social Media & Staying True.

    In this episode of MRKD, Paul and Dave dive into the mess social media has made of the tattoo world. With influencers, viral trends, and attention-grabbing gimmicks taking center stage, authentic tattooing is being treated more like a performance than craft. They break down the tension between staying true to your work and playing the game for likes, asking whether it’s still possible to make real art for real people without getting lost in the chaos. Solutions, strategies, and honest conversation — this isn’t about moaning, it’s about finding the line. If you’re a tattooer trying to navigate trends without losing your soul, this one’s for you. -- @paultlbt @littledavetattoo

    55 min

  4. 14/12/2025

    Learning to Walk. Joshua Black on Burning his Old Life Down from a Hospital Bed.

    Joshua Black is a tattooist from Baltimore, now working out of Gypsy Skull Tattoo in Hanover, Pennsylvania — a shop run by Brian Fuentes. His decision to finally start his journey into tattooing came at a time when he wasn’t even certain he’d be able to walk that path. Literally. Stuck in a hospital bed during the early days of the pandemic, alone, battling scoliosis, and watching the world fall apart, the first steps of his journey were uncertain in every sense — physically, mentally, and emotionally. When he finally left the hospital, he made a choice: he was done being a wage slave. He was going to make art, not excuses. We talked about becoming a tattooist later in life, about rediscovering happiness, and about sometimes having to blow everything up just to save yourself. Josh also reflects on the old school, their influence, and how tattoo TV and the rise of celebrity culture have shifted the perception of what tattooing is really about. Because the truth is — we’re not the cool ones. The tattoos are. And Josh hasn’t forgotten that.

    1h 49m

  5. 16/11/2025

    Tropical Ink. Iuri Waitzberg on his Hard Left Turn From Biology to Tattooing.

    Paul sits down with Iuri Waitzberg to unpack a journey that begins in biology and ends in tattooing. Iuri talks about falling out of love with academia, falling headfirst into tattoo culture, and teaching himself the basics the only way most people do — badly, experimentally, and without permission. They also get into tattoo culture in Brazil — how it’s shifted over time, how it’s viewed socially, and why a tropical country with visible skin naturally develops a strong relationship with tattoos. This episode is about curiosity, cultural context, and listening to the pull when something grabs you harder than the path you were supposed to be on.

    57 min

  6. 26/09/2025

    Don’t Turn Artists into Printers. Sam Barber on Using Hands Over Screens and The Analog Pull.

    A wide-ranging conversation with Sam Barber about why making things with your hands still matters. From diving head-first into oil painting, to deliberately choosing analog processes over digital convenience, to a shared love-hate relationship with social media as a business necessity. We talk about creativity as research, obsession, and storytelling — why the design process is the real joy of tattooing, and why turning artists into output machines kills the work. The episode closes with an unfiltered, England-specific conversation about tattoo schools, regulation, money, and why so much of it feels broken. No American takes, no global claims — just an honest look at what’s going wrong locally, and why so many artists have stopped pretending otherwise. Expect strong opinions, laughs, and zero interest in playing nice.

    2h 16m

  7. 12/08/2025

    Fifteen Years of Nerd Talk. Gabe Ripley - The Geek Who Got Tattooed

    Paul talks with Gabe Ripley about bad tattoos, good tattooers, the long road between the two and how a computer-programming geek end up in tattooing in the first place?. From a $60 dove on the ankle in the early ’90s, to discovering that not all tattooers are equal, to realising that coding could be traded for skin when cash was short. This episode digs into class, skills, value, and the quiet overlaps between technology and tattooing. It’s about figuring things out the hard way, recognising quality when you see it, and learning that sometimes the thing that gets you tattooed isn’t money — it’s what you can build with your hands and your brain. Expect stories, honesty, and a reminder that tattooing has always attracted outsiders, geeks included.

    1h 11m

  8. 19/07/2025

    Art in Motion. Jason Butcher discusses Making Art Without Apology.

    A deep dive into making for the sake of making. Paul chats with Jason Butcher, exploring how authenticity defines art, why labels fail, and why feeling “real” matters more than liking it. Expect stories about unexpected interruptions, childhood memories resurfacing, and how the act of creation itself can be its own reward. This isn’t about perfection or approval — it’s about honesty in making, and the chaos that comes with it.

    56 min

  9. 17/07/2025

    Made in the Jewellery Quarter. Jamie Lee Knott Takes us Inside a Brick by Brick Resurection

    A grounded conversation about space, craft, and stubborn creativity. Paul sits down with Jamie Lee Knott to unpack the story behind Chapters, a once derelict, Grade II listed building in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, slowly brought back to life with help, graft, and a refusal to quit. From tearing a studio down to the bone, to living with unfinished work, to turning a historic building into a home for tattooing and painting, this episode is about building a place that holds both art and a life. Expect talk of restoration, neighbourhood energy, and the simple truth that studios are never finished — we just stop abandoning them for a while.

    1h 2m

  10. 17/07/2025

    Nipples, Needles, and New Beginnings. Tanya Buxton on How Tiny Rooms Build Big Careers

    A loose, honest conversation between longtime friends Paul and Tanya Buxton — tracing her path from apprenticeship chatter on social media to specialised medical tattooing, private studio space, and the first pink, one-woman version of Paradise during lockdown. It’s about growth, adaptation, saying yes when the world was closing down, and turning a back-room studio into the start of something bigger. Expect laughter, stories, nipple tattoos, pandemic pivots, and a reminder that the best moves often start in tiny rooms no one sees coming.

    1h 13m
  • 10 Episodes

About

Pirate Radio for the Tattooed & Restless Pronounced 'marked' - MRKD™ is a tattoo related podcast all about the passions, the marked men and women of tattooing pursue beyond the tattoo machine. The stuff that keeps us inspired, balanced, and ultimately makes us better tattooists - and how these interests feed into our creative processes, perspectives, and careers. They’re professional-but-personal conversations that I hope will inspire, educate and most importantly entertain you.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Talbot
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Paul Talbot
  • Show Website
    mrkd