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Go to the roots, not to the fruits. I’m your host, Stef Bastiàn, tattooer with over twenty years of experience, traveler, painter, coach. Join me to improve your artistic, personal and professional journey through the stories and insights of inspiring guests, within and outside the tattoo world. Learn more about my different projects and classes at https://www.stefbastian.com/
Episodes

Monday Jun 06, 2022
35. RUSS ABBOTT- Innovation within tradition
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Monday Jun 06, 2022
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 today’s modus operandi: technology.
The traditional approach has been disrupted by the advent of iPads and Procreate.
Russ has seen this shift before everybody and created TattooSmart, a company that provides tattooers with digital tools specifically related to tattoo iconography and designs, establishing his company as leader in the field.
Today we talked about how technology and progress are something not to be feared but a helpful tool to optimize process, the evolution of business models, the future of TattooSmart and how to implement know-how from other fields to propell our businesses into a new era.
You can know more about Russ and his projects on:

Friday May 13, 2022
34. BERNIE LUTHER- The smile of a kid in an old timer
Friday May 13, 2022
Friday May 13, 2022
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 interview in front of a lovely audience, which made the energy of this afternoon very special.
Bernie shared with us the recollections from his 40 years tattooing carreer, filled with laughter, priceless anecdotes and with the joyful energy that makes him unique.
You can find Bernie on Instagram
Find the Aachen’s convention on Instagram

Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
33. FREDDY CORBIN -When kindness meets talent
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
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 honor and a great pleasure to have him spend an evening with us, to share his story and insights.
If you have the chance don’t miss on visiting his Temple Tattoo in Oakland, a Mecca in the Bay Area’s tattooing.
Find Freddy on Instagram and at Temple Tattoo

Saturday Mar 26, 2022
32. NICK COLELLA & ROBERT RYAN- The Off The Wall Project
Saturday Mar 26, 2022
Saturday Mar 26, 2022
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 tattoo culture, what makes a design impactful and balanced and share some tattoo history from their respective backgrounds.
Above all, they set an example of humility.
Humility towards the timeless designs and who came before us but especially towards the most important element in this dynamic: the people that get tattooed.
Find Nick on Instagram, at @chicagotattoohistory and at Great Lakes Tattoo in Chicago
Find Robert on Instagram and Electric Tattoo

Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
31. OMAR EDMISON & BOBEUS- The Off The Wall Project
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
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 tattooers that influenced the art form deeply(like Greg Irons, Bob Shaw and JD Crowe); the importance of Purpose behind every line; the purity of folk art and much more.
Find Omar on Instagram
Find Bobeus on Instagram

Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
30. LAL HARDY & DR. OLE WITTMAN- The Off The Wall Project
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
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 it means for them and how to make the best use of it today.
We sat down with Lal Hardy, British tattoo legend, and Dr. Ole Wittmann, tattoo historian. In these chats you will find a great deal of information on english and German tattooing, insightful views on the relationship tattooer-artwork-customer and more.
A special thanks to tattoo museums and private collectors for providing vintage flashes for the project, in particular:
Dana Brunson
Paul Ramsbottom(Rambo)
Derin Bray
Lal Hardy
Dr. Ole Wittmann
Andreas Coenen
Jason Brooks
Gabriele Donnini
Ahren Bloomquist
Find Lal on Instagram
Find Ole on Instagram
More info on current and previous projects on @stef_bastian_presents and stefbastian.com

Monday Feb 21, 2022
29. DAVID SPEED from Creative Rebels
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
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 to the successful CREATIVE REBELS podcast is the willing to share these insights and build a community around some of the most accomplished creatives, to deliver value to the listeners and their journey.
In this episode we talked about the formula for success, the importance of consistency, David’s relationship with failure and much more.
You can find the CREATIVE REBELS podcast of all major platforms and David on Instagram
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If you like the show, it would mean the world if you could help us reaching more people by leaving a 5 star review on Spotify/ITunes and share your favourite episodes on social medias ❤️

Friday Jan 21, 2022
Friday Jan 21, 2022
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 inspired and experienced artists, Holly Ellis, Chad Koeplinger, Robert Ryan and Andreas Coenen, to talk about something they excel at: American Traditional.
What does “Traditional” mean for them; where do they draw inspiration from; what’s their unique process and approach.
I believe that multiple perspectives can foster originality, the pinnacle of creativity, and hopefully these points of view can inspire you and your vision.
After two years of restrictions, cancelled conventions and trips, it’s been beautiful to sit down with them, even if virtually, to share an honest moment about something we all love. At least for me it’s been the closest thing to those shows and dinners we all love, made of friendship, technical talks and laughs. I want to thank these artists for sharing their insights, giving me a lot to think about.
If you find value in these episodes and would like to help me create more, I’d be very grateful if you could give the show a 5 star rating and a review on ITunes and Spotify. And if you are listening to it now, why not taking a screenshot and share it on your social medias.
It doesn’t cost you anything and it makes a big difference in helping the show reach more people.
Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode 😊
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Follow updates on the show on Instagram

Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
27. SHOTSIE GORMAN- Larger than life
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
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 tattooing with Mike Bakaty, the crazy characters he met along the way, his love for Italy and what it means to be a tattooer.
You can find Shotsie on Instagram and at Tarot Art Tattoo
You can follow the updates on new episode on Instagram

Monday Dec 06, 2021
26. DANA BRUNSON- There’s more than a pretty picture
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Monday Dec 06, 2021
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 people he meets along the way.
The wisdom that comes from a lifetime of dedicated appreciation is priceless and I am extremely grateful for hearing these words directly from him. They inspire us to not only aim at being better tattooers but better and more connected human beings.
You can find Dana on Instagram
Follow the updates about new episodes on @tattootalespodcast