mrkd

About mrkd

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.

Publisher

Paul Talbot

Category

arts · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

17 Jul 2025

Latest episode

22 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Mar 2026

   Gatekeeping Isn’t Always Bad

   It's a word every outsider loves to hate. But, I'd argue that, in an unregulated craft, some gates are the only thing keeping standards from collapsing. Tattooing doesn’t belong to any single artist. None of us “own” it. But that doesn’t make it a free-for-all either. Tattooing is a culture and a skilled trade, and right now the working artists are its custodians. That comes with a responsibility: protect the craft from hype cycles, cash-grabs, and the slow slide into chaos — and pass it on in better shape than we found it. This episode asks the uncomfortable question: when future generations look back, will they see us as the artists who defended quality… or the ones who watched tattooing get hollowed out and sold as lifestyle content? At its best, gatekeeping isn’t ego. It’s standards. It’s being able to say: this is what safe, skilled tattooing looks like — and if you’re not there yet, you need more training, more time, and more respect for the work. We pull examples from outside tattooing to show what “healthy gates” look like: historic guild systems that required apprenticeships before artists could sell publicly, and performance arts like ballet and classical music where years of training and auditions aren’t cruelty — they’re respect for the art and the audience. Then we bring it home with modern, real-world gates: Wales introducing mandatory licensing for tattooists and premises (including infection prevention training), and the EU restricting thousands of hazardous substances in tattoo inks under REACH. Gatekeeping can be abused, yes. But no gates at all? That’s worse. That’s how standards collapse — and clients get hurt.

2. 

   15 Mar 2026

   Make Art, Not Content

   A warning shot for anyone who’s starting to feel like tattooing is becoming a perfectly lit factory. On the surface, the craft has never looked better. Open Instagram and within seconds you’re hit with flawless blends, razor lines, and photos that look like product ads. Everything is crisp. Everything is polished. Everything is performing. It looks like evolution. Like tattooing has levelled up into some high-definition utopia. But look closer. Something darker is happening under all that perfection: the work is starting to blur into one aesthetic. Different artists, same output. Different studios, same “vibe.” The feed becomes a loop—endless déjà vu. Not growth. Stagnation wearing a filter. An algorithmic treadmill that convinces you you’re moving forward while you’re actually standing still. This episode pulls apart how “content thinking” quietly rewires the craft. When the goal becomes the post—not the piece—you start designing for the grid, not the body. You chase what’s proven, not what’s true. You optimise for likes, saves, and shareability… and the work gets safer, smoother, and less human. Because content wants repeatable. Art wants risk. And tattooing—at its best—has always been risk. Taste. Collision. A living thing made between two people in a room, not a thumbnail built to survive an algorithm. So the call here is simple: stop making work that only exists to be seen. Make work that exists to last. Make tattoos that don’t rely on perfect lighting to feel alive. Make choices the feed can’t predict. Let the work be messy. Let it be personal. Let it be yours. Make art, not content—because content gets consumed. Art gets remembered.

3. 

   8 Mar 2026

   The End of Tattooing

   A reality check for anyone doom-scrolling their way into believing the craft is finished. Everywhere you look, someone’s yelling “it’s over.” Blogs, podcasts, Instagram celebrities, TikTok prophets—same recycled headline: the end of tattooing. And I can’t help thinking… I’ve heard this song before. Every era swears it’s the last one. Bans came and went. Moral panics came and went. New tech arrived, and the craft didn’t die—it sharpened. What’s different now isn’t the threat. It’s the volume knob. Social media amplifies fear because panic performs. One loud opinion becomes “social proof,” then turns into 10,000 nervous DMs. Not because it’s true—because it’s viral. Collective stupidity drowns out critical thinking. And in the outrage economy, being calm doesn’t sell courses, quick fixes, or snake oil. So this episode zooms out. Before you react, check your numbers. Ask what’s actually happening in your world, not on your phone. Ask who benefits from the panic. Follow the incentives and you’ll usually find the answer. Then get practical: make work that’s hard to automate or scale. Build routes the algorithm can’t throttle. Focus on craft, not clout. Hype fades. Mastery endures. Tattooists survive by thinking, questioning, and resisting the pull of instant outrage. The outrage economy wants reactive artists. The craft needs reflective ones—people who keep showing up, sharpening their skill in silence, and making the art instead of chasing the headline. Because tattooing isn’t ending. It’s mutating—like it always has. We’re just the next chapter in a story that’s been evolving for 150 years. And when the chorus starts yelling “It’s over!” we’ll be in our booths—machines tuned, minds quiet—building what comes next.

4. 

   1 Mar 2026

   Tattooing in the age of AI

   A blunt look at what happens when machines stop being “a future thing” and start rearranging the present. AI is here. And in the short term, it’s going to shake the world—because a lot of people are about to try getting rich by replacing humans wherever they can. Jobs will disappear. Efficiency will spike. The already wealthy will likely do what they always do: get wealthier. But the bigger story isn’t the tech. It’s the feeling. After more than a decade working in marketing, I’m less interested in predicting which tools win, and more interested in predicting what people will crave when the dust settles—based on how we feel about the recent past. For the last century, the world has pivoted hard into a productivity-first model. We’re “better off” on paper than ever… and yet so many people feel lonely, numb, and directionless. Our scarcest resource isn’t time or money. It’s meaning. Not because machines exist—but because of how greedy humans choose to use them. Instead of solving real problems, we’re heading toward a culture stuffed with synthetic replacements: AI music built on equations, galleries of machine-made “art,” fake news, fake stars, fake influencers… fake everything. A polished, perfectly optimised void. So where does tattooing fit? Right in the middle of the backlash. The next 5–10 years will reward the people and businesses who double down on what can’t be automated: honesty, presence, taste, imperfection, local culture, real conversations, real experiences. Slow content. Live music. Messy art. No snapping to guides. No performance for the algorithm. Sweat the small stuff. Treat people well. Nurture fans, not followers. Be human. Be silly. Do what machines can’t. Because the future might belong to the efficient… …but the loved will win. And, I’d rather be loved than efficient any day.

5. 

   22 Feb 2026

   No Shortcuts: Rich Harris on Preparation, Pressure and the Unsexy Truth Behind Good Tattooing

   Rich Harris isn’t selling shortcuts. He’s building a system. We start with an unexpected blueprint: sports biographies. Not the highlight reels, the grind. The training blocks. The boredom. The sacrifice. Rich reads athletes the way tattooers should study tattooing: as a long game of discipline, preparation, and showing up when no one’s clapping. That spills straight into how he works. Craft over chaos. Reps over hype. If you want a better tattoo life, you don’t need a new style, you need a stronger standard. Then we get into the modern noise. AI, social media, and the weird pressure to perform your career like it’s a reality show. Rich’s take is grounded: AI can be a tool for breaking creative deadlocks, but it can’t replace taste, judgement, or the hours. And social media? Useful, sure but it’ll turn you into a polished avatar if you let it. The point is to stay human. We also talk about authenticity, what it actually looks like when you’re not curating a persona and how personal connection still does more for your work than any algorithm ever will. From there it gets bigger: government, industry pressures, and why the people doing the work need to have a say in the world they’re working inside. By the end, Rich is looking forward to new seminars & new projects but the theme stays the same: Do the work. Stay real. Build something that lasts.

6. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Staying Open: Notes for the Next Generation of Tattooists

   Tattooing doesn’t stand still, even when we do. A long-term view on staying curious, avoiding dogma, and building a career that lasts. I talk about tattoos a lot. I’ve written about them in my Total Tattoo (https://totaltattoo.co.uk) column for over a decade now. A lot has changed in that time. I’ve talked about tattooing into cameras, over bar tables at conventions, in late‑night hotel rooms, and on podcasts that probably should never have existed. When I started, I didn’t have a complete view of tattooing. Not even close. I had opinions, strong ones at that, but perspective only comes with time. If you’re early in your tattoo career, a year in, two years in, maybe just finding your feet, this isn’t advice in the usual sense. It’s not a checklist or a set of rules. It’s a warning, and some encouragement, offered quietly. Follow me on Instagram: @thisisourstodestroy Email me if you want: Paul@thisisourstodestroy.com You can read more of Pauls thoughts on his blog at: thisisourstodestroy.com (http://thisisourstodestroy.com)

7. 

   8 Feb 2026

   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

8. 

   25 Jan 2026

   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

9. 

   11 Jan 2026

   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

10. 

    14 Dec 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.

11. 

    16 Nov 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.

12. 

    26 Sept 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.

13. 

    12 Aug 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.

14. 

    19 Jul 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.

15. 

    17 Jul 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.

16. 

    17 Jul 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.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.