What I Learned from Asking Folks to Share Their Tattoo Stories

I’m a tattoo curious person. 

I’ve never had a tattoo, but I’ve always been fascinated by tattoo art and why someone permanently inked a design on their body.

In fact, for decades I’ve asked perfect strangers with fascinating tattoos “would you be willing to share your ink story with me?”

Their faces would light up as they shared their tattoo stories, and I felt a deeper connection with them through the ink stories that highlight what we all have in common as humans. Triumph and loss, celebration and fears, children and Beloveds, sweet pets and inspirational quotes that keep us going through the dark days. 

In August, 2023 I turned that deep curiosity into a mini-series podcast called Your Ink Story, where we focused on igniting and inspiring conversations that go beyond the surface and create a deeper connection.

I learned so much about the art of tattoos and the heart behind tattoos from these INKspirational conversations! 

Here are a few memorable touchstones from the series:

On Episode 10 Kale Liam Hobbes helped us see that tattoos are more than just designs on skin. They are powerful expressions of who we are, our experiences and our heritage.

Throughout Episode 12 Eliza Foltz reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is hope for transformation, healing, and a much brighter future… and how tattoos can be a beacon of hope to all who have experienced addiction or have witnessed its devastating effects on loved ones.

Amy Fagen shared a deeply touching tribute tattoo for her Mom on Episode 20, and Raja Mawad’s full body ink journey shared on Episode 25 is a narrative of overcoming deep-seated insecurities, breaking free from societal norms and embracing his true identity.

During Episode 6, Dr. Jay dives into why tattoos are powerful forms of art, telling a story of cultural heritage, personal passions, and significant moments; and FDNY Firefighter, tattoo artist and newly minted entrepreneur Jaime Salcedo revealed captivating stories in Episode 18 from his unconventional journey into the tattoo industry at the age of 16. 

You’ll find an abundance of INKspiration in Episode 8, where former inmate turned popular personal trainer and online coach Christian Thomas shares that it’s through embracing the pain, finding solace in the process, and nurturing our mental strength that we transform adversity into triumph. Just like getting a tattoo!

Stephen Vellecca took us on a profound journey of self-expression, acceptance, and empathy on Episode 14, where I was especially moved by this quote from our conversation:

"I want us as a society to stop assuming and stop leading with negative intent. If we all lead with good intent, and we look to understand a story behind someone's motivation for getting a tattoo and the journey of what it means to that person personally, then we're moving in the right direction."

Heartfelt thanks to Madalyn Sklar for kicking off this mini-series by revealing the awe*mazing stories behind her arm sleeves – I was so thrilled when she reached out and offered to join me on the podcast!

On the final episode of Your Ink Story, Dr. Mo, a passionate advocate and educator in the field of addiction counseling and prevention, beautifully wraps up everything we learned over the series by sharing her data on the transformative power of body art, the cultural significance of tattoos, and the fascinating intersections between tattoo art, identity, and mental health and well-being.

As I bring this series of INKspirational conversations to a close, my heart is filled with gratitude and appreciation for all the guests who joined me on this ink story journey. 

Their willingness and courage to bare their souls and share the raw human stories we all have in common will inspire listeners around the world for years to come.

You can find images of each guest’s tattoos on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube. Links are in the show notes!
 
Please take a moment to tune in to the Your Ink Story podcast –you’ll discover how body art can spark conversations, inspire truth, and shape a more inclusive and understanding world.

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey - it’s been an honor and a privilege to share these heartfelt ink stories with you.

Inkspirationally yours,

Ande

You can find images of guests' tattoos and learn more about the series via:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tellmeyourinkstory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourinkstory
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD4Kn2UcxuXu8ZsRKzCMvOMKLmWG4JvNI

Follow Ande on your favorite social platform to learn about her next podcast: Don't Be Caged By Your Age.

Stay Inkspired, everywhere you GLOW! ♥

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