The first of my 2022 APP conference interviews is with Jasper Valke. We talk about piercing younger children and how to make it a positive experience for the child, the parent, and ourselves as the piercer. We walk through our processes step by step and share some of the valuable experiences and insight we have picked up along the way. Whether you pierce younger kids or not this is a great episode to expand your perspective. Check out my new website at www.ryanpba.com/education and sign up for m...
Jun 27, 2022•1 hr 17 min
The Association of Professional Piercers conference 2022 has came and went, and I thought it was a great success. I took some classes, I instructed some classes, I saw old friends and made new ones. Thank you so much to everyone who made it possible. This week I recap some of my conference experience and give you a preview of the upcoming episodes I recorded while I was there. Now lets all go catch up on our sleep and get back to work. More coming soon! Check out my new website at www.ryanpba.co...
Jun 20, 2022
Ryan and Lola are going on an adventure! Join us at the 2022 Association of Professional Piercers conference in Las Vegas for a week of classes, fellowship, jewelry, and fun! If you can't be there in person we will capture some of the conference magic for you. If you are in Vegas stop by the Piercing Wizard Podcast booth at expo and say hello! If you are a new or existing arch-mage supporter at www.patreon.com/ryanpba you can also get yourself a FREE Defend Piercing shirt. First come first serve...
Jun 12, 2022
The Association of Professional Piercer's annual conference is back after a three year gap! The APP conference will have loads of changes this year due to covid, no on-site registration, scheduled expo sessions, and more. Ryan is joined by Cale from the APP's board of directors to go over some helpful info. Topics include: checking in and getting your badge, orientation and the mentor program, expo tips, the silent auction, and different resources you can use get the most out of your week in Las...
May 23, 2022
Ryan went all the way to Glasgow to see Lola and all you got was this lousy (quality audio) podcast. Ryan and Lola talk all about aftercare while they have mimosas and work on a puzzle. Piercing aftercare evolves year by year and we talk about how our understanding of aftercare and wound healing has evolved with it. Why don't we suggest cleaning a piercing with soap? Why don't we suggest mixing your own sea salt solution? Why do we suggest saline? Bust out a puzzle and listen along as we discuss...
May 09, 2022•1 hr 31 min
Ryan and Lola talk about anatomical variations this week, and more importantly how to discuss them with a client respectfully. Ryan got a suggestion for this topic from a patreon supporter after he posted some new videos on the subject (floating navel, inverted nipples). Sometimes it can feel awkward or difficult to talk to a client about their body or the viability of a particular anatomical feature. Lola shares some insight as they discuss their approach to informing clients about viability, w...
Apr 04, 2022
Frequent co-host Lola Slider takes over the show this week to talk with longtime UK piercer Quentin of Kalima Emporium. Quentin made a connection with ritual during his travels through India, Nepal and beyond, and now he works to share that connection in his body art career. Quentin and Lola also discuss how priorities and perspective can change over a nearly 30 year career. After the interview Lola checks in with Ryan to get his thoughts on the chat, updates on Ryan's projects, and other cutene...
Mar 28, 2022•1 hr 19 min
In late 2019 I had my friend Zakk Boyer come on the show (ep. 139) to tell us about his piercing journey. He was just starting out in a major shop and he had a mix of excitement and anxiety, but it didn't work out for Zakk at that shop unfortunately. Life goes on, and that is exactly what we talk about on this episode. It would have been easy to give up or slip back into a comfort zone, but Zakk kept pushing. Over 2020 and 2021 Zakk got into the travelling piercer lifestyle and guest spotted at ...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 12 min
On the 27th of December 2021 Alicia Cardenas; a mother, a tattooer, a piercer, a mentor, and a former President of the Association of Professional Piercers was shot and killed in her studio in Denver, Colorado. Alicia was my friend and I thought the best way to grieve and heal would be to ask some of Alicia's friends and colleagues to share their thoughts with us. It might be difficult for you listen to, but it is a powerful episode with some laughs, some gossip from the days of piercing past, a...
Feb 07, 2022•2 hr 29 min
Well, we made it through another year. Lola and Ryan recap 2021, for better or worse. We were settled into the new normal of appointment-only life, months long wait times for jewelry, frustrated clientele, and ever changing rules. In a year full of stress and anxiety many of us were busier than ever. We talk about what we went through this past year and what we hope will come to us in 2022. Thank you for your continued support of the show. I'll be taking a short hiatus, but I'll be back in early...
Dec 13, 2021
I've gone through opening a new studio a few times over my career, Jef Saunders of Gamma Piercing just opened shop #4. We have learned a lot along the way. Things to do, and things to definitely not do. We share a bit of everything; what goes into selecting a location, managing your funds, curating and stocking inventory, and how we try to build a sustainable business. Its not a "how to" but it can help shed some light on what worked for us. Thank you for all of your continued support at www.pat...
Dec 06, 2021•1 hr 27 min
For a special 200th (!!) episode of the show we PIVOT to Lola Slider guest hosting to interview long time host Ryan Ouellette. Lola tells us some podcast stats and mentions her favorite episodes. They also discuss the covid era of the show, Ryan's scarification career, and the question "is body mod an endangered species". Here's to another 200 episodes (but please no). On a personal note, thank you so much for keeping me going with this little project. I appreciate every listen, share, follow, c...
Nov 29, 2021
Have you ever seen a mandible piercing in person? How about a stretched Achilles heel piercing or a uvula piercing? What about seeing them all (and more) on one individual? Well I would like to introduce you to Daniel Rutt, a truly one of a kind person. TW: this episode includes discussion of substance use and sobriety. Thank you to all my new supporters at www.patreon.com/ryanpba . I recently published a new video on floating navels, and I am hard at work finishing up a daith piercing video for...
Nov 22, 2021•52 min
One last episode from BMXNET 2021, this time with Andrea Kummer. Andrea is a commanding presence, both inside and outside of her body art career. We talk the history of Berlin piercing and body mod culture through the 90's and 2000's with piercing, scarification, and suspension. If you are an APP it is is time to vote for your next board of directors members. Log in and vote before December 1st and make your voices heard. I have a new video all about floating navels available for you at www.patr...
Nov 15, 2021
Lets head back to BMXNET for this conversation with Matt (@dotbydottattoo). We discuss growth, education, and access. Its more than that, and a lot more, but thats a good way to set it up. Matt talks about his journey between the UK, New Zealand, Germany, and beyond. Growing as a suspension practitioner and handpoke tattoo artist, but his story translates well regardless of what your body art discipline may be. Enjoy. As I worked on this episode I was also finalizing a new narrated video about f...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 52 min
Mexican piercer living in Germany, Beto Rea, comes on the show this week. Beto is a long time piercer, suspension facilitator, and scarification artist. We talk about his history of learning to pierce in late 1990's Mexico, his travels across Central America, and his current life in Germany. You can find more of Beto's work online at kukulcanrituals.com . After my talk with Beto stay tuned for news about a disturbing CNN investigation into the importation of tens of millions of used nitrile glov...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 9 min
Helen Houghton of Holier Than Thou in Manchester UK is my guest this week. We discuss Helen's UKAPP conference class on Lumps and Bumps as well as the issue of troubleshooting in general. Part of the discussion revolves around the importance of downsizing and how to help make clients understand it. We also discuss how building a business around respect and community can be more effective than gatekeeping. Enjoy. There is a new narrated and subtitled video about Bridge Piercings available for on-...
Oct 25, 2021•54 min
This week is another interview recorded at BMXNET 2021, this time with German piercer Sven Seipold. I was impressed to learn that Sven is a member of not one, but 3 piercing organizations (VPP, APP, UKAPP). What I am even more impressed with, are the septum clamps that Sven made for me. Some of you may have been hearing about them online. I talk to Sven about the logic behind his modified and customized tools. Stay tuned until the end for a message I think we all need to hear. New content for yo...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 5 min
I was flying home from my teaching trip, stopping over in Iceland, when I turned around got a surprise. A wild John Balk appears! We sat down and caught up while we waited on our flight. We talk about what success in business and happiness in life has looked like this last year and a half. We also getting around to talking about work and we discuss our preference of word of mouth over advertising to reach new clients. Enjoy this random encounter. I have new content for you at www.patreon.com/rya...
Oct 11, 2021•44 min
If you weren't able to attend the UKAPP 2021 conference live and in person this episode gives you a good insight to the event from the perspectives of Ryan and Lola. We start out in Glasgow at Lola's flat with her previewing the conference as the outgoing president. We continue with instructor Edu Fernandez, a collage of attendees before one of Ryan's classes, incoming UKAPP president Sean Powell, another collage of attendees featuring additional board members Rhianna Jones, David Angeles, and B...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 29 min
Another episode recorded for you at BMXNET 2021. This time I sit down with Marcus Strohner from Trust Wholesale. Trust are the makers of the snaptile disposable forceps, the mosquito self releasing canula needle, the squidster sterile disposable skin markers, and much much more. A German based manufacturer and wholesaler, Trust has been supporting the body art community with their innovations and products for years. Marcus gives me some behind the scenes sneak peaks at upcoming items and talks a...
Sep 27, 2021•33 min
Well, heck. Here I am in Germany instructing at the BMXNET conference again, this time in Berlin. BMXNET 2021 has been fantastic, everyone involved should be proud to make such a wonderful experience for our community. I instructed three classes: BLOOD, Scarification workshop, and Piercing marking workshop. In between preparing and performing my classes I sat down with LOTS of different guests and recorded a bunch of content to release over the next few weeks. This episode will be "the sampler p...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Ryan went all the way to Glasgow to see Lola and all you got was this lousy podcast. We talk about international travel restrictions related to the upcoming piercing conferences in Germany and the UK. We also discuss our evolving needs on how we schedule specialty services. For Ryan that means piercing kids' lobes, for Lola that means managing genital piercing clientele. We talk about a need to distinguish between services that can be self-booked by clients, and services that require a bit more ...
Aug 02, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Ryan and Lola are back with another Ask Us Anything episode! This time we discuss: self promotion strategies, the question "is APP membership worth it?", how to help clients understand pricing, setting jewelry stock levels, the role of music in the studio and how we set a calming tone, and managing our anxiety at work. We also touch on the giant asteroid hurtling towards our industry, big corporations copying the "piercing studio aesthetic" to attract customers. Visit www.patreon.com/ryanpba for...
Jul 19, 2021
Ryan and Lola are back with another Ask Us Anything episode, this time we discuss septums and spectators. With covid restrictions easing some piercers are doing their first septum piercings in over a year. That can make a tricky piercing even more stressful. We discuss how we are getting our groove back with septums, and some tips and tricks for piercers using septum clamps. We also answer the question "do you allow spectators in the piercing room" and the reasoning behind our answers. Stay tune...
Jul 05, 2021•50 min
For over a year piercers have been terrified to openly discuss safety issues related to under-mask services. Lack of data and misunderstanding of transmission was a major issue in the early stages of COVID19, but even as we started to learn more there was a fear of being attacked in online learning spaces if you brought the subject up. As cities, countries, and shops begin to reopen and loosen restrictions we need to allow the free flow of information so piercers can make informed decisions. Wha...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 6 min
When I was at a 2019 seminar in Atlanta I met a piercer named Taki Edwards. She had so many questions and a hunger for information. Flash forward to present day and Taki has stepped up her jewelry and sterilization game and is making great strides in body piercing, we talk about how she got there. Taki shares her story and answers the question "what is scarier, being a nurse during covid or being a piercer trying to learn on the internet?". I'll be offering a patreon-exclusive webinar about TAPE...
May 31, 2021•1 hr
APP board of directors member Cale DiFrancesco comes on the show to talk about how piercing demand has changed in recent years. After a year of isolation clients are coming back in force, and they want pretty ears goddammit! Ear curation is something we are all having to learn or refine in today's industry, but with it comes increased demand for jewelry. How do we manage it all? Cale gives her thoughts while Ryan just smiles and nods. I'll be offering a webinar all about TAPERS on Sunday June 6t...
May 24, 2021
European piercer Aiko Hosten comes on the show this week to discuss a free webinar from the APP Benelux about Disposable Piercing. Some piercers might not understand the concept of working fully disposable since our industry has been based around ultrasonics and scrubbing tools for decades. Aiko explains the value of working disposable, from a financial standpoint but also when thinking green. Listen to this episode then visit the APP Benelux social media for info on how to attend the webinar fo...
May 17, 2021
As a companion piece to my recent NEEDLES webinar I recorded a chat with Gauntlet founder Jim Ward about his experiences developing piercing-specific needles through the 1970's and 1980's. We talk about how Jim took standard medical needles and cut off the hub to allow an easier jewelry transfer. Flash forward 40+ years and we are using piercing needles based on that same early modification. This is a great view of the history and evolution of piercing as we know it today. Watch the NEEDLES webi...
May 10, 2021•49 min
