Tattoo Budcast

We’re kicking off PRIDE Month the only way we know how—by handing the mic to someone better suited and wiser than us. This week, veteran tattooer, shop owner, and self-proclaimed “rainbow” Yesi Concepcion joins the Buds to talk about her 15-year journey in the tattoo industry and what it’s like living between “girls’ girl” and “one of the boys” territory. We get real (real dumb) about queer identity in tattooing, the spaces that sh...

Live from Arizona! The Buds hit the road and somehow didn’t get kicked out of the Grand Canyon State Tattoo Convention! This is our first-ever on-location episode, recorded straight from the floor of the con. We’re chopping it up with the masterminds behind the madness, Drew Rhinehart and Lloyd Parrack, and vibing with a killer lineup of artists—Sam Avitia, Mikey T, Nestor Gonzalez, and our returning roadbud, Franklin Allen. We’re ...

The Tattoo Buds are reunited and it feels... weird!

After over a month apart, Jimmy Jam’s back from tour and Sanae’s back from guest spotting in Hawaii—and they’ve brought travel stories, snacks, and sunburns. This week, they’re asking the real questions, like: Why don’t tattooers take photos with their clients anymore? Is it time to bring back the awkward arm-around-the-client shot?

The Buds also let AI guess what they look like, ...

Welcome back to another chaotic session of the Tattoo Budcast, where Jimmy Jam is mysteriously MIA (no, really—someone check his location). But don’t worry, Honorary Bud Goonies is back in the co-pilot seat with Sanae, and the girls are talking DRAWERS BLOCK, baby. Goonies shares how she clawed her way out of an inspiration slump and back into the tattoo groove.

Then things get unhinged with the viral “Hear Me Out” TikTok challenge...

The Buds are reunited and they’ve brought in a certified Flash Machine! This week we’re joined by our longtime friend and unflappable tattoo wizard, Brandon Servillon—master of many styles, with over 15 years in the game and well over 100 hand-painted flash sheets to prove it. We’re grilling Brandon on what keeps him chill, inspired, and not rage-quitting after sheet #87. Then we tackle one of tattooing’s great debates: which direc...

Sanae's out this week, so honorary Bud *Goonies* steps up as co-Bud, and together with Jimmy Jam, they welcome the one and only *Pokey*—a personal friend of the pod and officially the Nicest Man in Tattooing™. With 20+ years under his belt, Pokey gives us the lowdown on his career, shares a regrettable (and hilarious) story from the vault, and we all collectively lose our minds reacting to a viral video of a 9-year-old in Arizona g...

Jimmy Jam is back from allegedly starring in an action movie where he definitely did his own stunts and absolutely didn’t just hang around craft services. He and Sanae reunite after a brief separation (no, they’re not mad at each other) to react to the latest so-called "innovations" in tattooing—including people getting full pieces done under general anesthesia. It’s upsetting. They’re upset.

Also: listener questions, bad advice, a...

**Welcome back to another session of *Tattoo Budcast*!**  

This week, our Honorary Bud **Goonie** is riding shotgun (seriously—has *anyone* seen Jimmy Jam?), helping Sanae wrangle our guest: the *Billy Zane of Hair* herself, alt-hairdresser **Karen Rivera**.  (Btw, who was the real villain of Titanic?)

Karen’s booked *and* unbothered—she’s so booked, she doesn’t even take new clients anymore. She’s spilling the tea on how she built...

Hey buds! We’re back for another session, and Jimmy Jam has *barely* survived his journey to a tattoo convention—turns out travel logistics aren't exactly his strong suit. This week, we spiral into the great beyond with a hot take on aliens: are they just misunderstood? Have Hollywood and the government given them a bad rap? Does Sanae have a reason to be scared ? Or is Jimmy Jam right that they’re just U.F.O.s [Unidentified Friend...

Today, the Tattoo Buds sit down with a true OG of the tattoo YouTube game—Wayne Fredrickson of the *Unite & Win Podcast*! Despite rolling in on a broken foot, Wayne proves he just can't sit still. From opening multiple shops to traveling the country in his van to tattoo on the road, launching a tattoo supply company, and running his own podcast and YouTube channel, he's got a [broken] foot in just about everything.  

If you'r...

The Tattoo Buds are back and flying solo—no guests, just chaos. Sanae spills on her star-studded weekend (celeb cameos included), while Jimmy Jam takes us deep into his first ever psychedelic trip. Spoiler: it involves life-altering insights, the Getty Museum, and your favorite lowbrow Buds talking highbrow art in the most undignified way possible.

We also pay our respects to tattoo legend Jack Rudy (RIP), react to @ryanroitattoo’s...

This week, the Tattoo Buds are hangin’ with none other than Chris de Armas—a 20-year tattoo wizard from Orange County who’s basically done it all. Award-winning tattooer? Check. World traveler? Check. Owner of American Vintage Tattoo, Electric Pagoda Printing, AND Bandit Laser Tattoo Removal? Triple check. He tattoos, he removes tattoos, he probably dreams in tattoos.

We chat about his insane experience tattooing in Nepal (spoile...

This week, the Tattoo Buds are back with their honorary third Bud, Goonies, for another episode of tattoo talk, unfiltered rants, and completely unnecessary (but hilarious) poop stories. We’re airing our grievances about the latest crime against tattooing—the rise of “sip and ink” (aka “ink and drink”) events. Bad tattoos and booze? What could possibly go wrong? We also debate whether having a signature style as a tattoo artist is ...

HUNGRY IN WHITTIER (EP 19) ft. Steph Portugal I Tattoo Budcast w/ Sanae Garcia & Jimmy Jam

Buds, this one’s a **mouthful**—literally! 🍔🤣 Today, we’ve got **Steph Portugal** of *Hungry in Whittier* in the house! She’s a **tattoo collector, food blogger, pro photographer**, and—let’s be real—**one of Jimmy Jam’s longtime enablers [buds]**.  

We’re talking how Steph turned a hobby into a 55k following on her @hungryinwhittie...

**The Tattoo Buds are back with a solo episode, and 2 out of 2 Buds agree—this might be their favorite one yet!** They’re coming in hyper, ridiculous, and ready to spill all the ink. This week, they’re diving into some of the first tattoos they *almost* got (and are *very* glad they didn’t). Plus, they’re introducing a brand-new segment: answering listener questions straight from Instagram! Tune in, laugh with us, and maybe even cr...

This week, we've got a Bud in session! Jimmy Jam and Sanae are sitting down with Thea Warden, a well-respected 17-year veteran tattoo artist from Fullerton, California. Specializing in Neo-Traditional tattoos, Thea shares her unique tattoo journey and how she manages the pressures of her career. We dive deep into the responsibility an artist holds when verifying a tattoo design’s background—particularly when it comes to avoiding pr...

Welcome to your Valentine’s session! In this special episode, we’re diving into all things LOVE. The Buds chat about the ultimate Valentine’s date ideas, share hilarious stories of embarrassing crushes, and discuss the trend of couples tattoos – including couple dynamics in tattoo shops. We also reflect on the mysterious ways of Cupid and why we’re low-key worried about him. Tune in for our first-ever Valentine’s celebration!

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One of the best things about tattoo shops is you never know who’s going to walk through the door—and this week, it’s a therapist with a twist! Join the Tattoo Buds as they sit down with Pablo Hurtado, LMFT, a tattooed Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, who’s got a lot to share about the intersection of psychology, relationships, and tattoos. 

We’re kicking off Valentine's month by diving into the psychology of dating, relati...

Welcome back to another solo session with your favorite buds! Today, it's just the two of them catching up on their silly little lives, sharing some of their fears, and reminiscing about the early days of social media and email. Sanae gives a hilarious review of a strange movie James assigned to her in a previous episode. He also introduces her to her very first McRib (spoiler: it's a moment!). Plus, they dive into tattoo cover-ups...