Piercing Wizard Podcast

Cozmo returns 111 episodes later. Cozmo is a key volunteer behind the scenes of the Association of Professional Piercers. We talk about his work on the APP's membership committee, as an instructor with a focus on his classes covering bedside manner and studio security, and his work as a mentor. If you're looking for more Cozmo content you can check out his @DailyCozWerks channel on youtube and the same name on IG, where Cozmo visits different coffee shops on his motorcycle (neat!). I have a new helix piercing video in the works for you at www.patreon.com/ryanpba that will be posted before the end of the year. I have a new seminar in Indianapolis on Sunday February 2nd 2025, you can get info or sign up here: https://forms.gle/N4EJYyU1i9hNzVke6. Lola and Ryan will be doing another ask-us-anything episode soon, submit your questions here: https://forms.gle/r8HqZv5Wkzu3Nd8S8.

Look out America, Lola is coming! It took over a year of paperwork to get it done, but Lola has a work visa to pierce in the United States. Ryan and Lola talk about the process and what the future holds. We also talk about why Lola declined a nomination for the APP board of directors election, and its not just because she's busy. Check out Ryan's new "half-adravya" at www.patreon.com/ryanpba. You can also gift memberships to your favorite piercer via: www.patreon.com/ryanpba/gift.

Sala returns to the podcast after several years to talk about what makes an effective volunteer. Sala is a familiar presence around the world, helping organize conferences and organizations across multiple countries. Sala has accepted a nomination to run for the board of directors of the Association of Professional Piercers. If you are an APP member don't forget to vote, the deadline is Dec 18 2024 so don't delay. We talk about time management, communication skills, and the inspiration that goes into volunteer work. I have a new video showcasing two examples of a "half-adravya" piercing available at www.patreon.com/ryanpba. A $15 arch-mage tier membership gets you access to this video and hours of other on-demand content.

Shawn Porter has been a key figure in the body modification world for decades. I first met Shawn through BME in the early 2000s and I have watched his creative influence on the industry ever since. Today, Shawn publishes body modification history through his Sacred Debris website and various print projects. 2024 was the year of Shawn saying yes to projects he may have turned down in the past; conferences, public speaking, and podcasts. So I jumped at the opportunity to have Shawn come on the show, I hope you enjoy what we recorded. We talk about Shawn's teenage entry into the body modification world through his contact with pioneer Jack Yount, then we transition into the BMEZINE years, MODCON, Scar Wars, and much more. Content Warning: graphic explicit conversations about genital piercing and modification, heavy body modification work, friends who have passed away, and extensive use of the word "cock". You can watch the video version on any tier at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.

This Piercing Wizard Podcast was recorded in front of a live studio audience ...at the 2024 UKAPP conference. Ryan and Lola invited previous guests Helen Houghton of Holier Than Thou Manchester and J'son D'souza of J'vaire Mumbai for a conversation about intimate piercing. As piercers we can offer simple piercings that a client gets for simple reasons, but we can also get requests that carry a deep meaning and heavy responsibility. Our panel talks about intimate work and how it differs from more visible work, the experience we try to offer to our clients, and our mentality when offering it.

Lola came up with a new idea for an episode, her and Ryan interview each other with surprise questions for the other. Neither of us knew the questions ahead of time, so the conversations they spark are a mix of informative and silly. Enjoy as we talk about piercing techniques, our least favorite things, and the days of piercing past. Oh, and Lola would like you to know that she came up with an ice cream flavor that Ben + Jerry's can name after her, Pierce-stacchio. Ryan has a new video showcasing two navel variations, one is a forward facing navel, and one is a floating navel. Watch it on-demand along with dozens of other piercing videos at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.

This episode of the PWP was recorded at the BMXNET 2024 conference in Berlin. Lola and Ryan welcome back Kevin Jump to talk about spirituality in the piercing studio. Is it a key part of what we do? Is it silly and unnecessary? Ryan received an email from a listener who felt out of touch with the type of spirituality you sometimes hear piercers talking about. It sparked an interesting conversation about ritual and its place in the modern piercing industry. New content keeps coming at www.patreon.com/ryanpba. You can watch the new tragus (back-to-front) video, a new bevel theory exercises video, and hours of video content in the archive when you sign up to the arch-mage tier. Get more info about Ryan's Sept 1 2024 seminar in Middletown, NY at: www.ryanpba.com.

Do you pierce minors? Why, or why not? We kick off this episode with a discussion about piercing minors, and some factors that might go into deciding the issue in your studio. Liability is a word I want piercers to think about from time to time. What kind of liabilities come up when piercing a minor? How can we minimize our exposure to liability in our practices? I also talk about the need for reprocessing in studios, or at least proper education about safe reprocessing, even in a disposable shop. You can watch my new video about piercing a tragus from the front to the back, with multiple video demonstrations going back over 8 years! Available at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.com on the arch-mage tier. I also have a new seminar open for registration. Sunday September 1st 2024 in Middletown, NY. Find more info or register at www.ryanpba.com. This episode is brought to you by IRN BRU soda, I assure you it is a soda. You can only get it in Scotland, which is probably a good thing.

How well do you fail? Bethrah Szumski, former APP president, former APP secretary, studio owner, and all around boss comes back to the show. I wanted to make episode 250 (thank you, by the way) special, and that meant having a guest with something to say. Admittedly we didn't have much of a plan going in to this one. Bethrah was kind in offering to record a conversation shortly after she arrived to Las Vegas for the 2024 APP conference. Bethrah has always been someone who will just tell it like it is. Content warning, we will talk about mental health and therapy, we'll talk about the current economy and how it is strangling many shops, and we'll talk about a few other things that loosely fit into the "career goals" column. I have other various stuff to promote, but just go to www.ryanpba.com for that. New videos, new merch, new class announcements, yadda yadda.

Insert clever description here My brain is fried from a long work week and an overnight flight home. Enjoy this recap of Lola and Ryan talking about their 2024 APP conference experience. We know that the post-conference blues hit hard, so lets keep those conference vibes with us for as long as we can. See you next year!

Lola and Ryan are heading to Las Vegas for the A.P.P.'s 2024 conference, come say hi at the Piercing Wizard expo booth. We'll have exclusive shirts, pins, and hats that you can grab including a special shirt for supporters at www.patreon.com/ryanpba. On this episode Lola brings up an issue we think more piercers should talk about, is the "all gold" business model sustainable? To be clear both of our studios use gold daily, but we also want to make sure that safe piercing can be accessible across a wide range of demographics. We're putting some thoughts out and encourage the professional piercer community to continue the discussion. Now available at patreon.com/ryanpba is a new video showing exercises you can utilize to grow your confidence and skills with bevel theory. Check it out on the arch-mage tier, while you are there keep your eyes peeled for details on how to grab a conference exclusive shirt!

Ryan and Lola are back with another Ask-Us-Anything episode where we answer your burning questions. 00:45: How do you grow your online presence? 12:15: How to go about guest spotting. 23:15: Using a Statim with reprocessed tools / clean item bulk storage. 31:25: Efficient jewelry ordering methods and systems. 43:20: Advice for piercers that went through a "bad" apprenticeship. 52:20: What made you realize you wanted to teach? 1:05:50: If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be and why? Are you going to be at the 2024 APP conference in las Vegas? Come stop by the Piercing Wizard booth in the expo and say hello to Ryan and Lola. There will be all kinds of fun stickers, pins, and shirts. If you are a subscriber at www.patreon.com/ryanpba you can come snag an exclusive t-shirt!

Hola! Ryan and Lola sat down with frequent guest Jef Saunders while they were all in Zaragoza Spain to instruct at the 2024 APPE conference. They talk about teaching through a translator and how the conference was going after day 1. They also discuss forward helix piercings, how they perform them, and some educational content they have made about forward helixes. The show wraps up with a discussion about opening new studios. Jef is currently working on a new Gamma Piercing shop in Milwaukee and Lola recently opened her new Forest Piercing studio in Glasgow. Enjoy. If you'd like to get more info about forward helix piercings you can find Jef's presentation at www.patreon.com/piercingnerd. You can find Ryan's upcoming video on double forward helix and triple forward helix piercing at www.patreon.com/ryanpba, while you're there you can also find Lola's video showing a single forward helix piercing with a fully disposable method, as well as how she "reverses direction". You also still have time to sig

Please be aware this episode ends with a memorial to Canadian piercer Deacon Matheson who recently passed. Starting at 46:00 will be some thoughts from Ryan and Lola about mental health. Starting at 57:30 there will be some highlights from episode 232 featuring Deacon's voice. The majority of this episode will be Ryan and Lola talking about their regular piercer bullsh*t. Walk ins are starting to creep back in to both of our studios. We talk about what lead us to give walk ins another chance after settling in to an appointment-only comfort zone. We also talk about how to give and receive constructive critiques. Its not as easy (or as common) as you might hope. You're probably going to hear us being a bit more open about mental health issues throughout future episodes. Like any health and safety issue in piercing industry, mental health is easier to manage with more information. Ryan also has another webinar coming up in may, which feels weird to plug in this description, but hey everybody has to pay bills I g

In this episode Lola and Ryan talk about how to manage jewelry repairs in the studio. It may seem like a simple thing to get broken jewelry fixed, but like many other aspects of the studio we pick apart all the little complications. We also talk about Lola's experience of having scarification performed by Ryan, and we have some exciting news about BME activity!! Ryan also has a new video breaking down his method for piercing earlobes with a back-to-front technique. The 25 minute long narrated video includes seven examples of piercing an earlobe, along with two helpful exercises you can practice with. Available now on the arch-mage tier at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.

Who knows what secrets lurk in the heart of piercers? The Shadow knows. On this episode Ryan and Lola talk about setting healthy boundaries and expectations for shadowing (typically, observation outside of your home studio). We discuss some of our experiences with shadowing and how they can helpful for others, either as the host or as the shadowing piercer. We give our opinions on chamomile tea bags for aftercare. We also chat about labret piercings, reverse Prince Albert piercings, and our roles at the 2024 APP conference. Ryan has a new video covering and demonstrating a labret piercing (done with clamps) available now at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.com. Enjoy.

During Lola & Ryan's holiday Lord of the Rings marathon, somewhere between the battle of Helm's Deep and the battle for Minas Tirath, we recorded this episode for you. We talk about fair compensation in the body piercing industry as well as a few other subjects. We chat about pubic piercings, labret piercings, if clamps still have a place in the modern piercing studio, apprenticeship progress, a short recap of piercing in 2023, and a funny story about Ryan nearly getting a strip search because of his bawbag piercings. See you in 2024!

Join Lola and Ryan for another q&a episode where we discuss some questions submitted by our listeners. Is this everything you have for jewelry? Do you really need two needles for an industrial? Can you pierce around creases and wrinkles? How do you maintain good physical and mental health as a piercer? Should you pierce immunocompromised clients? How do you report bad shops? Join Ryan for a live seminar in Dallas, Texas on Sunday January 28th 2024. Get more info or sign up at www.ryanpba.com. You can also check out Ryan's new video demonstrating three different outside-in nostril piercings with a variety of methods at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.com.

Eden Thomson from Absolution Piercing in Christchurch, New Zealand comes on the show this week. Eden and Ryan sat down in Sydney during the AUPP conference and talked about piercing, access to suspension, and the BME vibe. Eden is fantastic piercer from the other side of the world and I'm glad I could finally get him on the show. I have a new seminar coming up in Dallas, Texas on Sunday January 28th 2024. For more info visit www.ryanpba.com.

For this episode Lola and Ryan do a deep dive into surface piercings (about 3/32" in most cases). We talk about surface piercing methods in 2023 and all the various methods we tried out going back into the late 90's. Surface bars, body placements, and a range of techniques from clamps and plastic jewelry up to punch & taper and wound shaping. We also discuss a common issue related to surface work, rejection, and how to talk to clients about their risks. If you enjoy this topic there is a new video demonstrating a chamfer and blade needle surface piercing narrated by Ryan now available at www.patreon.com/ryanpba on the $15 arch-mage tier.