Tattooer Matt Tillman—owner and proprietor of the Holy Scythe Tattoo—grew up in San Jose through the 80s and 90s. What started as tracing comics morphed into a tattooing career of over two decades.
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Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
Tattooer Matt Tillman—owner and proprietor of the Holy Scythe Tattoo—grew up in San Jose through the 80s and 90s. What started as tracing comics morphed into a tattooing career of over two decades.
---
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⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds.
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💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408
📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see the faces behind the voices and keep up with the scene.
📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
✍️ Crystel Vasquez grew up drawing and coloring on San Jose's east side when she came across the tattoo work of Roberto Cervantes—remember him from episodes 14 & 15? Now, 20 years later, she is tattooing on the south side at Sacred Oath Tattoos.
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Connect with Tattoo 408
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📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
✍️ Crystel Vasquez grew up drawing and coloring on San Jose's east side when she came across the tattoo work of Roberto Cervantes—remember him from episodes 14 & 15? Now, 20 years later, she is tattooing on the south side at Sacred Oath Tattoos.
---
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Connect with Tattoo 408
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📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
🤘 Sphinx's story picks up where we left off last episode—the beginnings of Current Tattooing. Sphinx also talks about his artistic inspirations and share a few wild stories.
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Connect with Tattoo 408
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Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
🤘 Sphinx's story begins not with a tattoo machine, but with a can of spray paint. He was born in San Jose in 1974, and as a young kid in the early '80s, he was drawn to graffiti after watching Beat Street. He began his tattoo career in 2001 at Metamorphic, where he apprenticed under Andy Johnson. Today you can find Sphinx tattooing at Current Tattooing.
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Connect with Tattoo 408
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📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
The second half of Ethan's interview with Dan Wysuph at Fog City Tattoo in Santa Cruz, CA. Make sure you go back and listen to the first half if you haven't!
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Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
😶🌫️ Ethan took a trip down the windy highway 17 to pay a visit to Dan Wysuph at Fog City Tattoo on Seabright Ave in Santa Cruz, CA.
🏄🏻 Dan grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains, attending high school in Los Gatos, yet spending most of his free time in Santa Cruz. Having spent his childhood with one foot in Santa Cruz and another in San Jose, he's spent the majority of his tattooing career like that as well. With just over twenty years under his belt, Dan has made a name for himself with his Northern Californian take on American traditional tattooing.
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💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408
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📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
Tomorrow is Friday the 13th! You know what that means, tons of San Jose shops tattooing tons of awesome flash designs at a discount. Here’s where you can get some sick tats tomorrow:
Midtown:
Eleventh Dimension Tattoo Arts
Downtown:
Rose Garden/Alameda:
Willow Glen:
South Side:
West San Jose:
Gilroy:
Milpitas:
Parallax Tattoo and Art Studio
Santa Clara:
If you want to learn more about how Friday the 13th became such a big deal in tattooing and what to expect here in SJ, go back and listen to episode 11.
Keep your eye out for me while you’re getting tattooed. I’ll be taking pictures and perhaps interviewing some folks. So if you want to be on the pod or just want some Tattoo 408 stickers, don’t be shy and say hi!
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Support the Show
⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds.
📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, your artist, your cousin who’s obsessed with ink—let’s grow the 408 tattoo fam.
💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408
📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see the faces behind the voices and keep up with the scene.
📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
In this episode, Ethan sites down with San Jose tattooer Jerry Moran to talk about what first pulled him into tattooing, how he’s stayed grounded through the industry's shifts, and why collaboration and connection remain at the heart of his work. From his earliest obsessions to the way he brings clients' ideas to life, Jerry shares what it means to him to be part of the tattoo community—and why he never plans to stop.
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Support the Show
⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds.
📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, your artist, your cousin who’s obsessed with ink—let’s grow the 408 tattoo fam.
💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408
📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see the faces behind the voices and keep up with the scene.
📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
In this episode, Ethan sites down with San Jose tattooer Jerry Moran to talk about what first pulled him into tattooing, how he’s stayed grounded through the industry's shifts, and why collaboration and connection remain at the heart of his work. From his earliest obsessions to the way he brings clients' ideas to life, Jerry shares what it means to him to be part of the tattoo community—and why he never plans to stop.
---
Support the Show
⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds.
📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, your artist, your cousin who’s obsessed with ink—let’s grow the 408 tattoo fam.
💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408
📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see the faces behind the voices and keep up with the scene.
📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
Ethan Gregory Dodge sits down with Milwaukee tattooer Julio Ávila about his start in tattooing and how his career brought him to the 408.
Julio lives up to the stereotype of a storied tattooist with some truly wild stories. In fact, he just published a book detailing many of them. Support him by picking up a copy 👇🏻
Tales of a Tattoo Apprentice by Julio Ávila
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Support the Show
⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds.
📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, your artist, your cousin who’s obsessed with ink—let’s grow the 408 tattoo fam.
💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408
📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see the faces behind the voices and keep up with the scene.
📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
Ethan Gregory Dodge sits down with Milwaukee tattooer Julio Ávila about his start in tattooing and how his career brought him to the 408.
Julio lives up to the stereotype of a storied tattooist with some truly wild stories. In fact, he just published a book detailing many of them. Support him by picking up a copy 👇🏻
Tales of a Tattoo Apprentice by Julio Ávila
---
Support the Show
⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds.
📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, your artist, your cousin who’s obsessed with ink—let’s grow the 408 tattoo fam.
💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408
📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see the faces behind the voices and keep up with the scene.
📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
The second half of Ronita's interview with Ethan.
Episodes now drop the first Monday of every month and both parts of the interview drop on the same day!
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⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds.
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💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408
📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see the faces behind the voices and keep up with the scene.📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts
🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak
🎵 Theme music by mint.beats
🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
Tattoo 408 is finally back after a long hiatus with a very special guest: Ronita Yvarra. In this episode, Ethan sits down with Ronita to hear the story of how she went from being a teenage artist in East San Jose to one of the region’s early female tattooers. Ronita learned the craft under Chuck Marshall, a fixture in South Bay tattoo scene in the '70s and '80s. She shares vivid memories of her apprenticeship, opening her own shop in Paradise and Chico, and so much more. With humor, honesty, and deep reverence for her roots, Ronita offers a window into a lesser-known corner of San Jose’s tattoo history.
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Here are some things Ethan has been up to:
Taki, Molly, and Ethan's interview on "Books Closed"
Trace Ed Hardy’s global influence on tattoo design, roots in San Francisco with this timeline
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Support the Show
⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds.📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, your artist, your cousin who’s obsessed with ink—let’s grow the 408 tattoo fam.💸 Leave a Tip – Want to support the pod directly? Drop a tip here—every bit helps.
Connect with Tattoo 408📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see the faces behind the voices and keep up with the scene.📬 Want some free Tattoo 408 stickers? DM your address—Ethan’s got you.
Shoutouts🎨 Logo by the incredibly talented Tessia Spisak🎵 Theme music by mint.beats🎙️ Produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge
© 2025 Ethan Gregory Dodge. Released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Share it, remix it, just don’t sell it—give credit where it’s due.
This week, I'm taking the time to address some questions I've gotten, the primary one being my own tattoo story. I dive into some of my religious upbringing, my love for San Jose, and my overall vision for Tattoo 408. Please bear with me as I turn the mic around this week.
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Show Support:
Rate and Review: Love Tattoo 408? Show your support by leaving a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it only takes a few seconds!
Spread the Word: Share the podcast with your tattoo-loving friends and family. Let's build a community!
Exclusive Discount: Enjoy a 15% discount on tattoo healing products at saniderm.com with the code "tattoo408."
Leave a Tip: Help us grow by leaving a tip!
Connect and Engage:
Follow Tattoo 408: Stay updated by following the pod on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.
Exclusive Stickers: DM your address, and Ethan send you some cool Tattoo 408 stickers!
Acknowledgments:
Logo: Special thanks to Tessia Spisak for the killer logo.
Music: Shoutout to mint.beats for the awesome music.
Production: Tattoo 408 is produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge.
Copyright Information:
This week is the rest of Ethan's interview with Klem. Learn why Klem left the 408 for Santa Cruz, what led him to open his own shop, O'Reilly's, and how it became a staple in Santa Cruz tattooing for many years. Plus, hear why Klem feels that tattooing is better than winning the lottery.
If you'd like to book an appointment with Klem, email klem1891@gmail.com
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Show Support:
Rate and Review: Love Tattoo 408? Show your support by leaving a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it only takes a few seconds!
Spread the Word: Share the podcast with your tattoo-loving friends and family. Let's build a community!
Exclusive Discount: Enjoy a 15% discount on tattoo healing products at saniderm.com with the code "tattoo408."
Leave a Tip: Help us grow by leaving a tip!
Connect and Engage:
Follow Tattoo 408: Stay updated by following the pod on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.
Exclusive Stickers: DM your address, and Ethan send you some cool Tattoo 408 stickers!
Acknowledgments:
Logo: Special thanks to Tessia Spisak for the killer logo.
Music: Shoutout to mint.beats for the awesome music.
Production: Tattoo 408 is produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge.
Copyright Information:
As I talk to tattooists all over the 408, many names consistently come up whom I have not interviewed. But one in particular came up for often than any of them: Klem. Preferring to go by his last name, Klem has been tattooing for over 30 years. Born and raised in South San Jose, Klem started tattooing at 22 and hasn't stopped. In this episode, he takes us through his time at his first two tattoo shops: San Jose's own Pinup Parlor and Marks of Art.
If you'd like to book an appointment with Klem, email klem1891@gmail.com
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Show Support:
Rate and Review: Love Tattoo 408? Show your support by leaving a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it only takes a few seconds!
Spread the Word: Share the podcast with your tattoo-loving friends and family. Let's build a community!
Exclusive Discount: Enjoy a 15% discount on tattoo healing products at saniderm.com with the code "tattoo408."
Leave a Tip: Help us grow by leaving a tip!
Connect and Engage:
Follow Tattoo 408: Stay updated by following the pod on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.
Exclusive Stickers: DM your address, and Ethan send you some cool Tattoo 408 stickers!
Acknowledgments:
Logo: Special thanks to Tessia Spisak for the killer logo.
Music: Shoutout to mint.beats for the awesome music.
Production: Tattoo 408 is produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge.
Copyright Information:
Adam Barton takes us through the rest of his time at New Skool, his world travels, and the opening of Fog City Tattoo in Santa Cruz, CA, where he currently tattoos. ---
Show Support:
Rate and Review: Love Tattoo 408? Show your support by leaving a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it only takes a few seconds!
Spread the Word: Share the podcast with your tattoo-loving friends and family. Let's build a community!
Exclusive Discount: Enjoy a 15% discount on tattoo healing products at saniderm.com with the code "tattoo408."
Leave a Tip: Help us grow by leaving a tip!
Connect and Engage:
Follow Tattoo 408: Stay updated by following the pod on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.
Exclusive Stickers: DM your address, and Ethan send you some cool Tattoo 408 stickers!
Acknowledgments:
Logo: Special thanks to Tessia Spisak for the killer logo.
Music: Shoutout to mint.beats for the awesome music.
Production: Tattoo 408 is produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge.
Copyright Information:
🌹 It's hard to talk about San Jose tattooing in the past 30 years and not mention Adam Barton. His career took an early turn when Adrian Lee invited him to guest spot at New Skool in downtown San Jose. It marked the beginning of a remarkable journey. Join us as we unravel the fascinating journey of a tattoo artist who transformed his religious upbringing in upstate New York into an indelible mark on California's tattooing scene and beyond.
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Show Support:
Rate and Review: Love Tattoo 408? Show your support by leaving a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it only takes a few seconds!
Spread the Word: Share the podcast with your tattoo-loving friends and family. Let's build a community!
Exclusive Discount: Enjoy a 15% discount on tattoo healing products at saniderm.com with the code "tattoo408."
Leave a Tip: Help us grow by leaving a tip!
Connect and Engage:
Follow Tattoo 408: Stay updated by following the pod on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.
Exclusive Stickers: DM your address, and Ethan send you some cool Tattoo 408 stickers!
Acknowledgments:
Logo: Special thanks to Tessia Spisak for the killer logo.
Music: Shoutout to mint.beats for the awesome music.
Production: Tattoo 408 is produced by Ethan Gregory Dodge.
Copyright Information:
