All Episodes

August 24, 2025 89 mins

On Episode 132 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Nashville tattoo artist Blake Owens about his journey into the trade, opening his own shop in Green Hills and the realities of running a tattoo business, the evolution of tattoo culture in Nashville, and how COVID-19 is shaping the future of the industry.

Support the Show
Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se
Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s

Connect with Blake Owens
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@blakeowenstattoos
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/blakeowenstattoos
Personal Website → https://www.blakeowenstattoos.com
Shop Website → https://www.forevertattooclub.com

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
01:58 - Becoming a Tattoo Artist
06:08 - Apprenticeship and Early Experiences
12:04 - Opening a Tattoo Shop
18:06 - Impact of COVID-19
24:01 - Economics of Tattooing
30:02 - Artistic Growth and Challenges
34:06 - Styles and Influences
37:01 - Tattoo Trends
40:58 - Work/Life Balance
43:53 - Creative Outlets Beyond Tattooing
54:59 - Navigating Client Relationships and Pricing
01:00:07 - Guest Spots and Influences
01:03:20 - Nashville Culinary Adventures
01:20:17 - Tattoo Culture and Personal Expression

#tattooartist #Nashville #tattooshop #tattooapprenticeship #COVID19 #tattootrends #tattooculture #tattooindustry #tattooexperiences #artisticinfluences #creativeoutlets #BlakeOwens #thetlbpod #thetlbpodcast #totallylegitimatebusiness

Support the show

Patreon Tiktok Instagram YouTube

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.