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 sign up for Ryan's may 20th 2024 webinar about bevel theory, get more info or sign up at www.ryanpba.com.

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 guess. You can get more info about the May 19 2024 Bevel Theory online webinar & workshop with this google form (https://forms.gle/58x6YnJhuiVL1HjKA) or by visiting www.ryanpba.com.

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.

I was really happy to have been invited to teach at the first Australasian United Professional Piercers (AUPP) conference in Sydney, Australia. While I was there I sat down with Suzanne Hallett, from the AUPP's board of directors, and one of the event's key organizers. We talk about how a local organization can push standards higher in ways that might not be feasible on a global scale. The AUPP's first conference was an impressive event that brough piercers together with excellent classes, a vendor showcase area, and fun social moments. I also talk to Suzanne about her career success and how she went from being a staff member at a well known and respected studio, to becoming its owner.

While I was in Sydney I was finishing up a video featuring Lola Slider narrating her bridge piercing methods and showing an example of both clamp, and no-clamp bridge piercing. Watch it at www.patreon.com/ryanpba along with dozens of other videos for just $15 on the arch-mage tier.

Lola and Ryan went to all the conferences and all you got was this lousy podcast. We recap some of our favorite parts of the BMXNET conference in Berlin, the Professional Piercers Poland conference in Gdansk, and the UKAPP conference in Manchester. Every conference has its own personality, community, and benefits. We share our experiences to help you decide which conference might be right for you. Stick around for some honest advice for prospective business owners.

We will also be offering out next webinar on Sunday November 12 2023. Join us for two classes in one webinar: Navel Piercing Variations, written by Ryan for the BMXNET conference, and Size Matters (jewelry sizing theory) written by Lola for the UKAPP conference. Webinar is open to professional piercers of all experience levels. Sign up at www.ryanpba.com.