The Economics of Everyday Things
The Economics of Everyday Things

20. Tattoo Parlors

March 8, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

  • The Format: A narrative-driven podcast episode blending storytelling, interviews, and economic analysis in the style of Freakonomics Radio—exploring the tattoo industry's business side through vivid scenes and expert voices.
  • The Key Players:
    • Zachary Kraken (Host): Guides the episode with crisp narration, unpacking stats and history.
    • Tyler Adams: Owner of Grizzly Tattoo in Portland; street-smart veteran sharing shop woes and wild client tales.
    • Stacey Martin Smith: Upstate NY tattoo artist; candid on her career hustle and online boom.
  • The Vibe: Fun and eye-opening—mixes quirky anecdotes with industry economics, feeling like a curious dive into a taboo-turned-mainstream world.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **Tattoo Industry Boom**
  • 2 (02:56) **History of Modern Tattooing**
  • 3 (03:47) **Becoming a Tattoo Artist**
  • 4 (05:36) **Traditional Shop Business Model**
  • 5 (06:22) **Disruption by Social Media**
  • 6 (07:35) **Artist Costs and Client Acquisition**
  • 7 (11:40) **Tattoo Trends and Unique Requests**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

More people than ever before are getting tattoos — but social media has flipped the trade’s business model on its head. Zachary Crockett dips into the ink. This episode was originally published on October 3rd, 2023.


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The Economics of Everyday Things