We welcome the incredible Stephen Sanchez, whose stories of carving through Newport Beach's formidable waves on his trusty 'roller coaster' surfboard crafted by Alex Gamino set the stage for a profound exploration of the intersection between surfing and life's broader challenges. As we talk about our mutual respect for the art of shaping and the local surf scene, Stephen shares stories from the ocean's depths that serve as powerful metaphors for the personal growth and gratitude cultivated through early morning dawn patrols and navigating life's unpredictability.
Overcoming doubt and building confidence, our guest discusses the parallels between learning to ride the waves and mastering the art of tattooing. The heartfelt stories of personal loss and the quest for inner peace resonate as we discuss the importance of embracing one's unique self and navigating the intricate tapestry of life's adversities with resilience.
Join us for an episode that's far more than just a conversation on surfing and tattoos—it's a philosophically rich dialogue on seeking wisdom, fostering a positive mental outlook, and the search for joy amidst grief. Stephen's ethos of focusing on the present and giving one's best in each moment underpins an inspiring narrative that encourages listeners to face fears with courage, embrace their individuality, and live life to its absolute fullest.
Thanks for taking the time to listen in. Please leave us 5 stars on Spotify & Apple Podcasts with a review. THANK YOU!
We welcome the incredible Stephen Sanchez, whose stories of carving through Newport Beach's formidable waves on his trusty 'roller coaster' surfboard crafted by Alex Gamino set the stage for a profound exploration of the intersection between surfing and life's broader challenges. As we talk about our mutual respect for the art of shaping and the local surf scene, Stephen shares stories from the ocean's depths that serve as powerful metaphors for the personal growth and gratitude cultivated through early morning dawn patrols and navigating life's unpredictability.
Overcoming doubt and building confidence, our guest discusses the parallels between learning to ride the waves and mastering the art of tattooing. The heartfelt stories of personal loss and the quest for inner peace resonate as we discuss the importance of embracing one's unique self and navigating the intricate tapestry of life's adversities with resilience.
Join us for an episode that's far more than just a conversation on surfing and tattoos—it's a philosophically rich dialogue on seeking wisdom, fostering a positive mental outlook, and the search for joy amidst grief. Stephen's ethos of focusing on the present and giving one's best in each moment underpins an inspiring narrative that encourages listeners to face fears with courage, embrace their individuality, and live life to its absolute fullest.
Thanks for taking the time to listen in. Please leave us 5 stars on Spotify & Apple Podcasts with a review. THANK YOU!
Stephen Sanchez. Welcome to the podcast. Man hey, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2:I'm so stoked, dude, this is great, I've always wanted to do this.
Speaker 1:I'm excited to have you on man. It's kind of cool. So people know this is my first time. Meeting him was today. We have met over social media. We follow the same shaper and surfer, alex Camino. So shout out to Alex Good man, my guy makes some rad surfboards. Yeah, he's like my favorite shaper now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, dude, I like he's got magic in the board. You know like I ride a nine six from him and I surf at Blackies. So in Newport Beach, oh, is that okay? Yeah, so I'm there almost every other day and it's a beach break and you never know what you're going to get, dude, like most breaks in California, you know what I mean, or at least out here. So his roller coaster dude, it's incredible, that's what I have. Yeah, it's so nice.
Speaker 1:Did you see the one I have? He did the Mexican blanket paint on there, so it's all the stripes. That's rad. Yeah, dude, it's my favorite board. She's seen me ride it. I think the biggest wave I caught on that thing so far was about 14 feet. And people were looking at me when I went out yeah, is that last big swell? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I was just like you know what? This is going to be interesting. I'm just going to go. Yeah, I'm going to go for it. And I caught this massive left and got barreled and this dude was piling out after I caught the wave. He's like how'd you do that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was like I don't know, bro, you just got to go, don't hesitate. Where are you at, my goodness, marl Bay, oh, okay.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, yeah, is the photo online of you. Yeah, okay, that was a few dude.
Speaker 1:I went out the day before. It is even bigger, it was like 20 feet. It was intense.
Speaker 2:That's so crazy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I got a roller coaster from him, I got his, I got a seven to a single fin, nice, yeah, it's, it's man, it's rad.
Speaker 2:And I can dive it too, really.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's pretty cool. That's what I want, yeah.
Speaker 2:It's got a little foam in the chest, yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah, float's good dude. Yeah, it's easy to paddle in.
Speaker 2:I like that.
Speaker 1:And then I got a six, six shoe Quatt no five fin. Oh nice, Dude it rips, man Rips.
Speaker 2:That's good, you know, every time I go out and surf, usually like everyone will like kind of stop and ask me like what is that? What do you like, what are you riding, or like that's like a nice surfboard, you know. So it's really cool to have like those compliments. You know what I mean? Yeah, oh yeah, because, like Alex is still like a really independent shaper, you know what I mean. He's not like this, like huge, huge, huge, like you know shaper, but he makes incredible stuff, dude. So, yeah, it's rad to have someone like him. You know, put a border on my feet and have people, just you know, say dude, absolutely, and he's so humble yeah, that's the cool thing about it.
Speaker 1:And his turnaround time is a mate. Yeah, four weeks. Yeah, like it's like when I sent him what I did because I have, I'm going to be honest here. I have way too many surfboards, I think I and I've I've scaled down. I think now I have 12. At one point I had like 16 and I would say 90% of them were longboards, nice, but they were shaped for different style of waves. Yeah, winter, you know, steeper waves, or it's going to be summertime where it's a lot slower hanging. 10. Yeah, high performance, so I can do some hard cut backs, whatever. And so what I did is I hit him up because he did another friend of mine, mark Zeezy. He's a firefighter in.
Speaker 2:LA Okay.
Speaker 1:And I said, hey, alex, I got, you know I got way too many boards. I got boards for certain types of swells and you know times of the year, and so what we did is we did the roller coaster style, but I pretty much got the dimensions for all my boards and I gave it to him and I said, can you make this one board? Can you like break it down? So it's high performance, but I could still nose ride and all this. And he just said okay, and in four weeks I picked it up and I took it out. I predominantly ride that all the time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's the man, dude. I tried my 96 roller coaster. Yeah, 96, 23, and then like three inches of some change and, dude, it's so much fun, like, whether it's steep, big, small, like ankle high, thigh high, chest high, like I'll have so much fun, that thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's awesome and that's why, you know, I told him hey, what can I do to help you? I want him to come to the podcast. You know his English is still a little broken. Yeah, I think he's what South America or Ecuador, I can't remember where he says from. I can't remember either.
Speaker 2:I don't want to miss speak here. I'm sorry, alex. Yeah, dude, yeah, you're a great guy man, so I can say you should come out here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and so I told him like, hey, dude, like when I I get pictures taken of me a lot from the locals. At least I surf down at Bolchica oh nice the.
Speaker 1:River Jadies were at their 16. Okay, yeah, 16.5. Yeah, cause you're right here. Yeah, and all those old dudes are there. My dad's out there. He's uh, I keep calling him 80. He's like 85. He's actually 83. Oh nice, he's going to be 83. I think he's still at surfing. That's incredible. Yeah, he's taking me out, since I was eight years old and so I'm always out there, and so when these guys get pictures and they give them to me, I always tag him in it.
Speaker 2:And I said hey.
Speaker 1:I'm going to make a hashtag for you. Yeah, I'm going to call it Gaminal writers. Oh nice. So I started hashtagging Gaminal writers and now he's put it in. It's so cool and people are starting to do it. I'm like this is perfect. This is what I wanted for you, cause he's such a great dude, a humble guy, and he's. He's magnificent at what he does, he's very skilled, and I want him to get more business. I mean, I'm sure he's. He's got a lot of business.
Speaker 2:now you see him getting a lot, but I would say more respect, respect of.
Speaker 1:I would love to see him have his own like shop, right, right, it'd be amazing, I think it's well deserved.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, yeah, he would do. Well, you know, the funny thing is like how I met him is like so I was like hunting boards on offer up, like trying to find just like kind of anything, you know. And then I hit him up and I was looking to trade someone for a tattoo, because I do tattoos. So I was like, okay, well, hey, you know, if you want to sell it, you know, or we can trade for tattoos, we can trade even up, you know, I'll do a $600 tattoo for you and you can we'll swap for surfboards, you know, barter.
Speaker 2:And then I had a couple guys up and nobody hit me back up, and then he was the only one to reach back out to me and he was like, hey, like that sounds good, my daughter has this tattoo that didn't come out so well, like she wants to get refurbished. And I was like, dude, perfect, you know. Like. So he came to the shop, I got to meet him and his daughter and then I read her tattoo and I got to know Alex pretty well because he the sessions were pretty long, they're like like four hours, so it's a big tattoo.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:She had this like snake around her leg. It was pretty rough, you know, it needed to be redone, so like she wasn't happy. So so it kind of worked out Like I needed a new surfboard and I didn't really have the money to leverage like that much at the time to just buy a brand new surfboard, so I was just going to use like my skills, like hey, like let's see what we can work something out. Man, he was totally cool with it and he built me this a nine three like a gold roller coaster. We call it the mango. The mango, yeah, dude, and it was cool.
Speaker 2:So that's how I got to meet him. We got to know each other really well and, yeah, he's super rad man. Like I can tell like he was really like passionate about what he does and like really cares and like the quality and like just overall, like the process of making the surfboard and to me, like I related to that so much because that's how we run our business and tattoos and just life in general. As in just like, yeah, really make the valiant effort into like whatever you're doing, Like it could be, you know, underwater basketball, even dude, but if you're going to do it like, do it with some heart and passion. Don't do it just for the sake of, like, the dollar. You know, like that could that only go so far. You know, like, if you're really going to like try to have a craft or anything, really really just think about what you're doing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's. It's what's cool about surfing. At least for me it's. You know, I saw in your profile you have a cross which is great because I'm a believer.
Speaker 2:And then we talked a little bit before we came on here.
Speaker 1:So it's great there's so much to talk about, but it's almost you know. For me, surfing is you know. For some people that don't understand, I'm like it's very much a peaceful spiritual experience at times because I'm out there and I have to focus on what I'm doing and you kind of forget the cares of your life and things that are going on, because you got to paddle right at the timing and standing up working the wave and every time I leave the ocean after getting in I leave happier.
Speaker 1:Oh dude, you know I'm stuck, even if it's a two foot day.
Speaker 2:Oh, man, you know that's my favorite day. It's two feet in fire. Oh yeah, like so. But don't wait, don't you? When you leave, doesn't your coffee taste better? Yeah, you know what I mean. Oh my gosh. Yeah, like you go home, you're like, hey, you know, like I'm glad I'm back, or I'm glad I'm getting in my car. I'm like, whatever it is like, the day seems not as bad. You know so, and I totally agree. It is like a spiritual type of thing out there where you, like, you know you lose yourself and you find yourself at the great boat is opposite.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the great boat is opposite, you know so, but it's true, as cheesy as that is and you know as that moving may be, but it's yeah. You go out there, dude, and you forget a lot of things. You know it's a. It's crazy Like.
Speaker 2:Surfing is so unique and so great, it can give you so much. You know like, and it's a. It's a dual relationship because you have to go out there and earn it. It's not just like, you know, it's not a fast thing, it's not like overnight, it's like, dude, it takes a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of practice, a lot of like, energy and focus to just even to ride a wave, you know, let alone ride a decent, you know like, to get down the line or just be, you know, a decent surfer, you know like, and I, I, I like stuff like that where it takes work to be good at something. But back to being like spiritual and like having faith and to do with the water and surfing, yeah, man, it's like you go out there and you're in God's country, bro, oh.
Speaker 2:I mean like yeah, he made it baby. 5am 630, Don Patrol that song comes up, dude, it's like a slice of heaven, man, you get a different, different space you know, yeah, and you know it's.
Speaker 1:It's to me like my surfboards are an extension of me and how I surf and how I ride and, to me at least, longboarding is definitely an art form and it's different for each person the way they move and how they ride and cross stepping and ride the nose, or some guys, you know, start off with the boy the fin forward and they flip it around yeah yeah, yeah, it's just so cool and it's smooth and I still like to shortboard.
Speaker 1:I mean, I've just kind of gotten into shortboarding more over the past year after getting some boards from Alex, but I just love the flow and the feel of being on the longboard and working the wave and so for him to take the time to make sure it's exactly what you want, yeah, you know it's. It's very important. Now I get it. When you're first learning, You're gonna just try anything, You're gonna get bored. But after you start getting experience and learning and years on your belt, you start realizing okay, I need to get a board that's specifically for me. Yeah, you know, and going into some of these shops and it's not to hate on these you know big box surf companies right, but I remember going into a few locally here in Huntington Beach and a 10 foot longboard was like $1,600. Yeah, that's crazy when I was a kid. Yeah, 475 bucks coral reef over on PCH over there in Sunset Beach, Dang, and they're so expensive now and I would say his pricing is very fair.
Speaker 2:I think not that much. Nope, not that much. I think it's super affordable, you know like, oh yeah, really affordable, yeah.
Speaker 1:It's to me he's like. He's almost like the everyday server shaper where it's like. You know, we can't afford that type of board, or at least I don't want to pay that much for a board. I can't dude. My custom board that roller coaster and he did. You know the Mexican blanket paint scheme on there, and that's that takes a lot more work, yeah right. And the price he gave to me before I was like, hey, bro, you sure, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's a couple of fractures, you know. Yeah, I'm like dang man, it's true. Though, dude, like you know, I, when I met him, like he asked him, like well, what did I want? Like where did I surf at? First of all, I was, like, I'm always at Blackhees, or once in a great while we'll go to HB or we'll go to Doho, just depending on my schedule, dude. So yeah, but typically I'm at Blackhees every single day, like shout out to the Don Patrol guys out there. So every day with them, are you doing Don Patrol now?
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh yeah, dude, that's the only time I go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I get up at. I live in Brea. Okay, I was going to ask that. Yeah, so I get up at like 445, leave the house about 515, get there a little before six. I'm in the water by like 615, the latest Stretching put on my gear. You know it's cold right now, so put on a wetsuit, stretch out really well, before I go in, say a little prayer, dude you know, and then get out there and just surf my heart out.
Speaker 1:What a great way to start your day, you know. Yeah so you know, like I'm I'm a prodigal son. I have no problem telling people that, like I 100% walked away from my faith and I'll tell you right now I paid for it Like I thought I'm going to do life on my own. Yeah, you know, I'm going to live in the flesh, baby I'm going to do what?
Speaker 1:I want what I want and it's going to be fun, and it brought nothing but absolute drama and destruction into my life, to a point where I was on my knees is actually in this room, yeah, and I cried out and I was like Lord, look, if you just, I'm going to give you my heart, I'm going to try this one more time, yeah, but I need you to show up, dude, for real. You know, and after changing my life, like surfing and so many other things started to have such a deeper meaning to to go out there for me. Like I start my day, I use the Bible app on my phone Nice, just easy, right. It says nice reminders. Yeah, I still have my own Bible, but you know, reading that first thing in the morning I put, I put Greg Lori on.
Speaker 2:Nice, I love Greg Lori.
Speaker 1:dude, yeah, dude, he's just he's, he's, he's to the point and simple. I always tell him he's a fireman's faster dude, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, he's like he's right there, yeah. And then to get to the water I feel relaxed, I'm starting a day, and to be in the ocean and feel the wave crash over you, yeah, man, it just has made me so much more thankful, yeah, in my life, and appreciative, I agree. So, being out there and that water is starting your day, I try to tell people that it's. It's hard to explain, you just have to do it. Yeah, you got to go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, it's so true, like to bounce off that like, because when you're out there, like, even if it's like two feet, you know, and it's like you know it's shin high, yeah, like there is some sort of like danger involved in it. Yeah, no matter what, you know what I mean Like surfing can be like you can get hurt, even on the low tide days. I think it's even more dangerous, dude, you know like, but I think, like, knowing that you went out there and paddled out and caught whatever you can catch and have a good time, you know, work your buns off out there that you come back and like, dang, dude, like, like I made it, yeah, like I went out there, yeah, I did it, and now I'm back on land, you know, like, maybe to someone who's like a little seasoned, like, yeah, like it was an easy day, you know you're not going to get hurt, but there's always that possibility, dude, like you know, like God forbid, but you know you can break a foot or whatever. You know whatever, yeah, you know so. So there always is that like level of danger of being out there, but it does.
Speaker 2:When I'm done, dude, I'm like wow, like I'm, I'm thankful, like I feel good, I feel refreshed and I'm just. It makes me be, yeah, more than anything, like thankful for everything that I have, everything that's going on. I don't get caught up in like the small stuff in life, you know, because I know that I possibly could have drowned like 35 minutes ago. You know like dude, like like, or you know, something could have happened. You know like, but I'm still alive. So the rest of today is like quarrels, dude, they don't mean nothing, like you know, as far as business, or like little small stuff like I'm just like hey, you know what, dude, I'm alive, I'm here, I woke my for me. I'm always telling people like hey, my, I win the lottery every day.
Speaker 1:Oh my man, Once I get out the age.
Speaker 2:true, though, cause, like I got up, like I'm alive, I'm breathing, I'm under a roof. You know like I have water. You know like I have like the basic essentials dude, you know like I seriously won the lottery If I'm getting up and doing my thing and I have like one more chance at life, and that to me, that's like the best thing you can possibly ask for Well, life is so precious man, and I see that in the career choice that I chose, being a firefighter.
Speaker 1:And the reality is a lot of people Think it's just riding around in a shiny red engine and cool uniform.
Speaker 2:It's not.
Speaker 1:I mean, yeah, it's whatever we got to. We keep it clean, we take pride in what we do, but we see a lot of tragedy. Yeah, we see a lot of violence. We see a lot of death. Yeah, and you know, for me it started also made me appreciate life and the importance of of enjoying each day. Yeah, putting the Lord first, because life is so fragile. I mean, instantly, things can change.
Speaker 1:You don't know this, but you know I've talked about it here many times, but I had a brother who was killed in the car accident in 2004. He was 18. I was 17. I don't think that day when he left the house excuse, he left the night before with his girlfriend they're going like a trip with her church out the Joshua tree, highly doubt, when they left to go on that trip to have fun and camp, he was gonna think, oh, I'm gonna die on the way. Yeah, you just don't know, right, you have no idea when you're your tickets punched as I say, yeah, so to enjoy to me, I have changed my thought process a lot. I've always been kind of like hustler and, yeah, businesses on the side and doing things.
Speaker 1:I mean, they have this podcast, but yeah you know, realizing like I I've been pushing so hard to quote-unquote be successful. What the world says is success and money and doing all the stuff right. You, you're missing the moment in the journey. Yeah, and, what's important, funny right now, because at the end of the day, we can't take any of this with us when we die. Bro, I love my surfboards. Yeah, I love all the things that I've accomplished and have. Yeah, but they don't go with you. You don't see someone pulling it. You don't see a hearse pulling you.
Speaker 2:Halt to the to the cemetery. Yeah, it's about nine six and don't forget it, break it up. It's okay, I got room, you know 72, yeah, yeah yeah, I don't know what's in quite my trunks.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's like I've learned and it's too hard lessons too. I've had great. I've made great decisions. I made terrible decisions, yeah, yeah, but realizing my goodness, I enjoy the process of getting to where I go, where I want to go. The learning yeah, meeting people to have influence over others and others having influence over me. Yeah, just being happy that man, I get to wake up and walk my dog just morning. Yeah, you know it's so important because we can get caught up in the business of life. It happens, dude.
Speaker 2:I think what you said about, like the process of learning is I think you have to have those To, you have to enjoy those, like to be like like entrepreneurial spirit, you know, or like to evolve as a person, or like even like a server, you know, I mean, I'm only saying those things because those are the subject I can, I can speak on. You know what I mean because it's what I do daily. So, like you, you're gonna make Good choices, bad choices. You know it's all about the learning process. Like you can't you can't have a perfect day unless you have a bad one. You know what I mean. I'm a big practitioner of like a cause and effect, like, so if I don't practice this, how am I supposed to be good at it? You know what I mean. But if I choose to do these things like this may end up in a bad situation. Yeah, you know I mean. So the key is like well, am I gonna learn from this or am I gonna keep doing the same mistakes over and over again?
Speaker 2:Yeah and so some people will keep going down that road until they get beat up. So much, dude, yeah, you know, and like, and then they're like, oh man, you know what this isn't really working out. You know, it's not everybody else, it's it's me, because I'm choosing these, these things to do that may not be beneficial for my life. Yeah, so I'm like very into that, like, well, how is this going to like propel me forward as a person, as a growing like person, you know, as a friend, as a Whatever it may be?
Speaker 2:You know, just in general, you know, cuz I always ask God like, hey, I Don't need a million bucks, I don't need a big house, I don't need a fancy car, just give me the guidance, the patience, like the grace and like, just to get through whatever's happening, dude, like you know, like if we get hurt, or you know you go through like financial hard times, like I don't like, oh, please, like send me this giant tattoo so I can pay my rent, just like. Hey, dude, like, whatever it's happening, just give me the guidance. Dude, that's all on the patience, and just like the wisdom to make the right choices. I don't need anything else, I really don't right, cuz, like if I sit and like cry about it, like, oh my gosh, like I'm pulling my hair off because this isn't, this is happening. This is not happening. It's like, well, what am I really even doing? I'm just like worrying about things that are out of my control, and I think it's easy to get caught up in those kind of things.
Speaker 1:Oh, hundred percent.
Speaker 2:I feel like when you don't like, if you don't enjoy those seasons of like good and bad in between, you'll never really like, enjoy the fruits of like what's what's next. You know so, like in surfing, you got to go out there when you first start, you got a panel out there and you're gonna get a smoke dog. You know like super fast. You know like everybody does. You know, and that's just part of it. That's part of like learning a new thing or a new like skill, talent, whatever may be. You have to go out there and you got to put in the work and you got to like be okay. You have to be willing to be like hey, you know what? Yeah, I suck dude. Yeah, or today was was bad. I didn't do that Well, but you know, tomorrow I'll come back, I'll try it again. Yeah, I'll put my best foot forward and hopefully I'll grow a little bit.
Speaker 1:Who? What got you into surfing or who introduced you to it?
Speaker 2:So my brother, xavier he is like them, like was the main surfer in my house. So I got four brothers. Okay and very good, he's skated like. He's like a 90s kid, like a true 90s kid, you know what I mean. So like not, not like, I'm like you know, I like 90s stuff, like no, he was, you know, grew up in 90s so he skated and then he served and so we were always I always knew like oh man, so rad.
Speaker 2:So when I got older, we we would go out them to bossa chica. So my dad would take us to bossa chica. Okay, I would, I would just hang out. You know what I mean, because there was no extra surfboard so I would just be either like bodyboard or just like be in the sand. You know I mean right, but I started surfing until I was like way later, almost into like my 20s, like 526, so I started like really late, but I skated all of my like childhood and like teenage years. So you have balanced down race, that's, yeah, part of it. Yeah, I skated a lot of like transition and like bowls and pools. Okay, so this skate park in Chino Hills it's called the Isle of Skate Park and, dude, I was there all the time there's a big snake run so I would just pick a line and just zoom across as fast as I could. Oh, so, doing that like skating was really natural for for us and like me.
Speaker 2:And then, once, you know, we got older, like we went out a couple times together and then I was like man, you know, like I want to, I want to surf, you know. And so I got, I got a foamy man, just like everybody else. I got a little wave storm dog, like I couldn't afford a surfboard, yeah. And then you know, we didn't have like extra boards like it would every had. We're like shortboards and I knew it was gonna be able to ride that. You know what I mean. So I Got a foamy and Then I've oh, I was. I mean, I always want to serve, I want to learn. I know that I can see myself doing that, like envisioning myself like surfing. I just I can feel it in my bones, you know. And I went out like a few years back this is a while ago now and then caught my first little wave dude right there in.
Speaker 2:Newport, you know why water and I was like dang, this, is it, dude? And then, like most things in my life, like I'll become like obsessive, like I want to learn, I want to like know, like the end of now it's, I want to just be like, learn the art of it, like how, how does this work? How to learn like technique, how to learn like the proper way to do things. And that was pretty much it, man. So he was the one who got me into it, and then I would just go by myself, I would go alone all the time, I would just get my little wave storm Stick around top of my Hyundai.
Speaker 2:And I would get there like second shift, so like 730 all the dawn, guys would be leaving so we crisscross and I'd be out there for hours, man, just hanging out and surfing, and just try to do the best I could. And then, yeah, it progresses, and you know, you get better boards and now I'm there almost every other day, so that's right, so that's for how, dude, yeah now.
Speaker 1:do you go with family now, or is it just you I?
Speaker 2:try to invite everybody.
Speaker 1:Hey, like you should come out and learn dude.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you like you'd enjoy it, like because, like I know what joy it brings me to surf and like be out there and be in the morning and see the sunrise, and like being in the beach, in the water, when no one's out there. It's like four or five guys you know what I mean and it's usually the guys you see every morning. So it's becomes like a little family out there. Oh yeah, you know I'm saying so. So I try to invite everyone to come, like, hey, you should, you should, come out. And they're just like, oh, I don't know, and I have a couple friends Like, yeah, dude, I'll come and we'll go out. So but now, like I have a crew that we see every morning.
Speaker 2:So it's Jess, pauline, min and Peter. So we see them every morning. We serve pretty much every day there at Blackies, if not HB. And then there's the other guys that surfed there. It's like Mike, hope, mitch, mike Harris, all kind Lori. So they're there pretty much every day too. So I see them all the time. So it's like a little like family with them. That's so cool and they're incredible, dude, like they're so good, they're so good they're there. Yeah, I'm so bottom of totem pole, but then you know like, yeah, it's so ridiculous.
Speaker 1:Well, dude, my dad's been surfing since gosh the 60s and so he's got man. He's seen the evolution of you know, surfing you know, yeah, which is pretty cool and I remember being a kid and the way my dad taught me to surf is kind of like how he taught me to swim in our pool. Yeah, he just threw me in.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, yeah, he's a green break.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's a lifelong great like career, so he's a hard dude. But there's one thing I remember him telling me about the ocean and, and you know he, we went out and surfed and we were just kind of chilling and we're about to leave to come home. It's back was both Chica and this was like I don't know like 1999 or something like that. It was 98. But he said, you know, treat the ocean with respect and respect God's creation. Yeah, he said, everyone comes here for a different reason, but, yeah, better, yeah.
Speaker 1:That's so true, and I was man dang bro, and he called it the great equalizer.
Speaker 2:That's so good. Yeah, that was awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, my dad was like dang dad, like what?
Speaker 2:Get in there. That's so. It's true, though, yeah, cuz like man that that's so. I couldn't even like come at six, so good, dude.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was dude. That has stuck with me. Yeah, you know, ever since then and it's it's crazy because, you know, growing up from that time, I'm like what do you mean? Everyone comes, you know, for different reasons, and this is that and a great equalizer. But as you grow up and you get life under your belt and you have good times and you have bad times I always found myself being pulled and drawn towards the ocean. Yeah, this is where I'm gonna go, like I've had terrible days, I've had heartbreak or mistakes, and it's like you get up, like I'm gonna go to the beach, yeah, and there's times like I am so down I don't feel like surfing, but just being there is making me feel better, being grounded, have my feet in the sand. Yeah, here in the waves break and the seagulls and the ocean and all that and then it started Makes so much more sense. You know it's like, okay, I get it.
Speaker 2:No, yeah, I see it's true. Yeah, like man, life is so full of ups and downs. Yeah, you know, and like trials, like good, bad, like this past month it's been insane like I've had so much stuff happen, like with business and just like all kinds of stuff. They're out of my control. You know like, and and right it's been raining. You know it's been stormy, like the ocean's super dirty or was. You know like there's like sewage spills, you know, dang, dude. So I have like nowhere to like, I guess, like I don't want to escape, I have nowhere to like. You know, find my peace, you know. So it's definitely like, yeah, like everyone goes for different reasons, dude. So I finally went surfing on Friday, which was really fun, but I was like all right, cool, I feel like back to normal, yeah you know so but it's, it's crazy.
Speaker 2:Like, yeah, everyone does go for different reasons. It's good. That's why I try to encourage everyone like, hey, should come out, man, like you should. It's even if you don't catch any waves. Like, yeah, just cruise out there. Like, come see the sunrise, dude. Right, you will feel different. Right inside you will appreciate your egg sandwich or your egg burrito. You know like your coffee will taste so much better.
Speaker 1:Oh it's. Yeah, you know, man, you know what's something crazy and now, as you know, you're a tattoo artist, which we're gonna get into, but you know, when there's good surf, yeah it. Whether it's been raining or it is raining, I risk it.
Speaker 2:Oh man, I gotta go right.
Speaker 1:Oh, you know my, my right arm is American traditional. Yeah, left is is all Japanese traditional and I can't. It was one of the pieces on my forearm and Sean vellis I don't know if you know who, he is not too sure Sean vellis to he's, he owns my right arm. He's done all the tattoo work on here, he's really do yeah.
Speaker 1:He's. He looks like he'd be my brother. He's mixed. Yeah, it's really cool. But what? I think it was either the ship I have here a lighthouse, but it was raining. And then I was like, well see, and then there was a surf advisory. Oh oh, you say what? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So then I open up surf line and I hit the cameras and it's raining, but there's no wind.
Speaker 1:Oh nice and I was like I gotta go. Yeah, that's rare, yeah, I gotta go. So and I. But my tattoo is fresh, dude. It was the day after, so I know you're gonna do you. Come on, man, anybody listening, do not do me, dude. I put that, I put the cellophane on, I duct taped all around it, all my cellophane, I duct tape more and I just went for it put my way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I'll tell you what. It was a great session. I was out probably for like an hour, but when I got out, dude, I was like that's so bad. Yeah, but it worked out. Oh my god, I still got my arm.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna take this off.
Speaker 1:Yeah, go ahead, dude. But yeah, I was. If I could tell anybody. If you get tattoos, just wait, let it heal all the way. Don't, don't be me it's. You're risking a lot, especially infection. But I don't think you do want to talk about dude. You are a tattoo artist and, as you know, I have all my tattoos on here. But, like, how did you get into doing tattoos and kind of that career filled and and doing what you do? Right, because I, I know a lot of tattoo artists have shown on here. But I see what you do on your Instagram, which is all traditional Japanese. Is that all you do? You kind of do everything.
Speaker 2:No, I do live everything, but like the last six, seven years, I've been doing all like the, primarily like Japanese tattooing. Okay, so I can answer that question really easy Not doing great in school, drawing on my homework, not paying attention. But no, for real, though, I think like it really did start with that, but and I don't like condone it, but it I knew, like in high school, like when I was there, I I always felt like it was like a daycare and not. I wasn't like a ruggist, I mean, I talked a lot, but I wasn't like this like child maker, you know what I mean. I just like kept myself and talked a lot, but I knew that being a creative person like my mind was not meant for that style of it's different.
Speaker 1:Oh, being a creative is very. I agree with you because I'm creative, you know. Yeah, it's you play music, right, yeah?
Speaker 2:it's the right. Music never ends, no, you know we're.
Speaker 1:We're different people, we process different and we feel different. Yeah, and I know, like even for me, going through therapy and other things, you know, I'm kind of what's the word I'm going for here? I guess worry, war, but also I think too far into the future and thinking, oh, this is gonna happen, that's gonna happen. I'll try to cover all the basis, right, you're just like you almost get whacked out, thinking too much, yeah, you know. And being in the traditional system of certain things, like even the fire service, yeah right, fire service is paramilitary, we all wear the same uniforms, we all show up to work at the same time. Yeah, we have this job, you shall do it, and it's just every day. Yeah, right, so for me and some others that are in the fire service, it's a little difficult at times because we're so used to thinking outside the box, right, to create and do things when right. It's a good job, but it's very mundane.
Speaker 2:It's the same over and over, yeah it's true, yeah, so from yeah for me, I knew like I was, it wasn't gonna work for me. Yeah, you know, not until I got older if I've realized like, oh, like the, how much I enjoy structure, how much I enjoy like like time schedules, like time, like you know. I mean like when you know like I hit you up like hey, dude, I can only come up this time on these days, and you're like, hey, that's perfectly fine, like because if you just tell me like, oh, just come whenever you want, I'm not gonna do it. You know, I'm so like you gotta give me a time, place, date, like two weeks in advance, and it's, it's wild, because before I was never like that, you know. So I got in tattooing like when I was 21, 22, I'm 38 now, so I've been tattooing for like 15 years.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I grew up in rollin heights, which is off the 57 freeway in 60, and there's a shop right there, like in walnut, so it's like two cities that like collide with each other, mm-hmm, and it was called showdown tattoo. So I was working a regular job. I worked at this like Aerospace company in Rancho it was called the drawlix, and all we did was like make parts for like Boeing and like Sassin airplanes and stuff like that. So I was there for like maybe a couple years and prior to that I was at my my, my best friend's Metal cutting shop in in a south of money called BNT. So right away, like from high school, I went straight to doing that. It was just like ball busting dude, hot, don't getting metal pieces of you know steel beams and chopping them down and just working hard, dude, you know like. And so I got to learn like what a dollar like meant you know how your money?
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and the owner, mike, which is my best friend's dad, he, yeah, he opened up his door. I was like, hey, you need a place to work, dude. Like, come work, you know, like I'm ready, I'll want to work, you know. So I was there and then I left and I worked in another place and then when I was at the place in Rancho, I saw I drove by a tattoo. We drove by a tattoo shop and I was like man, like I wonder if I could like, maybe Learn how to tattoo. Like I want to learn how to tattoo. Like, so I'm gonna go see if they can, I can apprentice there.
Speaker 2:This is before Instagram, before Tic-Toc, before Facebook. Like there was no like guidelines to, hey, you should take your portfolio and go talk to these guys and you can go. You can learn how to tattoo on the internet. Now you know what I mean and there was nothing like that. So how to do it the old-fashioned way, I had to get like my drawings that were terrible and just like. I had to go in there and I pretty much the way I did this was like I'm gonna go in there and ask the guy if I can get a tattoo by him, but I'm gonna take my sketchbook, yeah, and have the tattoo I want to get in the back. So I was like, hey, I want to get this tattoo. It's okay, let me see what you want to get. So I open up my little sketchbook yeah, I started flipping it real slow. Okay, it's back here somewhere. No, it's not that one. Okay, oh, yeah, it's this one. And he tells me a price. And then and I was like, hey, okay, I said cool, thanks, man. He's like, yeah, I'll do it for you when you want to get done. Oh, I'm just kind of pricing around a little bit and but I'm really here to see if, like, if you have any like Apprenticeships open or maybe you could help me out, you know, or send me any kind of direction that would just give me like a leading foot to where I could go.
Speaker 2:And he was like almost your stuff again, you know. So he goes through it and his name is George, george shriho. He's my mentor, he's the one who'd like taught me how to tattoo, and him and his brother manual. So they're good dudes, man. And so it's like you know, I'll take you on. So you know, we work some stuff out. And then you know about a like a few weeks later. He's like okay, you can start coming out the shop. Okay, now I was a man, so I would go to my regular job, like cutting metal, at 6 am, get there at 6, get out like at 2 or 3, come home, shower Wow, race to the shop and just do whatever they asked me to do, whether it be cleaning, setting up, like you know, drawing, whatever it is they want to do it. Now it's Dale night with them.
Speaker 1:Yeah you know I like about that dude and I respect so much, is that you had a goal. You reach for something. You don't know how it's gonna work, but you still went. You had the guts to do it right, yeah. But even with that is, you knew you had to put your time in and sacrifice, yeah, to get to where we want to be anywhere in life. You're gonna start the bottom and you have to. You got to pay your dues and but there's so much learning in that, yeah. And you weren't afraid to work hard in your day job, yeah, and then use your time off in the evening to go hustle and work and get talented at what you do now I do that so much.
Speaker 2:Thanks, man, I appreciate it. It's I try to like do that with everything I do, like what it's like tattooing and like surfing. You know like, yeah, so I For me, when I was young, like okay, being under George, I had to learn how to be like put in place like hey, dude, this sucks. You know like Okay, like I shit man, I never, I never told you.
Speaker 1:Tumbling.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know and as and as a young kid, I was pretty emotional. You know, okay, I wasn't like the most like, like I rash thinking. You know, thinker, I would just let my emotions get the best.
Speaker 1:So you would you say like your emotions kind of controlled you and so you control? Yeah, for sure, I was doing the same way personally, you know.
Speaker 2:But oh what? But now I mean he would tell me, yeah, well, you know, it's because of this too. You don't know, you know. But okay, and then so as time goes on, like you know, I'm learning with him and then I eventually leave and like kind of, like you know, leave the nest a little bit and I moved to Orange County and start tattooing and I work at another shop called old-time tattoo with John Kelly and a bunch of other great guys there Ronnie, tom Clark, jordy, rest in peace and a bunch of the guys are there and with them I was. I was a pot, like a little more polished, but I still had kind of this like emotional chip. My shoulder were. It was hard for me to like To let things kind of just like go over me. I always took things real personal. You know what I mean. So that's a trait of a creative bro, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because it's coming to be real when you create. It's coming from your heart. Yeah, that's you thought of, so I get it. I feel that way, so I feel that way now.
Speaker 2:It's like when you write a song, like, oh, it's not that good, what do you mean? I spent all night writing song, but then I think it's good, like like going back to learning and being and being corrected, Learning how to be corrected and being okay with it, because now I don't care. Like you tell me, do, hey, this is no good, okay, cool, let me fix it. Like I need to know, because if you don't tell me, then how am I supposed to get better? And then what? Surfing, like all the guys are excellent, they're incredible service out there. You know, out there a new port and they've been in it for a long time. So they'll tell me like, hey, dude, like you'd try up or you know, fix timing. Okay, shoot, dude, you know thanks, man.
Speaker 2:Cuz, I enjoy like a like oh, I respect them so much because they are allowing me to surf with them, yeah, and say, hey, steve, you know what, you can take the next one. Or yeah, hey, let's split it. Yeah, you know, I think for me that's really like powerful and really like. It means a lot to me, because that means they're trusting you To ride with them and to split the wave, or whatever it may be. Like they're saying, okay, did you know enough and you're safe enough to be around, so you go ahead, you go and go, and I think that's it for me. It's a really big thing coming from those dudes, yeah, or anyone who's greater than me. You know what I mean like, so, so I don't mind being corrected. Oh, I told like hey, dude, this is, this is not good. You know, you should fix that. Yeah, I enjoy that process. Well, you know, I've always wondered how?
Speaker 1:how does a tattoo artist practice? Because you know, say like when you put it on someone's skin, like it's there.
Speaker 2:Get your friends Now. Some of my close homies have some pretty, pretty bested stuff. Oh, shout out to them yeah, and. I'm thankful for a lot of them. You know like they like trusted me to do that. You know, yeah, and it's tough, man. Yeah, when you it's really hard. When I first started out, I wasn't really like I was so unsure of myself and so I had so much like doubt and so much like I didn't have the confidence.
Speaker 2:You know, I had like zero confidence in myself of like to take this on. Like something would come in and I would pass on it Like a lot Like that would happen. A lot Like, say, I have a walk-in coming, it came in, I'd be like, oh dude, I can't do that. You know, I don't, I don't think I can do that. You know, it's like out of my caliber, you know. So the whole like go getter, like jump off, like the edge, that that spirit was in me but I had to like find it for myself to like really flame it. Like going to the tattoo shop and asking for apprenticeship was a big jump. You know, like it's like-.
Speaker 1:Oh, it takes guts, man, right, right, you know, you don't know anybody. Yeah, no, no, no, I didn't know anybody dude.
Speaker 2:I was like, but I just knew in my heart that's what I wanted to do, that's like what I wanted. So I was like I'm gonna go out there and get it, you know. So I'm tattooing and you know you're learning, and then you, oh man, that's what you're gonna thought.
Speaker 2:Oh, you're good, yeah, I'm trying to. I didn't have the confidence, you know, so it took time and a lot of like practice and like just believing in myself to get things going, dude. Yeah, so a long time. For a while I was like pretty slow, you know. I just always like I don't know if I can just do that, you know. And then certain things come along. But I'm thankful for all those situations. You know, I wouldn't change anything. So I think lack of confidence comes from like lack of studying and lack of Preparation. Right, yeah, preparation, dude.
Speaker 1:You gotta be willing to suck. Yeah for sure. When you start, you know you gotta be willing to suck. Like this podcast shoot, sam2 was a were we going on like three and a half years? I can't remember something like that. We've been doing it for a minute now, right?
Speaker 2:That's incredible.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and Jordan, my co-host, shout out lovey-buddy, he's on duty, couldn't make it today, but I mean, we didn't know what we were doing. Yeah, I was just like hey, I feel like we should do a podcast, so I wanna do a loan. You wanna do it with me? Sure, we started in my living room on a plastic table. Dang, we had no idea what we're now.
Speaker 1:If you listen to those first episodes, yeah, yeah, it's rough. It's like we don't like we. We had to learn the art of the conversation, right, I believe that's being lost a lot because of cell phones yeah, just texting and all that, whereas you'd come in here like we sit down, our phones are away. We're looking at each other yeah, I hear you in my ears with the headphones, and you know we don't really have stuff written down, so you have to listen to what the persons were saying. Right, receive it? Yeah, absolutely. And then you gotta like we were responding, but you're trying to figure out where you want the conversation to go. Yeah, so it's really. It's definitely an art form, for sure.
Speaker 1:And it takes time, right, it takes, you know. We were downloaded globally. Now it said last year we were downloaded in 56 countries, which blows my mind. That's incredible.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's super cool, cause we don't even advertise.
Speaker 2:That's incredible.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just put it in the ether, put some stuff on Instagram like whatever I got things to do. Well, it's good, it's good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's cool man, it's humbling and it's cool, and but it doesn't happen overnight.
Speaker 1:No, right, there's so many people that have hit me up. Hey, I want to start a podcast. Yeah, what do I need to do? Yeah, and I tell them well, you need this equipment, you gotta do this. And depending on you know the style, like, what's the theme of your podcast? Is it just telling stories, is it crime, is it about surfing? Or you're gonna have people on and I tell them, like you got to schedule, and then here's the video stuff. And then I always get this well, that's a lot of work, right? Yeah, yeah, of course it is a lot of work, man it's so funny Like I talk about all the time.
Speaker 2:You know like it's just like, dude, it's if you want it, if you really want that, that bad, you'll find a way, you'll figure it out. Well, it's a wills away. If you don't want to like sacrifice or make the time or put the effort, because people always see, just see the top of the iceberg. You know it's like, oh man, you have this, you have that. Like you're surfing every morning. You know you live in the dream. You know you're tattooing Like, yeah, dude, you know I'm like super thankful, but you don't see like what I had to sacrifice to even just to go surf in the morning. Yeah, I don't go party, right, I don't go to bars. Right, I don't do drugs, I don't drink anymore. Yeah, once in a while I'll have a beer. It's pretty seldom. I can't even last my had a beer. I don't squander like my thoughts in like negativity or the what ifs. I love that. I just try to like. I just know like what's gonna make me happy, as today is like I would like to go surf and tattoo and like, yeah, like and have, I guess, I guess, a good time, you know, and have fun, but and just enjoy the day. But yeah, dude, I don't do any of that stuff. Like, I get up, I go surf in the morning, come home, make lunch, make breakfast, get ready to go to work, do my tattoos, my task at hand, attend to my clients, attend to the shop, attend to the guys that work there. All that stuff, dude, it's all pre-meditated. It's not just like, oh well, we're gonna do this. You know, it's like no, dude, my month is like it's a month out. Like I'm always ahead of time. Yeah, I have to, and that's what. Like the same thing with podcasting, you know it's like. Or any kind of adventure you get into.
Speaker 2:It's not just like, well, you know, this guy's got four bazillion K followers. Like you know how come he's so popular. It's like, well, dude, you didn't even put the work in. You're not even like willing to try. You don't even understand, like, what he had to do to get there. You don't even know. Like my favorite thing, like favorite quote is like you gotta be willing to outdo the guy next to you. Or, more importantly, like you don't even know what this guy is doing in the morning to get the things he's got. Like he could be getting up at six AM, dude and prepping his day for his podcast or whatever it is. You know what I mean. He could be getting up at four 30 AM and drawing all morning and then go tattoo all day. You're just seeing what you see on photographs on Instagram.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah yeah. Instagram is just a snapshot of the perfect life, but you don't see the hustle behind. I always say this dude, the couples that post pictures of themselves all the time oh my God, I'm like they typically and I hope this is very bad typically they have the worst relationships.
Speaker 2:Right, it's like I mean God forbid.
Speaker 1:I mean I've helped a couple of times Like I tell people I'm like you see that picture, you don't understand how much arguing part went behind that, how many times they had to retake that. But even in my life I'm very strategic on what I post up. Like I don't like social media now personally, but for work and other things that I do. I see the necessity but I don't like. It's pretty much like surfing, skydiving, tattoo stuff, podcasts, maybe some firefighting things and then trying to be like inspirational quotes, but that's it. I don't put my private life up. I don't put family up, cause social media can get real weird man and I even for me, like now people can't message me unless I approve it. Oh nice. Cause I was getting a lot of wild messages, especially after the podcast started getting some ground and like dude, who are these people? I'm like delete, delete. Like this is crazy dude.
Speaker 2:It's. You know it's fine that you say that, like about people, I guess, responding to like, maybe like art or like something you put out into like the world, right. So I feel like as an artist, as a creative person or just a human being in general, you know what I mean. Like, like you're always gonna.
Speaker 2:It's not for everybody, dude, Right, you know you can make something that's like the best thing possible, like to your ears, to your eyes, to your tastes. There's gonna be someone who doesn't like it. Oh yeah, 100%. And I think, as a human being and just a creative person, you should, you have to be okay with that. You should say, yeah, dude, it's not, it's not for you, and that's okay, that's totally fine, it's not for you and you don't. You know, like, I'm not gonna get mad about it, you shouldn't get mad about it. So that, like that lesson of like learning to be okay with, like self, like confidence and being okay with those kinds of things, it took a while to feel that way, like to almost like, just not care, like either you like it or don't Like. You don't have to, don't cry about it.
Speaker 1:You don't gotta watch it.
Speaker 2:You don't gotta listen to it, you don't have to like you know, you don't have to to you know, take part of it, like just just. Well, that's right.
Speaker 1:Social media is a free thing right. And I always I think about this. Sometimes I'm like I know you don't like it or you don't think this episode's cool, but why do you feel the need to post a comment that? You don't like it, sure, like who cares? Like, if you don't, just don't watch, don't follow.
Speaker 2:Like you don't need to listen.
Speaker 1:You know, that's why I can't begin it, Especially when I started talking about my faith on here now, because I think I came back to my faith like a year and a half ago, and so you listen to those early episodes. It's loose, but you know someone's like well, are you gonna take that down now? I'm like no, actually I want people to hear a man who was struggling, A man who was lost, who was trying to figure out what in the world am I doing here on this piece of dirt Floating through space and time? What was my purpose? Why am I here? Why am I achieving all these things? And it's cool, but I'm still empty. I still feel lost, Like this is what everyone says is success. I still have problems, I still have issues. Oh yeah, dude, you know. So that's why I'm like the process for me is for me. I think it's probably the most fun.
Speaker 1:I love the journey and seeing things come together, because people again will hit me up like I wanna start a podcast and I tell them look, if you're doing this for money, you're in the wrong spot. It doesn't come fast. You have to build a base. You're building a brand and you're making something new. Like you gotta be okay. One with losing your investment, the first part of getting all your equipment, but two it's like yeah, we make money off this, but it's not big money.
Speaker 1:We're not making Joe Rogan stuff, dude. So if you're looking to do this and get like, you're gonna be sorely disappointed. But if you enjoy telling stories or talking to people, go for it. I'm a big proponent of try it.
Speaker 1:And if you feel like you wanna do something, go for it, but give it 100% Same. Yeah, like I didn't think it would get to this point where we have the studio built and all this stuff and it kinda grew over time. We got better at conversating and people were listening and messaging and then, honestly for me now, talking about my faith I've had so many people open up to me now, whether it's friends, distant friends or people messaging me like hey, man, I didn't know you struggled with that, or I used to be a believer too like why'd you come back? And then you start talking to them. It's like this conversation opens up about grace, love and forgiveness and it's amazing what like the reach you can have through your art and what you do, and a lot of people I see this a lot.
Speaker 1:Well, I wanna do something. I wanna change the world. I wanna be the biggest podcast or the biggest tattoo artist of the best. Sir, I want people to see me and I wanna have a huge impact. And my thought is like maybe it's not changing the world, maybe it's changing one person's world and then they start changing others and that trickle effect starts to get huge because of one thing that you did to impact that person's life.
Speaker 2:It's true, dude. Yeah, I couldn't agree with that more Cause, like I'm a big practitioner of like, complain and remain, like Joyce Meyer says Ah, joyce Meyer, plain and remain dog, but like. And then I also believe in like, problem solve and evolve, you know, like. So like I wouldn't, I would never take down those podcasts of whatever looseness it was.
Speaker 2:Like that's part of like. That's part of like the journey, dude, it's like who you were at that point in time in your life and you know you're not that person anymore and you're still working on it. Whatever it may be, that's okay. Like it's okay to have to have those things and have those feelings and to acknowledge that. You know, like a lot of people kind of dwell on the past so much like, oh man, like well, I can't do that because of A, b, c and D, or maybe I can't try this because of whatever it may be. Like no, dude, like you haven't even tried, you know, like you didn't even like take the first leap. And yeah, it's gonna be rough, like for sure, you know, but it's okay to have those things, like those falls and, like you know, like to get back up. I have no problem with falling, tripping, slipping, dude, cause I like to get back up. Let's go. You gotta do, you gotta do harder, like you gotta do better than that to get me down. Dude, I've had some rough times. I've had some good times. I've almost quit tattooing Like oh, no way, yeah for sure.
Speaker 2:Like it was like probably like six years deep and then I was just like man, I was just going through a lot, I think, like, just like depressed. I don't even know what about at the moment anymore, but I remember I was skating a lot and I was tattooing and I don't think I was like as busy as I thought I wanted to be at the time. And then my, just like my um, I was not putting much time into tattooing as much as I wanted to. I was skating a lot and then I got hurt skateboarding. I fell and I tore my like AC or whatever it's called for your like my shoulder. So I couldn't work for a whole month, like, so that means I got no money, I don't have insurance. And then I got no savings cause I'm just blowing it. You know what I mean. So I was like down to like nothing, went to the hospital and told me like oh yeah, you tore it. You gotta just wait a month and then you can go back to work. And I was like dang dude, this sucks, man, you know this is bad. That's a scary place to be too. Yeah, dude, like you know, cause I didn't know, like, what was gonna happen. You know Like, and at the time I was like I was going to what's the Whosoever's with the Ryan Reese.
Speaker 2:Do you know, that is my chance. Okay, yeah, so that's where I go to church at Cowichopple, golden Springs, with Rawl Reese and then I go to Coast, to Mesa. Yeah, so that's where my family, like my mom and my dad they were the ones who installed that life and like the word of God into our family Like it's the first thing, dude, it's no joke. Yeah, like, without that, my family, household, we wouldn't have nothing.
Speaker 2:Is it perfect? No, I know me, you know what I mean. Like, yeah, no, dude, no way, man. And I try to like, remember that. Like, hey, it's not dude, I'm not perfect and that's okay, and neither should you. You know you shouldn't be perfect, dude. And like, if you're so perfect, and then how are you gonna grow, how are you gonna evolve, dude? How are you gonna learn the next step of whatever it is you wanna learn? Like, let's say, if you become this, like you know, perfect interviewer, podcaster, guy, and then you know it all, and then you're just, like you know, swinging hard, and then it's like, well, dude, like maybe you've gotten so plateaued and it's boring or whatever it may be, like always be. You shouldn't always feel perfect. You should like, okay, you know what, this one I'm gonna do better, or whatever it may be, you know. So I try to carry that attitude and like that mindset through everything I do. Like today was a good day surfing, you know, I kind of missed that last one. I should have got it, you know Like, or this tattoo is man, I put my heart on my sleeve on this tattoo. I didn't like every day I try, but you know, tomorrow I'm gonna try to do better. Like it's okay, I'm not perfect. I want to grow and evolve, you know.
Speaker 2:So, long story short, I got hurt and then I was like man, I'm just like, what do I do? Like you know, I was like I remember just praying. Like you know, I was like man, god, please, just like, whatever's gonna happen, just give me the guidance, dude. Just give me the wisdom and guidance just to get through whatever's happening. I don't need to be killed in a week. Don't give me a miracle, bro. You know, like this thing's, I broke it. You know, like I fell, I was skating, I fell and I broke it. And then I was like, whatever happens, happens, all I know. I just want to know that. Just get me through it. Just be by my side, like you always are. That's all I want, that's all I ever want. You know, like ups and downs, you know fire, flames, rain, storms just hey, dude, just be by my side. It's all I ever asked for. I don't need a big boat, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Like give me, show me the light to the little piece of wood out in the ocean and I'll make it work.
Speaker 1:Well, that's not great about you know that's the realization I've had is just not looking for perfect people.
Speaker 1:And I've told this to a few. You know people who have been struggling and have been dealt with guilt and shame and all this. I'm like do you realize, like the heroes of the faith, how screwed up these people were? They were they like, if you think about today's terms? Oh, people like, put them in jail, or you know, shame on them. King David, he was an adulterer and a murderer. Yeah, dude Peter, he's denied Christ three times. I mean, you look at the disciples, bro. They were sailors. You don't think they were rough dudes?
Speaker 1:Yeah, man, I mean, look at the woman at the well, oh, yeah, yeah yeah, you know, when the Lord went or when Jesus went there, he asked her for water. He didn't go for the water. He went there for her to tell her I love you, go and send them more. It's fine, I don't care about your past. And she left leaping for joy and she was sleeping with a bunch of men and her husband was still at home.
Speaker 1:She was living with another man and the Lord wasn't fazed by it. He's like oh like, I know you, I know your sin, but I love you. That's the most powerful thing. That's what's so amazing to me, what brought change? It's not about being perfect. Heaven and Jesus is for sinners. It's not for a perfect people.
Speaker 1:No, it's true, it's for a saved people, he's there for us to bring us hope and joy and peace, and it's so powerful when it changes you and I started to actually really understand these stories in the Bible. It's like this Bible is living and breathing word of God and it's amazing and I saw like whoa, all these people were messed up but he specifically chose them to show us. It's not about being the perfect preacher or having a lot of money or looking like your life is perfect. I want to use the imperfect people. It's just, it's so amazing.
Speaker 2:And it really comes down to it. All the stories like usually for me, I've learned is like what he's brought those people is like peace More than anything out of all that, and that's what I was searching for dog Right.
Speaker 1:you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Like, I don't need a million dollars, dude, it might cause more trouble. You know like, more problems that More money will perhaps maybe More things that I can't handle. You know, like, if you say like, oh man, if I had like a genie, like what would I wish for? Like, you know, once I had like a million bucks, you know, whatever it could be, whatever you're like aching for at that time, you know like, but what if today in your life, like you're not ready for that? Yeah, you know what I'm saying. Like like, oh man, I wish I was a top number one like surfer in the world. Like, really, are you sure? Like you care, yeah, be careful, what you wish for, dude, because you just might get it.
Speaker 1:That's scary.
Speaker 2:Oh, it totally is, if you're not ready in here, and in here, dude, it can tear you apart, oh man.
Speaker 1:I do not remember gosh it gets me so emotional thinking about it but I remember being up in this room and when I had a bed up here and I was just curled up in a ball and I have all the success at home. I get to go on vacations whenever I want. You know, I was always saving and hustling like okay, so I got a lot of money. Now what? And I remember praying and thinking take it all.
Speaker 1:I don't want any of it. I want peace in my life. I want hope. Because I was in such a dark place into the outside world. It looked like I had everything this guy's set. You know he's doing good fire, fire this and that, but no one knew how much turmoil spiritually I was in inside, you know, and I didn't even care about anything more. I remember praying like just give me peace, come back into my life, take all of it. I will live on the streets, I'll paint houses, I'll dig a ditch all day, whatever you want me to do, but I just want peace. I could care less about any of this stuff.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Because it doesn't matter. Well, you know, to achieve what the world says is success, you get there and it's like this is it? Yeah, this has got to be more dog.
Speaker 2:No, it's true, because I feel like, you know, everyone's definition of success is different. You know, some are super, super high and some are pretty chill, like everyone. I feel like you know, like, because success doesn't mean you're gonna be happy. True, you know you can have all that Absolutely and then you can be miserable. And I always relate it to, maybe like musicians, like famous rock stars, yo see guys who, like man, they're playing their heart out. They got signed a two in the world making the big box dude, you know, living a very like unique life, and then usually a lot of those dudes they don't come back and they're like they're over it, man, you know, like they don't want to do it anymore. And it's like, man, you, you didn't even want to try to deal with what was inside, you know, like. So it takes a lot from a person like to look inside and figure out what's going on. It's hard.
Speaker 2:It's not easy thing to do. No, it's easier said than done. Like, for myself as well. Like, so I try to practice all the time. Like, hey, like, okay, dude, like, what are you doing? You know, like what, what are you really contributing? Like what? What are you after in life?
Speaker 2:You know, like, is it like, are you trying to be this famous person? Or, you know, are you trying to do this, trying to do that, or are you trying to just live like a good life? You know, like, and just because I want to be able to inspire people, that's like a long goal, dude. It's like I don't want to be known for just the weird things. I want to be like, hey, like, if that guy can do it, I can do it. Like, like, people ask you, people ask me too. Like, oh, how did you, how did you do this, how did you do that? Well, it starts with A, b, c and T. You know what I mean. It's like those are the things I'm after.
Speaker 2:Not like to have this like Grandiosa magazine cover or these awards or whatever it may be, cause I feel like for me, that doesn't really bring me joy. You know what I mean. Joy for me is like when someone says, dang, dude, if Homeboy did it, like he is, like you know he did it, like there's a possibility that I can do it. You know, like I can get out there and like surf or skate or make music or whatever. It is like whatever creative endeavor or ideas you have, you know I feel it's super important. I feel like it doesn't like really exist anymore. It's just like, well, here's what I got. Like you know, here's my checklist of accomplishments. You know, let's see what you got. You know it's like, oh damn, dude, I got none of that. You know, like, comparison to thief of joy, dude, always, you know, so for me, like I don't care about anything else, I don't care, like I don't try to compare myself.
Speaker 1:Did you guys say that?
Speaker 2:again Comparisons what Thief of joy, dude. Compare you had dude, like it's so true, that is so deep. I'm like I used to work with this dude a few years back and I would ask him like hey, do you know this like tattooer, Do you know this guy? You know this person? He's like I don't know that dude, I don't know who that is. And I was like what? Like, how do you not know? Like who that is? Like it's your, you're a tattooer, it's your, you should know, it's your as your obligation, you should know. And then like, so he'd be like, like, like, get out of here, like you know. And I'm in my mind, like dude, you're such a cuckoo, bro, like how could you not care? And realized what I didn't realize at the time is that, like I was the cuckoo you know what I mean? I was watching someone else's garden grow instead of paying to my own.
Speaker 1:Dude, you're just spending it, baby?
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, it's true.
Speaker 2:Though he was so caught up in doing what he was good at, you know, like he wanted to be a great tattooer, you know, and just a great illustrator and like you know composition and all that. So for me I was just like dang dude, like you're you should know, dude, you're you're tattoo tattooer. And little did I know. I just had no idea Like he'd be like hey, dude, worry about yourself, be good on paper, be drawn, draw more. Stop going through your phone, stop yapping your fricking gums, dude, and start pick up your pencil, draw more, do things that other guys are not willing to do. That's how you get good. And then so, as time goes on, you know, like that lesson, and that time I was like whoa man, it's so true. And cause now, today, you know, fast forward like seven, eight years, I don't know who's who or what's doing what, or like who's on top of the chain. I kind of don't care, I really don't. I don't, and it's not because I'm this like selfish, like dude, or I'm like occupied with, like my own, you know, grandiose of life. I just like I have other things to worry about, dude, I want to.
Speaker 2:I'm worrying about my client today, my tattoo with them, enjoying my time with them, being with them. Like, hey, dude, like what's okay, what are we gonna work on? We're working on the section here, cool. Like, what do you want to do? You want to color this, or what color you think about. You want to do it Like, you know, being in tune with them, like being a person with them and being like one on one, like being here with you, Like my goal is just to sit here and talking and navigate through a conversation about life and whatever it is we're going to choose to talk about. You know, you didn't mean like it's not. Like let me check my phone, like what's going on? Like hey, I got to be out of here by 430 or whatever it is. You know, like there's no time, but it's like it's we're spending time together. So to me, those things are important, you know, and not getting caught up in, just like the other stuff in life.
Speaker 1:Well, I imagine, too, that has to play into your sessions with your customers, right Cause I've had great conversations with both my tattoo artists. Yeah, you know, you sit there for hours and you get to know these people, especially with, like my traditional Japanese.
Speaker 2:I think it's bad.
Speaker 1:Dude. Yeah, it took. I think it was like a year and a half five hour sessions. Sounds about right. Yeah, it was like it's a lot of work it is. You get to talk, you get to know this person and how they work. And now you know Judo is one of my good friends. He's an awesome dude and I'm sure it's happened with you cause I saw you got you got sleeves and back pieces, and so I'm sure you get to talk to these people for a long periods of time.
Speaker 2:I'll. Yeah, I'll just start off by saying like I'm so thankful and so grateful and so like I couldn't even imagine my life to be where it's at, dude, and I couldn't have done it, you know, without like the trust of my clients, you know, and like having them being, like having faith in me and saying, hey, you know what, dude, yeah, you can tattoo my whole arm Like I have nothing. I want you to do the whole thing. It's like dang, dude, like, really Like trust, wow, Like, are you sure? Like, cause there's like this guy down the street, but it's really good, you know, start feeling the imposter syndrome. Yeah, like, like, or I just like, I just couldn't believe that they would want me to do it. You know, like, cause I hear that term a lot, Like a posture.
Speaker 2:I'm like, oh, like, like, and I, I feel like I've never, like I don't want to say never have that feeling, but I feel like I don't get that too much. And it's not because I'm like this egotistical, like you know, dude, it's just that like, I know, like in my heart, that I'm going to do my best every day, like I just pray hey, god, just help me out, bro, just like, just give me like once again, dude, just give me the guidance, give me the patience, give me just like, whatever it needs to get to this design tattoos in life in general. So I don't I never really feel that way, it's just it's because I'm just I'm so focused on like what I'm doing and like in like art, tattooing, creative-wise music, we know, whatever it may be. I like when Prince says I want to listen to Prince.
Speaker 1:Dude. I'm like, I'm saying, dude, he was a special human bro.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no one loved Prince like he loved himself, that's insane, but like, but, if you think about it, like, okay, like, why? And it goes back to the postures why would I want to be like Prince? Right, okay, prince is already Prince. He made his path, he chose the path he chose. He became who he was by doing things that way. He seemed fit for creative music, right, and sonically Okay.
Speaker 2:So, as a human being, as a person, as a creative person, why would I ever want to be a copycat of Prince, when your God's greatest gift, dude, is being you? He made you to be who you are. He put you on earth just to be you. Why would you take that away from yourself? Like, you know what I mean. I love it. Like your podcast is the way it is because of who you are. Why would you want to make it like Joe Rogan? Right, there's already a Joe Rogan. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? That market, that niche is already filled. So you do you, dude, like I couldn't express that more than anything about being like an entrepreneur, like following your dreams, like don't be somebody else, dude, don't, worry about that, don't. And you won't have those doubts of fear, like the comparison, or like imposter syndrome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because usually it comes with like, oh dang, this guy just did that. You know, oh man, this guy put out this one. Oh dang, they put out this song Shoot, that band's really good, they got that double kick, dog, we got to get a double kick in there. Or they put those like actual highlights. It's like, hey, you know what? That? You know those guys are doing that because that's who they are Like. They're a product of, like their environment and culture and people, of who they're involved around with.
Speaker 2:Like Prince is the way Prince is, because of where he was, what he came from, what he was around, what he's influenced by James Brown, right, that's his biggest influence. So automatically, as a kid, he's going to feel, he's going to have that inspiration in his body and his soul and his spirit. It's just going to come out naturally. So why would you ever fight that? If you're a very straight like obtuse surfer, you know, because that's just the way your style is, then just be it. Don't worry about being Devon Howard, bro. You know what I mean. He's smooth, oh, he's super smooth.
Speaker 1:I love what you have to do, that's you know. I'll tell you what. You just inspired me, bro. It's so true. It's true though.
Speaker 2:Like, why don't I want to be somebody else? And it's not, like, it's not this vain thing. You know, like, oh, look at me, it's just like, dude, just be you. All you got to do is get up and do and see the world as you see it. You know, like like, see it, digest it and then push it back out. That's like the biggest thing about art. Like people forget, or even like being creative, or like making a clothing brand or making like whatever it is, whatever it is. You know you're trying to like develop and put out into into like the universe. Like I want to see the world the way you see it. I want to see your vision.
Speaker 2:Dude, don't show me what this guy, don't copy this guy, because there's 20 guys that look the same, who surf the same or who who have the same. You know musical tone or pot, like whatever it is. Do something, do what you think is cool, man. Do what you think that you would do, different Like, because when I hear stuff I'm like that's pretty cool, I like that. But, man, you know what? Maybe I think I would, I would do it like this, and then you'd write a song and you're like, oh, shoot, man, that sounds pretty cool Because you let you, it's naturally coming out, it's naturally who you are.
Speaker 2:Like I couldn't do your arm the way that guy did it. I could try to copy it. Yeah, it won't. We know what they're going to say. It looks like homies from you know over here, right, oh, okay, then I wouldn't be able to tell it's like a Steve Sanchez tattoo, right, right, like. And then on top of that, why would I want to copy that, like he's already doing it, you know? Like why would I want to rip somebody off? There's nothing wrong with being inspired, right, you know, and having like inspirations and like taking field notes and whatnot. But don't, I wouldn't want to do it line from line, you know, shade for shade, right, then I wouldn't. What am I even doing? I feel like I'm doing a disservice to like not only myself, like you know my spirit, but like like God himself.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know what I'm saying Like like You're fearfully, wonderfully made. There's only one of you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, dude, like like okay, I put you on this earth, dude, and you're going to just copy this dude. Right, what are you doing? Right, what are you? What are you doing? Yeah, wishing in time, you were, you worried.
Speaker 1:One man dude preaching over here.
Speaker 2:That's true. Cause you cause, you get. So once again, you compare yourself.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've, dude, I've. I've struggled with that, I've always struggled with feeling good enough.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Am I doing what the you know the next person's doing? Am I doing better? Sure, but it does come. I think it comes with maturity. It really does. It does Time and self realization and finding myself, not just me, but who I am in Christ. What's what like? What do you want me here for?
Speaker 2:Okay, get a little salt in that beer, dog I know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:Like that's how you get it. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2:Totally dude, but I know what you're saying, though, like you know, you got to, you got to live a little bit, you do, you have to get some life under your belt, yeah.
Speaker 1:You know it's a cliche thing, but really, you know, we all, everyone lives in the hard-wrapped reality. Is everyone's going to die? Yeah, ain't nobody making out this earth? Yeah, but what is your? What are you going to do with that dash in the middle Right? What's your journey? That's what I'm saying, man. You know what? What? What does the Lord put in your heart? You, no one's going to figure it out for you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's what I also love about having a relationship with the Lord. It's not about religion. Yeah, it's not about what the church says. The four walls and a cool worship team hey, is that great? Yes, that's Western church.
Speaker 1:But what it comes down to in your faith is it's a relationship with the Lord, and the closer you get with him and you nurture that, you realize he only wants the best for you. Yeah, and he's going to bring you the best. It's so true. And sometimes you're going to go through difficult times because you're going to learn something in there. And I've, I've seen it, I've seen it for myself that sometimes in your greatest failure, in your biggest trials, that's a platform for you to use you for what you, what you were really on this earth for, because you'll learn something hard. It's so true. You know, and you're going to be able to inspire others to come through that.
Speaker 1:And you know, I'm once divorced. I've been through it, man. Yeah, and that was a tough time and I wasn't a good dude then. Yeah, and I can tell you now is I've had so many other men that I know who are in the fire service come and approach me because like hey, I'm going through a divorce, like I don't know what to do, I feel lost, I'm hurting. It's like, all right, let's go get a cup of coffee.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, let me tell you yeah, let's have a talk.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it will be okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's going to hurt. Yeah, it's going to be difficult, yeah.
Speaker 1:And, no matter what happens, keep your mouth shut, yeah, and talk bad about the person, yeah. If the lawyer's do the thing, yeah. But you ultimately just take a step back and breathe and realize this is hard, yeah, but you will come out on the other end. Yeah, there's going to be, you know, an end goal to this for your life and it will get better, yeah, you know tough times don't last no, when you're in them, though, it's hard. Yeah, you feel like you're in this biggest, darkest pit man and it ain't going to work. And you know when you finally surrender and you realize, like you know, what the Lord tells us in the Bible. You know, in this world you will have trials and tribulations. Trials and tribulations yeah, tribulations is a heavy word. Yeah, dude, I mean you're going to go through it.
Speaker 1:My parents they lost a son. Yeah, I can't imagine what it's like to lose a child. Right, you know I lost my brother, but I saw what they went through. Yeah, 80% of marriages after a child dies ends in divorce. Damn. And they're still together. That's incredible. And they still waged that war together and they went through that fight and they came on the other side. Are they still like? Are they perfect? No, do they still mourn my brother's death? Absolutely, yeah, for sure. But you know what it's a different morning. It's a morning it's more of a celebration of thank you, god, for putting this kid in my life, but thank you that you saved him and we're going to see him again, right, because nothing here is going to last forever and I will see him.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So you mourn different. You have a joy in your morning which someone who's not a believer doesn't even get that they have no idea.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's true, and you know, like you couldn't have said it better, like that, like knowing that, like, yeah, like life is short, it's like a fog, dude, yeah, you're gone, like that. So for me, like I relish in that, yeah, like someone told me like hey, dude, or I hear a lot like you're really good at living, yeah, you're the best at living life. You know, and I think they say it as a joke, you know, because I'm always so like happy to go lucky, or I'm just like trying to make the best of things I got. I kind of have like that, like Rob Dyrdak and like like Bert Kreisner, like you know, like let's just have a good time and not like, not like getting wild. You know, like like you know partying, but like I just want to make the best of things, because I know, like, dude, tomorrow I might not wake up.
Speaker 2:I don't, I mean, if I got to go, I got to go humming. I'm not, I'm, I'm not afraid to die, I'm not wishing for it, I'm not, I don't got a death wish, but I know that if I go and if it's short, then I'm just going to just enjoy being here and enjoy my friends, my family, my loved ones, dude, and knowing that, yeah, I'm going to go to heaven, bro, like it ain't an easy trip. You know, like being being here is hard, dude, like with everything. Like people are like in such dark places right now. I've seen people like fall apart, dude, like it's insane, especially the times we're in.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, it's it's a lot of uncertainty yeah.
Speaker 1:You know, I feel like everyone is on shaky ground or shaky sand, because it's the, the state of our country, the world.
Speaker 2:It's like wars and rumors of wars and this and that inflation's up, and I get it, it's true man, I feel like you know, when it comes to those things, like like as a practitioner of like, just like positive mental attitude, you know, like PMA, like okay, I like like, if you watch a bunch of scary movies for like a week straight or like a month straight, eventually you're going to have nightmares. Oh yeah, you know cause and effect. But yeah, you're looking at your shoulder right. So if I constantly digest like things about the world, that's going wrong. Or you know, if it's wars, economical downsides, anything like that, in the long, like, in the, I would say, even in the small scope of things, what good is that going to do me? Like I'm just going to what's?
Speaker 1:the word you're going to do right yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, I'm going to like think about it all the time. I'm never going to get past like those situations. More importantly, I'm just going to get so fixated on it I'm going to lose track of like who I am, Like what I'm doing, what I'm trying to achieve in my life, dude, because that stuff will take you so far off. So it's so easy to get lost in that path of, like the worries of tomorrow when you can't even, like finish the food on your plate right here. Yeah, you know, like I don't want to make I got, maybe I don't have that much food in my plate, but I want to make sure I enjoy it, you know, whatever it is. So to me, like, like, once again, I don't really care of those things. It's not say I don't care like about people or humanity or the things that the tragedy of the world is. Just like, as of today, dude, at this point in my life, and on Tuesday, Monday afternoon, I can't do anything. What do you want me to do? You know what I mean. Like I have as soon as things I got to worry about, so I got people that rely on me and things I need to make sure like mental health.
Speaker 2:I'm cool, you know. Check myself. I know if that I try to put my best foot forward and each of my moments I'm alive and each day that maybe I'll find love, peace and joy and then that can spread to somebody else. Yeah, Like dang. How am I like? Oh, like. What are you so juiced about?
Speaker 1:Hey man we're here, it's true, we're alive, the gift of life and how precious it truly is. And you know, with that verse where it says you know, in this life you will have trials and tribulations, but the last part is that, take heed, I've overcome the world. Yeah, I did. It's, there's always that but. But God like remember, this is going to suck at times, yeah, man, but it's okay because I've overcome the world. And there's one thing I want to end on this the Bible. And the Bible it says do not be afraid.
Speaker 2:365 times, oh wow, Do you?
Speaker 1:think that's crazy.
Speaker 2:Wow, I didn't know that.
Speaker 1:That's what I'm saying. Fear, you know, and all that there's. I do think there's different levels of fear. Right, there's fear in us that protects us. Yeah, when you're out, like you know, when you're walking along a main street, yeah, you step out in that street, you're going to get killed, right. So, you have a little bit of fear. Like I probably shouldn't do that, right? Yeah, like I know, when I go skydiving, if I don't jump with a parachute right you know I'm going to die, yeah.
Speaker 2:There's a fear like, oh, I shouldn't be near that door, this is a good possibility.
Speaker 1:It's really high, right. But there's also other fears that hold people back in their life the fear of starting something new, the fear of commitment, you know, the fear of loss of whatever it may be. Yeah, when it's really like, when you have that faith, you know that the God's in control. He's going to take care of you. Whether it's good or bad what's happening in life, you do not need to be afraid, because he's going to work it out. I agree, and it will work and I've seen it in my own life. Yeah, and that's why I say it's so powerful for me. And the more I study and I realize, oh my gosh, I looked it up, it's like just do not be afraid. 365 times, that's 365 days.
Speaker 1:You know it's like what in the world that's perfect? One for every day.
Speaker 2:You know it's like do not fear him. I'm always with you, he's with you, it's going to be okay.
Speaker 1:Will you make mistakes? Yeah, it's okay, I'm with you. Yeah, we'll work it out, we're going to get through this. So, all being said I mean Stephen I can talk for hours.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, oh yeah I know she's bummed over here, I know.
Speaker 1:Time, but it's so good.
Speaker 2:I agree man.
Speaker 1:It's amazing, dude. I want you to come back on it real quick. I do have to ask real fast what's the longest session you've done in a tattoo? Eight hours.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, how did the person do they have numbing cream or are they just?
Speaker 2:No, they sat really well, they just like, they were into, like they just wanted to get it done, you know, not like rushing, but they're like hey, if we can do eight hours, can we do it? And I was like yeah, you were like come here. Yeah, I was like we can do it, we just take certain breaks. But it was tough. The next day my arm was dead. I was saying how's that? How's that?
Speaker 1:for you as an artist, though, the tattoo. That's got to be the focus, right the focus in your eyes and the detail.
Speaker 2:Man, the best trick I learned was from my old buddies, old mentors Sam Scott, he, because he's the one who taught me how to do like the large scale Japanese step. I was like, dude, how do you not get tired? Yeah, how do you? How do you not lose focus? How do you not? How do you not rush? Yeah, you know, keep the quality the same, because it's important. You know, as a, as artists or anything you're doing, you're going to get tired eventually. Right, you know he goes. I take a break on the app On the hour every hour for like two or three minutes. That's it Very good, Just get up, stretch, yeah, Close your eyes, go to the back, get some water, just, you know, do whatever you got to do for two or three minutes and then get back to it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I got that. Thought, mike Dude, that's. It's so much focus for you as the tattoo artist. Yeah, depending on the piece, how big it is, was it in the pit? Is it on the elbow? You know, like, how's the body autonomy working? Yeah, did you? Gangster, bro, you're gangster. I'm going to have to hit you up, though, for a back piece.
Speaker 2:I'll end with this from my point, what, what? What you're saying is that I'm just doing what I can with what the good Lord gave me. Dude, I love it.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying. He gave me the ability to do art, make music, you know, be, I guess, somewhat athletic from surfing. So I'm just, I'm just doing with what I got man. That's pretty much it. Like I don't come from a wealthy family, you know. Like most of us, like you know what I mean. Like we're not billionaires, bro, so and I'm not trying to be, but I do know that I have these talents and I'm not going to let them go to waste. I love it. So I'm just, I'm just doing with what I got man. I'm making the best of my situation and that's all I can. That's all you can do, because what else? Like you know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Like well, dude, steven, I'll tell you what man I'm so glad that we've met over social media. Yeah, we have the same shaper and I'll tell you this much. You know you really spoke to me today. It's great to have someone like you on this podcast, dude. You have such a great heart and outlook online from people. You just see people like that man. Thanks, man. You know you're not perfect, but guess what? You're trying your best. I'm okay with it. You know what I'm saying. And so people want to get a tattoo with you or see your work on social media. What's your social media? Social media, social media handle.
Speaker 2:Well, the best way is probably you can look me up through our shop page. It's called Marigold Tattoo, marigold Tattoo Studio and I'm on there. Steven Sanchez, we got Mike Ortiz, sean Hughes, rebecca, simon, tazabeth and then we got myself. So all the guys I work with it's great crew. Everyone does great tattoos. We really care about what we're doing, how we're doing it, the way it's done, and we really try to make the valiant effort in giving you a great experience and, more important, a great tattoo that's going to last a lifetime. So that's the best way to get ahold of us. And where's your shop at? Our shop is in Anaheim, off Ball Road and State College. Okay, yeah, marigold Tattoo.
Speaker 1:Marigold Tattoo you guys heard of here. Yeah, or come surf with me. Yeah, come surf you put a beach. Yeah, we are going to have to surf Whenever you want. I'm down usually twice a week, whatever, depending on my shift schedule and what's happening. But I would love to go out, I'm sure you'll probably. My dad goes to Blackies too. He's in, you know. He goes from Bolsa to Blackies.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, what's?
Speaker 1:your name. My dad yeah, dave Fisher. Okay, okay.
Speaker 2:Dang. I've never met him before.
Speaker 1:Oh, dude, he's you'll, you'd recognize him bro. Okay, yeah, he's still got the military haircut. Yeah, bro, he drives this gray van from the nineties.
Speaker 2:He just replaces the motor and gets repainted Like he's like no, this is my surf van.
Speaker 1:I'm not getting rid of this.
Speaker 2:It's so great dude. Yeah, whatever you want, man, I'm always down dude Awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, steven, at the end of every podcast we do a let's go on three. You ready, brother? Let's do it. Let's do it, man. Thank you so much for coming out, man, anytime.
Speaker 2:I'll love you back.
Speaker 1:Amazing You're welcome here anytime Any of your fellow friends. Tad Thar Swenna, come on, they got a spot, just call me up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, and I'll be there.
Speaker 1:You ready to do this too? One, two, three, let's go. Bye everybody. Thank you so much for listening in. If you liked what you just listened to, please leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts and on Spotify. Please follow us on YouTube, on Instagram and on Facebook. And a big shout out to Steven Clark, our sound editor. He's a huge part of this team that is unseen. It's 8, 9 Barbers, our first sponsor Look good, feel good, be great. That's two locations Orange, california, and Long Beach, california. Book your appointment online 89barberscom. Bye everybody.