Can’t wait for more! I would love to see Eddy Deutsche and Shane Tan get interviewed. Also an idea for a continuing show would be to follow someone’s journey from starting to draw to getting an apprenticeship and finally starting to tattoo and getting clients. Thinking like a monthly or quarterly recap. Thank you for all the work you do!

Andrew is a stellar host and brings on some very interesting guests. He is always challenging the standard ways of thinking in the industry and it makes the show really special.

I’ve enjoyed listening to the evolution of this podcast over the years. The host is an excellent interviewer, and the guests are an interesting cross section of the tattoo world. Enjoyable even for just a tattoo fan like me.

Missing the real episode 24 of toothtaker

Listeners beware: This podcast is the gold standard. It is so clean and thought provoking that it will make all the rest of the tattoo podcasts seem silly and unprofessional. Seriously though, the best guests and the best content all approached with class, and presented in an interesting, respectful manner. Seriously love this one! Thanks Andrew.

This podcast helps feed the addiction to all things tattooing nicely. Ever season has been fantastic.

Interesting and educational to hear from such an elite group of talent. I believe listening to different cats with different backgrounds, points of view, and objectives when it comes to tattooing and art in general is healthy and refreshing. Great approach and overall flow when chopping it up with the various guests and the humor is a definite bonus. Inspiring content, keep up the good work! -Spereigh

Review

I like it

Excellent, with the quality of most of the best podcasts. I’ve tried several tattoo podcasts and this hit it on the head

I really enjoy listening to you. Please come back!😭

Firstly, thank you so much to the creator of this podcast for putting together a collection of contemporary and historical tattoo information. If anyone would like to hear some great stories of the history of an American tattoo icon, listen to the tapes of Lyle Tuttle. It’s amazing to hear him posthumously, spectacular that the interview was recorded. Rest In Peace Lyle.

I had heard a couple of these here and there over the last couple of years but decided in the era of COVID and being on lockdown that I would listen to all of them consecutively instead of picking and choosing which ones I might be more interested in. They all bring something valuable to the table. Andrew brings a refreshing unbiased intelligence to every conversation. I go for my walk, I put on an episode and it holds my sanity in check. Thank you.

This is a lovely podcast and I’ve been really enjoying it. I just listened to episode 32 and wow! What an impactful, inspiring and thoughtful episode. This podcast is just what I needed right now. I’m approaching my 9th year in the industry and battling severe depression and just summoning the energy to get to work every day let alone be a creative force. Thank you so so much for making this.

Great show open minded , seems to cover all sides of the job . I enjoyed it

Loving every episode of this podcast. Looking forward to season 4!

Seriously amazing show. Such great content and speakers. Great host. Check it out.

Andrew does a great job representing the past and present within Tattoo culture. With a number of famous (and sometimes infamous) guests, Andrew gives access to a spectrum of insight within each episode. Support this one! It’s great!

The best produced and delivered show. Andrew takes it past simply posting random conversations, but rather crafting shows with a narrative. Top Notch.

I just wanted to say I have really enjoyed your podcast. I just discovered it after Virginia Elwood posted about her episode and I’ve been listening every day since. It’s been a refreshing experience to hear the stories and discussions that artists have to share and that they are very relatable to how I’ve been feeling about tattooing in this day. Thanks and I look forward to listening to many more episodes of this podcast -Kind regards, Robyn

Books Closed was one of the many study aspects on my list of homework from my mentor through my apprenticeship and this has really helped round my continuous growth and respect for the art form and the artists🙏🙏

Love this podcast! Finding it informative for my understanding of the tattoo world and of my own experiences as I make my way through an apprenticeship as “Dusty Tattoo” in Oakland, CA. Would love to hear an episode with some apprentices, actually, as there is so much discussion surrounding the ways in which newcomers are incorporated into tattooing with the voices of those newcomers less heard. Either way, easy to critique anything. Love the show!

Appreciate this podcast. Can’t wait for a new season!

I think each episode gets better as the seasons go, but that’s not to discredit early or past episodes. With more trends coming into the spotlight and Andrew’s thoughts being challenged and grown based on these discussions, whether they’re with a revered figure or someone looked at with more of a pariah mentality, they’ve all come across from what I can remember as respectful, and it’s very evident Andrew’s purpose in this podcast is to expand his thoughts and do what he can to look through different eyes. Specifically, after listening to the season 2 finale with Toothtaker, I think that episode stands out much more because Andrew was pushed to delve into some of these thoughts a bit, instead of having some uncertainty- which I do think not everyone is able to do instantly, so while Toothtaker was unlike any of his other guests, it felt like you could really see themes resurface during the season 2 finale, so it was a nice wrap up. Oh and he also has a sexy voice. So if you’re interested in the whispering sweet nothings of tattoo podcasts, look no further.

This podcast presents a really unique take on exploring tattooing and it’s evolution. And although it is definitely built for Tattooers, it is truly for listeners from all walks of life! Andrew is a great host and I hope to see this podcast continue for a long long time!

An indispensable resource for tattooers, collectors, and newbies alike, Books Closed, led by its insightful host and stellar artist, Andrew Stortz, deep dives into the history of the tattooing and tries to navigate the changing landscape of an ancient craft. With a lineup of guests ranging from today's least known and best talents, to those often considered outsiders and their ambitions of modernization within an industry steeped in tradition, Books Closed delivers every episode with humor, respect, and insight into the world of tattooing. Great production value in both the audio and video components, killer merchandise, and minimal ads from useful vendors, there's nothing not to like about Books Closed. Listen to this podcast!

One of my favorites podcast!

Andrew is doing a good job of presenting a in depth look at the way tattooers see the world they live in. There is an amazing balance with the guest selection, and I feel that there is a good amount I am learning with each episode. I am not a tattooer myself, but I am quite entertained. I want to respect and learn all I can about the world of tattooing, and this is helping me on that journey! Thank you for all your hard work Andrew!

Andrew does such a great job at being insightful, interesting, and humble when discussing issues in the tattoo community. I don't work with any experienced tattooers to discuss these topics with so I look forward to the podcasts every week and am enjoying learning more about the tattoo world.

Such a thoughtful and insightful look at what makes up tattooing!! ✨ great job Andrew!

Thanks for producing such engaging and insightful dialogue on a wide range of topics within the tattoo industry. I myself am not working within the industry but I am a tattoo collector and my partner is currently in the midst of an apprenticeship. Thanks providing me with some education on what it’s like on this inside so I can have more of an understanding of this new journey my partner is on.

Always engaging and thought provoking. Thanks for doing this Andrew, keep going!

Andrew has found the people hanging out in the corner of every tattoo artists eye whether they’re venture-capitalists trying to carve out their own piece of the pie or one of the great humble tattooers everyone hears about but never has the nerve to speak to, Andrew gets all of it.

Absolutely enjoy the show! I love to learn more about tattoo history, and techniques from the best around. Keep up the good work

Great podcast, very engaging insightful conversations.

Very inspiring and informative interviews from incredible artists. Thank you to everyone who has shared. I truly enjoy listening to you guys and girls. 😊

As someone who wants to be a tattoo artist, I’m digging this podcast. It’s helped me learn and understand a lot of perspectives that I never even knew I needed to know. Really awesome!

With a vast assortment of content in the inter web world, if tattooers would like to know where the real stuff is located, they need to subscribe and listen to this podcast. Great way to start the day and the drawing table to a nice fresh cup of coffee! Andrew is a natural at this! Thanks for giving me some good stuff to listen to!

If you are in this industry then this podcast is wonderful. Thought it might be very one sided but I think fair. Very interesting and informative. Really enjoy listening.

This podcast is always insightful and entertaining. Andrew has a way of asking questions from a variety of perspectives & does a great job with each person being interviewed. It has given me different perspectives regarding how I view and perceive art and tattoos (as a non-tattooer) as well as music and other arts. The discussion of technology and media is important not only in tattooing but in all forms of current culture. I look forward to many more episodes.

The podcast is awesome, and Andrew is an awesome interviewer and really asks the right questions for the right people. As a greenish tattooer myself this podcast has been invaluable from how I approach my tatttooing, how I choose to display myself and my work to potential clients and social media, where I want to go with my tattooing, and how I want to develop myself as an artist and business person. So thank Andrew and please keep it up because this is if nothing else extremely helpful

Really great interviews with some really great artists. Suitable for everyone, whether you’re covered or just curious. A pleasant listen!

I only wish there were more of these. Thank you so much for doing this work.

I love listening to this podcast when I draw. Getting to hear all of these amazing artists view on the industry and hearing their stories really takes you to another place. Also the sound quality is amazing.

Killing it Andrew, keep up the great work. Can’t wait for season2

This podcast is exactly the kind of thing I’ve been looking for in this industry. Hearing from other artists on everyday struggles with work and social media has given me a better perspective. It’s helped motivate me to be a little more active on social media and also allowed me to relax and focus on what’s important, the tattoo. I have a more positive attitude at the shop and I think it shows in my work. Thanks for all the hard work Andrew.

Binge listened to the whole first season. It’s a really smart and fun listen that reaches outside of just tattooing. It’s really fascinating to consider social media’s implications through the framework of a very specific “industry” and “subculture”. I love tattoo stuff of course, but I also love the 90s, and telling all the young people how fun it was to not have a cellphone.

I love listening to podcasts, I’m fairly addicted, but there’s never been a good tattoo podcast. Finally with “Books Closed” all of my desires have been satisfied. No more cold showers, no more hopeless nights, NOW and HERE all my dreams have been realized. Would recommend (and have) to anyone. Even if you’re not deeply into the tattoo world there’s an awesome perspective to gain into a culture that’s unlike any other. Also Schultz’ comedy stuff on YouTube is gold, just like his abilities as a tattooer and a host. KEEP KILLIN IT 🤘🏻can’t wait until season 2, looks like I’ll be re-listening to all the episodes for a third time...

It’s difficult to say who I started listening to this podcast. Without being a name dropping douche bag. For what ever reason I started intent on listening to the one episode I enjoyed it and listened to another. Then another. It has been a good listen a great eye opening part of my journey. As a dear friend of mine once told me “I’m not going to that convention with you because I don’t ever need to meet another young confident tattooer.” As it turns out I may need to. Thanks for the good work.

This is our morning NPR at our shop. Thanks Andrew. BFM_Tattoos.