There is a LOT happening in Mel and Kirsten's worlds right now, so this week on Skin Deep Stories, they're catching up on everything from tattoo convention wins and upcoming pop-ups to international travel, motherhood, and the sudden urge to reinvent your entire life the second fall arrives.

Kirsten is getting ready for an extended honeymoon in Indonesia, which means squeezing in as much work as possible before leaving, figuring out how to pack for a month away, getting ALL the vaccines, and preparing herself for the possibility of the infamous "Bali Belly." Turns out the glamorous international travel era requires quite a bit of admin first.

Back in Montreal, the girls recap the recent tattoo convention, where plans for casual walk-ups quickly turned into a competition. The result? A second-place win for Kirsten's Scooby-Doo tattoo! They talk about the experience, the incredible artists they met, and how tattoo conventions have evolved from something that once felt very niche and intimidating into a much more welcoming and inclusive celebration of the industry.

They also look ahead to upcoming tattoo pop-ups, talk about what actually works when creating flash for these fast-paced events, and put the call out to listeners: what designs do YOU want to see on their next flash sheets?

But between all the travel plans and tattoo talk, the conversation gets a little deeper. Mel and Kirsten reflect on the weird emotions that come with watching your kids become more independent, figuring out who you are as motherhood changes, and the pressure women feel to constantly improve themselves, their bodies, their health, their homes, and basically every other part of their lives.

It's a catch-up episode about being busy, getting inspired, letting go of impossible expectations, and trying to enjoy the season of life you're actually in.

Oh, and apparently an entire episode of horrifyingly embarrassing stories is coming soon. You've been warned.

Follow the hosts:
Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts
Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:
Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.

What do tattoos, secondhand books, video games, tarot cards, coffee, and rescue animals have in common? At Reddy Ink and Fables, apparently everything.

In this episode of Skin Deep Stories, Montreal tattoo artists and moms Kirsten Diachidos and Melanie Belanger sit down with tattoo artist Matthew Reddy and his girlfriend and business partner, Lauren, to talk about tattooing, entrepreneurship, and the unconventional space they've created together in Chateauguay.

Matthew shares his journey into tattooing, from growing up with a love of drawing to eventually landing a tattoo apprenticeship. Today, he specializes in dot work, stippling, and pointillism, styles he was drawn to for both their unique look and the meditative process behind creating them.

Together, Matthew and Lauren have built Reddy Ink and Fables into something that feels very different from a traditional tattoo shop. Inspired by video games like Zelda, Skyrim, and Fable, the space was designed to feel cozy, welcoming, and reflective of the things they genuinely love. Clients can grab a coffee, browse secondhand books, play video games while they wait, shop plants that help raise money for animal rescues, and even attend monthly tarot readings.

Matthew and Lauren also open up about the realities of running a small business, particularly during some challenging years for both the tattoo industry and the economy. The conversation gets into imposter syndrome, building a community around your business, and the pressure artists and entrepreneurs face to constantly show up and create content on social media.

And, of course, they get into AI.

Matthew, Lauren, Kirsten, and Mel discuss the growing number of AI-generated tattoo references clients are bringing to artists and the problems that can arise when an image created without the limitations of actual human skin is expected to translate perfectly into a tattoo.

They also explore the bigger question of what AI means for artists whose careers are built around creating original work. It's a conversation about tattoos, creativity, entrepreneurship, community, and what can happen when you stop worrying about what a tattoo shop is "supposed" to look like and build something that actually feels like you.

Follow the hosts:

Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts

Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Follow Matthew Reddy on Instagram: reddyinktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:

Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.

What exactly happens during a sound healing session? Can hypnosis help you explore a past life? And what can these practices teach us about ourselves in the present?

In this episode of Skin Deep Stories, Montreal tattoo artists and moms Kirsten Diachidos and Melanie Belanger sit down with sound healer and hypnosis practitioner Dalia Marom for a conversation about healing, spirituality, altered states, and looking inward.

Both Kirsten and Mel have experienced Dalia's work firsthand through her sessions and retreats, and this time they're getting the chance to ask the questions.

Dalia shares how she found her way into sound healing, what drew her to the practice, and what actually happens when someone attends a sound healing experience. They explore how sound can be used as a tool for relaxation, reflection, and connection, who might be drawn to this kind of work, and the different sessions and experiences Dalia offers.

The conversation also ventures into hypnosis and past life exploration. Dalia explains how she accompanies clients through their own experiences rather than telling them what they're supposed to see or discover, and Kirsten and Mel share their curiosity about what can surface when we allow ourselves to explore beyond our everyday conscious minds.

From sound baths and retreats to hypnosis, past lives, and the deeply personal reasons people seek out these experiences, this episode is an open-minded exploration of alternative approaches to self-discovery and healing. Whether you're already deep into your spiritual era or you've always wondered what actually happens when someone starts playing those giant crystal bowls, consider this your introduction.

Follow the hosts:

Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts

Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

For more information on Dalia, her work and sessions, check out her website: https://soniqhypnotiqs.com/

Book a tattoo or learn more: Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.

Not every tattoo needs a deep meaning. Your fine line tattoo isn't going to stay perfectly crisp forever. Your tattoo artist is allowed to say no. And yes, Kirsten and Mel have some opinions about tipping.

In this episode of Skin Deep Stories, Montreal tattoo artists and moms Kirsten Diachidos and Melanie Belanger are sharing some of their tattoo industry hot takes and tackling the things clients and artists don't always agree on.

They talk about why artists should never feel obligated to take on a tattoo they don't want to do, why deposits need to be taken seriously, and just how much unpaid work can happen behind the scenes before a client ever sits down in the chair. They also get into the difference between taking inspiration from another artist and straight-up stealing someone's custom work.

Then there are the tattoo trends that might look amazing when they're fresh but don't necessarily age the way social media would have you believe. Kirsten and Mel share their thoughts on fine line tattoos, micro realism, white ink, red ink, and why understanding how tattoos change over time should be part of choosing what goes on your body.

And while they have plenty of opinions about what makes sense technically, there's one rule they definitely DON'T believe in: that every tattoo needs some profound backstory. Sometimes you just want something weird, funny, cute, or completely ridiculous on your body... and that's reason enough.

Whether you're heavily tattooed, planning your first one, or you're a fellow artist with some hot takes of your own, this episode gets into the tattoo conversations that might ruffle a few feathers. We said what we said.

Follow the hosts:
Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts
Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:
Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.

In this episode of Skin Deep Stories, Kirsten and Mel sit down with Sarah Di Marco for a deeply personal conversation about grief, tattoos, motherhood, music, and finding ways to carry the people we love with us after they're gone.

Sarah lost both of her parents within just nine months, after each was diagnosed with terminal cancer only a year apart. She opens up about navigating that unimaginable period of her life while raising two young daughters, the importance of having a strong community around her, and why supporting other women has become something she intentionally models for her girls.

After taking a break from tattoos while she was busy "adulting," Sarah eventually found her way to Kirsten with an idea for something deeply meaningful: a sleeve honouring her parents. She shares what those tattoos mean to her and why finding the right artist and environment mattered so much. The conversation also turns to the "Sip and Ink" event Sarah hosted at her home, bringing women together for an evening of tattoos, connection, laughter, and a little bit of healing.

And then there's a pretty incredible full-circle moment involving country music.

Shortly after losing her mom, Sarah attended Montreal's LASSO festival and held up a sign during Jelly Roll's performance of "I Am Not Okay." What she didn't know at the time was that one of the hosts was also in that crowd and witnessed the moment from a distance, moved by the vulnerability of a complete stranger. Neither of them could have imagined they'd eventually sit across from each other and discover the connection.

It's a conversation about what happens after profound loss, the communities that hold us up, and the unexpected ways tattoos, music, storytelling, and shared experiences can help us heal.

Follow the hosts:
Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts
Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:
Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.

In this episode of Skin Deep Stories, Montreal tattoo artists and moms Kirsten Diachidos and Melanie Belanger welcome a very special guest to the podcast: longtime client and loyal Skin Deep Stories listener Jonathan Chipman.

Jonathan shares his story, including surviving a stroke when he was just four years old and growing up with hemiplegia. He opens up about years of physical rehabilitation, the challenges he's faced throughout his life, and what it's been like navigating other people's assumptions about disability, particularly in the workplace.

But Jonathan's story is also about perseverance, positivity, and choosing how you show up in the world. Together, Kirsten, Mel, and Jonathan talk about mindset, affirmations, kindness, and the small ways we can bring more positivity into our everyday lives, even when things aren't easy.

The conversation also highlights something Kirsten and Mel have talked about since the beginning of Skin Deep Stories: tattooing is about so much more than ink. Spending hours together in the tattoo chair creates space for real conversations and genuine relationships. Artists get to know their clients' stories, families, struggles, interests, and personalities, and over time, clients can become an important part of the community surrounding a tattoo shop.

Of course, there's plenty of tattoo talk too. Jonathan shares his love of drawing and collaborating on custom tattoo ideas, as well as his obsession with horror movies, including Friday the 13th, which inspired his Jason Voorhees tattoo.

And to finish things off, Kirsten and Mel put Jonathan through a rapid-fire round covering the truly important questions in life: horror or comedy? DC or Marvel? Halloween or Christmas?

It's a funny, heartfelt conversation about perseverance, connection, kindness, and why there's almost always more to someone's story than you can see from the outside.

Follow the hosts:
Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts
Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:
Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.

Mel is back! In this episode of Skin Deep Stories, Montreal tattoo artists and moms Kirsten Diachidos and Melanie Belanger reunite for a good old-fashioned catch-up after a VERY busy summer.

They talk about balancing work, kids, travel, and trying to squeeze a little time for themselves into the mix. From family cottage trips and summer tattoo appointments to realizing how much easier traveling with kids gets as they grow up, Kirsten and Mel reflect on where the summer went and what they've been up to while life kept moving at full speed.

Kirsten also shares a pretty wild manifestation moment from her tattoo career. After spending hours researching and sketching artwork inspired by painter William Waterhouse, a brand-new client unexpectedly reached out asking for a tattoo sleeve based on one of the exact paintings she'd been studying. Coincidence? Manifestation? Either way, Kirsten is taking it.

Meanwhile, Mel shares a vacation story involving Hampton Beach, Boston, a baseball batting cage, and a 110 km/h baseball that nearly resulted in a VERY different ending to her trip. Thankfully, an unlikely hero saved the day: her ring.

The two also look ahead to upcoming adventures, including Kirsten's trip to Indonesia, underwater photography gear, possible sports road trips, and all the questionable "girl math" required to justify buying the things you definitely, absolutely need for vacation.

It's a laid-back catch-up episode about summer memories, family life, creative inspiration, travel, close calls, and all the random stories you save up for the next time you finally get to sit down with your friend.

Follow the hosts:
Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts
Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:
Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.

In this episode of Skin Deep Stories, Kirsten Diachidos is hosting solo again and welcoming someone who has known her a LOT longer than most of her guests: her cousin Rebecca.

Kirsten and Rebecca grew up spending summers together and traveling back and forth between Montreal and the Maritimes, creating the kind of childhood memories that have kept them close well into adulthood. They look back on summers at their grandparents' house, family traditions, and what it's like to have a cousin who has always felt more like a sister.

They also reflect on how their family has evolved over the generations. Once relatively conservative and straight-laced, the family has slowly become a little more tattooed thanks to Kirsten and her generation. That includes Kirsten's own mom, Rebecca's aunt, who decided at 70 years old that it was finally time to get tattooed by her daughter.

Of course, there is plenty of tattoo talk along the way. Kirsten and Rebecca discuss their own tattoos, creative pursuits within the family, and make a compelling case for officially rebranding the infamous lower back tattoo as a "cake topper."

Beyond the laughs and nostalgia, they talk about maintaining close family relationships despite living far apart, balancing work and parenthood, raising teenagers, and learning to appreciate the simple things as life gets busier.

It's a funny, nostalgic, and heartfelt conversation about cousins who became sisters, the family traits that get passed down through generations, and the new traditions we create along the way. Plus, Kirsten and Rebecca may have just come up with their next great idea: a "Tattoos on Tour" RV adventure.

Follow the hosts:
Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts
Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:
Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.