Breakin' On Through With Skyler Moon - Interviews w/ Everyday People, Musicians, and Businesses · Skyler Moon

Season #3! Co-Host MelMay-Tattoo Parlor Owner [Previously]

·54 min·4 clips

Mel May opened Vermont's first lesbian-owned tattoo shop, defying industry norms in the 1990s.

This episode kicks off season three of the podcast with host Skyler Moon and her first official co-host, Mel May, a tattoo artist and former parlor owner. They discuss Mel's extensive background in tattooing, her personal art, and their shared New England lifestyles. Mel reveals she has over a hundred hours of tattoo work and specializes in the traditional Sailor Jerry style. She owned five tattoo shops, including the first lesbian-owned and woman-owned tattoo shop in Vermont with her business partner, Toni Patnode. Mel describes tattooing herself to manage pain, like finishing a knee tattoo, and her strict standards for custom artwork, recalling an artist who drew feather designs over a dozen times before she approved. She and Skyler bond over concert experiences, having seen bands like Pantera and Roger Waters' Pink Floyd, and plan to attend a Metallica and Pantera show in 2024. A surprising insight is Mel's method of using "mandatory dance breaks" during long tattoo sessions to care for clients. She explains that tattooing yourself can be easier because concentration distracts from the pain. The conversation reveals how deeply they connected via social media during COVID, leading to a genuine friendship and plans for an in-person meetup. Mel shares that her favorite tattoo is a traveler with butterfly wings on her left hand, done by a well-known artist. The tone is casual, enthusiastic, and filled with playful banter, laughter, and frequent profanity, mimicking a relaxed chat between close friends. Listeners who enjoy candid conversations about tattoo culture, small business ownership, and East Coast life will appreciate this episode. Those preferring highly structured interviews or topics beyond personal stories and casual camaraderie might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A warm season opener built on chemistry rather than polish.

The season-three opener resets Breaking on Through around a two-host rhythm, with Skylar bringing Mel into the conversation and the back-and-forth giving the episode a looser, more playful shape.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a season-three reset with warmer co-host banter?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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