Shows
The Artist AltarEP:3 How to Choose a Tattoo Apprenticeship: 9 Paths ComparedIn this episode, I’m breaking down the nine different ways you can learn tattooing. What each path really looks like, the pros and cons, the hidden costs and the outcomes you can realistically expect.I wanted to make this because so many aspiring tattoo artists feel overwhelmed trying to figure out where to begin. Apprenticeships can feel mysterious, gatekept, or confusing, and I want to lay everything out clearly so you can make an informed decision that actually supports your life, your learning style and your long-term goals.We walk through traditional shop apprenticeships, pa...
2026-03-0437 min
The Artist AltarEP:2 A Collaborative Tattooing Experience: Chat With Thea + AlexIn this episode, I sit down with tattoo artist Alexandra Husmann and Joy Practitioner Thea Monyee to reflect on a deeply collaborative, intuitive tattooing journey we’ve been creating together over time. What began as a subtle, gentle first layer evolved into a living, breathing practice of trust, improvisation, and shared authorship where skin became a canvas for “jazz,” duality and embodied truth.We talk about what it means to let tattooing be a conversation rather than a plan, how collaboration can dissolve boundaries between artists and clients, and why the most meaningful creations often require us to slo...
2026-02-1147 min
The Artist AltarEP : 1 Why I Stopped Making Art for Two Years and why I had to sacrifice my art practiceIn this episode, I’m sharing what it’s been like to step away from my personal art practice and what it means to come back.After two years focused on building a tattoo education system with my husband, Luis, I reflect on the sacrifices, growth, and clarity that came from putting my own painting on pause. We created an in-person, curriculum-based apprenticeship model that honors tattooing as a serious art form while helping artists learn more efficiently.This episode is really about identity giving yourself permission to call yourself an artist, even after breaks, pivo...
2026-02-0414 min
The Artist AltarTEASERHi, I’m Justine Almaraz, and I’m so glad you’re here! This podcast is a safe space for artists who want to grow, thrive, and develop their unique creative voice all while building a fulfilling, sustainable career.In this teaser episode, I share a bit about myself and what this podcast is all about: pulling back the curtain on the world of fine art tattooing, creative entrepreneurship, and developing an iconic style that supports your life and your soul.Here’s what I’ll be covering:Turning my fine art into a tattoo car...
2026-01-2701 min
The Artist AltarEP: 20 Free-falling Into Transformation: A New Chapter of Her Ink EmpireIn the Finale episode, I reflect on the powerful closing of Season One of Her Ink Empire and the deeply transformative new season I’m stepping into. Turning 40, moving to a new city, and redefining what creativity, health, and balance mean to me, I open up about releasing old patterns, healing my nervous system, and creating from a place of calm and clarity.From revisiting body image and self-worth to detoxing physically, mentally, and spiritually, I share how stepping out of “hustle mode” is unlocking a whole new wave of creativity. This episode is an invitation to explor...
2025-11-0518 min
The Artist AltarEP:19 Healing Through Plants & Ritual with JamieIn this episode, I sit down with Jamie, a maker, healer, and founder of The Everyday Empathecary, whose journey bridges art, energy work, and plant medicine. From her early experiments blending oils and herbs for friends, to creating the Magic Salve and tattoo care line that’s become a staple in our community, Jamie’s story is one of devotion, intuition, and deep reverence for the healing power of plants.She shares how ritual and Reiki shape her process, why crafting salves feels like meditation, and how growing passionflower in her backyard became a cornerstone of her healing reci...
2025-10-0829 min
The Artist AltarEP:18 Faith, Safety, and Community with Krista RoodzantIn this episode, I sit down with Krista Roodzant, founder of SuiteStyle OC, a sanctuary for women tattooers and independent artists in Orange County. What started as an unexpected leap into entrepreneurship has grown into a thriving haven, reshaping what safety, beauty, and community can mean in the tattoo world.Krista’s path has been anything but conventional, from years as a registered nurse and decades as a stay-at-home mom, to real estate ventures, and finally opening her first salon suites in 2022. Her story is one of courage and faith, and what stands out is her heart-centered ap...
2025-10-0153 min
The Artist AltarEP:17 Sacred Art & Tattoos with Mari KuroyamaIn this episode, I sit down with Mari, a pioneering fine-line tattoo artist from Brazil whose creative journey now expands into painting, visionary art, and live performance. From her early days of breaking barriers as one of the first recognized women tattooers in her area, to painting alongside world-renowned artists at COSM and Burning Man, Mari’s story is one of devotion, reinvention, and deep connection.
She shares how tattooing opened a lifelong path of ritual and service, why painting became a healing force during the pandemic, and how prayer and daily practice continue to shape her wo...
2025-09-2456 min
The Artist AltarEP:16 Faith, Creativity and Tattooing with Danielle FosterIn this episode, I’m joined by Danielle, a fellow tattoo artist whose creative journey is deeply intertwined with her faith and her art. Danielle shares how following God led her into tattooing, how her apprenticeship began in the most unexpected way, and how her spiritual life continues to shape her practice in the studio.
We talk about her move from Northern California back to Orange County, what it was like to step into running her own studio, and why she chose to build her business in a nontraditional way. Danielle opens up about the freedom of wo...
2025-09-171h 05
The Artist AltarEP:15 The Art of Becoming Whole Through Tattooing with Sammi LeeIn this episode, I’m joined by Sammi Lee, a multi-passionate artist whose creative path has unfolded through design, illustration, photography, and now tattooing. Sammi shares how stepping into this craft of learning to tattoo brought together all of her artistic skills, and how saying yes to the process of a tattoo apprenticeship with me at Earth Altar reshaped her sense of self and her future.
We talk about what it was like to leap into tattooing, the courage it took to choose a different kind of apprenticeship, and the freedom that came from aligning her learning wi...
2025-09-1029 min
The Artist AltarEP:14 Tattooing as a Love Letter to the Self with Erica TumbagaIn this episode, I’m joined by Erica, a therapist, mother, and longtime seeker whose tattoos have become sacred markers of her healing journey. What began as an intention to honor her late father has transformed into a deeply intuitive collaboration where art, spirit, and embodiment meet.
We talk about how tattoos can become more than adornment: they can serve as love letters to the self, reminders of empowerment, and reflections of our evolving stories. From her early experiences with traditional tattoo shops to the safety and synergy she found in Earth Altar Studio, Erica shares how ch...
2025-09-0326 min
The Artist AltarEp: 13 Creativity and Somatic Healing with Jennifer EveIn this episode, I’m joined by a somatic healing guide and intuitive artist who helps others reconnect with their creativity through body-based modalities like sound healing, breathwork, and yoga.
We talk about what it means to reclaim your identity as an artist even when trauma, perfectionism, or self-doubt try to tell you otherwise.
From a childhood shaped by addiction and poverty, to the grief of losing both parents in her twenties, she shares how her healing journey led her to a path of deep embodiment and how she now helps others meet themselves where th...
2025-08-2755 min
The Artist AltarEp: 12 Creating Art As A Practice That Feels Like Home with Alexandra HusmannIn this episode, I’m joined by Alexandra Husmann, a member of Earth Altar Tattoo Collective and a former tattoo apprentice of mine. Alex shares what it means to carve out a path that reflects her values and honors her nervous system.
We talk about the quiet unraveling that led her away from conventional tattoo culture, and the thoughtful rebuilding that followed the moments of burnout, the desire for softness, and the deep trust in letting things unfold slowly.
Alex brings so much presence to this conversation. She reflects on the intimacy of her work, he...
2025-08-2043 min
The Artist AltarEp: 11 How Mary Campbell Creates Living Visual PrayersIn this episode I sit down with Mary Campbell, a former apprentice turned full-time tattoo artist who shares how her path unfolded from photographing weddings to creating sacred tattoo experiences from her private studio in San Diego.
Mary talks about learning to tattoo on a sailboat in Seattle, working in multiple studios, and eventually creating a home and studio space that’s both a sanctuary and community hub. We talk about routines, rituals, and the personal systems she’s created to support her body, mind, and nervous system while doing deep, energy-based work.
She shares how...
2025-08-1357 min
The Artist AltarEp: 10 Sacred Healing Through Sound Energy and Tattoos with Kathryn EiplIn this episode, I’m joined by Kathryn Eipl, Emotional Strategy Coach, Reiki Master, Sound Therapist, Yoga and Meditation Guide, and a truly multi-dimensional human. Kathryn’s story is one of deep transformation, moving from a high-stress career in entertainment management to finding her purpose through healing work, one brave, intuitive step at a time. We talk about how she developed her Neuro Resonance Method, blending cognitive behavioral coaching, internal family systems work, Reiki, and sound healing to help people reconnect with themselves on every level — emotional, energetic, and physical. Kathryn shares her powerful experiences working with client...
2025-08-061h 05
The Artist AltarEp: 9 Making Art on Your Own Terms with Sergio GomezIn this episode I sit down with Sergio Gomez, an artist, curator, and coach who shares how he sees his art career as all one thing, the studio, the gallery, the education, the coaching, and the curation. Sergio talks about recently returning from Chicago, where he was one of 33 artists invited to paint replicas of the ancient Olmec heads as part of a public art project celebrating Mexican heritage.
We talk about how he started Gallery 33 Contemporary, his coaching program with his wife, how mindset affects success, and why it's okay not to make art every day...
2025-07-3053 min
The Artist AltarEp: 8 Building Artist Communities with Kristine SchomakerIn this episode, I sit down with Kristine Schomaker—artist, mentor, and the founder of Shoebox Arts, Art and Cake, and the new nonprofit January Arts. Kristine shares how her journey as an artist and leader has evolved and how building community, offering resources, and creating space for artists has shaped her career.
We talk about her nonprofit launching this fall, her long-running Perceive Me project, and how navigating body image, self-worth, and the art world has all come together in her work. Kristine also opens up about dealing with depression, cancer, and how finding the right su...
2025-07-2351 min
The Artist AltarEp: 7 How Artists Get Paid with Ray BeldnerIn this episode I sit down with Ray Beldner, an artist, educator, and longtime mentor who shares his journey through the art world and how building community, mentorship, and practical knowledge have shaped his career. Ray opens up about moving from San Francisco to the Sierra foothills and now to Dallas and how those changes impacted his life and work.
We talk about what’s missing from traditional art education, how the outdated gallery model limits artists, and why connecting with art consultants has completely changed how he supports himself as an artist. Ray also shares how bu...
2025-07-1632 min
The Artist AltarEp: 6 Tattoos, Trauma, and the Journey Back to Wholeness with Kelsey HarperIn today’s episode, I got to sit down with Kelsey Harper.
Kelsey is a clinical psychologist, a writer, a little witchy, and a survivor herself. She offers virtual therapy for folks with trauma, complex trauma, and borderline personality disorder across different states. She also hosts the Initiated Survivor podcast, where she speaks directly to the issues facing survivors of gender-based violence and sexual violence—and shares parts of her own recovery story.
Kelsey shares how intuitive tattooing became a key part of her healing journey. We talk about how tattooing brought her back into her...
2025-07-0950 min
The Artist AltarEp: 5 Self Taught and Sold Out with Jessica HitchcockIn today’s episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Jessica Hitchcock. Jessica is a self-taught artist who transitioned from working as a full-time Director of Finance and HR to building a thriving art business—without a formal art degree.
Jessica walks us through the years it took to build a consistent income, how she planned her financial runway, and why visibility was the key to her growth. She shares how she uses Instagram, live painting events, and structured pricing to stay both creative and grounded as a full-time artist.
In this...
2025-07-0253 min
The Artist AltarEp: 4 Healing, Honoring, and Holding Space with Clare StorckIn this episode, I sit down with Clare Storck- a midwife, mother, and longtime friend—who shares the powerful journey that led her to get an intuitive tattoo during one of the most challenging seasons of her life.
Clare opens up about her daughter Tilly’s diagnosis, the intensity of a 70-week chemotherapy treatment, and how she found strength in marking that experience through deeply meaningful body art. She shares how she felt called to get a tattoo placed exactly where her daughter’s tumor had been, how Tilly’s favorite color “rainbow” shaped the design, and why the expe...
2025-06-2524 min
The Artist AltarEp: 3 Healing Through Art with Jade ChungIn this episode, we’re diving deep into creativity, healing, and reclaiming your power as an artist with the incredible Jade Chung—art therapist, healer, and visionary guide.
We talk about what it really means to be an artist, how art connects to healing, and how trauma can show up in our creative process.
This conversation is for you if:
✅ You’ve ever felt blocked or shut down when sitting down to make art✅ You wonder if you’re “allowed” to call yourself an artist ✅ You’ve felt like being with yourself in the crea...
2025-06-1842 min
The Artist AltarEp: 2 Reclaiming Creative Power with Sophia KaminskiIn this episode, I’m joined by Sophia Kaminski—an LA-based musician and singer who recently launched her own singing and piano studio, Kaminski Voice Studio. We explore her return to music after an eight-year break, and how she’s consciously choosing to come back to singing on her own terms—through embodiment, intuitive movement, and expression.
Sophia shares how her journey with voice started at 11, how classical training shaped her, and why now, she’s letting the groove get in. We talk about what it’s like to move through resistance, what different sounds feel like in the body...
2025-06-1138 min
The Artist AltarEp: 1 From Vision to Ink: The Journey of Intuitive TattooingWelcome to the very first episode of Her Ink Empire! In this episode, I’m sharing something a little different. Recently, I had the opportunity to be a guest on Rebecca Lapage’s podcast, where we dove deep into my journey as an intuitive tattoo artist. I wanted to share that conversation here because we explored so many meaningful aspects of my story and how my sacred tattoo process came to be.
During the interview, I opened up about how my journey with intuitive tattooing really began—from being that creative kid who loved face painting to discov...
2025-06-0409 min
The Artist AltarTeaserWelcome to "Her Ink Empire," where I, Justine Almaraz—tattoo artist, educator, and founder of Earth Altar Tattoo Studio—am on a mission to redefine what's possible in tattoo education and creative entrepreneurship.
As a passionate tattoo artist, I spend my days creating meaningful art on my clients' skin, while also guiding fellow artists to build thriving, creatively aligned practices. Whether you're just beginning your journey, an established artist looking to scale, or a visionary creative building your own empire, this podcast is for you.
My experience spans years of perfecting my craft, growing a succ...
2025-05-1904 min