Tattoos and Mental Health ft. Koichi | Ep. 124

What role do tattoos play when life gets impossibly dark? Live from the Golden State Tattoo Expo in Pasadena, Aaron Della Vedova sits down with tattoo collector and mental health advocate Koichi to share an deeply moving story of survival and transformation.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia at 22, Koichi faced severe mental health battles before turning to tattooing as a way to physically rebuild his identity. Alongside artist Ricardo Camargo (Zenith Tattoo L.A.), Koichi transformed his body into a canvas of fine art—enduring the process completely sober as a form of grounding meditation. Together, Aaron and Koichi discuss tattoos as psychological armor, physical vs. emotional pain, and finding community through ink.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Live from Golden State Tattoo Expo

02:00 - Diagnosed with Schizophrenia at Age 22

05:30 - Tattoos as Physical Armor & Reinventing Yourself

07:30 - Aaron's Story: The War Veteran's Bodysuit

09:40 - Surviving Dark Times & Finding "First Light"

13:25 - Meds, Stability & Promoting Men's Mental Health

17:30 - Finding Community in the Tattoo Industry

20:45 - No Numbing Cream: Pain as a Teacher & Meditation

25:48 - Physical Pain vs. Emotional Pain

28:30 - What Happens When the Bodysuit is Complete?

CONNECT WITH KOICHI: Instagram: instagram.com/koichimynichi

CONNECT WITH AARON & CHATS & TATTS: Chats & Tatts Instagram: instagram.com/chatsandtatts Aaron Della Vedova Instagram: instagram.com/aarondellavedova Official Website: chatsandtatts.com Guru Tattoo: gurutattoo.com Listen on Spotify: Chats & Tatts on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts: Chats & Tatts on Apple Podcasts