The Pen Addict

Oh Uni-ball, what have you done? Brad and Myke discuss Uni’s way of “combatting resellers” by price gouging their loyal customers. They also dig into the eternal branding questions, and discuss Brad’s Happy Writing kick.

Brad is joined this week by Bryce Gillett from Luxury Brands of America. Bryce breaks down the role distributors play in the stationery market, from getting products from manufacturers to consumers, choosing brands to work with, and the behind the scenes running of the business.

Brad is back from the Chicago Pen Show, with tales of deep dish pizza to tell. There were pens, too, as he breaks it all down in this episode. Brad also discusses his grand Jury Duty stationery selections.

Many new pens crossed the desk of The Pen Addict this week. Which ones survived? Tune in to find out!

We tried to let the ChatGPT conversation be one episode and done, but Lamy had other ideas. We discuss their AI design, praise Pilot’s new pen color, get inky with red inks, and Brad shares his love for the Pentel Sharp.

Since Brad and Myke can’t talk Lamy into making an Orange Lamy 2000, maybe AI can? They give it a shot this week!

There were many recurring themes this episode, including one which sent Brad over the edge. So far over the edge that he has implemented a moratorium for the rest of the year.

The Lamy bracket final is upon us-who do you have taking down the title? The venerably Lamy 2000, or the upstart Lamy Safari? It’s a battle for the ages! Brad also recaps his visit to the Atlanta Pen Show, and then gets back to his vacation.

If Lando Norris used a Lamy pen, which would it be? Maybe one that landed in the Final Four of the Lamy Bracket? Or maybe a Deelite Safari? Let’s find out!

What are we using? Why are we using them? How difficult will Brad make this? Find out this week on The Pen Addict!

Brad is back from the Baltimore Pen Show, and has tales to tell. Also, Lamy has decided it is bracket season, and boy do we have thoughts.

Our recent signature and handwriting talk sparked some great feedback, which we dig into at the start of today’s episode. Brad then heaps praise on Sailor. That’s right. PRAISE! Brad will also be at the Baltimore Pen Show this upcoming weekend, and goes into all of the details.

When you have a product named Sweet Juice Milk, you know there is going to be follow up. Brad gets angsty over the latest Pilot Juice release, discusses his Nahvalur Original Plus review, and Myke decides if he needs a signature makeover.

What better feedback than Pilot FriXion feedback?! We get a list of use cases for everyone's favorite erasable gel ink pen, talk about Sailor doing Sailor things, and bring Blue Milk into the show lore.

Brad’s review of the Pilot FriXion Ball Knock Zone has finally been published, so maybe this podcast topic can finally be put to bed. One topic we never hope to put to bed are price decreases, which we saw last week from one of our favorite makers.

Brad breaks down a huge range of new content at The Pen Addict this week, including the latest from Schon DSGN, and his thoughts on PLOTTER. A Top 5 Pens update also happened, and a discussion around selling pens.

There is a spy amongst us! Brad and Myke try to sort it out at the beginning of this week’s episode, before digging into the latest and greatest the stationery world has to offer. That includes deciding on THE ONE pen they could use for the rest of their lives.

Batman, Tutankhamen, and now this one? Montegrappa has done it again! Brad and Myke talk about their latest unbelievable pen design, discuss the annual Lamy AL-Star release, and one of the strangest pens to cross Brad’s desk in some time.

Sometimes the best laid plans get balled up and tossed right into the bin. That’s how this week’s show progressed, and you know what, it turned out pretty great.

The US Pen Show season kicks off this week, and Brad has begun booking travel for later in the year. Will you be attending any pen shows in 2023? Brad also bows to peer pressure … multiple times.

It’s Theme Season, and Brad brings his interesting take on a simple idea to the show today. How will stationary find its way into this theme? Where there is a pen, there is a way.

Brad and Myke are back to wrap up 2022 in the only way they know how: talking about stationery! Brad catches Myke up on all of the content goodness over the last few weeks, and they wrap the show by cleaning their desks in preparation for 2023.

Over ten years ago, we had Mike Rohde as our first ever guest on the podcast. He is back with Brad this week to discuss all things Sketchnote, and the awesomeness that has transpired over the last decade.

To misquote one of Brad’s favorite singers, Laura Jane Grace, even if his love was unconditional, it wouldn’t save him from questioning their product choices. He questions many of them this episode.

Ana is back, with stationery gift ideas in tow! She and Brad break down all of the fun stationery goods they hope to see this holiday season, and give you some ideas along the way.

Brad and Myke answer all of your #ASKTPA questions this week.

It’s an old school podcast this week, with Field Notes and TWSBI discussion right from the start. Brad then breaks down the new Writewell launch from Good Made Better, plus explains his choices for the updated Top 5 Fountain Pens between $100 and $200.

Hot Takes are the internet’s favorite currency, but are they a thing in the stationery world? Brad and Myke explore what is, and what isn’t, a hot take, and discover-gladly-that we reside in a more lukewarm territory.

In an episode full of fun and surprises, Myke discovers the biggest one right near the end.

Lamy released pictures of their best collaboration yet, so why is Brad upset? He explains, and also discusses new Kaweco builds and collaborations, and the return of Conid. Finally, he breaks down the Top 5 “Next” Fountain Pens list update, recently published on the blog.

It’s Horror Story season! Brad and Myke kick things off with two great stories, and an accidental third that needed to be discussed. Then, Brad breaks down his updated Top 5 Beginner Fountain Pens list.

We discussed the launch of the OKB48 vote last week, and this week, Brad cast his ballot. Brad then attempts to explain a traditional eyedropper mechanism to Myke, with varying levels of success.

The most important election of the year is underway, and that is the pen vote at OKB48! Brad breaks down last years list, updates his Top 5 Pen In The Store list, and digs into his first experiences with a group of freshly inked fountain pens.

New Sailor releases! Paper discontinuations! Weird products! Planner changes! It’s an all the great things episode of The Pen Addict Podcast this week.

Myke is back, and boy do he and Brad have some catching up to do! From all the King’s Pens, to an oddly-placed Naruto experience, they cover it all in this week’s episode.

Brad is joined this week by C.Y. from Tokyo Station Pens and the Tokyo Inklings Podcast. They met in person at the San Francisco Pen Show for the first time a few weeks ago, but it took until C.Y. returned to Japan for Brad to record their conversation. Way to go!

There are always sacrifices when picking the perfect paper for yourself. Brad breaks down how he tests paper, what he looks for, and the pens and pencils he uses to make decisions on what’s good.

Brad is back from the San Francisco Pen Show and has all the tales to tell.

Before Brad heads to the San Francisco Pen Show, we have some important things to discuss. Mainly, Hobonichi’s plan to phase in the new Tomoe River paper in time for 2024 planners. Brad also pen show preps, and then gets help from Myke on how to sort his loose fountain pen nibs.

Brad is on a pen show bender-when will it end? Not for several weeks, at least! Brad has signed up for classes in San Francisco, started updating his Top 5 Pens list, and rails on ink bottle design thanks to an #ASKTPA question. Myke is here, too.

Brad auditioned for not one, but two new jobs this week. What are they, and will he be leaving Myke in the dust? Tune in to find out!

It’s DC Pen Show week-will you be there? Brad and Myke won’t, but that doesn’t stop Brad from being the unofficial hype man for the “Supershow.” What will you find there? Maybe some of the new products we discuss on this episode.

What is the P.A.R.? Brad breaks down the stationery grading system he shares with Pen Addict Members each week, and gives out grades for a few popular products. The show also makes a guest appearance on the most recent Office Ladies podcast, which is the highlight of a lifetime for Brad and Myke.

Do you have a pen type? Can you define it? Is there a single pen that encapsulates your pen type perfectly? Brad explores what he looks for when buying and selling pens in an effort to make the best decision possible.

International. Paper. Standards.

How much Ultem is too much? We aren’t there yet, according to Brad. In fact, he wants more Ultem in his pens and pencils. He and Myke discuss that, plus and interesting Sailor North America release, National Mechanical Pencil Day, and a hopeful conclusion to the TWSBI/Narwhal saga.

What is the ultimate EDC? Could it be the ULTEMate EDC? Brad and Myke discuss a new product from Tactile Turn featuring everybody’s favorite plastic alternative, a wild release from Franklin-Christoph, and Brad’s thoughts on the Kaweco Premium nib after months of use.

Myke is back! Or is he? Brad talks to some person on the other end of the line about all things stationary, including Lamy making some Vista moves, skulls on a stick, and a decade of greatness that culminates in … something else.

Brad is joined this week by April Wu. April, aka Penguins Creative, is an avid traveller, journaler, and stationery junkie. In short, she is one of us! She also works for DESIGNPHIL, the parent company of Traveler’s Company, Plotter, and other well-known stationery brands.

It’s #ASKTPA time! We are long overdue in answering your questions, and in typical Pen Addict fashion, didn’t get to all of them!