The Pen Addict

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!

We didn’t simply pick one pen this episode, we picked five each. Brad and Myke updated listeners on the current Top 5 Fountain pens, and Brad went further, detailing plans for the start of his 100 pens project.

This podcast is so hot, we are going to need shades! Specifically, Kaweco branded sunglasses. We also find Cinderella’s Slipper, miss the apex on Montegrappa’s latest F1 pen, and Brad gets what he asks for in relation to the Pilot Custom 912.

Brad and Myke talk about some of their favorite things. Orange Mark One? Check. New Sailor pens? Check. Jony Ive’s favorite pen? CHECK!

If you could design the wildest ink you could think of, what would it be? And what pens are you using today? And how would you manage your phones home screen? Wait … is this Cortex?

There was a situation in the planner of a certain Pen Addict this week. Or was it last week? Possibly the week before? Brad is distraught, and comes to you for his weekly stationery therapy session.

We have nib follow-up, we have golf pens, we have superhero pens, and, most importantly, Brad finds himself in a very Bear-y situation.

Brad Dowdy, King of the Needlpoints, Ruler of the Fine Line, First of his Name, bought a stacked nib. And he likes it

Brad went to the Atlanta Pen Show … or did he? We discuss his whirlwind of an event, and see what it was like to be back home after years away.

Happy International Pencil Day! We spend at least two minutes celebrating graphite on what is, ostensibly, an ink-filled episode. Planning and Pen Show prep are on the agenda, all before Brad pledges his fealty to the Uni-ball One.

How do you take your ink, seasoned or fried? These are the important discussions Brad and Myke have, along with and Elbwood unboxing, hope for the Pilot 912 lineup, and Ferrari pens.

Myke is back, but we are still discussing Jacob this week, as Brad received a special package from Japan. What was included? Tune in to find out.

Brad is joined this week by Jacob, aka FudeFan, to discuss all things Japanese stationery. This big stores, the small makers, the secret handshakes, and even the throwing away of fountain pens - we cover it all!

Brad gives a planner update in the early stages of 2022, makes glowing remarks about the latest releases from TWSBI, Studio Neat, and Schon DSGN, and calls a listener a liar. So, you know, a normal show.

Have you heard? Brad LOVES the Pilot Custom 74. So much so, that he reviewed it this week, and elaborated further on its awesomeness this week. Brad and Myke also tier-rank fountain pen filling systems, and answer what features separate premium pens from standard pens.

Is it #TeamAL-Star, or #TeamSafari in 2022? The decision is tougher than it seems. Brad and Myke also answer the 500th episode question posed to listeners, and go through a detailed breakdown of the data gathered.

We did it! 500 episodes of a podcast about pens. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey!

I mean, if you are going to put coffee in your ink name, what else am I supposed to do? Myke talks Brad out of drinking ink this week, but not out of buying a celebration pen for next week’s 500th episode.

Brad and Myke have an idea for Episode 500, and we need your participation. Listen in to find out how to contribute! We also discuss TWSBI’s continued product creation, an exclusive ink library, and a very fast pen.

Stuff happens this episode, all of it fueled by the mighty coffee bean.

Brad and Myke go behind the scenes this week and talk about talking with brands, distributors, and retailers. What are the pros and cons of digging deeper into the stationery industry?

It’s a new year, so it is time for new themes. And new stationery. And new brand names that Brad makes up on the fly. Happy 2022!

Myke unboxes the Drillog live on the show this week. It goes … well? We break it all down, plus discuss early planning for the new year, and an interesting notebook format to check out.

The results of the 2021 Pen Addict Census are in! Myke and I have breaking it all down in this week’s episode.

Brad and Myke are back together, and they get METAL! Ok, not really, that was just them fawning over last week’s guest. This week, Brad gets into trouble, then tries to extract himself from said trouble. So, a normal week around here.

Brad is joined this week by special guest Anabelle Hiller. While known for her current work with Appelboom Pen as their in-house nib and repair superstar, her story is much bigger than that. We dig into her musical past, her goldsmithing future, and how all of that plays into her love for fountain pens.

Brad takes us through a first look at several new-to-him products, including the ystudio Revolve, PenBBS 456, and an ink you don’t want to miss.

Brad and Myke are lost during gift guide season without their venerable third podcast host. They make it through a mini-guide this year, plus discuss two interesting Tomoe River Paper tidbits.

It’s a big follow-up week, with State of Stationary comments, NaNoCoMo updates, and a look at a few recent purchases from both Brad and Myke.

What is the current state of the stationery market? Prompted by listener questions, Brad and Myke break down what they are seeing across the industry.

What are you using? Brad and Myke discuss their current stationary situation, how they will be spending Fountain Pen Day, Tomoe River updates, and how #NaNoCoMo is going.

What if you participated in NaNoWriMo, but didn’t write a book? Brad shares his ideas on this upcoming monthly challenge, plus digs in to the candidates for this years OKB48 General Election.

Big news this week as Brad made the tough decision to wind down Nock Co., at least as it is currently built. He and Myke also break down the latest TWSBI Japan-only release, and consider making their own wooden pencils.

We answer all of your pressing #ASKTPA questions this week - from picking out a new fountain pen nib to why color pencil leads are so hard to find. We also get a sneak peek at the TPA Slack Survey.

We have Pen Addict surveys! We have new Lamy collaborations! We even have new Rotring colors! But, did you know we have stacked nibs? Well, Myke does, and tells us all about them.

Brad and Myke chart a path into unprecedented territory this week. Or do they? Listen in and you be the judge.