288 - David Allen, Part 2 - The Beautiful Process of Really Hearing What People Want
“All I can do is lean into community. All I can do is love those around me, serve and help, and be present.” - David Allen
David Allen is quietly and thoroughly advancing the notion of masculinity into a new era. He’s a tattoo artist working with post-mastectomy clients in Chicago. David is also a father who, despite his childhood wounds, has devoted himself to raising emotionally intelligent kids. It’s a path informed by his work with cancer patients, his ancestral lineage, and his commitment to therapy.
If you missed the first half of our conversation, go back one episode where you’ll learn about David’s artistry and quest for self-awareness.
“It's a privilege that I can go to therapy, right?” says David. “And it's a privilege that I can spend the time to do this, so I gotta do it.” He credits talk therapy with providing a mirror or objective reflection. “It shows me a different viewpoint. I see how anxious I am and how I can conjure up the worst scenario,” he confesses. “I've slowly gotten more caring and gotten to be present.”
Being present, aka conscious awareness, is a mindfulness technique that David refers to as his ability to shut up and listen. He’s grateful to his post-mastectomy clients for teaching him how to receive their stories, anxieties, and aspirations without anticipating or advising. “What's sad is that it feels radical, and it shouldn't––and I don't think it is,” David says. “All I can do is lean into community. All I can do is love those around me, serve, help, and, I don't know, be present.”
One of the things that I thought about during this episode is the evolution of the tattoo industry. What comes next in a space where masculine energy dominates the culture? “It's okay that there's a street shop with 10 guys doing flash, only doing skulls and sacred hearts. That's cool. You know? And it's also cool that there's a shop with five women that are doing whatever you want, and they will listen to you and they'll be present,” says David. “That could be flipped. It's not about gender, right? It's about the totality of who you are as a human.”
We’re all in transition. Nothing is permanent. Not even ink.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity
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David Allen is a Chicago-based tattoo artist known for his bespoke floral designs that transform mastectomy scars into powerful expressions of healing and renewal. With a deep respect for each client’s voice and story, David approaches tattooing as a collaborative process — one that centers agency, artistry, and emotional care. His work is rooted in compassion, intention, and connection.
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