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A Weekly Podcast

Ink

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Stories told in ink, one episode at a time.

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Five Essential
Episodes.

Close-up of a vintage piston-filler fountain pen with golden nib resting on cream paper
EP. 001
Fundamentals

The Piston Filler Explained

Where every collector begins

52 min
Stack of thin cream Tomoe River paper sheets fanned out showing translucency
EP. 014
Paper

Tomoe River: The Myth & the Sheet

44 min

Ink converter being filled from a small glass bottle of blue-black fountain pen ink
EP. 027
Beginner

First Converter: A Buyer's Guide

38 min

Magnified view of fountain pen ink feathering on low-quality paper versus clean line on quality paper
EP. 039
Ink Science

Ink Bleed vs. Feather: Know the Difference

41 min

Ink swatch library in a dot-grid notebook with rows of colorful ink samples labeled by brand
EP. 058
Collecting

Building Your First Ink Library

56 min

The Archive

Ink Library
by Topic.

Current Swatch

Walnut Brown

Vintage Pens

Vintage Pens

34 eps
EP. 007

The Parker 51: An Obsession

61 min
EP. 019

Esterbrook Anatomy

48 min
EP. 031

Sheaffer Balance Revisited

55 min
EP. 045

Japanese Vintage: Platinum & Pilot

67 min
EP. 062

Pelikan 100N: The Green Giant

52 min
Browse all 34 vintage pens episodes
Voices from the Page

What Our Guests
Have Said.

“The moment you feel the resistance of a flex nib yielding to pressure — that is when you stop writing and start drawing with ink.”
Elena Kovač, calligrapher with dark hair, photographed in natural light against a neutral background

Elena Kovač

Calligrapher & Nib Grinder

EP. 017 — Copperplate for Fountain Pens

“I have forty-seven bottles of ink on my shelf. I have never once regretted buying a single one. Every colour is a different kind of afternoon.”
Dr. Priya Mehta, scientist with glasses, smiling warmly in a professional setting

Dr. Priya Mehta

Ink Chemist & Collector

EP. 025 — Iron Gall: Beautiful & Dangerous

“Paper is not a surface. It is a collaborator. The right sheet will make your worst nib write like a dream.”
Marcus Webb, man with warm smile and light stubble, photographed outdoors in soft light

Marcus Webb

Stationery Retailer, London

EP. 066 — Building a Practice: 30 Days of Letters

Vintage Nibs  ·  Tomoe River  ·  Piston Fillers  ·  Iron Gall Ink  ·  Flex Nibs  ·  Ink Swatching  ·  Cotton Paper  ·  Calligraphy  ·  Vintage Nibs  ·  Tomoe River  ·  Piston Fillers  ·  Iron Gall Ink  ·  Flex Nibs  ·  Ink Swatching  ·  Cotton Paper  ·  Calligraphy  ·  Vintage Nibs  ·  Tomoe River  ·  Piston Fillers  ·  Iron Gall Ink  ·  Flex Nibs  ·  Ink Swatching  ·  Cotton Paper  ·  Calligraphy  ·  
Every Friday

The Weekly
Ink Drop.

One episode recommendation, one pen review, and one ink swatch — every Friday. No gate, no paywall. Here's exactly what you'll receive:

Inkwell

Issue No. 138 · Feb 21, 2026

Episode Pick

EP. 138 — The Sailor 1911: A Second Opinion

We revisit a classic with fresh ears and a medium nib.

Pen Review

TWSBI Eco vs. Eco-T: Is the Stub Worth It?

A side-by-side on paper that rewards both.

Ink Swatch

Diamine Oxblood — This Week's Colour

A deep burgundy that reads differently on every paper.

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Join 4,200 collectors, journalers, and curious newcomers who open their Ink Drop every Friday morning.

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