On The Paper Trail...

September is National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness Month, so for Episode 16 we decided to talk about a topic that's close to both of us: Journaling for mental health and techniques we both find helpful for self care. Part I discusses our own techniques, and Part II will discuss additional journaling techniques that we may not use all the time but have tried in the past and break out periodically. Of course, we also make time to discuss the recent San Francisco Pen Show, new shop arrivals, and upcoming events!Disclaimer: Our discussion here is highly personal and specific to us and our own individual situations. Journaling is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you need help, or feel that you need to talk to someone, we strongly encourage you to speak with a mental health professional. Show Notes and LinksNational Suicide Prevention MonthPilot S20 BallpointKuru Toga Wood Mechanical PencilMark'Style Tous Les Jours Ballpoint PenMidori PlannersVinta InkPennoniaRoterfaden RestockSchon DSGN Lil' DipperArt of Creation Panel DiscussionDallas Pen ShowOn The Paper Trail Live in NashvilleGet caught up on previous episodes, and find more information on the main podcast informational page.

Join Joe and Lisa as they co-host "The Art of Creation," a panel discussion at the 2026 San Francisco Pen Show featuring a discussion with three independent makers in the stationery industry. We had the opportunity to ask our guests about their creative process, followed by an audience question and answer session. Please note that this was a live panel recording, and the audio may be uneven in parts. We have attempted to optimize it as best we can. If you would like to view the video of the panel session, you can find it at the On The Paper Trail YouTube Channel. Show Notes and Links to Guest ProfilesIan Schon of Schon DSGN, a manufacturing company based in Philadelphia making fountain and ballpoint pens. Schon DSGN pens each have a unique look and feel, some pens being heavier made out of brass or copper and others from super lightweight Engineered Plastics or Anodized Aluminum. Iris Au of Glassophy, which aims to express its ideas through the art of glass lampworking. Glass lampworking is a technique that uses heat exceeding 1000 degrees Celsius to soften glass into suitable shapes, allowing for various shaping techniques such as dotting and scribing, combined with other precious materials like gold, Silver, and artificial opal.Daryl Lim, Founder of Atelier Musubi, Singapore-based maker of small goods and specialty notebooks.Get caught up on previous episodes, and find more information on the main podcast informational page.

Do you ever feel that some fountain pen and ink combinations work especially well together? Have you found that switching inks can make a pen write better? Today we talk about how to pair fountain pens and inks to optimize your writing experience. We each go through three of our favorite pen and ink combinations, and discuss why we like specific inks in specific fountain pens. While we try to describe everything in as much detail as possible in the show audio, those who wish to view products in real time should check out the video stream or see the show notes and links for additional information.Podcast Video StreamShow Notes and LinksJoe's DC Pen Show RecapVanness Hummingbird Green Ink Platinum Classic Fountain Pen InkGalen Leather Legacy CollectionLeonardo Momento Zero Pura Fountain PenLeonardo Momento Magico Fantasy SeriesLamy x Uni Kuru Toga Inside Mechanical PencilsOnionBrand Leather Notebook CoversPilot Iroshizuku InkJoe's Inks from JapanTWSBI ECO Bahama YellowKyo-no-Oto InkCallifolio InkSan Francisco Pen ShowDallas Pen ShowOn The Paper Trail Live in Nashville

Our first fountain pen ink episode, where we discuss permanent inks! In this episode you'll learn about document inks, pigment inks, and iron gall inks, including relative waterproofness and lightfastness, pen care, and more. Fountain pen ink is a huge topic, so expect more ink-related episodes as we break things down into manageable chunks. While we try to describe everything in as much detail as possible in the show audio, those who wish to view products in real time should check out the video stream or see the show notes and links for additional information.Podcast Video StreamShow Notes and LinksSunderland MK1: Roterfaden TGS_25Lochby Mini Pocket JournalJoe's 10 Fountain Pen PostCustom Nib StudioPilot Grance Fountain PenKaweco Pearlescent Green PerkeoGalen Leather A4 FolioDocument InksKakimori Pigmented InksDiamine Forever InksPlatinum Pigment InksPlatinum Iron Gall InksKWZ Iron Gall InkDiamine Registrar's Ink (Iron Gall)Results of Our Water Test

With a podcast called "On The Paper Trail," it was only a matter of time before we talked about our favorite papers and how we use them! In this episode, we discuss paper rulings, spacing, texture, bindings, and other factors that affect how we select which paper we use every day. This week's customer questions address understandably confusing paper-related topics such as the meaning of a "lie flat" notebook and the differences between international paper sizes and the less exact sizing standards used by U.S. manufacturers over the years. While we try to describe everything in as much detail as possible in the show audio, those who wish to view products in real time should check out the video stream or see the show notes and links for additional information. Podcast Video StreamShow Notes and LinksPilot Kakuno (Lisa's Pen)Pilot Iroshizuku Ku Jaku (Lisa's Ink)TWSBI ECO Rootbeer Fountain Pen (Joe's Pen)Pilot Custom Heritage 92 (Joe's Pen)Joe's Japan Ink Recap Post (For Photos of the Inks Being Discussed)Kobe Nagasawa Inks Kakimori A5 NotebooksKakimori PensKakimori Inkstand InksMidori MD Cotton PaperNakabayashi Logical Prime PaperMaruman BasicsMaruman Mnemosyne Hardcover Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper (T.G.S. Paper Resource)On the Paper Trail Live in Nashville Event Page