On The Paper Trail...

Joe and Lisa

Join Joe Crace and Lisa Vanness each episode as they dive into the world of pens, inks, paper, and everything that makes analog a more thoughtful, meaningful experience. Between Joe’s decade-plus of experience running The Gentleman Stationer, and Lisa’s history navigating the retail pen and ink industry “behind the counter” at Vanness Pens, the series blends personal reflection with practical insight into the daily realities of the stationery industry. Expect honest, approachable conversations on topics ranging from journaling to collecting to personal stories from stationery travel!

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Tuesday · 52 min
Episode 16: Journaling for Mental Health (Part I)
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 Links National Suicide Prevention Month Pilot S20 Ballpoint Kuru Toga Wood Mechanical Pencil Mark'Style Tous Les Jours Ballpoint Pen Midori Planners Vinta Ink Pennonia Roterfaden Restock Schon DSGN Lil' Dipper Art of Creation Panel Discussion Dallas Pen Show On The Paper Trail Live in Nashville Get caught up on previous episodes, and find more information on the main podcast informational page.
August 31 · 58 min
Episode 15: The Art of Creation (Live Panel from the 2026 San Francisco Pen Show)
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 Profiles Ian 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.
August 19 · 46 min
Episode 14: Favorite Fountain Pen and Ink Combinations
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 Stream Show Notes and Links Joe's DC Pen Show Recap Vanness Hummingbird Green Ink Platinum Classic Fountain Pen Ink Galen Leather Legacy Collection Leonardo Momento Zero Pura Fountain Pen Leonardo Momento Magico Fantasy Series Lamy x Uni Kuru Toga Inside Mechanical Pencils OnionBrand Leather Notebook Covers Pilot Iroshizuku Ink Joe's Inks from Japan TWSBI ECO Bahama Yellow Kyo-no-Oto Ink Callifolio Ink San Francisco Pen Show Dallas Pen Show On The Paper Trail Live in Nashville
July 29 · 46 min
Episode 13: Permanent Inks for Our First Ink Episode!
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 Stream Show Notes and Links Sunderland MK1: Roterfaden TGS_25 Lochby Mini Pocket Journal Joe's 10 Fountain Pen Post Custom Nib Studio Pilot Grance Fountain Pen Kaweco Pearlescent Green Perkeo Galen Leather A4 Folio Document Inks Kakimori Pigmented Inks Diamine Forever Inks Platinum Pigment Inks Platinum Iron Gall Inks KWZ Iron Gall Ink Diamine Registrar's Ink (Iron Gall) Results of Our Water Test
July 15 · 40 min
Episode 12: Our Favorite Papers!
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 Stream Show Notes and Links Pilot 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 Notebooks Kakimori Pens Kakimori Inkstand Inks Midori MD Cotton Paper Nakabayashi Logical Prime Paper Maruman Basics Maruman Mnemosyne Hardcover Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper (T.G.S. Paper Resource) On the Paper Trail Live in Nashville Event Page
June 30 · 42 min
Episode 11: Why Is My Fine Nib Not Actually a Fine?
Have you ever written with two fountain pens of the same model and same nib size, only to notice subtle (or maybe not-so-subtle) differences in line width? As retailers, we get questions about this topic all the time, and have experienced this ourselves in our own personal collections, so we wanted to talk about why this happens and what you can do to help ensure you get the nib closest to your desired line width. We also talk a bit about upcoming pen shows and events, including the DC, San Francisco, and Dallas Pen Shows, as well as our own On The Paper Trail Live Event in Nashville! Show Notes and Links Pilot Custom 823 (Joe's Pen) Pilot 4+1 Wood Multi Pen (Joe's Pen) Nagasawa Odyssey Starseeker (Lisa's Pen) Savannah James Stickers (Lisa's Stickers) TGS Roterfaden Restock OnionBrand Notebooks TWSBI ECO Rootbeer Fountain Pens Coffee Stickers Opus 88 Cloud Dancer Fountain Pen DC Pen Show SF Pen Show Dallas Pen Show On The Paper Trail Live in Nashville
June 16 · 57 min
Episode 10: We're Back from a Stationery Trip To Japan!
Joe and Lisa are back from their recent stationery trip to Japan, and ready to discuss all of the things they discovered while they were there! Join us as we recap two weeks in Tokyo, Hamamatsu, Osaka, and more, including visits to stores like Itoya, Kakimori, TRAVELER'S Factory, Nagasawa, Loft, Hands, Kingdom Note, Toyooka Craft, and other favorites. Are we going back? You bet. Show Notes and Links Opus 88 Sapphire Demonstrator (Lisa’s Pen) Pilot Kakuno (Lisa’s Pen) Pilot Custom Heritage 92 (Joe’s Pen) Pilot Custom 845 Urushi (Joe’s Pen) New Arrivals From Galen Leather Tom’s Studio Ori Highlighters Toyo Steel Boxes Anterique Pens Kakimori Make Your Own Notebook Kakimori Make Your Own Ink Toyooka Craft Joe’s Japan Trip Blog Recap (Visits to Itoya, Ancora, TRAVELER'S Factory) Joe’s Japan Trip Blog Recap (Kakimori Notebook and Ink Bar) Joe’s Japan Trip Blog Recap (Ink Shopping in Tokyo) Joe’s Five Favorite Things He Brought Home from Japan Get caught up on previous episodes, and also find more information about our first On The Paper Trail Live Event, which will be held in Nashville from October 16-18, 2026! Tickets are now on sale! Check out the main podcast informational page for additional details.
May 13 · 34 min
Episode 9: Fountain Pen Nib Sizes, Explained
We're less than 10 days out from an epic trip to Japan, so in this week's episode, we decided to talk Japanese fountain pen nibs and the differences in nib size designations across different regions, as well as the availability of specialty grinds. We also discuss why Fine Medium is the ONLY appropriate nib size (j/k), and answer listener questions about choosing the correct combination of nib, ink, and paper for your specific writing experience. Don't miss your chance to come hang out with us in person October 16-18, at ⁠On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville⁠! Event details have been made public, and ⁠Weekend Pass⁠ and ⁠Day Pass⁠ event tickets are now available to purchase. Dr. Grip Ballpoint (Lisa's Pen).⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Opus 88 Savannah Zebra (Lisa's Pen).⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Benu Pixie (Lisa's Pen).⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pilot Custom 823 (Joe's Pen)⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Laurett's Ballpoint (Joe's Pen)⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Traveler's Company Ballpoint (Joe's Pen)⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pens⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Lochby 6-Ring Binders.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Lochby Tomoe River 6-Ring Refills.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Tono & Lims New Arrivals.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠New Lamy Safaris.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Grandpa's Basement (Clearance).⁠⁠
April 29 · 37 min
Episode 8: 2026 Planners and Notebooks Quarterly Review
This week we check in with our 2026 planners and notebooks to see whether they're still working for us now that we're 1/4 of the way through the year. (Wait, how did that happen?) We talk about what's working with our current planners and notebook systems, what may not be working, and what, if anything, we need to change about our current stationery setup. We also discuss upcoming stationery-themed travel, and we might have more details on our On The Paper Trail: Live in Nashville Event that will take place in Nashville October 16-18! Show Notes and Links Mark's Inc. "Days" Ballpoint (via Vanness Pens). Diamine Spring Green (via Vanness Pens). Pilot Grancé (via Vanness Pens). Pilot Custom 912 with PO Nib (via TGS Curated Shop). Pilot Prera (via TGS Curated Shop). Bungubox Dandyism Ink (via Vanness Pens). On The Paper Trail Episode 1. Wonderland222 Back to Tomoe River Announcement. Ask TGS: Flying with Fountain Pens. Lisa's Shipping Update Video.
April 15 · 40 min
Episode 7: Underappreciated Stationery Gems
In this week’s episode of On The Paper Trail, we discuss a topic that we both love: Underappreciated Stationery. For a variety of reasons, a wide range of exceptionally good stationery items don’t get the attention that we think they deserve. In some instances, entire brands can be overlooked. We each pick items from three categories (pens, paper, and ink), and generally discuss why certain stationery can fly under the radar. Additionally, we discuss our upcoming On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville weekend event, currently slated for October 16-18! We chat about our vision for this event and how we plan to create an event we would personally want to attend, with a more balanced approach to shopping, seminars/classes, and opportunities to socialize! Show Notes and Links Pilot e95s (Lisa’s Weekly Pen). Blackwing Matte (Lisa’s Weekly Pencil). Midori Soft Color Spiral (Lisa’s Weekly Paper). Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen). Uni Style Fit Meister 5 Multi Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen). Life Noble Note A5 6-Ring Paper (Joe’s Weekly Paper). Kaweco Perkeo (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Lamy Pico Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Conway Stewart (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Ohto Ceramic Rollerball Pens (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Jetstream Prime Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick). Levenger Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick). Yamamoto Ro-Biki (Underappreciated Paper Pick). Original Crown Mill (Underappreciated Paper Pick). Wearingeul Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick). Callifolio Ink (Underappreciated ink Pick). KWZ Old Gold (Underappreciated Ink Pick). Laban Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick). Papier Plume Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick). When they're not podcasting, you can find Joe over at The Gentleman Stationer and Lisa over at Vanness Pens!
April 1 · 53 min
Episode 6: Live at San Francisco Stationery Fest!
What's the difference between a "Stationery Fest" and a traditional pen show? Tune in this week and find out, because we had the opportunity to record Episode 6 of On The Paper Trail in front of a live audience at the inaugural San Francisco Stationery Fest! Topics include our impressions of the show, how we got into stationery in the first place, plus a Q&A with audience members in which they picked our brains about pens, inks, paper, and more. Note that in the video we were in the room with audience members and interacting with people off camera, so we have had to adjust the audio and repeat questions at times. Show Notes and Links San Francisco Stationery Fest Arkansas Pen Show Bonecrusher Studios Pens by Pasquale Nagasawa at Vanness Wearingeul Testing Cards Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Olive Octopus Ink
March 11 · 41 min
Episode 5: Are You a User or a Collector of Stationery?
Do you consider yourself a user or collector of stationery? Maybe a bit of both? In the fifth episode of On the Paper Trail, we talk about a topic that draws strong opinions and maybe even a little bit of judgment in the stationery world. Whether you use every pen, bottle of ink, or rare notebook that you own, or maintain pristine archives for posterity, how we view our stationery is intensely personal and will differ from person to person. We also discuss events at the upcoming Arkansas Pen Show and the San Francisco Stationery Fest! Show Notes and Links Nagasawa Exclusive Pens (Lisa's Pen) Pilot Custom Urushi (Lisa's Pen) Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog (Joe's Pen) Uni Zento (Joe's Pen) Pilot S20 Ballpoint (Joe's Pen) Roterfaden TGS_25 A5 Slim Laurett's Pens Troublemaker Inks Wearingeul Paper Nagasawa 6-Ring Refills Episode 2: Matthew Chen Talks Kodachi Nibs Akkerman Standard Ink Bottle Example Akkerman Dutch Masters Ink Bottle Example Arkansas Pen Show San Francisco Stationery Fest When they’re not on the road, you can find Joe over at The Gentleman Stationer and Lisa over at Vanness Pens.
February 25 · 33 min
Episode 4: Reporting from the 2026 California Pen Show!
Have you ever been to a pen show? Joe and Lisa visit the 2026 California Pen Show, one of the larger pen and stationery events in the U.S., and recap everything they saw. This two-part episode includes a pre-show discussion on how vendors prep for a show and decide what to bring, while the post-show recap talks about impressions of the event and the different brands and vendors in attendance. The YouTube episode includes footage of the event itself and a short vendor tour that follows the podcast portion, including visits to Stationery Stack, Laurette's Japan, Bungubox, and more! YouTube Episode 4 Show Notes and Links California Pen Show Website List of Pen Show Classes and Seminars Nagasawa 6-Ring Binder Refills Brelio 6-Ring Binders Roterfaden TGS25 Pre-Order Musgrave Pencils Stationery Stack Nagasawa Stationery Nagasawa Kip Leather Notsu Index Cards Bungubox Laurette's Japan Galen Leather
February 10 · 46 min
Episode 3: We Tour Pilot Pens USA!
Joe and Lisa take a trip to visit Pilot USA headquarters and come back with a lot to report! In the third episode of On the Paper Trail, we not only discuss our Pilot Tour, but take on three questions from the "12 Pen Person" questions challenge, answer reader questions about appraising and selling pens, and talk about the upcoming California Pen Show and a live recording at the San Francisco Stationery Fest! Show Notes and Links: Pilot Grance (Lisa's Pen) Midori Stand Notebook (Lisa's Notebook) Uni Kuru-Toga Pencils (Joe's Pencil) NOLTY PAGEM Freelog (Joe's Notebook) New TWSBI Black Marble and Bronze Vinta Nandito Ako Yamamoto Canopus Paper T.G.S. Cloud Rickshaw Exclusive Post with Picture of Our Giant Pilot Markers Joe's Trip to NYNow and Shoppe Object (via Gentlemanstationer) 12 Pen Person Questions (via Olive Octopus) Recap of Lisa's SF Pen Show Panel Reddit r/WritingPrompts California Pen Show San Francisco Stationery Fest To watch the podcast live on video, check out the On The Paper Trail YouTube Channel. The video of Episode 3 includes some bonus footage of the trip to Pilot Pens USA! Catch up with Joe over at The Gentleman Stationer, and Lisa over at Vanness Pens! There you can find links to all their respective social media accounts.
January 27 · 29 min
Episode 2: Snowed In with Matthew Chen
Welcome back to another episode of On the Paper Trail! We originally had intended to record Episode 2 live from The Gentleman Stationer shop in Nashville, where we were planning to co-host an in-person weekend with Matthew Chen of Matthew’s Nibworks (@pactagon on Instagram). Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, and we ended up snowed/iced in with Matthew, who was kind enough to sit with us for a brief interview in which we discuss the ins and outs of nib customization. Topics include the difference between nib tuning and nib grinding, the most popular nib grinds and why you might want to get one, and Matthew's favorite creations. Show Notes Pilot Custom 912 with Waverly Nib (Joe's Pen) TWSBI ECO Rose Gold (Lisa's Pen) Matthew Chen (Matthew's Nibworks) Matthew's Grinds, including Specialty Grinds Arkansas Pen Show, Part II: Watch Matthew Grind a Nib We also did a separate YouTube Live with Matthew in which he directly answered listener/viewer questions. When they're not traveling, you can find Joe over at The Gentleman Stationer, and you can find Lisa over at Vanness Pens!
January 13 · 45 min
Episode 1: Setting Up Our 2026 Notebooks!
Welcome to On The Paper Trail! In our initial episode, we introduce ourselves and then dive into a thorough discussion of our 2026 notebooks and planners, and how we plan to use each one. We also answer a common customer question on Lamy pens, and talk about where you can see us in person at upcoming pen shows and other stationery-related events. Show Notes and Links On The Paper Trail Episode 1 Video (Watch the Video on YouTube) Wonderland222 B6 Core Horizontal Wonderland222 A5 Core Stacked (Vertical) Brelio A5 6-Ring Binder Roterfaden Recycled Leather A5 Roterfaden TGS_25 A5-Slim Writing on in 2026 (Pen Addict - Kimberly) Matthew's Nib Works California Pen Show Arkansas Pen Show San Francisco Stationery Fest When they're not podcasting or traveling, you can find Joe over at The Gentleman Stationer, and Lisa over at Vanness Pens.

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