Dustin Kiskaddon is an applied sociologist who studies the intersection of culture, bodies, and money. His ethnographic memoir, Blood and Lightning: On Becoming a Tattooer explains how tattooers think, feel, and act at work. It’s based on Dustin’s experience working as a professional tattooer, and it was published by Stanford University Press.

Dustin's academic journey began on the streets of Bakersfield. A deep curiosity was born there—one geared toward understanding everyday social life. He now holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Davis.

His research is participatory, and his writing unflinchingly personal. Recent interviews include the The Seattle Times, New Books Network and Inking of Immunity. He has written for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and provided a chapter in Routledge’s Companion to Beauty Politics. He’s given many public talks, including Seattle’s Elliot Bay Book Co., Third Place Books, and Pegasus Books in Berkeley.

Dustin currently works as an applied ethnographer at J.P. Morgan Chase, and he’s involved in the EPIC People professional organization, serving as Senior Audio Producer for their podcast and giving PechaKucha presentations for the 2023 & 2024 EPIC People conferences.