Stacking Slabs

Collectors think in comps.

Operators think in systems.

That gap is where mistakes happen.

In this episode, I break down what I learned from 12 hobby operators and how it applies to your decisions as a collector.

We cover:

• Why trust is the product
• Why reacting leads to regret
• How operators actually view comps
• The role of systems and communication

The hobby is growing.

But the rules are not evenly distributed.

If you understand how operators think, you put yourself in a better position to win and avoid mistakes.

Ask yourself one question.

Do the people you buy from reduce uncertainty or create it?

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When was the last time you found a card before the hobby told you it mattered?

Not after the sale.
Not after the post.
Not after everyone started chasing it.

Before.

This episode is about discovery and why it is one of the most powerful advantages you can build as a collector.

We are living in a headline-driven hobby.
Attention dictates demand.
Most collectors are choosing from the same small list of cards.

That creates competition.
It creates pressure.
It turns collecting into reaction.

Discovery changes that.

In this episode, I break down:

•  Why discovery gives you control over your collecting decisions 
•  The psychology behind why discovery feels so rewarding 
•  How attention drives prices and compresses opportunity 
•  The exact system I use to identify cards before the crowd 
•  A real example of how discovery led to one of my favorite recent pickups 

This is not about being early.
This is not about guessing.

This is about building a process that helps you collect with intention.

If you want your collection to feel like yours, this one matters.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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Opening Day is here.

Energy is high. Attention is shifting. And the hobby is reacting in real time.

Tory and I dig into what just happened with the World Baseball Classic and what it actually means for you as a collector. Not the surface-level hype. The real takeaway.

We talk about:

• Why moments like WBC create short windows of opportunity
• What happens when demand spikes and how to act on it
• A Kobe Atomic sale that says more about the market than you think
• Why Topps Dynasty prices aren’t as crazy as they look
• The psychology behind live selling, breaking, and chasing

Then we go deeper.

We address the Whatnot situation head on. Gambling. Responsibility. And where the line actually is.

This is a conversation about awareness.

About knowing your tendencies.

About deciding what kind of collector you want to be before the moment hits.

Because the moment always comes.

The question is what you do when it does.

A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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What happens when you walk away from stability to bet on cards?

Michael and Mikaela did it.

Both were CPAs. Both were on a clear path. Then COVID hit. Breaking started. Demand showed up fast. And within months, everything changed.

They built Rated Rips from late-night breaks into a full-scale consignment business.

They hired 15 people in a year.

They shifted from taking money out of the hobby to putting money back into collectors’ hands.

In this conversation, we get into what it really looks like to build a business in the hobby.

The risk.
The trust.
The systems.
The people.

We also talk about:

– Leaving a stable career to bet on yourself
– Why most collectors run businesses like hobbies
– How process and data drive their decisions
– The shift from breaking to consignment
– Hiring, delegation, and buying back your time
– Building trust with collectors at scale

If you’ve ever thought about turning your passion into something more, this one will hit.

Brought to you by eBay.

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A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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This episode is about a moment that changed everything.

Katelyn sits down with Kyle (@kyle_collects) to break down the shift from 2019 Donruss to 2020 Prizm and why that stretch still shapes how collectors approach WNBA cards today.

They talk through what it felt like to discover WNBA cards before the spotlight. Ripping boxes no one wanted. Finding cards that never made it to showcases. Learning the players one card at a time.

Then everything changed.

Prizm arrived. Sabrina entered the hobby. The world shut down. People started paying attention.

This conversation connects the dots between timing, access, and belief. It explains why certain cards feel different. Why some sets get locked away. Why this era still matters.

If you collect WNBA cards or are thinking about it, this episode will help you understand where the foundation was built and how to approach it today.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link

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Adam and Ryan sit down with Steve(@s.a.m_wwe) , one of the most focused Rhea Ripley collectors in the hobby.

The conversation starts with a simple moment. A blaster box in 2022. That moment turns into chasing rainbows, building sets, and eventually acquiring 1/1 cards.

This episode is about how that happens.

Steve shares how he built his collection from scratch. Why he chose Rhea Ripley. And how relationships helped him land cards most collectors never even see.

They also break down what’s happening right now in wrestling cards.

Prices are rising. Access is getting harder. More people are paying attention.

If you’re collecting today, you need to understand how to move.

This conversation gives you a real look at:

• How collectors evolve from ripping to targeting
• Why scarcity changes your entire approach
• What separates casual collectors from serious ones
• How relationships unlock cards you can’t find online

If you’ve ever thought about building something meaningful in the hobby, this episode will hit.

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!

Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Pack and Brett  open the episode by unpacking the reaction to a viral take about football collectors and why people struggle when opinions get stated in absolutes.

They explore a bigger question beneath the noise.
Who is actually collecting versus who is investing?

The conversation moves into how money enters the hobby.
Million dollar sales.
Investor behavior.
And why volume of collectors matters more than headline prices.

From there, they dig into:

• Why scarcity does not always mean more value
• The difference between meaning and rarity in cards
• PMGs and Rubies versus modern 1/1s
• Why some players like Tyreek Hill feel under-collected
• Select vs Prizm vs Optic debates through a collector lens

The episode closes with a breakdown of recent sales, including a $161K Tom Brady that raises more questions than answers about the football card market.

This is a conversation about how collectors think.
And what actually drives demand in the hobby.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Most collectors spend their time watching big sales. Few spend time learning how to find great cards.

That gap matters.

In this conversation with Max (@putnamcards), creator of Hoops Collectors, we talk about what actually creates an edge in the hobby.

Not headlines.
Not hype.
Not million dollar cards.

We get into:

• Why most content focuses on cards no one can afford
• How research leads to better collecting decisions
• Why overlooked sets and inserts hold real opportunity
• The role nostalgia plays in what you chase
• What happens when you stop following the crowd

Max shares how he approaches discovery.

How he uses tools like checklists and daily sales to uncover cards others ignore.

And why some of the best cards in the hobby are still sitting in plain sight.

If you want to build a collection that reflects your taste and not the algorithm, this one will hit.

Check out the Hoops Collectors Podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

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In this flagship episode of Stacking Slabs, Brett shares a tough experience that every collector fears. A highly anticipated card arrives… but the package is empty.

Instead of sitting in frustration, Brett breaks down what happened, what he learned, and what he would do differently moving forward. From shipping decisions to platform protection, this episode focuses on how collectors can reduce risk in a hobby where more value is moving through the mail than ever before.

This conversation goes beyond one missing card. It’s about trust, responsibility, and how collectors can protect what matters most to them.

If you’ve ever made a deal, waited on a package, or worried about something going wrong, this one will hit home. 

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

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Over the past 18 months, Brett has spent time talking with owners, builders, and operators across the sports card industry.

More than 60 conversations.

Shop owners.
Tech founders.
Marketplace operators.
Auction leaders.

A pattern kept showing up.

The hobby is growing fast. Online card sales tracked by Card Ladder reached $481M in a single month.

Companies are expanding.
Infrastructure is growing.
New businesses are launching.

But the knowledge required to build a business in this space remains scattered.

Much of it lives in private conversations.
Phone calls.
Text threads.
Direct messages between operators.

There is no central place where industry knowledge, jobs, and operator insight live.

That realization led Brett to create Hobby Jobs.

In this episode of Stacking Slabs, Brett explains the thinking behind the launch and why the sports card industry is ready for a new kind of resource.

The conversation covers:

• Lessons from 60+ conversations with hobby operators
• Why trust and relationships drive successful hobby businesses
• The growing infrastructure behind the sports card industry
• How Hobby Jobs will surface industry roles and business insight
• Why the next generation of hobby operators will shape the future of the hobby

Stacking Slabs will always serve collectors.

But collectors power the hobby while operators build the infrastructure that supports it.

Hobby Jobs is Brett’s first step toward documenting the business side of the hobby and creating a place where operators can learn from each other.

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Many collectors think running a card business starts with inventory.

Matt from 941 Sports Cards will tell you it starts with people.

In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett sits down with Matt to talk about how a hobby side project turned into a growing sports card operation built on live breaking, community, and relationships.

Matt shares how he moved from ripping boxes in a small room at home to running multiple streaming channels and building a storefront designed to bring collectors together.

Along the way he talks about the hard lessons that came with scaling too fast, trusting the wrong people, and trying to operate across multiple states.

You will hear how Matt thinks about:

• Building trust with collectors through consistent service
 • Managing allocation and inventory as a breaker
 • Hiring breakers who represent your brand the right way
 • Balancing online live streams with the in-store experience
 • Why mentorship and outside perspective matter for operators

Matt also shares why community is the real goal behind his next step: a 4,800 square foot card shop designed to host collectors, events, watch parties, and live breaks under one roof.

If you care about the future of hobby shops, breakers, and collector communities, this conversation delivers a clear look at what it takes to build something real in the hobby today.

A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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What does it mean to collect a franchise player?

In this episode of The WNBA Card Podcast, Katelyn sits down with Mike (@mikeksportscards) to talk about building a collection around greatness.

The conversation centers on A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Two players who define the present era of the WNBA. Two players whose dominance shapes how collectors think about cards.

Mike shares how he began collecting A’ja Wilson after watching the league in 2021. What started as curiosity turned into conviction. He walks through the mindset behind building a focused player collection and why he aims for cards that represent peak moments.

The discussion explores the difference between prospecting and collecting established players. The role of championships and MVP seasons in creating cards that collectors hold long term. And why the best collections often come from patience and intention.

They also examine how products like 2020 Prizm helped establish the modern WNBA card market. Which cards from this era carry long term significance. And how collectors can identify the cards that matter before everyone else does.

Mike also shares some of the centerpieces of his A’ja Wilson collection and explains the thinking behind each card.

This episode is a conversation about dominance. Dominance on the court. Dominance in collecting. And the discipline required to build a collection that reflects both.

If you collect the WNBA or want to understand how serious collectors approach franchise players, this episode will give you a clear framework for how to think about the cards you pursue

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Adam and Ryan open Episode 10 with a week that flipped expectations heading into WrestleMania.

Cody Rhodes walks away with the championship after a result that few fans expected. The hosts break down the booking decision and what it means for collectors who track championship momentum and long term hobby demand tied to top WWE stars. 

The conversation then shifts to one of the biggest hobby announcements of the week. Topps revealed that the first ever WWE Topps Chrome First Day Issue release will be sold through a Dutch auction. Adam and Ryan talk through what this format means for collectors, how they plan to approach buying, and why demand for the product will likely be strong.

They also spend time discussing the Topps Now dual autograph featuring John Cena and Shohei Ohtani. The hosts explain why crossover cards like this matter and how a card like this could become one of the most important wrestling card sales of the year.

Later in the episode they welcome Chad Weldon of Sports Card Junction to the show.

Chad shares what he is seeing on the ground from the shop side of the hobby. The conversation covers collector demand for wrestling cards, how modern wrestling products perform at the shop level, and what products collectors are asking for most right now.

Topics in this episode include

• WrestleMania storylines and their hobby impact
• Cody Rhodes and championship driven demand
• Topps Chrome First Day Issue auction strategy
• The John Cena and Shohei Ohtani dual autograph card
• Wrestling card sales moving the market
• A shop owner perspective with Chad Weldon of Sports Card Junction

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!

Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Free agency opened the floodgates across the NFL and collectors felt it immediately.

On Episode 38 of The Football Card Podcast, Pack and Brett break down how roster moves ripple through the football card market. From Travis Kelce returning to Kansas City to quarterback movement across the league, they explore what actually moves collector demand and why hype often follows opportunity.

They also tackle a debate circulating across the hobby.

No football card has crossed the one-million-dollar mark since the Tom Brady Contenders Championship Ticket sale in 2023. Does that mean collectors have lost interest in football cards? Or does it reveal something deeper about how the high-end market works across sports?

Other topics in this episode include:

• Ranking every year of Panini Prizm football from 2012 to 2025
• The free agency moves that matter most to collectors
• Why some collectors sell their player cards when the player leaves their team
• The psychology behind keeping cards tied to memories, not jerseys
• Market sales including Randy Moss, Caleb Williams, and Barry Sanders

This episode blends the NFL offseason with real hobby insight.

If you collect football cards, free agency season tells you one thing.

Opportunity creates demand.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Card Ladder tracked $481 million in online card sales in one month.

Most collectors see the cards.

This episode looks at the system behind the number.

Brett reverse engineers the $481M month by examining the infrastructure that allows collectors to transact at scale. Marketplaces, pricing data, grading, and vaults all play a role in building the trust required for buyers and sellers to complete transactions online.

Collectors chase cards.

Operators build the rails.

Both rely on trust.

This episode explores the infrastructure powering the modern hobby and what it reveals about the future of the market.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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Every collector has a card that got away.

In this episode, Brett shares the story of a card that came back around. Earlier this year he lost the 2020 Crown Royale Crystal Platinum Tyrese Haliburton 1/1 at auction after spending hours researching it and building conviction around the card.

Then the card appeared again.

A second chance.

Brett breaks down what happened next and explores the psychology behind second chances in collecting. Why missed grails stay with us, how auctions influence decision making, and how reference prices shape the way collectors experience wins and losses.

The first time the card sold for over $1200.
The second time Brett set a max bid of $1701.
The auction closed at $775.

Sometimes the hobby gives collectors another opportunity.

The real question is what that second chance reveals about the collector.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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In Episode 20 of The Staging Area, Brett McGrath and Tory from dcsports87 discuss the current state of the consignment market.

The conversation starts with several notable sales across the hobby. A 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle PSA 8 set an all-time high at $23,700. A 2013 BBM Shohei Ohtani promo PSA 9 jumped from $3,500 to nearly $20,000. An Aaron Judge Bowman Draft Chrome Auto PSA 10 sold for $7,500 as baseball season approaches.

The episode then shifts to a topic many collectors experience but rarely discuss openly.

Non-paying buyers.

Brett and Tory break down what happens when auctions end and buyers fail to pay, how often this occurs, and what steps platforms and consignors are taking to reduce the problem.

The episode closes with a look at the scale of the current market, with dcsports87 moving $14M in January and $17M in February.

For collectors who buy, sell, or consign cards, this conversation offers a clear look at how the system works behind the scenes.

A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Tommy Lasorda didn’t inherit a card business.

He got fired during the pandemic and decided to bet on himself.

In this episode of Passion to Profession, sponsored by eBay, Tommy shares how he went from working as a breaker in someone else’s shop to launching Lasorda’s Card House in March 2025

We talk about:

• Why he walked away from allocation and buys only what his customers want
• How repacks, done right, protect value and trust
• Why football became the focus
• The Gold Kaboom Mahomes moment that accelerated growth 
• Why customer care matters more than short-term margin

If you care about trust, reputation, and playing the long game in this hobby, this one is for you.

A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Season 4 reaches its midpoint with a solo episode from Katelyn (@coldlunchcards). 

The topic is nostalgia and how it shapes the way collectors approach WNBA cards.

Many collectors chase rookie cards. That is a bet on the future.

Many collectors chase early legends. That is a connection to the past.

But the WNBA sits in a different position than most leagues. The league began in 1997. Many collectors building WNBA collections today did not grow up watching those early seasons.

So what creates nostalgia when the memory is not personal?

Katelyn explores two forces that drive collecting behavior.

Individual nostalgia
The cards tied to your own life and memory.

Collective nostalgia
The stories a community builds together over time.

In a league and card market still under thirty years old, collectors are not only preserving history.

They are helping define it.

This episode explores how cards connect generations of players, collectors, and moments. And why the present moment in the hobby might be the most important one of all. 

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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WrestleMania season changes everything.

On this episode of Booked to Last, Adam and Ryan break down the full impact of Elimination Chamber and the release of 2025 WWE Universe.

They dig into:

• Why Randy Orton and Rhea Ripley winning matters for collectors
• The real hobby impact of WrestleMania storylines
• Whether WWE Universe is a true win or just hype
• Why event-worn relics change the long-term value conversation
• What rising wax prices mean for you

This is not surface-level talk.

It is a real conversation about how moments on TV turn into momentum in the market.

If you collect wrestling cards, this episode will sharpen how you think about:

• Prospecting young talent
• Chasing event-worn gear
• Navigating breakers vs ripping wax
• Identifying what actually holds value

Universe is not perfect.

But it might be one of the most important wrestling releases in years.

Let’s talk about why.

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!

Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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On this episode of The Football Card Podcast, Pack and Brett open Season 4 with momentum.

Since their last recording, the hobby has seen 54 six-figure sales and two multi-million dollar sales. Only three were football cards. That gap sparks a bigger conversation.They break down massive 1997 Metal Universe PMG Green sales, including Brett Favre, Jerry Rice, and Dan Marino, and what those numbers mean for football long term.

They debate Topps Chrome Football and whether it will match Prizm in price and popularity. They discuss what basketball’s return to Chrome reveals about photography, scarcity, and the power of the Superfractor. They tackle a listener question about market fatigue. Are collectors chasing gold, Finite, and Kaboom because they love them—or because the market tells them to?

They also spotlight recent Finite and Gold Vinyl sales, share updates on their personal collecting projects, and introduce a new Season 4 Card Call Out challenge.

If you care about scarcity, psychology, and what really drives the football card market, this one hits.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link

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What happens to your collection when your player goes down?

In this Collector Conversation, I sit down with Rodney (@enjoycards_ig) to talk about what it’s really like to collect Tyrese Haliburton during a lost season. We revisit the Game 7 injury. The shock. The numbness. The reality of a gap year.

Then we dig into the cards.

Does an injury change your conviction?
Do you slow down or lean in?
Are lower prices an opportunity or a warning sign?

We talk about market data. We talk about emotion. We talk about why we collect in the first place.

Haliburton’s index is down while the broader basketball market is up. Sales volume is shifting. Speculators fade. Core collectors stay.

This conversation is about risk, loyalty, patience, and perspective.

If you’ve ever collected an active player through an injury, this one will hit home.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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Why do some cards stick with you while others fade?

It is not the chrome.
It is not the serial number.
It is not even the grade.

It is the story.

In this flagship episode, I break down one core thesis. The card is the object. The story is the asset.

We talk about:

• Why narrative shapes attention, memory, and belief
• How peak moments and ending moments drive remembered value
• Why provenance carries a premium
• How viral sales create availability traps
• The difference between meaningful storytelling and manipulation

From the T206 Wagner to the 1952 Topps Mantle. From the 1989 Upper Deck Griffey to the Jordan and Kobe Logoman. We look at how narrative turns cardboard into cultural artifacts.

But this is not hype.
This is a call to think.

To separate fact from interpretation.
To question scarcity claims.
To stress test your own stories.

If you collect, you are already living inside narrative. The question is whether you control it or it controls you.

Tell a damn friend.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link

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Signal vs Substance. What really holds this hobby together?

In this episode of Card Ladder Confidential, Brett is joined by Kristina and Josh from Card Ladder to talk about what’s driving collecting right now and what actually lasts.

They unpack the West Coast Card Show and why a sports-only format changed the energy in the room. They talk about why the Card Ladder booth has become a landing spot for collectors. And they dig into what happens when price stops leading.

You’ll hear:

• Why moments like Jack Hughes’ gold medal can move markets overnight
• How Josh thinks about 1/1 football cards and why scarcity still wins
• How Kristina builds her Luka and Maxi PCs with checklists and discipline
• Why research still matters in a scroll economy built on speed
• Real examples of how Card Ladder data helped land a deal

This is a conversation about patience, conviction, and building a collection that reflects you.

Not the feed. Not the hype. You.

If you care about long-term thinking in a short-term world, this one is for you.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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Ryan Bannister has been in cards for more than three decades.

He opened RBICru7 in 2012 with borrowed money, a small space, and a willingness to grind seven days a week. Fourteen years later, he owns the building his shop sits in and has built one of the most respected brands in the hobby. 

In this episode of Passion to Profession, Ryan shares:

• Why character is a business advantage
• The sacrifices he made early to keep the doors open
• How relationships opened doors he never could have forced
• What COVID taught him about adaptability
• How he used LeBron autos to fund real estate
• Why community beats competition in the long run

If you’ve ever thought about turning your side hustle into your full-time work, this is a masterclass in what it really takes.

A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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In this episode of The WNBA Card Podcast, Katelyn is joined by Joy (@herasportscards) to break down the second half of the Rittenhouse era from 2010 to 2018.

This was a collector’s market.

Most years had print runs of 500 cards.
One year had only 225 rookie base cards.
On-card autos. Limited supply. Minimal hype.

Joy shares her journey back into the hobby, how community shaped her collecting, and why Rittenhouse cards were bought by people who never planned to sell.

They dig into:

• What the league looked like during this stretch and how that shaped demand
• Why Stewie’s rookie and Maya’s jersey auto still matter
• The A’ja Wilson Platinum /25 and whether the hobby is undervaluing it
• Rookie vs. star psychology then versus now
• What collectors today can learn from a true collector-driven era

If you care about context, scarcity, and long-term thinking in WNBA cards, this episode will sharpen your perspective.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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This week on Booked to Last, Adam Gellman and Ryan from RBICru7 unpack one of the biggest moments in wrestling card history.

Randy Orton walked into RBICru7 for Rip Night and stayed for over two hours. He signed for every fan. He answered every question. He took selfies. He even studied Ryan’s personal collection and talked comps.

What does it mean when your GOAT shows up at your shop and delivers?

The guys break down the full experience and why this wasn’t just an appearance. It was validation for collectors.

Then Tim Trout, Product Director for WWE at Topps, joins the show to talk:

• WWE Universe
• Event-worn relics
• WrestleMania patch 1/1s
• Inscriptions and on-card autos
• What’s coming in 2025 and 2026

If you collect wrestling cards, this episode matters.

This isn’t hype.
It’s context.
And the game is changing.

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!

Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free

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The Football Card Podcast is back for the Season 3 finale and this one hits every layer of the hobby.

Brett and Pack unpack the $26,400  Josh Rosen Green Kaboom sale and why the reaction misses the point.

They break down why football cards are up 33 percent over the last two years according to Card Ladder and what is really driving that growth.

They debate Caleb Williams versus Jackson Dart at 48K and why moments matter more than raw stats.

They revisit 1994 Joe Montana Sega nostalgia and what 90s scarcity teaches us about today’s market.

They call out hobby practices that help and hurt the experience.

They dig into PMGs, rookie golds, and why collecting priorities shift with the season.

If you collect football cards, this episode will make you think harder about what you are chasing and why.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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AI is moving fast. Most hobby businesses are not.

In Episode 6 of Built for the Hobby, Brett sits down with Scott Lock, CEO and Co-Founder of InfernoRed 
Technology, to talk about what AI means for hobby operators in 2026.

This is not hype.

This is practical.

Scott breaks down:

• Why most businesses are underusing AI
• Where small hobby shops can remove friction today
• How automation can protect your margins
• Why waiting is the riskiest strategy
• How to think about AI without chasing shiny objects

If you run a $500K shop or a $5M operation, this conversation is about you.

AI will not replace your business.

But someone who learns how to use it might.

If you are AI-curious but stuck using ChatGPT like Google, this episode gives you a clear next step.

Built for the Hobby is about one thing: helping operators think better and build smarter.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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A $16.5M headline sale grabs attention.

It sparks conversations.
It shifts emotion.
It makes you question what your cards mean now.

In this flagship episode, Brett breaks down a hard truth most collectors ignore.

The hobby is not one market.
It is many micro-markets operating at the same time.

Different financial tiers.
Different buyer pools.
Different motivations.

Using the recent PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator sale as context, Brett explores how infrastructure, transparency, and intent-driven collecting are reshaping the environment. He explains why record prices distort perception, how narrative spreads across segments, and why you must identify the lane you’re actually in before reacting to a headline.

If you’ve ever looked at a big sale and thought, “What does this mean for me?”

This episode will help you answer that question with clarity and control.

Because the collectors who understand their market move with confidence.
The ones who don’t move with emotion.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

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You don’t plan to consign. Then a card pops up that you can’t ignore.

In this episode of The Staging Area presented by dcsports87, Brett and Tory talk through the real decisions collectors make when opportunity hits. What moves from the PC pile to the sell pile. Why “being responsible” sometimes means shipping a big box to consignment.

They unpack:

• The Super Bowl eBay Live activation in San Francisco
• What brand exposure really means when you’re building for the long term
• How volume forces companies like PSA and dcsports87 to make tough operational decisions
• The Drake Maye hype cycle and what the data shows after the loss
• Why infrastructure today feels different than 2021
• And whether release consistency even exists anymore

This is a conversation about scaling, adaptability, and playing the long game in a hobby that moves fast.

If you’re trying to make better decisions with your cards and your capital, this one is for you.

A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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Anthony Loparo did not set out to build a multi-service card business.

He started where many of you did.
In his dad’s convenience store.
Ripping packs.
Falling in love with the process.

In this episode, Anthony walks through the real path behind Top Notch Sports Club:

• Opening cards on YouTube in 2007 when payments came through the mail
• Grinding two years on Excel spreadsheets, copying and pasting payouts line by line
• Taking the leap during COVID and quitting his job
• Scaling breaking, grading, and consignment under one roof
• Building a website that syncs live with eBay
• Hiring four employees and learning to let go

We talk about:

• Why speed to list is his competitive advantage
• Why he is not afraid of competition
• How he thinks about investing in product and technology
• The role eBay plays in his infrastructure
• The mental shift from side hustle to real business

If you’ve ever thought about turning your passion into your profession, this one is for you.

Anthony’s story is a reminder that scale is built on obsession, systems, and trust.

A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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In this episode of the WNBA Card Podcast, Katelyn sits down with Garrett of WNBACards.com to unpack one of the most important chapters in WNBA collecting history: the Rittenhouse era from 2005–2010 

This was the low print run era.

Five thousand boxes became five hundred.

On-card autos were everywhere.

And some of the most important rookie cards in the hobby were born.

We break down:

• Why the 2008 Candace Parker rookie still anchors the era
• How on-card autos from 2005–2007 became cornerstones for collectors
• What Rittenhouse got right — and what they completely missed
• Why culture and marketing matter as much as scarcity
• How today’s collectors can approach this era with intention

Garrett shares how he went from chasing Zion to building a seven-figure WNBA card business and launching a database with 60,000+ cards and 77,000+ sales comps.

If you care about scarcity, print runs, culture shifts, and long-term significance, this episode will reframe how you think about the middle chapter of WNBA collecting.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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Booked to Last welcomes its first official guest.

Stephanie Garcia of Mama Breaks joins Adam and Ryan for a real conversation about wrestling, collecting, and building community through breaking.

Stephanie shares how her love for WWE started with Chyna and Thursday Night SmackDown. How she transitioned from teacher to full-time breaker. And why passion matters when you’re ripping wrestling product.

The group dives into:

• WWE’s current storylines heading into Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania
• The Logan Paul $16.5M Pokémon sale and what it means for the hobby
• The rise of Pick Your Wrestler breaks
• Why WWE cards are no longer niche
• The upcoming WWE Universe and Royalty releases

If you care about wrestling cards, breaking culture, or the long-term growth of WWE in the hobby — this episode is for you.

This one is about community.

And why every pull tells a story.

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!

Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free

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The $16.5M Pikachu Illustrator sale shook the hobby.

So John and Brett  asked a serious question: Could a football card ever reach that number? And if it could… what card would it be?

In this episode, they break down:

• What made the Pikachu sale possible
• Why football cards operate under a different ceiling
• The importance of myth, scarcity, and global reach
• Why the 2012 Tom Brady Black Finite keeps entering the conversation

They also unpack real-time negotiation strategy around a Tyler Warren Gold Vinyl.

How far do you stretch for a card you want?

When do you send the note?

How do you balance conviction with discipline?

Plus, they cover:

• Pat Tillman 2020 Optic Downtown PSA 10 at $16,800
• AJ Green 2012 Topps Chrome Superfractor raw at $5,118
• 2002 Finest Gold Drew Brees PSA 10 climbing in value
• The challenge of consolidation as collections become more focused

This episode blends psychology, market perspective, and real collector decisions in real time.

If you care about football cards at a high level, this one delivers.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Are you collecting to impress or to connect?

In this episode, I sit down with Michael, known as @glenrice_90scards, to talk about what it really means to collect 90s cards in 2026.

We cover:

• Growing up in Chicago during the Bulls era
• Discovering Glen Rice in the 1989 NCAA Tournament
• Living through the rise of serial-numbered cards in real time
• The stress and relief of landing a 1997 Metal Universe PMG Green
• Why some of the best 90s cards aren’t PMGs or Credentials
• The reality of competing with deep-pocketed set builders
• How to approach one-of-ones in the 90s
• Why patience still wins in this category

Michael shares stories behind:

• 1998 Metal Universe Ryan Sandberg PMG
• 1997 Metal Universe Glen Rice PMG Green
• 1997 Flair Showcase Legacy Masterpiece 1/1
• 1997 Skybox EX2001 Michael Jordan Jambalaya
• 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jerseys

If you’ve ever felt priced out of the 90s.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re chasing status or chasing meaning.
If you’ve ever sent a message that said “Do you need this card?”

This one is for you.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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The hobby talks about buying.
It talks about selling.
It celebrates flips, upgrades, and big auction results.

It rarely talks about holding.

In this flagship episode of Stacking Slabs, Brett explores the power of keeping the right cards in a market that rewards motion.

He breaks down why holding is underserved in a culture built on velocity and why conviction matters more than constant movement. Drawing from his own collecting journey, Brett outlines the three buckets he uses before buying any card and the only three reasons he will sell.

The conversation moves into the psychology of ownership, the tension between attachment and arbitrage, and why not every 1/1 deserves long term status.

At the center of the episode is one grounding question:

If the market shut down for five years, which cards would you still be proud to own?

This episode challenges collectors to define their lanes, clarify their rules, and build alignment between their purchases and their purpose.

Buy with intention.
Sell with discipline.
Hold with conviction.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

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In this episode, Brett examines a product that rarely gets treated like a true origin story.

2016 Donruss Optic was the first Optic.
The first Gold Vinyl 1/1 in the brand.
The first time Donruss moved to chrome stock.

Yet it does not carry the same cultural weight as 2012 Prizm or 2013 Select.

After spending time with his own Andrew Luck Gold Vinyl 1/1 run, Brett started asking a bigger question.

Why doesn’t 2016 Optic get debut chrome respect?

He breaks down:

• Why Panini launched Optic in 2016
 • How Optic fit into the product portfolio next to Prizm
 • The parallel hierarchy in football vs basketball
 • Why Gold Vinyl became hobby language
 • Why the market prices players first and sets second in this release

He also pulls real sales data from Card Ladder to frame the conversation.

Stephen Curry Gold Vinyl 1/1 sold for $25,000.
LeBron James Gold Vinyl PSA 10 once sold for $4,495.

Are those numbers reflecting origin status? Or is perception lagging behind structure?

If you care about first year anything.
If you chase Gold Vinyl.
If you value context over comps.

This conversation matters.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok2016 Donruss Optic: The Underrated Debut That Started Gold Vinyl

What does it look like when a lifelong collector turns obsession into a career?

In this episode of Passion to Profession, sponsored by eBay, I sit down with Dave Amerman, Head of Revenue at Goldin.

We cover:

• The Logan Paul Illustrator sale and what this moment means for the hobby 
• How Goldin scaled from $25M a year to nearly $500M
• What changed inside the hobby after the pandemic boom
• Why understanding how to sell is the key to learning how to buy
• The risk Dave took leaving a stable finance career to start over

Dave shares stories from:

• Buying collections in college for cash
• Starting his own auction house in his early 20s
• Turning a few hundred thousand dollar auction business into an $8M operation
• Joining Goldin before the Netflix spotlight and helping fuel its growth

We also talk about sustainability in this market.

The 86 Fleer Jordan PSA 10 ride.
The flood of supply after peak hype.

The difference between pop 2 and pop 300.

If you collect.
If you flip.

If you dream about working in the hobby.

This conversation will hit.

A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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We’re on the road to WrestleMania. Elimination Chamber is set. Bron Breakker is injured. And wrestling card singles are moving in a way we haven’t seen in a long time.

Adam and Ryan break down:

• What Bron Breakker’s injury means for his long-term market
• Why Oba Femi might be the next major riser
• The real impact of WrestleMania season on singles demand
• A wild $4,100 John Cena Baby Milo 1/1 sale
• Why Roman Reigns’ first FCW card still matters in any grade

They also answer listener questions, talk tough deal stories, and Ryan cuts a promo that you did not see coming.

If you collect wrestling cards, this is the time of year that tests your discipline.

Are you buying smart?
Or are you chasing noise?

Let’s talk about it.

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!

Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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On this episode of The Football Card Podcast, Pack Nicholson and Brett McGrath break down one of the most fascinating football card weeks of the year. They start with Ricky Williams. The hype. The trade. The suspension. The comeback. And the uncomfortable truth that his top card sales still lag behind other running backs from his era despite 12,000+ scrimmage yards and 74 touchdowns.

From there, they dive into market shock.

A verified $70,000 Bryce Young Gold Vinyl Downtown.
A $31K Matthew Stafford Superfractor rookie.
A Derrick Henry 1/1 Select PSA 10 that raises serious Prizm vs Select questions.

They also revisit the Legion of Boom, debate who becomes the face of quarterback liquidity in 2026, and examine what it really means to time a card sale on Super Bowl night.

If you care about context over hype and understanding why certain players move markets while others stall, this episode delivers.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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What is really happening in the '90s category right now?

Josh Adams from 90s Auctions joins me to break it down. We talk about healthy growth, why some grails spike and then cool off, and what collectors misunderstand when they look at big comps in isolation.

We unpack the recent 1998 Metal Universe Peyton Manning PMG sale and why the PSA 8 brought $24K while BGS copies trailed far behind. Is it a PSA premium? Timing? Platform? Or something deeper about collector cards versus commodity cards?

Josh shares how he thinks about patience, consolidation, and why he stops checking comps once a card hits his PC. We also walk through key pieces from his collection, including a 1998 PMG Frank Thomas, 1997 Diamond Dimensions Jordan, and a 1997 Essential Credentials Future Jordan he consolidated heavily to land.

If you care about scarcity, availability, and building a collection that lasts, this one is for you.

Check out PSA Vault's Spotlight Auction

Follow Andy (@byebyebabycards)

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Scarcity in sports cards is not a print run problem. It is an ownership problem.

In this flagship episode, I break down why some cards feel impossible to find while others never stop circulating. The difference is not how many exist. The difference is who owns them and whether they sell. Using real examples from modern, 90s, and vintage cards, Brett walks through how ownership concentration, churn, and collector behavior shape what scarcity feels like in the market.

If you want to slow down, stop overpaying for hype, and build a collection with intention, this episode gives you a new lens. One that helps you ask better questions before you spend your money and chase the next card.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link

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January set a record. $445M in online sales across the hobby. Tory from dcsports87 felt it firsthand with $14M in sales in one month and no slowdown in sight.

This episode lives at the intersection of data, demand, and decision making. We break down what record volume looks like inside one of the largest eBay sellers in the world, why first public sales still shape collector behavior, and how a Tiger Woods party exclusive card became a $27,600 moment of cultural debate.

We also get into live selling at the Super Bowl, why starting a $40K card at $1 works when the audience is right, and what it means for collectors when platforms like eBay push live formats to the front of the app. This is a look at the hobby from The Staging Area before the action hits the field. 

A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Trust is not a marketing tactic. It is the foundation.

In this episode of Passion to Profession, I sit down with Sharon of BlackJadedWolf to talk about what it takes to build a hobby business that lasts. We get into what she’s seeing in the market right now. Repacks. Comps that don’t tell the full story. Where liquidity is real and where it is fragile.

Sharon shares how she thinks about responsibility when customers hand her cards that carry real value. Sometimes financial. Sometimes emotional. We talk about why data is a starting point and not a decision-maker. Why research still matters. Why relationships matter more.

This is a conversation about independence. About accountability. About playing the long game in a hobby that often rewards short-term thinking.

This episode is sponsored by eBay.

A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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This episode moves the WNBA Card Podcast into the early 2000s, when Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi reshaped how fans connected to the league and how collectors thought about WNBA cards. It was a time defined by team-first collecting, limited media coverage, and cards that reflected presence and performance rather than profit.

Katelyn is joined by Elodie (@egintz5), a collector from France whose Sue Bird collection is built on commitment and distance. They talk through early card design choices that still matter today, including first game jersey cards, rookie redemptions, and on-card autos from an era before overproduction.

The conversation widens to international collecting and the reality of building a collection without local card shops. Long shipping timelines, US mailboxes, and community built through trust. It is a reminder that WNBA cards travel far beyond the league’s borders and that players like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi became anchors for collectors who stayed for the love of the game.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Royal Rumble season is the moment when wrestling and collecting collide. Storylines sharpen. Careers tilt. And the card market reacts in real time. What happens in the ring doesn’t stay there. It shows up in sales, demand, and how collectors rethink their positions.

In this episode, Adam and Ryan break down the 2026 Royal Rumble through a collector’s lens. They talk about why Liv Morgan’s win mattered beyond the pop, how Roman Reigns winning wasn’t about surprise but certainty, and why WrestleMania season rewards collectors who understand momentum before it becomes obvious.

They also dig into AJ Styles’ legacy moment and what consistency looks like in both wrestling and collecting. Not every reaction needs to be a flip. Not every spike needs to be chased. The episode walks through how seasoned collectors separate noise from signal when the spotlight gets brighter.

This conversation is about staying grounded when the market heats up. About knowing when to act, when to hold, and when to ignore the crowd. If you collect with intention and want your decisions to match what you actually value, this episode will resonate.

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!

Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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This episode is about how collectors actually think when the noise gets loud.

Pack and Brett work through the week that sits right on top of the Super Bowl and right in the middle of a Prizm release. The market is moving. Opinions are flying. Prices are changing in real time.

They break down what cultural impact means for players like Shedeur Sanders and why performance alone no longer tells the full story. They look at Prizm in hand and how design, feel, and timing change perception. They dig into post playing day cards and why rigid rules often fall apart once a card hits your search results.

You’ll hear why some collectors chase liquidity while others chase conviction. Why Kabooms command attention. Why certain golds feel overpriced until they don’t. And why patience keeps showing up as the hardest skill to learn.

This is a conversation for collectors who trust their taste more than the comment section and want to build collections they can stand behind five years from now.

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This is a two-part episode about conviction in a hobby that rarely slows down. I start with Justin Wickizer, Director of Marketplace at PSA, to unpack the thinking behind the PSA Vault Spotlight Auction. We talk about why PSA is leaning into curated auctions, how attention and storytelling shape outcomes, and what it means when high-end cards meet the reach of eBay. This part of the conversation pulls back the curtain on how institutions think about trust, visibility, and collector behavior in today’s market.

Then the episode shifts from infrastructure to instinct. I’m joined by Andy to talk about building a 90s collection right now. Not from a hype angle, but from a place of intent. Andy shares how he approaches rarity, why research matters more than speed, and how patience and refinement have reshaped his collection over time. Together, these conversations explore the same question from two angles. How do you collect with confidence when everything around you is loud?

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The hobby is in the middle of a real transition. Licenses are moving. Logos are changing. Timelines feel unclear. And a lot of collectors feel uneasy without knowing why.

This episode is not about what to buy next. It is about how to think while something big shifts around you. Panini to Topps. Fanatics stepping in. New marketing. New noise. Same collector sitting at home asking one quiet question. What does this mean for the way I collect?

We talk mindset. Identity. Anxiety. Hype cycles. First year and last year traps. Why urgency feels loud right now. And how to slow down without falling behind. This episode is for collectors who want clarity, agency, and confidence while the ground feels like it is moving.

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