Stacking Slabs

Tory from dcsports87 returns to The Staging Area for a wide-ranging conversation on everything happening right now in the hobby. We kick off with baseball talk and dive deep into Shohei Ohtani’s market—how it reached this level, what still drives it, and which of his cards Tory finds most compelling as a collector. Then we unpack the live-selling wave. Tory shares lessons from DC’s first eBay Live...

In this episode of Passion to Profession sponsored by eBay, I sit down with my friend Josh from PC Sports Cards to talk about scaling a business during one of the hottest stretches the hobby has seen. We cover: Why the entry-level market is the base that supports the entire hobby How grading low-end cards can snowball into bigger opportunities What it takes to hire, scale, and build trust with cus...

Pack and Brett are back with another episode of The Football Card Podcast. This week, they cover a lot of ground: The debut of Flawless Football 2024 and where it stacks up in Panini’s high-end history The ongoing debate around buying and selling—why it’s a natural part of collecting and why collectors need to stop worrying about what others do with their cards Building trust when buying, selling,...

Built for the Hobby is a new series on Stacking Slabs where we explore the intersection of technology and sports cards. In the debut episode, Brett sits down with Scott Lock, CEO and Co-Founder of InfernoRed Technology, to discuss why tech matters in the hobby right now. Scott and his team have built software for some of the biggest names in the space including Upper Deck, Collectors, COMC, and dc...

Why do you collect? In this flagship episode presented by InfernoRed Technology, Brett breaks down the inner forces that keep us coming back to the hobby, even when the market is loud and prices are flying. Connection. Escape. Expression. These three forces separate collecting with meaning from collecting until burnout. Brett shares personal stories, market observations, and feedback from other co...

In this edition of Vaulted , Brett sits down with PSA President Ryan Hoge to cover ten key topics shaping PSA and the hobby right now. From turnaround times and submission demand, to PSA’s Vault growth, the eBay partnership, global expansion, offers, repacks, and more—this episode gives collectors a direct line into how PSA is thinking about the future. A special thank you to PSA for sponsoring Va...

In this episode of Passion to Profession sponsored by eBay, I sit down with my good friend Kevin Randall (@dacaptain37). Kevin went from teaching in the classroom to becoming one of the most trusted full-time dealers in the hobby. We talk about his roots as a collector, the decision to leave teaching, building a business plan, the role of specialization, and why trust is everything when dealing ca...

It’s the season 2 finale of The WNBA Card Podcast . We’re diving deep into the WNBA playoffs, what championships mean for player collectibility, and how stars like A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas, and Kelsey Mitchell are shaping the future of the hobby. We talk through the Panini era of WNBA cards, what makes collecting in this moment different, and why long-time collectors are sittin...

Pack and Brett dive into the collector’s side of football. They cover how injuries shape collecting projects, why Jerry Rice stands alone at the wide receiver spot, and the strange case of 2008 Topps Chrome football vs. basketball. You’ll also hear a 'lil vintage talk with Jim Brown, market updates on Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, and why smashing BINs sometimes feels like the only move. Check out...

In the final Cards in Hand episode from The National, brought to you by eBay, I sit down with Joe (@low_pop_papi) to talk Panini era inserts. We get into why inserts from this time deserve more attention, how parallels like gold vinyls and one-of-ones add depth, and what makes Steph Curry’s catalog stand out. Joe shares why Optic inserts might be overlooked, how Prizm Deca brought back old designs...

Collecting is full of choices. What you chase, when you chase it, and how much you’re willing to give up along the way. In this episode, Brett breaks down the importance of prioritization and why it matters for your long-term happiness in the hobby. He shares personal stories about cards he passed on, cards he went after, and the lessons he’s learned about balancing desire with discipline. If you’...

In Episode 8 of The Staging Area presented by dcsports87, Brett and Tory dig into what it means to collect in a bull market. From Daniel Jones speculation to Josh Allen’s rising profile, they look at how player performance shapes demand and where timing matters most. They cover Bowman Chrome’s overlap with playoff baseball, Satchel Paige vintage sales, and why Yamal continues to drive conversation...

On this episode of Passion to Profession presented by eBay, Brett sits down with Mike Phillips, EVP of Sales and Marketing at Upper Deck. Mike has spent 25 years shaping one of the most iconic brands in the hobby. From his early days managing a card shop to creating some of the most legendary parallels at Fleer Skybox, Mike brings a rare perspective on innovation, competition, and building product...

Katelyn (@coldlunchcards) and Brett sit down for episode 11 of season 2 to talk about one of the most thought-provoking ideas in collecting: the one-card PC. What happens when a single card represents everything you want from a player? They share personal examples, debate “Would You Rather” matchups featuring iconic WNBA cards, and reflect on how intentionality shapes their collecting styles. You’...

We’re back for Season Two of The Football Card Podcast, and this one is loaded. John and Brett fire up fresh segments with new sponsors Card Ladder and Heystack, break down the final Panini Donruss Football release, and talk about what rookies could define the product. The guys dream up their perfect one-of-one Downtowns, answer listener mailbag questions, and share new pickups—including John's lo...

In this episode of Vaulted presented by PSA, I sit down with Nat Turner, CEO of Collectors, to break down his Top 100 cards graded at The National. Nat shares why he put this list together, what stood out to him, and how these cards connect to the broader story of collecting. We talk through the mix of vintage, modern, and everything in between that made this list so compelling. If you’re a collec...

This week’s flagship is all about the long game in collecting. Too often the hobby gets swept up in hype cycles, record sales, and FOMO. But the collectors who stick around for years don’t chase the herd. They think independently, focus on discovery, and build collections that reflect who they are. In this episode, I share the story of an unexpected Marvin Harrison 1/1 pickup that reminded me why...

In this episode of The Staging Area presented by dcsports87, Brett and Tory tackle one of the most controversial topics in the hobby: shill bidding. Tory shares how dcsports87 identifies it, why it hurts everyone involved, and what steps they take when they catch it. The conversation also digs into how football season drives submissions week to week, why certain players see spikes after a single g...

In this episode of Passion to Profession , brought to you by eBay, I sit down with Mikey Osborn, Director of Growth Marketing and Technology at Collectors. Mikey shares how a love for Randy Moss and nostalgia-driven collecting eventually intersected with his career in technology, leading him to join one of the most important companies in the hobby. We cover his time at Salesforce, the bold DM to N...

It’s playoff time, and we’re bringing the heat on Season 2, Episode 10 of The WNBA Card Podcast . Katelyn and Brett dig into the psychology behind collecting WNBA cards—why we buy, what drives us, and how the passion in this niche hobby looks different from other categories. We cover: The perception gap between men’s and women’s sports cards The role of representation, nostalgia, discovery, and co...

Football is back, and so is The Football Card Podcast. In Episode 12, Pack Nicholson and Brett break down week one without overreacting, but with plenty of collector energy. From Joe Namath’s cultural impact to Andrew Luck jerseys still popping up in Indy, they explore the legacy of the number 12. They share their thoughts on the Colts’ long-awaited week one win, the Bears’ ongoing struggles, and...

Recorded live at The National and brought to you by eBay, this episode of Cards in Hand features my good friend Drake (@drakes_pc), one of the most passionate Peyton Manning collectors in the hobby. We talk about his 1998 SkyBox E-X2001 Essential Credentials Future /7—a true ghost card in the Manning catalog. Drake shares the story of landing this card at last year’s National, the sacrifices he ma...

What separates the long game collectors from everyone else in the hobby? In this episode, Brett breaks down the DNA of the long-term player: Passion over profit Deep understanding of a niche Patience and perspective Community and relationships A mindset that keeps collecting fun for decades This conversation was sparked by a student question during Brett’s recent talk at DePauw University: How do...

The market is red hot. Cards are moving at record speed, headlines are popping up every day, and collectors everywhere are feeling the pull of FOMO. In this episode of Card Ladder Confidential , I sit down with Chris and Josh from Card Ladder to talk about what it’s really like to navigate a raging market. We cover: The most annoying parts of a bull market Collector identity and the temptation to...

On this episode of Passion to Profession sponsored by eBay, I’m joined by Scott Lock, CEO and Co-founder of InfernoRed Technology. Scott shares how a side business selling cards with his son on eBay turned into a $250,000 operation, and how that same passion for collecting led to building technology solutions for some of the biggest companies in the hobby. We talk about: What he learned building a...