The Shallow End

(Originally aired 11.10.2023) As sports fans we are witnesses to the beginning of an incredible journey: the start of Victor Wembanyama's career. This might be one of the few times when collecting cards makes the situation less fun, not more. In this episode, Dave wonders whether Wembanyama is better enjoyed on our screens than in our collections.

(Originally aired 11.3.2023) Paul Hickey has a simple question: Why? The person behind @sportscardstrategy and NoOffSeason.com visits with Dave to discuss why it's important to investigate the personal motives behind our collecting. Paul is a proud sports-card investing strategist who's built his business on transparency. What you see is what you get. No tricks, no misdirection, just strai...

(Originally aired 10.27.2023) It's an accepted fact since the dawn of time that 1980s baseball cards are the most fun baseball cards—even if they're clearly not the most financially valuable. Dan and Dave talk '80s cards, '80s baseball, and share five of their favorites.

(Originally aired 10.20.2023) Collecting cards can mean so much more than their financial worth or how pretty they look when displayed. They can connect us with past generations. In this episode, Dave and Rob Girard explore the deeper potential of sports cards.

(Originally aired 10.13.2023) We're trained over time in the sports-card hobby who we should and should not trust. But this week, Dave had an experience that could have gone horribly wrong instead turn out perfect. Let's celebrate.

(Originally aired 10.6.2023) Dave has one grail card: the 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson. But it's so far out of reach that the only way to get close would be to sell or trade everything he owns. Should he do it?

(Originally aired 9.29.2023) Last month, Dave listened to nearly 60 sports-card podcasts in one week. After that, he needed a break. In this episode, he talks about what he learned about the hobby, content producers, and his own place in the collecting space.

(Originally aired 9.15.2023) There comes a point in everyone's PC when the status quo just isn't good enough. We want more. We want different. We need something new. In this episode, Brandon talks about his transformation.

(Originally aired 9.8.2023) It all started with a question on "The Crossover" posed by @packnicholson, and it ended with a new phrase coined by Josh (aka @cardboard_chronicles): Megabid. As we near the one-year anniversary of Pack's question, we learn more about this common hobby practice from @kevin.m.cormier, @signed1933goudey, @drakes_pc, and @jlee_sportscardslive).

(Originally aired 9.1.2023) Steve (aka @domer_cards on IG) visits to discuss his growing Notre Dame PC — a collection rooted in his rich history with the Fighting Irish.

(Originally aired 8.25.2023) Dave finally makes a major pickup that he'd had his eye on for some time. Unfortunately, it came at a significant price to his collection.

(Originally aired 8.18.2023) When you start collecting what you think you should collect, versus what you want to collect, expect your PC to feel unsatisfying.

(Originally aired 8.11.2023) Courtney (@recklesscards_courtney on IG) and Matt (@timmy_d_21_pc) share their separate stories of how their PCs took sudden new directions.

(Originally aired 8.4.2023) Dave had a plan for The National that included trading or selling every Nolan Arenado Chrome gold refractor in his collection. But a piece of Arenado news that broke the night he got there disrupted all of his preparation.

(Originally aired 7.21.2023) Social media is a meaningful, powerful tool in our hobby. It also can create the misconception that everyone's collection is better than yours. It's not. Your PC is just fine.

(Originally aired 7.14.2023) We've got questions, they've got answers. Two of the most experienced names in the hobby, Jeremy Lee and John Newman, sit down with Dave to prepare collectors who are preparing to attend The National for the first time.

(Originally aired 6.23.2023) Before Upper Deck unleashed the '89 Griffey, and before Topps' 1980 Henderson became iconic, there was no bigger hobby chase in the 1980s than the 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly. In this first episode of The Shallow End, Dave, now middle aged and balding, finally gets his Donnie Baseball.

(Originally aired 7.7.2023) One major decision — to keep, then sell — a Michael Jordan card altered the trajectory of Dave's collecting experience. As with so much in this hobby, it all goes back to Jordan.

(Originally aired 6.30.2023) Dave visits with Samuel Evans (aka @thesprtzcardcoltr on IG). They talk about keeping the hobby enjoyable, focusing on yourself, and the purity of spending time with your sports cards.