Because I'm Carlos

With Marvel, F1, and even wrestling cards getting their time in the spotlight over the past few months there has been no shortage of "influencers" trying to talk up the space to go along with the reactionary creators decrying their influence.

In this episode, I discuss how influencers are not a new phenomenon and that rather than complaining about it the best defense is simply understanding their place, understanding that they are par for the course, and educating yourself as a consumer so you can be better informed and make decisions with conviction based on a real understanding rather than relying on others.

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@because_im_carlos).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

In this episode, I talk through my process of trying to collect cards for a set with no real comps and a variety of different unknowns. In this case, I'm focusing on the 2021 Upper Deck AEW series and how I decided what to pursue, and some of the thoughts I went through in making those choices.

A lot of these ideas can apply to other entertainment as well as sports cards since we'll have some new examples of new sets or series that have had long layoffs (think the future Fanatics based Topps Football or Basketball for example).

Link to Cardboard Connection I mentioned:

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@because_im_carlos).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

In this episode, I talk through my process in putting together a checklist for a themed collection that I started thinking about after a recent pickup.

With no set checklist, I actually have quite a large potential pool of cards and themes to draw from. From that starting point, I started narrowing it down by selecting some features I was looking for, eventually turning a list of thousands of cards into a few dozen. Much more manageable to put together and keep things interesting.

And since I have no set timeline this can be an ongoing project that may down the road become a goal, but remains a fun diversion in the collection.

Hopefully, you get some use out of the process.

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@because_im_carlos).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

From the Holiday Virtual Convention, I give some thoughts on Josh Luber's interview regarding transparency in the hobby, distribution methods and where people really want more "hits" and if that's actually in their best interest.

Link to the Sports Card Investor Interview itself:

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@because_im_carlos).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

*This was originally a video on the YouTube channel, but I thought this could still work for the podcast as most of the information is verbal. Check out the link below if you would like to see the original video from the source with a demand graph and the cards that I'm citing as the examples*

In this discussion I go through some of the issues there are in trying to break down demand and why I'm not a fan of trying to use the complexity to try and use surface-level analysis to promote increased demand when the evidence to the contrary, while inconclusive is no less compelling.

This is to say neither is definitive and guesswork in most cases at best.

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@because_im_carlos).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

After a recent Personal Finance Dad episode, I thought it would be useful to discuss why and how I use hobby goals to help align my movements within the hobby.

One key takeaway is that any good set of goals should allow some flexibility. Life gets in the way, or sometimes opportunities arise that require one to deviate from any "plan" they may have. Understanding and being ok with that is part of the whole hobby journey, but experience and time will make it easier to build up some goals that can act like that "North Star" to lead you to building a collection you're happy and proud of.

Link to Dustin's video that inspired the episode:

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@because_im_carlos).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

A recent pickup has me reflecting on how I ended up collecting Jamie Benn as my secondary player PC, along with a trip down memory lane on some previous secondary PCs I've had. I also consider briefly the value of having a secondary PC as a whole.

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@carloscards12).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

With Josh Luber releasing an essay "TRADING CARDS ARE COOL AGAIN" I do a walkthrough and consider some of the points made in the essay.

Some of the thoughts and examples are interesting and I think give a glimpse into the thought process of someone that is going to be VERY relevant in the card market once Fanatics assumes control of production with its upcoming licences.

The essay is available to read here:

https://www.tradingcardsarecoolagain.com/

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

https://youtu.be/cSO-rrI8aHU

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@carloscards12).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

A little bit of a mish-mash in this episode as I talk about the upcoming Fall Expo card show, getting some "inspiration" from Instagram, and my general laziness in embracing the act of sorting my collection as part of the intake process.

In the latter portion, I discuss a question that came in from IG regarding the prospects of newer wax box prices holding value when the biggest hits have already been pulled. A fun rambling topic in general.

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

https://youtu.be/dsHBZMXor2k

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@carloscards12).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast

Just some thoughts that I've been having lately on my current approach to collecting, and how it's evolved from previous incarnations of my approach.

How do you sort out your various collecting projects? Something similar to this "roadmap" concept? Do you try to collect everything and anything all at once?

Link to YouTube version of the episode:

https://youtu.be/p3P7Ym33arM

Link to Because I'm Carlos on Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...

You can reach me in the comment section of the YouTube channel or on Instagram (@carloscards12).

Thanks for listening!

#SportsCards #TheHobby #SportsCardPodcast