Behind the Breaks

In this episode, we take a step back from interviews and dive into what’s happening in the hobby right now. No guests this time—just us, some good conversation, and a whole lot of trading card talk.A Huge Thank You: First things first, we want to shout out every guest who has joined us so far. Their insights, stories, and passion for the hobby have made this show what it is, and we couldn’t be more grateful.Spring Training and the Buzz around Baseball Cards: With baseball heating up, we talk about which players are making waves in spring training and what that could mean for the card market. Who are the hot prospects? Which veterans are turning heads? The Autograph Debate: In-Person vs. Company-Issued – This is a big one. Some collectors swear by the experience of getting an autograph in person, while others prefer the guaranteed authenticity of pack-pulled autos. We break down the pros and cons of both and talk about what truly makes an autograph valuable in today’s market.Hobby Trends & What’s Next : From the latest product releases to shifts in the breaking world, we discuss what we’re seeing, what’s working, and what we’re excited about in the coming months.It’s all things cards, all things collecting, and all things Behind the Breaks. Tune in, drop a comment, and let us know your thoughts!

What if one storage unit find could change your life?In this episode of Behind the Breaks, we sit down with Matt, founder of Blue Collar Collecting, who went from selling forgotten treasures out of storage units to running one of the fastest-growing sports card channels on Whatnot.From grinding it out in a blue-collar job to turning a passion for sports cards into a thriving business with over 13,000 followers, Matt shares how one unbelievable card collection transformed his side hustle into a life-changing gig.What you'll hear in this episode:✅ How a storage unit find launched his card-selling empire✅ The journey from 0 to 13K followers on Whatnot ✅ The hustle, setbacks, and how to stay motivated✅ Why live streaming might just be the future of the hobby✅ Plus - his most insane pulls and favorite moments from the grindWhether you're flipping collections, running breaks, or just love a good underdog story, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and some straight-up hobby gold.Subscribe for more episodes featuring the real stories behind the hobby.Follow Blue Collar:InstagramTikTokWhatnotFollow Behind the Breaks:InstagramTikTokLike, Comment, and Subscribe to stay up to date with the stories that make the hobby go.#BlueCollarCollecting #BehindTheBreaks #SportsCards #CardCollecting #Whatnot #TradingCards #CardBreaks #HobbyHustle #SportsCardPodcast #CardCommunity #Collectors #StorageUnitFinds

Trading cards that unlock crypto? Unique art meets collectibles? This is NEXT LEVEL!In this episode of Behind the Breaks, we sit down with YoDooley, a passionate breaker, collector, and expert on Cardsmiths Currency, the trading card set that’s shaking up the hobby! Imagine pulling a card that not only looks incredible but could also unlock Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other crypto rewards—yep, that’s exactly what this product delivers.🔥 What We Cover in This Episode:• What makes Cardsmiths Currency different from traditional sports cards?• How collectors and breakers are diving into this fusion of crypto and collectibles.• The rare and artistic elements of these cards—and why they’re gaining traction.• Breaking packs with actual money inside?! This changes everything.Follow YoDooley:📲 Instagram: @YoDooleyFaceBook: @YoDooleyX: @YoDooley YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJ1ZqjwfHvdsdr17uI_rxeA If you love trading cards, crypto, or just discovering what’s next in the hobby, you won’t want to miss this one!🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Join the Conversation:📲 Instagram: @Behind_TheBreaks💻 More on Cardsmiths Currency: Cardsmiths.com🔥 Drop a comment—would you rip a pack of Cardsmiths Currency?!

 What’s it like to battle Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and the ‘Bad Boys’ Pistons? Former NBA center Stuart Gray joins Behind the Breaks to take us inside the golden era of basketball with first-hand stories from his time in the league!

🐐 Being on the floor w/ Michael Jordan! And trying to stop him.🐐 Watching Larry "Legend" Bird teach a rookie a lesson.👊 The time he fought the entire Lakers squad? Yeah, we’re talking about that too.🃏 What’s it like signing trading cards as a player? He spills the truth.🏀 From UCLA to the Pacers, Hornets & Knicks, to international play—Stu saw it all.

Drafted in the legendary 1984 NBA Draft alongside Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton, Stu shares insane behind-the-scenes stories that every basketball and trading card fan needs to hear.

 Don’t miss this episode! Hit that LIKE button, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment with your favorite NBA era!

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Instagram: @Behind_TheBreaks
YouTube: @Behind_theBreaks

In this episode of Behind the Breaks, RJ and Matt are back to talk all things trading cards! From the latest controversy surrounding the Paul Skenes patch auto to exciting new product releases hitting the shelves, we're diving into the hottest topics in the hobby.We also share some incredible stories, including a jaw-dropping storage locker find, and mix in plenty of banter about the hobby we love. Whether you're here for the insights, the laughs, or just to nerd out about trading cards, this episode has something for everyone!What You'll Hear:✅ Our take on the Paul Skenes patch auto controversy.✅ Highlights of the newest product releases and what's worth ripping.✅ A wild story about storage locker treasures!✅ General hobby chatter and why we love being part of this community.Join the conversation! Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know your take on these hot topics.📲 Follow Behind the Breaks:Instagram: @Behind_TheBreaksTikTok: @behindthebreaksYouTube: @Behind_theBreaks  Listen to us wherever you get your podcasts!

In this episode, we sit down with Emerald City Rips, a serial entrepreneur who left the security of a full-time career to pursue his passion for sports card breaking. Taking a massive risk, he went all-in on building a thriving breaking business—navigating the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

🎙 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

✅ The Entrepreneurial Leap – Why Emerald took the risk and how he convinced his family to support the move.

✅ Building a Breaker Business – The importance of research, strategy, and realistic expectations.

✅ The Power of Community – Why creating a welcoming environment matters more than aggressive sales tactics.

✅ Customer Trust & Service – The behind-the-scenes work that keeps buyers coming back.

✅ Adaptability in the Market – How adjusting his schedule and sourcing strategy helped him gain an edge.

✅ The Reality of the Grind – Why breaking isn’t an easy cash grab and requires long-term commitment.

🚀 Whether you're a seasoned collector, aspiring breaker, or just love the hustle of entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

Watch this episode and more.

🔗 Follow Emerald City Rips:

📲 Instagram: @EmeraldCityRips

📲 Whatnot: @EmeraldCityRips

📲 TikTok: @Emerald.City.Rips

📲 Holistix Shop

🎧 Subscribe & Leave a Review!

Love the show? Make sure to subscribe, drop a review, and share it with fellow collectors and entrepreneurs! Your support helps us keep bringing you top-tier content in the world of sports cards trading.

In this episode of Behind the Breaks, we’re joined by Shak3nBake, an engineer by day and a passionate breaker, collector, and seller by night.

Known as a "Sportscard Degenerate," Shak3 shares his journey from starting breaks on Facebook during COVID to becoming a trusted name on Whatnot, specializing in Formula 1 and MLS cards.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

*Shak3’s journey from casual collector to established breaker.

*Tips for new breakers: Start small, expect losses, ship fast, build relationships, and have fun.

*The challenges and rewards of balancing a day job with breaking.

*How he shares his love for the hobby with his kids and their unforgettable family moments.

*The role of community in breaking and the importance of building strong relationships.

*Thoughts on the future of breaking and what’s next for the hobby.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector, aspiring breaker, or just love a good story, this episode is full of inspiration, insight, and a few laughs.

Stay Connected

💥 Follow Shak3nBake:

Instagram: @shak3nbake_

Whatnot: shak3nbake

📲 Follow Behind the Breaks:

Instagram: @BehindTheBreaks

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Behind_theBreaks

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Behind the Breaks to help us grow the community and share more stories from the world of card collecting!

#BehindTheBreaks #Shak3nBake #CardBreaking #SportsCards #Whatnot #Formula1Cards #MLSCards #TradingCards #Podcast

In this episode of Behind the Breaks, we sit down with Chops, one-third of the dynamic team behind Boardwalk Breaks, to explore his incredible journey from the hip-hop stage to the trading card table.

Chops, along with his childhood friends, turned their shared love of sports cards into a thriving breaking business, becoming one of the most trusted and exciting teams in the hobby.

💡 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🎤 From Music to Breaks: How Chops transitioned from being a hip-hop artist to a passionate card breaker.

🃏 Building Boardwalk Breaks: The story of how three friends turned a childhood hobby into a business with a reputation for high-energy and trustworthy breaks.

🎉 Big Pulls & Big Stories: Behind-the-scenes tales of unforgettable pulls and moments that shaped their journey.

🔍 Insights on the Hobby: Chops shares his perspective on the card community and what keeps it so special.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector, an aspiring breaker, or just curious about the world of trading cards, this episode is packed with inspiration, entertainment, and insights.

Watch this episode on YouTube and more.

Welcome to the very first episode of Behind the Breaks! In this inaugural episode, your hosts, RJ and Matt, dive into their personal stories of how they fell in love with the world of card collecting and breaking. From childhood nostalgia to the thrill of high-stakes pulls, this episode is a heartfelt introduction to the passion, community, and excitement that fuels Behind the Breaks.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

Why You Should Listen:
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a casual hobbyist, or someone just getting started, this episode will resonate with anyone who cherishes the emotional connection and community that card collecting brings. Plus, you’ll hear the unique perspectives of two hosts who live and breathe the hobby every day.

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