This episode of Card Talk features host Tyler Schmitt providing updates on his recent activities and interviewing two guests, Jonathan and LP, about their roles in the evolving hobby.

Host Update & Industry Insights

London Card Show: The host recently attended the London Card Show with his father, noting the event's evolution from a small, Pokemon-heavy gathering to a professional, "national lite" event with significant industry sponsors.

Market Observations: The hobby is increasingly global, with product distribution and major players expanding across regions like Dubai, Macau, and London. The host emphasizes that businesses must diversify and innovate to survive market shifts, noting that younger collectors and diverse product interests are vital to sustained growth.

Personal Projects: The host discusses his professional work building a partnership ecosystem for VeeFriends, including upcoming 2026 Topps Chrome releases, while also preparing for his wedding.

Guest: Jonathan (Co-founder of Got Sole)

Expansion: Jonathan explains that Got Sole, originally a sneaker convention, is expanding into a "culture festival" incorporating five categories: sneakers, sports cards (partnering with Goldin), vintage, streetwear, and luxury.

Strategic Collaboration: Jonathan highlights the importance of leading with collaboration rather than competition. He notes that the new card component was finalized quickly through direct, value-driven partnerships with established figures in the hobby.

Event Schedule: New York City (June 20), Chicago (July 25), Tokyo (August), Los Angeles (September), and Miami (October) are the inaugural cities for this new format.

Guest: LP (Content Creator & Student)

Content Journey: LP, a senior accounting student at the University of Florida, shares his experience building a content creation brand while documenting his journey of flipping cards with limited starting capital.

Strategy: He focuses on singles-based flipping, utilizing online platforms like Discord and Instagram for sourcing. He emphasizes that consistent content creation provides accountability and allows him to connect with other creators.

Mindset: LP discusses overcoming the fear of public perception, stressing that building a reputation and producing consistent output are more valuable than immediate financial gain.

The host concludes the episode by reaffirming his commitment to using Card Talk as a platform to share inspiring stories, foster connections, and highlight the entrepreneurial spirit defining the current state of the hobby.

Recorded live from Topps Industry Conference, Tyler sat with three guests for the episode, including Aaron Amarant from AA Mint Cards, Grayson from Cherry Collectibles in Australia, and Kayla of Kayla Collects

Card Talk Live: Indie Wrestling Promoters and the Franchise Model for Card Shops

Join host Tyler Schmitt for an energetic episode of Card Talk Live as he dives into the intersection of modern media, storytelling, and the business of collecting. This episode features two unique perspectives on the hobby: an inside look at the life of independent wrestling promoters and a deep dive into a new franchise model for local sports card shops.

Episode Highlights:

• Host Introduction: Tyler Schmitt broadcasts live from his Tribeca studio, catching up with the community and sharing personal updates, including his upcoming wedding and recent experiences at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles.

• The World Cup and Modern Media: Tyler discusses upcoming World Cup qualifiers and reflects on how major sports are increasingly adopting entertainment strategies similar to the WWE to ensure baseline engagement for broadcasters.

• Guest Segment: Labor of Love: Tyler is joined by Shay and Billy from Labor of Love, a Philadelphia-based independent wrestling promotion.

• Wrestling Promotion: The duo discusses the intricacies of running a monthly promotion, from booking talent like Timothy Thatcher to creating viral storytelling moments like a wrestling "time machine".

• Collecting Passions: Billy, a "day one" listener, shares a successful "Play of the Week" flip involving a Sopranos cast auto, while Shay showcases high-end, low-population Pokemon grails.

• Guest Segment: Replay Sports Cards: Mike Martin joins the show to discuss the growth of Replay Sports Cards and their innovative franchise model.

• A New Business Model: Mike explains how they are helping collectors open modernized, community-focused hobby shops by providing the necessary tools, marketing support, and standardized operating procedures.

• Community and Content: The Replay team emphasizes building community through initiatives like monthly trade nights and a massive card donation charity program while maintaining a constant digital presence through live-streamed breaking.

• Closing Thoughts: Tyler and Mike discuss the future of the hobby, emphasizing the importance of non-gatekeeping, authentic interest, and the role of physical shops as a "detox" from the digital world.

For those looking for help selling or sourcing cards, connect with the show on Instagram @CardTalkPod or TikTok @sportscards. Happy collecting!

Episode Summary: Diving into Global Hobby Trends and Community Show Growth

In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of the trading card hobby, from the burgeoning scene in Scotland to the grassroots growth of local card shows in the American Midwest. We are joined by two guests who offer unique perspectives on collecting, market shifts, and the importance of fostering a local community.

• Cam (Cam's Cards) - Aberdeen, Scotland

• The Scottish Scene: Cam discusses the early stages of the sports card hobby in Scotland, noting a current dominance of TCGs like Pokémon and One Piece, with sports-focused events only recently emerging.

• Market Evolution: He observes a shift in the UK market where collectors are moving away from buying everything to becoming highly selective, focusing on top-tier players, low serial numbers, and graded cards.

• Football Prospecting: Cam shares his insights on football (soccer) prospects, highlighting Bayern Munich's Aleksandar Pavlović and Lamine Yamal as names to watch.

• Collector's Choice: For Cam, the 2016-2017 Select series stands as the "goat set" for football.

• BJ Kroger (Gingerwisdom) - Quincy, Illinois

• The Gym City Card Show: BJ shares his journey of starting a local card show in the Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri tri-state area, which has grown from 27 tables to an expected 65 for its upcoming event.

• Community-First Approach: He emphasizes creating an accessible experience by offering free admission and giveaway packs for children to encourage the next generation of collectors.

• Advice for Aspiring Organizers: BJ believes that any suitable space with tables can host a successful show, encouraging others to start small in community centers or church halls.

• Traits of Successful Vendors: From his experience, the most effective vendors are those with strong communication skills who remain fair on pricing and generous toward young hobbyists.

• Beyond the Cards: Outside of show organizing, BJ is a passionate golfer and uses 3D printing technology to create custom golf grips and hobby-related items like card stands.

• Host and Setting: The episode of Card Talk was hosted by Tyler Schmidt and recorded shortly after a blizzard in New York City.

• Guest: Gregory Cumins of Who Knew?

• Discussion covered non-sport collectibles, Gregory Cumins' upcoming published book, and the non-sport ecosystem.

• He also brought items for a "show and tell" segment, including a Black Goliath Marvel superhero comic, a Monopoly silver coin, and a non-sports card called "Alternative Investments" from Keepsake Editions.

• Gregory is interested in the "why" behind non-sports collectibles, not just the value, and hopes his book will help bring the fragmented non-sports collecting community together.

• Guest: Paulo (special one cards)

• Known as "special one cards," Paulo is considered one of the more knowledgeable individuals on proper football ("footy"), covering the game, current events, prospects, and the collecting side.

• The discussion included deep footy talk in anticipation of the World Cup.

• Topics covered included the English Premier League title race, players like Yacaré and Matías Fernandez, the upcoming Prism World Cup product, and the collecting of footy cards.

• Paulo suggested that collectors should keep an eye on Yacaré's cards, particularly the Select product and the rare "peacocks" parallels.

• Hobby Updates from Tyler Schmitt:

• The Winter Olympics were "pretty lit," highlighting new superstars Alyssa Liu and Jack Hughes.

• Alyssa Liu's rookie cards include 2022 Skybox Battle Universe Champions (with parallels, numbered cards, and autos) and 2022 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions (autos); 2026 Topps Chrome US Winter Olympics is also coming soon.

• VeeFriends Spectacular Series Super Stickers were launched and are carried in up to almost 200 hobby shops around the country.

• A VeeFriends launch party is scheduled for Monday, March 9th, in London.

• National Trading Card Day highlighted how much fun people are having in the hobby.

• Topps Rip Night was on Saturday and was well-executed, benefiting a lot of shops.

• Tyler Schmitt attended Comics Pro on Thursday and Friday.

Topics Covered

The episode covered various topics, including:

• Pop culture cards
• The Super Bowl
• Ryan’s appearance on Whatnot
• Reality TV
• Tyler mentioned that he had recently been up in Stratton, Vermont, on the slopes.

• Lou joined first, then Ryan and Lou, followed by Max Norris.
• Ryan and Lou were scheduled to join about 10 minutes after the hour.
• Max Norris, also known as Putnam Cards, was set to join after Ryan and Lou wrapped up. Max Norris is described as a "real Michigan man" and someone the host was looking forward to speaking with.
• Lou's dog's name is Asher.

• New podcast episodes are expected every Wednesday morning on all audio and video platforms.
• The host announced a March Madness pool would be coming.
• A "big release day" was scheduled for the day of the video's recording (February 17, 2026), for the "VeeFriends Spectacular Series Super Stickers".
• The biggest product launch the host had ever worked on, the VeeFriends Spectacular Super Sticker launch, was going live the day after the video's recording. This product is expected to be in 200–250 retail stores across the country, as well as internationally in places like the UK, Dubai, and Australia.
• A launch event for the VeeFriends Spectacular Series Super Stickers was scheduled for Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in New York City at David Adams (6 to 9 p.m.).

• The host (Tyler Schmitt) mentioned he brokered Logan Paul's first-ever Pokemon card purchase on August 25, 2020. He is trying to have Logan Paul on the show soon to talk about his new Rip It business.
• The host offered his services to help people sell cards, noting that he has been seeing success with this, using "Card Talk stories" and other means to help move product.

• Logan Paul's Pokemon Card: Logan Paul's interest in Pokemon was discussed, including the purchase of a card by AJ Scaramucci, who was in the mix for the purchase. The card's value includes "social capital" and marketing opportunities.
• Ryan's Whatnot Appearance: Ryan was praised for being the "face in many ways of sports cards on that stream" during a Mr. Beast Whatnot show. He was on a stream with 580,000 people when he walked out.
• Live Shopping: Live shopping was discussed as a continuing trend, including Mr. Beast's Whatnot show, TikTok Live, and the potential for Instagram and X to integrate live shopping. The host also mentioned that Gary did a segment on CBS Mornings with Nate Burleson about live shopping and AI.
• X (formerly Twitter): There were "rumblings" about X having crypto and stock trades built into the platform, rolling out over the next few weeks.
• Tops Chrome Olympics: Ryan commented on the Tops Chrome Olympics product, calling it "not super" hot but a lot of fun because it features many different sports. Autos and patches are included in the boxes.
• Baseball Season: Lou confirmed that it is "firmly baseball season," with pitchers and catchers having reported and the World Baseball Classic starting soon.
• MLB Players Union: The resignation of the head of the MLB Players Association due to a federal investigation and an affair was discussed. It is believed that a strike after the current season is nearly guaranteed.
• March Madness: The host expressed excitement about the upcoming March Madness, predicting a "real big comeback" due to the high quality of NBA prospects in college basketball this year.

FYI - THIS PODCAST IS RECORDED LIVE ON TUESDAY EVENING'S @ 7pm ET!! Tune in :)

On this episode, we are joined by 4 different guests from all walks of the hobby.

0:00 - Intro & Monologue

12:20 - Tommy Fallos, The Card Carver. Discussing all things collectible custom card art market.

30:45 - Coby Bull, Edition One. Discussing what Coby is building with Edition One, and the latest on the collecting hobby in the UK/London

49:38 - Danny Tamarkin, Breaking Co. Discussing the life of a young kid running a busy breaking business.

1:05:00 - Ric Ellis, Castro Collects. Discussing Topps Chrome Premier League product and all thats happening during launch week.

Thanks for tuning in always! Reach out to @cardtalkpod on IG with any questions. We are here to help you sell your cards!

On this week's episode of Card Talk Live!, Tyler is joined by two guests, Adam Lister & John Stibich (Pokeradar). Tyler touches on the importance of time as a factor, when contemplating pieces to collect or invest in. He also discusses his thoughts on content being a frame of reference, and why it is more important than ever for driving awareness. Notes below on guests

Adam Lister

- Recently launched the Card Archive Project

- @adam.art.studio on Instagram

- adamstudioart.com to commission a piece of work

- NY based artist

John Stibich

- long term Pokemon & Dragon Ball Z collector

- discussed topics such as true pokemon grails, the origin story of his Pokemon golf clubs, and goes into the history & lore of hand painted animated cels

Card Talk Live! is back, featuring a multitude of interviews & hobby talk.

Kicking off with Ryan and Lou rejoining Tyler to share What's on Your Mind. Followed by appearances from

-Eddie Wittner at C3 Grading

-Evan Parker from Mantle,

-Ric Ellis from Castro Collects

- Will Tingle talking Panini Blockchain

- Adam Ripps breaking down the latest in product development at V Friends.

Episode Description

In this episode, Tyler gives general updates on Card Talk, shares some loose thoughts on the current state of the market, and recaps his recent trip to Dubai — including what he learned about the collecting scene, distribution conversations, and why the Middle East might become an interesting region for hobby growth. He also teases Fictional Friday, a new weekly live show kicking off this Friday at 1pm Eastern on Whatnot. Easy, conversational, and packed with small hobby insights.

Shoutouts in this episode include:

• Speedy Comics

• Vibes Collectibles

• Trading Cards Middle East

• Legends of the Game