Disney is winning the hobby right now — and this episode explains why.

Jesse and Ray are joined in-studio by Matt Hathorn of Funcle Cards for a deep dive into how Disney 100 (2023) and Disney Chrome (2024) have separated themselves as the most dominant non-sport products in the modern era.

They break down everything collectors want to know:

Why comps don’t always matter for Disney cards

Which parallels actually hold value

Where to grade (and why it matters)

The hierarchy of Disney characters and what collectors prioritize

How Disney stacks up against Pokémon and other TCGs

The conversation also explores a fascinating niche: Cards from the junk wax era of the 80s and 90s. While many were massively produced, surprisingly few exist in high grade — creating opportunities for collectors who know where to look. Matt even shares how he’s turning dollar-bin finds into cards worth hundreds.

Also in this episode:

McDonald’s K-Pop Demon Hunter adult Happy Meal cards

New releases including Topps Chrome Deadpool and WWE Exalted

And a friendly competition to see who pulls the biggest card

Plus, Matt brings 3 Disney cards to give away to listeners.

If you’ve been wondering why Disney cards keep climbing — or how to approach them as a collector or investor — this is a must-listen.

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This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray kick things off by recapping Jesse’s first singles show experience and what it revealed about the current state of the non-sport market.

From there, they dive into Star Wars: Smugglers Outpost, breaking down why it may be one of the best collector-focused releases in years and what it’s doing right compared to other modern products.

Next, the conversation turns to 2026 Leaf Pop Century. While the product still delivers strong celebrity appeal, a closer look at resale data raises an important question: are values trending downward even as box prices continue to rise?

They also cover:

The long-awaited Jurassic Park trading card set, featuring autographs from Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Samuel L. Jackson

A new Cardsmiths mini-set tied to the hit film Hail Mary, and whether it could hold long-term value

Celebrities entering the hobby through TCG, including Benji Madden investing in One Piece and Timothée Chalamet spotted at a Yu-Gi-Oh event

Target expanding its card footprint, potentially creating in-store experiences that resemble local card shops

The episode wraps with a debate on Ray’s Pokémon buying strategy, leaving Jesse asking the ultimate collector question: “Is the juice worth the squeeze?”

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This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray start the show by discussing the Whatnot lawsuit currently making waves across the hobby, including Whatnot’s response to the allegations and what it could mean for collectors and sellers going forward.

They then follow up on last week’s Topps Disney Neon story with updates on newly revealed IP and signers. The set will feature characters from Gargoyles and Phineas and Ferb, along with exciting new autograph signers — including Owen Wilson signing as Lightning McQueen.

Next, Jesse shares a tip on how collectors have been managing to secure Topps presale products early and how others might be able to take advantage of the same strategy.

The guys also revisit Leaf Photographic, after a Kobe Bryant autograph unexpectedly sold for $31,000, despite earlier skepticism about the product.

The second half of the show features an interview with Grant Sandground of Upper Deck, who walks through everything collectors should know about the new Batman: The Animated Series trading card set. With extremely low print numbers and many retailers already sold out, collectors are starting to feel the FOMO.

To close the show:

Ray highlights new celebrity interest in Pokémon cards, including Kim Kardashian entering the market

And shares valuable tips on what collectors should avoid buying when hunting for Pokémon cards.

A packed episode covering controversy, nostalgia, market surprises, and practical collecting advice.

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This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray dive into one of the busiest weeks in the non-sport hobby.

They kick things off by recapping their 12-hour break of WWE Universe, sharing their thoughts on the product and some of the highlights from the marathon rip. They also preview the upcoming Topps Chrome WWE First Day Release arriving this Friday and explain how collectors can get access.

Next up are several upcoming releases and hobby updates:

Topps Disney Neon, a lower-cost Disney product aimed at fans of classic animated characters

Upper Deck Batman: The Animated Series, featuring some unique inserts including a full collectible playing card deck with major characters and Wild Jokers

A new tool collectors can use to track which non-sport 1/1 cards have already been pulled from modern products

The conversation then shifts to the broader market with insights from Funcle Cards, including why Disney 100 may already be the GOAT of modern non-sport sets and why a vintage Batman product is starting to gain momentum.

Things take a wild turn when Jesse and Ray discuss the Hong Kong-based company MemeStrategy, which announced plans to acquire 25% of the PSA 10 Felt Hat Pikachu population—a move that has pushed the card’s market cap higher than the Michael Jordan rookie card.

They wrap up the show with a look at where Pokémon 151 prices may be headed and why 151 Charizard and Felt Hat Pikachu are starting to show some surprising similarities.

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This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse is back from Europe 🇮🇪🇬🇧 — and there’s a lot to unpack.

They kick things off with insights from the Dublin and London card shows, breaking down what the European hobby scene is doing well, where it still needs improvement, and what Jesse bought overseas — and why.

Next up is the rise of TCG Rush of Ikorr, including an upcoming Championship featuring a $100,000 prize purse 💰, signaling that competitive TCG is heating up.

Then they’re joined by Adam Gellman to talk WWE cards and why WWE Universe is hitting on the right buttons for collectors. They preview upcoming releases including:

WWE Royalty

WWE Exalted

Topps Chrome WWE

Adam also shares which undervalued up-and-comers 📈 collectors may be sleeping on.

After the interview, Jesse and Ray react to several major record-breaking non-sport sales — including the highest-selling Pixar, Iron Man, Simpsons, and Labubu cards ever recorded — and what those results mean for the broader market 🔥

They close with a breakdown of three upcoming Marvel releases from Topps:

Topps Chrome Deadpool (comics + movie focus)

Topps Brooklyn Collection – Captain America

Topps Finest Fantastic Four

And before signing off, Jesse and Ray debate the big question:

👉 Is the hobby healthy right now — and how should collectors be navigating it?

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Ray is out this week as Jesse travels across England visiting card shops and shows to see firsthand how the hobby is growing overseas. Stopping in at 3rd Down Trading Cards, Jesse sits down with owner Ben Reynard and podcast host Jordan to talk about the realities of running one of the few local card shops in the UK and why the future of the European hobby looks incredibly promising.

The crew also breaks down two exciting upcoming Topps releases — Disneyland 70th Anniversary, featuring park-used relics, Cosmic inserts, sketches, and major chase potential, and Star Wars Smuggler’s Outpost, which is delivering an on-card autograph in every box. Plus, thoughts from the London Card Show, the rise of young collectors in the UK, and why the international hobby boom feels very familiar.

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This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray turn the entire episode over to YOU with a full MAILBAG special, answering listener questions, hot takes, and hobby debates.

Topics include:

🎨 Are sketch cards everywhere now… and is that hurting demand? 📈 Why does Leaf’s Pop Century sometimes outsell Topps Marvel Studios 20-to-1? 🤔 Are celebrity autograph products priced and structured differently for a reason? 🪀 Could Pogs actually make a comeback in today’s collectible world? 💰 And the big one… what are Jesse and Ray buying right now?

From product strategy to market trends to collector psychology, this episode is packed with honest opinions, speculation, and actionable insight for anyone trying to navigate the non-sport hobby in 2026.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s hype, what’s value, and what’s actually worth your money — this one’s for you.

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On this week's episode of Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray start with the newly announced Jerry Seinfeld autograph cards, breaking down why collectors are excited… and why some aren’t convinced.

From there, they spotlight a sleeper TCG release that flew under the radar at the end of 2025: League of Legends: Riftbound. Could it quietly become the next breakout product like One Piece? The conversation naturally leads into Dragon Ball Z cards and what other franchises might be poised for a comeback.

Ray then shares highlights from Nashville Celebrity Comic Con, including meeting childhood favorites and landing Back to the Future and WWE autographs.

The second half of the show features a full interview with Gary Vaynerchuk, where they discuss:

His new Spectacular Super Sticker release

The overlooked value of fictional character rookie cards

What he’s personally buying

And his vision for where non-sports collecting is headed

A wide-ranging episode packed with hobby insight, nostalgia, and one of the biggest voices in collecting.

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This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray come out firing with one of the wildest episodes yet.

They kick things off in the WWE universe, breaking down upcoming releases including Topps WWE Royalty, featuring a Jelly Roll debut patch and some of the most insane relics we’ve ever seen—yes, including pieces of The Undertaker’s casket.

From there, the conversation takes a sharp turn into the competitive world of professional darts, where one player is demanding prices far above his peers as he cements himself as the GOAT of the sport.

Next up:

Upper Deck’s DC x NHL crossover: Fortress of Solitude, placing NHL stars inside Superman’s iconic hideout

Marvel “The Collector”, Topps’ most premium Marvel product ever with only 3 cards per box, ultra-high-end sketches, an Infinity Gauntlet chase, and elite autograph talent

The surprisingly strong demand for 2025 Topps Disneyland 70th Anniversary

Things escalate quickly when Jesse and Ray revisit the One Piece college promo story, as news breaks that roughly $2 million worth of cards were stolen from Rutgers University with no signs of forced entry—leading many to believe it was an inside job.

The episode wraps with Pokémon talk, including:

A rumored 30th Anniversary Pokémon card featuring a fan-favorite character

Ray’s breakdown of the top chase cards in Pokémon Ascended Heroes and their pull rates

A must-listen episode covering spectacle, scandal, and some of the biggest releases shaping the hobby right now.

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This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray dig out from an ice storm that rocked Middle Tennessee, but still deliver a packed episode for non-sport collectors.

They kick things off with Logan Paul’s latest Pokémon break, where packs sold for an astonishing $1.4 million—far exceeding his previous break of the same product. Jesse and Ray discuss what made this break different and whether this signals a new trend where celebrity involvement encourages overpaying.

Next, they explore whether Panini may have found a loophole around Topps’ exclusive Marvel license, and what that could mean for future non-sport releases.

Then they’re joined by Josh Copeland of Poke Master Center for an in-depth conversation on card restoration—one of the most polarizing topics in the hobby. Josh explains what restoration actually involves, how it can impact grading outcomes, why some collectors embrace it, others reject it, and why the topic has sparked extreme reactions. Along the way, they even take a nostalgic detour into their favorite childhood video game systems.

After the interview, Jesse and Ray react to the record-setting $500,000 sale of the Leaf Pop Century Donald Trump 1/1, and close the episode with a look at Target being sued over an alleged bait-and-switch involving Prismatic and Pokémon 151 ETBs.

A wide-ranging episode covering money, ethics, legality, and the evolving future of the hobby.

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