Pack Fresh Podcast

He left Big Four accounting to chase shiny cardboard… and it actually worked.

This week, Wash and Cardboard sit down with RunningToTheRip to talk about his full journey: walking away from corporate life, the brutal early grind of selling Pokémon cards online, opening a storefront, building a loyal community, taking losses on stream, learning vintage the hard way, and how the Pokémon hobby completely transformed his life.

One of our most real conversations yet about the business side of Pokémon, burnout, opportunity, and why this hobby is so special.

RunningToTheRip’s Socials:

🌐 https://www.runningtotherip.com/

📸 https://www.instagram.com/runningtotherip/?hl=en

🔨 https://www.whatnot.com/user/runningtotherip

📘 https://www.facebook.com/p/Running-to-the-Rip-61575895092361/

🎙️ Question of the Week:

If YOU went full-time in the Pokémon hobby tomorrow… what’s the first thing you’d focus on?

🎧 Available now on Spotify, and YouTube.

📱 Join the Community:

👉 https://discord.com/invite/aa6XDCm4Zg

🌐 https://pillar.io/washyourrhands

🃏 https://linktr.ee/pokedirect

💼 https://linktr.ee/cardboardvault

Scarlet & Violet has officially wrapped, and we’re ranking every set from worst to best. From Shrouded Fable’s stumble to Paldean Fates’ shiny storm, Prismatic Evolutions’ chaotic hype, and 151’s nostalgia-driven perfection, Wash and Ryan break down what made each release shine—or flop.

We cover the hits, the misses, and the biggest surprises across the whole era, including which sets secretly have the best Illustration Rares, which Charizards aged best, and what collectors are still chasing months later.

Key takeaways:

• 151 still reigns supreme—nostalgia, art, and hit rates in perfect balance.

• Paldea Evolved is the true IR “holy grail” of the era.

• Paldean Fates nails the fun factor but needed more full-art shinies.

• Prismatic Evolutions’ missing IRs hurt its legacy despite historic hype.

• Sword & Shield vs Scarlet & Violet: next episode, we settle the debate.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, and YouTube.

📱 https://discord.com/invite/aa6XDCm4Zg

🌐 https://pillar.io/washyourrhands

🃏 https://linktr.ee/pokedirect

💼 https://linktr.ee/cardboardvault

We dig into Phantasmal Flames, a tiny set with oversized hype. From a brutally rare Gold Charizard and a show-stealing SIR to promo curveballs (Oricorio) and a Gengar that stayed EX-only, we cover pull-rate math, product mix (booster vs ETB vs UPC), Japanese IRs coming to English (Meowth, Paldean Wooper), and our predictions for the third-most-valuable card after release. Plus: how a small set could affect prices, collecting goals, and long-term desirability.

Key takeaways:

• Ultra-short Gold Charizard odds will likely prop up sealed prices.

• Smaller card list = faster IR completion + potentially cheaper singles.

• Promos shifted the chase map; some fan favorites moved out of packs.

• Our IR shortlists include Wigglytuff, Piplup, Zacian, Flygon, Yamper, Dedenne.

  Mega Charizard UPC on release day could be a long-term winner despite heavy print.

In this eye-opening episode of the Pack Fresh Podcast, Wash and Staxx break down the biggest myths and misconceptions in the Pokémon TCG world — from grading, value, and rarity, to nostalgia-driven collecting and sealed product hype.

Do all Charizards actually hold value?
Are Japanese cards always better quality?
And is sealed product really a guaranteed investment?

We’re separating fact from fiction and giving you the truth straight from inside the hobby. Whether you’re a new collector or a veteran investor, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

📱 https://discord.com/invite/aa6XDCm4Zg

🌐 https://pillar.io/washyourrhands

🃏 https://linktr.ee/pokedirect

💼 https://linktr.ee/cardboardvault

In this episode of the Pack Fresh Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most exciting announcements in recent memory: the return of Mega Pokémon to the Pokémon TCG after 10 years!We break down what this means for collectors, how nostalgia plays into market demand, and why Mega Evolution still holds such a special place in the hobby. From the XY era to the modern sets, Mega Pokémon have always been a fan favorite, and their comeback is already sparking waves of excitement across the community!Whether you’re a longtime collector, a new fan, or someone who just loves the history of the hobby, this episode is packed with insights, reactions, and a whole lot of nostalgia.

Our Links!

https://discord.com/invite/aa6XDCm4Zg🌐 https://pillar.io/washyourrhands🔗 https://linktr.ee/pokedirect🔗 https://linktr.ee/cardboardvault

#PokemonTCG #MegaEvolution #TradingCards #PackFreshPodcast #CollectorCommunity #PokemonPodcast

In this powerful episode of the Pack Fresh Podcast, we sit down with Staxx, whose journey from war-torn Bosnia to building one of the fastest-growing Pokémon and supplies businesses on Whatnot is nothing short of inspiring. At just 8 years old, Staxx moved to the U.S. after escaping conflict, later dropping out of engineering school to pursue streaming full-time on YouTube. But that was only the beginning.

We dive into how he scaled his business, the role his father's Missouri butcher shop played in shaping his hustle, and how he continues to innovate with new products and revenue streams. Whether you're a collector, entrepreneur, or creator, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Our Links!

https://discord.gg/pmWBnyaPM7Wash

https://pillar.io/washyourrhands

https://linktr.ee/pokedirectCardboard

https://linktr.ee/cardboardvault

https://www.instagram.com/staxxcollects?igsh=anR0bHp3OWU2cG5w

https://www.youtube.com/@staxxcollects

#PackFreshPodcast #Staxx #PokemonBusiness #WhatnotSeller #EntrepreneurJourney #PokemonCommunity #CardCollector #TCGEntrepreneur #StreamingSuccess #FromRefugeeToCEO #HustleStory #WhatnotLiveSelling #SmallBusinessGrowth #PokemonSupplies

Pack Fresh Discord - https://discord.gg/pmWBnyaPM7Wash - https://pillar.io/washyourrhandsPoke Direct - https://linktr.ee/pokedirectCardboard - https://linktr.ee/cardboardvaultThinking about selling your Pokémon cards but not sure where to start? In this episode of The Pack Fresh Podcast, we break down the best places to sell Pokémon cards in 2025—from eBay and TCGPlayer to Whatnot, live streaming, Facebook groups, local card shops, and even collector conventions. Whether you're flipping singles, offloading bulk, or moving slabs, we’ll help you figure out where to get the highest value and fastest sales.We cover:Pros and cons of each marketplaceTips for maximizing profitsWhen to sell and when to holdAvoiding scams and lowball offersIf you’re a collector, seller, or Pokémon flipper, this one’s a must-listen.Tune in, level up your selling game, and turn your collection into cash.#PokemonCards #SellPokemonCards #PokemonCardSellingTips #PokemonCardMarket #PackFreshPodcast #TCGReseller #eBayPokemon #WhatnotPokemon #TCGFlipping #PokemonCollectors #CardFlippingTips #PokémonSellingGuide #TopDollarPokemon #PokémonCardSales2025 #PokémonTCGCommunity

Pack Fresh Discord - https://discord.gg/pmWBnyaPM7

Wash - https://pillar.io/washyourrhands

Poke Direct - https://linktr.ee/pokedirect

Cardboard - https://linktr.ee/cardboardvault

In this episode of the Pack Fresh Podcast, we dive into the whirlwind of recent Pokémon TCG releases like Prismatic Evolution, Journey Together, Destined Rivals, Black Bolt, and White Flare. Are we living through a golden age of Pokémon cards—or is the flood of SKUs and nonstop hype becoming too much for collectors and players to keep up with? We break down the highlights, the collector impact, market reactions, and whether this pace is sustainable for the hobby.

Whether you're a seasoned collector, casual fan, or sealed investor, this episode gives you the insight you need to navigate the current Pokémon TCG landscape.

#PokemonTCG #GoldenAgePokemon #PokemonCardReleases #PrismaticEvolution #JourneyTogether #DestinedRivals #BlackBolt #WhiteFlare #PackFreshPodcast #PokemonCollectors #PokemonInvesting #TCGCommunity #PokemonCardMarket #SealedCollecting

Boomer - https://www.instagram.com/boomer_tcg/

Wash - https://pillar.io/washyourrhands

Poke Direct - https://linktr.ee/pokedirect

Cardboard - https://linktr.ee/cardboardvault

In this episode of Pack Fresh Podcast, we sit down with Shalom Lor — the powerhouse behind BoomerTCG and head of The BST Collectors — to unpack his inspiring journey from growing up Hmong-American in poverty to becoming a respected leader in the Pokémon card community. We dive into his early investments in WOTC sealed booster boxes, how he used student loan money to fund his first Base Set case, and how Pokémon ultimately helped launch his ventures in real estate, community building, and entrepreneurship.Shalom shares how he balances a full-time career as a computer programmer while managing high-end Pokémon consignment, curating vintage sealed product, and organizing one of the most trusted vendor groups in the hobby. If you’re passionate about Pokémon investing, collecting sealed product, or building a business from your passion — this episode is a must-listen.⸻#PokemonCards #WOTC #PackFreshPodcast #BoomerTCG #PokemonInvesting #PokemonCommunity #PokémonPodcast #VintagePokemon #SealedProduct #BSTCollectors #TCGInvesting #AsianAmericanCollectors #HmongEntrepreneur

Wash - https://pillar.io/washyourrhandsPoke Direct - https://linktr.ee/pokedirectCardboard - https://linktr.ee/cardboardvaultIn this episode of Pack Fresh Podcast, we break down the Top 5 mistakes new Pokémon card collectors make — and how you can avoid them. Whether you're just starting your collecting journey or looking to sharpen your strategy, we share real-world tips, market insights, and lessons learned the hard way. Don't let these rookie errors hold you back from building a collection you'll be proud of!🔍 Learn how to spot bad buys, avoid hype traps, and make smarter collecting decisions from day one.#PokemonCards #PokemonTCG #CardCollecting #NewCollectors #TCGCommunity #PackFreshPodcast #PokemonInvesting #TradingCards #CollectorTips #CardCollector