Episode 201 of Special Conditions is all about Justin’s trip to Houston Regionals, and he’s joined by fellow Texas Pokémon player and Star Wars nerd Mitchell Le to break it all down. From tournament prep, deck choices, and brutal matchups to the reality of best-of-three pacing, this one is a full weekend recap from the player perspective. Mitchell talks through his Zoroark run and finishing just one card away from Day 2, while Justin reflects on a day full of ties, time management lessons, and why some matchups felt way tougher than expected.

But this episode isn’t just about the matches. The guys also get into the fun side of the event: retro side events, exclusive championship merch, carnival-style games, Pokémon pinball, raid battles, vendor finds, and the food stops that helped keep the weekend alive. The back half turns into a relaxed pack-opening session with Destined Rivals, making this one feel like the full Regionals experience from start to finish. 

00:00 Intro

01:23 Houston Regionals begins

06:12 Mitchell’s run

13:59 Justin’s run

22:03 Side events and merch

28:45 Raid battles explained

39:08 Pack talk

42:10 Pack opening

51:45 Houston visuals and venue

59:19 Food stops

01:06:45 Event highs and lows

01:11:38 Final thoughts

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website: pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

 🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

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Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

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Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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How Card Show Vendors Actually Make Money | Special Conditions 200

Episode 200 of Special Conditions is a real behind-the-table conversation with two guests who live the hobby from the vendor side. We’re joined by Zach and Niche from the New England card scene to talk about how they got started, what made them fall in love with vending, and what the card show grind actually looks like once you’re the one buying, pricing, trading, and trying to keep inventory moving.

This one isn’t about fake guru advice or hobby mythology. It’s about the stuff that actually matters: why repeat customers matter more than squeezing every percentage point, why sticker prices and presentation change the whole buying experience, and the mistakes you only make once if you’re lucky. The stories about bad buyouts, early inventory mistakes, and learning how to price for negotiation make this one especially good for anyone who has ever thought about setting up at a show.

On top of that, the episode wanders exactly where a good hobby podcast should: Whatnot growing pains, 151 spikes, Prismatic frustration, Japanese cards, oddball collectibles, and the kind of side quests that happen when four cardboard degenerates get talking. It feels like hanging out at the table after a busy show — which is probably why it works so well. 

00:00 Intro + guest setup

01:30 How Adam knows the Zachs

06:00 Why card show vending is a volume business

06:45 Whatnot selling, shipping headaches, and singles

13:30 Buying strategy: moving cards

15:30 Dallas spend vs New England spend

17:15 Pricing philosophy at shows

18:45 Big trades, slabs, and hot table stories

29:00 Could Pokémon ever do serialized cards?

32:30 151 spikes, Prismatic, and current market talk

40:00 How both guests got started in the hobby

45:00 Biggest mistakes new vendors make

48:00 Why sticker prices matter

55:00 Show layout, traffic flow, and vendor setup

01:00:00 Slab guards and deal friction

01:10:00 Growing as a vendor 

01:20:00 What actually belongs in the showcase vs binders

01:27:30 Rapid-fire advice for new vendors

01:42:30 Why Pokémon’s community keeps people in the hobby

01:46:00 Final thoughts + where to find everyone

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website: pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

 🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

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http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman 

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http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Giovanni Producer

BorisYeah

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Episode 199 feels like a classic Special Conditions hang—one part “this card rules,” one part “how did that just happen,” and one part real-life hobby grind. We start with Flamigo as the Card-of-the-Day and why United Wings is such a satisfying little engine when it’s clicking. Then we get into the moment that basically defined the episode: Adam hits an Iono to 3, thinks it’s over… and still ends up watching the comeback line appear anyway. From there we talk what Sydney and Santiago might be telling us with EUIC around the corner, swing behind the booth for the Whatnot recap (wins, losses, lessons), and finish with Justin ramping back into competitive mode for Houston—plus a few budget “sleepers & steals” we like right now and what’s been on our content radar lately.

00:00:30 Patreon + Show Intro

00:03:15 Card of the Day — Flamigo (United Wings)

00:07:45 Burned or Learned (TCG Live story)

00:19:15 Meta Minute — Sydney + Santiago results

00:30:45 Break + Patron shoutouts

00:32:00 Behind the Booth — Whatnot + show plug

00:47:30 Leave it or leave it — Road to Houston / deck choice talk

00:51:30 Sleepers & Steals — budget picks 00:58:15 Pack opening + card talk

00:59:15 Status: Recommended

01:14:15 Wrap

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website: pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

 🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

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http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman 

http://twitter.com/videogamedj 

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Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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New year = new segments! In Episode 198 of Special Conditions, we roll out Burned or Learned, Behind the Booth, Sleeve it or Leave it, Sleepers & Steals, and Status: Recommended—plus a festive Card of the Day to kick things off.

🔥 In this episode

Card of the Day: Delibird Holiday Calendar promo (snowflake stamp!)

Burned or Learned: Light Toxtricity grading gamble (PSA vs CGC talk), Hisuian Growlithe binder copy pickup (customer service win)

Sleeve it or Leave it: League Cup recap + Festival Grounds deck talk

Sleepers & Steals: budget art rares + a Full Art item pickup

Status: Recommended: Britney Spears “Oops” Whatnot swipes + Tricky Gym on Expanded

🗳️ Prompts

Delibird: Binder or Pass?

Burned or Learned: Burned… or Learned?

What are you sleeving up next?

What should we watch next?

02:00 Card-of-the-Day — Delibird Holiday Calendar Promo (snowflake stamp)

07:30 Burned or Learned? — Light Toxtricity grading gamble (PSA vs CGC)

13:30 Burned or Learned? — The “just ask” pickup (Hisuian Growlithe binder copy)

16:00 Behind the Booth — NE Card House (Jan 18) + table talk

18:20 Behind the Booth — Whatnot stream: OBS, shipping fixes, and workflow lessons

22:36 Back from break — Delibird canvas + gift/trade stories

28:00 Patron shoutouts + PokemonProfessor.com plugs

28:45 Sleeve it or Leave it — Festival Grounds deck + League Cup recap

36:00 Pack opening break — Twilight Masquerade pulls (Secret Box!)

39:30 Sleepers & Steals — Budget pickups segment intro

40:00 Sleepers & Steals — Ludicolo AR (Phantasmal Flames)

41:10 Sleepers & Steals — Ambipom AR (Phantasmal Flames)

42:30 Sleepers & Steals — Helioptile AR (Mega Evolution)

45:00 Sleepers & Steals — Buddy-Buddy Poffin Full Art

46:35 Status: Recommended — segment intro

47:00 Status: Recommended — Britney Spears / “Oops I did it again” Whatnot swipes

48:15 Status: Recommended — Tricky Gym: “What Happened to Expanded?”

Tricky Gym — Expanded video: https://youtu.be/HGCs8nLeThk?si=ZERQ35QMAzFMikPE

More links: https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

This episode is brought to you by our Patreon—shoutout to the community that keeps the Pokémon Professor Network rolling. For $1/month, you can support the network and hop into our Patron-exclusive Discord: patreon.com/pokemonprofessor

Huge thank you to our Executive Producer Tish Smith, and our Gym Leaders: Ben, Espeon Willow, Herbert, Matthew, and SushiSlayer, as well as the other Executive Producers on the Network: Xander, Monkeybread, and KateTheKonz!

Check out PokemonProfessor.com for links to everywhere you can connect with Special Conditions, grab merch, and connect with all the other shows on the Pokémon Professor Network.

[email protected]/Text/Pics: 732-835-8639

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

Intro Music: Trapped In A Pokéball — Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar (GameChops - Ultraball)Break Music: He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix — Dj CutmanOutro Music: Kanto Trainer Battle — Mykah (GameChops - Ultraball)

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾http://instagram.com/GameChopshttp://twitter.com/GameChopshttp://soundcloud.com/GameChopshttp://facebook.com/GameChopshttp://youtube.com/GameChopshttp://www.gamechops.com

Adam TuttleJustin Keller

Pokémon and all respective names are trademark & © of Nintendo 1996–2024.Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, or Nintendo.

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Episode 197 – Special Conditions (Pokémon TCG)

This week’s Card of the Day is a full-on vibes pick: Mega Manectric EX full art—loud colors, chaotic Mega-era energy, and the kind of card you love because it rules, not because someone on the internet said it’s “a smart buy.”

That “collect what you like” energy keeps showing up all episode: Adam talks card shows, trades, and the kind of personal chase cards that hit harder than market comps—like the Ditto Charmander promo that instantly time-travels you back to your first big events.

If your binder’s been drifting into “what’s hot right now,” consider this your reminder to steer it back to you. Build the collection you’d still love if prices didn’t exist.

00:00:00 — Cold open: Delibird show survival + Whatnot glow-up?

00:01:15 — Episode start + what we’re getting into

00:04:30 — Card of the Day: Mega Manectric EX (taste over value)

00:07:45 — Freeport, ME show recap (brewery vibes + room to browse)

00:11:15 — Ditto Charmander promo = core memory collecting

00:19:15 — Why is everyone hunting Mudkip?

00:24:30 — Danvers, MA show recap (New England Cardhouse energy)

00:29:00 — TGA slabs + trade talk

00:30:45 — Prismatic product reality check

00:35:30 — Anime Frontier finds (artist alley Pokémon heat)

00:40:45 — Whatnot learning curve: awkward starts, pacing, bids

00:42:45 — Giveaways + keeping viewers engaged

00:51:00 — Buyers, shipping, and stream momentum

00:58:00 — Holiday stream idea + time management panic

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website: pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

 🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman 

http://twitter.com/videogamedj 

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Episode 196 – Special Conditions (Pokémon TCG)

In This Meta Shouldn’t Be This Open… But It Is, Adam, Justin, and Lane dive into how strangely wide-open the Pokémon TCG feels right now—on both the tabletop and Pokémon TCG Live. Lane talks about grinding the ladder while waiting for Phantasmal Flames legality, hunting for underpriced singles, and falling in love with one-prize decks again. Adam shares stories from vending at New England Cardhouse, getting showered in DeliBirds, and chasing graded Mega-era cardboard on a budget, while Justin recaps Collect-A-Con Fort Worth, the surprise dominance of One Piece, and finally snagging a long-time grail Skyridge Arcanine for the binder.

From there, the crew breaks down results from the Smart Series charity event and why the top decks prove this meta “shouldn’t” be this open, but absolutely is. They highlight the wild Festival Grounds / Seaking list that surged into third, multiple takes on Goldengo EX (including off-the-wall techs like Picnic Basket), and the brainy Alakazam / Dunsparce Psychic Draw engine that can one-shot while drawing a fresh hand. Lane then spotlights his new favorite rogue: a Conkeldurr “Gutsy Swing” one-prizer that swings for huge damage while effectively ignoring its own energy costs.

To close things out, the hosts swap Phantasmal Flames pre-release stories, talk about new event software headaches, and celebrate some seriously spicy Charizard and Toxtricity pulls. They also chat about starter decks, trainer toolkits, and why dollar binders might secretly be the best way into the format right now. If you like card shows, rogue lists, and metas where almost anything feels playable, this episode is your jam.

00:02:15 – Waiting on Phantasmal Flames meta & Live ladder grind
00:04:30 – DeliBird cosplay, Mega DeliBird hunt & $2 bird pickups
00:08:00 – Vending at New England Cardhouse & ranking local shows
00:12:00 – Collect-A-Con Fort Worth: Skyridge Arcanine grail acquired
00:18:00 – One Piece everywhere & discovering the Life TCG bird game
00:24:00 – Smart Series charity event results & Festival Grounds Seaking
00:31:00 – Goldengo EX deck talk: techs, Picnic Basket, and matchups
00:36:00 – Alakazam / Dunsparce Psychic Draw engine spotlight
00:40:00 – Hydration break & Patreon thank-yous
00:41:00 – Conkeldurr “Gutsy Swing” one-prize deck breakdown
00:50:00 – Mega Absol toolbox, Monkey Dory spreads & open meta talk
00:54:00 – Phantasmal Flames pre-release stories & big Charizard pulls
01:00:00 – Starter decks, toolkits, dollar binders & Poké Ball reverses
01:04:00 – Charizard UPC, Chinese Arcanine tease & outro

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website: pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

 🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman 

http://twitter.com/videogamedj 

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 195 – Special Conditions (Pokémon TCG)

Card of the Day: Uxie 43/146 (Legends Awakened) Main Topics:

TCG Live is actually… fun again? In this episode, Adam and Justin catch up after a short hiatus to talk about their TCG Live ladder challenge, the current regional meta and online events, and why Mega Absol Box might secretly be the deck to beat. They also dive back into Diamond & Pearl era history with Uxie from Legends Awakened, crack a couple of Journey Together packs on air, and react to those wild early Phantasmal Flames blister leaks. 

Whether you’re grinding the Greninja League, brewing rogue decks, or just love old-school card of the day segments, this one’s packed with stories, tech, and plenty of “I did what on ladder?” moments.

00:00 – Back from Hiatus: Patreon shout-out & why life needed a reset

01:00 – Live Pack Opening: Journey Together + a very rude Tyranitar ability

03:00 – Ladder Challenge Check-In: Has TCG Live finally won us back?

05:30 – Festival Grounds Converts a Hater (and how mis-sequencing ruins everything)

09:30 – Sick Day Ladder Grind: 50 matches, rank climbs & deck identity crisis

14:00 – Milwaukee Regionals Recap: Charizard survives, Gardevoir hangs on

16:30 – The Mega Absol Box Breakdown: Towert tech, Precious Trolley & 380 HP Kangaskhan?!

22:00 – 19-Energy Ceruledge & Other Online List Degeneracy (Champions Road results)

24:30 – Fighting Gong Lucario, Gravity Mountain math & Espathra item-lock shenanigans

40:00 – Card of the Day: Uxie LA – the “draw to seven” engine that defined an era

48:00 – Journey Together Pack #2: Lily’s Ribombee and an “inviting wink”

50:30 – Phantasmal Flames Leak Story, Delibird Temptations & New Ladder Goals

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website: pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

 🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

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http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman 

http://twitter.com/videogamedj 

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 194 – Special Conditions (Pokémon TCG) Hosts: Adam Tuttle, Justin Keller, and Lane (Good Morning Johto)

We get real about the current card show scene—what collectors actually want, what turns people off, and how vendors can raise the bar. From transparent pricing and fair trade values to kid-friendly engagement and better vibes, this one’s part rant, part playbook.

Card of the Day: Umbreon ex (Prismatic Evolutions) – SAR Main Topics:

00:08:45 – Pricing tools & reality checks (TCGplayer, eBay comps, apps)

00:18:30 – Trading etiquette: cash %, trade %, slab pitfalls, & nines vs tens

00:20:40 – How to spot green-flag vs red-flag vendor booths

00:21:45 – Sealed product at shows (Walmart/Costco/Sam’s restocks, reprints)

00:28:25 – Smart strategy: benchmark a single card to sample pricing

00:34:50 – Buyouts, table fees, & why some booths price high

00:53:10 – Why staying until close should be standard (deposits help)

01:05:45 – Helping newcomers & kids enjoy the hobby

01:07:50 – Trade-up challenge: wholesome vs abused

Community Challenge: We’re racing the Pokémon TCG Live ladder now through November 5—tell us your rank and deck!

We want your take: What do you want from a card show, and what would you change?

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website: pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

 🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

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http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman 

http://twitter.com/videogamedj 

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Special Conditions, Adam and Justin dive deep into all things Pokémon TCG — from nostalgic throwbacks to the latest Mega cards hitting the scene. We kick things off with a look at Mega Audino EX from Fates Collide, comparing the old-school Mega Evolution mechanic to the new flashy versions.

From there, we explore the brand-new Mega Pokémon set — analyzing artwork, mechanics, and whether these cards will shake up the meta. Check out the official Mega Evolution hub on Pokémon.com here, Justin Basil’s full visual list here, and PokéBeach’s detailed English card guide here.

Of course, we couldn’t ignore some strange news… including how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security used Pokémon branding in an ICE raid campaign. Yes, really. Read more about the story and TPCI’s official response at PokéBeach Article #1 and PokéBeach Article #2.

To wrap it up, we cover product news — like the upcoming Lugia EX and Latias EX Premium Collection (plus the Mimikyu EX and Alcremie EX boxes). Curious why these new stamped promos are stirring debate? Read more at PokéBeach’s product preview.

👉 Join the conversation, share your thoughts on Megas, and let us know if you’ve snagged any cool collectibles lately!

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website: pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

 🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

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http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman 

http://twitter.com/videogamedj 

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

02:30 – Fitness, hockey, and life updates 05:00 – Card of the Day: Mega Audino EX (Fates Collide) 12:00 – Delibird collectibles & nostalgic finds 19:00 – The new Mega Pokémon set – designs & mechanics 26:30 – Mega Venusaur, Kangaskhan, and big HP creep 30:00 – More Mega reveals: Camerupt, Manectric, Absol, Mawile 37:00 – Mega Latios & Mega Delibird discussion 40:00 – Supporters & trainers (Lillie’s Determination, Wally’s Compassion, etc.) 45:00 – Stadiums, items, and quirky cards (Repel, Strange Clock, Surfing Beach) 49:00 – Lt. Surge’s Dealings – the strangest supporter yet 52:00 – Forest of Vitality & Grass strategies 55:00 – Housekeeping & community shoutouts 56:00 – Product talk: Lugia EX / Latias EX Premium Collections 01:02:00 – Rant on scarcity, resellers, & Black Friday chaos 01:06:00 – The government “uses” Pokémon?! ICE raid video discussion 01:10:30 – Wrap-up & contact info

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This week on Special Conditions, we step away from the usual gameplay and collecting chatter to honor a community staple—The Grading Authority (TGA). After years of serving the hobby, TGA is officially closing its doors, and with it comes the end of an era in card grading. Adam shares his heartfelt thoughts on what TGA meant to him personally and professionally, from the shows he attended with them to the friendships he made along the way.

It’s not just about slabs and grades—it’s about the people, the stories, and the passion for Pokémon that connected everyone at TGA. Adam opens up about his experiences working alongside them, the lessons he learned, and the emotions that come with saying goodbye. While it’s tough to see them go, this episode is as much a celebration of their contributions as it is a farewell.

Of course, we still bring the heat with our usual segments—talking about the latest TCG buzz, strategies for the upcoming season, and the art of the game. But at the heart of it all, this episode stands as a tribute to TGA, a company that left a lasting imprint on the Pokémon community.

00:00 – Catching Up & This Week in TCG

04:20 – New Releases & Wild Products Hitting the Market

09:45 – Collector Struggles & Market Surprises

15:30 – Meta Talk & 2026 Rule Changes

22:10 – Strategy Spotlight: Prepping for Events

28:35 – Card Art Favorites & Community Shoutouts

35:50 – Honoring TGA: Impact on the Hobby

43:20 – TGA Memories & Emotional Farewell

57:40 – What’s Next: looking forward in the hobby

[email protected] 

Voicemail, Text, and Picture Line - 732-835-8639

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork 

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

http://youtube.com/GameChops

http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix 

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman 

http://twitter.com/videogamedj 

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ 

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices