Stacking Slabs

The National is here. Six hundred dealers. Five hundred thousand square feet. Thirty-six hours of show floor time.

That level of choice can make every card feel important. Every deal feel temporary. Every purchase feel necessary.

But the best show experience starts before you walk through the doors.

In this episode, Brett shares how collectors can build a hunt list, research dealers, set buying rules, create a flex budget, and protect their collecting taste from the pressure of the room.

The goal is not to avoid buying cards.

The goal is to make sure the show does not make the decision for you.

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Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

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What happens when opening boxes leads to becoming a fan?

This week, Katelyn is joined by Jason (@notjasondardic), a longtime collector whose path into the WNBA started with cards and evolved into becoming one of the biggest Dallas Wings supporters around. 

The conversation explores how collecting shaped his connection to the league, why Paige Bueckers has changed the trajectory of the Wings, and what makes building a focused collection more rewarding than chasing everything.

They also discuss:

•  Why one great card can be enough for a player collection 
•  The appeal of Logo Women, Gold Vinyls, and cornerstone cards 
•  PSA Authentic slabs and Jason's grading philosophy 
•  Why the Dallas Wings are one of the most exciting teams for collectors today 
•  The opportunity Jason still sees across the WNBA card market 

Whether you're a longtime WNBA collector or looking for a team to follow, this episode is a reminder that collecting and fandom often grow together.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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What does building Xbox, NASCAR, The Athletic, Mantle, and ONIT Athlete have in common?

Community.

This week on Passion to Profession, brought to you by eBay, Brett sits down with ONIT Athlete CEO Evan Parker to unpack one of the most unique career paths in the hobby.

Evan shares lessons from building brands inside sports, media, and startups before explaining why college collectibles represent one of the biggest opportunities in the industry.

They discuss:

• Why content shapes the future of collecting

• Lessons from NASCAR that apply to today's hobby

• Building Mantle from zero

• Why collectors need more than hype

• How ONIT is creating cards for athletes traditional manufacturers overlook

• Why brand takes years to build and moments to lose

If you're interested in where the hobby is headed and what it takes to build a business that lasts, this conversation is for you.

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A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Fanatics Fest is built on excitement.

Big pulls. Big personalities. Big moments.

That energy matters. It brings people into the hobby.

But what happens after the excitement fades?

In this episode, Brett shares why the next generation of sports card businesses will separate themselves by making customers smarter. From Topps, PSA, eBay, and Card Ladder to Mike Inouye's work in Formula 1 cards, this episode explores why education compounds while hype expires.

If you run a hobby business, create content, or want to understand where the professional side of the industry is heading, this episode is about building trust that lasts.

Also in this episode:

• Lessons from Fanatics Fest after Day 1

• Why informational content creates stronger customers

• The difference between building dependency and building capability

• How educational content becomes a competitive advantage

• This week's Hobby Jobs spotlight featuring COMC's Corporate Counsel, Commercial & Legal Operations role

Every business wants attention.

The best businesses earn confidence.

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Record sales continue to reshape the wrestling card market.

Adam and Ryan break down the Rock and Stone Cold dual Superfractor sale, Bianca Belair's WrestleMania Patch Auto, Rhea Ripley's momentum, and why collectors are chasing wrestlers who have already cemented their legacy.

The conversation goes beyond the sales.

They discuss why GOAT wrestlers, GOAT sets, and GOAT cards continue gaining strength while many collectors remain focused on the next prospect.

They also preview SummerSlam, share updates on Wrestling Card Takeover at The National, and explain how collectors, dealers, and investors should respond when the market reaches new highs.

If you're trying to build a collection with a long-term mindset, this episode is for you.

RSVP for Wrestling Card Takeover at The National on July 31

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!

Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Every collector has cards they understand immediately.

Then there are the cards that take years to appreciate.

Pack and Brett explore why some football cards become hobby staples while others never seem to catch on. They discuss the history behind PMGs, why Tom Brady continues to separate himself from every other retired player, and what international NFL legends deserve more attention.

They also dive into vintage football cards, linebacker legends, recent Card Ladder sales, and answer listener questions that challenge how collectors think about value and hobby history.

Topics include:

• Building an all-time international football card starting lineup

• Why PMGs still divide collectors

• Is Tom Brady in a league of his own?

• Vintage football cards worth knowing

• The latest market sales

• Listener mailbag and collecting philosophy

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Everyone will be talking about what happens at Fanatics Fest.

Brett is more interested in what it means.

In this episode of Stacking Slabs, Brett looks beyond the athlete appearances, product releases, and show floor buzz to examine Fanatics Fest as a signal for where the hobby is headed.

He explores how Fanatics has built an ecosystem that connects sports, collecting, commerce, content, and loyalty, and why attention has become one of the most valuable assets in modern collecting. He also shares why he's attending the event as an observer, what he'll be watching on the show floor, and how Fanatics Fest and The National now serve different roles in the hobby.

This isn't a preview of the weekend.

It's a conversation about the forces shaping the future of collecting.

Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today

[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link

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Every collector dreams about landing a grail.

Very few spend enough time thinking about how to price one.

When a card has little or no sales history, the normal playbook breaks down. There are no clean comps. No chart to follow. No market consensus to lean on.

That is where your judgment matters.

In this episode, Brett shares a framework for evaluating grails when public sales data falls short. He covers how to build a substitute universe, evaluate opportunity frequency, negotiate from a position of strength, know when to walk away, and determine the maximum price you can defend without lying to yourself.

A grail is not only a collecting decision.

It is a financial decision.

It is a psychological decision.

It is a test of discipline.

If you're heading to Fanatics Fest, The National, or you're chasing a card that rarely surfaces, this episode will help you think through the biggest purchase your collection might ever face.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.

Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype

Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today

[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link

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What does it take to leave a stable career and build one of the fastest growing card shops in the hobby?

Live from Columbus Card Fest, Brett sits down with Garrett Borba, owner of Neighborhood Card Shop, to unpack the decisions behind building a modern hobby business.

Garrett shares why he walked away from medical device sales, how relationships became his biggest advantage, what it takes to run a card shop in today's market, and why trust matters more than product.

This conversation is about far more than cards.

It's about betting on yourself, building something that lasts, and earning the reputation that brings people back.

Topics include:

• Leaving corporate America for sports cards

• Building Neighborhood Card Shop from the ground up

• The power of referrals and relationships

• Running a modern card shop in the Fanatics era

• Breaking, distribution, and building trust with customers

• Advice for anyone thinking about turning a hobby into a career

Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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Most collectors share what they buy.

Mike Inouye shares why.

In this episode of Passion to Profession, Mike explains how content became one of the biggest drivers behind the growth of Leahi51513. Instead of telling collectors what card to chase, he walks through the research, context, and decision making behind every recommendation.

We talk about why trust is earned through transparency, why process beats predictions, and why the hobby needs more independent thinkers instead of people waiting for the next hot tip.

Mike also shares his thoughts on sports card talent, the responsibility that comes with influence, the growth of Formula 1, and an Aaron Judge card he believes deserves far more attention.

If you create content, run a business, or want to become a better collector, this conversation is about far more than cards.

It's about learning how to think.

Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free

A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.

Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon

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