Stacking Slabs

What separates the long game collectors from everyone else in the hobby?

In this episode, Brett breaks down the DNA of the long-term player:

• Passion over profit
• Deep understanding of a niche
• Patience and perspective
• Community and relationships
• A mindset that keeps collecting fun for decades

This conversation was sparked by a student question during Brett’s recent talk at DePauw University: How do you differentiate your content so the right people keep coming back?

The answer ties directly into what it means to be a long game collector. Whether you’re early in your collecting journey or well on your way, this episode gives you perspective on how to build something meaningful that lasts

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The market is red hot. Cards are moving at record speed, headlines are popping up every day, and collectors everywhere are feeling the pull of FOMO.

In this episode of Card Ladder Confidential, I sit down with Chris and Josh from Card Ladder to talk about what it’s really like to navigate a raging market.

We cover:

• The most annoying parts of a bull market
• Collector identity and the temptation to chase cards outside your lane
• The psychology of buying discipline in a season of rising prices
• The $421M month in online card sales and what it really means for the hobby
• Stories of wins, losses, and the role trades play in reshaping collections

If you’ve been wrestling with how to collect in today’s market, this one will give you a lot to think about.

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On this episode of Passion to Profession sponsored by eBay, I’m joined by Scott Lock, CEO and Co-founder of InfernoRed Technology. Scott shares how a side business selling cards with his son on eBay turned into a $250,000 operation, and how that same passion for collecting led to building technology solutions for some of the biggest companies in the hobby.

We talk about:

• What he learned building a business with his son through sports cards
• How InfernoRed became the go-to tech partner for leading hobby businesses
• Why understanding collectors matters when creating solutions for the space
• The current state of hobby technology and where innovation is heading

If you want to hear how passion connects with profession and why technology plays such an important role in the growth of the hobby, this is an episode you’ll want to hear.

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

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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With the playoff race heating up, Katelyn and Brett explore what really drives interest in WNBA cards. Is it all about winning, or are other forces shaping collector behavior?

They break down:

• Why winning doesn’t always lead to hobby heat
• How moments, storylines, scarcity, and cultural impact influence card values
• Player-to-watch picks from all 9 playoff contenders
• The growing importance of Paige, Phee, and A'ja in the hobby
• How new fans are discovering the W and what it means for collecting

Plus, they spotlight a standout collector and take your questions in the mailbag.

Whether you're watching games or scrolling reels, this episode helps you think differently about what makes players collectible.

Shout out to our good friends at Great Lakes Trading Cards for supporting The WNBA Card Podcast and WNBA collectors worldwide!

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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

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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Week 1 is here and so is Episode 11 of The Football Card Podcast with Pack Nicholson and Brett. This week we’re leaning into the season kickoff energy and tackling the topics you, the collectors, sent our way.

We start by talking number 11s—Bad Jeff George memories, Larry Fitzgerald’s playoff run, and Julio’s touchdown paradox. 

Then we dive into listener questions about:

• The cards that got away and what we learned from those deals
• The balance between chasing hype and staying loyal to your collecting focus
• The market outlook for quarterbacks sitting on the Hall of Fame bubble like Eli, Stafford, Rivers, and Ryan

We also break down big sales in the football market, including the Barry Sanders PMG Green.

This week’s Card Callout is all about the present: show us your favorite current player card you’re most excited to watch this season. Football is back, and football cards are thriving.

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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Recorded live at The National and brought to you by eBay, this episode of Cards in Hand features Tony (@southerncollector14) sharing one of the most meaningful cards in his collection: a 1954 Topps Jackie Robinson signed in Dodger blue ballpoint pen, graded Auto 10 by PSA.

Tony talks about what it means to hold a card Jackie himself once held, the rarity of signed vintage Robinsons, and how collecting autographed Jackie cards deepens his connection to the hobby.

We discuss the emotional weight of this piece, Jackie’s enduring legacy, and why cards like this are more than cardboard—they carry history, memory, and meaning.

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

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 makes a player a true hobby GOAT? And why do sets sometimes matter as much as the athletes on the cardboard?

In this episode, Brett explores the recipe behind collecting greatness. He breaks down why only a select few players reach GOAT status, the role of cultural impact and iconic moments, and why certain sets, brands, and parallels hold long-term value.

You’ll hear stories about Jordan, Ruth, Jackie, Brady, Kobe, Serena, and others who transcend their sports, plus insights into how products like 2003 Exquisite, 2012 Prizm, and 1952 Topps shape the hobby.

Whether you’re chasing legends or building around iconic sets, this episode is a guide for thinking long-term, adding stability to your collection, and enjoying the stories behind the cards we all love.

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

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What does it really take to build a business in the hobby?

On this episode of Passion to Profession, I sit down with my good friend Chris McGill, CEO and Co-Founder of Card Ladder. You’ve heard Chris on Stacking Slabs more than anyone else, but this time we go deeper into the business side of his story.

We talk about:

• The decision to walk away from law and go all-in on the hobby
• How content became the backbone of Card Ladder’s growth
• The role of trust, community, and timing when building in a niche market
• Why the line between product and content in the hobby is thinner than most people think
• The importance of surrounding yourself with the right team

If you’ve ever thought about turning your passion for collecting into something bigger, this conversation will resonate.

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

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

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

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This week on The WNBA Card Podcast, Brett and Katelyn dig into the tension every collector is feeling right now. Demand for WNBA cards has never been stronger. Sales are surging, collectors are engaged, and stars like Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark are driving attention. But where are the new releases?

We unpack the lack of communication from Panini, the mystery behind Donruss and Impeccable, and why this moment feels like a massive miss for the category. We also share our perspectives on recent big sales, what supply and demand means for the market, and highlight some undervalued cards collectors should be paying attention to.

From frustrations to silver linings, this episode is about what happens when passion for the WNBA collides with the realities of the hobby.

Shout out to our good friends at Great Lakes Trading Cards for supporting The WNBA Card Podcast and WNBA collectors worldwide!

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

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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Pack and Brett hit a milestone with Episode 10 of The Football Card Podcast. This week is packed with optimism heading into football season and plenty of collecting talk. From Mitchell Trubisky nostalgia to Anthony Richardson’s Nebula, to debating Eli vs. Kurt Warner, the number 10s take center stage.

We tackle listener questions on defensive player collecting, patch autos vs. shiny cards, and whether vintage football can ever catch up to vintage baseball. We also break down recent sales like Michael Penix Jr.’s NT Shield, Calvin Johnson’s Finest Gold, Peyton Manning’s Contenders Rookie Ticket, and Charles Tillman’s Chrome Superfractor.

We close it out with this week’s Card Callout: show us your favorite pair of cards—teammates, rivals, or anything that fits together. Episode 10 is live and football cards are heating up.

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

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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Follow Pack: | Instagram