Stacking Slabs

In this week’s flagship episode, Brett revisits a core theme from episode 118—your collecting North Star—and why now is the perfect time to reconnect with it. With The National around the corner, the noise is louder than ever. It's easy to get caught chasing hype, but building a collection that means something starts with remembering what matters most.

Brett reflects on the lessons he's learned while finishing his upcoming book, Collecting for Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype, and how that process forced him to redefine his purpose as a collector. He shares how his North Star is rooted in Indianapolis, why it keeps him from chasing impulse buys, and how collectors can use this same mindset to avoid regret and collect with confidence.

Whether you’re walking the floor at The National or watching from a distance, this is your reminder to collect for keeps, not for clout.

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Chris and Josh from Card Ladder are back for another round of Card Ladder Confidential, and this one’s locked in on collector psychology, dealer dynamics, and market truths heading into The National.

We open with the one card each of us would do anything to acquire at the show—and why. From there, we get into the real forces shaping collector behavior, including:

• Why proximity and relationships drive more deals than marketplaces
• The mental traps collectors fall into when buying at big shows
• What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's price dip really means
• A behind-the-scenes look at June's $306M in tracked sales
• The influence of repackers on Kabooms, Downtowns, and collector decisions
• Prizm Gold vs. Gold Kaboom: where collectors actually stand

And of course, we bring the receipts—real data, real sales, and real talk about what matters right now in the hobby.

If you're a collector heading to Rosemont or someone tracking trends from home, this one is required listening.

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In this episode of Passion to Profession, I sit down with Kristina Thorson, co-founder of Card Ladder, to explore what it takes to build something meaningful in the hobby. We talk about working two jobs before signing the acquisition papers, building trust through transparency, and why every feature on the platform starts with one question: “What’s best for the hobby?”

This isn’t the same old Card Ladder story. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Kristina went from collector to co-founder, how her academic experience in research compliance shaped the platform’s foundation, and what it’s like being a woman running a company in a male-dominated industry.

This episode is about belief. It’s about finding the right people to build with and staying true to what matters.

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

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Katelyn (@coldlunchcards) and Brett (@stackingslabs) break down the lead-up to All-Star Weekend, the evolving WNBA card market, and why Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young are two of the most underrated players in the hobby.

They react to real Card Ladder data, highlight trends among All-Stars, and spotlight cards flying under the radar. Brett shares what it was like to attend three Indiana Fever games in one week, while Katelyn preps for All-Star Weekend and outlines her live game wishlist.

Also in this episode:

• What Paige Bueckers’ early cards are already telling us
• Fever fandom as playoff therapy
• The five most iconic WNBA cards of all time
• Why Dominique Malonga needs to be unleashed

Plus, a new collector spotlight and your questions answered in the mailbag.

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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Pack and Brett go deep on one of the biggest debates in football and collecting: who deserves the card when collecting lanes collide?

They kick things off with a question on every fan’s mind—who’s QB5 in the NFL right now? The media may have already anointed Herbert, but the guys aren’t sold.

From there, they move into hobby territory, breaking down three core collecting lanes—player, team, and set—and how each one shapes the way we experience cards. You’ll hear stories about chasing Donald Brown, scoring a PSA 10 pop one Edgerrin James, and why jersey numbers might matter less than you think.

Other topics include:

• Why player collector entitlement is real
• Whether consolidation is collecting
• Hobby beefs with Vanderjagt, Parkey, and Chris Conte
• Santana Moss appreciation
• A Revis Island card that proves PSA 10 game-used is still undervalued
• Listener card callouts, including Aidan Hutchinson, Tom Landry, and Bruce Smith

This episode closes with a community challenge: show us your Hall of Very Good. No Hall of Famers allowed.

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Chris (@cardicsportscards), creator of The Smarter Collector, joins Smashing BIN to talk about the card that’s been on his want list since 2017: the 2014 Bowman Chrome Mookie Betts Blue Refractor Autograph /150 (BGS 9.5/10).

We go deep on the moment he finally smashed BIN, how he funds high-end targets through collection curation, and why this blue parallel hits different than gold.

We also unpack collector psychology—why pairings matter, how to process former team players, and what it means to build a 100-Player PC with intention.

Plus:

• Why Mookie’s market stays slept on
• The true cost of chasing hype
• BIN smash breakdowns for Nomar, Moss, Ovi, and more

If you’ve ever stared at a card and wondered, “Do I really want this?”, this episode is for you.

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Collecting is personal. But what separates a good experience from a great one often has little to do with the cards themselves. In this episode, I’m talking about the importance of relationship capital and why your collector reputation matters more than you think.

I break down what relationship capital is, how to build it, and why it consistently outperforms financial capital when it comes to accessing the right cards and opportunities.

Whether you're headed to The National or simply trying to build something that lasts, this one’s for you.

Cards don’t make it into great collections by accident. People help make that happen.

Let’s talk about how to build the trust that gets you the card before it hits the market.

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In the third episode of The Staging Area presented by dcsports87, Tory and I get into the three biggest topics circulating the hobby right now:

• The buzz and performance of Rookie Royalty and what the Caitlin Clark Immaculate RPA sale tells us
• eBay’s rollout of extended bidding, how it works, and what it means for buyers, sellers, and non-payers
• Why the $20–$100 range is the true foundation of the hobby and how to turn forgotten stacks into your next big pickup

If you’re a collector sitting on boxes of mid-range cards and wondering if they’re worth anything, this episode is for you.

A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.

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In this episode of Passion to Profession, I’m joined by Brent Holcomb, the operations lead at Mill Creek Sports—one of the largest sports memorabilia shops in the country.

We trace Brent’s journey from card hustling in college to overseeing a warehouse packed with 14,000+ signed helmets. He shares how he embraced eBay before it was cool, scaled athlete signings with Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro, and helped build a memorabilia business rooted in trust, authenticity, and adaptability.

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your passion for sports collectibles into a career—or simply want to hear how a shop like Mill Creek runs behind the scenes—this one’s for you.

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

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We're back with Season 2, and this time the mic flips.

In this episode, Brett puts Katelyn (@coldlunchcards) in the hot seat to talk through how her approach to collecting WNBA cards has changed over time. From letting go of cards without guilt to defining a six-card PC goal for her Napheesa Collier collection, Katelyn opens up about the mindset behind her collecting decisions.

We get into topics like:

• Collecting with intention and evolving tastes
• Managing the judgment that can come from selling cards
• Finding opportunities in a market flooded with rookie hype
• Being a fan first and why “collect what you watch” matters
• Her favorite PC card and the unforgettable story behind acquiring it
• Why she’s prioritizing female voices and community-building in Season 2

If you're passionate about collecting WNBA cards—or just building a collection that feels personal—this episode is for you.

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