YouTube video link here: https://youtu.be/kbc2mHvs5CE

Because one hour was just not enough, I had Rob Girard (on Instagram @sportscardtherapist) on again.  I think this counts as a repeat appearance?  I start this episode with having an individual hobby therapy session about how to handle online criticism with putting my face and voice out there and Rob does an excellent job talking me through this issue, including talking about his own personal experiences and his personal way of handling it.  If you are a fellow content creator, I hope you gain some good insight from Rob!

We then get to YOUR questions, which I solicited on Instagram, and so the episode turns into a hobby group therapy session.  Hope you enjoy it and thank you for contributing questions, maybe this is something I do more often in the future!

Thanks card fam, y’all are truly awesome. - Denny

YouTube video link here: https://youtu.be/r-N2TRr-OJ4

After an amazing time at The National in Rosemont, Illinois, I thought it would be the perfect time to have a sports card therapy session, and who better than Rob Girard, the Sports Card Therapist?  There is no intro monologue to this episode, and instead we just get right to the special guest.

Rob and I talk about his origin story, fatherhood, the state of Connecticut, whether The Hobby is about idol worship, and his rollercoaster relationship with Eli Manning.  I then have technical difficulties with my Wi-Fi, which I keep in for the lesson to all podcasters that having a wired connection to your router is better than going wireless.  

We then get back on track with talking about how breaking and prospecting is gambling and about addiction in The Hobby and how it impacts kids.  Then we talk about mental health in The Hobby, using my hobby journey as an example to start talking about hobby depression, Keeping Up With the Joneses, FOMO, and low end collecting.  

The virtues and vices of social media are also discussed, and Rob and I get very honest with each other (and with ourselves) and my hope is that you as the listener gets a lot out of this episode.  

We end with Rob talking about treating your head like a dangerous neighborhood and thus why it is important to have a wolfpack.  We had a hard stop at one hour and so we had to end the recording!

If my voice is the only thing I lost during The National, then I consider myself pretty lucky, especially since I hope to get it back by the next episode. This is another interlude type episode, neither a chapter episode nor a guest episode.

What do I talk about? I'm glad you asked, not that anyone really reads these descriptions right? Right. I talk about the many hats I wore during my time on the show floor in Rosemont, Illinois. I talk about what I did, what I did not do, and give some shout outs along the way. I talk about getting trolled and harassed in real life on the show floor while trying to create content and why I decided to take a social media Sabbath on Saturday and how good that was for me. I talk about one of my favorite moments and how I kept turning lemons into lemonade during the trip.

I finish the episode talking about sponsorships and the direction of the podcast. I have a clear idea of the direction I want to go from a content and next chapters standpoint, but I also have so many folks I want to bring on as guests, because I think 1. you and I would both benefit from learning from them and 2. their stories are just so fascinating. So let's see where the wind takes us on this journey!

Despite having a raspy voice after an amazing National, I wanted to publish this episode for those of you in travel status going back home from The National.  I hope that you enjoy the discussion Courtney and I have, with this second half really getting into an important topic:  Women In The Hobby.  I learned so much from this conversation, and I hope some of you do as well.  Humans are like onions.  We all wear many hats, and so let’s continue to support and uplift each other!

Courtney Reckless of Reckless Cards (on all social media platforms @recklesscards) is the first woman in the hobby for this podcast, and it was just so long overdue.  We first get into Courtney’s personal origin story with The Hobby, her love of art in and out of The Hobby, and how Reckless Cards started with their social media.  We take detours along the way with talking about online and in person selling, the great Midwest, the good and bad about social media, and coin flip rules and etiquette, and so I am not even really sure if we get to content creation (probably in Part II).  We end Part I with talking about the importance of the color orange with the Reckless Cards brand.

You can check out the Reckless podcasts under 2 Thicc Pod, Dangerous Games, and Hobby Night School.

YouTube link to video here: https://youtu.be/iE38zQ_1afw

Part Deux with Jesse “Sports Boi” Gibson, where Jesse and I finally get to TCG Nonsense, particularly Pokemon.  I would write more for the show notes here, but I am really behind with packing for The National!

Jesse Rhodes Gibson, the better half of the duo that makes up the Sports Cards Nonsense (on Instagram @sports_cards_nonsense) comes by the podcast studio mainly to talk about how he beat Taylor Swift in a Battle of the Bands competition in high school.  Jesse then graciously allows me to do his annual performance review by playing the part of Bill Simmons.

Jesse provides the origin story for Sports Cards Nonsense and how it all started and how they got with the Ringer Network.  We talk about why it’s important to him and Mike as to why they like to keep their content clean and family friendly.  We then pivot to talking about Hobby Positivity vs. Hobby Negativity and reporting on news in The Hobby.  We then end the first half with talking about imposter syndrome.  Enjoy! - Denny

YouTube link to Part I: https://youtu.be/nuMPMsqHjVI

The second half of my chat with Blake Grice from The Blakedown (on IG @the_blakedown) takes us down some rabbit holes such as WWII history, Adam Sandler’s humor, what he wants to be when he grows up, and then we get back on track talking about what Blake’s duties are as an Ambassador for The National and how he feels about his local card shop scene.  Blake then shares an innovative idea for a card breaking league, based on BASEketball and so he and I workshop the idea some more, before we turn to Blake’s new logo and his view on the world and how to treat people.  Finally, please let me and Blake know where a good place is for seafood in Rosemont, IL for the National!

YouTube link to Blake's Ginter View channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@Blake_Grice

YouTube link to video for Part II here: https://youtu.be/rBb1455CC04

This is simultaneously the BEST guest appearance I have had the pleasure of hosting, but also easily my most difficult podcast to host and record, and it was because of the pure energy, enthusiasm, and JOY coming from my 11 year old guest, fellow content creator and Hobby Ambassador, Blake Grice of The Blakedown (Instagram @the_blakedown)

We talk about Blake’s origin story where he had to think all the way back to his childhood. We talk about his YouTube channel for his interviews called “Ginter Views,” which is such an awesome play on words.  Blake talks about how positive energy is how he creates his content and why he just wants to be himself.  He gives encouragement and advice to all of us content creators, and I ask Blake questions from my kids.  Blake talks about the process by which Topps created his own card for the 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter set.

YouTube link to Blake's Ginter View channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@Blake_Grice

YouTube link to video for Part I here: https://youtu.be/esHXdV1LFOw

In this "interlude" episode, I share my plans for The National, just ten days away, inspired by a movie I just saw earlier in the day. I also share my want list and put other things out into the universe on my mind. I dive deep into the number one card on my list, and I don't even know if it exists. I wrap up this non-chapter episode talking about why I would rather be quick than good with creating content. Hope you enjoy! - Denny