Clever Cuban Cards is joined by John Lontoc, owner of Pretty Cool Cards in Nolensville, TN to talk about the realities of owning a local card shop. John tells us about what a day in his life is like, what cards have been flying off the shelf one week into the NFL season, what’s bigger: pokemon or sports cards? And so much more.

We also get a lightning round of hobby questions with John, his thoughts on market consolidation, and learn how much up-front capital it takes to open a card shop.

Plus, Alex answers your mailbag questions on which cards you should actually submit for grading, where to find information on new releases and at what point are there TOO many parallels.

If you're in Tennessee, be sure to check out Pretty Cool Cards and their October 19th Anniversary Party and rip night, which John tells us all about on today's episode.

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Clever Cuban Cards is joined by Dr. Tyler Tarver to preview the 2025-26 NBA season and what it means for your card collection. Who should you be buying ahead of the season? Who should you be selling? Who’s the next face of the NBA? Plus, the guys discuss their biggest lessons learned in the sports card industry. Why does Tyler love Jordan Poole? Which NBA players is he expecting to break out this year? And, how does he use the hobby to fund the hobby? 

Alex also brings a great lesson in “Learn From My Mistakes.” And the guys discuss how they integrate their family into content. From Cade Cunningham to LeBron and Steph, you won’t want to miss this NBA season preview if you’re a basketball card collector.

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Clever Cuban Cards takes you behind the scenes of one of the biggest mistakes in his sports card career. His mistakes become your learnings! Plus, how and where can you find good deals on cards online? From the biggest sites like eBay, to small sites you may never have heard of, Alex shares some of the best places to buy cards online and why you should check them out.

One of the best ways to find a good deal is to put in the work others won’t. But what does that mean and what work do you need to do? Clever Cuban Cards dives into that and more before answering some of your mailbag questions including how much cash to bring to card shows, his preference for PC (personal collection) grading and more.

Join Alex for episode 4 of The Hobby Handbook and reach out on social media @CleverCubanCards to ask your mailbag questions for next week’s episode where we’ll be previewing the 2025-2026 NBA season with Tyler Tarver.

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In today’s episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards (aka Alex) is joined by Sports Card Nonsense’s Mike Gioseffi.

They discuss how Mike got into collecting and some of his favorite players to collect. They also break down the state of the hobby and why Mike thinks sports cards and collectibles are in one of the best states they’ve ever been in, which is great news for collectors.

Mike and Alex also debate some quick-fire collectible hot takes before Alex answers your questions on how to become a full-time collector, the difference between BGS and PSA grading and more.

Join Clever Cuban Cards for episode 3 of The Hobby Handbook and reach out on social media @CleverCubanCards to ask your mailbag questions for next week’s episode.

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Welcome to the second episode of The Hobby Handbook, hosted by Clever Cuban Cards! The Hobby Handbook explores the world of sports card collecting, where passion meets profit and nostalgia meets strategy.

In this episode, Alex shares his background in education and how he quit his full time job to start selling cards and creating content. If you’re looking to become a collector, explore the business side, or use the hobby to fund the hobby, Clever Cuban Cards has you covered.

Today’s episode also explores how to set your goals in the hobby. It can be intimidating to start out, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re into singles, packs, or buying into breaks, after this episode you’ll feel empowered to continue exploring. 

Join Alex for episode 2 of The Hobby Handbook and reach out on social media @CleverCubanCards to ask your mailbag questions for next week’s episode. 

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Welcome to the debut episode of The Hobby Handbook, hosted by Clever Cuban Cards! This podcast explores the world of sports card collecting, where passion meets profit and nostalgia meets strategy.

In this first episode, Alex sits down with marketing maverick and media disrupter Ryan Alford, who shares how collecting cards with his four sons sparked a deeper dive into the hobby and eventually led to launching a new trading cards podcast with the Sports Card Nonsense Media Network and Collectibles on SI. Ryan opens up about the thrill of ripping packs, the learning curve of grading and value, and how he’s approached the hobby like a business from day one.

They dig into how Ryan’s used his network and marketing experience to create opportunities in the space, and how collectors can flip, trade, and reinvest to use the hobby to fund the hobby. It’s about more than cardboard, it’s community, strategy, and smart moves.

Whether you're a seasoned flipper or just getting your feet wet, this episode kicks off The Hobby Handbook!

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