Sometimes in sports cards, as in life, you have to confront your past before you can chase your future.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Once you're interested in collecting sports cards, it doesn't take long before something in The Hobby takes hold. If we're not careful, our PC's have a way of getting away from us. In this episode, Cardladder's Chris McGill (⁠@chris_hoj⁠) stops by to discuss collecting goals he sets for himself—and occasionally revises and revisits as his own tastes evolve. No two people have the same goals, but just coming to understand the value of setting your own might be the greatest gift you can give your own PC.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Nothing about the sports card hobby is perfect, but it's those imperfections and, dare we say, failures, that help make us better collectors. In this audio essay, Dave shares his biggest hobby failure and pleas with one of the hobby's most influential influencers to not give the impression that every deal always works out.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

"Cards and Content episode 8"

YouTube short: "Helping a young collector complete his goal at the Dallas Card Show"

If you're going to collect sports cards, you're going to need to make yourself some rules. But just as importantly, you need to be ready to break those rules when opportunities arise.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

In sports cards, is there such a thing as too many collecting rules? Can we build so many walls that fun gives way to limitations? In this episode, Pat (@Insta_Account_Haver) returns to discuss collecting lanes, their usefulness, and moments when they might not be.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

In this episode, we try something new. It's an audio essay, a meditative piece that looks at a side of sports cards many people ignore – but shouldn't.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Chase, a limited series recently concluded on The Shallow End podcast feed, was intended to be a celebration of what it takes to get the cards we want most. In this episode, we reflect on the series and what each of the 15 collectors we spoke with can teach us about our own collecting.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

When Tony (@tj.isonline) returned to sports cards, he decided Reggie Jackson would be one of his guys. And when he learned the story of one of the hobby's great urban legends, about a card only a small handful of collectors even knew existed, he began his case. If this is the last podcast episode I ever do (it won't be), I'll retire satisfied.

The Chase is a limited series on The Shallow End podcast feed. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

For Dan (yankeedoodledandycards), it's not just about finding any sports card to finish his player run. It's about finding the best version – to create the best possible player run of a Hall of Famer in a prized parallel. Dan shows us the value of being meticulous while maintaining high standards.

The Chase is a limited series on The Shallow End podcast feed. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

For years, Jeremy Lee (@Jlee_sportscardslive) chased a card he wanted from a set he appreciated. Just when he thought the card wouldn't be his, along came another one he didn't know existed. Often in the sports-card hobby, it pays to be patient and play the long game. Instant gratification is rarely the best route.

The Chase is a limited series on The Shallow End podcast feed. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin