The Talking Shop Podcast

Welcome to Episode #162 of the Talking Shop Podcast, recorded June 16, 2025 — where we cover the latest hobby headlines, viral moments, and the decisions collectors face every week.

In this episode, we kick things off with Bruce the Bat Dog getting called up to the Nationals for a one-game MLB debut. It’s baseball and golden retrievers—what’s more American than that?

Then, just in time for Father’s Day, a viral post makes the rounds: a wife completely loses it after finding out her husband spent thousands on sports cards. It’s funny until it’s… kind of real.

In Hobby News, we cover:

• The GameStop–PSA acquisition rumor that turned out to be false
  

• Logan Paul’s first WWE trading card — a 1/1 dual auto with John Cena
  

• Jac Caglianone joining a live break after his Superfractor gets pulled
  

• A fresh look at the ongoing online breakers vs. card shop debate
  

• And a collector building a full stadium-themed card collection
  

We close the episode with our main story: a viral grading decision tree that walks through when it actually makes sense to grade a card. If you’ve ever second-guessed sending something in, this one’s for you.

👇 What’s your approach—grade it, or leave it raw? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

📌 Links Mentioned in This Episode: 🐶 Bruce the Bat Dog: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1150851530392920 📰 PSA + GameStop Rumor: https://www.instagram.com/p/DK2GgHusGRw 🎴 Logan Paul 1/1 WWE Card: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1147787407390595 📺 Jac Caglianone Superfractor: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKaTlT8tMQB 🏟️ Stadium Card Collection: https://www.instagram.com/p/DK4zDHtti01 📊 Online Breakers vs. Shops Clip: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1180124317250449

📍 Visit Grand Slam Cards – Rock Hill, SC 🛒 Shop or join a live break: https://www.grandslambreaksrockhill.com 📍 952 Mt Gallant Rd | Mon–Fri: 11–7 | Sat: 11–5

🎧 Subscribe, like, and join the conversation—because every card has a story.

#TalkingShopPodcast #CardGrading #PSARumors #LoganPaul #WWECards #HobbyNews #SportsCards #BruceTheBatDog

Welcome to Episode #161 of the Talking Shop Podcast — your weekly dive into the stories, surprises, and shifts shaping the sports card world.This week, we’re taking a closer look at the upcoming 2025 Topps Series 2, which is getting a full-on rework. From First Pitch cards to Signature Tunes inserts, Topps seems ready to give Series 2 its own spotlight.Also on the docket:Topps scaling back rookie cards in 2025 — why they’re doing it, and how it changes the gameA $97,000 Bo Nix 1/1 sale — smart buy or hobby heat check?Wemby’s Flawless Logoman pulled — we reactLinkin Park trading cards?!And the unforgettable 1/1 Sister Sobiek Allen & Ginter pullPlus, we round it out with recent shop hits, a look into the vault, and a Crazy Stat of the Week that puts stadium pricing in perspective.👇 Got thoughts on Topps’ rookie card changes or Series 2’s new direction? Drop them in the comments!📍 Visit Us at Grand Slam Cards – Rock Hill, SC 📍 952 Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730 🕒 Mon–Fri: 11–7 | Sat: 11–5🎧 Subscribe, comment, and share — and remember: every card has a story.#TalkingShopPodcast #ToppsSeries2 #RookieCards #SportsCards #Wemby #LinkinParkCards #CardCollecting

GameStop is going all-in on cards, and Walmart is launching live breaks. What does this mean for the future of the hobby? This week, the guys break it all down—from retail shifts to record-breaking card pulls.

In this episode: 🔹 GameStop pivots to trading cards—smart play or red flag? 🔹 Walmart teams up with We The Hobby for live breaks 🔹 MLB pitcher Justin Steele pulls a monster NFL hit 🔹 Shohei Ohtani’s 1/1 Anime Bowman card surfaces 🔹 Caitlin Clark PSA 9 vs PSA 8—what’s driving the premium? 🔹 Wemby, Jokic, LeBron Triple Logoman sells for $348K 🔹 New K-Zone cards debut in Topps Series 2—swing and a miss? 🔹 MLB Legends + Presidents = Dual Auto Cards?! 🔹 UFC joins the Debut Patch program 🔹 Pete Rose, Ian Poulter, and a few surprises along the way...

Plus, what’s new in the shop, big hits from the vault, and a crazy stat to wrap it all up.

📍 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and drop your hobby hot take in the comments!

Welcome to the Talking Shop Podcast—because every card has a story!

#TalkingShopPodcast #SportsCards #ShoheiOhtani #WalmartBreaks #GameStopCards #CardCollecting #CaitlinClark #MLB #NBA #Topps #Panini #HobbyNews #TradingCards #CardBreaks #PSA #UFC

This week on the Talking Shop Podcast, the guys are diving into one of the strangest hobby headlines yet: the new Pope gets his own Topps Now card—and it already has a print run of over 100,000. Is this the most bizarre release in Topps Now history?Plus, big hobby stories this week: 🔥 The $1.1M Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch 1/1 card is now on display at a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh. ✍️ A prospect named Will Simpson signs his 1st Bowman auto as “Homer Simpson”—you can’t make this stuff up. 🧾 PSA launches “Assisted Submission” for first-time graders—will it make submitting easier? 🏆 Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson are reinstated by MLB. Could Cooperstown finally come calling?The guys also catch up on life, talk NBA Playoffs, and—as always—break down what’s new in the shop, share some hits from the vault, and wrap things up with a crazy stat.Welcome to the Talking Shop Podcast—because every card has a story!#TalkingShopPodcast #SportsCards #ToppsNow #PaulSkenes #PeteRose #NBAPlayoffs #PSA #HobbyNews #CardCollecting #TheHobby

In this week’s episode of Talking Shop, Josh and Michael return to the mic after a wild week—complete with a Rock Hill earthquake, another ruthless one-star Google review, and a fresh round of Shedeur Sanders drama.

The guys break down the biggest hobby headlines, including: 🏈 Topps officially takes over NFL cards starting in 2026—who’s first on your chase list? 🔥 2025 Bowman release week brings major hobby buzz: Red Rookie Redemptions, new Spotlight inserts, and a deep prospect pool. 🎤 Industry Conference chatter: what’s the real takeaway from insiders this time? ⚾ PSA follows up the Tom Brady signing with Bo Jackson—are high-end signings becoming a new collector trend?

Plus, what’s new in the shop, our favorite hits from the vault, and a crazy stat to end the show. Welcome to Talking Shop—because every card has a story!

#TalkingShopPodcast #ToppsNFL #BowmanBaseball #PSA #BoJackson #ShedeurSanders #SportsCards #CardCollecting #HobbyNews #Fanatics #CardShow

The Guys Debate Vacation Spots, Panini’s Power Moves, and If SI Got It Right Picking Baseball’s Iconic Cards

This week on Talking Shop, Josh and Michael catch up after vacation and tackle some BIG hobby headlines: 🏖️ Best and worst places for family vacations—and do you collect while traveling? 🏈 Patrick Mahomes returns to Panini—what does this mean for NFL collectors? 🐐 Tom Brady’s autograph prices are out of control. Would you pay $4,000 for a ticket? 📉 Shedeur Sanders' shocking NFL Draft drop—what’s next for his card market? ⚾ Sports Illustrated lists the defining baseball cards of each generation—do the guys agree? Plus: What’s new in the shop, hits from the vault, and a crazy stat you won't believe!

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments!

#TalkingShopPodcast #SportsCards #TomBrady #PatrickMahomes #ShedeurSanders #MLBCards #CardCollecting

🎙️ Welcome to the Talking Shop Podcast—because every card has a story!

As Josh Gets Some Much-Needed Vacation Time, The Boys Try Not To Burn The Podcast To The Ground - Will It Survive?

With Josh out of town, Jacob and Michael take over the Talking Shop Podcast for a special AMA-style episode—and things get weird in the best way.

In the Opening Rip, we break down some fun hobby sightings: Jackie Robinson baseball cards on Francisco Lindor’s glove, the first pro card of a rising international star, a Pedro Pascal Star Wars auto, and WrestleMania patches spotted on boots and gear.

Then we dive into listener questions and hot takes: 🔥 What’s the dumbest card that’s somehow worth real money? 🤔 Which set do we secretly regret hyping? 🕵️ What hobby conspiracy theory do we kind of believe? 💸 What would we buy with $1,000—but only if it had to be weird? 🎙️ And what’s the wildest thing that’s ever happened during a recording?

As always, we’ll wrap things up with some shop talk, the latest hits, and a crazy stat of the week.

Welcome to the Talking Shop Podcast—because every card has a story!

#TalkingShopPodcast #SportsCards #WrestleMania #JackieRobinson #PedroPascal #PSA #StarWarsCards #CardCollecting #HobbyAMA #WeirdCards

Plus, Ken Griffey’s Master Photos, Trout Turns The Tables On A Fan, And WWE Keeps Getting Hobby WinsRory McIlroy wins The Masters, Bryson makes headlines, and the guys ask—does golf finally have hobby relevance? Plus, we take a look at Ken Griffey Jr.’s incredible photos from Augusta, and celebrate Mike Trout’s classy move after a bizarre fan moment.In Hobby News: 🏌️‍♂️ A dual Rory/MJ auto sells big 📸 A Grand Slam reel gets featured by Sports Card Investor 🔥 A Steph Curry 1/1 Topps Now Team USA card surfaces 😬 Josh reacts to a rare (and creepy?) Tom Brady card 🎤 WWE keeps stacking hobby wins, from wild inscriptions to WrestleMania patch autosAnd don’t miss our take on the ultimate “what if?” card: Jackie Robinson’s debut patch—what would it look like today?As always, we’ll tell you what’s new in the shop, show off some hits from the shop, and wrap things up with a crazy stat.Welcome to the Talking Shop Podcast—because every card has a story! #TalkingShopPodcast #RoryMcIlroy #StephCurry #WWEcards #MikeTrout #SportsCards #JackieRobinson #CardCollecting #HobbyNews #ToppsChrome

The Guys Talk Basketball, Golf, And Take A Look At Some Upcoming Releases That Could Be “Big” In The Hobby

In Episode #154 of the Talking Shop Podcast, the guys catch up on a week that saw Auburn and Duke both crash and burn — but at least it’s Masters Week, and Michael is all in. Is the Masters the perfect blend of tradition and sports?

In Hobby News, a former Backyard Breaks employee drops serious accusations in a Reddit post, claiming deceptive practices behind the scenes. The guys break down the post and what it could mean for one of the biggest names in the breaking world.

Then, it’s time to look ahead — the crew pulls up the sports card release calendar and gives their takes on what could be hot, what could flop, and what collectors should be watching for.

As always, we’ll show you what’s new in the shop, share some recent hits, and end the show with a crazy stat.

Welcome to the Talking Shop Podcast — because every card has a story!

#TalkingShopPodcast #SportsCards #TheHobby #BackyardBreaks #CardReleases #MastersWeek #BasketballCards #GolfCollectors #Auburn #Duke #SportsCollecting

Shohei breaks records, Auburn makes a run, and someone gave us 1 star for not selling comics?!

Welcome to Episode #153 of the Talking Shop Podcast!

This week, we’re diving into a wild mix of headlines and hobby heat:

🏀 Auburn makes the Final Four—can Michael contain his excitement?

⭐️ Someone hit us with a brutal 1-star review… for comics we haven’t sold in years.

💵 Shohei Ohtani’s Logoman auto just sold for over $1 million. Is this the new norm for hobby grails?

In Hobby News:

📦 eBay lets you send raw cards straight to PSA—no account needed. Game-changer?

🔙 A look back at the 2015 MLB Top 100 Prospects. Who lived up to the hype?

🧤 Mookie Betts drops one of the coolest 1/1 game-used glove cards ever.

Plus: What’s new in the shop, hits from the vault, and of course… the Crazy Stat of the Week.

👉 Subscribe, comment, and let us know what you think: is the hobby better than ever, or are we losing the plot?

Welcome to the Talking Shop Podcast—because every card has a story! 🎙️💥

#TalkingShopPodcast #ShoheiOhtani #MookieBetts #SportsCards #PSAGrading #eBayAuthenticity #BaseballCards #MLBProspects #TradingCards #CardCollecting #FinalFour #HobbyNews #CardTalk #Collectibles