Trading Cards & Collectibles Podcast

Episode: UnKommon take on Collectibles, Community & the Future of Trading Cards

Guest: Kyle Kravitz ("King of the Kards")

Host: Ryan Alford

Air Date: September 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively episode features a wide-ranging conversation with Kyle Kravitz, known as "King of the Kards," a prominent card dealer and content creator who has turned his collecting passion into a thriving business and media presence. Host Ryan Alford delves into topics ranging from Kyle’s content journey and the psychological hurdles of building a public brand, to the emotional and business sides of collecting, the state of the hobby, and the future of the space. The episode blends market insights with genuine hobbyist energy and memorable stories—including Kyle’s personal “grails” and his philosophy of balancing business with community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Origin Story: Turning Passion into a Platform ([02:39])

• Kyle recounts how his journey started "by mistake":
  • Began documenting card deals to market his side hustle in 2019, using Instagram and then video platforms.
  • “I was not a content creator. I still tell people I’m not a content creator. We document what I do. We turn a camera on, and that is what you see.” — Kyle Kravitz [03:43]
• Discusses the vulnerabilities and anxieties of going public, and how creating content meant “making yourself open to the world” ([03:43]–[05:54]).
• The business began as a way to fund his collection—never originally intended as a full-time pursuit.

The Challenge & Discipline of Content Creation ([05:54])

• Kyle and Ryan talk candidly about the grind:
  • “It’s fun the first time… It’s not fun the 457th time… That’s the only way you get success.” — Ryan Alford [05:54]
  • For Kyle, overcoming nerves was a process: “I remember almost sweating… Who’s going to see this? What are they going to think?” [06:54]

Lean Team, Big Impact ([08:32])

• Only two or three people run King of the Kards’ content operation: Kyle, his videographer Kevin, and sometimes Kevin’s girlfriend Rachel.
• “We’ve done it very lean…far from there yet.” — Kyle Kravitz [08:32]

Lessons & Mindset: Regrets, Risks, and Wisdom ([09:09])

• Kyle’s one big lesson: take bigger swings earlier, especially when stakes are low.
  • “That’s my only regret… I had the opportunity to completely fail, go back down to zero and wake up 20-something… why not swing even bigger?” [09:22]
  • Ryan echoes this: his own losses as an entrepreneur haven’t stopped him. “Swing for the fences, baby.” [10:27]

Why Collect? The Intergenerational Appeal ([12:11])

• “It’s dads like you… bringing their kids out to the card show… I don’t know that it’s just this generation…” — Kyle [12:25]
• The new era is more visible: Social media, mainstream marketing, and unprecedented access have made cards fresh again for the next generation.

Collecting vs. Flipping: Navigating the Balance ([14:09])

• Kyle maintains: “I’m a collector first.” [14:38]

  • Keeps cards that have unique emotional or personal significance (esp. Johnny Manziel and Derek Jeter items).
  • Shared the viral story of refusing a 4x profit flip on a Johnny Manziel card because of its personal meaning ([15:33]).

• Ryan raises concerns about kids becoming “dealers” rather than collectors; Kyle reassures that the true heart of collecting persists beyond the show floor "vacuum":

  • “99% of the hobby is… not even at shows. They’re at home, collecting online.” — Kyle [17:52]

Favorite Personal “Grail” ([21:10])

• Kyle’s gold PMG Johnny Manziel, jersey numbered, with a story of loss and redemption on eBay:
  • “The card popped up on ebay… lost it… I thought about that card for months… Sure enough, months later, the card ends up on ebay again… When I tell you my bid on this card was so much higher than what it went for, it would scare some people, but I won it.” — Kyle [21:10]

Hobby Community & Business Ethics ([32:09])

• Authenticity is key: “I pride myself so much on the authenticity factor…” — Kyle [33:26]
• His on-camera approach reflects his real off-camera interactions, even if he sometimes “pays a little extra so I don’t have to hear about it in the comments” ([33:26]).
• Discusses misconceptions: He’s running a business, and fair deals benefit both sides. “I’ve never gotten a deal done that two sides didn’t agree to.” — Kyle [37:19]

Building “Hobbyists” Brand: Culture, Community, & Giving Back ([38:27])

• Kyle’s new brand “Hobbyists” is intended to embody collecting ethos and community, not just commerce:
  • “I feel like I can… crush it on the business side… but I can do it while having a positive impact on the community…” — Kyle [38:27]
• Details about new Hobbyists merch (esp. hats) being designed as the “Yankee hat of the industry”; other product lines are coming ([40:12]).

Card Shows, Growth, and the Social Grind ([42:05])

• Kyle attends 21+ shows a year: “Last year we were at 26 shows. This year we’ll be at 21… just to have some kind of life in between.” — Kyle [42:05]
• Balancing meet-and-greets with buying and selling is challenging but rewarding:
  • “It has gotten very overwhelming… what an amazing problem to have… I pick my heads up and… like, if this is what I’m meant to do, that’s amazing…” [44:42]

The “Why” Behind It All: What Makes It Meaningful ([47:59])

• Kyle’s favorite part isn’t the chase or the negotiation, but the connections and stories sparked by his work:
  • “It’s those moments… hearing people’s stories, the impact… giving them something in a tough time… inspired them to start that business… It is those things that make it all worthwhile…” [47:59]
• “What deal, what dollar figure am I going to hit in a deal or a bank account that’s going to make it worthwhile? I don’t think it exists.” — Kyle [47:59]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Turning the Camera On:
  “It makes you vulnerable, makes you think about things you never thought you would have had to think about… When did that happen? It all happened by mistake.” — Kyle [03:43]

• On Regret:
  “As much of a chance as I was taking on myself… why not swing even bigger?” — Kyle [09:22]

• On the Core of Collecting:
  “I’m a collector first… I keep the cards that I can’t come across again that I need to have.” — Kyle [14:38]

• On Buying and Selling Ethics:
  “I try to do the best I can on and off. I’m not perfect… At the end of the day, some of it’s arbitrary.” — Kyle [33:26]

• On Navigating Growth:
  “Finding that balance has been very tricky, rewarding, and it’s humbling, but it’s tough. It’s tough right now. I’ll never be the guy that says no to anybody…” — Kyle [44:42]

• On What Truly Matters:
  “What makes it more than enough and has me wanting to keep going… is the impact we’re having. I think I may be more surprised than anybody else out there on the way that this is… changing lives…” — Kyle [47:59]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------| | 02:39–05:54 | Kyle’s entry into the hobby & content creation journey | | 05:54–08:13 | The grind and discipline in building a personal media brand | | 09:09–11:10 | The mindset of risk-taking and lessons learned | | 12:11–15:33 | Why collecting endures and generational connections | | 21:10–23:11 | Kyle’s favorite card story (Johnny Manziel gold PMG) | | 32:09–36:44 | Navigating business ethics, online perception, and authenticity | | 38:27–41:45 | Vision for “Hobbyists” brand and community focus | | 42:05–45:51 | Show circuit experiences and handling hobby celebrity status | | 47:59–50:22 | The true meaning of collecting and connecting |

Episode Summary

This episode provides an inside look into the life of a collector-turned-business owner, the community at the core of the hobby, and the emotional and entrepreneurial highs and lows of pursuing collectibles. Kyle “King of the Kards” Kravitz’s transparency and candor punctuate a conversation packed with stories, practical wisdom, and a clear-eyed hope for the future of the hobby—a future in which collecting, community, and commerce can coexist, and where the impact on people is more lasting than any single card.

For more, follow Kyle on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube (@kingofthekards), and shop the Hobbyists brand at hobbyistbrand.org.