Podcast
Stacking Slabs
Hosted by Brett McGrath · EN
Welcome to the Stacking Slabs, a podcast for sports cards collectors. There's been a tremendous amount of change to our Hobby over the last few years and the one constant has been the passion from the collecting community. Stacking Slabs is built by the collector and lives to tell stories for the collector.
135episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Booked to Last: The 3 Types of Wrestling Card Collectors (Which One Are You?) + Troy from The Wax Culture
2w ago01:41:18Tap to summarizeWWE finally gave collectors plenty to talk about.Adam and Ryan break down Night of Champions, Oba Femi's King of the Ring win, Sami Zayn capturing the World Heavyweight Championship, and what those moments mean for the wrestling card market.Then the conversation shifts to something every collector should think about.Are you chasing the biggest cards in the hobby? Building the best player collection? Or collecting the cards that mean something to you regardless of the market?The guys introduce three collector personas that explain how people approach wrestling cards and why understanding your own style can make you a better collector.Later in the episode, Troy from Wax Culture joins the show to share his path from Fanatics Live customer to one of wrestling's top breakers. It's a story about betting on yourself, building relationships, and why the wrestling card community continues to stand apart.Topics include:• Night of Champions reactions• Oba Femi, Sami Zayn and card market impact• The three wrestling card collector personas• Triple H, Alexa Bliss and other recent market sales• Wax Culture's growth on Fanatics Collect• Wrestling Card Takeover at The NationalRSVP for Wrestling Card Takeover at The National on July 31Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for freeGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast PatreonFollow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTubeFollow Adam: | X | InstagramFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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The Football Card Podcast #54: Remembering the Greatness of Chris Johnson
2w ago01:19:18Tap to summarizeChris Johnson reminded football fans why collecting is about more than championships.After sharing his ALS diagnosis, collectors looked back at one of the most electric careers of the last 20 years. Pack and Brett revisit what made CJ2K special, why his cards matter, and why memorable seasons leave a lasting mark on the hobby.The conversation then shifts into one of the biggest collector debates today.Will vintage football cards ever break through? Why are Topps Chrome Superfractors selling at such a premium compared to Black Finite cards? And why do the biggest sales often come from patch autos while so many collectors chase shiny parallels?Also in this episode: The greatest No. 54 linebackers Bobby Wagner and Chuck Howley appreciation Why football history feels overlooked Wide receiver 1/1 sales from Card Ladder National preparation and collector strategy If you collect football because of the players and the memories they created, this episode is for you.Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking SlabsFollow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast PatreonSign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for freeFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Card Ladder Confidential #21: The Market Is Running. Are Collectors Keeping Up?
2w ago01:02:32Tap to summarizeThe sports card market keeps reaching new highs.Sales volume continues to climb. Record prices keep falling. New collectors keep entering the hobby.But are collectors making better decisions?In this episode, Brett and Chris McGill discuss what the data is telling us and where they see warning signs. They compare today's market to 2021, break down the record Tim Duncan sale that has everyone talking, and explore why so many collectors wait for validation before making their biggest purchases.They also dive into one of the most overlooked collecting skills and why it will matter even more over the next decade.Topics include:• Why today's market feels different than 2021• The significance of Tim Duncan's record one of one sale• Why social proof holds collectors back• Building conviction before the market agrees with you• The underrated skill that creates long term collecting advantagesCheck out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking SlabsGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Josh: | InstagramFollow Chris: | InstagramFollow Card Ladder: | Instagram | YouTube | WebsiteFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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The Part of Collecting Nobody Talks About: Living With Your Grail
2w ago00:28:51Tap to summarizeYou spend years preparing for the grail.You save.You study.You build relationships.You pass on other cards so you're ready when the opportunity comes.Then it happens.The card is finally yours.Now what?This episode explores the part of collecting that rarely gets discussed. What happens after the chase ends.I break down why landing a grail can feel different than you expected. Why ownership is a skill. And how the best collectors turn a major acquisition into something that keeps adding value long after the mail day.We talk about:• Why the chase and ownership are two different experiences• How to keep a grail from becoming another card in the case• Why stories matter more than scans• How community deepens ownership• Why your grail should reorganize your collection instead of ending it• Questions every collector should ask after landing a major cardIf you've ever chased a grail or you're preparing for one, this episode is for you.Happy collecting.Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for freeGet your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeStart your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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The WNBA Card Podcast: Building a Collection Alongside a New Franchise | Golden State Valkyries Team Collecting with Mark (@ramjamsportscards)
2w ago01:09:40Tap to summarizeWhat does it feel like to collect a team with no history?This week, Katelyn is joined by Mark (@ramjamsportscards / @valkyriescardvault), a collector who has built his collection around the Golden State Valkyries from day one.They discuss what makes expansion team collecting different, why patience leads to a better collection, how emotional connections form without nostalgia, and why documenting the beginning of a franchise feels like creating a scrapbook in real time.If you've ever thought about collecting a team instead of chasing the biggest names, this conversation will change how you think about building your collection.Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card PodcastFollow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Katelyn: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Passion to Profession: What Outside Operators See in the Sports Card Hobby with Gavin Hoover of Tombstone Collectibles
2w ago01:03:03Tap to summarizeWhat happens when experienced business operators build a sports card company instead of longtime collectors?In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett sits down with Gavin Hoover, Chief of Stuff at Tombstone Collectibles, to discuss what happens when enterprise experience meets the hobby.Gavin shares how his background building large retail organizations shaped the way Tombstone approaches breaking, hiring, branding, analytics, customer relationships, and growth. Instead of thinking like a breaker, Tombstone thinks like a business.The conversation covers why trust is the biggest challenge in scaling, how data drives decisions, why great breakers look more like sales professionals than entertainers, and why the future of the hobby depends on keeping collecting at the center of it all.If you've ever wondered where the hobby is heading as more capital and experienced operators enter the space, this conversation will give you a different perspective.Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for freeA special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast PatreonFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Hobby Jobs: Your Business Can't Outgrow You
3w ago00:20:21Tap to summarizeGrowth in the hobby is easy to spot.More inventory.More content.More followers.More customers.The growth that matters is harder to see.As your business expands, your role has to change with it. If every decision, customer issue, hire, and piece of content still depends on you, you've built a bottleneck instead of a company.In this episode, I break down why leadership capacity is becoming one of the biggest competitive advantages in sports cards.I also look at what businesses like Mint Inc, Rare Candy, and Dave & Adam's are hiring for and what those roles tell us about where the hobby is heading.If you own a business, want to work in the hobby, or want to understand where the industry is going next, this episode is for you.Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for freeGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast PatreonFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Booked to Last: Wrestling Card Hot Takes
3w ago01:33:30Tap to summarizeWho's right?Who's wrong?Adam Gellman and Ryan from RBICru7 put the biggest wrestling card opinions to the test.Are we at the peak of the market?Will Panini-era cards continue to rise?Is 2024 Flawless WWE already an iconic product?Are one-of-ones overrated?Has Topps already changed wrestling cards for the better?Along the way, they break down recent WrestleMania Patch Auto sales, Rey Fenix, Roman Reigns, John Cena, WWE Sapphire print runs, and what makes a great wrestling card breaker.Some takes they agree with.Some they completely reject.Every one of them will make you think differently about wrestling cards. I like this because it tells the listener exactly what they're getting. The title creates curiosity, and the description pays it off. It also mirrors the energy of the episode instead of reading like a standard market recap.RSVP for Wrestling Card Takeover at The National on July 31Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for freeGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast PatreonFollow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTubeFollow Adam: | X | InstagramFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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The Football Card Podcast #53: The Cards That Define Football Greatness
3w ago01:19:28Tap to summarizeWhat makes a football card iconic?This week Pack and Brett McGrath discuss one of the biggest Peyton Manning rookie cards ever to reach the market and why sales like this help define the hobby. From Calvin Johnson and Patrick Surtain to Bronko Nagurski and Mike Ditka, they look at the cards that shape collecting across generations.They also tackle a collector question that sparks a bigger conversation.How should we rank the greatest players of all time?Is it MVPs? Championships? Peak performance? Or something else entirely?Plus:• The Peyton Manning Gem Master 1/1 Heritage auction• Ranking the greatest quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers• Trade night thoughts• Buying cards without buyer's remorse• Calvin Johnson Superfractor sale• Patrick Surtain Honors Shield Auto• New pickups• Cracked Ice Card Call OutCheck out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking SlabsFollow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff.Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast PatreonSign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for freeFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Built for the Hobby: What Sports Executives Understand About Collecting with Dan Kaufman of Sports Business Journal
3w ago00:55:50Tap to summarizeWhat does the sports industry see when it looks at the hobby?In this episode of Built for the Hobby, Brett McGrath is joined by Scott Lock of InfernoRed Technology and Dan Kaufman, Managing Director at Sports Business Journal, for a conversation at the intersection of sports, collecting, media, technology, and fan engagement. Dan brings a perspective few people can offer. He's a lifelong collector, a sports business leader, and someone who spends his days talking with executives across leagues, teams, media companies, and technology organizations. Topics include: Why sports cards are becoming a bigger part of fan engagement How younger fans consume sports differently The relationship between athlete performance and card values Premium experiences in sports and collecting The role of technology and AI in shaping the future of fandom Why collecting remains one of the strongest emotional connections between fans and sports This conversation offers a look at where sports and collecting are heading and why the connection between the two continues to strengthen.Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeStart your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon TodaySign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for freeFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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