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Stacking Slabs

Author: Brett McGrath

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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.
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Wrestling cards are changing. Fast.In Episode 2 of Booked to Last, Adam Gellman and Ryan Bannister break down what actually matters right now in the wrestling card market. Drew McIntyre’s title run sparks a real conversation about hobby respect, pricing, and why some stars still feel mispriced.The guys dig into prospecting the WWE and NXT roster, giving honest star ratings on names like Trick Williams, Jordynne Grace, Oba Femi, and more. They also hit the biggest card stories of the week, including Prizm Black one-of-ones, Kaboom sales, Topps Universe inscriptions, and why certain modern wrestling cards are starting to behave like legacy assets.This episode is about understanding momentum, knowing what you’re buying, and collecting with intention instead of chasing noise.Check 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 ★
Pack and Brett open the episode inside the emotion of playoff football and what those moments do to collectors. Bears wins. Caleb Williams belief. The kind of games that change how you see your cards forever.From there, the conversation shifts to the hobby. Justin Herbert’s seven-figure sales with zero playoff wins. What that tells you about timing, hype, and risk. Why some parallels age with grace while others fade fast. And how one Patrick Mahomes game-used Shield reframes scarcity in real time.They close with real sales, real numbers, and a reminder every collector needs to hear. Relationships matter. Community matters. The cards you remember most are tied to moments you felt, not comps you chased.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 Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Most conversations about collectability happen after prices move. This episode takes the opposite approach by exploring what makes something collectible before hype and money show up. It breaks down the fundamentals that tend to endure across cycles, including scarcity, demand, cultural relevance, story, and trust. Using examples from different eras of the hobby, the episode examines why some cards maintain long term interest while others fade once attention shifts.The conversation also explores the psychology behind collecting, including nostalgia, the thrill of the hunt, identity, and community. It looks at how emotional connection and shared belief shape what collectors value over time. The episode offers a clear framework for thinking about collectability with intention, helping collectors evaluate what they own and what they pursue beyond short term trends.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 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 ★
The hobby does not slow down. It expands. More releases, more parallels, more noise telling you what you should care about next. Without a filter, it is easy to collect reactions instead of building something that matters.In this flagship episode, I revisit one of the most important ideas in my collecting journey. Shrinking the Sea. This is about narrowing your focus so your collection reflects what you value, not what the market or your feed is pushing.I share personal stories from stepping back from wrestling cards during manufacturer chaos and refining my football collection by focusing on type, consistency, and card attributes that resonate with me. We talk about why chasing everything leads to burnout, how patience changes decision making, and how to build a simple framework for evaluating cards before FOMO shows up.You do not need every card. When you shrink the sea, the hobby becomes calmer, more intentional, and more rewarding.This episode is for collectors who want clarity, confidence, and a collection built around what matters most.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 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 ★
Hype drives the hobby. It always has.  The question is what you do when it shows up.Brett sits down with Tory from dcsports87 to break down how hype actually works in real time. They talk Topps Chrome Basketball, Cooper Flagg prices, Jordan autos, McDavid Young Guns, and why some hype creates opportunity while other hype burns collectors.This is a grounded conversation about timing, liquidity, regret, and sustainability. If you collect, buy, sell, or break cards, this episode helps you slow the moment down and make decisions that still make sense when the noise fades.A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.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 dcsports87: | Website | eBay | Instagram | Twitter  Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
In an unregulated hobby, trust fills the gaps where rules do not exist. In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett McGrath sits down with Michael Osacky, Founder of Baseball in the Attic and PSA’s lead appraiser, to talk about what really protects collectors and businesses today.They unpack why reputation functions as currency, how bad actors thrive in gray areas, and why most collectors assume protection exists when it does not. Michael shares hard-earned lessons from decades in the hobby, including why 95 percent of his business comes from referrals, how he handles emotionally charged conversations, and why playing the long game beats chasing quick wins every time.This conversation is about ethics, consistency, and doing the work when nobody is watching. It is also a blueprint for collectors and hobby businesses who want to build something that lasts in a space that moves fast and remembers everything.A 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 Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Michael | Instagram | Baseball in the Attic  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Season three closes with reflection and a clear look forward. Brett and Katelyn talk through what changed this year, what surprised them, and why this season felt different. More restraint. More conviction. Less chasing. More meaning.They also pull the curtain back on what comes next. Season four becomes a collector narrated oral history of WNBA cards. Eras over hype. Stories over prices. Community over noise. This episode sets the foundation for where the show is going and why it matters if you care about women’s basketball and the cards that tell its story.Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card PodcastShout out to our good friends at Great Lakes Trading Cards for supporting The WNBA Card Podcast and WNBA collectors worldwide!Follow 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 ★
The wrestling card hobby is not built like the rest of the card world. It never has been.In the debut episode of Booked to Last, Adam Gellman and Ryan Bannister sit down to explain why wrestling card collectors move differently, think differently, and collect with a level of loyalty that rarely exists elsewhere in the hobby.They share their personal collecting journeys, how wrestling cards pulled them back into the hobby, and why relationships matter more than transactions in this space. The conversation spans the Road to WrestleMania, prospecting wrestlers like Bron Breakker, the impact of Topps releases, historic relics, and what recent high-end sales reveal about where wrestling cards are headed.This episode sets the foundation for the show.Who they are.Why wrestling cards matter.And why this corner of the hobby isn’t going anywhere.Check 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 | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Episode 29 moves fast and covers a lot of ground, the way real collecting conversations unfold. Pack and Brett open with jersey number 29 legends before shifting into a deeper discussion on defensive players, why they remain undercollected, and how limited card catalogs can create opportunity for collectors paying attention. The conversation then turns to hobby resolutions, slowing down, researching more, and pushing back on the pressure to chase every release as it hits the market.The episode spends significant time on 2025 Prizm, including reactions to the design, checklist decisions, and the tension between excitement and obligation for longtime Prism collectors. From there, the discussion moves into playoff storylines, quarterback legacy questions, and how Super Bowl outcomes continue to shape the football card market. The episode closes with notable recent sales, vintage football cards gaining traction, and what value looks like when hype starts to cool.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 Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
The sports card space keeps growing. Prices rise. Products multiply. New companies enter every month.Some collectors say the hobby is gone. Replaced by an industry.In this episode, Brett argues it can be both. And explains why the difference matters more than ever in 2026.He shares why 2025 was his best year collecting. Why research is the strongest edge collectors have. Why niche content strengthens the hobby. Why not all one of ones are equal. And why the top of the funnel for new collectors is failing.This is a collector-first perspective on what needs to be protected, what needs to change, and what needs to be built if this hobby is going to last.If you care about cards. If you care about staying power. If you care about doing this the right way.This episode is 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 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 ★
In the first flagship episode of 2026, Stacking Slabs explores how curiosity shapes conviction in collecting. The episode centers on a missed card. A 2020 Crown Royale Tyrese Haliburton Crystal Platinum 1/1. The loss was not about price. It was about timing and understanding.As the research deepened, interest turned into attachment. Learning changed how the card was viewed and why it mattered.This episode examines the difference between hype and conviction. Borrowed excitement versus earned belief. It challenges the idea that desire starts with price or scarcity. Instead, it argues that understanding creates confidence. The conversation invites collectors to slow down.To research with intention. And to build collections that reflect who they are, not what is trending.If a card has ever meant more after its story was understood, this episode speaks directly to that experience.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 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 ★
In this episode of Passion to Profession, presented by eBay, I’m joined by Drew Hester, Chief Operating Officer at Greg Morris Cards.We talk about what it takes to run a high-volume operation without losing the human side of the hobby. Why trust beats transactions. Why vintage behaves differently than modern. And why consistency and communication still win, even as the hobby moves faster than ever.Drew shares his path from entrepreneur to operator, what he’s learned studying collector behavior up close, and why Greg Morris Cards has stayed relevant by playing the long game.If you care about relationships, stability, and building something that lasts in the hobby, this conversation is for you.A 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 Patreon[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 ★
Episode 28 brings perspective to a loud football card market.We break down Jonathan Taylor’s real shot at a rushing Triple Crown, what the data says about running backs right now, and how collectors can stay patient as prices rise.We dig into 1998 Fleer Brilliance 24 Karat Golds and why awareness changed the ceiling on one of football’s most important parallels.Then we step back into the Kaboom Room. Mahomes. Drake Maye. One of ones. Big money. Bigger marketing forces.We close with Market Watch, PC updates, and a new community prompt around heal cardsCards you own even when the player makes you cringe. If you collect football cards, this episode gives you context without the noise.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 Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025 was not a random spike. It was a convergence.In this episode, Brett steps back from individual card sales and looks at the forces that pushed the hobby into a true bull market. Online sales hit record highs. Platforms evolved. Corporations moved in. New collectors showed up. The center of gravity shifted.This is a collector-first breakdown of what drove the growth in 2025 and why it matters when you buy, sell, and hold cards.Topics covered include • Why $422M in online sales in a month matters more than any single card • How Fanatics, Topps, eBay, and live commerce reshaped demand • The rise of breakers, repacks, and platform-driven velocity • What corporate money changes for collectors on the ground • Signals to watch as the market moves into 2026This episode is about context. Because better context leads to better decisions.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 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 ★
This episode is a reflection on Brett’s five favorite pick ups of the year.Not the most expensive cards. Not the cards that performed the best. The cards that earned their place.Each one forced a decision. Each one required sacrifice. Each one shifted the direction of his collection.Brett breaks down why he wanted each card, what he ignored, what he said no to, and what owning it changed. The conversation focuses on timing, relationships, negotiation, and why one of ones continue to matter at this stage of his collecting journey.This episode is about collecting with intention. Fewer cards. Stronger conviction.For collectors who care about why they buy, not only what they buy.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 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 ★
This is the final episode of The Staging Area for 2025, presented by dcsports87.Brett and Tory break down ten cards that sold through dcsports87 this year and use them as a lens to read the market. Not as predictions. As signals.The conversation spans multiple sports and eras, from early Prizm basketball and vintage baseball to modern football, soccer, hockey, and NIL cards. Along the way, Brett and Tory discuss what these sales reveal about collector behavior, shifting demand, and where attention is quietly moving.They also dive into the launch of Topps Chrome Basketball, how wax pricing often leads singles performance, and why some products sustain momentum while others fade.The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on patience, risk, and common mistakes collectors make when they move too fast. If you want context instead of noise heading into the next year, this episode is for you.A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.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 dcsports87: | Website | eBay | Instagram | Twitter  Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Jayne Peressini returns to Passion to Profession for a second conversation. She works on product inside eBay Collectibles and lives this market every day.This episode focuses on signals that shape the hobby beyond headline sales.We talk aboutSupply and how to read it without emotionLiquidity and time to cashVelocity and why turnover mattersWhy comps lag realityHow collectors build strategy with limited budgetsWhat demand looks like when you zoom outThis is a collector conversation grounded in product reality.If you buy, sell, or plan your collection with intent, this episode will change how you look at the market.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.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 | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025 gave WNBA collectors plenty to react to. New products. Bigger prices. Louder noise.In this episode, Katelyn and Brett slow it down and reflect on what the year actually taught them as collectors.They walk through five lessons shaped by real decisions. Cards they chased. Cards they missed. Teams they rode with. Moments that stuck.You’ll hear why patience is not passive. Why one card can outweigh ten. Why losses can matter more than wins. Why community keeps this space grounded. And why your lane as a collector belongs to you.If you’re thinking about how you want to collect in 2026, this episode gives you a framework to do it with intention.Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card PodcastShout out to our good friends at Great Lakes Trading Cards for supporting The WNBA Card Podcast and WNBA collectors worldwide!Follow 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 ★
In this episode of The Football Card Podcast, Pack and Brett step back and look at the category as a whole.They dig into recent rookie quarterback classes and what they actually mean long term. They compare Prizm and Topps Chrome and why one still anchors football collecting. They unpack why Kabooms live in their own lane.This conversation is about context, restraint, and conviction. If you collect football cards and want to feel more confident about what you buy and why, 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 Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
In this flagship episode of Stacking Slabs, Brett reflects on how his relationship with collecting shifted over the past year. The change was not driven by bigger cards, higher prices, or chasing status. It came from slowing down, buying fewer cards, and spending more time with the ones that stayed.He shares why he stopped explaining cards through history or market logic and started focusing on what they meant to him personally. The episode explores restraint, patience, and learning to trust internal signals instead of outside validation. Brett talks openly about the cards he did not buy, the auctions he walked away from, and the trade offs that sharpened his direction as a collector.This conversation is for collectors who feel overwhelmed by volume, noise, or pressure to keep chasing. It is about building in instead of building up, gaining clarity through honesty, and allowing a collection to reflect how you think today rather than how you used to think.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 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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