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Stacking Slabs

Brett McGrath

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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64 episodes
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Avg 53 min
English

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#1063
August 29 · 1 hr 11 min
Booked to Last: Buying Wrestling Cards When the Market Runs Hot
The wrestling card market has attention. That does not mean every card has value. Adam and Ryan examine the John Cena and Rhea Ripley WrestleMania patch auctions, the Cena and Shohei Ohtani one-of-one, and why putting chase cards in the same auction can serve each sale. They also break down the decisions collectors face when prices move: When should you pay above the last comp? Which cards should you sell before supply catches up? How many buyers exist for your card? What makes a card worth holding? The conversation closes with sales from Oba Femi, John Cena, and Giulia, plus the card elements that matter most when building a collection. Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs! Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free 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 Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1062
August 28 · 1 hr 24 min
The Football Card Podcast #62: This Is Bigger Than Quarterbacks
Football Cards Are Up 380% since 2020. This Is Bigger Than Quarterbacks. When many collectors returned to football cards in 2020, the message was clear: only buy quarterbacks. Since January 1, 2020, the Card Ladder football index has increased 380.99%. That growth extends beyond one position. Pack and Brett separate collecting advice from resale advice. They examine why Barry Sanders and Jerry Rice lead their era, why the early 2000s still lack a settled card hierarchy, and how research creates opportunities for collectors willing to look beyond the current quarterback class. They also discuss the $414,800 Peyton Manning Gem Masters 1/1 sale, a $402,600 Bronko Nagurski, Jason Kelce, game-day rituals, saved-search cleanup, and the Football Card Podcast Pick’em League. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Join the Football Card Podcast Pick 'Em League Follow 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 Hype 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 Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1061
August 27 · 49 min
Built for the Hobby: What The National Revealed About the Future of Hobby Tech
Technology has a larger role in the hobby than it did a year ago. The question is whether it solves problems collectors care about. Scott Lock and Ed Snider of InfernoRed Technology join me to discuss what they saw at The National. We examine Topps’ digital redemption process, the use of AI inside hobby businesses, and where technology can remove friction from buying and selling cards. Scott and Ed also take us inside Enter the Inferno, where collectors presented products built from their experiences in the hobby. The future of hobby tech will not be defined by how much technology companies introduce. It will be defined by whether those tools improve the collector experience without removing the people, conversations, and search that make collecting matter. 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 Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1060
August 26 · 31 min
What the $1.47 Million Jordan PMG Red Is Telling Us
A 1997 Metal Universe Michael Jordan Red PMG /100 BGS 8 sold for $1,473,988.80. The same copy sold for $480,000 in 2021 and $360,000 in 2023. This episode is not about deciding whether the buyer overpaid. It is about reading the signal. Brett explains why demand matters as much as scarcity, why one sale does not create a market price, and how money moves through a collecting category. What does this record mean for collectors working with budgets of $150, $1,500, or $15,000? The lesson is not to chase a PMG. It is to study which cards hold meaning, demand, and scarcity after the attention moves on Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1059
August 25 · 59 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: The Cards That Keep a Chicago Sky Collector Coming Back with Josh (@luvdadubs)
What keeps you collecting when your team tests your loyalty? Katelyn talks with Josh (@luvdadubs) about his connection to the Chicago Sky and the cards that preserve it. Josh shares how Candace Parker led him deeper into WNBA collecting, why he buys multiple copies of the same card, and what makes Rittenhouse releases worth chasing. He also explains why in-person autographs mean more to him than the signature alone. The conversation covers the 2021 Sky championship, the Angel Reese trade, the frustration surrounding the franchise, and the players whose card markets deserve more attention. This is a conversation about team collecting when fandom brings joy, anger, and reasons to keep coming back. Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype 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 link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Katelyn: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1058
August 24 · 51 min
Passion to Profession: What a Card Shop Buyer Sees That Collectors Miss with Shane Walls of Indy Card Exchange
Shane Walls spent almost 16 years at GameStop before taking a year away from work and turning his life as a collector into a career at Indy Card Exchange. Today, Shane serves as the shop’s lead buyer. He reviews 30 to 50 collection requests each week and helps decide which cards belong in the cases, at shows, online, and in the shop’s kids section. Shane joins Brett to explain why a recent comp is only the start of a card’s value, what he learns from the cards collectors bring in each day, and why trust matters when someone puts a collection in front of you. They also discuss the $600 Tom Brady one-of-one Shane sold for $96,000, the soccer collection that helped him buy a house, and the relationships required to build a career in sports cards. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1057
August 23 · 36 min
Hobby Jobs: Scale Without Losing the Collector
CardVault by Tom Brady has grown from three stores to 17, with a stated goal of more than 100. The investor list draws attention. The operating plan matters more. In this episode, Brett examines how CardVault is placing the hobby where sports fans gather, what its expansion means for shops and collectors, and why capital works best after a business has built proof. He also shares lessons from Stephanie Garcia’s path building Mama Breaks and studies five job openings that reveal where hobby companies are placing their bets. The question running through the episode: Can a company scale without losing the collector relationship that made its growth possible? Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1056
August 22 · 1 hr 23 min
Booked to Last: New Money Is Changing Wrestling Cards with Chad Weldon of Sports Card Junction
More money is entering wrestling cards. That does not mean every card is rising. Adam Gellman and Ryan Bannister welcome Chad Weldon from Sports Card Junction to explain what he sees from behind the counter. New collectors are entering from other card categories. They understand high-end cards, rare parallels, and chase-driven products. Their spending is changing how wrestling cards get valued. The group discusses why the high-end market operates apart from the low and middle tiers, the growth of Gunther’s rare-card market, and the risk of inscription oversaturation. They also examine the John Cena and Rhea Ripley WrestleMania Patch Autos entering the same auction, the role of Topps Royalty in attracting non-wrestling collectors, and the risks waiting inside Topps Dynasty. Plus, Adam and Ryan play Buy, Sell, or Hold with Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid, Tatum Paxley, Kevin Owens, Solo Sikoa, and Chad Gable. Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs! Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free 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 Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1055
August 21 · 1 hr 13 min
The Football Card Podcast #61: Paper Football Cards Are Back
2026 Topps Football Is Back: Which Cards Will Still Matter? Topps flagship football returns with an NFL license for the first time in more than a decade. Pack and Brett discuss the role paper cards can play in football collecting, the first pack-issued cards of Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate, and the excitement of seeing players in their new uniforms. They also question the speed of today’s chase-card cycle. Kaiju. Tecmo. Alter Ego. Each release brings another card to the front of the line. Which ones will collectors still want after the attention moves? The episode also covers the Black Geometric parallel from 2025 Topps Chrome, the football card market for Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams and Jackson Dart, and what your Instagram page represents after you sell a card from your collection. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Follow 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 Hype 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 Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1054
August 20 · 50 min
Card Ladder Confidential #22: The Best Cards Aren’t for Sale — What The National Revealed About Collecting
What does The National show us that sales data cannot? Brett sits down with Chris McGill and Josh Johnson to examine the forces shaping today’s card market. They discuss the 2013 Tom Brady Prizm Black Finite 1/1 approaching $1 million, the rising prices across football cards, and why seeing a card sell multiple times can change how collectors view it. The conversation then turns to what happens away from public marketplaces. Why does being in the same room help deals happen? How do you value a card with no sales history? What questions should you ask before making an offer? Why do trades drive so many deals involving cards that collectors do not want to sell? Chris and Josh also share their National pickups and explain how relationships, timing, and understanding another collection can help you acquire cards that money alone cannot buy. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs 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 link Follow Josh: | Instagram Follow Chris: | Instagram Follow Card Ladder: | Instagram | YouTube | Website ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1053
August 19 · 34 min
The Hobby Needs More Collecting Lanes, Not More Pressure
The hobby grows when more collectors find a reason to care and a reason to stay. In this episode, Brett explains why categories such as wrestling, WNBA, Disney, Pokémon, and fictional characters matter. He also draws a line between building a collecting community and selling the claim that a market is about to explode. Brett breaks down how to evaluate category growth, why price alone proves little, and how ownership, urgency, repetition, and status shape collector decisions. He shares a framework for separating your collecting thesis from your market thesis, testing demand, and deciding whether a card fits your collection without borrowing someone else’s conviction. More lanes can strengthen the hobby. The growth needs to serve collectors. Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1052
August 18 · 1 hr 8 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: Pride, Belief, and Nneka — Collecting the LA Sparks with Ike (@istockgrizz)
What makes someone choose a team and keep choosing it when the wins are not there? Katelyn sits down with Ike (@istockgrizz) to talk about his connection to the Los Angeles Sparks and the cards that bring him closer to the team. They discuss the Sparks game-day experience, the gap between player accomplishments and card prices, and why Ike buys cards he would feel comfortable holding for life. Ike also shares the story behind his Nneka Ogwumike 2008 McDonald’s All-American autograph. He gave up a Candace Parker Gold Prizm PSA 10 to bring it home. This is a conversation about team history, collector belief, and choosing connection over the latest comp. Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype 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 link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Katelyn: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1050
August 17 · 52 min
Passion to Profession: From Baker, to Teacher, to CEO of a Multi-Million Dollar Business — How Stephanie Garcia Built Mama Breaks
Stephanie Garcia started Mama Breaks while teaching from home and looking for a way to reconnect with cards. Her first goal was to reach 1,000 Instagram followers and host one break. Four years later, she leads a 12-person, multimillion-dollar business. Stephanie shares why she left teaching, how she earned trust with collectors, when she knew it was time to hire, and why the experience around a break matters as much as the cards. She also explains how her love for wrestling, Star Wars, and non-sports cards helped Mama Breaks serve collectors who were being overlooked. This is a conversation about risk, community, leadership, and sharing what you love with your kids. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1051
August 16 · 47 min
Hobby Jobs: Scale the Process. Preserve the Promise + Conversation with Michael Osacky
Supporting collectors gets harder as a business grows. The answer is not to care less. It is to turn that care into a process others can repeat. Brett examines how operators can add capacity without making collectors feel processed. He also sits down with Michael Osacky of Baseball in the Attic at The National. Michael shares what he has learned the years in business, earning trust through independent judgment, staying connected to clients, finding a niche, and refusing to lead with money. Growth matters. The question is whether your standard can survive without you touching every part of the work. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1049
August 15 · 49 min
Booked to Last: John Cena's WrestleMania Patch Auto 1/1 Starts Soon — What's next?
John Cena’s WrestleMania Patch Auto 1/1 is heading to Goldin’s Summer 100 auction. The opening bid alone will set a public sales record for a Cena card. The final price will tell us how much demand exists beyond wrestling card collectors. Adam and Ryan discuss the card, the bidders who might pursue it, and what the sale means for the wrestling card market. They also break down 2026 Topps WWE Universe, recent sales, Solo Sikoa’s growing collector appeal, and Ryan’s $9,000 Finn Bálor gift to Neil. Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs! Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free 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 Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1048
August 14 · 1 hr 18 min
The Football Card Podcast #60: Josh Allen, $1.7 Million and the Value of Belief
A reported private sale valued Josh Allen’s 2018 National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield autograph rookie card at $1.7 million. The reaction focused on what Allen has not done. He has not won a Super Bowl. Pack and Brett explain why championships alone cannot determine collectibility. They discuss the power of player connection, recognizable card features, career narratives, and the people willing to own these cards for the long term. The conversation also covers Jaxson Dart’s grading volume, Tom Brady’s 2002 Topps Chrome market, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice, cards sitting on your eBay watchlist, and the start of Big Ugly Autumn. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Follow 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 Hype 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 Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1047
August 13 · 44 min
Hobby Jobs: Stay Close to the Problem with Josh Johnson, CTO of Card Ladder
Technology has made it easier to build a product. It has not made it easier to know what deserves to be built. Brett sits down with Josh Johnson, CTO of Card Ladder, at The National to discuss how Card Ladder grew from a problem its team faced as collectors. Josh shares why he spent three months preparing the app for The National, how Card Ladder earned trust through seven years of work, and why the team turns down revenue opportunities that pull the product away from collectors. They also discuss AI, product development, team health, brand building, and what people entering the sports card industry need to understand before trying to serve it. This is a conversation about staying close to collectors and building something that lasts. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1046
August 12 · 24 min
The National Isn’t Over: What Did You Really Bring Home?
The cards are unpacked. The pickup posts have slowed down. That does not mean The National is over. In this episode, Brett looks at the return that does not fit inside a card case: clarity about your collection, evidence that tests your beliefs, relationships worth continuing, opportunities worth testing and a clearer understanding of where your attention belongs. He shares what Wrestling Card Takeover revealed about community participation and offers a 30-minute process for turning your National experience into action. What will be different because you were there? Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1045
August 11 · 57 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: Collecting A'ja Wilson and the Aces with Carter (mcbasketballpc)
Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype 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 link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Katelyn: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1044
August 10 · 37 min
Passion to Profession: From a Card Shop at 13 to Building DT Sportscards with Dave Thimesch
Dave Thimesch wanted a 1987 Topps Mark McGwire card. That card started an obsession. At 13, Dave opened a card shop. He returned to the hobby during the Stephen Strasburg rise in 2009, moved from opening products to running group breaks, and built DT Sportscards into a PSA submission business handling thousands of cards. Dave joins Brett to discuss why ripping products created debt, how rising product costs forced him to change his business, and why transparency matters when collectors trust you with their cards. They also talk about the systems required to submit 1,200 cards per week, the challenge of giving up control, and the line between working in the hobby and collecting for yourself. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript

Showing 21–40 of 64 episodes