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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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118 episodes
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Avg 54 min
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#1117
October 22 · 33 min
You Can Change the Rules for How You Collect a Player
Brett started collecting Tyrese Haliburton with a rule: Pacers uniform only. As his connection to the player grew, his collection changed. In this episode, Brett shares the story behind buying Haliburton’s 2020-21 Panini Obsidian Electric Etch White Mojo rookie 1/1. He discusses losing track of the card after it sold, getting another opportunity at auction, and researching why it belonged alongside his Crown Royale rookie 1/1. Through memories of the Pacers’ playoff run and the research behind this purchase, Brett explores how collecting a player can change the rules a collector started with. 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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#1116
October 21 · 33 min
Finding Cards Where the Hobby Isn’t Looking
How much of what you want comes from what you keep seeing? This week, Brett explores how releases, breaks, and clips influence our collecting decisions, and how studying checklists opens up cards we didn’t know existed. From Panini Crusade basketball to his 2012 Prizm Reggie Wayne Finite 1/1, he shares how he evaluates player connection, product history, scarcity, and demand. The conversation offers a process for researching cards and understanding why you want to own them, even if the hobby’s attention never follows. 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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#1115
October 20 · 1 hr 3 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: What Can $100 Build in Your WNBA Collection? | S6 E2
What makes a card worth owning when you take resale value out of the decision? Katelyn and Mark talk about collecting WNBA cards for the photography, the memories, and the enjoyment of turning through a binder. From digging through 25-cent boxes to collecting 1997 Pinnacle legends, they share what earns a card a place in their collections. Then comes the challenge: build a nine-card binder page with $100. Mark chooses Donruss mascots to tell the story of the season. Katelyn builds around Napheesa Collier, Arike Ogunbowale, and Jackie Young, considering everything from trophy photos to which direction each player faces. They discuss PSA Vault auction results, buying during a playoff run, and rip Donruss packs for listener giveaways. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs 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 Follow Mark | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1113
October 19 · 38 min
Passion to Profession: When Your Collecting Knowledge Becomes Your Business with Dan McKee of Darby-s Vintage
Dan McKee started collecting T206 cards at seven years old. Fifty-seven years of collecting now inform how he buys, sells, and runs Darby-s Vintage on eBay. In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett talks with Dan about turning collecting knowledge into a business. Dan shares how he finds inventory in auction catalogs, why he gives some listings years to sell, and how he handles purchases that lose money. He also shares the story behind a $600 U.S. Caramel wrapper, showing Frank Robinson a card the player hadn’t seen, and building sets with his father that he still won’t sell. A conversation about what you learn through collecting, how that knowledge serves your business, and why some cards stay with you. 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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#1114
October 18 · 27 min
Hobby Jobs: You Don’t Have to Sell Cards to Build a Hobby Business
You don’t have to sell cards to build a business in the hobby. In this episode of Hobby Jobs, Brett uses PackScout’s launch to explore opportunities to serve collectors and operators. He shares how Stacking Slabs grew from his questions about collecting and explains how skills in photography, inventory management, sales, and customer support can translate into work in the sports card industry. Brett breaks down how to identify a problem, test an offer with a customer, and account for the time it takes to deliver. He explores careers in cards without starting a company and highlights the Sales Coordinator role at Mascot from this week’s newsletter. Hobby Jobs is sponsored by BCW Supplies. For over 45 years, BCW has helped retailers and wholesale partners stay stocked with the storage and display accessories collectors trust—backed by dependable fulfillment and consistency to keep shelves stocked and margins strong. Learn more at bcwsupplies.com/wholesale. 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 ★
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#1112
October 17 · 1 hr 26 min
Booked to Last: WWE Card Buy, Sell, Hold After Money in the Bank
Does winning Money in the Bank change what you’re willing to pay for a wrestler’s cards? Adam and Ryan break down the fallout through a collector’s perspective. They debate buying, selling, and holding Penta, Tiffany Stratton, Roxanne Perez, Je’Von Evans, Liv Morgan, Chelsea Green, and Carmelo Hayes. Their disagreement on Penta gets into the difference between collecting a wrestler and selling into demand. Plus, Roman Reigns redemption sales, Flawless Star Swatches, and a conversation about what makes a wrestler worth collecting. From Prizm Gold to debut patches, the guys discuss how design, photography, and a connection to wrestling history shape the cards collectors want to own. What keeps you collecting someone after the storyline changes? 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 ★
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#1111
October 16 · 1 hr 22 min
The Football Card Podcast #69: A Priest Holmes Superfractor and the Cost of Quarterback Hype
What happens when a card shows up and you start reconsidering what you’re willing to sell? Pack Nicholson shares the story behind buying the 2005 Finest Priest Holmes Superfractor 1/1. From negotiating the price to selling cards to fund it, the purchase brings his collecting priorities into focus. Pack and Brett also question why collectors pay for quarterback potential before performance. Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young, and Brock Purdy lead a conversation about hype, winning, and what creates demand. Plus, listener questions on MVPs versus championships, one-of-ones from the 1990s and 2000s, and what football card manufacturers should bring back. 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
#1110
October 15 · 31 min
What You Learn From Spending Time With Your Cards
What do you learn when you spend time with the cards you own? Brett shares how taking his 2012 Prizm Andrew Luck Pylon 1/1 into the sunlight helped him appreciate owning it. That experience opens a conversation about what happens after the mail day. Spending time with your collection helps you recognize what belongs, understand how your taste has changed, and revisit the people and memories connected to your cards. Get your cards out. Give yourself fifteen minutes. See what you learn. 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
#1109
October 14 · 32 min
Do You Want the Card or the Purchase?
Brett has added about 10 cards to his collection this year and sold around 150 to get there. His buying has slowed down. His enjoyment of collecting has grown. In this episode, Brett explores how understanding what you want changes how you buy. He examines the difference between wanting a card and wanting another purchase, how research helps determine what belongs, and how seeking approval influences collecting decisions. He also questions when a buying process starts taking away from the enjoyment it was meant to support. After the package arrives and the excitement settles, what keeps you interested? 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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#1108
October 13 · 1 hr 7 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: WNBA Finals and the Cards You Want to Keep | Season 6, Episode 1
What happens when your team’s playoff run puts the cards you want beyond your budget? Katelyn and Mark open Season 6, Episode 1 with a conversation about the WNBA Finals and what winning means for collectors. They discuss Angel Reese, Gabby Williams, and the tension between cheering for your team and watching card prices climb. Katelyn shares how she found a 2023 Origins Napheesa Collier Black 1/1 for her six-card collection. Mark explains why this playoff run has him revisiting cards he owns. They also talk rookie targets, Donruss, Prizm, and deciding when to buy or wait. Plus, a pack rip featuring a Marina Mabrey autograph /49 that will go to a listener through @wnbacardpod on Instagram. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs 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 Follow Mark | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1106
October 12 · 36 min
Passion to Profession: The Work That Brings Collectors Back
What makes you return to a card shop, open someone’s stream, or trust them with your collection? This week, I’m recording solo and reflecting on twelve conversations from Passion to Profession. From Grant Slayton helping me find my Andrew Luck 1/1 to Collins Boyce welcoming collectors who aren’t buying, I look at the work that earns another visit. I also share how these lessons shape my decisions at Stacking Slabs. Hiring, handing off responsibilities, supporting my family, and giving you a reason to keep listening are all part of building this business. If you collect cards or work in the industry, this conversation asks you to think about what earns your trust. Passion to Profession is presented by eBay. 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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#1107
October 11 · 21 min
Hobby Jobs: Growing a Hobby Business Beyond Its Founder
What happens when customers want to buy from you, but growing the business means letting someone else earn their trust? In this episode of Hobby Jobs, I explore that question through my conversation with Josh O’Daniel of Odeezy Sports Cards. We talk about handing off responsibilities, helping employees build relationships, and teaching the standards customers count on without asking people to copy your personality. I also examine Arena Club’s partnership with the Philadelphia 76ers and what happens after a fan’s introduction to collecting. Getting someone’s attention starts the relationship. The experience that follows gives them a reason to return. Hobby Jobs is presented by BCW Supplies. Hobby Jobs is sponsored by BCW Supplies. For over 45 years, BCW has helped retailers and wholesale partners stay stocked with the storage and display accessories collectors trust—backed by dependable fulfillment and consistency to keep shelves stocked and margins strong. Learn more at bcwsupplies.com/wholesale. 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 ★
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#1105
October 10 · 1 hr 11 min
Booked to Last: Is It Time to Buy Wrestling Cards? Collector Q&A
The card you’ve been waiting for hits the market. Do you buy it, or does seeing more copies for sale make you question your collection? Adam and Ryan answer listener questions about wrestling cards, patience, and where they’re putting their collecting dollars. They discuss the supply arriving through Panini redemption fulfillment, what draws them to Flawless, and why 2019 Topps Transcendent and 2015 Topps Undisputed deserve attention. The conversation also covers WWE sales data, what auction results leave out, Topps release calendars, and Money in the Bank predictions. Plus, a question worth asking before you sell a card to fund a break: Are you giving up the card you hope to pull? 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
#1104
October 9 · 1 hr 13 min
The Football Card Podcast #68: You Got the Card. Why Do You Want Another?
You spend months looking for a card. You make the deal. Then you open your saved searches and start looking for another. When do you take time to enjoy what you’ve built? Pack and Brett discuss the research, negotiations, and relationships that keep collectors buying and selling. Brett shares how spending 10–15 minutes with his cards has helped him appreciate his collection. Pack explains how viewing a sale as a trade helps him decide which cards to let go. The conversation covers Bowman University’s place in Bowman, Topps Chrome Cosmic, and sales featuring Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley, Calvin Johnson, Drew Brees, and Manti Te’o. 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
#1103
October 8 · 52 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: Season 6 Starts Here — Meet Mark (mjs_sportscards)
The friendships you build through cards can change how you collect. Katelyn welcomes Mark (mjs_sportscards) as her cohost for Season 6 of The WNBA Card Podcast. A history professor and Atlanta Dream fan, Mark shares why Allisha Gray anchors his collection and how collecting Pinnacle, Fleer Ultra, and Rittenhouse has helped him learn about the players who built the league. They introduce their plans for the season, react to the WNBA playoffs and awards, and discuss how collectors value A’ja Wilson’s accomplishments. Join Katelyn and Mark for conversations about the players you watch, the cards you collect, and the history that connects them. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs 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 Follow Mark | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
- Transcript
#1102
October 7 · 34 min
Why We Cannot Stop Talking About Million Dollar Cards
Why do we spend so much time debating cards that most of us will never buy? In this episode, Brett explores what happens after an auction ends. Why we judge the buyer. Why we want the price to validate our collections. And why one sale gets treated as a verdict on the hobby. He separates the transaction, the signal, and the spectacle to help collectors understand what a sale tells us and where the evidence stops. Before you let someone else’s purchase change how you collect, ask what it changes for you. 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
#1101
October 6 · 1 hr 4 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: Collecting the Team That Feels Like Home with Katelyn (@coldlunchcards) | Season 5 Finale
To close Season 5 of the WNBA Card Podcast, I interview Katelyn (@coldlunchcards) about her Minnesota Lynx fandom and the collection it has inspired. We talk about finding community after moving to Minnesota, Maya Moore’s place in Lynx history, and why Napheesa Collier’s values matter to Katelyn’s collecting. She shares her goal of building a six-card Collier collection and the story behind her 2019 Donruss Optic Gold rookie numbered to 10. We close with a question for every collector: If your cards lost their value, would you still want to own them? Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs 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
#1099
October 5 · 46 min
Passion to Profession: Giving Collectors a Reason to Come Back with Josh O’Daniel of Odeezy Sports Cards
What brings you back to a breaker when you don’t hit the card you wanted? Josh O’Daniel of Odeezy Sports Cards thinks about that question. He joins Brett to share how opening Pokémon packs on Twitch became a business with a team, a card shop, and collectors who traveled to attend his store opening. Josh discusses building the business alongside his wife, Lizzie, before leaving an 18-year career at UPS. We get into selling on eBay Live, shipping breaks the next day, covering customer messages, and creating a community where people spend time together between streams. It’s a conversation about what you’re supporting when you choose where to spend your card budget and the work that gives you a reason to return. 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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#1100
October 4 · 1 hr 1 min
Hobby Jobs: The Systems Behind a Card Shop That Keeps People Coming Back with Oday Hishmeh
What happens to the collector experience when the owner isn’t there? In this episode of Hobby Jobs, I explore the systems behind buying, inventory, shipping, and customer service. Each handoff affects whether a collector trusts your business enough to return. Then I sit down with Oday Hishmeh, Founder and CEO of It’s Time Sports Cards, TCG, and eSports. Oday brings his experience operating Domino’s locations and owning Ace Hardware stores into building a place where families spend time, play, and trade. We talk about testing Pokémon sales inside Ace Hardware, making room for community, supporting employees, and changing processes when they interfere with serving customers. If you’re building a business in the hobby or looking to work in one, this conversation gives you a place to start: examine what depends on you and help your team deliver the experience you promised. Hobby Jobs is sponsored by BCW Supplies. For over 45 years, BCW has helped retailers and wholesale partners stay stocked with the storage and display accessories collectors trust—backed by dependable fulfillment and consistency to keep shelves stocked and margins strong. Learn more at bcwsupplies.com/wholesale. 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 ★
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#1098
October 3 · 1 hr 33 min
Booked to Last: Panini WWE Redemptions — The Cards You Waited For with Kevin from New York Roadshow
You waited for an autograph of the wrestler you collect. Your package arrived with someone else. How do you decide what that replacement means to you? Kevin from New York Roadshow joins Adam and Ryan to unpack the Panini WWE redemption closeout. They discuss Roman Reigns on-card autographs, Flawless replacements, and how to evaluate white box cards beyond the 1/1 stamp. The conversation gets into the tension between replacement value and collector attachment. A card’s price doesn’t explain why you wanted it. They discuss how the arrival of these cards affects supply and what to consider before selling. What would you do with the money? And if you wanted that card back, would you be able to find it? 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 ★
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Showing 21–40 of 118 episodes